Not far away, the orcs who overheard the half-orc’s words had darkened expressions. They had almost lost their lives to these zergs, and now you’re telling me they’re weak? Are you kidding me?
“In fact, as long as you find their weak points, zergs are easy to deal with. But that’s only because there were relatively few this time. If there were more, it would be hard for just a few of us to resist.” Shao Qian didn’t want his half-orcs to become overconfident.
On the battlefield, once you underestimate the enemy, it means you won’t give your all and might even slack off. The enemy waits for that moment of relaxation. Once they seize that opportunity, it could lead to severe injury or even death.
“Yes, Commander.” The half-orcs, who were a bit smug after their initial victory, listened to Shao Qian’s words and reined in their pride, their expressions turning more serious.
“Commander, the cuts are done.” Martin, carrying a giant zerg leg on his shoulder, spoke with some hesitation, “Are you sure this thing is edible?”
“You’ll know once you try.” Shao Qian took the zerg leg from Martin’s shoulder. “Let’s head back.”
“Wait a minute,” the injured orcs hurriedly spoke upon hearing that the half-orcs were leaving. “Are you guys from a legion?”
Martin scrutinized the orc who spoke, then flashed a wide grin, showing his white teeth. “Kid, who did you tell to scram earlier?”
“…” The orc’s expression froze. In his whole life, no half-orc had ever dared to speak to him like that. Normally, he would have punched them, but now, these half-orcs were his saviors…
“My brother was just worried about your safety. He didn’t mean any harm,” said an orc with an arm injury, stepping forward and thumping his chest in salute. “Thank you.”
“No need.” Shao Qian coldly nodded at the orc, then called Martin and the others to leave.
As they were leaving, Martin and the others gave the orcs a taunting smile before turning and following Shao Qian.
“They act like they don’t even see us orcs. They’re just some slave material, yet they think they’re something special?” one of the orcs said angrily as he watched Shao Qian and the others walk away. “What do they have to be so arrogant about?”
“Charles,” the orc who thanked Shao Qian lowered his voice angrily. “What right do they have to be arrogant? The fact that they saved our lives gives them every right to be.”
“I’d rather die at the hands of the zergs than wag my tail and thank a bunch of lowly half-orcs,” Charles spat, looking disdainfully at the grateful orc. “I never thought you’d stoop so low as to thank them, Colin.”
Though the other orcs remained silent, their expressions and gazes made it clear they were dissatisfied with being saved by half-orcs. Some might even think they could have killed the zergs themselves and that the half-orcs merely took advantage of their efforts.
“You all are truly disappointing,” Colin, the orc who thanked Shao Qian, said coldly before turning and walking away.
“Do you really think being part of the Fourth Legion makes you special? Look at who’s in charge now,” Charles shouted at Colin’s departing figure, showing his middle finger before leaving with the other orcs.
Shao Qian and his group returned to the main force with the zerg leg. When Adolf saw Shao Qian approaching from a distance, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked up to him, taking the zerg leg and inspecting Shao Qian for injuries. “I heard sounds of fighting earlier. What happened?”
“We encountered zergs,” Shao Qian briefly explained the situation. “We need to move faster.”
Adolf agreed and immediately ordered the half-orcs to pack up and speed up their march.
Despite their quickened pace, it still took them nearly two days to reach their destination. They arrived just in time to see the sand ahead of them explode, and a massive zerg beast emerged.
Adolf rushed forward, delivering a powerful punch before the zerg beast could fully emerge, causing it to screech and collapse.
“Stay alert,” Shao Qian commanded. “Orcs at the front, combat-ready half-orcs protect the logistics team in the middle.”
Everyone quickly formed up, protecting the logistics team in the center as they moved forward.
Their luck held, and they encountered no more zerg beasts. Shao Qian took this opportunity to explain the weaknesses of the low-level zergs to the half-orcs, ensuring they could conserve their energy and quickly dispatch the zergs.
Not long after, they heard the roar of beasts and the piercing screeches of zergs. Shao Qian and Adolf, along with a few others, hurried over and were surprised to find familiar faces: Derek and Ade.
“Grandpa Derek!” Shao Qian called out excitedly as he and Adolf rushed to help, killing the zergs surrounding Derek and Ade. “Didn’t Uncle Luden say you had already set off?”
“We had some trouble on the way,” Derek, despite his fierce demeanor, spoke in his usual lazy tone. “Come with us for now; we’ll explain later.”
Shao Qian nodded, sending someone to notify the half-orcs, and then followed Derek to the front line.
However, Derek expressed dissatisfaction with Shao Qian and Adolf leaving the half-orcs behind. To him, being on the battlefield meant not protecting the half-orcs like that.
Shao Qian was taken aback. He had always gone with Martin or Adolf to scout, never considering letting the half-orcs go alone. Derek’s words made him realize he might have been subconsciously protecting the half-orcs all along.
After a moment of silence, Shao Qian nodded. “You’re right. I hadn’t considered that.”
“Are you back to throwing your weight around?” Ade teased. “The kids just got here, and you’re already scolding them.”
“At this moment, if I don’t explain things clearly, I’ll be doing them a disservice.” Although Derek’s words were harsh, his tone had softened a bit. He really missed these two kids he hadn’t seen in three years.
Derek led Shao Qian and his group to the front line. Along the way, the orcs they encountered were visibly surprised by the large group of half-orcs. Many of them wondered if they were being sent as food for the zergs.
However, these half-orcs soon proved them wrong. Watching the half-orcs’ agile movements and swift actions, the orcs started to question if their eyes were playing tricks on them.
Just as Shao Qian’s group reached the front line, several large zergs broke through the defense and charged towards them. Instinctively, Shao Qian moved to step forward, but Adolf pulled him back.
The half-orcs standing behind them quickly rushed out, leaping swiftly and positioning themselves beneath or behind the zerg beasts. Sharp bladed claws sprang out, making a piercing sound as they slashed at the zergs’ abdomens.
The few large zergs that had broken through the defense were killed before they could cause any harm, leaving the front-line orcs staring in disbelief.
“Damn it, keep your eyes on the fight!” Derek roared. “Don’t forget you’re on a battlefield, where even a moment of distraction can cost you your life. Even if you don’t care about your own life, think of your comrades.”
Most of the orcs stationed in the desert were Derek’s former subordinates. When Derek resigned from his position as Marshal, his four legions were disbanded, and most of his men were sent to harsh environments. There was no place tougher than the desert front line.
This is one reason why Derek could immediately command respect upon his arrival here.
“Brothers, those orcs have had their fill of killing zergs. Don’t just stand there. Show them we’re not here to be cannon fodder,” Adolf called out loudly. “Get in there and make these orcs who look down on half-orcs take notice.”
“Deputy Commander, you talk like you’re not an orc yourself.” These half-orcs, even on the battlefield, never lost their knack for banter.
“The Deputy Commander doesn’t count as an orc. Every time he sees our Commander, he practically wags his tail off.” Even on the battlefield, they couldn’t stay quiet for a moment. Shao Qian rolled his eyes and lightly tapped a passing half-orc. “Keep your eyes open. Anyone who gets hurt won’t get dinner tonight.”
Hearing this, the half-orcs howled and charged forward. After discovering the delicacy of zerg meat, they had all developed a strong fondness for meals.
The breach in the defense was quickly filled by orcs, but before they could act, the half-orcs squeezed them aside. The stunned orcs watched as the half-orcs, with their strange weapons, swiftly dove into the zergs’ abdomens and quickly ended their lives.
However, the orcs couldn’t help but notice that the half-orcs seemed to deliberately avoid the zergs’ legs. The half-orcs thought to themselves that these orcs, who didn’t appreciate the delicacy of zerg legs, were truly pitiful.
Shao Qian greeted Derek and asked him to arrange for their logistics, then he and Adolf joined the battle.
