Two hours after the Orcs returned to their Capital City, Asmodeus asked his Master to talk in private.

“Is there something wrong, Asmodeus?” Lux asked as soon as he closed the door of his room behind him.

“Master, I have a bold proposal to make,” Asmodeus replied as the embers on his eyes shone in a devilish glint. “I didn’t think of this before. but after seeing the depressed expressions of the Orcs who have returned to the city, a plan suddenly formed inside my head. Forget about the Transcendent Flames, if we can make this work then we will profit a lot from this war.”

Lux could feel the “evil” enthusiasm in Asmodeus’ voice, as if he was a kid about to play a prank on his friends.

“Tell me what you have in mind,” Lux said as he sat down on a chair.

The Archlich nodded his head and excitedly told his Master about the plan that he had just thought of an hour ago.

Lux’s expression gradually changed as he listened to Asmodeus’ words. The Archlich was like a devil tempting the Half-Elf into committing a sinful act, with the promise of great riches and rewards.

After listening to his strategist’s plan, the Half-Elf couldn’t stop himself from taking in a cold breath due to how bold it was.

“What do you think, Master?” Asmodeus asked with a smile.

“I think you are crazy,” Lux replied as he clenched his fist. “But, I like this kind of crazy. The only problem is if it will work.”

“Master, timing is important. As long as we time it right, we can make it happen.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you are evil?”

“Kukuku! Thanks for the compliment, Master. As long as it benefits you, I don’t mind being called evil.”

Inside the room, two people started to laugh as they discussed in detail on how to execute Asmodeus’ daring plan that made the Half-Elf feel as if the payoff was worth the risk he was going to take.

If they succeed, they would no longer need to worry about the Transcendent Flames, because both the Haca Dynasty and the Blackrock Clan would make him the biggest winner in this war.

———-

Dozens of miles away from the capital city of the Orcs…

“What do you think? Will the Orcs launch a suicide attack to defend their Capital City? Or run away like the dogs they are?” Ronan asked Great General Garret who was sat on the back of his War Horse as they continued their march deeper into the Blackrock Clan’s territory

Great General Garret didn’t reply right away. Instead he pondered the possibility of the Orcs betting everything they had in one-last suicide charge against their army.

“They might make their last stand in their Capital City, or they might flee,” Great General Garret replied after organizing his thoughts. “However, knowing the Orc’s mentality, they would rather die than run forever. Their pride won’t allow it.”

“Heh~ Pride is it?” Ronan smirked. “Well, I’ve been itching for a fight as well. It’s boring to just protect the Magic Cannons all day.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate the Orcs. we wouldn’t have lost 50 years ago if they were easy to defeat.”

“True. But, that won’t change the fact that they’re no match against us.”

Great General Garret didn’t refute Ronan’s words. Truth be told, even if they did a frontal clash with the Orcs, he was confident that they would win. However, the only thing he couldn’t guarantee was the number of casualties on their side if that were to happen.

‘The nagging feeling in my head is still there,’ Great General Garret thought as he gazed in the direction of the Capital City of the Orcs. ‘It has been steadily growing more intense as we near Ludrar Bragh.’

The Great General tried to shrug off the feeling many times, but it didn’t want to leave him alone.

‘Two more days,’ Great General Garret thought. ‘We will reach their Capital City in two days.’

Their march would have taken longer if they had trekked through the mountain range. However, since they destroyed it, they managed to cut their travel time by half.

His Army’s morale was also at its peak because they had won two consecutive campaigns without losing too many comrades.

All of them shared Ronan’s wishes to clash against the Orcs, and finally get a piece of the action. But, Garret was hesitant to order a direct confrontation because the Blackrock Clan weren’t the only enemies they were going to face.

They would have to deal with the other factions that lived inside the Wanid Kingdom.

‘Fortunately our allies are keeping the other Pillars busy,’ Great General Garret thought. ‘Because of this, they were unable to send any reinforcements to the Orcs, allowing us to overpower them with our sheer numbers.’

The Wanid Kingdom was one big pie that had long been coveted by their neighbors, with the exception of the Kingdom of Gweliven.

Its rich, fertile lands that were brimming with ancient power were simply too hard to resist, so because of this, an alliance of those who shared a common goal was formed.

Their intention was to split up the Wanid Kingdom’s Pillars, to make it easier for them to conquer their lands.

However, since the Haca Dynasty had prepared for this invasion for years, their forces were much more prepared, and more well equipped than their allies, who jumped at the opportunity to join them in their massive invasion.

‘Father, I will soon avenge you,’ Great General Garret thought as he held the amulet on his neck and rubbed his thumb over its surface. ‘I’ll offer the Orc Chieftain’s head to your grave as a gift when I return from this war victorious.’

———–

Two days later…

The sound of war drums reverberated in the surroundings, as the Orcs prepared to defend their Capital City to the death.

Lady Avyanna’s worst fears had come to pass, and there was no longer a way to stop Barca and the other Orc Warlords from initiating a suicide charge against their enemies.

The Orc Blacksmiths had worked non-stop over the past two days, forging shields that would be supplied to each of their brethren who would lay down their lives to preserve their Clan’s honor.

Lux looked at these Orcs, who had surprisingly calm expressions on their faces. They were the faces that didn’t fear anything, even death, and it made him respect them more in his heart.

As he was taking a stroll in the fortress, and watching all of the Orcs sharpening their weapons, he found Baronar standing on the Ramparts, and staring off in the distance.

“Lux, when I die, don’t revive me, okay?” Baronar said as soon as he felt Lux’s presence behind him. “If you do, I’ll kill you.”

The Orc Great Shaman didn’t even bother to turn around to look at the Half-Elf and continued to gaze in the distance.

At the edge of the horizon, the flags of the Haca Dynasty fluttered, signifying that it would only take them a few hours before they arrived in the Capital City of the Orcs.

“Very well,” Lux replied. “Are you going to join the suicide charge as well?”

“Yes,” Baronar replied. “I’ve been itching to try the new ability that I gained after I absorbed the Abyssal Core you traded to me. I’ll make sure to make them feel pain beyond their wildest dreams.”

A sinister smile appeared on Baronar’s face, as he gazed at the approaching army in the distance.

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of dying,” Baronar stated. “The Dryads are here and we have thought of a way to counter their Grand Spell. All we need to worry about is their Magic Cannons. If we can nullify their damage, that will force the enemy to fight us in close quarters. When that happens, we will show them what it means to fight against an Orc!”

Lux crossed his arms over his chest as he, too, gazed at the approaching army in the distance.

Unknown to Baronar, the Half-Elf was wishing the Haca Dynasty’s Army would hurry up and start their siege against the Blackrock Clan.

Only when the two forces clashed would he be able to execute the plan that he and Asmodeus had concocted, which would allow him to gain the ability to negotiate with the proud Orcs, who were eager to start a slaughter.