LOTR: TMCP Ch. 399

Boom!

Like a raging waterfall crashing into a giant rock, the human alliance and the foul creatures of Mordor clashed head-on, and in an instant, the battle was ablaze. At the very front charged the leaders of mankind.

During this assault, many found themselves astonished, chiefly because the seemingly old and frail wizard could run so fast. He sprinted like the wind, kicking up dust behind him, his vigor surpassing that of many young men.

"Ha!"

Aragorn swung his sword with all his might. With one blow, he cleaved an orc's weapon in half, then struck again to split open the creature's helmet. His valiant display lifted the spirits of those behind him. They fought all the harder. But compared to Garrett on the other side, even this fierce performance seemed almost mild.

Garrett charged through the enemy ranks, hefting his massive greatsword, mowing down orcs as he went. His eyes locked on the large targets, trolls, Olog-hai, and great beasts. All the heavy vanguard units that stood before him fell one after another. None could withstand the burning edge and crushing weight of his blade.

After he had cleared out nearly half of the heavy vanguard, the elite troops of the Free Cities surged forward. Their finest warriors and legion champions targeted the remaining high-value monsters, executing them swiftly to prevent heavy casualties among their own.

Thud!

He sent another cluster of orcs flying, then suddenly looked up toward the rear of Mordor's army, but Sauron was nowhere to be seen.

Where is he?

Indeed, Sauron had not led his army into a direct clash with Garrett. The moment the battle began, he had vanished. He was deliberately avoiding Garrett. He intended to strike first at those who were weaker, yet crucial to the alliance's morale.

Clang!

A massive spiked mace slammed into the ground, leaving a deep crater.

Aragorn barely dodged it, his heart pounding wildly. Under cover of the chaos, Sauron had come, and Aragorn was his first target.

Drawing back a few steps, Aragorn raised Andúril high and shouted, "Look well upon this sword! Do you remember it? It's the very blade that cut off your Ring and cast you down to your ruin!"

The words struck Sauron's deepest wound, yet he merely laughed twice and replied coldly, "Even if the sword is reforged, what of it? You and your kind are destined for annihilation... you and your beloved alike."

As he spoke, he unleashed a dark illusion that filled Aragorn's mind with visions of Arwen's fading life and death.

"This time, it won't be your finger I sever. I'll take your head!"

"Ahhh!"

With a roar of fury, he charged at Sauron.

Clang!

In his rage, Aragorn even managed to parry Sauron's crushing blow with his sword, but the impact forced him back again and again until he had to roll aside to avoid being smashed outright. No matter his fury, the difference in power was absolute. The fight quickly became a one-sided struggle. He dodged desperately, barely managing to block the attacks, looking utterly battered. He knew there was no chance. A single hit from that mace would leave him broken, dying on the spot.

Sauron pressed forward relentlessly. Each swing of his mace forced Aragorn to expend all his strength to evade. When Aragorn finally managed to land several cuts on him, they barely left a mark. That dark armor was simply too unyielding. Fighting Sauron reminded him of the time he had faced Garrett, the same feeling of being utterly outmatched.

But Garrett had shown mercy.

Sauron would not.

In the end, he was struck down, his body thrown hard to the ground, trapped at death's door. The massive spiked mace came crashing down once more.

Whoosh!

In that instant between life and death, an arrow flew from afar, striking Sauron in the head. It only made his helmeted head tilt slightly, but it did the job. His swing went off course. Aragorn seized the fleeting chance, bracing his sword hard against the blow and using the force to roll aside, scrambling up in a battered heap. He fixed his eyes on Sauron, who was already bearing down for another strike. Then, the stern and bruised expression on his face suddenly softened. He arched an eyebrow at Sauron.

And then, he looked past him.

Sauron instantly tensed. He swung his weapon backward on instinct, and met the edge of a massive greatsword traced with faint crimson veins.

"Picking on someone smaller? That's your idea of fun?"

Boom!

Garrett took a step back, then leapt forward in a downward slash, the blow so powerful that Sauron's knees bent slightly under it, the ground beneath him cracking and sinking.

At that moment, Legolas, the archer behind that saving arrow, arrived with Gimli and Boromir, covering the wounded Aragorn as he retreated a few paces.

Catching his breath, Aragorn said, "Don't worry, I'm not that easy to break."

Then, without hesitation, he rejoined the fight.

The duel between Sauron and Garrett raged on. Yet it was clear, Sauron was no fool. He despised uncertain battles and reckless one-on-one duels driven by passion. He was a creature who never gambled unless success was absolute.

At his hidden command, the remaining eight Nazgûl entered the fray, riding monstrous beasts and charging toward the human alliance. Against ground troops, especially Men, they were a devastating force, overwhelming and unstoppable.

Out of respect and fear for the wizard, the Nazgûl spread out, attacking from multiple directions to avoid being wiped out by a single devastating spell.

Sauron's move was effective. The battlefield fell into disarray, soldiers scrambling under the sudden assault.

But then... In the clearing between the two armies, Garrett suddenly stepped back, giving Sauron a mocking raise of his eyebrow. Sauron's instincts screamed. He reflexively swung his weapon behind him, expecting another sneak attack.

But when he turned, there was no one there.

Futile tricks...

He was about to sneer back at Garrett, when a sudden dread hit him.

"ROAAAR!"

A thunderous roar split the skies, followed by a surge of blazing orange fire that tore through the clouds and incinerated two Nazgûl who had flown too close.

"It's Wormi!"

Two Hobbits, Pippin and Merry, their swords stained with enemy blood, looked up and shouted in delight.

Gandalf, kicking aside an orc, turned his head and yelled back, "Remember! Out here, call her Weymir! If you say 'Wormi,' he'll give you trouble later!"

Pippin and Merry exchanged a helpless look.

"Your end has come, Sauron."

On the other side, Garrett sheathed his greatsword, leapt backward, and was smoothly caught by the diving dragon. For the first time, he appeared on the battlefield as a dragon rider. Many who saw the sight couldn't help but utter a word never before heard in this world.

"Dragon Knight!"

As they soared once around the battlefield, he pointed down at Sauron and commanded, "Burn him!"

BOOM!

A torrent of searing fire rained down, scattering Sauron's army in terror and leaving him standing alone in the inferno. To his credit, Sauron did not flee. He raised his spiked mace to shield himself.

And soon, Garrett saw why.

Sauron was no mere mortal. He was a Maia, a divine being. Even if not one of the strongest in battle, he wielded countless powers. Just before the dragon's breath struck, black mist erupted around him, enveloping his body. He stood motionless in the storm of fire, and when the flames finally died out, the dark shroud still remained intact.

What...?

This time, it was Garrett's turn to be surprised.