Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken novel Chapter 34

That day, the orcs army filled the marshes with thousands of troops.

If you looked from above, you'd see the swarming the tunnels as if an incessant maelstrom.

However, those present were only a small part of their army. The orcs decided to invade by circling around the lake.

With little resistance they had occupied the marshes, and proceeded into the caverns.

However, a commotion rippled through the swarm.

For suddenly someone had ordered the lizardmen to attack.

And that was the cause for the outbreak of war between the orcs and the lizardmen.

.

The rulers of the marshes"the Lizardmen.

Possessing high battle abilities they can maneuver smoothly through mud or swamp.

Hiding among the grass, they approached the orc army, and attacked undetected.

Everything went according to plan.

He had locked up the previous head in an underground chamber, reorganized the army, and had them relocate above ground.

And, quickly assuming battle formations, he began an attack on the orcs.

Gabil was not completely incompetent. He did lack the ability to see the bigger picture, but he certainly could lead a squad in battle.

That ability he had inherited from his father, the former chief.

The Lizardmen respected strength.

Thus, they wouldn't follow someone who only boasted of his strength.

Gabil idolized an individual. For his sake, he had to display his competence.

However...

He left a thousand warriors to guard the main chamber.

It was occupied only by women and other civilians. If they have to, the women can also fight, but they lack the necessary strength.

For that reason, he had been sending 500 extra troops at a time to the main chamber.

That is, Gabil decided to gradually reinforce that defense line with troops fighting in the tunnels.

Having cleared thus relocated the troops, Gabil obtained control over the entire army.

Their numbers: 7,000 goblins and 8,000 lizardmen.

That was his fighting strength.

Without depending on the labyrinth, he proceeded to meet his foe above ground.

And leaving the bare minimum for defense, he deployed everyone to battle.

The first attack was as described.

They successfully divided the enemy and landed a devastating attack on their flanks.

The orcs that the lizardmen scattered were hunted down by the goblins.

Following Gabil's orders to the letter, the troops performed exceedingly well.

The goblins, too, fought earnestly. Thus, they were able to advance with the rest of the troops.

The success of the attack could thus be attributed to the ideal cooperation of individual units.

Behold!

Gabil thought. There is no need to fear the orcs!

Father has gone senile. Thus he worried needlessly.

I will calm his fears.

After seeing my heroic feats, he will surely recognize me as the next head. For that end, we must clean up the orcs at once.

Or maybe this whole scenario was planned out to pass the leadership onto me! So he thought.

A cry for joy filled the field.

Look at them! The lowly orcs are no match for the great Lizardmen!

Proud of his work, Gabil observed the battlefield.

Things have gone well... until now.

Having lost many soldiers, the orcs must have been walloping in despair.

But Gabil did not know, the terror of the Orc Lord.

That the Head had known, the terror of the Orc Lord.

That difference now bared its fangs.

*Guchaguchaguchagucha*

The orcs were walking on the dead.

On all fours, crawling over them. No, wait!

They were not walking on them, they were eating them. A gruesome sight.

The brave lizardmen warriors, hardened in many battles, this was an unusual sight.

A sinister aura wrapped around the orcs.

One warrior who was frightened by this sight, tried to retreat a step and fell backwards.

Without missing this chance, the orcs swarmed the warrior.

He was dragged into the mud and ripped limb from limb.

Since the war had begun, he was the first casualty.

And that began it all.

The orcs that were devouring stranded soldiers gradually obtained their abilities.

That ability was not like [Predator], and could not perfectly replicate the skills.

Nonetheless, they absorbed the lizardmen's power to some degree, and shared it among those in their domain.

That was one of the effects of the unique skill [Starving Ones].

They were as much one swarm as they were an individual. Again, quiet similar to the shared evolution of the fang wolf species.

That is why the previous head was so afraid of letting any lizardmen die.

For the sake of not allowing the orcs to develop any further.

Although they could not obtain all the abilities of those that ate, they could still acquire some of their special features.

For example, the ability of the lizardmen to move freely through mud and swamp.

For example, growing scales around their vital areas to defend.

This kind of trivial changes they could do.

However, that is how they can quickly change the tide of battle.

ŒFear not! Show them the power of the high and proud Lizardmen!!!

The lizardmen regained their morale from Gabil's cry.

They were rulers of the marshes fighting on their own land; they attacked again.

Their were still faster than the orcs, that much they were sure of.

Even if they are overwhelmed by numbers, should they retreat to their defense lines they could surely crush the enemy again.

However!

When they tried to outflank the orcs again, they were met with a ready formation.

The orcs movements have gotten faster.

Strange. Thought Gabil, but far too late.

Without the advantage in speed, they were now surrounded by many orcs.

Five thousands troops have already cut off Gabil's escape.