CH472 Red Rock Nest Frontline

***

Zora turned away, facing back toward the battlefield—not to intervene, but to hide something from Alex's view.

On her right arm, mysterious tattoos began to lighting—the Ice Phoenix Nirvana Tattoos.

'No, you don't.'

Zora immediately focused her mind and forcibly reasserted control over her bloodline. After a brief struggle, the glowing markings receded and faded back into her skin.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

Suppressing her bloodline was far more taxing than killing the Death Worm itself.

A few minutes later, once she noticed Alex and the expedition party descending the hill, Zora began moving toward the battlefield as well.

'He already has enough on his plate,' she thought. 'I can't let him find out just yet.'

Fortunately, the Siphon Rune engraved on her arm had done its job—draining away much of the Nirvana markings' energy. Otherwise, regaining control over her bloodline power would have been far more difficult.

Alex, naturally, was completely oblivious to Zora's silent struggle.

Following their plan, his attention was fixed on leading the group into the main battle, causing him to miss her earlier abnormal behaviour entirely.

Ahead of them, Azgrug led what remained of his Orc army, along with the adventurers who were still willing to follow his commands—both groups noticeably reduced compared to their numbers just a few hours ago.

As Yerion had predicted, the Nest Ruler was indeed a Dune Wolf.

Its forces consisted primarily of Dune Wolves and, surprisingly, Sand Ants.

Beside the Dune Wolf King stood the Sand Ant Queen, accompanied by three massive Sand Ants—likely her mates—each acting as sub-rulers, lead ant colony into the battle.

Roughly fifty Dune Wolves formed the nest ruler's elite combat force, while the Sand Ants served as expendable fodder.

The sheer number of ants made it difficult for the Orcs and adventurers to focus on the true threat—the Dune Wolves.

Swarms of Sand Ants surrounded and pressured entire platoons of Orc soldiers, creating openings that allowed the Dune Wolves to rush in and ambush them.

Individually, each orc was stronger than a Dune Wolf and capable of killing one outright. However, with the ants constantly interfering, they were unable to focus fully—turning what should have been manageable fights into deadly traps.

"Enough!" Azgrug's roar thundered across the battlefield.

The mysterious glyph on his back suddenly flared to life.

He leapt into the air and brought his iconic orcish spiked warhammer crashing down onto a dense cluster of Sand Ants.

Boom!

His energy was expertly controlled, pulsing outward in a circular shockwave that crushed and shredded ants in all directions.

Azgrug didn't stop.

He slammed his hammer into the ground four times in rapid succession, each strike sending out a cone of baleful energy that tore through yet another wave of Sand Ants.

But for every ant he killed, more seemed to crawl forth to replace them.

Still, Azgrug did not relent.

He smashed ant after ant, deliberately drawing their attention to himself—buying his orcs and the adventurers under his banner precious breathing room to confront the Dune Wolves.

Unfortunately, the Dune Wolf King was far more cunning.

Seeing her colony being slaughtered, the Sand Ant Queen turned toward the Wolf King and clicked her mandibles rapidly, emitting sharp chittering sounds—clearly requesting support.

Howl!!

The Dune Wolf King ignored her.

Rather than reinforcing the ants, he ordered his wolves to pull back instead, forcing the Ant Queen to commit even more of her brood to the frontline—wearing down the nest-raiding force, and Azgrug in particular.

Azgrug's gaze locked onto the Dune Wolf King.

This beast was an enigma.

Despite the nest being periodically culled, it had somehow survived long enough to reach the peak of 3-Star Combat Master—and yet it remained cowardly and calculating.

Though a berserk beast, the strongest within the nest, it never fought head-on. Instead, it used its underlings to bleed its enemies dry, forcing them into exhaustion before ever exposing itself.

Azgrug had lost sons, brothers, and even his disciple to this beast's insidious tactics.

Even he would have fallen already if not for the Strength Rune Tattoo branded on his back. The temporary surge of power it granted had created the narrow openings he needed to survive.

But that power came at a cost.

With his current activation, he was now down to a single use.

'These damned ants!'

Yet despite burning through his trump cards, Azgrug was no closer to slaying the Dune Wolf King.

The endless tide of Sand Ants stood firmly in his way.

He had long since lost count of the number of ants he had slain.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he alone had killed over a thousand Sand Ants.

Never would the orc—so close to stepping into the realm of a Combat Saint—have imagined that he would be held back by ants.

Enraged, Azgrug once again raised his warhammer high.

Channelling a copious amount of energy into it, he slammed the hammer forward, striking the air itself in the direction of the Sand Ant Queen.

[Air Drum]!

Boom!

A massive cannon of compressed air roared toward the Sand Ant Queen.

Azgrug intended to end it in one swift, decisive blow. Once the Queen was dead, the ants would lose their leader—and with it, their coordination.

But Azgrug's vision would not come to pass.

Multiple Sand Ants reacted instantly, throwing themselves into the path of the attack and sacrificing their lives to blunt its force.

By the time the strike finally reached the Ant Queen, it had weakened significantly—and even then, one of the three massive Sand Ants beside her intercepted it, taking the blow in her stead.

"Argh!!!" Azgrug roared in frustration.

Though he failed to kill the Ant Queen, the attack still carved a swath through the battlefield—clearing enough ants to allow the orcs and adventurers a moment to regroup.

Or so Azgrug thought.

From its elevated vantage point, the Dune Wolf King stared down at him—its gaze brimming with beastly mockery.

Both figuratively and literally, it looked down on the Orc leader.

The Wolf King tapped its front paw against the rock.

The Sand Ant Queen shuddered.

Shrreee!!!

She screeched sharply, summoning even more Sand Ants into the fray.

Seeing the renewed tide of beasts, even the unruly adventurers fell into line—forming up beside the orcs and awaiting Azgrug's orders.

As if answering them in kind, the beasts reorganised as well.

Sand Ants surged forward to form the frontline, while the Dune Wolves shifted into flanking positions—ready to strike.

Azgrug knew he needed to form teams capable of holding the Dune Wolves in place long enough for the main force to crush the Sand Ant frontlines—or, if possible, eliminate the wolves outright.

For that, he would need to commit his orcs.

However, if he did so, there was no guarantee the adventurers wouldn't break ranks at a critical moment and attempt to flee.

'And I can no longer afford to waste the tattoo's final use,' Azgrug thought grimly.

He knew the truth.

This force could no longer realistically clear the nest.

Unless reinforcements arrived, their best—and perhaps only—option was to retreat.

Just as he was about to issue the order—

BOOM!!!

SHREEE!!!!!!

A massive explosion erupted within the ant horde.

Three blazing fireballs detonated in quick succession, engulfing the centre of the formation in a purgatory of flames and shrill, ear-splitting shrieks.

The ant horde was violently torn apart.

Swoosh! Pucch!!

At the same time, bolts and arrows streaked through the air—piercing into Dune Wolves that had been preparing to flank the orc–adventurer formation.

Several wolves dropped mid-charge, their momentum broken before they could strike.

The sudden reversal caught everyone off guard.

Including Azgrug.

Only then did he notice the newcomers entering the battlefield.

They numbered close to twenty-five, and at their forefront stood a group of soldiers clad in armour bearing a crest he recognised all too well.

"Looks like you could use some help, Tribe Chief," the leader of the group called out.

"Indeed, Young Master Alex," Azgrug replied.

The beasts paused, watching the new arrivals warily as Alex and his party advanced to merge with the orc–adventurer formation.

Alex came to Azgrug's side.

"The Dune Wolves are cunning and dangerous," Alex said calmly. "How about letting my people handle them? Your main force can focus on breaking the ant front."

"That would be greatly appreciated," Azgrug said. "I'll lead the main party to quickly eliminate the ants, then join you to finish off the wolves."

"No." Alex shook his head.

"You're already down to your final charge, aren't you? You have a far more important task."

He pointed toward the elevated rock formation where the Dune Wolf King watched the battlefield.

"You need to bring down the nest ruler," Alex said solemnly.

"You're the only one here who can."

"I know," Azgrug said gravely, "but it's cunning. It won't let me get close."

"Don't worry," Alex smirked. "Leave that to me."

He tilted his head back and whistled.

Whistle!

A massive shadow suddenly swept across the battlefield.

The sky darkened as a huge avian beast dove downward, charging straight toward Alex's position.

"A beast incoming!" an orc shouted.

"Don't resist," Alex suddenly said to Azgrug.

"What—?"

The diving bird abruptly pulled up, then seized Azgrug in its talons and carried him skyward.

In a blink, the avian beast rushed toward the Dune Wolf King's position and released its grip.

Azgrug dropped from above.

Though shocked by the sudden turn of events, he reacted instantly.

BOOM!!!

Azgrug's warhammer came crashing down toward the Dune Wolf King. The wolf barely managed to evade in time, but the blow pulverised the hilltop instead—shattering rock into dust and flying shrapnel.

The impact blasted the Sand Ant Queen and her two remaining mates off the elevated position.

Using the recoil of his own strike, Azgrug leapt from the collapsing rock and landed firmly atop the hill, coming face to face with his nemesis.

"Finally," Azgrug roared, hatred blazing in his eyes.

"You beast—let's see you run now!"

Alex watched the hilltop from below.

'Everyone is exactly where they need to be,' he thought.

His gaze then lifted toward the sky—to the avian beast circling above the battlefield.

It was none other than Queen Senu.

She had awakened.

And she had successfully reached the Elite Rank.

***

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