The war drums thundered through the morning mist.
The demihuman army surged across the plains between the Abelion Hills and the Holy Kingdom's border like a black tide rising from the earth.
Thirty thousand?
No, more than the scouts had estimated.
At least forty thousand demihuman warriors had gathered beneath the banner of the Orc King, the "Beast Emperor"—Orcs, Trolls, Lizardmen, Half-Trolls, Gnolls...
They roared and howled, their voices merging into a torrent powerful enough to rupture eardrums.
The Holy Kingdom's defensive line had been established on a gentle slope before the ruins of the Central Fortress.
After three days and three nights of frantic work, the soldiers had built a temporary wall from wooden stakes, stones, and planks stripped from old ships.
It was barely two men tall and far from sturdy, but it was the best they could manage in the limited time they had.
Eight thousand four hundred soldiers stood behind that fragile defense, gripping their weapons so tightly that their knuckles had turned white.
Remedios Custodio stood at the very center of the line, Holy Sword Safalicia drawn, faint golden holy light flowing across its blade.
Her gaze passed over the approaching demihuman army and settled on the enormous figure in the distance.
The Orc King, the "Beast Emperor," stood over three meters tall, his body covered in black mane-like fur, a bone warhammer larger than an adult human clutched in his hand.
"Captain!"
Her adjutant shouted beside her.
"Lord Higashino hasn't arrived yet!"
Remedios frowned slightly, but she did not turn around.
"He'll come."
"But—"
"I said he'll come!"
Remedios's voice was like a blade, cutting through all of her adjutant's hesitation.
She believed in that man.
Not because Higashino Makoto had given her any promise, but because her "wild instinct" told her so.
He