"Hurry up! Don’t even think about slacking off!"

On the hillside, a Pigman Warrior swung a Cowhide Whip as thick as three fingers, viciously lashing it across a Giant’s back, spittle flying from his mouth.

CRACK!

With a sharp snap, the Cowhide Whip frayed like a twisted rope.

The Giant, clutching a frigid Giant Stone, let out a pained howl and picked up its pace, struggling to carry the boulder toward the Catapult on the hill.

"These Giants have some thick hides. This is already the third whip."

Another Pigman breathed out a cloud of hot air, rubbing its hands together as if that could bring a sliver of warmth.

"I don’t know what the chief is thinking. He passed up a mission to raid the humans’ supply line just to come to this godforsaken place and guard these three pieces of junk. It’s freezing out here. I’m about to freeze to death."

"And he won’t even let us build a fire to stay warm. I just don’t get it."

A Pigman clad in Iron Armor with a tuft of black, bristle-like hair on its head sighed in frustration, clearly displeased.

"Exactly. If we took down the humans’ supply line, we wouldn’t have to eat those Goblins anymore," another Pigman said, picking its teeth with a small knife. "Not only do they get stuck in your teeth, but their meat is sour as hell."

But no matter how much the two Pigmen complained, they were just grunts, completely unable to influence the decisions from above.

「Elsewhere.」

"Chief, your decision has made the brothers very unhappy."

A red-furred Pigman looked with a worried expression at his chief, who sat imposingly upon a Giant Stone.

"’Being unhappy is better than throwing their lives away for nothing,’ Tikli said calmly, his gaze fixed on a spot several hundred paces away where flames lit up the sky and the sounds of battle roared."

Ever since being double-crossed by that treacherous Giant Goblin, he knew this whole bunch had their own hidden agendas; they had more schemes than he had bristles.

’Since they were all just planning to go through the motions, he would naturally do the same.’

According to the original plan, he was supposed to be the one raiding the enemy’s supply line. Naturally, he hadn’t agreed, choosing instead to guard these three Catapults.

’After all, you didn’t have to be a genius to figure it out. Why would a prime target like the supply line suddenly fall to him?’

’One guess and you’d know it was heavily defended by humans. He wasn’t falling for that trap.’

Coming here may have taken them away from the main battlefield, but at least he could preserve his people. Whoever wanted to attack the supply line could go right ahead.

’Besides, if they did manage to take it, he would surely get his share of the credit anyway.’

"How many Giant Stones have those idiots moved?"

Tikli asked, changing the subject.

Their job here, aside from protecting the three Catapults that had been transported with great difficulty, was to provide long-range suppressive fire.

It was an easy job, and the potential military honors were not to be overlooked.

"Those damned Giants... The moment the Warriors look away, they start slacking off. In all this time, they’ve only moved a dozen or so."

the red-furred Pigman said with a look of disgust.

To them, Giants were no different from wild beasts. Though they had great Power, their Intelligence was, at best, comparable to a three-year-old Pigman child.

If they weren’t of some use, they would have been eaten long ago.

"’Then whip them more. Idiots like that only respond to force,’ Tikli said with a wave of his hand."

He planned to stockpile more Giant Stones before launching a large-scale volley.

’It would be best if those Centaurs and Minotaurs charged into the human camp. Then they could all get a taste of the Giant Stones together,’ Tikli thought.

’He wouldn’t be afraid of being held accountable afterward. After all, it was the middle of the night, and from so far away, who would know they had already entered the human camp? He would just be following orders to launch a catapult strike.’

"Wait. Did you hear something?"

Suddenly, Tikli’s ears twitched. He turned to look into the darkness, but there was nothing there but a vast expanse of white snow.

"’No,’ the red-furred Pigman said, simply shaking his head."

"’I must have misheard.’"

Tikli turned back. "Tell the Warriors to stay sharp. Even though we’re not on the main battlefield, the humans might send a small squad to launch a sneak attack."

"’Chief, the moon has broken through the clouds tonight. If the humans really sent a raiding party, we’d spot them from a hundred paces away from up here,’ the red-furred Pigman offered reassuringly."

He thought his chief was being overly cautious.

Tikli thought about it and had to agree. Under the moonlight, the surroundings were bathed in a pale white glow, and visibility was high.

But for some reason, he felt his heart pounding with unease. He told himself it was probably just because he’d been spending the last few days wondering if leading his people south had been the right choice.

He had resolutely led his people south based solely on the words of that Dark Elf, all for something that only existed in tales of the past.

But...

Tikli closed his eyes, recalling the memory.

’That feeling... it couldn’t be wrong. It had to be a Primordial Blood Crystal, something that could increase the concentration of one’s Bloodline and make its power hereditary.’

’Just getting close had made the blood in his veins boil uncontrollably, as if it were trying to reclaim the Power of his ancient ancestors.’

’As long as he obtained the Blood Crystal and enhanced his Bloodline’s purity, not only would his own strength reach a new level, but his descendants would also be able to inherit his Power!’

It was a widely accepted truth in this world.

The Bloodline of a powerful individual could only be passed down if they became one of the Legendary Powerhouses. If they failed to reach that level, even their direct offspring could turn out to be worthless weaklings.

But there were always shortcuts and exceptions to the rules, and the Primordial Blood Crystal was one of them.

Not only could it purify a Bloodline, giving one a chance to awaken the power of their ancestors, but it could also make one’s own Talent hereditary.