To Vee, I am a passionate lover.
But to the rest of the world, I am a peerless strategist who can turn any situation around.
— One Day Later —
[Door Activated]
Stepping out of my door, I directly entered Mour’arath’s palace throne room. Standing in front of the throne, I looked down to see three kneeling figures:
Human, dwarf, and goblin.
The human was half bald and old, sowhere around his late 50s. I have known Alfred since the day he was born, and now I have watched him advance in age while I remain the way I am.
Sotis I envy them.
They get to die and escape this chaos, while Gatekeepers like us are forced to live until we are either killed by the darkness or by other Gatekeepers.
Beside him was a green, round-headed midget with a crooked nose and a lanky body hidden within oversized robes. Kæk was the goblin chief in this region and probably the oldest person among the three.
And finally, there was Olaf—the half-bald dwarf with a braided beard and a war axe strapped to his back at all tis, even when dressed in robes.
Olaf has always been this way since he was little, and I found it funny that he kept this habit after growing up. He was probably the only one allowed to carry a weapon in my presence, mostly because I find it intriguing.
"Rise," I said as I sat on the throne.
However, no one moved. They remained kneeling.
"The dark forces are making their way up the canyon as we speak.
We believe they will lay siege tonight," Alfred said in an urgent tone.
"And?" I raised an eyebrow.
"We are lacking in ammunition. Half of our cannons are damaged and will need ti to be repaired. Our aether crystal arrows are only about 1,700. We don’t even have enough aether crystal swords, and we barely have 3,000 troops left—the rest are either dead or badly hurt," Olaf continued from where Alfred stopped.
I exhaled loudly and leaned back, a small smile playing on my lips.
"And?" I asked again.
"Please, withdraw to the capital. Reinforce the capital and save the rest of the empire from this scourge. We, the people of Mour’arath, will hold back this darkness as long as possible and give the rest a chance to fortify themselves," Kæk finished the annoyingly long speech, which I’m sure they had rehearsed a couple of tis.
HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHA!
My laughter made their faces snap up as they looked at my amused face in confusion.
Swish!
I pulled out a pink hand fan with cherry blossom petals on it and used it to cover half my face while looking down at the trio.
"Do you really think the Almighty would get involved in a battle he cannot win?"
All three exchanged shocked glances before returning their attention to .
"You an..." Olaf’s voice trailed off.
I nodded.
"I’m aware of the situation here. It’s just as the ssage delivered to you on my behalf said. I am here to fight on the frontlines, not strategize," I said, causing everyone’s eyes to dilate with shock.
"M—" Alfred froze at the wave of my palm, signaling him to stay quiet.
"Not just that," I continued. "For too long, we have played a passive role and rely defended against the darkness. This ti, not only will we drive the darkness away from the canyons, we will descend as well—and lay siege on their lands. Vee is mobilizing my total guards as we speak."
Buzz!
Only now did all three spring to their feet in shock. They wanted to speak, but they seed to have lost their voices.
"Go, spread the words you just heard to your soldiers. Tell them the Almighty is finally making a move!"
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY!" They all scread in unison and planted their heads on the ground for one deep bow before running off like children eager to show their new toy to their mother.
Left alone in the throne room, my smile faded, and I inhaled sharply.
"How long has it been since I stepped onto the battlefield?" I muttered, slight amusent in my eyes.
Snap!
[Door activated.]
A rift opened, and a few seconds later, a familiar figure walked out. It was a sand-colored orc with long braids and a feisty war axe crackling with lightning strapped to his back.
He wasted no ti walking to the foot of my throne before lowering his head.
Soon, several more orcs began walking out—numbering nearly a hundred.
These were the remnants of my orc army that fought in Louisiana.
They were my brightest and most skilled soldiers. If it wasn’t for the difference in military-grade equipnt and sheer numbers, they would have won their war hands down.
Standing at the forefront was Fin, my orc champion. When I found Fin forty years ago, he was from a destroyed orc tribe. Everyone was dead—killed by a rival tribe.
He had no na, as he was still wrapped in warm blankets. His mother had hidden him in the bushes, and he was all alone. I took him in and gave him a new na.
I trained him not just to fight normal opponents, but Gatekeepers—and he has passed down this knowledge to every army he has trained.
That’s why Adam struggled against my orc berserker—because he was trained to fight people like him.
"You called, Sire?" Fin asked with his head lowered.
I nodded.
"Mour’arath will be besieged tonight by the darkness, and I plan to join this war personally. Will you fight by my side?"
Fin’s head—and those of over a hundred orcs—snapped up in surprise, but I didn’t bla them.
They had seen tutor Fin, but never had they seen on the battlefield. These orcs probably assud their Lord could not fight, and that’s why he avoided battles.
But they were trained well. I could see the different thoughts in their minds, but they didn’t voice them.
They understood my duty was to lead—and theirs to follow.
"It would be an honor to fight alongside the Almighty!" Fin scread excitedly, his eyes sparkling.
Only the strong can recognize the strong.
"Good! Very good!" I laughed while clasping my hands. "Tonight, we feast on the blood of our enemies!"
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
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