Oscar Regisea, a young man with the physique that made women fawn all over him, was leading his army of towering muscles and steel across the plains.

High-Orcs.

Oscar had never seen one before, only their depictions in the scrolls in his family’s library. He did know why his troops consisted of the greenskin. They were known as big, dumb brutes, a race who was just marginally better than monsters. A far cry from his own noble origin.

But his orcs were not mere orcs, his assistant said, High-Orcs. They were all of the orcs and more. A combination of brawn and brain. The army’s condition was good too, well equipped and well trained. Fighting ten of them at the same time would have been bad, even for him.

It was a shame though, that his beautiful assistant turned into a big greenskin as well. She was now taller than him and her neck was thicker than his thigh. Oscar quite liked her cute face.

But that was only a trivial matter. What really mattered was that Oscar was on the losing end of this Trial of Fire.

Only nine black spark holders remained and four were already in a group, led by the most abhorrent man in the whole trial, Tanael.

The man was a vicious son of a bitch. No respect for his fellow human beings and he killed as easily as turning one’s hand.

His presence and influence grew larger each Stage like a self-propagating fart, engulfing everything with its unpleasant smell.

The conundrum was this guy was strong. Strong enough to be a menace!

Too strong even.

Oscar recalled the scene at the finals of Stage 4, where Tanael and Troy fought. Troy was Oscar’s rival for years; their strength was almost equal.

Since Troy lost, didn't it mean Oscar would lose too?

Afterwards, the thought haunted him every step he took.

As someone who was raised by a Level 5 Pathseeker, his education had encompassed many things, including the matters of war. He realized Stage 5 was another dangerous arena for him.

Four out of nine were in an alliance. Should they move together, they would have the numbers to bury the rest.

Oscar also wanted to have a group like that but it was not meant to be. In Stage 3 he slaughtered the weak for his own power growth and no one wanted to group up with him from that point on.

If there were competent people among them then he might let that guy live but there was none. Tanael managed to gather three highly capable individuals despite his vile actions, making Oscar’s guts boil in anger.

And this was before taking into account the sacrifices of this bunch that called themselves Gloomsiders, the snobbish pricks. Earlier, he saw Tanael’s left arm missing. He didn't think it was from combat so it must be a sacrifice. The implication of it gladdened and frightened him at the same time.

Therefore, he must strike the enemy at its weakest, like a coward. It was the same as admitting he couldn't defeat them in a straight-up battle. He! Oscar Regisea, the proud scion of a Level 5 admitting he was inferior to these nobodies who crawled out from the upturned bark of society like insects.

His ego felt like it was axed.

But, losing was a greater humiliation still.

He would prevail.

Considering Tanael’s tendency for a decisive attack early in the battle’s beginning, Oscar predicted Tanael would aggressively attack his neighbors. It was a sound plan; either Tanael’s enemies would decrease or his allies would increase.

But therein lay an opening, one that Oscar grasped. If he could bring down Tanael’s kingdom while he was out conquering then he might win this yet.

By using a precious magic item to scout the land and spreading his forces wide, Oscar found Tanael without him finding out. He also got Outcast and took care of him on the way.

At the prospect of victory, Oscar’s heart was elated. He led the entirety of his force to attack Tanael’s thinly guarded base. He committed his force for an all-out attack.

Clad in a polished enchanted armor and his trusted spear in hand, Oscar would cut open a path to victory.

***

“Chief, enemies are coming,” Zerrigan conveyed.

One of his brows rose, that was his only reaction.

“What are they?”

“They are big green-skinned brutes in metal armor, Chief. From the eyes of the scouts at least five hundred are coming toward the Nest. They will arrive in an hour.”

“…Orcs? Oscar…”

Seeing her ally suddenly stop in the middle of a talk, Izabella asked.

“Tanael? What’s wrong?”

“Oscar is leading a great army to destroy my base.”

“That’s terrible! We should turn back immediately!”

“Indeed…” Viers assumed a thinking pose.

I hoped I would have at least one day so Zerrigan could birth more Xerg but that’s too optimistic it seems.

The combined force of Tanael and Black Cat were currently attacking the base of the rot demons, Green Scorpion Fajrin’s faction.

It was going well.

Too well. There wasn't much resistance at all and there was no trace of the earth and mind dual affinity cultist from the start, not even a shadow.

“Zerrigan, did you find him?”

“No, Chief.”

“Shit. He might be already gone. Either he gave up before we assaulted the walls or he ran away from the base on his own early.”

This cheap Zorian is really good at staying out of harm's way…

Fajrin showed the tendency of a cockroach villain that just wouldn't die. With this, he had escaped from Viers’ lethal grip three times.

“W-Why are you so calm about this? Come on, there’s not a second to waste. It might be too late already. I told you this was a reckless strategy from the start!” Izabella was panicking more than Viers.

Heh, Viers scoffed. Of course it is a bold strategy but I kept a safety measure just in case.

“A fourth of the Shredders stay here until you destroy the crystal. The rest of us will turn back to reinforce you now. Hold the line, Zerri.”

“I will await your return, Master Chief.”

Viers turned Xel Doggo to Izabella.

“Where’s Jaime and his dark elf army now?”

Jaime’s starting location was closer to Izabella so the two made contact first.

“On his way here.”

“Send word and get him to adjust course to my place.”

“Got it. Still think we won’t make it in time. We need at least two hours… Can the queen hold that long?”

“She’s got help. Let’s go! Gondor calls for aid!”

***

Night.

Sakaki Sakuya never thought that one day she would stand on a battlefield.

Should there be a war, she thought she would be doing work in the shadows, assassination and stuff.

Instead, she was now standing in an open field, in the way of hundreds of screaming well-armored orcs and her shield wall -if it could be called that- was nimble ninjas and some weird insectoid dogs.

“Sakuya-sama,” her handsome male ninja assistant pulled her from her musings. “The men are ready. We await your command.”

Sakuya only nodded. Her thoughts were murky thinking that many people under her command would undoubtedly fall in the coming battle.

“I’m sorry I’ve asked this of you,” Sakuya turned to her ninjas.

“We’re yours to command, Sakuya-sama. We’ll give our lives to accomplish the mission,” her assistant said like a loyal retainer.

She was ashamed to not carry the same determination as her men.

A few hours ago, a Tyra Xerg came to her ninja village and claimed to speak on behalf of Tanael. Using the creature as a communication relay -Zerrigan conveying what Viers said- he instructed Sakuya to guard the Nest, bringing her whole force.

“Don't worry even if you leave your crystal unguarded. If someone attacks then let it be destroyed. I’ll share my shard gains from the Aberrants with you if that happens. Just make sure my base stands,” Tanael said.

Sakuya felt a massive amount of gratitude towards Tanael so she would do it. But there was a single snag.

“Tanael-sama. Normally I’d gladly give my life for the mission but this time I cannot. I must survive Stage 5 and break the curse of my clan. If things go bleak, I will run away… Forgive me.”

The shame was unbearable, to treat her benefactor so. But her kin was counting on her. She would condemn them to a very cruel fate should she fail here. Therefore, she must swallow the bitter pill of disgrace.

Instead of scorn, her savior replied with understanding and wisdom.

“Of course you must do so. This is not your place to die. And I’m not an incompetent commander that just tells his men to get it done while tumbling his thumbs, you know. Here’s my strategy…”

Ah, Tanael-sama… What a great lord you are.

“Miss Sakuya, the Chief has been informed and is on his way. He wished you good fortune in battle,” a Shredder hissed and Zerrigan’s voice reached Sakuya’s mind.

“Thank you, Zerrigan-san. Let’s do this!”

A thousand ninjas and a hundred Shredders against a thousand High-Orcs.

The battle began immediately, without dialogue from the leaders of both sides. The orcs were like a force of nature made of metal. Those heavy infantries would stomp Sakuya’s ninjas with impunity.

When the orcs got close to the shieldless shield wall, the ninjas scattered. Thinking they got the upper hand, the orcs pursued. But the ninjas were faster than the orcs.

This early in Stage 5, neither force had units that could deal ranged attacks. So the orcs chased the ninjas who were all over the place.

Then the mounted units struck.

Sakuya and the other ninjas rode the pony-sized insects. The one hundred makeshift light cavalry charged from the side and pulled back before going too deep.

There was a reason the defenders didn't turtle up in the Nest. Viers’ tactic was using the mobility of his forces. Not to stop the charge of the enemy head-on but to whittle them down from the periphery.

It was a rough tactic. The cavalry didn't even have spears let alone bows. The ninjas attacked the ax-wielding orcs using knives. It was quite messy.

Sakuya’s side was at a disadvantage. No matter the tactics, the orcs were superior in close combat. Three or four ninjas died for every orc but it was a trade Sakuya willingly took.

As the battle went on, the orcs began to ignore the fleeing ninjas and went straight at Viers’ main keep but the ninjas harassed them constantly, making them slow down to a crawl.

Then, on the already loud battlefield, an even louder crack resounded. Oscar’s lightning bolt was coming at Sakuya’s side but she managed to dodge it at the last second. The bolt incinerated the ninja behind her as the mounted Shredder shrieked in pain.

“Die, bitch of Tanael!”

The two leaders began a showdown of skill. Vicious lightning threatened Sakuya’s life. A missed blast at the ground made her fall from her mount. She rolled and got up immediately only to see a two-and-a-half-meter tall orc swinging his ax down at her head.

Arte - Shadow Trick!

The orc missed her head because he thought Sakuya’s head was somewhere else. The Arte messed with his sense of sight.

Sakuya used this moment to slide under the orc’s legs, giving a cut in the process. The place she fell was bad, too many orcs in the surroundings. Sakuya dodged the first ax swing by turning her body and ducking low for the second. She used the knee and shoulder of an orc to jump high and landed behind the encirclement with the nimbleness of a cat.

A spear with crackling lightning flashed at the edge of her vision. A shiver of dread on her neck.

Arte - Wood Man! Root Constraint!

A man-shaped construct emerged from the ground, taking the spear with its body. Tree roots entangled the attacker, stopping his charge short. The spear was inches away from Sakuya’s neck.

Oscar… What speed and power!

Sakuya knew her opponent was a top-class fighter in the entire Book World. She knew she wasn't his match but she had to stall him.

She ran, throwing a poisoned kunai as she did so. Oscar batted it aside easily and chased after her while letting out spear stabs.

“Khhh!”

One grazed her on the stomach. She kept running, using the chaotic battlefield to her advantage.

Oscar’s spear went through an orc’s armored body when she was hiding behind him. It impaled her shoulder and a jolt of electricity ravaged her body.

Sakuya gritted her teeth and made eye contact with Oscar.

Suddenly Oscar was on a plain surrounded by wild beasts of all kinds, charging at him.

“Illusion. Arte - Lightning Creating Clear Sky!”

Osar raised his spear to the sky and a line of lightning rose to the sky, shattering the world of illusion in an instant.

When he blinked, he saw Sakuya’s surprised eyes and coughing blood. This kind of technique often created a backlash to the user when broken.

“Earth-Shattering Lightning!”

Oscar didn't hold back and unleashed a downward strike from a high stance. It hit Sakuya’s head and split her body into two.

But the body turned into leaves and scattered in the air. Oscar frowned and saw Sakuya running at a distance. He was about to pursue but Sakuya disappeared after throwing a smoke bomb to the ground.

Sakuya made her way to safety, gasping for air. Her body still spasmed from the lightning back then.

Tanael-sama defeated Troy who was at the same level as Oscar. Meanwhile, it took everything I had just to stay alive. I couldn't even injure him to slow him down.

Sakuya ate a red pill to stop her bleeding.

I used Mirage Leaf Dance Arte, I can’t escape death the same way for another twelve hours.

Sakuya felt powerless.

Without Sakuya, the ninjas were getting hit hard by the orcs and their master; AoE lightning Artes laid waste to many. The harassment continued but the orcs made it to the crater.

Sakuya and Zerrigan pulled their forces back to the Nest, where they would do their last stand. Some ninjas didn't make it in time and got left on the outside.

The gate held for some time but Oscar’s Arte pried it open as Sakuya could do nothing but watch.

Sakuya clenched her fists.

No… I failed. Tanael-sama… I can't even repay my debt.

PWUUUUUUU——

In her despair, she heard a horn.

An army appeared on the edge of the crater, the rising sun on their back.

Tyra Xerg, blood demons, and dark elves.

Two tears fell from Sakuya’s eyes.

***

Tanael rode on his steed at the front of the army, watching as orcs laid siege on his castle.

“Conquest, take your demons down the left flank,” he commanded.

“Understood,” Izabella went to her army.

“Zerrigan, follow my advance down the center.”

“War, take your company right, before you pass Famine’s army.”

“Forth, and fear no darkness!”

Tanael raised his sword. Not his katana, it was a sword he looted from someone. A really shiny sword.

“Arise, arise, Riders of Tanael!”

His voice reached every ear in the army of three races.

“Spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered… A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!”

The Tyra Xerg barred their teeth. The blood demons growled. The dark elves gripped their weapons hard.

“Ride now, ride now, ride!”

Tanael strode across, passing the individuals at the very front with a sword reflecting the light of the morning sun.

“Ride for ruin and the world's ending!”

“Death!”

The army roared.

“Death!”

A war-cry of thousands.

“Death!”

Jaime and Izabella shouted with all of their lungs. Never before had they felt something like this. They had this inexplicable sensation that they were becoming a part of a legend.

“Forth Apocalypse!”

Tanael rode forward at the tip of the spear, an army of monsters followed him.

Heaven and earth quaked.

Chapter 185 - The Return of the King