Twilight War (Part 1)

War did not favor the weak, much less pity the defeated.

For the soldiers and slaves of Twilight Fortress, there was only one path if they wanted to live: complete their work.

The noble lords had raised their demands, requiring them to repair the ruins and breaches of Twilight Fortress within a week. As a result, all the slaves had barely three hours of sleep each night.

When the night was at its darkest, even firelight could not illuminate the surroundings. It was not the noble lords' mercy, but simply because nothing could be seen.

Yet the slaves were filled with enthusiasm, because the noble lords had said that as long as they completed their task within the allotted time, they could shed their status as slaves and receive one Gold Coin and five silver coins as payment.

That wealth was enough for them to return home and endure the hardships of their first year as commoners. By the second year, they could begin saving up and pursue a better life.

The slaves dreamed of such a future, and so they worked with even greater vigor. There was only one week left. Seven days later, they would have a brighter future.

There was light in their eyes, but it grew dimmer by the day. More than a hundred thousand slaves were too exhausted. Working without rest atop Twilight Fortress day and night, they endured not only physical injury, but also the mental shock of the bloody, terrifying scenes of orcs close at hand repeatedly charging into Twilight Fortress and slaughtering everyone in sight.

On the first day of the seven, thirty thousand slaves died beneath the orcs' fangs and claws. That night, more than five thousand slaves fell to their deaths after misstepping. Twilight Fortress was no level ground.

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