Due to the sheer numbers of the orc race and the considerable number of top-tier powerhouses among them, the fortress changed hands with astonishing speed.
In fact, so few magical alarm spells had been triggered that the orcs even had time to lie in ambush after mopping up the remaining resistance, then strike the reinforcements that hurried through the portal.
After several such failed attempts, the glow of teleportation finally ceased altogether, and the orcs leisurely consolidated their control over the entire fortress, setting up anti-teleportation arrays.
The Moon-never-sets Fortress had naturally been equipped with such arrays before, and had even left backdoors for its own mages to use the portal for rescue.
Now what the orcs were doing was thoroughly disrupting the spatial fluctuations of the area, sealing off all teleportation capability!
While the military camp below was bustling with activity, a pair of golden eyes gazed down from mid-air with tranquil indifference.
In an instant, the magic network across dozens of kilometers seethed with turbulence, and powerful thunderclouds began coalescing.
"
Accompanied by a rough, booming voice, the thunderclouds at the horizon vanished instantly, revealing the pale gleam of moonlight.
The orcs below had no idea they had just strolled past death's door, and continued gleefully claiming their spoils.
The golden eyes took no further action, yet seemed to pierce through the void, fixing their gaze directly upon a single orc.
"Genuxu!" The owner of the golden eyes called out the orc's name, and a faint flame of anger flickered within.
"You see — I didn't strike first this time! All of this was won by my followers on their own!"
The chief orc god roared with laughter, his voice brimming with unmistakable elation.
"Furthermore... we've gained the backing of quite a few deities this time — including a certain someone who has always been trailing behind you..."
Genuxu delivered this additional piece of news, and watched with satisfaction as the taste of fury rose in Mystra's gaze.
That formidable will withdrew at once, carrying with it a sense of flustered exasperation, as though a fire had broken out in one's own backyard.
"The Goddess of the
Genuxu, the chief god of the orcs, murmured to himself and vanished into the void as well, leaving behind only a mighty divine decree.
Under the urging of priests and clerics, the frenzied orcs surged forward like a tsunami, beginning to sweep across the entire North.
Survival and reproduction — these are the two great driving forces of living creatures. Spurred by these twin desires, the orcs swept through like locusts, pillaging everything in their path. Wherever they passed, rivers of blood ran in the streets.
The surviving city-states of the North, rallied under Silvermoon City's banner, plunged into a bitter and desperate resistance, and the situation一度 fell into stalemate.
On one hand, the orcs had gained vast new territories to consolidate, and their troops needed rest. On the other, the Silvermoon Alliance, caught entirely off guard, had suffered consecutive heavy losses and desperately needed time to recover.
Massive orc offensives could erupt again at any moment, while small-scale skirmishes continued virtually every single day.
Mercenaries, adventurers, and idealists from across the entire human world risked the journey to the North, hoping to carve out a share of the spoils, while far more ordinary northern merchants and commoners started an exodus in droves, giving their neighboring countries no end of headaches.
In these chaotic times, names that had once been entirely obscure began to ring loud and clear, shining brilliantly in battle against the orcs and earning the title of heroes...
...
Before anyone realized it, another year had passed.
Year 37,666 of the Divine Calendar. Silvermoon City.
A black steed galloped along the road, its hooves spattered with dried blood — it had clearly just come from a fight. Behind the rider, soldiers carried orc ears, proof of military merit and the basis for rewards. What was truly astonishing was that the knight was a woman!
"It's the 'Knight of Light,' Rafinia!"
An adventurer standing by the road gazed at the young knight, admiration and worship plain in his eyes.
"Mm! I heard this knightess was promoted to High Knight at a remarkably young age, and she's been absolutely brilliant in the recent battles against the orcs!"
Beside him, a young girl whose face still bore traces of childishness had eyes practically sparkling: "What's even more admirable is that Lady Rafinia is practically the embodiment of justice — she treats commoners and nobles alike, and works hard to protect the interests of the weak... just like the City Lord..."
"That's exactly why so many adventurers have come from all over!"
The obviously leader-like figure among the group added, though inwardly he still harbored private thoughts: "I'd wager only a minority actually came to fight because they support the City Lord's ideals — most are probably just after the profits!"
Even knowing this, he naturally kept his thoughts to himself.
Military merit! That was the best way for an adventurer to become a noble! And this Lord of Silvermoon was famously generous — so what more was there to say?
"And besides, the Knight of Light's commanding officer, Baron Violet, has already proven that point very well for us..."
The adventurer leader mused to himself, while simultaneously urging his companions along: "What are you staring at? Move it — head to the Mercenary Guild and collect our mission pay!"
Thanks to the war and the influx of other mercenaries and adventurers, Silvermoon City had taken on a peculiar sort of prosperity.
The peaceful, easygoing free citizens had vanished entirely, replaced by mercenaries and adventurers who reeked of blood.
The shops lining the streets, aside from taverns, were almost exclusively outfitters selling refined steel weapons and equipment, along with low-grade potions and the like — in short, anything that could enhance combat ability. The Mercenary Guild was booming so hard that adventurers packed it to capacity virtually every day.
"Mercenary missions only earn money... Maybe once the situation on the front becomes clearer, I should look into joining the city garrison..."
The leader was still pondering his future plans — the most honest thoughts of small figures in chaotic times. They didn't care who ruled from above; they only cared about their own interests.
...
The young knightess paid no attention to the group of adventurers by the roadside — such sights were far too common in Silvermoon City.
After her party entered a military encampment, Rafinia immediately removed her armor, changed into comfortable casual clothes, and headed to Leilin's tent.
At that moment, Leilin was staring at an enormous map of the North in a daze, seemingly oblivious even to Rafinia's sudden intrusion.
Seeing this, a mischievous look flickered across Rafinia's face, and she tiptoed quietly behind Leilin.
"Stop it, Rafinia."
Leilin's flat tone deflated her like a punctured balloon.
"Oh honestly! Can't you even show a little courtesy to a lady? Where has your gentlemanly demeanor gone?"
She不满地 expressed her displeasure at Leilin, who seemed to have eyes in the back of his head.
"Heh..." With a wizard's spiritual power, Rafinia's stealth was futile no matter how careful she was — unless she were a high-level assassin or thief, but even then, she couldn't escape the Chip's detection.
"Mission complete?"
Leilin was now the commanding officer here, and Rafinia served under him.
"Mm! That orc scouting party has been completely wiped out by me! They're absolute beasts — they slaughtered three whole villages!" Rafinia spoke with righteous indignation.
This was fundamentally a life-or-death struggle between two races, so Leilin merely raised an eyebrow slightly at her words without further comment.
And in his heart, there was yet another layer of concern.
"They're conducting such massacres in occupied territory..." Leilin sighed.
According to his intelligence, in the regions the orcs had already occupied, other orcs — the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the young — had been steadily moving in. They were even clearing wasteland and sowing seeds, plainly in the process of restoring production.
What surprised Leilin even more was that in these orc villages, there were already instances of using human slaves.
"After this orc invasion, there's someone capable pulling the strings..."
This was plainly not a policy of raiding and retreating, and it immediately triggered panic among Silvermoon City's upper echelons. But Leilin remained unperturbed.
His goals were different, his objectives were different, and naturally his concerns differed as well.
In fact, watching those old-line nobles silently suffer setbacks gave him a certain sense of satisfaction.
"Chip! Display my current data!" Leilin commanded.
[Leilin Farell | Age: 21 | Race: Human | Level 14
[Weave Analysis Progress: Level 0 — 100%! Level 1 — 100%! Level 2 — 100%! Level 3 — 100%! Level 4 — 68.88%! Level 5 — 37.91%! Level 6 — 12.36%!]
The Chip faithfully executed Leilin's command, rapidly displaying a row of data.
Over the past year, Leilin's wizard level had risen by yet another rank, leaving other wizards astonished — had it not been for the war, the fallout would have been even greater.
Through his accumulated military merit, he had also gradually exchanged for portions of Legendary-level materials.
He had to admit that the advanced magical power construction system of this world of gods had indeed provided him with tremendous inspiration.
"I've also scouted the Nether Mountains several times — I can confirm the location of that red dragon's lair and the
Leilin's eyes gleamed with a sharp light.