Shadow of the Blood Mist

This final force of reinforcements, composed of old nobles, family retainers, and Senate Guards, reached the northern side of Swift River Fortress at its most perilous hour. They successfully helped the fortress maintain the deadlock, buying Governor Reno the most precious time to draw reinforcements from the Northern Territory. After all, it took time for a large army to march out, and teleportation arrays could not possibly transport over a hundred thousand people.

But how long could a force of reinforcements made up of aged nobles and retainers possibly hold out? Their answer was two days...

Two days after the final reinforcements arrived at Swift River Fortress, the last elderly noble knight collapsed into a pool of blood. Nearly all of Swift River Fortress had fallen. Apart from the main keep in the core area, where some defenders were still fighting desperately, there was no sign of Imperial soldiers anywhere else. These aged nobles might have been filthy, cunning, and black-hearted, but they had indeed honored the glory of nobility and the oath to protect the Empire and its people!

"Awooo! Awooo! Awooo!" The Orc ogres roared madly. This was their victory. For the first time in a thousand years, they had reached the gates of Lagrange City. Now, as long as they captured the main keep's core area and destroyed the teleportation array, they could cross the river and attack Lagrange City without any worries.

"Whoosh..." Blood mist shrouded the fortress, while the pitch-black passage seemed to conceal a beast waiting to devour prey, radiating a cold, sinister aura.

"Awoo!" A group of impatient Orcs rushed into the passage, desperate to capture the place and drink their fill of human blood.

Swish! A sword aura flashed through the air like a streak of silk. The Orcs near the passage