From Now On, Kill Them All
I gripped my axe tight. That's when Sonya came running up to me.
"Ursa sis! It's okay. I believe in you!"
"Sonya..."
"Yeah, Ursa sis! You're super strong, right? You even beat Short Mane in arm wrestling!"
Facts. Short Mane Sets loses arm wrestling to a ten-year-old girl. And it wasn't like he let me win. His face turning beet red from straining still sticks in my mind.
I must've been too tense. As the kids gathered around, my shaking eased up. It felt like a sense of responsibility kicking in.
In the meantime, the Bear Elder had organized the formation. With battle right around the corner, his tone had sharpened.
"We're outnumbered, so we'll use the sheep. Once the sheep wreck the left flank, the wolves clean up, then join the center. Howling... Frost Fang, can you manage it?"
"As you know, I'm too old for frontline fighting. But I'm not so decrepit I can't even start the engine. Leave it to me."
Frost Fang and the wolf beastkin stood first. They were prepping the sheep, it seemed.
"The right flank—horses will take the sheep's role. Once the horses disrupt their formation, snakes and deer charge in. Hawks provide support."
"Simple enough. Rookies, go calm your partners first. Once the fight starts, just follow us."
The seasoned horse beastkin thumped his chest. Behind him stood Short Mane, Black Mane, and the other horse beastkin. All with resolute expressions.
Come to think of it, those two had been bummed about not having their trace names yet. They probably saw this as their big chance.
"Center—lizardmen. Bears and tigers, handle them."
"Leave it to us."
"Lizardmen, huh... It's been a while."
Solid builds. They were our tribe's top fighters right now.
"Kids to the wagons. Deer Elder and the rest handle any stragglers leaking from the rear."
The Deer Elder nodded. Time to ask that question I'd been wondering about.
"Deer Elder, do you fight with druid spells or something?"
"Heh. Interested in the druid path, Ursa? Watch closely."
Green energy gathered in the Deer Elder's hand.
"Ooh...!"
A sight straight out of a game, unfolding right in front of me. Magic? Sorcery? Or druid arts unique to your kind?
"Hah!"
The Deer Elder thrust her arm out. The gathered energy spread across the plains.
Flash! Light burst forth. And in that spot... the grass... was tied together.
"Pfft... That's it?"
"Pfft?! Do you know how impressive this is?! Druidism isn't some easy trick on the plains!"
The Deer Elder bristled.
"I'm no frontline fighter anymore! If I trip over that and fall, that's it for me—straight to the dirt nap!"
She was even throwing a tantrum. Guess druids struggle to draw power on the open plains. I got it, but... still, an elder? Kinda underwhelming. I had expectations, y'know.
"Calm down. Finally, the biggest threats: the demons."
The invaders. All those countless monsters were being controlled by just four demons.
"I'll handle them. Look for an opening and take out the commander."
The strongest in the tribe right now was the Bear Elder. Even in his old age, he'd been insanely powerful in his prime, or so they say. Since they controlled monsters to fight, the demons themselves were probably weak. Up close, he'd crush them.
"The enemy’s moving!"
The foes began their advance.
"Everyone to positions!!"
The battle had begun.
The enemy approaches.
That one phrase hit like a truck. My heart started pounding wildly again. My throat burned. My mouth went bone-dry.
I glanced around at the tribesfolk. Tense before the fight, but they couldn't hide their excitement either.
How the hell do they look like that in this situation?
I couldn't wrap my head around it. I could understand on an intellectual level, but empathy? Nah. For the first time in ages, it felt awkward. Like when I first got isekai'd—the gap between these battle-hyped barbarians and me, who wasn't.
"Sharp Wind Lark. Can you fire the greatbow?"
"...I trained under the Hawk Elder himself. But only one shot."
"That's enough. Bring it."
Sharp Wind Lark fetched the bow. A massive thing, as long as a person is tall. It even had a ground anchor below. Too big and heavy to hold and shoot—a true greatbow.
The greatbow was set up, arrow nocked. Fitting its caliber, the arrow wasn't your standard fare either. Thick and long enough to pass for a spear without the bow.
"Ready. Awaiting signal."
"Ursa. Come here."
"Huh? Oh... sure."
The Bear Elder hoisted me up onto his shoulder.
"Watch and learn."
"...Learn what?"
"Everything."
The Bear Elder was huge. Easily over two meters tall. Perched on his shoulder, my view opened wide.
To the left, the sheep herd. Wolves behind them. To the right, horse beastkin cavalry at the ready, other beastkin further back. Dead ahead, bear and tiger beastkin braced on the ground, set to charge—like American football players.
Thud thud thud—the vibrations from afar grew closer.
The enemy, several kilos out before, was now under 800 meters. Up close, they looked like a ragtag mob.
700 meters. Ragged goblins and kobolds with clubs at best. Numbers made up for it. Only the lizardmen looked properly armed. Behind them, kobolds pulled chariots with four purple-skinned demons aboard. Three driving, one in back—with a pair of horns.
600 meters. The enemy sped up. This was open plains. Sudden battle for both sides. No tactics, no strategy, no prep. No stockade defenses either. It'd be brute force clash. Raw power decides.
So speed mattered. Faster meant more impact. The quicker, stronger side attacks; the other defends. And defense without fortifications? Doomed.
But we didn't charge. We waited.
400 meters. That's when the Bear Elder spoke.
"Warning shot."
The order dropped. Sharp Wind Lark drew the greatbow's string.
Creak. The sound carried all the way here. Slowly drawn, immense tension. Sharp Wind Lark's face flushed red, teeth gritted.
Finally, full draw.
"Loose."
Bang—air ripped as the massive arrow flew. A spear of pure physics hurtling at the lizardmen. Too fast to track with the eye.
Boom—direct hit. A thunderous impact, lizardmen flung flying.
"Kreeeeek!!!"
"Kieeeek!!!"
Screams erupted from the struck lizardmen. An arrow that heralded battle with the enemy's cries, not its whistle. The beastkin tribe's warning shot.
Awoooo—As it rang out, howls echoed from the left flank. Frost Fang's call.
Awoooo—awoooo—Wolves layering their howls in response. Then, all at once:
"GRRAAAAAH!!"
The massive roars startled the sheep into a stampede.
"Baa-a-a-ah!Baa-a-a-ah!Baa-a-a-ah!"
Dozens of sheep charged the enemy. Terrified wolves snapping at their heels. Panic overriding everything—flee forward, no matter what. The wolves behind were scarier.
"Charge!!!"
"Waaaaah!!"
With the sheep's advance, every tribesman charged. Crash! Sheep smashed into goblins first. Frenzied flock trampling, oblivious to the pests, smashing through.
Formation shattered. Wolves' turn to finish.
Before the chaos settled, wolves pounced. Downed goblins and kobolds slaughtered like chumps.
"Kiek...!"
"Kyak...!"
Left flank crumbled, enemies panicked. Their advance stuttered.
And we were closing in. Attack and defense set.
"Kill 'em!!"
"Fuckin' bastards!!"
Cavalry accelerated into collision. Crunch! Foes crumpling like the sheep hit. Survivors swept by the rest.
"...Insane."
Battle prowess that drew awe. The half-crippled lizardmen from the warning shot struggled against bears and tigers.
"Amazing! Bear Elder, we're so strong!"
This from regular beastkin, not even warriors? What do actual warriors do? And the demon king's main force that invaded them...?
Overwhelming advantage eased my mind. Silly thoughts bubbled up.
"Alright, Ursa. Go to the kids now."
"Huh? Why? Can't I watch a bit more?"
"Look ahead. This spot's about to be battlefield too."
Frontward, yeah—he was right. Slaughter, but numbers didn't lie. Ignoring the rampaging frontliners, goblins swarmed us from all sides.
"Eek! Th-they're coming! Bear Elder, get 'em!"
"No can do. Gotta handle the demons."
He's ditching me? This is kids and elders only!!
The Bear Elder set me down. I snatched my axe from the ground in a panic.
By the time I looked up, he was gone without a trace.
"Go on, Ursa. To the kids. Hide."
Sharp Wind Lark stepped forward, one arm a bloody rag. Gripped a dagger in his good one. Elder beastkin formed up too.
"Y-you sure? Can't we all fight together—"
"No. You maybe, but the other kids are green. Losing you lot would hurt most. Hurry!"
Frost Fang, back from howling, shoved me coldly.
I hesitated, then turned and bolted for the wagons. Axe clutched tight.
From behind: "You filthy monster shits! I'll rip those ugly heads off!"
Then the clash of battle.
Tears threatening, I gritted my teeth and sprinted to the kids.
Thud thud thud—
Reached the wagons. The entrance was tented over, blocking the view inside. Kids hiding there.
Barging in might scare them into yelling.
"Kids, it's big sis Ursa. Coming in."
Announced soft, counted to three, lifted the flap. Even then, gasps and squeaks.
Huddled together tight.
"U-Ursa sis... H-how's outside?"
Sonya wobbled over, voice shaky from nerves. I patted her back to reassure.
"Good situation. We're winning for sure. We just stay quiet. Remember Silent 007 Bread from a few days ago? Pretend we're playing that. Got it?"
Kids clasped hands over mouths, nodding furiously at my soothing.
No need to strain—the battle sounds carried. Monstrous shrieks fitting their ugly mugs. Human screams mixed in too, tempting me to plug my ears.
But that might miss approaching monsters. Couldn't risk it. Just hugged my axe tight and stayed silent.
Then.
"...Grrr."
"...Gerk."
Real close. Very close.
Damn...
Looks like it's time to fight.