Chương 657: Chapter 656: Six Days

Whoosh! I pushed her back and took a step forward to finish her off when she opened her mouth and breathed out the fire. It's not a wide plume of fire that came out of her mouth, but a blast of thick fire that is barely a meter wide and fast. Her skill, Wide Plume, had advanced to Flame Trick—a control-type skill. It's not as versatile as Flame Control, but it gives her freedom to shape the fire. Her second skill, Breath Control, which was created by merging three skills, aids her in that and speeds up her attacks.

It would be very nasty if it hit me. The fire blast is powerful, but it also contains the aura. She could barely control it, but it is an aura, and any attack that contains it is dangerous. The Blitz Steps roared, and I moved just before fire was about to touch me, and I appeared to her left. She reacted fast despite being tired, with fire lighting under her feet and a flaming sword swiftly approaching me. Clang! Our blades clashed, and once more, she breathed out the fire.

It is now even more concentrated and faster than before. She is improving as she fights, making her attacks more powerful, versatile, and harder to dodge. Immediately, I moved back, before taking the left, avoiding the fire coming at me. Barb expected that as she released another breath. The Blitz Steps surged once more, and I dodged the flames before appearing behind her. She reacted fast, but she is tired. My blade was able to avoid her sword and stopped at her neck.

"Incredible! Simply incredible," I praised, still amazed even after over two hours of fighting.

"I had only read about such a transformation. It is the first time I've seen it."

"It was a surprise to me as well," she replied as she sat down on the stool that appeared behind her. She is so tired that she can barely stand. I had pushed her hard to train her and test her abilities. She had arrived more than a week ago and was training constantly. Everybody had been praising her abilities, and I could see why.

"The advancement has granted you extraordinary powers—there are few who could even come close to matching you," I said, unable to hide the twinge of envy her newfound abilities stirred in me.

"Even your dependence on liquor had lessened," I added, to which she nodded with a smile. The advancement had fixed many of the limitations of her class. It had also lessened the effects of her most significant limitation, the liquor. It is not like the class isn't without weaknesses, but she could deal with them.

"I have a request, Master Silver," she said.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I want to go to Panar," she stated. Immediately, this made me serious. There were six days before the protection expired, and Panar would be the most dangerous place. I already bit the bullet and evacuated the children to Greltheaven. It caused a minor panic and caused a lot of people to leave the city. We had expected that, but doing that was necessary. I can't let the children suffer as they did last time under the undead occupation. If they capture the city again, history will repeat itself.

There is a chance that it might happen. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Panar doesn't have the advantages that Greltheaven has, mainly the legacy. It will still play an instrumental part in the battle against the undead.

"It will be perilous," I replied.

"I know, but I want to be there for my friend," she said, and I opened my mouth to decline, but closed it. There is a space for the powerhouse on her level. I was going to send another High-Mage, but I could send her; she is no less powerful than the High Mage.

"If that's what you want," I agreed. I don't want to send Barb, but I will let her go since she wants to. Only in the fires of battle are the best warriors forged. … Half an hour later, I am in the carriage moving toward the city hall. Only six days remained, and the effects could already be seen. We could have kept quiet, but we are making big and small changes. Thank God. I had planned for it since the first battle. The significant changes had happened slowly enough; people didn't think about them much.

We also revealed that the undead might attack in a few days. I had done that several times in the past few months. So, there was no big panic, but one could see indecision and a little bit of alarm in people's eyes. The smart ones have seen what I am doing in Panar and the changes I am making here. Some of them had left the city. It didn't surprise me, though it made me sad. Soon, the carriage stopped at the city hall, and I got out.

"Do you have any messages?" I asked Lola as I sat down on my chair.

"Nothing important," she said and placed the cards before me. I read them all and asked a few more questions before focusing on the work. Soon, it was eleven when I got up and walked out of my office, reaching the conference room a minute later. Click! As I stepped into the conference room, everyone in their seats immediately rose to their feet. All of them are orcs.

"Lord Silver," they greeted.

"Sit down, everyone," I replied and sat down. Every important non-military orc is present—shamans, chieftains, and other powerful figures who command respect without wielding a sword. Since yesterday, I have been meeting with different city stakeholders to inform them of the issues and challenges we will be facing.

"The undead are coming. There is a very good chance that they will attack at the end of the week," I informed them. They had anticipated it, but the moment I confirmed it, their expressions turned grave.

"We are hearing their numbers will be millions?" asked Shaman Krema. I didn't disclose that information. The undead did; they may have yet to launch the physical attack, but they have also started waging the information war.

"Yes," I replied. There is no need to lie; I might have said something to soften if it had been anyone else, but with the Orcs. It is better to remain as straight as possible.

"How are our chances against them?" asked Chieftan Hron.

"Around 50% in Panar and around 75% in Greltheaven," I replied. It surprised them. Even Trik, who knows more than most, looks a little surprised.

"The chances are better than we had expected," said Shaman Krema.

"We have been preparing," I replied, with a smile. These numbers didn't come out of the blue. Stone and a few trusted ones who know our complete strategy have deduced them.

"It is without their chief right?" asked Hron. He meant the Great Mage; Lv. 40 Mage, the leader of the undead in Ashton Harber.

"Yes," I replied.

"But they won't be participating," I added. The merchants have their sharpened blades and are ready for those two. If they dared step out of the city, merchants would kill them.

"If they did?" he asked.

"Then zero in Panar and less than 10% in Greltheaven," I replied truthfully. The Great Mage is no trivial threat—especially one who commands the death element. And then there's the Knight: a true powerhouse, an aura master armed with a formidable array of aura-based techniques. If any one of them came. I might give up.

"The enemies are coming and want to destroy everything we have built here. I will not let them, I will fight till the last drop of blood in my veins,""But that is far from enough; I would need your help. I hope you all be with me, standing shoulder to shoulder against the undead," I said, looking at the assembly. Over 80% of the Orcs who participated in the first battle are still with the army, but some, like Krema and Hron had left it after a year. They are powerful.

Especially the shamans; I will need them when I face the undead.

"You will have our support. We will fight shoulder to shoulder with you against the enemy that comes for our home and everything we have built here." Replied Hron, bringing a smile to my face.

"With you all with me, the undead and every other enemy could forget ever conquering Greltheaven," I said. A few minutes later, I walked out of the conference room. Feeling more assured.

"There is a message from Chief Valentina; they have reached Dustorn Fortress," informed Zena. I sent her and Robin to Dustorn Fortress to see if we could get any help. This time, they will help us. The Marquess is preparing to leave the region, and it would reflect poorly on him if the cities here fell under enemy control. That's why he's heading to the mainland—to prevent exactly that. We had also prepared a generous offer.

I know I will have to face the undead eventually, but it would help me greatly if I could stop them from attacking for a month or two. The negotiating team from the Imperials will arrive at the Dustorn Fortress in the evening. Negotiations will take time, and so will moving his entire force and replacing it with others. Even if it went quickly, it won't be finished before a month.

"Anything from our neighbours?" I asked. I shouldn't hope, but I am hoping. For weeks, I have been sending alliance proposals to everyone, not only to the Nakar Baronies and Mirador Hold but also to Deerpond and Port Midlet. Willing to look past all the enmity, but there wasn't a favourable response. They know I will be the first to be attacked and don't want to help. They should understand. Once the undead finish with me, they will be next. The undead aren't going to stop until they capture the whole region.