Vol. 3: Chapter 8
The charging Orc Cavalry rode on the backs of massive Worgs. These Worg Riders were not like heavy cavalry, limited to straight-line charges; they were fast and agile, capable of expert flanking maneuvers, side-leaps, and pounces.
[Worg Rider] - Level 27
HP: 110,000
Physical Attack: 7,500
Physical Defense: 2,200
...
The tanks on the front line glanced at the riders’ stats and relaxed. For all their imposing momentum, their attack power wasn't that high.
Most of the frontline tanks had over 10,000 health and a base defense of 5,000, which easily pushed past 7,000 with buffs from their support classes. This would be easy.
CRASH!
The first Worg Rider slammed into a tank.
-1,788
“The impact damage is nothing,” the tank called out, feeling confident. “They don't hit hard at all.”
CRASH!
A second rider hit him.
-3,998
“How did that one do so much more damage?!” the tank yelled in surprise.
A third rider crashed into him.
-5,777
“Shit, it’s a stacking Armor Break debuff!” another tank screamed. “Healers! We need Dispels and heals, now!”
But to the horror of the frontline, the support they desperately needed never came. As tanks began to drop, they realized that dozens of Worg Riders had simply leaped over them, landing directly in the backline. The priests and mages had their own hands full and were in no position to help anyone else.
The Worg Riders had two key abilities:
[Armor Break]: A successful charge reduces the target’s armor by 2,000 for 15 seconds. Stacks up to 3 times.
[Leap]: Jumps forward 15 yards. While charging, can clear obstacles up to 30 feet high.
The players’ initial underestimation of the cavalry proved fatal. In the ensuing chaos, over eight hundred players were killed, locked out of the battle and relegated to logistics duty for the next four hours. Eight hundred casualties were a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of thousands of defenders, but the Vanguard Commander wasn't finished.
With another command, the rest of his army, tens of thousands of orcs, surged forward. It wasn't just combat troops like Orc Archers, Orc Mages, and Orc Berserkers. There were also support units. Kodo Beasts provided a 10% attack buff to nearby troops, while Bloodlust Shamans increased their attack speed by 10%.
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Many players who had been spectating from the village walls, hesitating between defending the gates or joining the fray, were swept up in the passion of the battle. They charged out to meet the enemy.
Lila watched the battle unfold from a high watchtower, and the last of her tension melted away. The WarChief’s vanguard was no match for the players. In terms of numbers, overall gear quality, and even coordination, the player army had the upper hand. The only real variable was the Vanguard Commander himself.
But Lila wasn't worried. The hundred-player elite team from Crimson Bloom was already moving to intercept him. Whether they could kill him was secondary; their primary mission was to keep him off the main battlefield.
A boss of his level was guaranteed to have massive AoE attacks that could easily turn the tide of the fight. She didn't enter the battle herself, nor did she send in her main party with Hazel. They had a more important role to play.
The massive battle raged for nearly two hours before it was over. However, the first village to claim victory wasn't Starlight Village, or even one from the Crescent City region.
[System]: Congratulations to Starting Village #16698 from the Oasis of Zafira for being the first to repel The WarChief’s vanguard! All players from this village will receive a bonus of 100 contribution points.
The world chat exploded.
“Wait, Village #16698 took the World First? No way!”
“Where’s Starlight Village? Aren’t they supposed to be the most badass?”
“Haha, you clueless noobs obviously don’t know that Serpent’s Coil is based there.”
“So what? Is Serpent’s Coil better than Crimson Bloom?”
“Shut it if you don’t know what you're talking about. Serpent’s Coil has the Sunfire Bell!”
“Holy crap, I remember now! Dreadfang spent a fortune to buy the Sunfire Bell.”
“Looks like Serpent’s Coil is going to be the number one guild in the game.”
“Bullshit. Crimson Bloom’s main force wasn't even fighting today.”
“So what if Lila was there? Could she have changed the outcome?”
As the players argued, another notification came through.
[System]: Congratulations to Starting Village #9999 for being the second to repel The WarChief’s vanguard! All players from this village will receive a bonus of 80 contribution points.
The players who had been defending Crimson Bloom instantly got their swagger back.
“See! Starlight Village won on their own merit. Serpent’s Coil had to rely on a cheap item.”
The Sunfire Bell supporters were furious.
“‘Cheap item’? That’s the Sunfire Bell you’re talking about, you moron! It’s a legendary artifact!”
“Yeah! What’s wrong with using the Bell? You want the Crimson Bloom girls to strip off all their gear and fistfight the orcs?”
“Haha, now that’s a good idea.”
Crimson Bloom’s defenders fired back.
“Their gear alone puts them on the same level as you guys WITH the Bell. If Crimson Bloom got their hands on a Saint Relic, they’d wipe the floor with you.”
“Heh, then go get one! You think Lila has that kind of cash lying around?”
“Haha, she’s broke now. The Whitmore family is about to collapse.”
“She’s pretty, she can just marry some rich guy.”
“I heard she’s the girlfriend of Ben, the heir to the Carrington Family. You can trust me, I never lie.”
[System]: The player [LiarDog] has been silenced in all public channels for 24 hours for spreading misinformation.
The system’s swift punishment sent a wave of laughter through the chat.
“Hahaha, dude tried to start drama with the Carrington Family.”
“You really like being a dog, bro?”
Lila, watching the chat from her tower, frowned. She didn't mind being the butt of a few jokes. But dragging Ben's name into it was a line she wouldn't tolerate. If it were true, she wouldn't care what people said. But she had zero tolerance for rumors, especially ones about her relationships.
Just then, a third system announcement appeared.
[System]: Congratulations to Starting Village #9000 from Crescent City for being the third to repel The WarChief’s vanguard! All players from this village will receive a bonus of 50 contribution points.
Village #9000?
That was a question on every player’s mind. Where was that?