One of Grolfir's war pack fell with a roar of agony that soon fell silent. It revealed the war-chief himself fighting for his own life.

Ulla saw him turn to look over at his son, and though he gave no sign of weakness to those around him, she knew it was a look of pride and sorrow. Even he didn't think they were going to win the battle.

Then something happened no one on the battlefield had anticipated.

Another war cry rang out from behind the enemy line. A cluster of burning tents split the enemy Line down two avenues toward the square, and from within the flames emerged another figure.

Clad in true orc metal armour, bearing the familiar symbol of Rowun's old pack upon her chest-plate, Algra Strongblood had entered the fray.

Clad in orc armour, the flames had not harmed her, and she rapidly began her own charge into the thinned Line of black orcs. That charge connected with all the force of a battering ram, tearing through the enemy whilst wielding two lethal looking blades.

It took Ulla by surprise. She had sparred with Algra. She had thought she knew the female's style. It turned out she couldn't have been more wrong. Algra had evidently been holding back quite a bit in training.

In her own armour, and with her own weapons, Ulla was immediately reminded of a story Gregory had mentioned when he spoke of the wars on his own world.

Algra wasn't a soldier. She was a damned tank.

The surprise of seeing the Legendary orc make her impact felt so forcefully soon rallied the orc battle line. It also distracted Ulla enough that she entirely missed the enemy sword being thrust toward her gut. Thankfully, Algra did not. She had seen the enemy making his charge and matched the timing with her own. Her devastating approach was revealed to be entirely focused upon getting there first, which she did. So instead of receiving a blade in the gut, Ulla was treated to the sight of Algra masterfully deflecting the blow with one of her blades whilst casually lopping off the enemy's head in the same instant.

“Pay attention!" She warned to everyone whilst casting Ulf one of her swords to replace his own chair leg. "Formation?"

The question was more of a demand. In all the excitement, Ulf had forgotten Gregory's lessons about their tactics. He frowned at himself for a moment whilst he considered the matter. They needed to regain ground. Then he roared out the order.

“Ram!

Instantly, Ulla recalled the endless drilling in the training field and the Dragons re-formed themselves into a narrow V-shape pointed toward the enemy. At ULf's next roar, they charged. As they did, they pushed back the enemy line for the first time. Still, even with Algra with them the situation was rapidly becoming hopeless.

That was when Ulla felt a pressure pushing down on her shoulder before it released and Talina leapt out over the enemy. The First only knew how the hell she'd managed to get behind them through the blocked off pathways. Ulla watched in horror as the slender dancing girl sprang directly into the heart of the enemy horde. She hadn't talked much with

Talina, but a battle such as this was certainly no place for a courtesan.

That was when two long, metal knives extended from their own bracers attached to Talina's wrists. The girl twisted sharply in the air and the blades Lashed out harshly, bound to her by two long, thin chains.

As those lethal implements spun through the air it became immediately clear that Talina was no mere courtesan.

In fact, the dance she began soon thereafter made Algra Look downright passive.

Despite Gregory breaking the sound barrier fast enough to create a small crater in the jungle, it seemed that Janette's ghost was able to keep up with him. The ring's effect of slowing down time didn't seem to apply to her, and she continued to float beside him as he sprinted tirelessly toward the great hall.