Watching the distant ridge turn into a torch, Lostro jolted at Tian Sang's reminder. He quickly gathered several Witch Doctors and hunters who were still stunned and told them to start organizing the Trolls who had retreated here. The enemy's fire attack had failed, but they would surely use the flames to launch a probing attack next.69🅂🄷🅄🅇.🄲🄾🄼
They had escaped the fire raining down from the sky, but if they couldn't repel the enemy's probing attack, the enemy forces would surely advance on Zul'Aman without the slightest mercy. They might have survived the fire, but they wouldn't escape the calamity of war. Their fate would be sealed all the same.
With the Witch Doctors and hunters calming them, the Troll warriors who had been left dumbstruck—and some even brought to their knees—by the sight of Battleaxe Ridge set alight by the fire clouds slowly regained their composure and prepared to fight. Most of them, though, still watched the distant blaze nervously.
"Will the fire spread into the mountains? When will the enemy attack?" Lostro moved beside Tian Sang and followed his gaze toward the distant flames, asking anxiously.
"We'll wait for the goddess's guidance." Tian Sang gazed at Battleaxe Ridge, blazing like a torch, then looked up at the sky above it. Dark clouds had already gathered there. The clouds weren't dispersing in the heat rising from the flames below Battleaxe Ridge; instead, they were growing denser.
"The goddess's guidance?" Lostro blinked at Tian Sang's words.
"Rumble!" The distant flames shone ever brighter, and the sky suddenly darkened. A rumble of thunder rolled through the air, making Lostro jump. Lightning flashed in the dark clouds overhead, revealing a coiling figure within them.
"What is that?" Startled by the thunder, Lostro stared at the lightning in the clouds, his eyes widening.
"That's the goddess." Tian Sang watched Lostro's astonished expression and gave a faint grin. This was what made a display of mysterious power an art: the spectacle of a firestorm raining from the heavens might have been impressive, but brute force alone couldn't inspire people to yearn for something greater.
Lostro wasn't the only one who noticed. Many Trolls had seen the strange sight. The flash of lightning in the sky had vanished in an instant, but as they watched, another rumble of thunder sounded. In the faintly lit clouds, a long shape was clearly twisting and swimming. It held every Troll's gaze fast.
"Rumble!" A brilliant bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a patter of raindrops. A torrential downpour swept over the mountains of Battleaxe Ridge, and the flames roaring skyward were promptly extinguished. Hissing sounds rose as clouds of steam billowed into the air.
"People of the Amani, Snake Goddess Ulatek, mistress of wind and rain, is helping us! What are you still afraid of?" Tian Sang saw the Trolls transfixed by the sight in the sky. He sprang onto a raised spot and shouted, drawing every Troll's attention.
"Zul'Aman lies behind us. Here stand our honor and our families. The enemy will show us not the slightest mercy! Tell me, what are you still afraid of? Stand up! We must defend our home. Prepare for battle! May Zul'Aman be blessed! For Ulatek!" Tian Sang roared himself hoarse, making the situation clear to every Troll.
"May Zul'Aman be blessed! For Ulatek! Warriors, form up! Drummers, sound the war drums! Witch Doctors, prepare your magic!" Seeing the man bellowing from his elevated position, Lostro let out a furious roar. The Troll warriors, their spirits roused, cast off their fear and fell into formation. The drummers struck up a rapid beat, and the soldiers began to shout and dance to its rhythm.
"May Zul'Aman be blessed!"
"For Ulatek!"
"Damn." Standing up high, Tian Sang watched the warriors gathered in clumps, shouting now that their fear had passed, and couldn't help twitching his lips. It seemed the Trolls had little experience with large-scale battles.
The rain had doused the flames on Battleaxe Ridge, and the clouds had scattered from the sky. Steam and ash shrouded the entire ridge. Under the senior hunters' direction, the Trolls gathered and began preparing for battle.
Their morale had improved, but a battle wasn't as simple as charging forward. Take Tian Sang's speech: he'd said things meant to inspire them, but the Trolls hadn't responded with applause or cheers. That didn't mean they hadn't been moved; they simply hadn't shown it.
Though Lostro was a Nightmare Troll, he possessed a wisdom and military aptitude that his appearance belied. He quickly helped Tian Sang restore order, then sent out a group of Raptor riders as scouts. They entered Battleaxe Ridge, still wreathed in steam and ash, and soon returned with news.
The Elves and humans had arrived. A large force of soldiers was gathering in front of Battleaxe Ridge, all fully armed, with armored cavalry, mages, and light-wielding Witch Doctors (Priests) supporting them. They seemed ready to attack through the Amani Path.
Faced with the Alliance army marching straight toward them, Lostro quickly began making arrangements. He wanted to send the army to block the Amani Path all at once, using the narrow terrain and the courage and fearlessness of Zul'Aman's Trolls to kill the invaders and drive them from Battleaxe Ridge.
"This battle will take us a long time if we fight it that way. Why not choose some mid- to long-range fighters and send them to attack from the flanks, high on the ridges on either side of the Amani Path? We could even send a force over the Amani Path to cut off their retreat. That would be easy for us." Tian Sang looked over Lostro's arrangements and considered the Amani Path's terrain before offering his suggestion.
"Our army is too small to spare any more troops. But taking the high ground and attacking their flanks with mid- to long-range fighters is a good idea. I can arrange that." Lostro pondered for a moment, then shook his head to reject the plan to cut off the enemy's retreat while approving the flanking attack.
At Lostro's approval, Tian Sang nodded, his tusks moving. His knowledge of military affairs was all theoretical; he'd only mentioned the idea in passing. He still had a lot to learn before he could command an army like this big fellow.
Under Lostro's direction, the Troll army was quickly split into three forces, each led by suitable Witch Doctors and hunters. The central force hurried to the Amani Path to meet the enemy, while the other two skirted around the main force to seize the Battleaxe Ridge highlands on either side of the path and attack the enemy from above.
As the Troll army went to face the invaders, Lostro didn't ask Tian Sang to go with them. He didn't know the man could cast spells and had mistaken him for a dud, so he left him in Zul'Aman to calm the people and organize things in the city.
Tian Sang was happy enough with Lostro's arrangement. Deep down, he wanted to experience the battlefield and let his blood run hot, but he still felt uneasy. Swords, arrows, and bows didn't care who they hit, so if he could avoid risking his life, he might as well. He'd play it safe for now and wait until he was better prepared before enjoying the spectacle.
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