Chapter 122

"As for the probability of success..."

A sharp light flashed in Roko's eyes.

"We have no way back, we must succeed!"

He turned to Martina.

"Martina, immediately send someone to notify Falco in the Dwarf Mountains at the fastest speed."

"Tell him to pause the mediation with the dwarf tribes and return to Vanguard Valley immediately."

"After he returns, depending on the situation, if the northern war is urgent, have him lead a small team to harass the orcs' rear from the flank and cooperate with our decapitation mission."

"If Vanguard Valley's defense pressure is huge, have him join the city defense troops to strengthen our defensive power."

Martina nodded quickly.

"I understand, Roko."

"There is one more thing."

Roko's gaze cast toward the Red Leaf Forest territory located southeast of Vanguard Valley on the map.

"Send the most reliable messenger with my handwritten letter to Zewen Brick in Red Leaf Forest with all speed."

"Tell him that Vanguard Valley is facing a pincer attack from the Light Temple and the Northern orcs and is in imminent danger."

"Request him, for the sake of our alliance, to send troops immediately."

"He doesn't need to clash head-on with the Light Temple's main force; he only needs to lead the Red Leaf Forest troops to harass the Light Temple's logistics supply line from the flank."

"As long as he can cause some trouble for the Light Temple, he can buy more time for us."

A hint of doubt flashed in Martina's white eyes.

"Roko, will Zewen send troops?"

"The Red Leaf Forest territory has just pacified its internal rebellion and is waiting to be rebuilt; he may not be willing to offend the powerful Light Temple for our sake."

A strange smile appeared on the corners of Roko's mouth.

"He will."

"Because he understands the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold' better than anyone."

"If Vanguard Valley is finished, the next one to be annexed by the Light Temple or other forces will be his Red Leaf Forest."

"Moreover, we also have common interests."

"I believe Zewen will make the right choice."

All strategic deployments were issued from Roko's mouth in an orderly manner.

His voice gradually dispelled the panic and confusion in everyone's hearts,

replaced by a determination to burn the bridges, and a faint but resilient hope.

Captain Hart knelt on one knee, his voice powerful and resonant.

"Master! Hart is willing to follow you to the north and slaughter all the orcs!"

Fula also stepped forward gently, her heterochromatic eyes filled with trust and reliance.

"Where the Master goes, Fula goes."

This was a gamble.

A gamble on everything in Vanguard Valley, a gamble on everyone's life.

Either, reborn from the fire.

Or, completely destroyed.

"Martina, Hart, Talos, Lindsay, Old Morris."

Roko's gaze swept over each of these core followers.

"The fate of Vanguard Valley is in our hands."

"Prepare yourselves!"

"Yes, Master!"

Everyone responded in unison, full of determination.

The door of the council hall was opened, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to find an outlet.

Everyone took action, carrying a determination that was almost tragic.

Martina immediately began to mobilize all defensive materials and plan the troop deployment for city defense; her figure shuttled through the Lord's Mansion, and orders were issued from her mouth, calm and efficient.

Talos and Old Morris went to the barracks and militia assembly points, starting to reorganize the troops, distribute weapons, and boost morale.

Lindsay also took his assistants to various residential areas to soothe the people and organize logistics.

The entire Vanguard Valley was like a war machine with a tightened spring, starting to operate at high speed.

Roko took Hart and Fula to the Storm Knights' exclusive training ground; 100 knights wearing full sets of 【Obsidian Gold】 armor were already lined up neatly, standing solemnly in the square.

The dull metallic luster radiated a cold and powerful aura under the slightly gloomy sky.

Every knight's face carried firmness and determination.

They were the most elite force of Vanguard Valley, the sharpest sword in Roko's hand.

Roko walked to the front of the line, his gaze sweeping over every knight.

"Warriors of the Storm Knights!"

His voice spread clearly throughout the square.

"Vanguard Valley is facing an unprecedented crisis."

"In the south, the Light Temple army is pressing on the border; in the north, tens of thousands of orcs..."

"We have nowhere to retreat!"

"Now, I need you to go north with me, deep into the Orc Wasteland, and slaughter all those bastards who dare to threaten our home!"

"This trip is life-and-death!"

"Are you afraid!"

"No!"

100 knights roared in unison, shaking the wilderness, full of fearless spirit.

"Good!"

A hint of approval flashed in Roko's eyes.

"We are the sharp blade of Vanguard Valley, the last line of defense to protect our home!"

"In this battle, we will definitely let those enemies know that anyone who dares to set foot on Vanguard Valley's land will pay with blood!"

"Set off!"

With Roko's order, 100 Obsidian Gold knights moved in unison and mounted their horses.

Mike was "helped" by two knights and mixed into the ranks; his face remained pale.

Fula jumped onto her warhorse lightly, and the little beast Tain was held in her arms, placed in a specially made saddlebag.

Just as the team was about to set off, Tain suddenly became restless.

It poked its little head out of the saddlebag and let out a series of low whimpers toward the northern sky, its throat also mixed with subtle hissing sounds, as if warning or expressing some kind of hostility.

Its dark red beast eyes were flashing with strange light at this moment, staring tightly at the distant northern horizon.

"Hmm?"

Fula immediately sensed Tain's abnormality.

"Master, look at Tain."

She said softly to Roko.

Roko reined in his horse and looked at Tain in her arms.

The dark red scale patterns on the little guy's body seemed to stand up slightly, and the twin horns on its forehead were hotter than usual; it kept scratching the edge of the saddlebag with its little claws, and the sound from its throat became more and more urgent, full of anxiety and vigilance.

Roko's brow furrowed.

Tain was an S+ grade Ancient Bloodline Heterogeneous Orc, possessing sensing abilities far beyond ordinary magic beasts.

Its performance at this moment was by no means accidental.

"Tain, what do you feel?"

Roko tried to communicate with Tain using spiritual power.

Tain seemed unable to express it accurately, just staring more anxiously toward the north, letting out a low roar slightly mixed with fierceness.

In that roar, there seemed to be a hint of excitement?

Roko's heart stirred.

Could it be that in the northern orc tribes, there was some special existence that triggered Tain's bloodline induction?

Perhaps a powerful orc leader, or some kind of exotic treasure related to its bloodline?

This discovery gave Roko a hint of inexplicable expectation for this Northern trip, and also a hint of vigilance.

He stroked Tain's little head soothingly.

"No matter what is in the north, we will go and see it."

"Now, let's set off!"

Roko ordered again.

The majestic horn sounded, echoing over Vanguard Valley.

100 Obsidian Gold knights formed a black torrent and, led by Roko, resolutely drove out of Vanguard Valley's north gate, galloping toward the crisis-ridden north.

Their figures soon disappeared at the end of the rugged mountain road.

Martina stood on the city wall of Vanguard Valley, her snow-white long hair dancing in the cold wind.

She watched the departing team silently, complex light flashing in her white eyes.

There was worry, expectation, and a hint of imperceptible tenderness.

Until the team completely disappeared from her field of vision, she slowly withdrew her gaze, turned around, and faced the tense and busy scene in the city.

Her gaze returned to its usual coldness and firmness.

"Pass my order!"

"All defensive units, immediately enter the highest combat readiness state!"

"Archers, get on the city wall!"

"Catapults, prepare!"

"Fire oil, rolling stones, transport them all up!"

"The survival of Vanguard Valley depends on this battle!"

"We must not lose!"

The north wind rolled up the dust of the wilderness, carrying the smell of rust and blood, scraping across the hidden valley behind Heifeng Aikou.

More than a hundred knights, along with their mounts, were covered with a thin layer of yellow dust.

Roko reined in his horse, and the warhorse under him snorted uneasily, the hot air exhaled condensing into white mist in the slightly cool air.

His gaze was sharp as a hawk, cast toward the blurred outline of Heifeng Aikou in the distance.

The heaven-shaking shouts of killing, the rough roars unique to orcs, and the harsh noise of metal collisions were clearly audible even from several miles away.

The thick smoke from the beacon towers rose into the air continuously.

"It seems we didn't come late."

Roko's voice was low, carrying a hint of unmistakable coldness.

Fula followed closely behind; her silver-gray cat ears were pricked up vigilantly, and her heterochromatic eyes, intertwined with deep blue and broken gold, were staring at the direction of the pass without blinking, as if she could pierce through the barrier of space and see the tragic battle situation there.

In the saddlebag in her arms, the little beast Tain let out a series of uneasy low whimpers, its dark red beast eyes flashing with anxious light, its little claws scratching the leather unconsciously.

Since leaving Vanguard Valley, Tain had shown a special induction toward the north; the closer it got to Heifeng Aikou, the stronger this induction became.

Hart's face was as calm as water; his fingers gripping the sword hilt turned slightly white from the force.

As an experienced veteran, he could judge from the chaotic sounds that the intensity of the battle far exceeded imagination. Mike looked somewhat pale; he swallowed subconsciously, and sweat seeped from his palms gripping the reins.

Although he had experienced some small-scale conflicts, this was the first time he had felt such a massive battlefield aura; the bloody and violent atmosphere that almost swallowed people made him feel a burst of palpitations.

"Master, the orc camp should be not far behind the pass; such a large-scale assembly must have a core command area."

Hart said in a deep voice, turning his gaze to Roko, waiting for the order.

Roko nodded and took out a simple animal skin map from his space ring; this was intelligence obtained by scouts who risked their lives to investigate earlier.

He pointed to an area on the map that was heavily marked.

"According to intelligence, the command core of the orc coalition should be in this mountain col, jointly guarded by the chieftains of three large tribes."

"Our goal is here."

His finger pointed heavily, his tone incomparably firm.

"Break through the orcs' outer defense line at the fastest speed and insert directly into their heart."

"Decapitate!"

"Warriors of the Storm Knights!"

Roko raised his voice, his gaze sweeping over every knight behind him.

They were travel-worn, but their eyes were burning with high fighting spirit.

The heavy and ferocious 【Obsidian Gold】 armor on their bodies reflected a cold and deep luster in the morning light.

"Today, we will let those bastards who drink blood and eat raw meat know the consequences of coveting our home!"

"In this battle, we will not return until we break the enemy chieftain!"

"Roar!"

100 knights roared in unison, the sound waves echoing in the valley.

Mike was also infected by this atmosphere, a flush appearing on his pale face, and the fear in his heart seemed to be dispelled quite a bit.

Roko took a deep breath and drew the knight longsword from his waist.

The sword blade drew a cold arc in the air.

"Fula, Hart, Mike, follow me closely!"

"Storm Knights, charge!"

With an order, Roko clamped his legs on the horse's belly, the warhorse neighed, and he rushed out first.

100 Obsidian Gold knights followed closely, forming a black steel torrent, rolling up the sky-filling smoke and dust, and launched a desperate surprise attack on the rear of the orc coalition.

Their speed was extremely fast, and the heavy horse hooves stepped on the ground, making a thunderous sound.

Soon, they encountered the orc coalition's outer patrol unit.

That was a team of about 300 green-skinned orcs, holding simple bone sticks and stone axes, wandering lazily on the edge of the camp, clearly not expecting human cavalry to appear from this direction.

"Hu, humans!"

A sharp-eyed orc discovered the black cavalry rushing like ghosts and let out a terrified scream.

However, it was all too late.

Roko took the lead, the longsword in his hand already burning with golden flame Battle Qi.

【Great Sun Blazing Slash · Flame Slash】!

He didn't even use his full strength at the Great Accomplishment realm, just an entry-level flame slash.

Where the sword blade passed, several green-skinned orcs blocking his way were instantly cut into two halves.

The wounds were charred black, emitting a pungent burnt smell.

The Obsidian Gold knights were like tigers entering a flock of sheep; the standard longswords in their hands also shimmered with the faint light of Battle Qi.

But even more terrifying was the 【Obsidian Gold】 armor they wore, which was indestructible.

The orcs' bone sticks and stone axes hit the armor, only making a series of dull sounds, and then were shaken back by the huge counter-shock force, their arms numb and the web between their thumbs and forefingers cracked, unable to leave even a decent mark.

And the knights' longswords could easily tear through the orcs' rough beast-skin defenses, bringing up dark green blood.

"Pfft!"

A knight's longsword slashed down diagonally, splitting an orc trying to bite his warhorse with its fangs into two halves from head to toe.

Another knight swept his sword horizontally, and the heads of three or four orcs flew into the sky, blood pillars from their cavities spraying several feet high.

This was a one-sided massacre.

The crushing advantage of the Obsidian Gold equipment was displayed to the fullest at this moment.