While human society was undergoing total mobilization, the orcs were not idle either.
The current Orc Emperor, "Iron Fang" Ilo, convened a grand assembly and summoned the leaders of every orc tribe.
The assembly was not held inside the Orc Empire's capital, the Great Golden Tent, but on the plains outside it. Emperor Ilo stood atop a high platform, riding in a war chariot, imposing and majestic.
"The humans are coming to attack us," he said without preamble. "Not the kind of petty skirmishing attacks they used in the past, but an all-out assault. They are mobilizing every troop they can mobilize, sending every knight they can send, gathering every ally they can gather, dispatching every god they can dispatch—to attack us."
He spoke loudly, his voice echoing across the open wilderness, entering the ears of every chieftain and reverberating within their hearts.
"Yes, they're coming. They're charging at us with everything they have, on a scale never seen before. I made some estimates. There will probably be... three million troops, or more. If necessary, they could double that number, or even double it again."
"So, are you afraid?"
Quite a few chieftains changed expression. Some turned pale, frightened by that staggering figure; others flushed red, angered at what they felt was an insult to their courage.
Emperor Ilo gave the chieftains no chance to speak and continued, "To be honest, when I first heard that number, I was a little worried too."
"Three million! Three million! What an astonishing number! Not to mention it might be six million, or even twelve million... Heavens!" he cried loudly, his voice full of anguish. "If I chop off that many heads, there won't be enough money in my treasury to pay out the bonuses!"
The chieftains immediately burst into laughter. Those who