Kaen shared the detailed plan with everyone, making sure they were fully prepared in advance.
Once the eting ended, the group dispersed.
He opened his panel to check on his stats.
[Host: Kaen Eowenríel
Level: 2 (44/300)
Heroes: Caden (Warrior), Mundar (Warrior), Zakri (Warrior), Lairon (Warrior), Cathril(warrior), Aliah (Healer), Old Jack (Politics), Will (Diplomacy), Bree (Politics)
Troops: 50 Recruits, 112 Lord's Guard (Veterans)]
According to the panel's classification system, hero ranks were divided into four tiers: Elite, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic.
In the ancient days, only beings who could slay Balrogs or challenge dragons alone were deed Mythic Heroes.
Beyond that level stood the divine: the weaker gods known as the Maiar, and the greater ones called the Valar. A Mythic Hero possessed the strength to slay a Maia.
….
As for troop classifications, they were ranked: Recruit, Veteran, Elite, Top-Tier, and Legendary.
With each step up in rank, combat power tripled.
Recruits were fresh enlistees with little to no training, and poor combat skills.
Veterans had undergone training and seen battle, with so experience but average power overall.
Elite units had rich combat experience and could coordinate flawlessly. These ford the backbone of every kingdom's army and of powerful lords.
Top-tier troops had survived countless wars, rising from mountains of corpses and oceans of blood—each one individually formidable. In present-day Middle-earth, few factions could field units of this caliber.
Among those who could barely muster top-tier forces were the Noldor Elves, Sindar Elves, the Dúnedain Rangers, Knights of Gondor, and Riders of Rohan. Even then, their numbers were limited.
As for Legendary units?
They no longer existed in today's Middle-earth. Only the radiant Elves of the Elder Days, or the heroic warriors from the Three Houses of the Edain, had ever reached that standard.
….
Kaen himself, after two rounds of enhancent, had reached the level of a Legendary Hero.
His current heroes were still at the base hero tier, but with the system's triple growth speed buff, he was confident they'd all achieve Legendary status in ti.
As for his soldiers, as long as they had good equipnt, continuous battle, and the sa growth buff, their progress would be rapid.
After all, his Mount & Blade System granted powerful buffs:
-> Territory developnt speed ×3
-> Troop growth speed ×3
-> Hero growth speed ×3
-> Citizens' average lifespan ×3
Kaen firmly believed that one day, he would command Mythic Heroes and Legendary Units of his own.
….
After spending a night in the village, Gandalf received a letter from Lord Elrond of Rivendell.
He found Kaen and said, "Elrond has agreed to your request. He is personally leading 300 Elven soldiers to support us. Also, Joanna... she has already learned of her father's passing."
"Good," Kaen nodded. "Then it's ti we act."
He turned to Gandalf. "Old man, take the gold and return to Azure Spring. Hand it over to Will—he'll know how to put it to use. Tell the townspeople that the Orcs will attack tonight. Have them prepare accordingly."
"I'll go draw out the Orcs and ensure at least 3,000 of them march. Then, together with Lord Elrond, we'll wipe them out completely."
"Very well. Be careful," Gandalf replied, giving a nod before riding off alone toward Azure Spring to take charge.
Kaen didn't waste ti.
He handed ten soldiers over to Mundar and rode out of the abandoned village with Caden and Zakri by his side.
….
Deep within the Troll-woods, the Rock Trolls made their ho.
To the west and north lay two separate Orc tribes.
Kaen's goal this ti was simple: lure out the Orcs of the western tribe and force them to attack Azure Spring, pulling their forces away.
Though Orcs weren't individually powerful—a full-grown Orc only matched the strength of a human teenager—they had one unique advantage:
They bred rapidly and were easy to sustain.
Even a small Orc tribe could number two to three thousand. A dium-sized one? Over ten thousand.
Using thick underbrush as cover, Kaen and his n crept close to the western Orc encampnt.
After observing the area for a while, Kaen concluded the tribe housed roughly 7,000 Orcs. That ant it could field a force of at least 4,000 to 5,000.
Zakri asked, "Milord, what's the plan?"
Kaen glanced up at the sky. It was late afternoon—the sun would soon vanish behind the mountains.
After a brief mont of thought, his eyes locked on the tribe's crude wooden huts.
He pulled out a banner—the emblem of House Brut emblazoned upon it.
"We'll strike after sunset."
…..
The last rays of the setting sun slid from the earth to the treetops. The forest grew dim and cold.
Nightfall was the Orcs' elent—darkness cloaked their movents, and they were most active then.
Kaen and Caden each hugged several torches, crept up to the edge of the Orc village, then lit and hurled them toward the crude wooden hos.
In no ti, flas soared skyward.
Chaos erupted. Orcs rushed about in panic, trying to put out the blaze.
"ROAR! FIRE!"
"Damn it! Bring water!"
"Who did this?!"
Zakri, perched atop a tall tree, nocked his arrows. Each shot flew with lethal precision, picking off Orcs one by one.
"Enemy attack!"
"Enemy attack!"
The Orcs quickly realized what was happening. Horns blared across the forest.
Caden stepped out, roaring, "You foul and filthy beasts—burn in the flas you deserve!"
"Co face us!"
"There! The enemy's there!" ca the shouts.
As the wave of Orcs surged toward them, Kaen drew his longsword and stood beside Caden.
The two moved in sync, covering each other while weaving through the trees, cutting down Orcs as they went.
EXP 1
EXP 1
….
Level: 2 (65/300)
Zakri kept loosing arrows. When only one remained, he tied the banner to the shaft and launched it toward the burning camp.
Then he shouted, "Lord Kaen, it's done!"
Hearing his voice, Kaen yelled to Caden, "Let's go! Retreat!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two fought while withdrawing. Zakri returned with the horses. After mounting up, all three galloped away into the distance.
"ROARRRR!!"
The Orcs bellowed in fury.
From the crowd erged a massive Orc clad in black armor.
He gripped the banner Kaen had left behind, snarling as he recognized the sigil.
"Azure Spring… House Brut… Very well. You will taste the vengeance of the Orcs!"
"Rally the warriors. Summon our kin to the north. We march to Azure Spring. That land shall beco our grain store!"
"ROARRRR!!"
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