Throne of the North.

Chapter 715 The Second Orc War (Part 1)

The snow in the North has finally stopped, but the temperature hasn't risen much either.

For the soldiers of the Northern Wall fortress, the world before them remained unchanged; every day when they opened their eyes, they saw nothing but ferocious orcs.

Alchemists wreaked havoc in front of the fortress, poisoning the snowfields with potent toxins. Orcs often turned to bones on their way out, and then quickly turned to blood.

However, this disaster was limited. As the poison became scarce, the massive orc army behind them only felt unwell before rushing to the fortress and being shot to death by a hail of arrows. The burly orcs even tried to ram their heads into the fortress's high walls, only to be pierced through the feet by giant crossbow bolts.

However, this was still not the real disaster that the Great Wall fortress was about to experience.

When the orcs began to retreat in fear, their true enemy appeared: the charge of the powerful werewolves and the strong orc tribes surrounding them. This was the real battle the soldiers would have to endure.

"Do not be afraid! Do not be terrified! Ryan is watching over us!"

Knights galloped across the high walls on their warhorses, shouting loudly, while soldiers gripped their spears tightly, their eyes frequently glancing at the knights around them.

The knights were fully armed, their armor heavy, with spears on their backs, greatswords at their waists, and longbows in their hands. The moment the countless orcs below the Great Wall appeared within their range, their cold arm guards rose, drawing the bowstrings with a force capable of crushing boulders.

Then, at a certain moment, the horns sounded, and all the arrows streaked across the sky like streaks of light, covering the northern land. The enchanted arrows instantly knocked the orcs to the ground, their cries of agony fading away. When the orcs swarmed in from behind, these fallen orcs were trampled into a bloody pulp.

Many orcs are not afraid of vertical walls. Their feet are unique, giving them the strength and ability to climb rocks. When these orcs rushed up the high walls of the Wall in the North, the slaves behind them also ran up, carrying wooden basins filled with boiling snow water and pouring them down.

It's not surprising that the boiling snow water caused the orcs to scream in agony. After all, with such agility, these orcs could no longer possess thick scales; their fur was their only defense, and it was directly scalded and curled up.

The scalding snowmelt quickly froze on the surface of the high wall, and the smooth ice made it difficult for the orcs to climb. Even the Black Goat Orcs fell countless times.

However, the orcs also had a unique advantage. Thousands upon thousands of corpses gradually piled up together, and their hard bones became the steps for the werewolves that followed. Stepping on the blood-red steps, the werewolves' ferocious faces met the soldiers' eyes.

The slaves trembled with fear, clutching their heads and scrambling to their sides as they fled backward. They weaved through the gaps between the soldiers, their movements a blur of motion, as countless sharp blades flashed from their sheaths. The stag-like servants, swords in hand, dropped their visors, their eyes blazing with fierce battle intent.

"Kill them all!"

"For Ryan!!!"

With heavy footsteps, the heavy blows landed on the werewolf's hard skull, and the most primitive and brutal battle broke out. The only result of this pure hand-to-hand combat was that the losers would fall off the high wall dozens of meters high like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

They crashed down, ending any chance of continuing the battle on the fortress walls. Below, every corner of the Northern Wall fortress was a battlefield, with swarms of werewolves descending from the snowfields, attempting to seize this only line of defense in this human fortress.

Above, a magical vortex of clouds shimmered, and a powerful mage chanted a terrifying incantation. At the peak of his magic, the clouds dissipated, and multicolored light descended from the sky, engulfing the werewolf army that was trampling over corpses like a tide.

In the ocean of magic, werewolves raged, their blood-red eyes turning crimson. The werewolves, having lost their minds, were pure beasts. Their savage and primal instincts made them fearless in the face of death, and their six-dimensional attributes surged. Braving the surging magic, they leaped upwards and arrived at the Great Wall fortress in the blink of an eye.

Sharp claws extended beyond its fur, and the savage werewolf let out a hoarse growl. As it charged forward, a blur of motion left its mark behind it. Even the chill of the North couldn't keep up with the speed of the berserk werewolf.

The knights did not retreat at all. Their armor, which was armed to the teeth, provided far greater protection than that of the werewolves. Often, a stag squire would face ten times as many werewolves as enemies.

However, the knight was also accompanied by ordinary soldiers wielding spears, who stabbed the orc monsters around him.

The immense force was like a truck crashing down. The stag's cry was loud and high-pitched, and the surge of blood made the soldiers' eyes firm as they charged towards the werewolf.

"kill!"

Shouts of battle rose and fell, but thanks to the power of magic, the number of werewolves that charged up the high wall was ultimately reduced by a considerable margin.

"Get out of the way, all of you, get out of my way!"

On the wide, high walls, armored war bears roared as Bogerd led his armored bear warriors in a frenzied charge. Every armored bear warrior in Bilge was a fanatic, passionate about war, and any battlefield could ignite their fighting spirit.

When the armored bears, with their mountain-like bodies, charged in, nothing could stop them head-on. A clear path parted like a shark entering a school of fish. Bogeld brandished his longsword and roared as he slashed at the werewolves ahead, leading his armored bear legion to charge along the fortress walls. The constant collisions caused the werewolves heavy losses!

This brutal war lasted for six hours before both sides, seemingly brimming with energy, dragged their wounded bodies to a truce, licking their wounds and awaiting the next battle.

……

Inside the Great Wall fortress in the North.

"Hot water! Bring all the hot water up!"

"Where's the potion? Pour the potion in! Tell the kitchen to get the food ready right away! Hay! And more hay! Damn you guys, what are you doing? That's not for the horses! Spread it out on the beds in the barracks!"

A group of burly, tall logistics officers shouted orders, their knitting tools crackling loudly in the air.

Around them, a large group of slaves carried huge containers of steaming hot water toward the enormous pool. As the scalding steam rose, the slaves couldn't help but close their eyes.

"Cough cough!"

Thick, scalding smoke billowed, carrying a pungent odor. In this Great Wall fortress, the cooks enjoyed the soldiers' high regard, provided, of course, that their culinary skills were as good as their necks.

Despite the heavy use of oil, there were no negative reviews. The moment the large pot boiled, flames rose, and the chefs, their faces flushed, swung their spatulas faster than the slaves in the distance who were constantly carrying away the dripping wooden basins.

Busyness was present in every corner. With the neighing of the packhorses, the iron jugs of wine kept in the stove were suddenly uncovered. The surface of the iron jugs, which were exposed to the cold northern air, was wet. This scene startled the leading guard. When he reached out to touch them, he felt that the strong liquor inside was still scalding hot before he was relieved.

"Thank goodness, it's not cold."

The wine in this cart was scalding hot, just like the scalding heat of his own blood. He immediately ordered the surrounding slaves to unload the wine and continuously transport it to the military camp at the front.

By this time, the soldiers had regrouped and marched down the high wall in formation. Following the centurion's command, they stood in rows beneath the iron pipes. As hot water poured down, the soldiers gritted their teeth and howled, but soon the power of the life potion began to take effect. The bright red blood turned into clear bathwater, their wounds began to scab over, and their exhausted muscles began to relax. The soldiers' mouths then uttered groans of pleasure.

"Drink the porridge first, then eat the meat!" The soldiers ate heartily. The long and intense battle had left them hungry, and the magical cleansing had left them exhausted. Now was the time to replenish their energy.

First, they were given porridge to ensure these ignorant fools wouldn't overeat and die. Then, when the time was up, the officer kicked over the table that could feed hundreds of people at once.

Large amounts of food rolled on the muddy ground, leaving only the centurions' angry roars.

"Go lie down!"

"No, Centurion! I haven't finished my drink yet!"

Someone was lying on the ground, trying to grab the spilled liquor, when he was kicked over.

"This is our territory now."

Another group of soldiers had finished washing up and arrived, and the slaves had already served fresh food and drinks on the newly arranged table.

The food on the table that was kicked over wasn't wasted, of course. The slaves collected it and transported it to the stables. The warhorses in the North ate everything, and while the slaves envied them, they would secretly hide a small portion of it, which was better than what they ate.

The process was almost like an assembly line; Ryan wanted everyone to see that they would never lack logistical resources in this war, and only in this way could the soldiers maintain their fighting spirit for a long time.

Not all soldiers are subjects of Bilge, even those who are naked and starving in the freezing cold can still cheer loudly for the arrival of battle.

Spiritual beliefs are important, but material abundance is also essential.

Fortunately, everything was paid for by Volvo. His Majesty, who had become the emperor, had been so generous that Ryan had gained countless war resources. So much so that even when the soldiers slept soundly after eating and drinking their fill, the air was filled with the fragrance of magic potions, which helped to ensure the digestion of their food and the circulation of their blood.

It's likely that many soldiers will feel refreshed and their strength will be enhanced after waking up.

In this extraordinary world, there are only so many factors that can cause war.

With ample food supplies, sufficient tools and equipment, and timely access to extraordinary materials.

All of these things are readily available in the North.

Ryan arrived at the Great Wall fortress two hours after the war ended. Looking at the battlefield that had been gradually cleaned up by the slaves, he wondered what the orcs of the North had used to win the war.

"Where are the scouts? Haven't they found the werewolves' stronghold yet?"

Ryan inquired, but the arrival of the patrolling general gave him a negative answer.

"I'm sorry, Lord Ryan, our scouts and Blood Eagles have not yet found the werewolf royal court, and have suffered heavy losses. Those damned werewolves are very wary of the Blood Eagles, and they have ways to make the Blood Eagles fall."

"Keep searching, we must find it."

Ryan needs to know the location of the werewolf royal court. In these wars, the werewolf royal court is always the ultimate commander, driving the orc cannon fodder forward.

Moreover, the werewolf's war zone covers not only the Northern Wall Fortress, but also the Fragrant Plains and the Kingdom of Andara. If Ryan does not know where the werewolf's main camp is, he will not be able to focus his defense on a particular direction.

Like the emperor of the empire, Ryan did not want any of his defenses to be breached by the orcs on his territory.

That would be a heavy blow to the land and to his prestige.

After the knight left, Rose came to Ryan's side. This alchemist, who was at the peak of the Saint Realm, was now much stronger, and muscles could be seen supporting his body under his robe.

“Mr. Rose, your knightly power has become even stronger.”

Rose shook her head and said regretfully:
"But I have never been able to break through my Qi and blood."

Rose's greatest need is to escape the curse brought by his past as a shadow mage. He needs to become a legend, but Ryan's only opportunity is the knight's path. He needs to become a knight at the pinnacle of the Holy Land, to become a legend through Ryan's blessing, and to overcome the curse of the great being at the end of shadow magic.

But now it seems that this path is still uncertain, and his third attempt at the extraordinary path has encountered trouble.

The power of battle qi and flesh and blood was like shackles, impossible to break through.

"There will always be a way."

Ryan could vaguely sense Rose's problem. In the shadow beneath her feet, the giant shadow python was growing stronger and stronger. All the resources that allowed Rose to grow stronger had become its food, making it difficult for this alchemist to continue to grow stronger.

"Perhaps, we can undergo an alchemical evolution of this giant shadow serpent?"

Ryan said that.

“Recently, I have been discussing with Archmage McKen and have also written to Lord Evan of the Kingdom of Andara to inquire about the mysteries of life magic.”

"I'm trying to find the true weakness deep within the werewolf bloodline. Our previous observations have given us a direction: the problem with the werewolf bloodline is most likely related to a great god."

"The mystery of life is terrifying, and perhaps we can find the answer to your problem, Mr. Rose, within it."

"I think even shadows cannot escape the meaning of life, can they?"

“He is not Hobi, the ruler of the land of the dead.”

Rose listened and nodded. The diverse mix of extraordinary beings within the Empire had indeed provided many extraordinary beings with more ideas and paths. The Empire's powerful pyramid system was not just talk.

The topic gradually returned to the war at hand. Rose had come to report on the advantages and disadvantages of metallic toxins in the war.

(End of this chapter)