Chapter 183. Preparing to Strike
On the Watchtower of Despair Fortress, the cold wind swept snow against William’s armor, producing a constant rustling sound.
He stared at the faint outlines of tents at the far end of the icefield, his brows tightly furrowed.
For several days in a row, the Orc Alliance had shown no sign of attacking. That unnatural calm only made the unease in his heart grow heavier.
At that moment, he received intelligence from the Shadow Guard. After reading it, he immediately had Tos gather all the Legion Commanders and Legendary Combatants in the Council Hall.
Half an hour later, inside the Council Hall, William threw a parchment scroll onto the long table.
“This is the Shadow Guard’s latest report.”
“On the side of the Sea of Despair, at least three Orc Legions are landing every day. The Orc Alliance is waiting—waiting until its forces are enough to crush us outright.”
The Legion Commanders and Legendary Combatants in the hall passed the intelligence around, and every face grew grim.
“We can’t afford to drag this out.”
William’s voice broke the silence, firm and unquestionable.
“The fortress’s magic arrays are our greatest reliance, but if we keep defending this place to the death, all that will happen is that the enemy’s noose will tighten further and further.”
“I want to strike first, before their main force has fully assembled, and drive straight into the Barbarian tribes’ territory.”
He pointed at the region marked on the map as the Barbarians’ domain, tapping it hard with one finger.
“Judging from the sacrifices, the Barbarian tribes and the Orc Alliance are clearly not of one mind.”
“If we push in, we can move the battle line forward, compress the Orcs’ room to maneuver, and make contact with the Barbarian Royal Court. We may be able to secure the Barbarian tribes’ neutrality, or even... turn them against the Orcs.”
“But what if the Barbarian tribes side with the Orcs instead...?”
One of the Legion Commanders could not help speaking up.
“Then we’ll be fighting with enemies in front of us and behind us.”
“There’s definitely risk.”
William nodded.
“But if we keep waiting, then once the Orc Alliance’s main force is fully in place, we won’t even have the chance to take a risk anymore.”
“The Gold Legion is elite, but if we sit here waiting to clash head-on with the Orc Alliance’s full strength, our losses will absolutely exceed eighty percent. That’s a price we can’t afford.”
The Council Hall fell silent. Only the candle flames swayed in the wind, casting shadows on the walls that flickered in and out of the dark.
To take the initiative meant leaving the fortress’s protection and fighting across unfamiliar icefields and Barbarian territory. There were too many variables.
But to remain on the defensive meant waiting for death.
A Royal Clan Legend spoke in a deep voice. “Does Your Highness mean to seize the Barbarian tribes’ core territory with overwhelming force and use their land as a new defensive line?”
“Yes.”
William’s gaze was sharp.
“The Barbarian tribes’ strength is uneven. As long as we take down their leaders, the rest won’t be much of a threat. We have the Gold Legion. If we move fast and finish the battle quickly, our chances are good.”
An elderly Legendary mage with white hair spoke up.
“I agree with Your Highness. The fact that the Orc Alliance’s shamans can sacrifice Barbarians proves that the tribes’ leadership has already been infiltrated.”
“If we strike in, it won’t just be a way to break the deadlock. It will also offer a way out to those Barbarians who don’t want to be coerced. They may not necessarily stand with the Orcs.”
More and more people began to nod. Rather than remain inside the fortress and wait for the enemy to gather strength, it was better to tear open a breach and seize the initiative on the battlefield.
William looked at their expressions and knew he had convinced them. He made the decision on the spot.
“We move out in three days. The First Gold Legion and the Second Gold Legion will advance head-on. The Monster Legions will envelop from both flanks. The Legendary Combatants will follow me and strike directly at the Barbarian tribes’ central Royal Court.”
He walked to the doors of the hall and gazed out at the boundless icefield beyond the fortress. His voice carried through the chamber.
“This battle is not only about holding Despair Fortress. We’re going to seize the Barbarians’ territory as well and make sure the Orc Alliance can no longer land through Barbarian lands.”
The freezing wind poured through the cracks in the doors and snapped his cloak loudly behind him.
The generals in the hall felt their fighting spirit reignite. Their earlier hesitation was replaced by resolve.
Rather than sit and wait for death, it was better to risk everything in one decisive gamble.
Late that night, only William remained in the Council Hall. Candlelight flickered against the dim blue glow of the Communication Crystal.
Holding the crystal in his hand, he spoke with Kroll II for a long time. They discussed everything from the Orc Alliance’s unusual movements to the risks of taking the initiative, even down to the supply routes for the Gold Legion.
“Father, the Savage Wolf Tribe is our breakthrough point.”
William’s voice carried exhaustion, but it was exceptionally firm.
“They’ve suffered the most under Orc oppression. Their chief, Adagu, is a hard man to bend. If we offer him enough benefits, an alliance may not be impossible.”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the Communication Crystal before Kroll II’s steady voice came through.
“I’ll have the logistics legions prepare grain and Healing Potions in advance. They’ll arrive at Despair Fortress in three days.”
“Remember this: the Barbarian tribes can be used, but they cannot be trusted. Keep seven parts caution.”
“I understand, Father.”
After ending the communication, William put away the crystal and let out a long breath. The heaviness in his chest eased considerably.
His father’s support was like a shot of strength to the heart, giving him far more confidence in the plan ahead.
Over the next three days, he reorganized the legions while also having the Shadow Guard contact the Savage Wolf Tribe through encrypted letters written on beast hide.
More and more reports came back from the Shadow Guard.
The Savage Wolf Tribe really had suffered large-scale plundering of its livestock by the Orcs, and the chief’s son had even died beneath the battle axe of the Orc Overseer Squad.
Within the tribe, voices opposing the Orcs had long been gathering beneath the surface. They merely lacked an opportunity.
William had people deliver a promise: after joining forces to shatter the Orc Alliance’s power within Barbarian territory, the Savage Wolf Tribe would be allowed to command the other tribes, govern its own lands autonomously, and receive aid in food and ironware from the Kroll Kingdom.
Last night, the Shadow Guard brought back Adagu’s reply—a totem drawn in wolf blood, with only four words written beside it:
“I’ll trust you once.”
At that moment, William spread out the Orc defensive map provided by Adagu. Hidden sentry posts and the locations of the shaman priests were marked across it in charcoal made from beast bone.
That intelligence matched the Shadow Guard’s own reconnaissance perfectly and even filled in several blind spots they had failed to discover.
“It looks like this gamble paid off.”
His fingertip slid across the words “central altar” on the map. That was where the Orcs were currently regrouping, and it was also the key target of the surprise attack.
Outside the window, the wind and snow gradually subsided, and a faint pale light spread across the horizon.
William rose to his feet and rolled his stiff shoulders and neck. Sharp resolve filled his eyes once more.