"The treacherous hybrids with no integrity!" roared the Orc chieftain in anger as he tore apart the letter left by Gray Shadow. After the Battle of Blue River, the Orcs were severely weakened, and at this vulnerable moment, Gray Shadow led all the Nightmare Knights and withdrew from the Pannini Plains, away from Orcish territory, back to the distant Northern Continent. Several tribes had set their sights on the three weak tribes without guardians, and the Orcs were on the brink of civil war. If it weren't for the humans' lack of means to cross the river, it was likely that the half of Pannini that had been hard-won would return to human hands. However, the top priority now was to maintain stability throughout the Orcish lands. This war was crucial for the Orcs' survival, and failure was not an option.
"Salufa!" the chieftain waved his hand, and a sturdy Orc knelt before him.
"Enslave all three tribes and kill anyone who resists! Spread my command and seize the entire Pannini territory, rewarding each tribe accordingly with slaves and land. But if any tribe dares to make any unnecessary moves now, they will meet the same fate as those three tribes!"
"Yes, wise chieftain!"
After dismissing the others, the chieftain entered the back tent, where an elderly shaman sat in a bloodied magic circle.
"Blind Master, has the Beast God given any new prophecy?"
"The key has appeared again, and the path is about to open," said the aged shaman in a frail voice. The chieftain pondered for a while after hearing this.
"I don't understand, Master. Why is there no clue in this prophecy?"
"I am also perplexed, Blackham... The key, the path... The wise Beast God has never had such a prophecy in hundreds of years." The blind master fell into meditation, as if searching his memory for past prophecies.
"Is this a warning or a guidance?" Previous prophecies from the Beast God always had vague directions, guiding the entire Orc race or warning them to stop, but this time, there was no discernible meaning.
"I don't know, Blackham. Let me think about it..." The blind master regained his calmness, and Blackham respectfully exited the tent.
Outside the tent, Chieftain Blackham stood, watching the early winter breeze rustling the Orcish banners. He sighed.
"After capturing Pannini, owning the pastures and livestock, the red earth wasteland, we will no longer endure harsh winters! Beast God! We have followed your guidance to this point; please guide your people to a path of victory!"
...
"We do not have enough resources to build a pontoon bridge. With Blue River nearly a hundred meters wide and the impact of the current, using boats to force a crossing would make us easy targets for the Orc's Sky-Piercing Crossbows," the frontline engineering officer reported the survey results, while the senior generals listened attentively.
"I really miss those freshwater beasts frozen into ice lumps. Now, it’s clear how good they were!" General Leon laughed after analyzing the situation, causing others to join in.
After the Battle of Blue River, the frontline situation was no longer as tense as before. The Orcs' fighting spirit was clearly diminishing, as evidenced by the safer reconnaissance missions conducted by human scouts across the river. It was also believed that the Orcs were conducting a purge internally, which was undoubtedly a severe blow to the morale of the frontline soldiers.
Without the suffocating pressure of the past and the retreat, the situation for humankind was excellent! Therefore, a counterattack against the Eastern Wall became the focus, and the first step was to cross the Blue River. Undoubtedly, from the perspective of crossing the river, the northern section of Blue River, where both sides were deadlocked, was the best choice. However, with heavy enemy presence, every move was under close surveillance. Humans had to find an alternative route.
"What about the situation on the other side? Are the Orcs attempting anything new?" Although the current situation was good, General Lontstede, who had seen countless battlefields where the balance of power could change overnight, was still cautious.
"Based on yesterday's scout reports, the Orcs have not made any other moves and are still in a defensive position. They have not dispatched more scouts for reconnaissance."
"Hmm, what about the situation in the southern plains?"
"The Orc forces stationed in the southern plains are beginning retreating back to the Blue Lake stronghold. No further intelligence available."
"Are they really retreating? After shedding so much blood and reclaiming the hard-won land, this shouldn't be happening," General Lontstede murmured softly, then continued, "Provide suitable plans for crossing the river as soon as possible. Seize the opportunity while the Orcs' guard is down and strengthen reconnaissance. What is the next problem?""Now that winter has come, and the Holy Spirit Festival is approaching, many soldiers haven't been back to the rear for over three years. The previous battles were intense, but now, um, now..." the intelligence officer said, unsure of how to proceed. Understandingly, Londestad waved his hand to signal to stop.
"You're right, I haven't been home in over three years either. My grandson was born two years ago, and I haven't seen him yet. Indeed, the current situation is not as intense as before; it's time to consider taking a vacation. We will seriously consider it. Are there any other issues?"
"No, Marshal!"
"Well, how is Star Mark doing recently?"
"Star Mark is currently active along the ancient road to the south of the Blue River, providing valuable intelligence. They are the only team operating in that area."
"They are truly an extraordinary group of young people." Leon thought for a moment and added, "A group of young people who can turn the tide! But it's also time to let them rest. The selection for the second phase of Star Mark is next week. Why don't we let them participate?"
