“What is he doing here?” Oreg asked as he looked at the Half-Elf, who Baronar had brought with him to participate in their high-level meeting. “Have you forgotten that this is a meeting for the upcoming battle against the Humans? This is not a place for a brat.”

Baronar just smiled at his comrade as he made a gesture for Lux to sit in one of the corners of the room, which the red-headed teenager obeyed.

“Don’t be like that,” Baronar replied. “Didn’t you make a deal with him that you will recognize him if he manages to subdue the enemy army? Since that is the case, I think it’s good for him to know a little more about the enemies that we will be facing in battle. Who knows? He might even save your life one day.”

Oreg snorted, but no longer said anything. He gave the Half-Elf a side-long glance before shifting his attention back on the table where the map of the battlefield was spread out.

Clearly, he didn’t believe for a second that there would come a time when Lux would save him. How can a puny Initiate save a Peak-Argonaut Alpha Beast like him in battle?

Tanabur and Mogazar also gave the Half-Elf side-long glances before setting their sights on the map in front of them.

It was at that moment when Lady Avyanna cleared her throat and started their meeting.

“First, I have bad news to tell everyone,” Lady Avyanna said with a solemn expression on her face. “According to my contracted Spirits, the Human Army comprises nearly ten million soldiers. Five thousand of them are Rankers, and among those five thousand, a hundred of them are High-Rankers.”

The Orc Warlords’ faces became grim after hearing the report of their Orc Chieftain. None of them doubted her words because there was no need for her to lie to them.

“We have brought almost all our able-bodied warriors to this battle, and we only number 200,000 in total,” Barca stated. “Although we are stronger than the Humans, the number of their high-ranking warriors, as well as their lower-ranking warriors outnumber us fifty to one.

“It seems they are really serious about their conquest of the Wanid Kingdom. We alone will not be able to hold them back this time. If we don’t get our reinforcements soon, I’m afraid…”

Suddenly, several Spirit Hawks entered the windows of their keep and landed beside Lady Avyanna.

The Orc Chieftain waved her hand, and several crystals floated in her direction. These crystals then transformed into projections, and soon, several men and women appeared inside their meeting room.

“We have received your news of the Haca Dynasty’s movement, and we will send reinforcements, but I’m afraid the aid we can give you is very limited,” a lady with jet-black hair, wearing a black robe said with a bitter smile. “The Zulia Empire in the North, and the Lathia Kingdom in the North East have also mobilized their army to invade our lands.

“It seems that all of them have collaborated to do a three-pronged attack in order to split our forces, preventing us from mounting a concentrated defense on one side.”

Lady Avyanna’s face became extremely pale after hearing the words of the Scarlet Witch, who was the leader of the Witches of Moonbright.

“The Druids from the Forest of the Beginnings have all moved to the North East in order to support the Templars of Cassemere in battle,” a middle-aged man with sharp features said. “They brought an army numbering over five million. Because of this, the Guardian of the Forest, the Elemental Tempest will be joining the battle to assist us in defending our lands. I’m afraid that we can’t send any help to the Blackrock Clan at this point in time.”

It was then when a beautiful lady with green hair, and leaves covering her body spoke.

“The Dryads of Easthaven have started to mobilize and travel towards the Blackrock Clan’s territory,” the Dryad Queen said softly. “Our kind doesn’t specialize in warfare, but we will do our best to help with the defense of your territories, as well as healing your wounded soldiers.

“However, since we are also supporting the other Pillars in their defense, we can only send over twenty thousand Dryads. I’m afraid that this is the best that we can do, we are simply stretched too thin at the moment”

Lady Avyanna gave the Dryad Queen a grateful bow. The Dryads could only fight in places with lush forests and greenery. Although the Blackrock Clan’s valley was very rich in flora and fauna, it was still nothing compared to East Haven, which was the hometurf of the Dryads.

Suddenly, a creature with humanoid features, and blue skin spoke to tell his good friend some bad news.

“Avyanna, I’m sorry but the Djinns of Valefor will not be able to offer you our assistance. “We are facing the Zulia Empire, who have also mobilized over five million troops. The Harpies of Airedale will assist us in battle, and even then, we will be hard pressed on defending our lands. Because of this, I cannot help you, my dear friend, Avyanna.”

The Orc Chieftain sighed as she gave her old friend a bitter smile.

“These are difficult times, Xepan,” Lady Avyanna replied. “I know that everyone has their difficulties, and I understand that you will not be able to send us reinforcements. But, know this, the Blackrock Clan is facing an unprecedented army that numbers over ten million. I’m afraid that even with the help of the Dryads of East Haven we will not be able to hold them back for long.”

All the rulers of the Pillars of the Wanid Kingdom cried out in alarm after hearing the Orc Chieftain’s words.

“T-Ten million?!” The Scarlet Witch covered her lips with her delicate hand as she looked at Lady Avyanna in disbelief.

The expression of the other Heads of the different Pillars’ also became grim after hearing the number of troops that the Haca Dynasty had mobilized to conquer their lands.

“Dammit!” Xepan, the head of the Djinns cursed. “How despicable! They really intend to wipe us off the map of the Arondight Territory!”

“This… is really bad news,” the Champion of the Templars of Cassemere said through gritted teeth.

Although he and the other Pillars sometimes had conflicts with each other, none of them wanted one of the Pillars to be completely extinguished because they represented the stability of the Wanid Kingdom.

Now that the Blackrock Clan was facing an army, whose numbers were almost twice of what they were facing, all of them understood how dire the Blackrock Clan’s situation really was.

“Can you hold them off?” the middle-aged man who was the Patriarch of the Druids of the Forest of Beginnings asked.

Lady Avyanna shook her head. “We might be able to delay their advance, but we can’t hold them off. Our only chance of winning is if those ambitious clans, and families that were greedily eyeing our positions in the past, will extend their hand to help us. Aside from that, I’m afraid that our Western Borders will fall to the Haca Dynasty.”

The Pillars of the Wanid Kingdom all quieted down as they digested the information that Lady Avyanna shared with them.

“I will send my representatives to talk to them,” the Champion of the Templars of Cassemere said. “If they don’t lend their aid then…”

The Champion’s eyes glinted with killing intent, which all of his peers saw clearly.

Although all of the Pillars were strong, they all agreed that the strongest fighter in the Wanid Kingdom was the Champion of the Templars, whom even Barca couldn’t defeat in a one-on-one battle.

“We will defend for as long as we can,” Lady Avyanna said in a firm voice as he pressed her hands together. “So, use this time to send as many reinforcements to the West as possible. May the Spirits of the Wanid Kingdom watch over all of you.”

The other Pillars also pressed their hands together as they repeated the custom of their Kingdom.

“””May the Spirits of the Wanid Kingdom watch over all of you.”””

One by one, the projections disappeared, and the Spirit hawks screeched as the crystals returned to their possessions. They then soared out the window, and flew under the cover of darkness.

War had come, attacking them from all sides, and the only thing they could hope for was that they would be able to weather the storm that was about to make landfall on their kingdom.