In the wetlands, inside the hall of the underground caverns.
Due to the vast disparity in forces, Gabiru had gathered all the elderly, weak, women, and children of the Lizardmen Tribe here.
Leaving a portion of soldiers to guard several entrances, the remaining warriors all took up their weapons.
Gabiru stood at the highest point holding the vortex spear, his expression solemn.
The rest of the soldiers were the same.
"Everyone, follow me into battle to kill the enemy! Let the Hogheads regret invading our territory!"
"We swear our lives to the Chief!"
Numerous Lizardmen shouted in unison, their momentum magnificent.
Once organized, Gabiru led nine thousand Lizardman warriors and seven thousand Goblin cannon fodder, rushing out of the caverns.
"Charge with me!!"
Following Gabiru's roar, all the Lizardmen riding crawling lizards let out a howl and charged frantically toward the flank of the Hoghead Army.
The war broke out at this moment.
The Lizardmen Tribe did not fail their name as the kings of the wetlands; they moved across the wetlands as if on level ground, their speed astonishingly fast.
In an instant, the two sides exchanged fire.
With sharp blades piercing hearts, the endless Hoghead Army seemed to be torn apart by Gabiru's forces.
But the Hoghead Army was simply too numerous, so densely packed they were impossible to count.
Inheriting his father's excellent command qualities, Gabiru had plans ready; his blades turned, striking and then retreating immediately.
The Lizard warriors, moving like the wind, once again ducked into a hidden karst cave.
This was the strategy Gabiru had devised based on the massive disparity in numbers.
By utilizing the speed advantage of the Lizardmen to conduct continuous flanking raids, they could gradually whittle down the Hogheads' forces while ensuring no casualties on their own side.
Then, they would deliver a decisive blow to crush the Hoghead Army in one fell swoop.
Soon, Gabiru and his warriors made full use of the geographical advantage, turning the labyrinthine limestone caves into their underground passages.
From a direction the Hoghead Army least expected, blades descended as the Lizardmen completed another perfect raid.
For now, the situation seemed excellent.
However, the Hoghead Army of two hundred thousand was no pushover.
By now, the wetlands were filled with Hogheads, and a continuous stream of reinforcements was still arriving from the distant forest.
The area where the Lizardmen could operate was gradually shrinking.
Souei, observing silently from atop a massive rock, frowned to himself.
"Why did these guys attack without orders?"
Sensing something was wrong, he immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate the situation... Meanwhile, in the cavern hall.
At this time, the Old Clan Chief was being held under guard by several soldiers.
He sighed, filled with regret.
He shouldn't have treated the tales of the Pig-Headed Emperor as mere fairy tales; he should have made Gabiru understand the true horror of the Pig-Headed Emperor more deeply.
"It's all my responsibility..."
The chief felt a deep sense of self-reproach.
The clansmen gathered in the hall all wore expressions of sorrow.
Clang! Thud! Boom!
The sounds of fighting gradually echoed through the cavern.
There were only about a thousand soldiers protecting their kin, a number that could never withstand the Hoghead Army.
"We can't just sit here and wait for death!"
Taking advantage of the guards' distraction, the Old Clan Chief snatched a weapon and released his other child, the Personal Guard Captain, through an escape passage.
"Find our allies and request their support. Go, quickly!"
"But, Father!"
"This place won't hold for long. I must stay to protect my people."
The Old Clan Chief's resolute gaze caused the Personal Guard Captain to leave in silence.
Afterward, the Old Clan Chief immediately rallied his former subordinates, prepared to defend the line to the death.
Long after, accompanied by a chorus of battle cries, a colossal creature appeared in one of the hall's passages.
Beneath its murky eyes and dark brown skin were muscles rippling with power.
This was an A-rank Pig-Headed General.
"Hahaha! Look what I found—food!!"
The Pig-Headed General brandished a three-meter-long butcher knife, howling with excitement.
Feeling the descent of a powerful demonic aura, the Lizardmen knew the nightmare had begun.
"Humph! Then let this old man be your opponent!"
The Old Clan Chief clenched his fists, the scales on his body shifting unpredictably until they quickly transformed into a suit of hideous, terrifying armor.
"Kill!"
The Old Clan Chief gave a low shout and charged forward first, spear in hand.
He had to buy time for the rescue mission, even if hope was slim.
Bang!
The two weapons collided, sending sparks flying.
The Old Clan Chief's body swayed slightly, but he quickly steadied himself; conversely, the Pig-Headed General hadn't budged an inch.
A one-sided battle unfolded in the hall... Meanwhile, carrying the hope of the entire tribe, the Personal Guard Captain was fleeing toward the outside.
She didn't dare to delay.
Although she knew the chances of finding reinforcements were slim, she gritted her teeth and pressed on.
If even she gave up, then the Lizardmen would truly be finished.
Tap, tap, tap!
In the empty emergency passage, only the hurried sound of the Personal Guard Captain's footsteps could be heard.
The exit was right before her eyes, and a glimmer of hope sparkled in her gaze.
However, the moment she burst out, the Personal Guard Captain froze.
The outside had long been surrounded by the Hoghead Army, packed so tightly that not even water could seep through. How could she possibly break through alone?
Where was there any hope?
It was all just an illusion.
The Personal Guard Captain gave a miserable smile and closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The surrounding Hogheads soon noticed this delicious morsel that had suddenly appeared before them.
Starving, they opened their mouths one after another, revealing sharp fangs as they lunged at the Personal Guard Captain.
The Personal Guard Captain took up her weapon and fought desperately.
Clang—!!
Ultimately no match for the endless Hoghead Army, her spear was snapped, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, and the wounds on her body multiplied.
Finally, the Personal Guard Captain collapsed to the ground.
She looked up with difficulty at the Hogheads slowly closing in from all sides, her heart filled with grief and indignation.
But just as she was preparing to accept her fate.
A dark shadow suddenly darted out.
Slash!
A massive head flew into the air, hot blood splattering across the ground as blood gurgled from the neck of a Hoghead in the front row.
Eh?
The Personal Guard Captain was stunned.
She stared blankly at the person who had suddenly appeared.
Dressed in blue with a cold gaze, he held a short blade that emanated a chilling aura.
Space Magic: Spatial Slice!
The figure simply snapped his fingers, and the surrounding Hoghead Army was cut down as if by an invisible blade, turning into blood mist and vanishing into the void.
What terrifying strength.
That handsome silhouette was deeply etched into the Personal Guard Captain's mind.
"The Lizardmen Tribe has violated the alliance treaty. Tell me why!"
Souei's voice was icy, making it impossible to look him in the eye.
Hearing his question, the Personal Guard Captain snapped out of it and quickly gave a brief description of the situation.
Souei's brow furrowed; the matter seemed much more troublesome than expected.
He was only sent by Draco to assist Rimuru and could not make decisions.
Thus, he informed Benimaru of the current situation via "Thought Communication" and asked him to relay it to Rimuru.
Rimuru, who was on the way, was also stunned upon hearing this news.
"Lord Rimuru, do we need to rescue the Lizardmen Tribe?" Benimaru asked.
"Sigh. Tell Sir Souei that if it's not too difficult to help, then go ahead and rescue them."
"We're almost at the battlefield. His time is limited, so let him decide for himself."
"Understood."
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