Chapter 71: The Preemptive Decapitation Tactic

“Work even harder?”

Chu Cheng crossed his twin blades and twisted fiercely, wrenching off an orc’s head. Ignoring the hot blood splattering his face, he lifted his gaze toward the enemy’s central command.

“The enemy is now attempting a decapitation tactic. The human commanders are prepared; it’s unlikely they’ll succeed in killing them.”

“If the enemy fails to assassinate the commander, and someone saves him, that achievement will outweigh everything else. Their evaluation and influence on the plot will surpass mine.”

After all, he had merely killed a warlord, changing the tide of a secondary battlefield, but hadn’t seized the chance to rout the orc left flank. The merit from saving the commander would certainly outweigh his.

To surpass the achievement of saving the commander, there was only one way: rout the orc main forces.

At the very least, he had to break the orc main army before their decapitation tactic concluded.

But to rout the orc main force...

Either he had to slay the orc chieftain on the field, or...

Chu Cheng gazed toward the orc central command. To implement a decapitation tactic, all three of their extraordinary powerhouses would have to act: the orc chieftain, the centaur chieftain, and the newly-emerged orc extraordinary. All of them would leave the central camp.

They would certainly bring elite troops along; it was impossible for just three commanders to attempt such a feat.

No matter how powerful extraordinary individuals were, without his kind of monstrous talent, they couldn’t withstand a full army’s assault. They needed a group of elites to act as cannon fodder.

This would leave the orc central camp defenseless.

“Hm!”

He pinched his chin, pondering for a moment, and realized he could capitalize on this.

But this time, he couldn’t act alone.

No matter how empty, it was still the central command of the enemy. Some warlords and centaur commanders would be left behind, plus a multitude of tribal chiefs. Its defense was unlike the flanks; charging in alone would be too risky.

So...

“I’ll need the army’s help after all.”

“I’ll carve a path myself, shatter the orc left flank, then draw the human right wing to pursue the routed orcs and storm the orc central camp.”

“I don’t need a total annihilation. Destroying the orc central camp and severing their command banner is enough.”

On the battlefield, the command banner represents the commander. Communication across a vast battlefield is difficult, so the banner often serves as the means of directing troops—its importance is no less than the commander himself.

When the banner falls, it means the commander is dead or has fled. Morale collapses, and the massive army plunges into chaos.

If he could achieve this, the orc coalition would be functionally finished.

Whether the decapitation tactic succeeded or failed afterward would no longer matter.

With this thought, Chu Cheng immediately contacted Zhang Chunlei and shared his plan:

“I’ll find a way to smash the orc left wing. You guide the human army to pursue the fleeing orcs and assault their central camp. The risk to you is minimal. Are you in?”

Zhang Chunlei replied at once, “I’ll discuss it with everyone, but regardless of their decision, count me in.”

“Time is tight—talk it over. I’m starting now.”

With that, he raised his arm and unleashed a sweeping arc of azure blade energy, then plunged into the orc ranks, unleashing a tempest of sword strikes and slaughter.

His wild killing spree greatly boosted morale. The frontline human soldiers, having witnessed his madness before, now cheered in excitement, fighting with renewed valor.

The right-wing commander at the center, seeing this, immediately issued a series of orders, intensifying the assault.

As their momentum rose, the orcs’ will to fight faltered.

If not for the enforcer squads at their rear, they likely would have broken already.

After his swordstorm, Chu Cheng refrained from any further reckless acts. He kept the army’s morale high and watched the central command, waiting for the right moment.

He wouldn’t act until the orcs’ decapitation tactic was truly underway—until he saw the orc chieftain break into the human central command.

If he moved too soon and drew the orc chieftain’s attention, and they came for him before the decapitation attempt, he’d be doomed.

This steady advance lasted about four minutes before Chu Cheng received a message from his homeroom teacher—the orcs were executing their decapitation plan. The orc chieftain, personally leading his elite guard, had appeared at the very front.

Chu Cheng checked the area channel, saw confirmation from students embedded in the central command, and no longer hesitated. He drew out a scroll so hot it seared his palm.

Giant Fire Elemental Summoning Scroll: 15-second cast time. Summons a Level 60, terrifying template Giant Fire Elemental from the Elemental Plane of Fire. The fire elemental obeys your commands for 60 minutes.

Holding the scroll, Chu Cheng activated it with a thought.

A wave of heat radiated from him, and tangible flames spread from under his feet. The surrounding orcs recoiled, trying to back away.

But the press of bodies on the battlefield made retreat impossible. Those unable to escape were scorched alive, dying in agony.

As the casting continued, a faint swirling vortex of flame appeared a hundred meters ahead—this was the maximum summoning range.

The vortex rapidly expanded, swelling into a massive inferno.

With a thunderous roar, the raging flames erupted like a volcano, and an immense crimson figure emerged from the vortex. The fire blazed outward, coalescing into a towering humanoid form that threw back its head and roared:

“Who summons the Son of Flame, Aibersil!”

Son of Flame, Aibersil (Terrifying): Giant Fire Elemental, Level 60, 220,000 health.

At that instant, the scroll in Chu Cheng’s hand disintegrated as the elemental materialized, the lingering flames leaving a rune that fused into his palm.

Chu Cheng pressed his burning palm forward toward the summoned elemental and proclaimed:

“Mighty Son of Flame, Aibersil, obey the ancient pact—slaughter these orcs and centaurs.”

The twenty-meter-tall fire elemental looked over, emitting a terrifying pressure that stunned Chu Cheng for a heartbeat. In that instant, a flaming rune appeared on his forehead, clearing his mind. He saw the Son of Flame burst into a blazing inferno and bellow:

“The Son of Flame shall incinerate all!”

The colossal figure twisted, raising a massive arm and unleashing a deluge of fire, spreading into a sea of flames dozens of meters wide, engulfing the orc ranks.

Next, the giant body crashed from the sky, slamming into the earth. A wave of flame exploded outward, surging over a hundred meters, instantly consuming countless orcs.

A Level 60 fire elemental boss’s attack was nothing these orcs could withstand. The flames surged across the battlefield, and the Level 10 orcs lasted less than two seconds before being reduced to ash.

“Notification: Your summoned creature has slain an orc warrior—gained 1 kill experience point!”

“Notification: Your summoned creature has slain an elite orc warrior—gained 5 kill experience points!”

“…”

In an instant, the kill experience notifications flooded in.

As the summoner, all of the elemental’s kills counted for Chu Cheng as well.