Three days had passed since the advance group had left the Citadel, and they had successfully secured the second and third posts, advancing through 1000 miles of hostile terrain and leaving one squad at each checkpoint to guard the path for the civilians behind them.
Now, only two squads remained, tasked with advancing toward the next post beyond a rocky mountain range.
The scout had reported troubling news: a horde of orcs had been spotted beyond the mountain. From their observations, it seed likely this was a breeding ground for the orcs, a potentially dangerous site that could lead to even more orcs pouring out onto the path.
Grand Magus Shahi, ever pragmatic, spoke up. "The western path is an option," she suggested, pointing toward a winding trail to the left. "But it's a longer route, about four hours of extra travel. We could bypass the orcs and move on safely. What do you think, Magus Ery?"
Ery thought for a mont, glancing at the rocky terrain ahead; his divine senses tingled with the presence of distant enemy forces. He turned to Shahi, his voice calm yet resolute. "We'll clear the orcs. We need to secure the path for the civilians behind us. It's best to deal with them now before they can cause more trouble for the others."
Shahi's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing the risks. She didn't doubt Ery's capabilities, but she was mindful of the strength of their forces. Their numbers were thinning, and though the magus was formidable, facing thousands of orcs would endanger the civilians. Still, Ery's words were persuasive.
"Two hours; give two hours." "Alright, two hours... it's a good ti for a break," Shahi agreed. "If the situation turns too dangerous, withdraw and take the western path."
Ery gave a slight bow "Thank you, Senior. We'll start right away."
With the confirmation, Ery swiftly led his 50 acolytes, joined by Klea and Magus Sirri, to the new assignnt. The acolytes were visibly excited, eager for a chance for a fight.
For the past three days, their primary task had been guarding civilians, leaving them with minimal combat opportunities. This ant they hadn't earned any bonus points, relying solely on the mission's daily 2,000-point reward. Combined with the three days of inactivity before leaving the Citadel, their academy ranking had taken a hit:
[Top Hall Ranking - Day 14/30]
[1st Place: Hall 2 - 51,180 Points]
[2nd Place: Hall 1 - 48,720 Points]
[3rd Place: Hall 6 - 47,110 Points]
[6th Place: Hall 9 - 42,220 Points]
Eager to make up for lost ground, Ery wasted no ti. He activated his divine senses, pinpointing the heart of the orc camp near the eastern mountains, and opened a spatial gate 100 miles away.
The group stepped through the shimring portal—straight into the center of the sprawling orc encampnt. A deafening roar of battle cries erupted around them as tens of thousands of orcs turned their attention to the newcors.
"Master!! Are you trying to kill us?!" Hardy's panicked shout barely rose above the chaos, his wide eyes reflecting the sheer magnitude of the orc army surrounding them.
"You can do this! Take the east side and hold your ground!" Ery's voice bood over the chaos, brimming with confidence and authority.
The acolytes imdiately sprang into action, their training kicking in. Each of them summoned their assigned Chizpur, into defensive positions. The acolytes spread out into a disciplined formation, shields raised and weapons ready, as they braced for the tide of attackers surging from the east.
anwhile, Ery turned to address the western flank. With a flick of his wrist, the air around him rippled as he accessed his domain.
"Durak!" he called out, his voice resonating with power. From the portal erged his own orc forces, a battalion of 200 dark orc warriors, each a hulking, battle-hardened brute with strength comparable to the elite orc champions of the enemy forces.
At the forefront was Durak, a towering dark orc clad in formidable armor, his heavy axe resting across his broad shoulders. His fiery eyes scanned the field, and he let out a thunderous war cry that seed to shake the ground itself.
"DURAKK!!!!"
"CWIKIKK!! CHIWIKK!!"
The summoned orcs roared in unison, their bloodlust ignited by Durak's commanding presence. Their ranks moved with uncanny coordination, a sign of Durak's leadership and Ery's influence. Together, with the acolytes' defensive line, they created a formidable two-front resistance.
Sensing no dark elves among the ranks, Ery decided it was ti to target the problem at its source. He delegated command to Klea, reminding Magus Sirri to ensure every kill was properly accounted for, then opened another spatial gate to a hidden location.
The gate brought him deep beneath the mountain, into the heart of the orcs' hive. The cavern was a sprawling network of tunnels, pulsating with sinister vitality. The air was heavy with the stench of decay, and the walls shimred faintly with patches of bioluminescent moss, casting a ghostly green hue over the hive's bustling inhabitants.
Ery moved unnoticed through the labyrinthine corridors. The hive was a chaotic symphony of movent: warriors patrolling, workers laboring, and breeding chambers teeming with grotesque activity. He ticulously gathered samples from various areas, keenly observing any unique traits of the Valaryn orcs' breeding process. With his task complete, Ery summoned Chututlu to assist him in releasing a potent poison into its core. The reaction was imdiate and devastating. The air thickened with acrid smoke as the poison spread, reducing the hive's once-thriving ecosystem to chaos and death.
Satisfied, Ery returned to the surface just as the battle above reached its peak. He joined and unleashed waves of destructive spells, swiftly eliminating the remaining orc forces. Within the hour, the battlefield was cleared, and the eastern path was secure.
Thanks to their efforts, the caravans could now proceed safely. The acolytes, bolstered by their contribution to the operation, earned significant points, propelling their ranking upward.
[2nd Place: Hall 6 - 49,200 Points]
As the main force caught up, Grand Magus Shahi approached. "Good job, Lieutenant," she remarked, her tone uncharacteristically warm.
Without delay, the group pressed on toward their next objective. They traveled another 400 miles through the unforgiving terrain, leaving behind the last magus squad to secure the path. Eventually, they reached a fortified Magus Alliance outpost, a critical waypoint in their journey.
Awaiting their arrival was a contingent of reinforcents. Among them stood a familiar female figure, her arms crossed and a look of mock impatience on her face as she stood confidently among the group of half-blood acolytes.
"Father! What took you so long?!"
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