Chapter Summaries

Omsk returned to Lulong Fortress after helping rout the Orcs, then learned that Flowing City had been attacked and prepared to reinforce it. Caslo arrived with news that the White Wing King’s forces had driven off Uwasa, and the defenders turned their attention to the Orcs and Nazgûl still nearby.

• Omsk and his Knights retreated into Lulong Fortress as the Orcs fled, and Reno confronted him about his absence.
• Reno told Omsk that Uwasa had attacked Flowing City and that the city needed reinforcements, so Omsk prepared to ride there.
• Caslo arrived on Caldo and explained that Yun Feng and Lord Valfay had helped defend Flowing City, while Uwasa escaped after the White Wing King’s forces intervened.
• Caslo announced a hereditary marquisate for whoever killed Uwasa, citing the casualties he had inflicted and the destruction of the heavy cavalry unit.
• Omsk identified four powerful enemies among the regrouping Orcs, and Lafitte Antony warned Caslo that they had Black Arrows, ruling out a Dragon Breath attack.

Dak Ivan led the Steel Fang Chariot Tribe west toward the Lagrange royal capital, while a Lagrange City Guards unit reached the former site of Lagrange City and made camp. The chapter ended when the guards heard a large cavalry force across the river and rushed to alert their commander.

• Dak Ivan led 9,000 Chariot People west, seeking revenge on Lagrange for his daughter's death.
• The Lagrange City Guards reached the confluence of the Swift River and the Redwater River and vowed to return and rebuild their city.
• The guards camped beside the frozen rivers, broke the ice for water, and arranged rotating night watches.
• A guard heard horses approaching and spotted a large cavalry force on the other side of the river.
• The guard ran to notify the commander as his companions followed.

Roland received a Wyvern Knight Squad from the system, which deployed the ten knights to his eastern front as Lagrange City Guards faced an approaching force. Meanwhile, the allied defenders prepared to pursue the Orcs, and Chieftain Dak Ivan ordered his Chariot People across the frozen Redwater River toward the guards.

• Roland signed in and received a Wyvern Knight Squad, but the system had already sent it to the threatened eastern front.
• Omsk, Reno, and Caslo reviewed the battle's casualties and planned to surround a sixth-tier Orc while Reno held Uwasa back.
• Reno revealed that he had reached the fifth tier, qualifying him to join the fight against the Nazgûl.
• The Lagrange City Guards spotted a large force approaching across the river and raised their dragon banner.
• Dak Ivan killed a scout who questioned the crossing and ordered the Chariot People to race across the frozen Redwater River.

Vilin Angus and the Lagrange City Guards prepared to face a ten-thousand-strong Chariot People force, aided by the Imperial Royal Wyvern Knight Order's Lightning Wyvern Squad. After Dakyi's troops attacked first, the Wyvern Knights opened fire from the sky, devastating the advancing chariots with lightning breath.

• The Lightning Wyvern Squad warned Vilin Angus that ten thousand Chariot People were approaching and offered air support.
• Vilin Angus formed the Lagrange City Guards into a Shield Wall while the Wyvern Knights prepared to attack.
• Dakyi recognized the Lagrange Dragon Banner and ordered his archers to shoot at Vilin Angus's troops.
• Vilin Angus ordered his soldiers to hold position after the Chariot People attacked first.
• The Lightning Wyverns blasted the advancing force with lightning breath, killing soldiers and destroying chariots.

The Wyvern Knights exploited the frozen river to break the Chariot People's formations while the Lagrange City Guards watched from the riverbank. The ice collapsed beneath the chariots, and the Wyvern Knights descended to report that no one had survived.

• Vilin Angus warned his men to leave the ice as the Wyvern Knights attacked the Chariot People.
• Dakyi offered a thousand-man commander rank for killing a wyvern, drawing the chariots into attacking the Wyvern Knights.
• The Wyvern Knights evaded the ballistae and crossbows, then focused their Lightning Breath on cracking the ice beneath the chariots.
• The Chariot People's formations sank into the river as the ice shattered, and Dakyi's belated order to retreat came too late.
• Vilin Angus called the Chariot People finished, and the Wyvern Knights landed with their wounded comrade.

Vilin Angus and the Wyvern Knights withdrew after devastating the Chariot People, while a new attack began at Lulong Fortress. The Orcs gained the upper hand when a hidden sixth-tier Totem Shaman unleashed the Beast God Totem, leaving the defenders facing heavily buffed enemies.

• Vilin Angus ordered his troops to withdraw as the Wyvern Knights flew ahead to scout and clear the route.
• A survivor at the meeting of the Swift River and Redwater River blasted through the ice and reached a hand out of the water.
• The Orcs attacked Lulong Fortress again, and its defenders debated why the Nazgûl had not withdrawn.
• Reno discovered that the fortress's attacks were barely harming the Orcs, and Lafitte Antony identified the influence of a sixth-tier Totem Shaman.
• The Totem Shaman cast the Beast God Totem, empowering the Orcs with Berserk, Demonic Body, and Stone.

At Lulong Fortress, Reno’s defenders repelled an Orc probe empowered by a forbidden spell, though he feared the Nazgûl would attack next. Meanwhile, Apophis Breo founded Lion Territory and built defenses against Orc raids, then named the emerging stronghold Junlin Fortress.

• Reno ordered Lulong Fortress’s arrow towers to fire as Orcs charged the damaged gate, and Caslo’s Storm Dragon swept them away with Azure Dragon Breath.
• Reno recognized the attack as an Orcish probe and worried that the Nazgûl would make the next move.
• Apophis Breo secured food for more than a thousand settlers, established Lion Territory below Old Pass, and sent Olaf with a hundred Valiant Warriors to guard it.
• Apophis Breo had the settlers seal Orc tunnels with firewood, water, and mud, then built a checkpoint after repeated Orc attacks.
• Apophis Breo planned another checkpoint at Old Pass’s eastern exit and named the developing fortress Junlin Fortress.

The defenders of Lulong Fortress repelled an Orc assault but remained threatened by the Orc Shaman and Nazgûl. Dragon Knight Ajax arrived as reinforcements, joining Caslo and the others for the ongoing battle.

• Omsk and Caslo returned to Lulong Fortress after failing to overcome the empowered Orcs and their sixth-tier fighters.
• Reno led the defenders in driving the Orcs back from the gate, then withdrew inside before the Nazgûl pulled their forces away.
• Caslo revealed that he had asked Ajax to come from Mirkwood, while Omsk and Reno argued about the fighting and their lack of warning.
• Caldo spotted Ajax approaching, and she blasted the Orcs before landing beside Caslo and his dragon.
• Caslo helped Ajax down from her dragon, and she said she had been delayed on the way.

Caslo and Ajax launched a Grand Forbidden Spell against the Orc army, prompting the enemy Shaman to answer with Beast God's Descent. Their spells collided above Lulong Fortress, whose shield shattered repeatedly but whose structures withstood the blast; Reno cautiously checked whether the clash was over.

• Caslo and Ajax decided to counterattack with Grand Forbidden Spells despite Omsk's concerns.
• Caslo and Ajax and their dragons cast Stormbreaker Wing and Blazing Wings Scorching Plains, which fused into Spatial Annihilation.
• The Orcs summoned Beast God's Descent, confirming Reno's prediction that their Shaman had a Grand Forbidden Spell in reserve.
• Spatial Annihilation and Beast God's Descent clashed, shattering Lulong Fortress's shield and tearing apart its ordinary banners while the fortress structures held.
• The Beast God phantom struck the Totem Pole against the remaining Spatial Annihilation, and both spells vanished; Reno cautiously looked outside.

After the Grand Forbidden Spells ended the Orc assault at Lulong Fortress, Roland reviewed the battles on both fronts and judged the war a draw. The system then awarded him a Mage squad and Heavy Swordsmen for unexpected victories elsewhere.

• Roland learned that the clash of Grand Forbidden Spells had scattered the Orc army, while Lulong Fortress suffered no deaths but many injuries.
• Roland berated Omsk for mismanaging the vanguard before praising Caslo and Ajax and promising them a grand wedding after the war.
• Ajax reported that Eowyn and the Star Elves had driven the Orcs back into Dol Guldur, where they remained in a standoff with the Nazgûl.
• Roland concluded that both crises had been resolved and the war had ended in a draw, then received a third-tier Mage squad from the system.
• Roland received another system notification awarding him one hundred Dorwinian Heavy Swordsmen for the annihilation of the Steel Fang Tribe Chariot People on the Swift River.

Roland reviewed Flowing City's troops and the state of his territories, learning that the Royal Mage Order consisted of squads of Third Tier mages who could cast forbidden spells together. He mourned the loss of conscripted soldiers and resolved to expand his army, even as the lack of cavalrymen left his stockpile of warhorses useless.

• Roland realized that the five Third Tier Fire Mages and five Third Tier Wind Mages formed a Lagrange Royal Forbidden Spell Mage Order squad capable of jointly casting a forbidden spell.
• Roland opened the Territory Panel and reviewed Flowing City's forces, population, subordinate territories, and war damage.
• Roland saw that the army had gained professional troops but lost many recruitable soldiers, especially conscripted militia, in the battle.
• Roland lamented that he had thousands of warhorses but too few cavalrymen, and considered having Ruhl start a horse business.
• Roland vowed to expand the army and considered pushing back against Dol Guldur.

After the Orc war exposed Lagrange’s military weakness, Roland decided to expand his territory and recruit ordinary soldiers. He called his ministers together to discuss the plan, where their first proposals revealed how difficult and ambitious the expansion would be.

• Roland told Yun Feng and Omsk that he wanted to expand Lagrange’s army and territory, and they agreed to discuss the plans together.
• Reno asked Roland to send more troops to Lulong Fortress, bargaining for at least five hundred soldiers as Omsk dragged him away.
• Nyx ushered Roland and the ministers into the council hall after Reno’s argument left them awkwardly standing outside.
• Roland asked the assembled ministers to propose plans for expanding the army.
• Omsk suggested raising at least five legions, prompting Yun Feng to challenge whether Flowing City had enough people to support fifteen thousand soldiers.

Roland’s council debated rebuilding the army and extending roads and settlements toward Lagrange City, then agreed to recruit 4,500 soldiers after spring planting. Roland also accepted that the kingdom must aid its allies against the Undead Army, leaving Caslo and Ajax to depart on another mission.

• Roland proposed building roads and settlements toward Lagrange City and assigning Lagrange City Guards to protect them.
• Reno recommended recruiting 4,500 men to form two Swift River Legions for Lulong Fortress and Flowing City, and Roland approved recruitment after spring planting.
• Roland ordered Yun Feng to control prices and warned against bread becoming unaffordable.
• Nyx reminded the council that the dwarves and elves were still fighting the Undead Army, and Adilai urged Roland to honor the alliance.
• Roland sent Caslo and Ajax to help the allies, while Caslo reminded him not to forget his wedding.

Apophis Breo and Olaf fought off a massive Orc assault on the western pass while waiting for reinforcements. Roland welcomed the Wyvern Knights and Lagrange City Guards, then ordered the knights to support Apophis Breo and protect the Junlin Family heir.

• Apophis Breo and Olaf led the defense of the western pass as Orcs attacked, and a messenger reported that Dragon Knights were occupied in the north while other reinforcements and supplies were promised.
• Apophis Breo and the Valiant Warriors survived a nearly thousand-strong Orc assault, though the defenders were battered and short on spare troops.
• Apophis Breo explained that refugees were arriving in Lion Territory and could gradually bolster his forces.
• Roland welcomed the Wyvern Knights and Vilin Angus, commander of a thousand Lagrange City Guards, as they pledged loyalty.
• Roland ordered the Wyvern Knights to lead the Griffon Knights to aid Apophis Breo, insisting that the Junlin Family and its heir must survive.

Roland learned that Apophis Breo was struggling in the south while the Northern Territory coalition defeated the Undead Army at the Withered Wasteland. The coalition waited to confirm the enemy’s retreat, and Roland received a reward for the northern victory.

• Roland discussed Apophis Breo’s weak position with Nyx and said Sky Knights should be enough to help him win.
• Thranduil, Bard, and Thorin identified Amoras and Horlamus as the enemy commanders and discussed the danger of another Necrotic Plague.
• Caslo and Ajax returned with reinforcements after the dwarves used Erebor’s forge fire to devastate the Undead Army.
• The Undead Army retreated, and the exhausted coalition leaders agreed to wait two days before leaving.
• Roland received 500 Lagrange City Guards from the system, which announced that the northern Undead Army had been defeated and the side quest had ended.

Roland organized postwar compensation, reconstruction, and the relocation of civilians to build a city between Flowing City and Lulong Fortress. He assigned Omsk and the Knight Order to escort the settlers and planned to join them, while Apophis Breo improved the pass defenses after the battle.

• Nyx told Roland she would begin relocating people in spring, and Roland tasked Yun Feng with arranging the settlement and repairing city structures.
• Lance confirmed that pensions and compensation had been distributed, and Roland ordered special care for orphaned children and told them to remain in Flowing City.
• Omsk offered to hand over the Knight Order, but Roland instead ordered him to escort relocating civilians and help establish a city between Flowing City and Lulong Fortress.
• Roland told Omsk he would join the relocation, leaving Omsk startled at the king's decision to accompany the expedition.
• Apophis Breo reported that the Wyvern Knights had cleared trees around the pass, providing better visibility and materials to strengthen its defenses.

After helping Apophis Breo secure his pass, Holyn and the Sky Knights prepared to leave while the Battle of the North continued. Roland then urged Yun Feng to help him capture the Grey Mountains’ griffons, but Yun Feng rejected the plan and told him to focus on strengthening the kingdom and producing an heir.

• Apophis Breo thanked Holyn and the Sky Knights for helping reinforce the pass, and Holyn prepared to lead the team home.
• Apophis Breo worried that Orcs returning to the Misty Mountains would raid his territory, unaware that the Battle of the North was still ongoing.
• Roland pressed Yun Feng to devise a way to capture the griffon flock in the Grey Mountains.
• Yun Feng listed the exhausted Dragon Knights, insufficient forces, and Smurf’s injuries as reasons not to attack the griffons.
• Yun Feng advised Roland to stop risking his life, produce an heir, and prepare the Swift River Infantry instead.
• Roland left after saying they could discuss the griffons again after gaining a Sage, and Yun Feng lamented the kingdom’s shortage of capable casters.

Roland promoted his Pioneer Order by promising settlers a chance to earn noble titles, then organized the first expedition to establish a new town. He prepared to lead the pioneers himself, postponing Caslo and Ajax’s wedding until his return.

• A planted supporter announced that pioneer towns would receive one hundred Lagrange City Guards and that settlers who made outstanding contributions might earn noble titles.
• Roland explained the distinctions among noble ranks and said he would not grant hereditary titles lightly.
• Roland ordered Lance to select applicants by household and organize a first pioneer group of five hundred households, with the Lagrange City Guards preparing to accompany them.
• Roland told Caslo he had forgotten Caslo and Ajax’s wedding, then offered to bring Ajax on the expedition so she could see their land.
• Caslo agreed to postpone the wedding and said he and Ajax would protect Roland during the journey.

Roland and Omsk led knights, civilians, and pioneer adventurers toward a new settlement as Roland learned that the Adventurer's Guild had already been established. They debated where to build an inland port, and Omsk urged Roland to use the city to contain the neighboring Aquavia Kingdom.

• Omsk told Roland that the poorly equipped civilians accompanying the knights were pioneer adventurers, and revealed that the Adventurer's Guild had been founded by Ladyl and Adilai.
• Roland learned that Omsk had been made a ten-star adventurer so the guild could issue high-level commissions, and Omsk warned him against joining.
• Roland and Omsk set off with the settlers and discussed building an inland port connected to the Swift River.
• Omsk recommended a site south of the Forest River and argued that the city could restrict Aquavia's expansion and support Lagrange's forces if war broke out.

Roland chose the former Giant Port as the first settlement in the reclaimed territory, and the Pioneer Team departed from Flowing City. The expedition headed toward Giant Port while Yun Feng planned roads and Roland reflected on how far the kingdom had risen.

• Omsk recommended the former Giant Port as a settlement site, and Roland approved it.
• Roland promised the pioneers rewards and noble titles for distinguished service, while Yun Feng explained that two thousand young men would join the expedition.
• Yun Feng proposed rebuilding the Imperial Highway in sections, beginning with the route from Flowing City to Lulong Fortress, and Roland agreed to start with limited funds.
• Omsk arranged for the Knight Order and one hundred Lagrange City Guards to accompany the pioneers, and the team left Flowing City amid their families' cheers.
• As Omsk rode ahead to clear the way, Roland traveled with Dos in his arms and told Caslo they were going to Giant Port.