Winter comes quietly at night.
At first it was just the wind that changed direction.
It no longer brings the moist and warm breath from the sea in the south, but turns to the north, climbing over the towering snow line of the Redridge Mountains, and pouring the coldness from high altitude into Blackstone Wasteland.
Then, fine snowflakes fell from the thick dust clouds.
Like countless gray butterflies, they dance lightly on the wasteland after the scorched earth and lava have cooled, accumulating into a thin shell of frost, gradually hiding the dark red under the pale plain.
The station of the Greenwild Kingdom is located in the northwest direction of Blackstone Wasteland.
It was a valley surrounded by shrubs. The terrain was low-lying, and the surrounding raised slopes blocked most of the cold wind.
The vegetation here has not been completely swallowed up by the flames of war, and there is still some life buried under the withered grass roots. After being soaked by snow water, the soil exudes a moist earthy smell.
Garos is lying on a raised rock in the center of the valley.
The dark black scales were filled with high temperatures. Before the snowflakes could fall on him, they made a hissing sound, melted in mid-air, turned into water droplets, and then turned into gas.
From a distance, it looks like a furnace still dissipating heat.
The surrounding air was distorted by the heat wave, and the snow on the rocks had been dried, leaving a dry circular area.
"New meteorites, new mutated forms."
Garos plays with the cube in his paws and can see the meteorite sealed inside.
Keep Ashen Annihilation Form first?
Or is it better to just take a chance and bet on the next mutation?
He thought about this problem.
Meteorite is a scarce resource, and each one is hard-earned.
The result of hasty use may be a better form, or it may be a worse form, or it may even be some extreme change that is not suitable for the current battlefield.
At this moment, Green Dragon came through the snow.
Her steps were elegant and calm, and her emerald-green scales stood out in the gray-white and burnt-black sky and earth. The snowflakes falling on the edges of her wings only highlighted the gorgeous color of her scales, like a piece of moving emerald.
"What's that in your hand?"
Green Dragon walked to Garos's side, gently swept away the snow on the rock with its tail, and then crouched down.
Garos said, "Meteorite, meteorite paid in advance by Nausir."
Hearing this, Green Dragon shook off the snow particles on his body. "It seems that those Elf are very satisfied with your performance and gave you the things in advance. Tsk, they are not afraid that you will give them an unexpected surprise like Claude did."
"That's not all. There is another meteorite that I didn't get."
Garos glanced at Green Dragon, then said in a calm tone, "In addition, this is one of the benefits that reputation has brought to me."
"Elfs know that I am not the Evil Dragon from the chaotic side."
"Since I have agreed to cooperate with them, I will not switch sides at will."
Whether it is in Atlant or Orotara.
Garos has never done anything to damage his prestige or act erratically.
First of all, it's not necessary.
Chaos and betrayal may bring short-term benefits, but the price paid is long-term trust and cooperation opportunities.
Secondly, it is to maintain one's own image.
When you are not strong enough to fight against the whole world on your own, this image can reduce a lot of unnecessary troubles.
It is an advantage in itself that other forces are willing to talk to you instead of trying to surround you right away.
Green Dragon is playing with the snow particles on its tail.
Hearing this, she raised her head and looked straight at Garos with her green dragon eyes.
"Since you have already obtained the meteorite, why not use it?"
Green Dragon stretched her head forward and said with a hint of encouragement and confusion in her tone, "Maybe the next mutation will make you stronger."
"Besides, you have time now."
"Orc was repulsed. Although the war is not over yet, it has just come to an end. The front line is temporarily calm. The scouts reported that Orc has shrunk to the southern foot of the Redridge Mountains. There will be no major conflict in the short term."
"You have enough free time to channel the power of the meteorite and let it give birth to new forms."
"Hey, it's time to see what's behind the next door."
Garos tilted his head slightly and looked at Green Dragon.
"I know what you are looking forward to, such as the new style after the mutation."
Seroel did not deny it.
The corners of her mouth raised slightly, revealing a bit of the tips of her teeth. "Of course, don't you think this is interesting?"
Red Iron Dragon shook his head.
"Test the next form later."
He thought for a while and continued, "My current mutated form is very suitable for this war."
"Remote destruction, long-lasting output, and large-scale clearing—these are all what I need. If I rashly mutate into a new form, I may not be able to adapt to the battlefield immediately, and war will not wait for me to slowly explore."
After careful consideration, Garos decided to keep Ashen Annihilation Form first.
Although there is a possibility that the next one will be better, there is also a possibility that the next one will be worse.
And even if the next form is equally powerful, it still takes time to become familiar with and master.
Since Ashen Annihilation Form has performed well, he is more familiar with it, and the next stage of the war will only become more intense. It is more appropriate to seek stability now than to advance aggressively.
"Okay----since you said so, I won't force you."
"However, I still have expectations for your future altered forms."
Green Dragon said, his voice returned to its usual lazy tone.
"There will be a chance."
Garos nodded slightly, then raised his head and looked at the sky covered by ashes and snowflakes.
"Let's talk about the next war."
he said.
Green Dragon nodded, then shook off the snow particles on his tail, and changed into a more comfortable lying position.
"Then let's get down to business."
"Nausir's counterattack has pushed Orc from the plains all the way back to the border of Cantum's hinterland. The Elf army is advancing faster than expected, one wave after another, leaving no chance to breathe."
"Blood Skull Tribe's remnants are retreating, and the other two tribes are also shrinking their defense lines."
"According to the current development trend, it won't take long for the encirclement of the other legions of the Nausir Empire to be completed. The legions on the northern front have already reached the eastern foot of the Redridge Mountains, and the legions on the western front are also moving back to the hinterland of Cantum."
"Then it will be a real war."
She paused and looked at Garos.
"How do you think Orc is going to respond?"
"Wash your neck and wait for death? Or are their Saint Realm finally ready to walk out of the tent?"
"The latter."
Garos answered without hesitation.
"However, the current situation is very unfavorable to them."
He continued, his eyes darkening. "They originally had three Saint Realm, Red Tide Chosen, Bone-Chewing Holy Fang, and the one who died under Elven Moon before. Compared with Nausir, they have a slight advantage at this level. Although Nausir's Immortal One is powerful, it is not superior in quantity."
"And this advantage no longer exists."
"After one Saint Realm died, if everything goes well, facing Nausir's counterattack, they should be more cautious than they are now, such as reducing the defense of the front and seeking to shrink."
"But strangely, they didn't do that."
Seroel followed his train of thought, "In other words, they may not think that they are at a disadvantage."
"Exactly."
Garos clicked the huge dragon head and looked in the direction occupied by the Kantum Empire.
The snow was falling more densely than before, the snowflakes changed from small particles to fragments the size of fingernails, and the wind became stronger.
"When there were three Saint Realm, none of them got much benefit from Nausir."
Garos said, "Nausir can occupy the richest area in Orotara, and its background is unfathomable."
"Elf's inheritance, magic, and legion's discipline are all incomparable to Cantum. Cantum's ability to seize land from them did not rely on the Saint Realm's level of suppression."
"It's because Rage Calamity." Seroel took over.
"Yes."
Garos nodded and said, "They invaded Nausir with Rage Calamity and caught Elf by surprise, so they took advantage of the chaos and tore off a few pieces of meat."
"However, when Nausir stood firm from the chaos, Cantum had no chance of winning."
"The Saint Realm that died before is proof. In a head-to-head confrontation, their Saint Realm is no stronger than Elf's Immortal One."
"Still, they still act like they can win."
"The Orcs of Cantum are fierce and aggressive, but they are not stupid. Where does this confidence come from?"
Seroel's expression became more serious.
She moved her tail from the side to the front of her body, pointing the tip of her tail towards the sky, making a gesture of pointing upwards.
"Well, don't forget what's on the Saint Realm.
Xin Red Iron Dragon also raised his head and looked at the sky covered by ashes and wind and snow, as if he could penetrate the clouds and see more distant existences.
"That Beast of Valor."
Bagchu, Kantum Empire Deity of faith.
He said, his voice gradually becoming more solemn. "Deity's eyes are spread across many worlds, and it is impossible to respond to all believers. However, Saint Realm is already the top believer under Deity----"
To a certain extent, Saint Realm is equivalent to following God, rather than being a simple believer.
They share Divine Authority, a part of Deity, which represents the will of Deity in Material Plane.
If you can go further, you will be promoted.
There is even a chance to become the real Deity.
"Beast of Valor, maybe you will watch this war."
"The fall of the Saint Realm, the collapse of the empire, and the massacre of believers are not enough for a Deity to end personally."
"However, if Orc's belief foundation is threatened, the outcome of this war may shake his belief territory in this Material Plane----"
The wind passed through the valley, carrying snowflakes and ashes.
Garos paused for a moment, looking deeply, and then spoke again, "There is no telling, this Beast of Valor will choose to come here."
Divine Descent.
A Deity comes to Material Plane in person, even if it is just an incarnation, it is enough to change the direction of the war.
True God is excluded by the rules of Material Plane and is bound by layers of restrictions.
But Deity also has his own way.
For example, part of the power is projected through the body of a believer, the altar of a holy place, or an ancient contract node.
However, no matter what method is adopted, a corresponding price must be paid.
"Who wins and loses in this war is not decided by the legions on the ground, nor by the Saint Realm and Immortal Realm."
"The final variable cannot be seen yet.
Hearing these words, Green Dragon nodded.
"You know exactly where the biggest risks are."
She stared at Garos, with a serious look in her eyes, and said, "So, I want to remind you one thing, no, a principle that you must abide by, never fall in love with war."
Red Iron Dragon grinned, revealing the sharp tips of his teeth.
"I know what's appropriate."
He said, "I cherish my life more than any other dragon. I fight when it's time to fight and leave when it's time to go. You don't need to worry about this."
"However, I am very happy that you can tell me this in person."
Seroel blinked, the seriousness in his eyes faded, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"Of course you should be happy. After all, you can't find another queen as good as me."
The two giant dragons lay side by side on the rock, looking at the gray sky and listening to the faint sound of horns in the distance. Snowflakes continued to fall, covering the earth with a thin layer of white.
Winter has come.
The snow fell harder on the southern foothills of the Redridge Mountains.
The strong wind poured out from the mountain pass, carrying the snowflakes and beating them on the rocks, falling densely, covering Southern Foothills Plain in white, and the snow layer became thicker and thicker.
A Orc station is embedded in this harsh land.
The camp here is completely different from Nausir's camp.
There is no neat square formation, only endless dark green tents, like thorn bushes bent by a snowstorm, crawling on the frozen soil.
Between the tents, Orc soldiers gathered around the campfire to keep warm, and the flames reflected their silent and anxious faces.
Their fangs flashed in the firelight, but they lacked the ferocity of the past.
And in the deepest part of the camp.
Backing against the northern cliff of the Mountain Range, a rough stone building Temple rises from the ground.
It does not have any exquisite decorations, only huge rocks that are directly cut out and piled up to form a huge square structure. A mixture of lime and animal blood is poured between the stone gaps. After solidification, it is harder than the rock itself, showing a dark red color.
Temple There is a huge battle flag hanging on the lintel in front.
The flag is painted with ocher and carbon powder to depict a broken bone dripping with blood.
The emblem of Bagchu.
Simple, rough, with a primitive sense of power.
Inside Temple, the light was dim, and the surrounding torches were burning quietly. The smell of burning grease mixed with the smell of Bloodshed filled the empty hall.
Two Saint Realm stood in front of the statue.
The one on the left is taller and burlier than the ordinary Orc. His exposed skin is dark red, as if it has been repeatedly burned by the sun and fire. From the collarbone to the cheekbones, red and black war colors are painted on every inch of the exposed skin.
His hair was also combed into locks, with tiny skull beads hanging from the ends.
He had no armor, his upper body was naked, and he only had a shoulder strap made of animal skin slung over his shoulder.
Red Tide Saint.
The one on the right is shorter and fatter than Red Tide Saint.
However, his short and fat body is more like a compressed cast iron ball, strong, heavy, and full of explosive power. Moreover, his limbs are disproportionately thick. His forearms are almost as thick as his thighs, and his finger joints are as thick as hammers.
The war paint was applied more densely, extending from the top of the head to the fingertips, forming a thick shell of color.
Gnawbone Saint.
At this time, there was no one else in Temple, only two Saint Realms, and the attendants and low-level Shamans were all sent outside the palace.
"The empire is in retreat."
Gnawbone Saint's voice buzzed and said, "From Blackstone Wasteland to the foothills of Redridge Mountain, we were retreating steadily."
"Elf are pressing closer and closer, Silver Tide are coming towards us."
"If this continues, it won't be long before their spears reach the door of this Temple. By then, there won't even be a place to pray, and they can only retreat to Theresia."
Because of Orc's over-development.
Theresia Continent, almost no grass can grow.
Unless they are forced into a desperate situation, it is absolutely impossible for the Orcs to retreat from Orotara. Theresia now has no soil for their survival.
Next to him, Red Tide Saint's face shows no emotion or anger.
He said in a low voice, "Saltoya is dead."
"My most trusted big Shaman, Blood Skull Tribe's pillar, I can feel it when her life is extinguished"
"Not just her, Blood Skull Tribe's legion was severely damaged. Countless of our people and warriors were burned to charcoal and burned by the fire breathed out by a dragon."
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracked, and a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.
"The worst thing is, I hear doubts in prayer."
"The warriors were still shouting the name of my god, but they began to question, fear, and began to apply the word invincible to their enemies."
"The empire's faith is wavering and cracks are appearing."
The entire Kantum Empire is formed with faith as the bond.
The Orc tribe is not naturally united, it can even be said to be very loose. It is the common belief that brings them together, forming a force that can compete with Nausir.
And the wavering of faith means that the foundation of the empire's existence is also shaken.
This is an extremely serious matter.
Gnawbone Saint made a rough guttural sound, like a Beast roaring, and said, "With Nausir's moon here, we can't beat their Immortal One."
"That damn moon, it shines on everything, and no surprise attack can escape it."
"If we fight, our end will not be better than Youkete. He is already lying in the cold ashes, and his body is completely cold."
Mentioning the dead Blacktooth Saint Realm, he paused and turned his eyes to Red Tide Saint.
Red Tide Saint also looked at him.
The eyes of the two Saint Realm met in the dim and rough Temple. Although the bad news kept coming, they did not see hesitation or avoidance in each other's eyes.
"Twilight makes true believers."
"When the day comes to an end and the light of false gods is swallowed up by the long night, only those who still kneel down in despair are worthy of the glory of our god."
Red Tide Saint said slowly Gnawbone Saint lowered his head and squeezed out a reply between his fangs.
At the same time, Red Tide Saint turned around and walked towards the depths of Temple.
A secret door slid open silently.
After the secret door, there is a narrow corridor that slopes downward, and at the end is a larger underground stone chamber.
In the center of the space is a huge circular altar.
The altar was hewn from a single boulder, with a circle of animal bones standing on the edge. Each bone was as thick as an arm, with ancient runes etched on it. In the center of the altar, stood a statue of a god.
Its face combines the characteristics of Orc and Beast.
It has a protruding muzzle, everted fangs, a flat and broad nose bridge, a high eyebrow arch, and giant deer-like antlers that bend and extend from the forehead to both sides. The bifurcated arcs are rough and domineering, and the ends of each bifurcation are as sharp as spears.
Stout, ferocious, and full of power.
And this is the statue of Beast of Valor.
The form of Deity is not static. In different worlds, it will adjust its image according to the perception of believers.
In the hearts of Cantum Orc who advocate strength and conquest, their god looks like this.
Rough, strong, ferocious, and invincible.
And at the foot of the statue, there was a corpse lying.
A body that was so mutilated that it was almost unrecognizable.
His chest was exploded from the inside by something, and his ribs rolled outwards, exposing the dry organs underneath. Bone stubble poked out from under the charred skin. Most of his face was destroyed. His left eye socket was empty, leaving only a charred hole.
Blacktooth Saint Realm, Youkete.
He is dead and his life is gone.
However, Red Tide Saint and Gnawbone Saint snatched back his remains.
At this time, Red Tide Saint walked to the edge of the altar and stopped.
He did not look at the broken body, but just raised his head and looked up at the face of the statue. The shadows wandered over its face, as if it came to life. Gnawbone Saint stopped beside him and raised his head as well.
Then, the two Saint Realm kneeled down on one knee at the same time, knocking their knees on the ground, making a dull sound.
They began to pray.
"Beast of Valor, the savage lord, the commander of all armies."
"Your servant died in battle at the hands of foreign enemies, and his flesh and blood has not yet returned to the earth."
"The warriors who served you turned to dust, the flames of faith swayed in the cold wind, the flags fell, the drums fell silent, and your kingdom on earth burned."
"We kneel before you, not praying for ourselves, not praying for the living, not praying for survival and defeat."
"We just pray for a chance."
Saint Realm's voices suddenly rose in pitch when they read the last sentence.
"Let the world witness your glory!"
"Let your enemies turn to dust with your roar!"
"The Supreme One who is invincible in a hundred battles."
"The dusk creates true believers, and the blood pours true loyalty."
"We pray for your attention, your response, and your ---- coming!"
Then, the altar lit up.
Starting from the bottom, along the countless runes, the dark light spreads upward little by little. It covers every inch of rock on the surface of the altar and converges towards the remains of Blacktooth Saint Realm.
The charred skin and flesh fell off first, falling off like a snake shedding its skin, revealing the new muscle fibers underneath.
They grow rapidly and cover bones and organs.
The broken fangs pushed out from the gums again, becoming longer, thicker, and more curved, and the charred face was filled with new flesh and blood.
Soon, as the last piece of skin healed, a breath awakened from the body.
In other words, it is a will.
Fierce, savage, hungry, and arrogant.
It permeated the altar without leaking out, suppressing the surrounding light and dimming it a bit, as if surrendering.
The chanting of the two Saint Realm has stopped.
They knelt down in front of the altar in a posture of surrender, with their foreheads almost touching the ground.
At the same time, the chest of the body rose and fell violently.
Then, he opened his eyes.
Then, time passed silently in the wind and snow.
One after another, Orc legions retreated into the shadow of the Redridge Mountains like a tide.
Nausir's legion came from the north step by step, and the silver array formed a vast ocean.
More Legendary Realm strong men rush to the front line from the Nausir hinterland. Elf mages, knights, and even... the ancient Immortal One gradually appear in the military formation.
Phew!
High in the sky, Red Iron Dragon flapped its wings and flew around in the wind and snow.
Snowflakes hit his scales, and then evaporated into water vapor. He looked up and looked into the distance, and could see the densely packed campfires in the Southern Foothills Plain and Orc positions in front of the Redridge Mountains.
"The legions of the Kantum Empire are gathering at Southern Foothills Plain and will no longer retreat."
"They are preparing for another all-out war."
Red Iron Dragon has deep eyes and deep thoughts in his heart.
Elf are better at fighting in complex terrains, such as forests, mountains, and hills. If Orc retreats to the Mountain Range, the situation will only get worse.
Red Iron Dragon raised his head.
On the horizon, Nausir's Moon, which has been hanging for a long time, has quietly changed color.
The silvery white faded away and turned red like blood.
Blood Moon was in the sky, dyeing the wind and snow in the sky red. The war between Cantum and Nausir has reached the most critical moment.