The sky was faintly bright, and thick fog reduced visibility to about a hundred meters from the shore, favoring the Orc landing.
"What terrible weather! Even rangers can't see distant targets!" Sylvanas complained. Galen knew fate wasn't on their side, but they had the terrain advantage and weren't afraid.
"One must adapt to the weather, not the other way around," Alleria lectured her sister. As the eldest, she often worried about and guided them.
Galen's presence made Sylvanas feel embarrassed.
"Oh, right, right," Sylvanas replied weakly, clearly not listening, leaving Alleria helpless.
"Attention! The Orcs are coming!"
Galen interrupted the sisters. The returning Naga squadron, lurking underwater, signaled the disturbance of the sea!
"All troops, prepare for battle!"
Galen's shout invigorated everyone. Derek, recovered, led his Third Fleet sailors to their artillery positions, eager for revenge.
Dark shapes emerged from the fog. Orc transport ships appeared, rushing towards the beach with the tide!
"Fire!" Derek ordered, and the cannons roared.
The gunners didn't need to aim; the Orc ships were huge targets.
However, the effect was minimal. The ships' frontal armor was thick, and only lucky shots caused significant damage.
Small boats followed, oars driven by strong Orc arms, weaving between the larger ships and charging onto the beach!
Enduring the bombardment, the Orcs landed and charged towards the human lines in scattered formations.
Galen watched from afar, while the Windrunners drew their bows. They could clearly see the Orcs' ugly faces and varied weapons as they swarmed towards the first line of defense!
"Sister, let's see who kills more Orcs today!"
"As you wish!"
The sisters turned the battlefield into a competition.
Are they crazy? Sniping at over five hundred meters? In this wind?
Alleria nocked three green arrows.
Sylvanas nocked three red arrows.
Galen used his engineering telescope to watch the arrows.
All six arrows hit!
Unbelievable!
Are the Windrunners that amazing?
"I'm destined to be a melee fighter. My spells only reach twenty meters. Their five-hundred-meter sniping is incredible!"
As the sisters attacked, the Farstrider Rangers followed suit, each picking a target.
Galen felt out of place. "I should leave. Our troop types are incompatible."
Galen drew his sword. Trol'karal, its cracks repaired, was in his hand again.
"Old friend, wait a little longer. I will reforge you and make you a legendary weapon!"
Moving forward, the musketeers of the second line began firing. The dense gunfire and muzzle flashes created a battle atmosphere that Galen enjoyed.
Four years. He had transformed from a palace-bound prince to a battlefield general, and he adapted quickly.
Bullets flew low, and arrows rained down. The first Orcs to land were riddled with projectiles within moments.
However, the Orcs were numerous. Only fifty ships had reached the beach, using their armor as cover. More small boats, filled with Orcs, were constantly arriving.
"Orgrim is cunning. This isn't Normandy, and I'm not a cornered enemy."
The Orcs behind were more cautious. The sight of the first wave, covered in arrows, made them wary. They equipped shields and advanced in formation.
"Artillery, lower your aim! Target the beach! Load incendiary rounds!"
"Fire!"
Galen, now behind the first line, heard Derek's order. That guy is quick-witted.
The artillery unleashed a barrage of fire, and the explosions engulfed the Orcs, whose screams filled the air.
The Orc vanguard suffered heavy casualties, but Galen remained vigilant. He realized the vanguard were all peons!
Orc peons, the lowest caste, were used as expendable cannon fodder.
Gul'dan had almost become one.
Orgrim is exploiting our unfamiliarity with the Horde, assuming all Orcs are warriors.
"Sylvanas! Alleria! Stop shooting! Cease ranged attacks on Orcs shorter than two meters! Let the front lines handle the melee!"
Galen was thinking of the High Elves. Prolonged longbow use was tiring, and he didn't want them to tire out before the main Orc force arrived.
After all, musketeers had two guns each and only worried about running out of ammunition!