Chapter 1035: The opening act of a full-scale invasion
Three days later, a much calmer Tangere entered the castle’s conference room.
"The number of demonic monsters in the Forest of Nature has exploded. They’re starting to form an encirclement. The enemy is here," Tangere said, bursting into the room to find Orion.
Although Tangere himself had withdrawn to the safety of The Stillness, he had left a vast network of Plague-thralls on the front lines to serve as his eyes and ears. Over the past two days, those thralls had been systematically overwhelmed by massive hordes of demonic monsters, their numbers dwindling rapidly. With the instincts of a born opportunist, Tangere knew exactly what this was: the opening act of a full-scale invasion.
"We haven’t seen any Legendary-level threats yet," he added, "but they’re definitely planning something big."
Orion gestured for the anxious plague lord to take a seat. He had fully expected a response from the forces behind the demonic monsters. After losing a high-ranking lord and an arch lord’s phantom, a major faction with access to such potent secret techniques would never let the loss slide. This new wave of monsters wasn’t just a probe; they were actively hunting for their stronghold.
"Our undead armies require a vast number of corpses and living sacrifices," Orion said with unnerving ease. "In a way, their timing is perfect, isn’t it?"
To Orion, this offensive, while massive, was a hollow threat. The complete absence of high-level enemy combatants told him everything he needed to know. The faction behind the demonic monsters had a clear goal: use an endless tide of cannon fodder to pinpoint the allied coalition’s location and test their strength.
"Pull your Plague-thralls back," Orion instructed. "Have them form a defensive perimeter around our core territory. For now, put the search for the scattered Wood Elves on hold."
He stood by the window, gazing out at the rapidly expanding encampment as he laid out the next phase of their plan.
Tangere raised no objections. Consolidating their forces and hunkering down was the smartest possible move.
As he stood frowning and mulling over the situation, a faint, cool breeze drifted into the conference room, feeling strangely out of place. The refreshing chill on his skin was instantly eclipsed by a primal sense of danger.
"My lord."
Tangere looked up. A figure clad in white had materialized behind Orion and was bowing deeply.
"You’ve worked hard," Orion said, turning from the window. He walked to the conference table, waiting expectantly.
Gustalon followed and produced a map from within his tunic, spreading it across the table for Orion to inspect.
"Report your findings," Orion commanded.
Gustalon nodded, gathering his thoughts. "My lord, the demonic monsters are all being deployed from a single structure outside the Forest of Nature: a Black Tower. It has six floors. During my observation, the first five were active."
As he spoke of the tower, Gustalon’s eyes grew distant, his professional curiosity clearly captivated by the strange structure.
"The aura around the Black Tower is... odd. Not even the wind can get close, so I was unable to ascertain the specifics of its interior. However, I overheard some of those who emerged from it. They belong to a faction called the Cult of Four. The term they used most often was ’High Priest.’"
He added, "I suspect ’Priest’ is a title or class for their Legendary-level commanders."
Gustalon seemed frustrated. He had only ever encountered structures capable of repelling the very wind in the territories of the Stoneheart Horde and the Valkorath Realm. He understood what that kind of power implied and knew better than to risk getting any closer.
Orion listened intently, nodding for him to continue.
"At all hours, a steady stream of demonic monsters ushers slaves and supplies into the Black Tower. The volume is immense; it must contain a massive pocket dimension. Beyond the tower, the density of demonic monsters in other regions drops off sharply. My assessment is that the Black Tower is the central hub for their entire invasion and resource-gathering operation. I’ll need to scout further afield to confirm."
This was exactly the intelligence Orion needed. He suspected the Wood Elf leadership might have known some of this, but their race had been shattered. The survivors he had, Aerin and Xylia, were mid-level at best and thus weren’t privy to high command’s intelligence.
"The Black Tower is likely preparing a direct assault on us," Gustalon concluded. "On my way back, I observed large forces bypassing the former Wood Elf heartland and heading directly for The Stillness."
This matched Orion’s predictions perfectly. This was the same region where Tangere had encountered the Black Tower’s Mist Wraith lord. It was only logical they would now use that area as a starting point to search for them.
"Good. For the time being, halt all external operations," Orion ordered. "It seems The Stillness is about to be besieged."
He chose his words carefully. A siege was exactly what it was. Based on their visible forces—Tangere’s hundred thousand Plague-thralls and his own five thousand Shield Warriors—an attack by the Black Tower’s seemingly endless hordes would be an annihilation campaign.
"When will they arrive?" The question came from Tangere, who had moved closer to the table as soon as Gustalon unfurled the map. The intel had been so critical that he hadn’t dared to interrupt.
"Ah. This is Tangere, one of our allies. A powerful plague lord," Orion said, glancing up and making the introduction. "And this is Gustalon, my right hand."
Gustalon gave Tangere a curt nod, his silence indicating he wasn’t one for small talk with strangers.
Tangere nodded back, not daring to underestimate the man. The way Gustalon had simply appeared sent a chill down his spine. If he were an enemy... if that appearance had been an attack... I never would have seen it coming.
An unusual silence fell over the room. Orion studied the map, Gustalon awaited further orders, and Tangere watched the master spy from the corner of his eye. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension.
Tangere’s mind drifted to the other mysterious figure in their alliance—the undead lord hidden in the great tomb beneath the castle, the one constantly summoning legions of skeletal soldiers. For a fleeting moment, he felt a surge of fear at the sheer depth of Orion’s power.
It was quickly followed by a wave of profound relief that they were on the same side.
In the Godforsaken Land, the outcome of the battle remained uncertain. Millions of sand scorpions now lay as corpses, their purpose fulfilled. Many had been caught in the crossfire of the arch lords, vaporized without a trace. Their existence had been a prelude, a foundation of bone and chitin upon which the true undead armies would be built.