Chapter 919: Repelling the Attack
Heron knew all too well that this overly young Title Archmage standing before him had never cared about such things...
"Lord Difo, please leave at once, or I’ll have no choice but to call for Sanctuary arbitration."
Heron had just landed, his face darkening as he issued the order to Difo in a stiff, unfriendly tone.
Difo was about to retort, but seeing the chill in Heron's eyes, he seemed to recall something and responded with a cold sneer.
"Chairman Heron, you don’t need to say it—I’ll report this to the Sanctuary myself. To think you’d cooperate with such weaklings... you’ve truly disgraced the Black Tower Sanctuary!"
"And you, Leon Merlin, don’t think Heron’s help makes you worthy to stand here. Trash like your little faction should stick to scavenging after the rest of us. Now you dare show up here—hmph..."
Difo knew that with Heron present, nothing he wanted to do could possibly succeed. Anything more would only turn into a direct confrontation with Heron.
Watching Difo leave, Heron let out a faint sigh of relief, then quickly approached Leon Merlin, an uncharacteristic bitter smile on his face.
"Master Leon, I’m truly sorry. Difo was sent by the Black Tower Sanctuary as reinforcement. You know the situation—if we start fighting among ourselves now, things will get much worse."
That guy might be annoying, but he’s still one of the Black Tower Sanctuary’s own. I know he’s no match for you—I warned him ahead of time about your strength, but the idiot just wouldn’t listen.
He’s got status in the Sanctuary, or rather, his backing is a Heavenly-tier powerhouse. If he died here, my trouble would be no less than yours.
It’s very likely our whole plan would be thrown into chaos—even this entire campaign could be derailed.
Master Leon, don’t stoop to his level. I avoid him whenever I can, and if this weren’t such a critical moment, I’d have already asked Sanctuary to transfer him out. Having a strong mage helps, but if I had a choice...
Heron kept trying to explain to Leon, his bitter smile betraying a hint of real fear.
He was genuinely worried Leon might kill Difo right here in Sunset Fortress. Glancing at the surrounding legion mages, none of them looked afraid—each gripped their staff, ready.
Heron could tell at a glance: these legion mages might not be high-level, but not a single one looked concerned. Clearly, if a fight broke out, Difo would be the one to die...
After several minutes of Heron's desperate persuasion, Leon finally frowned and put away the Doombringer Staff. The legion mages didn’t say a word—just silently dispersed.
Seeing this, a cold sweat broke out on Heron's forehead.
Good thing I sensed Difo’s aura and rushed over in time. Otherwise, if a real fight broke out, that idiot would be joining his dead ancestors right about now...
Heron managed to talk Leon out of killing Difo, and breathed a little easier—but he still wasn’t at ease.
Here, I can still reason with Leon—if he says he’ll do something, he’ll do it. But that idiot Difo never listens to me. I warned him that Leon is far more terrifying than he thinks, not someone to treat like an ordinary Title Archmage... but he just wouldn’t believe it.
Forget it. When I get back, I’ll warn Difo again—if he pushes too far, Leon won’t be able to hold back and will end him for sure...
Damn it, why are people from the Sanctuary all so arrogant? Do they really think the Sanctuary is invincible? Do they all believe mages from there are stronger than anyone else outside...?
"Master Leon, if Difo comes looking for trouble again, please go easy on him. The situation now... sigh, I don’t even know what to say anymore..."
Heron couldn’t help but add one last plea, but halfway through, his face turned red and he trailed off.
Leon nodded lightly, accepting the request.
Heron hurried off to find Difo, warning him in a stern voice. Difo just sneered, not believing a word. Heron said nothing more, but could tell Difo at least realized he shouldn’t try anything reckless for now, so he relaxed a bit.
Over the next three days, Difo showed up at the Merlin Family Encampment every day to stir up trouble. Heron's warning kept him from acting directly, but he still spewed snide, provoking remarks nonstop.
The second time, Leon’s face turned pale after a few words, and he left at once—afraid he might lose control and kill the guy on the spot.
After that, Leon shut himself in his room, set up a soundproofing alchemy array, and even ordered his fifty legion mages to remain in closed cultivation and not leave.
Every time Difo showed up, he’d rant and leave, wanting to force Leon out directly but remembering Heron's warning: attacking an ally now would mean severe punishment. So Difo held back.
"Hmph, damn you, Leon Merlin. You think you can hide? Just wait—if you show your face again, I won’t let you off!"
Three days later, Heron sent someone to invite Leon to a meeting. Only then did Leon remove the soundproof array and step out of his room.
In the conference room, the top brass of the Black Tower and Cloudspire Tower were already seated, all with grim expressions.
Star Sage Joey’s brow was furrowed, worry in his eyes, while Heron looked just as troubled. The atmosphere was heavy.
Leon sat down, and only then did Heron finally speak.
"Master Leon, since you’re here, I’ll get straight to the point—the Blazeforge Orcs have assembled an army of ten thousand and are marching on Sunset Fortress."
The room erupted at those words. Leon’s brow furrowed—this was definitely not good news.
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Or rather, this was a truly grim piece of bad news.
"Everyone knows Sunset Fortress is in a uniquely strategic position—deep in Blazeforge Orc territory, surrounded by natural barriers. It’s the gateway to the heart of the Blazeforge Realm. For both our alliance and the orcs, it’s absolutely critical.
We knew the Blazeforge Orcs wouldn’t give up Sunset Fortress easily, but who could’ve guessed these magma-brained muscleheads would muster such a powerful force so quickly?
A full ten thousand elite troops are pressing in—any moment now, Sunset Fortress could be surrounded..."
Heron spoke gravely, and Leon’s expression grew just as serious.
Ten thousand elite orc soldiers—no single fortress could withstand that kind of force.
A ten-thousand strong Blazeforge Orc army, and these are no ordinary troops—their ranks are packed with powerhouses. Our three factions have plenty of elite mages, but they’re all top-tier specialists.
Now, the weakest left in Sunset Fortress are Archmages, with plenty of Title Archmages, and several Ninth-Rank Title Archmages too. Not to mention Joey and Heron, who’ve reached the very peak of Ninth-Rank Title Archmage.
But there’s a fatal flaw—there just aren’t enough of us...
All together, there are only a few hundred people in Sunset Fortress. Even if none are weak, it’s not enough.
After all, these people aren’t a real army. In wars this size, lone powerhouses don’t matter much—unless they’ve reached Heavenly-tier strength, their impact is minimal.
It’s mage legions that truly unleash their power in battles like this!
Some have noticed this, but few take it seriously. Leon knows full well that in large-scale campaigns, it’s mage legions—not lone Heavenly-tier experts—that decide the outcome.
When the Northend World was at its peak, every faction focused on training mage legions—not just individual powerhouses. The strength of a faction’s mage legion was the measure of its true power.
Here, there are a few hundred people—maybe a hundred Title Archmages among them—but they’re scattered and disorganized. Even standing together, they can’t achieve the results a true mage legion could.
Facing a ten-thousand-strong Blazeforge Orc army and their elite powerhouses, there’s almost no chance of victory.
A head-on fight means certain defeat; holding out can only buy a little time.
But if they’re surrounded, that’s the end—no way out at all...
If reinforcements can’t arrive, and Sunset Fortress falls again, all three factions will suffer heavy losses.
A positioning teleportation gate was built earlier, connecting to Radiance Fortress. But to save power and time, it’s a one-way gate—meant only to bring forces from Radiance Fortress here, not to escape.
Building a new teleportation gate would take even longer—and at times like this, only Cloudspire Tower or Black Tower’s Sanctuary could send reinforcements.
A cross-realm teleportation gate takes even more time—it’s simply too late.
By the time the gate is ready and Sanctuary reinforcements arrive, Sunset Fortress will have fallen several times over...
Heron just laid out the situation, and everyone immediately understood what they were up against.
A trace of worry crossed Joey’s face. He tapped the table with his finger and spoke in a deep, solemn voice.
"Now, we have only one choice: we must repel the Blazeforge Orcs’ assault! Sunset Fortress means everything to them. This is just their fastest army—if we’re surrounded, more orc legions will keep coming, and retreat will be our only option."
Joey spoke with determination, but no one responded—everyone was at a loss.
A few hundred against a ten-thousand-strong Blazeforge Orc army? And their powerhouses, too. Even with the most basic orc army setup, there’d be at least a few hundred level-30 elites!
There might even be as many top-tier powerhouses as us. Most importantly, in an army this size, there’ll definitely be orc shamans—and even priests—among them.