The Orlandian Mountains' silhouette dissolved completely into ink-black darkness, evening's final embers snuffed by icy night winds. The orc encampment deep in the valley sank into lightless deathly silence. Here, kindling campfires at night meant lighting beacons for predators—whether those powerful magical beasts prowling the shadows, or more cunning enemies.
Within Eldendor's shadows lurked countless terrifying creatures beyond intelligent races' comprehension. They might act on instinct alone, but claws could rend steel while scales deflected blades. To them, humans, beastkin, elves... were merely struggling meat.
At the camp's center, within a spacious tent, the lioness Joya tilted her head upward, gazing through the roof's ventilation window at the night sky. The crimson moon Nasha and azure moon Tasha hung high in the firmament, casting eerie, cold halos. Legend claimed the red moon was iron oxide-rich Nasha, red as earth itself; the blue moon was methane ocean-covered Tasha, refracting ethereal blue beneath sunlight. Ancient ballads sang of them as sisters wed to the sun god Atheros. Across this continent, men taking two wives traced back to this tradition.
"Mistress, you haven't rested yet?" Outside the tent, panther guard Shara's voice dropped extremely low, like night wind brushing grass blades.
"When no outsiders are present, call me Joya." Joya's voice carried barely detectable weariness. "Come in, Shara. Keep me company."
Curtains rustled softly as Shara glided silently inside, her eyes flickering with feline luminescence in the darkness.
"Joya, we've shaken off the pursuers—what still troubles you?" Shara approached, voice carrying comfort.
Joya shook her head gently, golden pupils abnormally bright in the night like burning amber. "A feeling... very ominous, Shara. Since entering these mountains, my heart has remained suspended, never peaceful. Perhaps I'm overthinking... but if... if something truly happens, promise me—don't mind me, take Leon away. Deliver him to my father."
Shara's cold hand covered Joya's warm palm: "Leon has already lost his father—he cannot lose his mother too. I swear by claw and ancestor's name, I'll protect you both until we reach The Bloodflame Clan together."
"Thank you, Shara. Without you, I truly don't know..." Joya's words cut off abruptly.
Shara's pupils contracted sharply, nostrils flaring rapidly. An extremely faint wisp of strangely sweet-scented smoke was seeping into the tent strand by strand.
"Enemy attack—!" Shara's fierce roar shattered night's tranquility. Her form flashed like lightning, Crescent Fangs gleaming coldly as they slashed a massive gash in the tent's side—she'd already shot out like a loosed arrow!
Almost at the instant Shara burst from the tent, a blazing fireball trailing long flames struck precisely at a neighboring tent. Thunderous explosion erupted as roaring flames consumed hide and wooden supports instantly, transforming terrified shrieks and desperate struggles into charred ash.
"Mage!" Shara's heart plunged into an ice pit.
Disaster's curtain had risen. Cascading fireballs crashed like falling meteors throughout the camp. Tents ignited, becoming massive torches that exposed chaos and death nakedly in the firelight. Amid dazzling light and shadow, countless agile black forms pounced like wolves scenting blood into tents not yet consumed by flames. Dull impact sounds, blades tearing flesh, and brief groans from lives ended in sleep wove together, orchestrating slaughter's overture.
"Human mercenaries! Take up arms! Face the enemy—!" Shara's roar echoed across the camp. Ignoring surrounding chaos, her gaze locked deadly onto that destruction-energy-gathering figure at the gate—a black-robed mage wielding a staff. The threat's source! She dropped to all fours, muscles taut as steel cables, becoming a ground-hugging shadow racing straight toward Adeline!
Yet charging less than twenty yards, a massive shadow wrapped in fierce winds suddenly struck from the flank! A cold-gleaming two-handed sword carried mountain-splitting momentum, slashing horizontally toward Shara!
Shara's Crescent Fangs instinctively crossed to block, attempting to deflect this lethal strike and continue toward her target.
"Clang—!"
The explosive metallic collision rang so violently that Shara's eardrums ached. Tremendous force crashed through her twin blades into her arms, bones groaning under unbearable strain. Her entire body was hammered sideways, feet carving deep furrows in muddy earth as she slid nearly five yards before barely stabilizing. Arms numb, palms split, blood dripping along cold blade hilts.
Shara raised her head, golden pupils fixed on that iron tower of a man holding the massive sword in firelight—full-bearded face crossed by a vicious scar. Kaines himself. From this single blow, bone-deep chill seized Shara's heart. This strength... was a high-tier human warrior! A Warmarshal-class powerhouse!
"Even I'm no match... Joya and the others..." Shara twisted back desperately.
Joya had also burst from her tent but was entangled by a lean panther-like man wielding twin daggers—Angus. The man's movements were swift and vicious; under his storm-like assault, Joya retreated repeatedly, her ornate robes slashed in several places, blood staining the fabric.
Dozens of awakened orc warriors roared as they charged from surviving tents, attempting to form ranks. What greeted them was dense mechanical clicking suddenly erupting from darkness!
Swish swish swish—!
Cold metal crossbow bolts tore through air, flickering with lethal blue-green radiance like venomous bee swarms! Sturdy orc warriors struck by two or three bolts in vital spots toppled like felled trees, convulsing briefly before falling silent.
"Poison arrows!" The thought flashed through Shara's mind as terror deepened. "These mercenaries... how dare they use war weapons that humans consider forbidden?!"
"Little panther, I'm your opponent!" Kaines' low laughter carried cruel pleasure as he strode closer, massive sword rising again. Foot-long pale golden sword light wavered along the blade edge, carrying all-rending might as it chopped downward! "Losing focus in battle means dying quickly!"
Shara gritted silver fangs, twin blades crossing desperately upward!
Clang—!
An even fiercer impact than before! Shara flew like siege engine-struck prey, feet leaving ground before crashing heavily into mud. She forced down churning blood and arm agony, not waiting for Kaines' pursuit—actively springing up with a piercing roar, charging again!
"Moon Radiance Flash—!"
Beastkin combat technique activated! Shara's twin blades danced wheel-like, speed leaving trailing afterimages as dozen-plus sharp pale purple Combat Aura slashes rent air with ear-piercing shrieks, striking Kaines from every cunning angle!
"Cheap tricks!" Kaines sneered coldly, yet his massive sword moved impossibly fast, instantly weaving an impenetrable pale golden light screen.
Bang bang bang!
Combat Aura slashes struck the light screen like raindrops hitting stone, shattering and dissipating without affecting it whatsoever.
"My turn! Spinning Slash!" Kaines roared as his massive frame spun with shocking agility, the great sword becoming a lethal golden whirlwind with terrifying cutting force sweeping toward Shara!
Ding ding clang! Ear-splitting metallic collision sounds merged! Shara's twin blades desperately blocked, each impact jarring her arms violently, blood churning. Forced into continuous retreat, each step left deep prints in muddy earth. When Kaines' whirlwind slash finally stopped, Shara knelt half-collapsed, twin blades driven deep into earth supporting her body, gasping heavily with crimson trickling from her mouth corner.
"Still far from enough, little kitty!" Kaines grinned savagely, suddenly lifting his foot without warning—massive war boot wrapped in Combat Aura kicked viciously into Shara's chest!
"Pfft—!"
Shara flew like a snapped kite, rolling far before stopping. She curled up, coughing violently as blood continuously poured from her mouth. Drilling pain from her chest suggested broken ribs.
"Joya! Take the children and go! Can't hold them!" Shara screamed with all her strength, struggling to rise, no longer looking at Kaines as she turned toward Joya's direction.
Joya at this moment had completely transformed. Golden mane bristling, eyes blood-red, inhuman roars erupting from her throat! Berserker's Fury! Her strength and speed exploded instantly, attacks becoming utterly wild yet incredibly savage, like a wounded lioness! Previously comfortable Angus suddenly faced crushing pressure, his body repeatedly torn by sharp lion claws that opened bone-deep wounds, forcing him into embarrassed retreat.
"I cannot leave! Take Leon away—!" Joya's roar resembled an injured beast's lament. Berserker's Fury brought power, but the price was burning life force, followed by fatal weakness.
"Live together or not at all!" Shara ignored her injuries, Crescent Fangs carrying resolute cold light as she joined battle, flanking Angus with the frenzied Joya.
"Two against one? That's hardly noble beastkin style!" Kaines arrived like a shadow, great sword sweeping horizontally to hammer Shara away again while directly confronting Joya's savage claw, giving Angus breathing space.
Even in Berserker's Fury state, Joya still found herself at disadvantage against Warmarshal-class Kaines!
Throughout the camp, combat had devolved into bloody melee. Remaining orc warriors roared as they clashed with mercenaries surging from darkness. Yet the mercenaries' coordination proved chillingly masterful. They'd abandoned steel crossbows, forming groups of three or four—shields blocking in front, spears and short swords precisely striking from behind, every attack targeting orc warriors' throats, hearts, joints, and other vital points. They remained silent, efficient, ruthless—this was no ordinary mercenary's scattered fighting style, but more like a well-trained, battle-hardened elite army!
Watching this orderly slaughter, chill shot up Shara's spine to her skull.
"Roar—!!!"
"For ancestral glory—!!!"
Deafening furious roars erupted throughout the camp! Minotaur guard Hessen and several other Orc Braves ignited their life flames in desperation, entering Berserker's Fury state! Under their inspiration—or rather, desperate infection—more ordinary orc warriors released final roars, eyes blood-red, abandoning defense to throw themselves recklessly at enemies!
Facing this sudden counterattack fueled by life itself, human mercenaries didn't meet them head-on. They contracted formation with perfect coordination, covering each other's rapid retreat, instantly creating distance from the berserk orcs.
Just as red-eyed orc warriors prepared to charge—
Boom boom boom boom!
A series of blazing fireballs fell like precision-guided munitions into the densest orc clusters! Violent explosions raised scorching air waves and bloody limbs, instantly clearing vast areas!
Mid-tier magic—Cascading Fireburst!
Death's shadow hadn't yet dispersed when another, deadlier sound tore through night sky!
Swish—!
Thunk!
Swish—!
Thunk!
Air-splitting sounds and blade-in-flesh thuds rang almost simultaneously! Arrow after arrow wrapped in pale green Combat Aura shot silently like death's fangs from the camp perimeter's deepest darkness! Each shot proved utterly precise—either piercing throats, entering eye sockets, or sliding through armor gaps into hearts! Even mighty Hessen in Berserker's Fury state only managed to clutch the suddenly appeared, still-quivering arrow shaft in his throat before his massive frame swayed with unwillingness and confusion, crashing to earth.
Elven archer!
The faint hope flame that had just ignited in Shara's heart from her kinsmen's fury was instantly doused by this lethal arrow rain. Cold despair spread through her body like venom. She even abandoned resistance, watching helplessly as a green-glowing arrow shot silently toward her heart.
In the instant that death's kiss nearly touched her breast!
A bloodied figure with resolute will suddenly blocked Shara's front!
Thunk—!
The sound of an arrow sinking deep into flesh rang crystal clear.
"Shara... go—!!!"
Joya released her life's final, soul-rending roar. That fatal arrow quivered in her proud chest, blood instantly soaking her magnificent robes. Her golden pupils fixed deadly on Kaines, burning with final madness and a mother beast's cub-protecting hatred. Using her last strength, carrying that arrow like a falling star, she threw herself recklessly at the great sword man...