“Brother Ma, I really salute you. You stay calm even in front of this many enemies”, complimented Chief Pai after the shouting exchange between Elder Ma and Grufin.

“That’s nothing, brother. I’m just putting a tough front only. That arrogant bastard didn’t come here to negotiate, so why should I cower?” Elder Ma replied. “Furthermore, this many centaurs are not the real threat to us. I’m afraid there are something in the forest beyond the western wall, something that can scale our wall”

“Why do you say so, brother Ma?”

“They took too long to get here considering their third young master was taken prisoner. Gathering this many troop will take only several hours at most. Even if they’re from several different tribes, it only add up 2 or 3 hours max. But they took a whole day. There must be some dealing have been made. Furthermore, they lost miserably yesterday, so they must do something to wash the dirt on their face”, Elder Ma explained.

Hearing that, Chief Pai threw his sight toward the troop of centaurs who have finished their formation at the clearing in front of the gate. By rough estimation, there only around 600-700 centaurs. Like Elder Ma said, it won’t take long to gather this many. Furthermore, they also look organized and disciplined, so they must be together for quite some time. Chief Pai nodded his head slowly.

“I agree”, he concurred.

“Chief, Elder Ma, I have something to report”, a voice interrupted them.

When both of them look at the bottom of the observatory, they realized it belong to a hunter called Wang. In their memory, this Wang belong to Duo Nan squad which were guarding the western wall.

Hunter Wang stayed under the observatory and did not climbing up. He looks rushing and eager to return to his post.

“There are enemies inside the forest. They are werewolves”, he reported.

“Werewolf?”

“Yes, Chief. Acma’s drones spotted them but currently, they are recuperating from been poisoned, 4 kilometres from the village”, Hunter Wang confirmed.

“This is terrible. What should we do, Brother Ma?”

“Give me some times”

“Chief, Elder Ma, Acma also said that you don’t have to worry. He already have a solution”

“Already have a solution?” asked Chief Pai unbelievably. “Wang, go and tell Acma to come here. I want his explanation”

“There is no need for that Brother Pai. Look”, said Elder Ma as his finger pointed at the western wall.

Over there, there were three rows of stone guardian while Acma himself was standing on the wall, looking over the forest. Duo Nan and his squad, except Wang were standing behind the rows of stone guardians. What Elder Ma and Chief Pai couldn’t figure out was several humanoid, wearing a black armour were standing between the stone guardians.

“That kid...”, muttered Chief Pai. He didn’t know what to say about that kid.

“It’s ok brother, at least we don’t have to worry about that side and we can focus on the centaurs in front of us”, said Elder Ma to reassure his brother.

On the centaur’s side, there were some movement. They were rearranging their troops although there still a lot of time till the designated time. They moved their shield bearers to the front while their archers were right behind them. They moved to and fro but still keeping their distance about 1000 metres to 800 metres. They also divided their forces into two groups. Their main group was facing the gate while the other, numbers about 200-250 strong were moving toward the western wall.

Elder Ma and Chief Pai believed that the centaurs were getting ready to strike.

“Wang, come back here. Quick”, shouted Elder Ma, calling back Hunter Wang who was running back to his post. When hunter Wang returned to the observatory, Elder Ma gave his orders.

“Relay my orders to all squad leaders on the platform. Release the arrow when the enemies reach 700 metres, followed by another volley for every 50 metres. When the enemy archers reach 350 metres, all the hunters on platform must hide, do not continue firing the arrows.

My second order is for the shooters. They will start shooting the enemy archers when they reach 250 metres. Eliminating the archers will be their priorities. Do you get it, Wang?”

“Yes, I get it, Elder Ma”

“Good. Now go”

“Right away”, said Hunter Wang as he sprinting toward the archer platform on the left side of the gate.

5 minutes passed.

The centaurs still rearranging themselves.

10 minutes passed.

The centaurs were moving closer and closer to the village.

1000 metres. 900 metres. 800 metres. 750 metres. 725 metres. 710 metres. 705 metres. 700 metres.

“RELEASE THE ARROWS. KILL THOSE DAMN HORSES”, shouted Elder Ma loud enough to make the sky tremble. Thus, the second confrontation between man and centaur begun.

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

A volley of arrows blacken the morning sky.

Although it was just a metaphor, but at the eyes of unsuspecting centaurs, those 70 plus arrows enough to make them forgot what colour the morning sky was. The shield bearer who acted as a vanguard quickly raised their shield, but they underestimated the penetrating power of the modern arrows. They definitely couldn’t block it with just a simple wooden shield.

‘Thud’ ‘Thud’ ‘Thud’ ‘Thud’ ‘Thud’

Many of the shield bearers fall prey to the first volley while many others injured.

“CHAAAAAAAARGE”, a rallying cry could be heard.

This time it came from the center of the centaur troop. Grufin wasn’t a hot-headed captain, so he always started deep behind his troops.

‘HUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH’

The centaurs started running.

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

As the centaurs troop reached 600 metres distance, the shield bearers were downed to several tens. The number of archers also dwindling but they still charging forward. Their eyes were red, burning with anger and hate. Never crossed in their mind that they were reduced to this state with just 4 volley of arrows. Why those arrows were so powerful? What kind of bows they used? Why these humans so strong? Question after question flashed in their mind as their hooves kept running forward. Their mind wanted to retreat, but their pride as a warrior kept them going.

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’ ‘Swoooosh’

“All archers, HIDE!!!”, Elder Ma ordered although the enemy’s archers still in distance. “SHOOTERS, READY TO FIRE!!!”

Hearing that order, all the archers fell on one knee and hide themselves behind the wall of the platform. The wall was made from 15 centimetres thick log. It was sturdy enough to cover them from those centaurs’ arrow. On the same platforms, several sections were made for the shooters. They were lying on their stomach to increase stabilities, waiting for their orders.

Realizing that the human archers have stopped releasing their arrows, Grufin’s heart was palpitating.

“Everyone, those humans used up all their arrows. It’s time to break the gate and kill them all!!!”, he roared.

'HUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH’

The centaurs increased their pace, running as fast as they could toward the gate. The swordsman unit were given the task to break through the gate while the archers and the shield bearers working hand-in-hand to pin down any human who dare to raise his head. But, suddenly;

‘Peng’ ‘Peng’ ‘Peng’ ‘Peng’

Four alien sounds exploded from within the human village. The swordsman unit who were charging turned their head toward the sound and almost stop.

Behind them, Grufin also turned his head. His face darken when he realized four of his archers died with their head exploded. One of them have its head intact, but it died with a hole between its eyes. That sight sent a chill down to Grufin’s spine. He shivered.

‘Peng’ ‘Peng’ ‘Peng’ ‘Peng’

With each sound, an archer fell. Grufin was in dilemma, either to continue or retreat. He realized that this time, he was facing the same situation as his third brother. Annihilation. The weapons employed by the humans in this village were totally nothing like he ever faced.

In a blink of an eye, Grufin made a decision. He decided to retreat and regroup with the werewolves. He raised his hand and inhaled a large amount of air. But before he could shout, a loud howl was heard.

‘AWUUUUUUUUUUU’

That was a werewolf battle cry. The werewolves also begun their attack.

Earlier, before the battle started, Grufin ordered his vice captain to move toward the western wall because he noticed that there were two rows of stone statues outside the wall. He knew those statues but he was confident that his counterpart, the werewolves could easily overtaken them with their superior speed. Those statues were strong, but slow. Still, he sent his vice captain to ‘disturb’ those statues so the werewolves didn’t have to fight them and easily slipped pass the western wall.

Grufin felt relieve when the werewolves moved earlier than he expected. With a stomach full of air and a newfound confidence, he gave a loud battle cry.

‘CHAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!!!!!’

‘CHAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!!!!!’

Replied his troops.