Several days later.
Orcish capital—Blackwind City.
The clouds hung low and heavy, as if even the sky itself were holding its breath.
On the towering black rock walls, horns had yet to sound, but vigilance was everywhere.
Patrolling orc soldiers had tripled in number.
The echoes of iron boots on stone paths rang endlessly, day and night.
The ashes of Wolf Mountain drifted with the wind.
Not intelligence.
But a "scent" that could not be ignored:
scorched earth, frost, and a death mark unlike any known weapon.
In the council hall of Blackwind City, the Lord of Orcs sat upon the Blackbone Throne.
His heavy breathing reverberated through the hall,
like an ancient beast lying in wait, ready to awaken at any moment.
"The Holy City."
He repeated the name in a low voice.
The grinding of his tusks sent chills down the spine.
To him, everything was perfectly clear.
Wolf Mountain was not a provocation.
It was a declaration.
A herald that the Holy City no longer hid its edge.
"They will not stop at Wolf Mountain."
The Lord of Orcs' voice was deep and certain.
"The next step will inevitably be the border."
His gaze fell on a modest city on the map—
City of White Horse.
A vassal state of the Holy City.
A trade hub. A lifeline for supplies.
Once severed, the southern line of the Holy City would be fully exposed.
"Dispatch troops to Lime City."
The Lord of Orcs raised his hand and slammed it down.
"Flatten the City of White Horse."
"I want to see…"
"if the Holy City truly dares to take this fire."
When the orders were sent down, there was no cheer.
Only silent, efficient execution.
For them, war was never a choice.
It was a response.
By the evening of the next day, the beacon fires of City of White Horse rose.
Gray smoke shot into the sky like a broken feathered arrow, pointing toward the Holy City.
When the news reached the court, the assembly had not yet dispersed.
Hong Lei almost listened without moving.
No anger.
No hesitation.
In that moment, his gaze sharpened once more,
like an old blade finally allowed to leave its scabbard.
"I will go."
The words were quiet.
But no one opposed him.
King Kai did not look up.
He only waved, as if he had long anticipated this moment.
Deputy General Karr stepped forward, kneeling on one knee.
The sound of armor striking the stone floor was crisp and clean.
"I will accompany you."
Hong Lei glanced at him.
No words were needed.
Three days later, the Holy City's army marched out.
General Hong Lei.
Deputy General Karr.
A force called "the rescue army"
set forth toward City of White Horse.
No one knew
the true enemy they were about to face.
Meanwhile, Hong Chen arrived at the Moss Kingdom.
The city lived up to its name.
Walls were low, yet covered in layers of vines and moss,
as if the city had naturally grown from the forest itself.
Morning mist had yet to disperse.
The wooden gates stood half-open.
Merchants and farmers walked side by side.
No rhythm of boots.
No echo of horns.
Here, there were no fortresses.
No tension of a border.
As the Ten Attendants entered the city, they instinctively lightened their steps.
As if afraid to crush something.
Hong Chen led the way.
His cloak restrained. His presence concealed.
The traces of Blue Flame seemed to have never existed.
Children played and chased along the streets.
Women placed freshly baked bread at windowsills.
From the blacksmith's, rhythmic and gentle hammering rang out.
All of this stood in stark contrast to Wolf Mountain.
Finally, one of the Ten Attendants could not help but speak in a low voice:
"Master…
are we here to resupply?"
Hong Chen did not answer immediately.
He paused.
His gaze landed on a small courtyard embraced by ancient trees in the distance.
Shadows danced on the worn gate.
The yard was old, yet carefully maintained.
"No."
His voice was soft.
"I am here to see someone."
The Ten Attendants exchanged glances.
No one asked who.
Because they all understood:
This was not a "mission."
Nor a "target."
It was something
that Hong Chen himself must attend to.
Wind passed through the streets.
Moss trembled lightly between the stone cracks.
In this city not yet named by war,
someone
was waiting for Hong Chen.
And he,
knew better than anyone,
this trip
would not be easier than Wolf Mountain.
多日后.
兽人主城 黑风城.
阴云终日低垂,仿佛连天空也在屏息.
高耸的黑岩城墙上,号角未曾吹响,却已处处戒备.
巡逻的兽人士兵比往常多出三倍,
铁靴踏在石道上的回声,日夜不绝.
狼山的灰烬,随风而来.
那不是情报.
而是一种无法忽视的"气味".
焦土,冷霜,以及某种
不属于任何已知兵器的死亡痕迹.
在黑风城的议事殿中,兽王端坐于黑骨王座之上.
粗重的呼吸在殿内回荡,
像是压抑着一头随时会苏醒的远古凶兽.
"圣城."
他低声重复这个名字.
獠牙间摩擦出的声响,令人不寒而栗.
在他看来,一切都再清楚不过.
狼山不是挑衅.
是宣告.
是圣城,终于不再遮掩锋芒的前兆.
"他们不会停在狼山."
兽王的声音低沉而肯定.
"下一步,必然是边境."
目光,落在地图上那座不起眼的城池
白马城.
圣城的附属小国.
贸易之道,补给之喉.
一旦断裂,圣城南线将彻底暴露.
"命石灰城出兵."
兽王抬起手,重重落下.
"踏平白马城."
"我要看看"
"圣城,是不是真的敢接这把火."
命令传下去时,没有欢呼.
只有沉默而熟练的执行.
战争,对他们而言,从来不是选择.
而是回应.
白马城的烽火,在第二日傍晚升起.
灰烟冲天.
如一只折断的羽箭,指向圣城的方向.
消息传回时,朝堂尚未散去.
洪雷几乎是站着听完的.
他没有愤怒.
没有犹豫.
那一刻,他的眼神重新变得锋利.
像一柄终于被允许出鞘的旧刃.
"我去."
声音不大.
却无人反对.
国王凯没有抬头.
只是挥了挥手,像是早已预料到这一刻.
副将军卡里随即踏前一步,单膝跪地.
盔甲撞击地面的声音,清脆而干脆.
"属下随行."
洪雷看了他一眼.
没有多言.
三日后.
圣城军旗出城.
大将军洪雷.
副将军卡里.
一支被称为"救援"的军队,
踏上了通往白马城的道路.
没有人知道
这场战争真正要面对的敌人,
这时红辰到达青苔国.
城名如其景.
城墙不高,却被藤蔓与青苔层层覆盖,
像是一座从山林中自然生长出来的城.
晨雾尚未散尽,
木制的城门半开着,
行商与农夫并肩而行,
没有军靴的节奏,
也没有号角的回声.
这里没有"要塞".
也没有"边境"的紧绷.
十待踏入城中时,下意识放轻了脚步.
仿佛怕踩碎什么.
红辰走在最前.
披风收敛,气息内敛.
蓝炎的痕迹,仿佛从未存在过.
街道两旁,有孩童追逐打闹.
妇人将刚烤好的麦饼放在窗边.
铁匠铺里传出规律而温和的敲击声.
这一切,都与狼山格格不入.
十待终于忍不住,低声开口:
"主上..."
"我们来这里,是为了补给吗?"
红辰没有立刻回答.
他停下脚步.
目光落在远处一座被老树环抱的小院.
树影斑驳,
院门陈旧,
却被人打理得极为干净.
"不是."
他的声音很轻.
"我是来见一个人."
十待微微一怔.
彼此交换了一个眼神.
没有人追问是谁.
因为他们都听得出来
那不是"任务".
也不是"目标".
而是一件,
红辰必须亲自来做的事.
风吹过街道.
青苔在石缝间轻轻颤动.
在这座尚未被战争命名的城里,
有一个人,
正等着红辰的到来.
而他自己,
比任何人都清楚
这一趟,
不会比狼山更轻松.