War Begins

War was a violent act meant to force the enemy to submit to one's will. Guk had always remembered Diego telling him that.

In human thinking, war should be a means rather than an end. But to Orks, war was both a means and an end. If Guk wished to become the overlord standing above all Orks, Diego believed he had to break free from that chaotic way of thinking and recognize war for what it truly was.

Place the goal above war, and use one's own will to command it.

But that was exceedingly difficult for Guk. The violence in his blood gave him a natural urge to destroy his enemies, while the swelling desire for battle in his mind battered his reason every moment—and that was already fragile enough.

Difficult though it was, Guk still had to try. The entire tribe stood behind him, waiting for his orders. Against a stronger enemy, he needed more than brute strength. Individual power was far too insignificant now, and Guk was not arrogant enough to believe he could kill hundreds of thousands of Boyz by himself.

"Boss!"

Crooked Mouth slammed a fist against his chest, making his iron armor ring.

Guk raised his head and looked at the blood-red war banner. It was so enormous that even its pole was as thick as an arm. This was a brand-new banner, prepared for this war. Big Cleaver's head still stood atop the pole, as though roaring at the distant horizon.

He turned to look behind him. Endless green covered everything, creating a scene of overwhelming force. War banners of every shape and style wove into a vast tapestry in the wind. Farther away, gigantic catapults rolled forward, and beyond them stood Blackstone Fort, now practically an empty city.

The whole tribe had marched out. Guk had placed everything on the gambling table. Within a week, every Boy, whether from the White Hand Tribe or not, had gathered here for this unprecedented decisive battle.

Roaring, brawling, cursing—the entire wasteland was filled with the crude voices of Orks. Every creature had hidden away. The excitement before battle infected every Boy, and they could not wait to fight and see blood!

For the first time in his life, Guk was leading so many Boyz. Powerful emotions filled his chest, making him leap up. His feet landed on the back of the Squiggoth as he raised Dragon Tooth and the silver shield high, opened his mouth as wide as he could, and violently vented those feelings.

Waaagh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In an instant, every Boy fell silent and turned toward Guk. The air became strangely quiet, with only the howling wind remaining.

The same emotion rapidly spread into every Boy's heart. As if linked by telepathy, all the Orks raised their weapons—or anything that could serve as a weapon.

Waaagh!!!

Waaagh!!!!

Waaagh!!!!!!

No more words were needed. The massive army quickly began to move. Boyz riding Squigs raced along the outer edges of the formation, leading tamed beasts behind them. Chariots rumbled through gaps in the ranks, followed by deadly bolt throwers. Snotlings followed the Boyz' footsteps in all kinds of groups. Last came the huge catapults, dragged by more than a hundred sturdy Squigs, while Agum and his companions checked whether every part was working properly.

It was the fortieth day since the tunnels had been dug. With all preparations complete, Guk led more than seven hundred thousand Boyz straight at Red-Eye Fortress. The war had begun.

"What!"

Agugu shot to his feet from his chair. He could hardly believe his ears.

"Boss! The W-White Hand Tribe! So many, so many Boyz are coming this way!"

The Boss swallowed and haltingly repeated what he had just said. When he had seen that sight with his own eyes, he had been scared stupid too. Honestly, it was his first time seeing so many Boyz gathered in one place.

"How many!"

"Lots, lots! About as many as us!"

Agugu was a little dumbfounded as well. He could not understand how this white tribe had suddenly gained such a massive number of Boyz. The other Bosses began chattering and shouting, and the entire hall became exceptionally chaotic.

"Commander! We need to mobilize immediately!"

The Boss wearing a human army coat stepped forward again. He was instead the calmest Ork present.

"Right, right! Hurry!! Gather all the Boyz!! Now!!!!!!"

After driving all the Bosses away, Agugu picked up a bowl and violently gulped down a mouthful. Then he suddenly began to laugh.

"Heh heh, perfect. I was getting impatient too. Since you wanna come die, Guk."

He had already decided how to deal the arrogant white freak a crushing blow. He would use Guk's own methods against him, use Red-Eye's solid fortress to crush the White Hand Tribe. Then he could conquer his enemy in one stroke, and after that, the other two would not escape either.

Thinking of that beautiful future, Agugu laughed again and drank several more bowls of liquor.

Such a massive march could not be concealed. Soon, every nearby tribe learned of this great battle. Many medium-sized tribes chose to join in, some siding with Red-Eye and others with White Hand. Yet Blade Bite and Blood Skull behaved strangely, making no moves at all. Their leaders seemed deaf and blind, leaving the Boyz of both tribes utterly confused. Some impatient ones even joined one side or the other on their own.

As long as there was a fight, that was good enough. To most Orks, loyalty to a tribe was not all that important.

After several days and nights of forced marching, Guk finally saw the massive rock formation on the horizon, as well as the equally endless green, like a green river surrounding the fortress.

"Boyz! Show those white gitz what we got!! Waaagh!!!!!"

At the very front of the army, Agugu also rode a Squiggoth. Holding a massive black war axe, he let out a deafening battle cry.

Waaagh!!!!!!

The Boyz of the Red Eye Tribe answered with the same roar. Behind them stood the towering fortress, its surface covered in countless caves and watchtowers. Savage war machines lurked within, waiting for the moment to harvest enemy lives.

"Good!"

Agugu nodded in satisfaction. Looking around, he saw great numbers of Squig cavalry forming dense charging formations, preparing to strike the enemy like thunder. Huge chariots were being fitted with deadly blades. Throwing spears and bows were handed out to the Boyz, while heavily armored elites sharpened their weapons. Every blade awaited the moment it could drink deeply of blood.

And they would not have to wait long.

Though they were far apart, Agugu still recognized Guk at the front. He had crossed paths with that bastard several times before, though from even farther away than this.

Perhaps out of some strange curiosity, Agugu suddenly slapped the beast beneath him and galloped all the way to the space between the two armies.

"Guk!"

He raised his axe and pointed it at the bastard he hated.

"I told ya, yer head is mine! I'm gonna make it into the best drinking cup!"

"Hahaha!"

Guk laughed several times before replying:

"I ain't interested in yer head, but the Snotlings I raise are always short on shit buckets. I reckon yer head's just the right size!"

"Hmph! Just you wait!!!"

Amid a burst of laughter, Agugu retreated awkwardly to his own army. His face was as black as One-Ear's ass, and his whole body radiated intense killing intent.

"Are you ready?"

"Ready."

Hearing the words of Mangul, his chief guard, Guk raised his right arm and rotated his wrist. A black banner and a white banner suddenly rose behind him, while the black banner began to sway from side to side.

Soon, the packed formation slowly split apart. Aluba and Bucktooth each led one wing outward from the left and right. The Boyz followed their respective leaders, and none of them broke off to run around alone.

Next, groups of Yellow Helmets led their hundred-man guards into the front line, and the previously scattered formation began to tighten again.

Guk personally led the White-Helm Guards at the front. The entire army slowly advanced with him. From afar, the White Hand Tribe had formed a wedge formation. Squig cavalry continued to roam along both flanks, with chariots and bolt throwers behind the infantry, and catapults behind the chariots.

"They brought those things too."

Agugu naturally saw those massive catapults. He had sent plenty of Boyz to spy on them, but not one had figured out what they were for. He was no Mekboy and did not understand such things. The tribe's Mekboyz said they were probably for throwing stuff.

Throwing stuff? Agugu did not understand what use a thing for throwing stuff could have. Were they going to throw rocks and smash him to death? But the tribe's Mekboyz also said something that large would fall apart after one throw, so he understood even less what Guk planned to do with them.

But none of that mattered. All he needed to do was chop off the other bastard's head.

The two armies gradually drew closer. The war machines within Red-Eye Fortress were all ready. The moment the enemy entered range, they would give those bastards a surprise—a huge surprise.

But to their frustration, the white tribe stopped. They all stopped just as they were about to enter range!

Guk raised his hand again. This time, the white banner was the one swaying.

"Hurry! You useless gits!!"

Agum and Idea Guy whipped the Boyz carrying stones with their weapons. Soon, every winch had been wound tight, and polished stones were placed into leather slings. The stones were smeared with Squig oil. Though they would burn quickly once lit, it would at least be enough.

"Ready!"

Every stone was set ablaze, and the Boyz gripped the hammers in their hands.

"Fire!!!!!"

Boom~~~!

Amid continuous muffled blasts, dozens of huge fireballs howled over the ranks of the White Hand Tribe and passed above the heads of the Red Eye Tribe.

"What's that!!"

"Fire! Fire! Move!!"

"Don't panic! Hold steady!"

The incoming fireballs caused considerable chaos. Just as the Boyz tried to avoid those huge things, the scorching fireballs slammed viciously into the hard rock.

Boom!

A tremendous crash came from above. The Boyz looked up and saw great chunks of shattered stone, mixed with a few screaming unlucky bastards, falling from the fortress overhead. That volley destroyed only a dozen or so watchtowers and damaged a small number of war machines.

But the blow to morale was severe. Agugu realized his original plan might be difficult to carry out.

"Ahhh! No, that's wrong! They're off, they're off!"

Standing atop one of the catapults, One-Ear noticed that at least half the stones had missed. He shouted furiously.

"You! And you! Adjust them now! Aim a little more to the left!"

The catapult position quickly became busy. Guk stared at the fortress ahead. The catapults were far less effective than expected. Relying on them alone would probably not be enough to force Agugu out.

If he could not force Agugu out now, the following plan would inevitably fail.

"We can't just stand here and take it!"

"We have to create an opportunity!"

Almost simultaneously, the leaders of both tribes made a decision they would later deeply regret.

"Advance!"

Under identical commands, the two tribes slowly began to move.

"Fire! Hit 'em!!"

The White Hand Tribe had not advanced far before a sky-covering barrage of short spears and stones came crashing down.

"Hold!"

Fortunately, Guk had specifically prepared many shields before the battle. The front ranks raised thick leather and wooden shields, but many Boyz still fell along the road. Agonized howls and screams rang continuously through the advancing army, yet Guk remained unmoved.

Whoosh~~!

Another volley of stones came. This time, most struck the fortress, instantly destroying dozens of war machines. Many Boyz operating them were frightened into stopping their work, indirectly easing Guk's pressure.

The two armies drew closer and closer. Some Boyz could no longer wait to charge, but without exception they fell beneath the dense barrage of projectiles. Guk's bolt throwers also opened fire, though their shots were not particularly accurate.

"Chariots!! Go!"

Agugu employed the older tactic of using chariots to crush through first, followed by infantry. At his command, nearly two thousand heavy chariots rolled out from the army and charged straight for Guk's lines.

The Boyz whipped their Squigs desperately and let out savage howls. A sandstorm rose from the plain. When Guk saw those huge chariots, he raised his hand again, but did not rotate his wrist this time. Instead, he clenched his fist.

"We're up! We're up!"

A yellow banner rose. Lower-ranking guards in pointed helmets led their Boyz to the front while roaring battle songs. Each carried a thick sharpened stake—some wooden, some bone, and some simply carved from stone. They pressed tightly together,

forming a wall of spikes.

Guk had no intention of using chariots to meet them head-on. It was not worth it.

"Show 'em what we got!!"

Two thousand chariots could not cover the entire battle line. They concentrated in the center, charging toward Guk's banner. Most of the lower-ranking guards sent into battle also gathered there, gripping their unreliable weapons tightly.

Rumble!

It was a terrifying collision. The charging Squigs plunged straight into the dense wall of stakes. The enormous force not only pierced their own bodies, but also sent many Boyz of the White Hand Tribe flying. The chariots' tremendous momentum allowed them to retain horrifying crushing power. Though the Boyz on top had been flung away, those massive machines still swept across the entire defensive line.

Screams, roars, groans...

Guk watched everything unfold without blinking. At least half the Boyz became unrecognizable piles of flesh and blood the instant they made contact. Many corpses lay twisted in unnatural shapes. Severed limbs and blood flew together with splintered wood, while internal organs sprayed all over the survivors.

But at least the objective had been achieved. Nearly all the Red Eye Tribe's chariots had been forcibly stopped, and the distance between the two battle lines was now close enough to launch a charge.

Guk raised Dragon Tooth and pointed it forward.

"Kill!!!!!!!!!!!!!"