[Vol. 8] Chapter 19: The Worried Great Chieftain
No wonder the border guards sent up smoke signals so quickly. This wasn’t just a fake attack or a show of force. That massive dark army covering the mountains looked to be at least 100,000 strong. With that terrifying giant beast helping them, once they break through Iron Ridge, they can charge straight into the heart of the Austre Empire.
Even though the Valandia province wasn't as rich or prosperous as the others, it still has tens of millions of people and dozens of important cities. If Iron Ridge can't stop the enemy, then it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the cities fall too.
The priestess couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.
“This really is like the world turned upside down... The Austre Empire tried so hard to find an excuse to start a war, but in the end, they’re the ones getting attacked first.”
“Master, is that a Behemoth?”
The dragon god, who was also floating in the sky watching the battle below, spoke with surprise when she noticed the giant beast that was just as big as a full-grown dragon. The black-haired girl gave a small nod, confirming the guess.
“Yes, that’s a Behemoth. And it looks like a fully grown one.”
Behemoths and dragons are two of the most legendary creatures from the time of the ancient gods. Just like dragons, Behemoths also exist in the game Illusory World, and they are considered one of the top-tier, most powerful races. They’re famous for their raw strength and incredible destructive power, and are known as the Lords of the Land.
Since arriving in this world, Violet herself had never seen a real Behemoth. But the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden Dawn had once come across one long ago, back when she occasionally came here on business from her hidden island. Because of that, the priestess could recognize it immediately.
“Looks like... the appearance of that bone dragon before wasn’t just a coincidence. Behemoths disappeared even earlier than dragons, yet now one just suddenly shows up out in the open. More and more legendary beings are coming back or being born. I bet it’s not just happening here...”
“I think I know where this army came from.”
……………………………………………
Messengers were running in and out of the tent. From far away, the deep, booming sounds and ground-shaking tremors came again and again, like heavy rain pounding a lake and sending out endless ripples. Though Tairnak sat calmly in the main seat of the war tent, his heart was filled with unease.
He was the King of the Behemoths, chosen by the sixteen tribes across the land to act as the top commander of the allied forces in this war.
In the long and wide buffer zone between the Austre Empire and the Holy Empire, there were three main forces.
Besides the many small countries near the borders that had chosen to side with either the Holy Empire or the Austre Empire, the central area of the buffer zone was home to a large number of tribes. These tribes had once lived in Austre territory but were forced to flee west because of the Empire’s invasions. They refused to accept the faith of the Goddess Church, so they didn’t join the Holy Empire either.
These tribes are now the true rulers of this land.
These tribes held deep hatred toward the Austre Empire for destroying their homelands. For over a hundred years, they have dreamed of taking back their land and rebuilding their homes. Fueled by this hatred, they have trained and grown stronger over time.
Now, their true strength far surpasses that of the small nations on either side, which serve as the "attack dogs" of the major powers. However, they are still not strong enough to stand up to the two giants, the Austre Empire and the Holy Empire, and since they don’t fully trust one another, they’ve had no choice but to stay hidden in the middle of the buffer zone, not daring to make any bold moves.
Among these tribes, there are sixteen major ones. The Behemoth Tribe, led by Tairnak, is one of the strongest.
Of course, the Behemoth Tribe members are not true Behemoths. They are descended from Behemoths and other races, inheriting the former’s terrifying strength and powerful bodies. While not the same as true Behemoths, they can be compared to how dragonkin relate to dragons. Strong and fearsome, but not the original.
That said, just like the dragonkin who were eventually forced to compromise with the Austre Empire by signing the “Lannas Armistice Treaty”, and were partially absorbed into it, after the true Behemoths went extinct, no single tribe had enough power to stand against a huge force like the Austre Empire. The choices were clear, be destroyed, surrender, or run.
Tairnak was the tribe’s greatest warrior. A hundred years ago, he had already reached the peak of legendary strength. Thanks to his Behemoth blood, he was even able to fight evenly against the Empire’s Sword Saint for more than ten strikes. Despite his strength, he still chose to lead his people in retreat, giving up their homeland and fleeing to this barren buffer zone.
He understood the situation clearly. Though incredibly strong, he didn’t inherit the reckless and wild nature of the true Behemoths. Instead, he was wise and careful. Everything he did was aimed at protecting the future of his people.
Because of this, the Behemoth Tribe, known for their strength but not their brains, managed to avoid total destruction. Under Tairnak’s leadership, they preserved their culture and continued to live on in this narrow and dangerous land, actually managing to survive quite well.
To the Behemoth people, a hundred years isn’t that long. Not only is Tairnak still alive, but many who fought in that war are still around today. Many of them were unhappy with Tairnak’s choice to retreat during the final battle, feeling it brought shame to the Behemoth name. Some even called him a traitor.
But Tairnak always believed that instead of clinging to some idea of "Behemoth pride" and dying to the last warrior in a bloody fight with the Empire, it was better to survive.
He wasn’t afraid of battle. He was even willing to die bravely on the battlefield. But only if his death truly meant something, if it would bring a better future to his people. He refused to fight just for the sake of pride or to prove bravery.
What’s happening now is not what Tairnak wanted to see. He never wanted this war to happen. Unfortunately, even though he temporarily leads the sixteen tribes and holds the title of Great Chieftain, this time, the decision was not his to make.
The reason lies in the Behemoth giant that is now crashing into the Empire’s Iron Ridge, shaking the earth and stirring up the blood of the Behemoth people.
Or more accurately… in the mysterious forces behind that giant beast.
“Great Chieftain! Good news! Hahaha!”
While Tairnak was deep in thought, a huge figure, over three meters tall and carrying a strong scent of blood, pulled aside the tent flap and laughed loudly as he walked in.
He wore only a short skirt made from animal hide and a rough necklace made of dozens of different beast fangs. His body was covered in tough, dark gray hair, and his muscles bulged like coiled ropes. He looked like a smaller version of a Behemoth beast, wild and intimidating, making anyone nearby feel uneasy.
He was Tairnak’s younger cousin, the second greatest warrior of the Behemoth Tribe, and the tribe’s Deputy Chieftain, Tyrent.
Unlike Tairnak, Tyrent had the personality of a pure Behemoth descendant. He valued strength over intelligence, acted with wild aggression, and always held a deep hatred toward the Austre Empire, their enemy. He was the leader of the war-hungry faction in the tribe.