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"But what about the knights?!" one of the younger mages protested, their hands shaking as they maintained their spell.

"DO IT, OR YOU'LL DIE WITH THEM!" Gerhardt snapped, his voice harsh and unyielding.

The mages hesitated for only a fraction of a second before complying. The shimmering barriers that had once protected the knights collapsed inward, condensing around the mages in tight, impenetrable spheres of light.

The knights looked up in confusion and betrayal. "Wait—what are you doing?!" one of them shouted.

"PROTECT YOURSELVES!" Gerhardt barked, his voice trembling. "GET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER! SPREAD OUT!"

But it was too late.

The oppressive energy reached its zenith, and the first explosion tore through the ranks of the knights with a deafening BOOM.

A soldier at the front of the formation was thrown into the air like a ragdoll, his armor shattering into pieces before he hit the ground in a lifeless heap.

Then another.

And another.

One by one, the knights began to explode.

The force wasn't from an external attack—it was internal, as if the pressure building around them had turned their very bodies into bombs.

Blood sprayed into the air, mixing with the acrid smoke that now hung over the battlefield.

The screams were deafening.

A knight near the center of the formation clutched at his chest, his eyes wide with terror. "HELP ME! SOMETHING'S INSIDE ME!" he shrieked before his body burst apart in a grisly explosion.

Another soldier tried to run, only to fall to his knees as his legs gave out. He let out a guttural scream before his body erupted into a shower of gore.

The explosions came faster now, a horrifying chain reaction that ripped through the ranks of the human army.

Limbs and armor were flung through the air like debris in a storm.

The once-disciplined formation was reduced to utter chaos, soldiers scrambling in every direction in a futile attempt to escape their fate.

Gerhardt and the mages watched in horror from within their protective barriers. The old man's face was pale, his hands trembling as he clutched his staff.

"This... this isn't possible," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the carnage. "This kind of power—it's monstrous..."

A younger mage beside him vomited, unable to stomach the gruesome scene unfolding before them. "What kind of magic is this?!" they choked out, tears streaming down their face.

"It's not magic," Gerhardt muttered, his voice hollow. "It's something far worse."

The chain of explosions finally slowed, leaving the battlefield eerily silent.

The once-proud human army was reduced to a field of shattered armor, broken weapons, and unrecognizable remains.

Gerhardt's hands shook as he tightened his grip on his staff. He turned his gaze toward the swirling smoke, where he could just make out the faint silhouette of a massive figure descending from the sky.

"It's him," he whispered, his voice trembling. "The Orc leader... This is his doing."

The other mages stared in stunned silence, their protective barriers flickering as their concentration faltered.

"What... what do we do now?" one of them asked, their voice barely above a whisper.

Gerhardt didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath.

"We survive," he said finally, his voice filled with grim determination. "No matter what, we survived!"

The battlefield, eerily quiet after the devastating chain of explosions, was now a macabre graveyard.

Gerhardt and the mages huddled together, their magical barriers shimmering faintly as they tried to comprehend the monstrous power that had just annihilated the human army.

The silence stretched unbearably, broken only by the faint crackling of fires consuming broken banners and splintered wood.

But then, a sound—a deep, low whoosh—began to echo through the smoky haze. It grew louder, a rushing noise that seemed to slice through the heavy air like a blade.

Gerhardt's heart sank as the sound crescendoed into a deafening roar.

Out of the smoke, a figure hurtled toward them with terrifying speed. It was small at first, just a dark blur against the churning gray, but as it drew closer, its shape became clear. An Orc.

The creature's eyes were wild with confusion, its limbs flailing as it flew through the air. Its mouth opened in a terrified roar, its jagged teeth bared.

"What—" one of the younger mages started to ask, but the question was cut short as the Orc slammed into their barrier with a thunderous CRASH!

The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the protective dome, and the mages staggered under the strain of maintaining it.

The Orc, stunned but alive, let out a guttural growl. Its disorientation lasted only a moment before its gaze snapped to the mages.

A feral glint appeared in its eyes as it raised its crude weapon—a jagged axe stained with dried blood—and struck.

The barrier flared, sparks flying as the axe bounced off the magical shield. But the impact left a visible crack in the shimmering wall of light.

Gerhardt's eyes widened. "They're targeting us mid-air!" he shouted.

Another sound—whoosh!—cut through the chaos.

"Another one!" a mage cried, pointing toward the smoke.

This time, two Orcs hurtled through the air, their faces twisted with confusion and rage.

They slammed into the barrier at opposite sides, their weapons striking in unison.

The magical dome shuddered violently, its cracks spreading like spiderwebs.

The mages strained under the pressure, their chants faltering as their focus wavered. "Hold the barrier!" Gerhardt bellowed, his voice commanding.

But even as he spoke, the sound came again—whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Three more Orcs, their muscular bodies spinning uncontrollably, were launched toward the group.

They crashed into the barrier with explosive force, their combined weight and power causing the shimmering wall to flicker dangerously.

"They're coming too fast!" one of the mages cried out, sweat streaming down their face.

Gerhardt clenched his staff, his mind racing. "This isn't random... this is planned!" he snarled.

As if to confirm his suspicions, the sound came again—louder this time, deeper.

The ground itself seemed to tremble as a new shape emerged from the smoke.

A massive figure, green and hulking, hurtled through the air like a boulder shot from a catapult. Its sheer size cast a shadow over the mages as it descended upon them.

"It's—an Ogre!" someone screamed.

The creature slammed into the ground just in front of the barrier, the impact sending a shockwave that knocked several knights off their feet.

The Ogre's immense bulk towered over the mages, its face a mask of bewilderment that quickly turned to rage.

With a deafening roar, it swung a massive club down onto the barrier.

The magical shield fractured under the blow, shards of shimmering energy flying outward.
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The mages staggered, their voices faltering as they struggled to hold the barrier together.

Before they could recover, another whoosh sounded, and then another.

More Ogres emerged from the smoke, their colossal bodies crashing into the battlefield like falling meteors.

Each one landed with earth-shaking force, their roars blending into a symphony of chaos.

"This can't be happening," one of the mages whispered, their voice trembling with fear.

And then it did.

A final sound—a deep, guttural roar—rumbled through the smoke.

The ground quaked violently as a monstrous green figure, even larger than the Ogres, emerged.

Its muscles rippled with unearthly strength, and its glowing eyes burned with malevolent intent.

The massive figure lunged forward, moving with terrifying speed for something its size.

It crashed into the barrier, its immense weight and force shattering the weakened shield completely.

The mages were thrown backward, their protective spells collapsing under the assault.

Gerhardt hit the ground hard, his staff clattering away from him.

Pain shot through his body as he struggled to sit up, his vision blurry.

He looked up just in time to see the monstrous figure—a massive, mutated Orc—charging toward them.

With a bone-crushing impact, the creature tackled the nearest mage, the force sending the unfortunate magician flying into a broken wagon.

The others barely had time to react before the beast swung its massive arms, striking two more mages and sending them sprawling.

Despite their magical shields, the mages groaned in pain, their barriers barely holding against the sheer physical might of the attacker.

Blood trickled from the corner of Gerhardt's mouth a

s he watched the monstrous figure rear back for another attack.

"This... this can't be happening," he muttered, his voice weak.

But it was.