Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 498 Bombed Everywhere, Never Returning, Offering a Plan
The ever-changing battlefield plunged the orcs into immense confusion and fear.

They've been fighting the humans for so long, through life and death, mountains of corpses and seas of blood, from the Crystal Plains all the way to the Northern Wasteland, and then back to the Crystal Plains again. They've been rivals for hundreds of years, and they know each other inside and out, but they've never encountered anything like this before.

For the orcs, the battlefield was completely out of control.

Goldenmane Reinhardt convened his third military meeting in just five hours.

The atmosphere in the council hall of the Orc King's Court was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The flickering firelight in the hall reflected on the deeply furrowed brows of the faces, but it could not dispel the profound confusion deep in their eyes.

How to do?
The enemy is fighting us, but we can't touch them at all. What should we do?
Prior to this, under the wise command and meticulous planning of His Majesty the Beast King, the orcs had prepared a complete battle plan.

This is the wasteland, the homeland of the orc tribes for hundreds of years. They know every mountain, every river, every grassland, and every hiding place.

As long as the enemy dares to come, those tribes that have received guidance from His Majesty the Beast King will pounce out from the shadows like a pack of wolves, tearing open the enemy's flesh and exposing their stinking entrails to the cold winds of the wasteland.

Meanwhile, the royal court had completed the general mobilization of its troops. The remaining three main legions and the elite forces gathered by various tribes were about to set up a huge pocket, using layers of harassment to lure the enemy in and encircle them from all sides.

Bit the enemy hard, smash it open, chew it up, and swallow it whole!
The kings, chieftains, leaders, and elders of all the tribes were all inspired to a fever pitch by His Majesty the Beast King's thunderous roar.

"Three hundred years ago, our ancestors defeated the invincible magic legion of the human race right here!"

"The mages of the Sky Empire once swept across the continent; their fireballs could burn entire fields, and their lightning chains could pierce through entire army formations. But our ancestors used the raging winds of the wasteland, the endless yellow sand, and relentless ambushes to drag those proud mages into the mire of death!"

"The bones of those pretty boys were crushed inch by inch, forming the immortal foundation of the Great Hall of Urgo, which still lies beneath our feet to this day!"

"Now, the enemy has sent me new foot pads!"

"Victory will surely belong to the great orcs!"

Then, the orcs roared and set off.

Only a few hours have passed? The sound still echoes in my ears, but everything has changed!

The enemy didn't give the orcs even the slightest chance to make contact.

Bombing, magical bombing, endless magical bombing.

The fortress was bombed, the fortress was bombed, and the defensive nodes on the wasteland were repeatedly bombed.

The supply base was bombed, the transportation hub was bombed, the corps camp was bombed, and the mobile force that was attacking the desolate Stone Gate was bombed to pieces.

Even the mount breeding bases, which had hardly any orcs, were subjected to relentless bombing by the enemy. In response, the ferocious frost wolf pack swept across the plains, turning several nearby orc tribes into piles of bones.

The enemy's "magical chariots" flew so freely in the sky that even the highest-flying thunderbirds, carrying the farthest-shooting orcs, could not touch them at all.

The defense was a complete mess, and as for the ambush, it was an utter joke.

Elite warriors of the Stormwind Legion, one of the four major orc legions, were ordered to ambush the enemy in the Valley of Broken Souls, eighty kilometers north of the Savage Stone Gate.

This place is characterized by high mountains, dense forests, steep cliffs, and numerous caves, making it easy to hide a whole team of beastmen. Even if the enemy sets the mountain on fire, they won't be afraid.

If the enemy dares to pass through the valley, they will be met with a fierce attack from the Storm Legion. If the enemy ignores this and goes around, this sharp dagger can launch a surprise attack from behind at any time.

This mountain was once hated to the bone by the mages and legions of the heavens, yet they were helpless against it, which is why it was called the Valley of Broken Souls.

What a wonderful name!
But the Storm Legion's ambush was met with relentless bombardment from the enemy.

The enemy's aerial behemoths seemed to be able to see through rock strata; their heavy bunker buster bombs, weighing several tons, directly blasted the caves in the mountain. Perhaps not many were killed, but the vast majority of the soldiers were buried inside the mountain.

How did they know where the troops were hiding?
Is there a spy?
But the entire Stormwind Legion's ambush force is gone. What was this spy after?

Over the next period of time, these questions grew increasingly prominent, as the same scenes played out simultaneously in various corners of the wasteland.

The Frost Thunder Legion, which had been lying in ambush at Broken Blade Ridge, was blown to pieces.

The Misty Legion, which infiltrated "Black Wind Ridge," arrived under the cover of night, but before they could complete their assembly, they were scattered by aerial bombs falling from the sky.

……

This doesn't seem to be a spy issue anymore!

But how do we fight this war?
Faced with the Beast King's fury, the orc war lords were thrown into chaos, racking their brains and offering all sorts of suggestions.

Some generals suggested scattering all the orc armies as much as possible and ambushing them in every corner of the wasteland.

One hides in the grass, one crouches behind a rock, one lies prone in the sandpit. No matter how powerful the enemy's "magic" is, there will always be times when they can't blast their way through.

That makes some sense... but what a load of rubbish!

What kind of willpower? What kind of combat skills? Who can guarantee that such a force won't collapse immediately?

Even if they manage to hold out until the enemy's main force arrives, would these two or three small, hiding beasts dare to launch an attack?

Other chieftains believed that the entire army should be mobilized, regardless of casualties or cost, to find the enemy's magic legion's camp and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

This person even brought up Brox, seemingly trying to exonerate the warlord whose fate is currently unknown.

"Brookes' previous tactics were fine; he just couldn't break through the enemy's blockade of warriors and marksmen."

"We should fight like him, send more troops to charge, and we will surely break through eventually."

They talk a big game, but who's going to lead the charge?

Of course, for every one eager for battle, there is another who cowers in fear.

Those who had fought against Han Hai before were probably much more rational because they had actually fought Han Hai head-on.

Since the rise of the Vast Ocean, not counting small-scale raids and raids, a total of three beastmen commanders have led large armies southward.

"Skullbreaker" Groom, this meritorious commander, needs no introduction. He suffered a crushing defeat, his entire army was wiped out, and he was publicly tried and executed by Han Hai. The "Skullbreaker" sedan chair is still on display in Han Hai's exhibition hall, and it still contributes a lot of ticket revenue to Han Hai every year.

Goldenmane Igor, this general of the Southern Expedition, won a glorious victory against the Green Pine Kingdom, but suffered considerable losses against the Vast Sea. The death of his trusted and beloved general, Rais Bloodfang, can be considered the fuse that later ignited the Bloodfang clan's involvement in the Twilight Tower operation.

But Igor was very clear-headed.

His advice was: retreat, keep retreating!

Recall all the legions and dismantle and hide the tribes.

"All intelligence indicates that the enemy's magic legion is camped outside the wasteland, in the White Deer Plain, or even possibly deep within the White Deer Plain."

"If we launch a full-scale attack, not to mention how many tribal warriors will die along the way, even if we reach the White Deer Plain, are we guaranteed to defeat the enemy's garrison?"

"Even if we win, can we guarantee the annihilation of the enemy's magic army?"

"Alright, even if we win all the battles and wipe out the enemy's magic legion, how many warriors will we have left?"

"What if another enemy comes along, or what if Han Hai launches another attack like this next year?"

General Igor shook his somewhat dry and split mane and gave his deeply humiliating suggestion.

"The enemy's magical legion also needs time to operate. As can be seen from the attacks they have suffered in various places, the further north they go, the longer their distance and the longer the intervals between their operations."

“Activating such a level of ‘divine punishment’ cannot be done without a cost to the Han Hai. The fewer deaths and less bloodshed we suffer, the less worthwhile the cost to the enemy will seem, and only then will they consider stopping!”

"Hide! Hide north! Hide until the vast ocean can no longer sustain the losses, and perhaps we can find a turning point on the battlefield!"

Another one was Sargeras, the strategist who was the first to make contact with the human race. Although his army suffered heavy casualties, it "achieved countless victories".

Orcs weren't all fools. Although Sargeris enjoyed a period of glory with the various human noble badges and battle banners he captured, this strategist was gradually marginalized.

On the surface, everyone is polite and welcoming with smiles, but behind their backs, they always spit out a word of disdain: "What a piece of trash!"

However, with the passage of time, looking back now, Sargeras Bloodhowl is the one with the greatest achievements in all the battles against the Vast Ocean.

At that time, Han Hai was still very young. Sagris firmly suppressed Tianshuang City and hammered it for several months. Han Hai's main harassment squad also suffered considerable losses.

As the Han Hai grew stronger, Sagris's reputation also improved day by day, much like the Chairman of the Standing Committee who retreated to Taiwan, relying on the opponent's achievements to ultimately prove himself—it was not that our army was incompetent, but that the enemy was too powerful!

All the princes and warlords turned their expectant gazes toward Sagris.

Then, they quickly realized that this once-powerful Bloodhowl general, whose wisdom and strategy were unparalleled, seemed to be useless now.

Sagris, his back hunched, moved his lips a few times before managing to utter a few words with difficulty: "Your Majesty, let's...let's make peace..."

The moment the word "peace negotiation" was uttered, the air in the entire council hall seemed to freeze.

Sargeris was still stammering as he explained, "In the Vast Ocean, orcs aren't really considered mortal enemies. In the Vast Ocean, hostility towards orcish bloodlines is far less than in other countries..."

"Their lord's wife is of mixed orcish descent."

“How about we try to talk…” A statue the size of a fist flew out, whistling through the air, and slammed heavily onto Sargeris’s head.

With a muffled thud, blood gushed out instantly, staining his sideburns red.

The Beast King attacked in a fit of rage, and Sargeris dared not use his strength to resist. He could only take the blow with his head and then kneel down without uttering a sound.

In that instant, the strategist's mind flashed with the thought: "Ig also said we can't fight, so why don't you smash him? Just because he's from your Golden Mane family, right!"

"Damn it, all they know how to do is bully outsiders..."

The scene fell into a long silence again. After a long while, Seral, the chief shaman who served the Beast God, let out a long sigh.

As one of the three prominent figures of the orc race, he sat to the side of the Beast King's throne. The old man's face was covered with white bone powder and intricate totems. He held a wooden scepter symbolizing shamanic authority in his hand, making him look both sacred and eerie.

A complex light flickered in his cloudy eyes.

As the spiritual leader of the orcs, how could he not understand what was going on?

Ig is right, and Sargeris is also correct. What the orcs need to do now, whether they run or stay, is to first get past the "divine punishment" summoned by the Vast Ocean.

The more energy you conserve, the more opportunities you'll have in the future.

However, while others can cower, hide, or even kneel, the Emperor on the throne cannot.

No matter how good the Golden Mane Clan's historical record or how high its prestige, it cannot withstand repeated attrition. If this time it cannot end with a victory, or at least a respectable local victory, the decline of the Golden Mane Clan will almost certainly be the result of the next election for Beast King.

To be fair, the chief shaman would prefer that the Goldenmane clan continue to serve as the Beast King.

In general, the Lion and Tiger tribes possess exceptional battlefield intuition, always able to sense hidden dangers first. Among the major powerful tribes of the orcs, they are far superior to tribes like the Bear and Bull tribes, whose minds are relatively less sharp.

Some ethnic groups may be good at fighting, but they only know how to recklessly charge in!
Specifically, the lions and tigers are further divided. The lions are clearly stronger than the tigers in teamwork and command. The Golden Mane lineage is able to lead the orcs to victory after victory, and it is not just luck that matters.

Privately speaking, although the Beast King Reinhardt, the Great Shaman Seral, and the Great Witch Doctor Mutans are not exactly close, and even have some wariness and suspicion towards each other, they have formed a balanced symbiotic relationship of interests after cooperating for so long.

If a beast king from another race were to take the throne, the existing power structure would be disrupted, and it's uncertain who would become the chief.

What if the new emperor has a shaman he's on good terms with?
So, despite his utter helplessness and reluctance, seeing the Beast King Reinhardt's ashen face, Seral had no choice but to break the silence in the hall and come out to relieve the tension.

He coughed softly, drawing everyone's attention, and then slowly began to speak, his voice melodious and resonant, as if he were reciting a sacrificial prayer.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we could listen to the suggestions of the 'No Return' clan!"

“‘Never to return’?” Reinhardt frowned. “Those humans?”

"Exactly."

Seral nodded slightly. "Although they... come from humble backgrounds, their loyalty to His Majesty is beyond question. Moreover, they have a deeper understanding of humanity, and perhaps some of their suggestions are worth considering."

Reinhardt paused for a moment, then waved his paw. "Let them in."

Soon, the representative of the "Never Return" human race was summoned to the scene.

The term "not returning" actually refers to the human race that has completely surrendered to the orcs. Some of them are deserters, some are traitors, some are criminals who couldn't make it in the human race, and some are spineless cowards who surrendered to the orcs to save their lives after being captured.

The most successful among them were the nobles, who were human nobles who were squeezed out in the political struggles of human nations.

But no matter how well they do, they are still inferior to orcs.

Humans viewed them as traitors, and orcs considered them unreliable. Despite their great contributions to the establishment of the orcish empire, in the orcish political system, the "No Return" were nothing more than a piece of toilet paper.

They wipe it when they need it, and discard it like worn-out shoes when they don't. They don't even have the right to listen in on the main hall.

There's nothing humans can do about it.

They're all "not coming back," so what else can they do but continue to live under the guise of being puppet soldiers?

They can only try to preserve their precarious ecological niche by becoming more resolute, ruthless, and brutal in their anti-human resistance.

Reinhardt didn't even bother with a greeting, leaning back on his throne and asking directly, "I heard from High Shaman Seral that you have some ideas?"

"Yes!"

The black-robed mage prostrated himself on the ground, his voice slightly hoarse: "Supreme Beast King, we offer you our sincerest respect..."

"Let's get down to business!"

"Yes, Your Majesty the Supreme Beast King... We... we've been planning this repeatedly these past few days, and we have... we have an idea!"

The black-robed representative of "No Return" is named Leo Leon, and he is somewhat related to the Orio Ray family, which is the family of Li Zelin, the factory manager.

At this moment, the loyal Oriore family has been wiped out, leaving only a ghost, gazing lonely towards the north.

The Leo family, on the other hand, has branched out and has over a thousand direct descendants, with several even marrying orcs and having mixed-race offspring.

In a few years, perhaps they will be able to wash away the filth of human blood from their bodies and merge into the great orcs.

Choices determine destiny; the choices of our ancestors determine the destiny of their descendants.

Li Zelin's ancestors chose loyalty, and as a result, their line ended in extinction. His ancestors chose... pragmatism, and as a result, their family prospered.

Therefore, Leo Lyon's choice now is without hesitation. Since he's already kneeling, he might as well kneel even more thoroughly.

"Your Majesty, that Lord of the Vast Ocean has a great weakness."

"Oh?"

"He was born into a minor pioneering lord family and lacked the power of a family behind him, so he had to desperately win people's hearts and recruit strangers to serve him!"

"In order to gain the favor of these complete strangers, he had to maintain a hypocritical demeanor!"

Reinhardt narrowed his eyes slightly: "Explain in more detail."

“Yes.” Lyon took a deep breath. “That Lord Chen Mo is known among the humans for his ‘benevolence.’ He treats the civilians in his territory very well, never mistreats prisoners, and even forbids his army from looting.”

"The merchants, farmers, commoners, and slaves all worshipped him as a saint."

“I know that!” Reinhardt said, sounding a bit annoyed. “He’s a guy who’s very weak when it comes to the lower classes, but we’re his enemy now. What’s the point of you saying all this?”

“Your Majesty, because he wants to maintain this mask of ‘benevolence,’ it means that he has many concerns when he does things.”

"For example... he would be timid and hesitant when facing human commoners."

Reinhardt's eyes lit up slightly.

"what do you mean……"

"Great Beast King, how many human slaves are there on the wasteland?"

Lyon's voice gradually became smoother, "Any tribe can produce thousands or even tens of thousands of human slaves. These slaves are usually used as tools for farming, herding, and hard labor, but now they can also be used as weapons or shields."

"Correct!"

A prince with a golden mane jumped out: "The divine punishment burns the military outposts of various tribes, but never the thatched huts of those lowly people. I thought it was because the lowly people were not worth using magic on."

"I see!"

"Your Highness has a vision!" Lyon quickly chimed in, his voice growing faster and faster, a fanatical glint in his eyes: "Infiltrate the chieftain's tent and barracks with commoners, drive slaves to charge with the legion, and make humans the meat shields for the orcs."

"If they hesitate to use magic, we can protect the camp from within and approach the enemy from the outside!"

"If they bombard indiscriminately, at least they can deplete the enemy's magic and leave more warriors for the throne!"

"The best-case scenario would be if they actually clung to this ridiculous 'mercy' and allowed our legions to get close. Once close combat begins, what will those weak humans use to withstand the claws and battle axes of our orcs?"

It can only be said that evil people in the world are always similar. Even across a vast starry sky, evil people on the blue planet and among the stars resonate with each other at this moment.

"very good!"

"very good!"

Reinhardt stood up, and the shadow of his massive body completely enveloped Leon, who was lying on the ground, causing the human to tremble involuntarily—a fear etched into his very bones.

"I will reward your loyalty!"

"This plan will be carried out by you, 'No Return'!"

Don't let me down!

(End of this chapter)