Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 360 Charge into the Skull-Shattering Palace
Unlike other orc generals who ride on the backs of howling frost wolves or armored kodos and charge into battle, Groom the Skullbreaker dislikes riding.

Not only did he dislike riding into battle, but he also never used a mount when marching, patrolling, or even traveling within his own territory.

Of course, Mr. Groom can't walk on his own.

They had to be carried around.

Unlike many orc generals who generally have family backgrounds, Grum truly rose from a small border tribe, to an ordinary orc family so poor they didn't even have weapons, through sheer ruthlessness, cunning, and scheming that he fought his way up from the bottom.

That is why, deep down, he craves respect, admiration, and even worship from others more urgently and greedily than other naturally noble beastmen!
His style of going out must be different from others, and significantly different.

This is an indescribable hunger that originates from the depths of Groom's bloodline.

Look, a lowly orc now sits on your heads!

When the Grum army set out, the most eye-catching thing, besides the twenty-meter-tall banner bestowed by the Beast King, was the giant palanquin that required sixty-four orcs to carry and covered an area of ​​four hundred and twenty square meters.

This thing is less a means of transportation and more a mobile mini-palace.

The humans who never returned once offered Lord Grum a fine name, which Grum was very pleased with.

Thus, the "Skullcrusher's Palace" came into being!
The sedan chair is framed by century-old black ironwood, which is harder than iron and comes from the northern wilderness. It is covered with the entire back skin of a giant frost howler hunted from the far north ice plains, which gleams with a cold bluish-gray luster under the pale winter sun.

Of course, the most eye-catching feature, and the one that best showcases the owner's "refined taste" and prestige, is the dense, bone-like decoration that covers every corner of the sedan chair, making one's scalp crawl at the sight of it.

That was Groom's hobby, and also the reputation of the Skullcrusher!

Four tall, curved pillars stood at the four corners of the sedan chair. They were actually pieced together from the spines of complete large thunder beasts. Each vertebra was carefully polished and coated with dark red glaze. Something inside was used to fix it in place. The curvature was just right. At first glance, it looked like a bowing sea serpent, arching out a style of four directions paying homage in a twisted and respectful posture.

The railings on all four sides of the sedan chair are made of thick leg bones joined together with mortise and tenon joints, each retaining its original shape as much as possible.

The panels inlaid between the fences are made of polished skull pieces of varying sizes, which at first glance look like a mosaic.

The tribe's artisans used these bone fragments to inlay ferocious relief patterns—depicting General Grum's conquests and the destruction of cities and strongholds.

These bone fragments are carefully matched with different colors: the white of fresh bone, the yellow of years, the gray-brown spots of old bone, and the deep red that looks like bloodstains on some bone fragments. They add just the right amount of color to the relief, which has a unique and ingenious feel to it.

Hanging from the eaves of the sedan chair were not tassels and beads, but hundreds of dried and shrunken heads—human, half-orc, elf, dwarf, and even some rare subspecies of creatures. They gently bumped against each other as the sedan chair moved, making a soft, eerie clattering sound.

Traveling in this sedan chair, Groom was undoubtedly the most dazzling among millions of orcs.

The palanquin bearers for the palace were undoubtedly handpicked, all strong orc laborers over two meters tall with bulging muscles. In this bitterly cold weather, the bearers remained shirtless, their bare upper bodies smeared with some kind of green liquid. As they marched in unison, puffs of white mist escaped from their protruding fangs, slightly moistening the winter evening.

The sturdy sedan chair poles rested on their bodies, and perhaps because of the passage of time, they had carved a deep groove in the shoulder blade area.

At each joint of the palanquin poles hung a dark metal chain that burrowed directly into the flesh of the orc laborer, emerging from the gaps between the bones in the shoulder area and locking firmly to the palanquin body.

Unless they die, they will be forever bound to this palace by blood and flesh.

The sedan chair carriers could only perform all their walking, sitting, lying down, drinking, and eating within the length of the chain, in extremely awkward postures, with only one exception.

When you need to relieve yourself, you mustn't soil this noble sedan chair. At that time, the orc officer of the palace will briefly unlock it, allowing the sedan chair bearers to temporarily take care of their personal hygiene needs while wearing piercing iron chains.

Of course, it couldn't be during General Groom's march.

Sitting in this enormous sedan chair was certainly impressive, but it couldn't go very fast, especially when encountering complex terrain such as ditches, waterways, or steep slopes, where the massive army would have to stop.

Large numbers of orc laborers were driven to carry planks and stones with their own bodies, or jump directly into the icy water to use their shoulders as bridge piers, smoothing out the obstacles in front of them so that the "Skullcrusher's Palace" could pass smoothly.

So, while the fighting had already begun at the front, Groom was still dozens of kilometers away waiting for his guards to set up a pontoon bridge.

Groom wasn't in a hurry.

He even adjusted his position on the throne to make himself more comfortable, and casually picked up a piece of dried meat from a small skull container embedded in the armrest next to him, stuffed it into his mouth and chewed it slowly.

"Let the kids fight for a while."

With food in his mouth, he mumbled to the messenger standing outside the sedan curtain, "My valiant warriors should already smell the sweetness of human blood. By the time I arrive, they will have already torn apart those pitiful and cowardly humans who stand in their way."

"fair enough!"

"So that my magnificent palace will not be stained by that filthy and vile blood."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Such an eye-catching target, surrounded by thousands of troops like a star, was spotted at a glance by the radar of the Vast Ocean Territory, even without the radar specifically scanning for him.

Looking at the images transmitted from the command center, Liu Zaiyue's hands felt a little itchy.

"If we hit it with a light lightning bolt on the head, this battle would be over!"

Captain Chen Chuting shook his head.

"Theoretically, that's true, but this guy might have some kind of life-saving gadget. One shot isn't enough; it's best to fire three shots in quick succession, one as a backup and one as a backup. That should be enough!"

"But let's fight honestly and not try to slack off. Command won't allow it!"

"Why?" Liu Zaiyue raised his eyebrows, looking quite unwilling.

"The lord said that the decapitation operation will lead to... the accelerated decentralization of the enemy's command system. It's best not to take such shortcuts when you can win a battle head-on."

"It will cause great trouble for future battles, so unless it is the final battle, it should be used with caution in other situations."

"Besides, if you win the war, what will the sea creatures do next?"

Unable to respond for a moment, Liu Zaiyue turned his head. Beside the two [Tide Spear] class shallow-water gunboats, which were bathed in the glow of the sunset, Naga warriors were continuously surging ashore.

Their massive bodies left long, wet trails in the rosy light, stretching from the water to the shore. The first thing they did upon reaching the land was to carefully unfasten their semi-transparent Type 07 multi-functional hydraul suits.

Carelessness is no excuse. A few reckless individuals used too much force and tore open the [Water Storage Suit]. When their princess and the Lord of the Vast Ocean checked the contents, they were heartbroken and rolled around in pain several times.

The connection point uses Velcro, and with a soft "ripping" sound, the thin film-like outer layer is torn open from the middle, revealing the indigo scales and bulging muscles of the sea warrior underneath.

The royal guards in the front row carefully placed the hydration suits into the lower compartment of the backpacks standing to the side, then took out protective gear from the backpacks and began to put on their armor.

The whole process was orderly, even with a touch of... peculiar ritualistic feeling?
At the edge of their field of vision, the enemy's vanguard had already arrived.

However, the Naga warriors on the shore seemed oblivious, continuing their changing process at their own leisurely pace. They tightened the last buckle, adjusted their shoulder pads, and checked that their weapons were comfortable to handle.

They learned how to time their movements.

In order to extend the sea creatures' combat time on land as much as possible, the waiting time after changing clothes should be minimized.

After several encounters with the orc forces through coordinated operations, the Naga commanders had become familiar with the rhythm of the Sea Territory's combat system. When the crisp, penetrating sound of cannon fire came from the gunboats on the river, the Naga warriors checking their armor would invariably raise their heads and look ahead.

Admire the flames and plumes of smoke bursting on the distant horizon, and the orcish charging ranks instantly overturned and torn apart by shockwaves and shrapnel.

"Hey, here we go again."

A Naga guard, holding a trident level, muttered something in the sea language. His thick tail swayed involuntarily and happily from side to side, making soft "slap" sounds as it hit the sandy shore. Watching the orcs being bombarded, especially seeing those usually arrogant greenskins being blasted to shreds on land, was a feeling that, for the Naga accustomed to fighting in the water and often feeling stifled on land…

That was absolutely amazing! It was even more satisfying than catching a plump marlin in a warm ocean current!

At 6:17 PM, the orc cavalry appeared on the horizon.

The first thing observed was the dust cloud; the yellowish-brown dust raised by the large cavalry as they marched resembled a moving sandstorm rolling in from afar across the plains.

Next came the flags. As they drew closer, the colorful battle flags, made of animal hides and coarse hemp, gradually revealed their patterns. They depicted various ferocious tribal totems such as bear claws, wolf heads, and split teeth, guiding the direction of the beastmen's charge.

Then there's the sound.

The muffled thud of the war drums, like the pulse of the earth, came wave after wave from afar. Between the drumbeats, there were the savage and chaotic war cries of the orcs, the excited and bloodthirsty howls of the dire wolves, and the heavy footsteps of the kodo behemoths.

"finally come."

Fleet Commander Chen Chuting opened the communication channel and switched to command mode.

"Report status from all positions."

"【Xilan】 and 【Chaoyin】 Main guns, attention! Target: in front of the enemy's vanguard assault formation, attack areas 92 and 70."

"Effective shot!"

"Fire!"

The moment the command was given, the main gun turrets on the front and mid-section of the two shallow-water gunboats roared in unison!

The landing operation in the Vast Ocean Territory was arranged in an inverted fan shape, with two shallow-water gunboats on either side. The short fan in front represented the human warriors of the Guiyi Army, while the long fan behind represented the landing force of the sea race.

The main gun caliber of the [Tidal Spear] shallow-water gunboat is a bit small, but considering that the main objective is not to kill but to intercept, it is more than enough for this battlefield.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The main guns of both ships roared at a rate of one shot per second, the intense muzzle flashes from the muzzle brakes suddenly illuminating the already dim river surface, turning the churning water around the ships a crimson red! The shockwaves transmitted from the ships spread out in continuous ripples on the water's surface.

The next second, in the center of the orcish charging ranks, a series of orange-red fireballs, accompanied by muffled explosions, suddenly rose from the ground!

Smoke and dust instantly mixed into a grayish-yellow column of smoke that shot several meters into the air. Pre-fragmented shrapnel, originating from the epicenter, burst out in a circular pattern at high speed in all directions; each shell would devour several or even a dozen wolf riders.

The orc vanguard officers were clearly experienced veterans. They brandished their battle axes, roared even more fiercely, and drove their troops forward with greater speed and more dispersed formation!

At 3.5 kilometers, the secondary machine gun opened fire.

Unlike the deep roar of the main gun, the 20mm secondary machine gun fired with a sharper and more rapid sound. Bright bullet trajectories were clearly visible in the dim light, like scorching whips lashing at the orcish charging formation.

At 2.2 kilometers, the coaxial machine gun began to roar, and a storm of metal swept in.

In the age of artillery on Earth, cavalry could barely hold their own by spreading out their formations, but the advent of machine guns ultimately sealed their fate.

The bullets easily pierced the dire wolves' thin fur and muscles, penetrating the orc warriors' weakly protected bodies, drawing out plumes of dark red blood mist. At the forefront of the charging wave, wolf riders fell abruptly as if crashing into an invisible wall, only to be trampled over by those behind them.

For the final 1.5 kilometers of defense, standing in front of the sea creatures were the soldiers of the "Return to Righteousness Army".

They raised their hands high, and rows of lit Molotov cocktails streaked across the sky, creating walls of fire in front of the orcish charging ranks.

They also have javelins.

During the long and dark period when the orcs ruled the White Deer Plains, the human vassal army was subject to extremely strict and even harsh restrictions. Apart from a very small number of "die-hard" elites who were completely trusted by the orcs and used to suppress their own kind, the vast majority of the vassal army was forbidden from learning any magic and was also strictly prohibited from using bows and arrows.

Minion troops are meant to be used as meat shields and cannon fodder. What kind of image would it be if they were casting spells and shooting arrows from behind? Do you expect the great orcs to take the damage for you?
Knives, shields, and perhaps a few crude javelins—that was all they were allowed to possess.

However, the Han Hai troops are different. They particularly like to use long-range weapons and advocate "beyond visual range strikes" and "firepower coverage".

Having guns, cannons, and composite bows, the ideal combat scenario is for the enemy to be wiped out on their way to the front, achieving victory without bloodshed.

So, after the Guiyi Army was transferred to the Han Hai's administration, the command studied the situation for a long time and finally decided to equip them with some javelins. After all, they had practiced using them to some extent under orc rule and could use them to a passable degree.

The bow is too difficult; it requires a lot of practice, and the Guiyi Army can't handle it.

In this way, the Guiyi Army formed this unique combination of Molotov cocktails, javelins, and swords and shields.

During this process, the orcs also used the momentum of their charge to launch javelins, engaging in a counterattack with the Guiyi Army.

Both sides had similar ranges, but the orcs had the advantage of long-term use, rich experience, and abundant strength. The Guiyi Army, on the other hand, had flexible spear shafts, standard throwing techniques, and aerodynamic spearheads and tail fins, so the two sides were evenly matched.

However, the Guiyi Army was on the defensive; they had shields, and not just skin shields, but steel shields.

Thus, in the final kilometer of the exchange of fire, the orc wolf riders unsurprisingly fell into a disadvantageous position.

The momentum of the charge was gradually weakened, like waves crashing against rocks, being crushed one after another.

After suffering more than half their casualties, the orcs retreated in panic, leaving behind a vast expanse of ravaged corpses and wailing wounded soldiers.

Soon, with the transmission of signals via the sound-transmitting drum and flags, the intelligence reached Groom, who was still sitting in the "Skullcrusher's Palace".

The messenger knelt outside the sedan curtain, his head bowed to the ground, and reported the news of the vanguard's setback in a trembling voice.

Inside the enormous palanquin, Groom was reclining on his throne, slowly sipping some kind of strong liquor from a goblet inlaid with rubies, which appeared to be made from an elven skull.

Under the flickering lamplight, his rugged, scarred face held an inscrutable expression.

Silence fell inside the sedan chair, and all the guards and laborers held their breath, with only the soft clattering of their dried heads filling the air.

"What are the losses?" Groom's voice finally rang out, devoid of any emotion, but the messenger still involuntarily tensed his muscles.

"Reporting to the general, the right flank of the vanguard has lost approximately three hundred-man squads, and the left flank has lost two hundred-man squads. The remaining troops dare not charge any further, and even the war wolves dare not advance!"

"The enemy! The enemy is attacking from a much farther distance than us; we can't reach them!"

"Can't reach it?"

Groom grinned, revealing a set of yellowish-brown fangs. "Then let them come over. Let's go!"

"They're pushing forward across the river on both sides! They only have two boats, how much of the river can they keep watch?"

"Tell the kids not to rush. This general... will be arriving at the battlefield quite some time from now."

"It doesn't matter if the enemy lives a little longer!"

Groom downed the drink in one gulp and tossed the glass aside by the roadside.
"I will smash this garbage with my own hands!"

"Speaking of which..."

"It seems that my 'Skullcrusher Palace' is indeed missing a sea creature's head!"

(End of this chapter)