Green Monster Epic

At the border of the Kingdom of Four Seasons, plumes of smoke occasionally rise, and countless scouting squads roam the border wilderness, engaging in bloody and merciless contests.

Over two hundred years ago, this land belonged to the Beastman Empire, but now it has become part of the human territory. Diligent and hardworking lower-class human pioneers, lured by the kingdom's promise of decades of tax exemption for land reclamation, have migrated from the kingdom's interior to the border, eventually re-establishing villages scattered like stars across this treacherous land.

Life is usually not peaceful. Beastman harassment teams or adventurers with hatred and missions often target these ordinary human villages to vent their anger.

Although the kingdom's border defense army and the Church of the Four Seasons also organize patrols, the vast border is difficult to fully cover. In the end, the villagers have to spontaneously organize night watch teams to protect their manors and lands.

Just when life was gradually getting back on track and the families who came to reclaim the land could finally eat their fill, with surplus grain in hand, a large convoy of supplies and a human army in armor, forming a long serpent formation and gathering eastward, suddenly appeared on the village roads, disrupting people's lives once again.

People's hearts became uneasy. Ordinary people could not understand the foresight and layout of the human high-level. The only thing they could feel was that the surrounding environment was becoming unsafe again. The Beastman scout and adventurer intrusion incidents, which had gradually subsided, became frequent again.

Even more excessive were the mobilization orders from the kingdom's upper echelons and the church, calling on these pioneers to contribute the grain in their hands and have their newly adult children join the ranks of the supply transport team.

The border people complained endlessly, but there was nothing they could do. The always timid and law-abiding lower-class people, facing the stern and murderous army, could only suppress their resentment and dissatisfaction in their hearts, reluctantly handing over the grain they had worked so hard to harvest and the children they had nurtured for many years.

A majestic castle built against the mountain on the border line—Eagle Fortress—was once the pride of the Beastmen two hundred years ago, but now it has become the largest fortress guarding the border of the Kingdom of Four Seasons.

Figures thronged the fortress walls, and countless human warriors in black standard heavy armor stood tall in the low recesses of the battlements, facing the east with firm and cold expressions.

Outside the city walls, in the farmland, bushes, and wilderness, there were earth-gray military tents everywhere. Flags with different patterns stood tall, fluttering in the gradually setting red sun, as if immersed in a sea of blood and fire.

"Report, Commander, new orders have been issued!"

"The vanguard of the allied forces, 300,000 strong, has completed its assembly, and the supplies and provisions have been prepared almost completely. The Allied Forces Staff believes that our vanguard can move east and launch the first battle of the Allied Forces!"

Mirko and Sidney, two legendary generals of the Lionheart Kingdom, stood on the majestic city of the Kingdom of Four Seasons as the commanders of the vanguard of the human allied forces. Beside them were Salomon, the garrison commander of Eagle Fortress, and his subordinates. A dozen people overlooked the endless military camp scene, while Deputy General Loki, who had rushed from the heart of the human territory, was conveying the latest instructions from the high-level of the human allied forces to Mirko and the others.

Upon hearing this, Mirko turned his gaze to his colleague Sidney, who was standing side by side with him, with a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"What do you say, when should we set off?"

The reward for Mirko and Sidney's betrayal of the former royal family of the Lionheart Kingdom was this time to personally lead the vanguard of the human allied forces to launch the first battle of the second eastward expedition to the Beastman territory.

Although their actions have not been fully spread in the Lionheart Kingdom, they are no longer a secret among various figures in the kingdom's bureaucracy, and the leakage of news in the future is only a matter of time.

The new royal family led by the Church of the Suffering has begun to launch public opinion, smearing the former King Daizell and his followers, but the generation of people who have been deeply favored by King Daizell may not be deceived. Although they cannot make fierce resistance due to reality, the middle and lower-level people of the kingdom feel disgusted and hate Mirko, Sidney, and others who personally murdered the kingdom's heirs and followers from the bottom of their hearts.

The two generals also felt somewhat guilty. Facing the stories and rumors that gradually spread among the people, defaming and condemning them, made them feel even more uncomfortable.

In view of this, Pope Saint Zachary of the Church of the Suffering simply transferred these two legendary powerhouses away from the kingdom's territory, allowing them to participate in the war against the Beastmen, which can be regarded as a reward for their loyalty to the church.

As long as they can perform well in this war, relying on the church's grassroots church institutions to publicize it, they will most likely be able to re-establish a good image for themselves.

Even if they make outstanding achievements, and the Beastman Empire territory occupied by the human allied forces this time is vast, perhaps when the merits are rewarded after the war, they will also have the opportunity to be granted a large piece of land to establish their own marquisate or even a duchy.

Mirko and the others are also smart people, and naturally understand the good intentions of the church. At this time, they can leave the kingdom to avoid the upcoming wave of public opinion condemnation, and at the same time have the opportunity to create a better future for their families, how can they not be full of passion and fighting spirit!

"Since the Staff has issued the order, then let's not waste time. According to our previous plan, we will start assembling the troops tonight and set off, so that we can arrive at the Beastman border at dawn and clear all the outposts and guard posts they have deployed on the front lines."

Sidney's commanding talent among the many generals of the Lionheart Kingdom was truly forged through battle after battle. Although there must be cultivation and publicity from the former royal family, he would not have gained the trust of King Daizell if his own ability was not strong enough.

Therefore, he was awarded the commander of the vanguard army this time, while Mirko, the former commander who was once in charge of the border fortress, became his deputy.

"Okay, then I'll go prepare!"

Mirko was actually already impatient. They had stayed in this Eagle Fortress for more than half a year, away from their homes and adhering to military regulations, and the days were really boring and sad.

Now that the time has finally come to show their great ambitions, he feels that even delaying it for one more day is a waste.

"I will also organize manpower to prepare supplies and porters for your troops, and wish the two generals a great victory in the first battle!"

"Let's encourage each other!"

"Woooo ～ ～"

"Dong dong dong ～ ～"

Soon, battle drums and horns sounded in this heavily guarded fortress. The long-silent military camp was suddenly shrouded in various commands and the sound of metal colliding, scaring the residents living in the fortress to close their doors and carefully watch the various movements inside and outside the fortress.

In the distant mountains, pairs of sharp eyes and ears were hidden in the shadows, listening to the increasingly faint sounds of horns and war drums. Orc scouts, clad in various camouflage outfits that blended with the surrounding environment, were also eager to move, awaiting orders from their respective captains and squad leaders.

“Hiss~~”

The lifelike hissing sound, imitating the calls of animals and insects in the jungle, finally rang out. Orc scouts hiding in various secret locations slowly stirred, cautiously observing the surrounding movements while slowly converging towards the hidden哨卡哨所 in the valley behind them.

“Aww!!”

In the dim sky, a soaring eagle leisurely let out a cry. As the cry slowly faded, the eagle circled and descended towards the ground.

Orc scout Jacob moved cautiously, afraid that even a slight movement would attract attention. Deep behind enemy lines, he knew very well that if he exposed his tracks, he would inevitably face a relentless pursuit.

Before he received the mission to monitor Falcon Fortress, countless comrades had already died in these mountains adjacent to the human fortress, and most of the orcs didn't even have a corpse left behind.

Constantly traversing through dense or sparse bushes, using the natural cover provided by the bushes, Jacob finally returned to the designated meeting point with the other members of his squad after spending some time: a natural tree hole formed by a dry, old tree trunk.

The dead tree, which would require several people to encircle, was once incredibly lush, but now only a stump less than a meter tall remained. Various mosses, shrubs, and parasitic vines grew vigorously around the dead wood, relying on the nutrients left by the decaying dead tree to grow freely, concealing the tree hole dug from the intersecting roots.

“The enemy is making such a big commotion, obviously planning to invade the imperial border. We must send this news back to the Imperial Pandal Fortress as soon as possible and ask Marshal Angus to prepare as early as possible!”

“Jacob, Judith, you two are fast. Choose a route each to go back and report. The rest of us will stay here to monitor the humans' movements.”

The dim tree hole was damp and cold, with a foul odor. By the faint light of the fluorite, a weary-looking middle-aged orc captain instructed his seven or eight huddled companions in a deep voice.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Understood!”

Everyone lowered their voices and responded one by one. Just as everyone was about to act, Judith, the druid orc among them, suddenly looked up towards the outside of the tree hole.

“Not good, the magic trap I set has been triggered!”

“Everyone, after leaving the cave, cover Jacob and Judith's departure!”

“You two must get the message back!”

“Yes!”

The originally solemn tone suddenly became more resolute and ominous with Judith's warning. Then, led by the middle-aged orc captain, several warriors rushed out of their hiding tree hole, following the trail towards the place where they had set up the trap.

Jacob and Judith, who followed closely out of the tree hole, said goodbye to each other with their eyes. Then, one figure gradually blurred and disappeared in front of the other, while the other transformed into a lithe jungle leopard with magical aura and halo, crouching on the ground. With a sudden burst of strength, it plunged into the mountains and forests.

Clang!

Clang clang!

The sound of metal clashing came from behind. Needless to say, the orc scouts had encountered the elite human forces who had come to intercept and clear them. The human coalition's large-scale war against the orcs had actually begun from this land.

After Judith transformed into a leopard, his hearing became even more acute. The sounds of fighting and roaring from his companions behind him, and the painful groans caused by injuries, were all heard clearly by him.

Although he was in great pain at this time, when he thought of the mission entrusted to him by the captain and the time his companions had sacrificed themselves to gain for him, the pain transformed into a force, driving his body to move quickly through the jungle.

Whoosh!!

A faint sound of wind breaking suddenly came from above. Judith's front body suddenly reared up, and his hind legs kicked off the ground, but he suddenly made a sharp 90-degree turn in a hurry. Then, in his amber pupils, he saw a giant eagle descending from the sky, landing right on the route he was originally supposed to be on.

Swish!!

At the same time as the sharp turn, the long tail behind the leopard's body, which maintained its balance, turned into a whip shadow. Judith actually launched an attack first, sweeping his whip towards the giant eagle's left wing.

Puff!!

A muffled collision sound rang out. Although the attack hit the target as expected, what surprised Judith was that his attack was ultimately blocked by the opponent's raised left wing. The feathers, as hard as steel, protected the giant eagle's body like a shield. At the same time, just as Judith tried to escape, the opponent's pair of black beaks aimed directly at the leopard's body. As a flash of white light flashed, Judith only felt a burst of numbness and pain in his body, and then his entire body flew uncontrollably to the side.

The giant eagle flapped its wings and chased after Judith's figure. At the same time, a ball of electric light appeared in its beak again, turning into a lightning bolt straight towards the leopard's body.

……

Jacob carefully lay prone in a swamp, the moist liquid mixed with the excrement of unknown animals. He patiently didn't retreat towards the eastern imperial mainland.

His caution was correct, because just as he was hiding his aura with animal excrement, his keen nose had already smelled no less than three or four auras brushing past him, but he couldn't see any movement of living things.

Obviously, their squad had long been targeted by the human scouts. As the humans launched a large-scale military operation, the human scouts also began their closing-net operation, in order to gain an advantage for the human army.

He could no longer hear the sounds of his companions fighting in his ears. Based on the reality, he judged that they were probably in grave danger. Even Judith, who had parted ways with him to return and deliver the message, seemed unlikely to escape in Jacob's eyes.

The heavier the burden on his shoulders, the calmer Jacob's mood became. The sacrifice of his companions could not be in vain. He must safely deliver the message back to the imperial border.

He stayed in the putrid swamp for a full half a day like a dead person, until the night became darker and the activities of surrounding animals gradually became bolder and more frequent. Only then did Jacob pull himself out of the mud, and then disappeared into the darkness without looking back.

When the setting sun rose again from the east, Jacob, who had traveled a long distance, finally saw the magnificent outline of Pandal Fortress on the white-bellied horizon, as well as the cavalry squadrons constantly patrolling around the fortress.

“Urgent report!!”

“The human vanguard legion is invading the imperial border on a large scale!!”

Jacob, who had run wildly all night without any rest, finally broke away from the shadow plane after seeing a familiar armed cavalry team hundreds of meters away. Then, he mustered his last bit of strength and roared loudly!!