Chapter 82 - 82

The trolls and the orc infantry took a few hours to arrange the funeral pyres of their fallen brothers in arms. There were neatly arranged funeral pyres in a circular fashion. Even the corpses of the wargs and Rhakaddons had pyres of their own. They properly rested each warrior atop a pile of wood like they were just sleeping, but their sleep was an eternal one.

Xiao Chen step forward and headed towards the center of the funeral pyres. He cleared his throat "Today victory is ours! This will not be our last one, but sadly..." he paused for a moment and stared at the corpses of his fallen warriors 

"This is the last one for our fallen friends. They have embarked on a new journey. The journey to Xanadu to join our ancestors. Shout as loud as you can and let's wake up the gatekeeper of Xanadu! Shout at him that our fallen comrades are worthy to enter the land of warriors! Shout and disturbed Thug'mukhen and tell him that brave and heroic warriors are on the way to join him in his never-ending feast! Shout as loud as you can!"

Xiao Chen grabbed a torch and set ablaze to the pyres near him. Slowly the piled up woods caught fire. It was first a little fire but then turned into a huge bonfire as the flames devoured the piled up woods. He backed up a few steps as the heat of the flames became intense.

The commanders of Xiao Chen and some other volunteers went around and set fire to the many pyres. Xiao Chen went away from the center of the funeral pyres as the heat became so intense that threatened to roast him alive if he stayed there longer.

He stared at the numerous bonfires and looked up towards the night sky as the smoke from the pyres slowly made their way up. He turned around and faced his warriors. Brazan and Galum'nor were also wide awake and standing among their allies. They wanted to honor their fallen friends, who have paid the ultimate price.

Xiao Chen breathed in deeply before opening his mouth "They're now gone but they will live forever in our memories!" he glanced back for a few moments towards the sea of fire before facing his warriors again. "In the next battle... It might be you or maybe me who will be sent off... But you must take with as many enemies as you can with you. We live with honor and we die with honor... Death is but just another start of a new journey." His voice became so weak as he uttered his last sentence, which he could only hear.

It was the truth. At least for him, he died, but came into this world and started a new journey. His first day in this world could not be considered welcoming, as after he woke up, there were men trying to kill him all over the place. With swords and spears at the ready to end his new life.

He spent his first day trying to survive, and it was hell. Running away was the only thing he could do. Around him were hulking monsters that easily cleaved armored men in halves with a swing and threw them away like they weighed nothing. Like a frightened child, he scurried away from the hulking monsters and from the armored men that were shouting and trying to kill him. It was a very unpleasant welcome.

*****

Xiao Chen went silent as an Orcish song was sung by his warriors. The battle horns sounded from time to time and the war drums were being beaten in a slow rhythm. The song was giving off a very solemn vibe. It was a song of farewell that was bidding goodbye to those who have fallen. He just listened because he didn't know the song, but all his warriors knew of it. The ogres and trolls also joined in and sung the song. It was only Xiao Chen who was silent.

The singing continued on for hours as Xiao Chen listened quietly. It was all songs of farewell and bravery. A song of warriors who have fallen. The sea of fire slowly died down and nothing remained behind except for the ashes.

Xiao Chen's chest felt heavy after watching at the sea of fire for he knows who are those inside the sea of fire, they were his warriors and friends. But it wasn't as heavy as when he first experience having numerous warriors under him die. He was more in control of himself now and accepted the fact that this is a new world and not like in his old world, where soldiers only die in great numbers if it was an actual war.

This is a new world where every battle devours a lot of life. It was normal here and he must learn to adapt and accept the fact that there will be more of those under him who will die in the future.

*****

When the sun finally peaked out behind the mountains. Xiao Chen and his army marched back towards the village of Yohan with pride. They chanted loudly and marched forward with power. A victory was just won by them despite loosing some of their comrades and they must act like a victorious army.

Mohrios and his tauren warriors came out of the gateways to welcome the chieftain and the victorious army. They lined up properly outside the walls beside the gateways. Their spines straightened as the handles of their weapons. Like statues, they stood still and didn't move, but they raised their weapons in the air, forming a triangle with them above where the victorious army was about to pass.

Xiao Chen was the first to pass by the arc of halberds made by the taurens. The victorious army split into three groups and entered the village where there were orcs, ogres, trolls, goblins and kobolds waiting for them. They were roaring loudly for their victory.

A big feast followed afterwards as Xiao Chen and his army returned. There were different kinds of meat presented which were hunted from the mountains for the celebration. Xiao Chen found some ridiculously big bird that looked like a chicken and asked a female orc that was serving food about it and was told that it was a Mountain Fowl.

Dancing and singing accompanied the feast. Xor'tharr and his battle band played the war drums in an upbeat rhythm as the residents of Yohan danced with the beat. They swayed as they moved around. Drinks were then distributed, which was made by the trolls which they call 'Traffar' which literally means Tasty Dizzy Drink in Orcish.

The drink tasted much like the cheap ale that he got after winning over the Galuks but with a more alcoholic taste and a spicy aftertaste like he just ate some chili peppers. The alcohol taste and spiciness burned down his throat, but it was odd that he found it really well.

While the feast was going on, male orcs were going around looking for their lovers. They plucked the courage to ask their objects of admiration for a dance with the help of the festive atmosphere. Some succeeded and brought their partners towards where the dancing was going on. While some returned with sour faces and others even returned with bruises on their faces.. Xiao Chen just shook his head as he watched those who failed to get their desired partners chugged down plenty of Traffar.