Chapter 79: A Grand Promotion Ceremony

Chapter 79: The Grand Promotion Ceremony

"It's a bit draining!"

Li Wei, in his attempt to layer protective spells upon himself, had exhausted all his magical energy after only six castings.

The six layers of invisible armor brought an overwhelming sense of security.

Reluctantly, Li Wei decided to split the enchantment into two phases.

"Is this what they call the troubles of happiness?"

He chuckled softly.

Knowing that mastering a spell to perfection would bring immense rewards, he resolved to first perfect the Minor Fireball Spell.

Once perfected, it could directly evolve into the Intermediate Fireball Spell—saving him the tedious effort of leveling up the basic Fireball Spell separately. A true two birds, one stone.

Though capable of casting the first-tier Fireball Spell, Li Wei still relied most often on the zero-tier Minor Fireball.

The key was its astonishingly swift incantation time.

In many moments when there simply wasn’t time to summon a full fireball, a single flicker of minor flame could shift the tide of battle.

Elevating the Minor Fireball to first-tier wouldn't hinder his ability to use the original—it would only enhance it.

Likewise, even after advancing the Invisible Armor Spell to first-tier, he could still freely cast its perfected zero-tier version.

That morning, Li Wei delivered his manuscript for May to Jimmy.

"Ah, Mage Li Wei, you've arrived! Please, come in and sit," Gus greeted warmly, ushering him into the office.

Jimmy served tea for both of them.

Handing over the manuscript, Li Wei remarked casually, "The literary society seems unusually busy today."

Gus smiled. "Yes, Starfire Literary Society has just landed a major commission."

"Oh? What kind of commission?" Li Wei asked, curiosity piqued.

What grand project could a small publishing house possibly undertake?

Gus explained, "The city lord has entrusted us with publicizing the military achievements of Maple City’s army. Just recently, our vice president, Monis, returned from a special trip to the frontlines—he brought back invaluable firsthand reports."

Li Wei leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of intelligence?"

He had always been interested in events at the front. After all, Gu Ze was still out there, not yet returned.

He worried, occasionally sending messages to check on him.

Now that he possessed the Codex of the Magic Web, he no longer needed the magic steward as an intermediary. He could send messages directly through the codex.

Gu Ze, stationed at the front, could receive them by borrowing another’s codex.

As a first-rank formal mage, obtaining temporary access to a codex was no difficult task.

Gus rummaged through a drawer and placed several documents before Li Wei.

"These are the battle reports Monis brought back—almost entirely victories."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "I can read these?"

Gus gestured openly. "Of course. These will soon be printed as newspapers, spreading the great deeds of our city lord far and wide."

Hearing that, Li Wei picked them up without hesitation.

Skimming through, he discovered that Orin had led his forces from Hansha City all the way to Jiyeh City—nearly cutting across half the territory of the Markeil Kingdom.

The campaign record was astonishing.

Starting with merely three thousand troops, then merging with Ots’ force of over four thousand, their ranks had swelled steadily.

Growing stronger with every battle.

They absorbed scattered remnants of defeated units along the way, now numbering fifteen thousand strong.

They had driven the three invading orcish armies completely out of Markeil’s eastern territories.

Orin’s army remained undefeated, a stark contrast to the regular Markeil forces.

While Orin triumphed repeatedly, the royal army had been locked in stalemate with the orcish horde for two months—hardly retreating step by step, but undeniably on the defensive.

Otherwise, why issue a war conscription decree?

Now, many aspiring warriors across Markeil sought to join Orin’s banner.

To fight the orcs who had invaded their homeland.

Orin, the War Knight and Grand Marshal, had become a legend across the war-torn lands.

Seeing Li Wei set down the reports, Gus said, "The final battle is approaching."

"Monis says Grand Marshal Orin has gathered all frontline forces at Jiyeh City, preparing for a decisive clash with the main eastern army of the Orcish Kingdom."

"If we win this battle, the war may end sooner than expected."

Li Wei nodded, a quiet emotion stirring within.

He never imagined that in just over ten days since leaving the front, so much could change.

"Jiyeh City?"

A thought struck him. He remembered Jiyeh was the northernmost human settlement in the Markeil Kingdom.

He turned to Gus. "Do you have a map of the Markeil Kingdom?"

"Yes."

Gus pulled one from the bookshelf.

Li Wei unrolled it, tracing northward from Maple City. He saw that Orin’s campaign path had effectively split the kingdom in two—east and west.

And almost too perfectly, every city under Markeil’s rule now lay to the west.

He fell into contemplation.

Ever since learning of Ots’ ambition to build his own kingdom, the pieces began to fall into place.

This was coercion through isolation.

The army gathering around Orin now outnumbered the garrisons of any independent city by several fold.

Once the eastern orcish army was defeated,

On Orin’s return journey to Maple City, he could easily subdue the cities along the way.

First conquering the weaker ones, then severing the stronger cities from Markeil’s reach.

Thus, even if those city lords refused to submit to Ots, they would find no help from Markeil.

Ots would have all the time he needed—to bring each one to heel, one by one.

In the end, he would complete his plan of building a kingdom of his own.

Whether he could defeat the eastern army of the Orc Kingdom smoothly was the key.

Even more crucial was that Orin had to achieve an overwhelming victory.

The slightest sign of weakness would make it extremely difficult to subdue the remaining cities afterward.

Only by demonstrating invincible, crushing strength could he compel weaker city lords to submit without hesitation.

Li Wei lifted his head, gazing toward the distant sky beyond the window.

“What hidden cards do you still hold?”

Now, the orcish eastern army had grown to over forty thousand soldiers.

The three defeated orcish forces had all been absorbed into the ranks of this eastern legion.

The orcs now outnumbered humanity threefold.

Under such circumstances, achieving a decisive, overwhelming triumph seemed impossible.

Outside Eternal Night City, the frozen tundra was crowded with dense masses of soldiers.

Many troops arriving from the south shivered uncontrollably, unable to bear the bitter cold.

It was already May—nearly June—yet snow still fell outside the city, and the air remained piercingly frigid.

Orin stood among the crowd, delivering a pre-battle speech, activating the War Knight’s aura of battle fervor.

As the soldiers listened, their spirits stirred by the aura, their morale surged higher and higher, until even the cold was forgotten.

When Orin’s voice faded, every soldier raised their weapon high.

A thunderous roar erupted—“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

“Drive the orcs out!”

“Defend our homeland!”

…

Rumbling across the wind and snow, the orcish army appeared on the horizon.

Tens of thousands strong, their formation stretched endlessly.

“Advance!”

At Orin’s command, the entire army surged forward.

Mounted upon his dragon-blood warhorse, clad in Black Nether Armor, wielding a lance over two meters long, he rode at the heart of his people.

This time, he would fight not just among them—but lead the charge himself.

Before, he had stood within the ranks; now, everything was different.

In an instant, the two armies clashed.

Orin unleashed his full power, activating every aura.

Immediately, his soldiers felt surging strength, fear vanishing as they pressed forward without hesitation.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Bodies collided—flesh against flesh, steel against shield.

Screams, wails, roars, and shouts blended into chaos.

Orcs and humans entangled, indistinguishable in the fray.

Suddenly, every soul turned toward one point.

“Break!”

Orin bellowed, lance in hand, charging forward on horseback.

His battle qi coalesced into a colossal spear over thirty meters long, piercing through the orcs’ unbreakable defense.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Dozens of orcish soldiers were hurled into the air like leaves in a storm.

Orin tore open a breach; cavalry behind him swiftly widened the gap, splitting the orcish ranks, cutting their lines apart.

With a band of riders, Orin rampaged through the enemy formation—no one could stop him.

Witnessing this, every soldier believed, without doubt, that Orin would lead them to victory.

A collective faith gathered around him, forming a faint, shimmering aura.

Then—crash!

Over twenty monstrous beasts, seven to eight meters tall, emerged onto the battlefield.

They hurled boulders like siege engines, each strike deadly—even a first-rank warrior could die if struck.

Their arrival brought swift carnage to the human side.

Seeing this, Orin immediately spurred his mount toward the beasts stationed behind the orcish lines.

Along the way, orcish elites tried to ambush and kill him.

All were cut down.

“War Stomp!”

His steed leapt high, soaring over ten meters before crashing down upon one of the beasts.

Boom!

The dragon-blood horse’s iron hooves shattered the monster instantly.

The terrifying force crushed every orc within ten meters into pulp.

The soldiers erupted in cheers.

The aura around Orin thickened, growing more solid.

“Kill!”

Orin slaughtered beast after beast, until the orcish commander, terrified, ordered them withdrawn—and sent elite warriors to surround and destroy him.

Orin cut down several fourth-rank orcish prodigies.

Then, returning to his own lines, he led his army in tearing open the enemy formation once more.

Seven times he charged in. Seven times he broke out.

With his cavalry, he utterly shattered the orcs’ defensive line.

All who looked upon Orin now did so with pure reverence.

United as one.

Faith forges the soul of war!

The halo surrounding Orm coalesced into solid form.

He raised his dragon spear high, and the radiant aura swiftly expanded, engulfing the battlefield.

Every enemy felt a surge of terror.

Every ally’s morale soared to its peak!

"Forward!"

A soldier roared, charging at the foe, cleaving through an enemy’s neck with a single stroke.

Though pierced twice by enemy blades, he seemed untouched by pain—spinning, he split the orc who had stabbed him.

Even with an arm severed, he lunged forward, biting through another enemy’s throat with his teeth.

Not just one man—every warrior fought the same.

The orcs trembled at the sight before them.

The first dropped his weapon and fled.

Then panic burst like a breached dam, spreading uncontrollably.

More and more orcs turned and ran.

"Forward!"

Now it was the orcs fleeing—the humans in pursuit.

Just over a month ago, this very scene had played out upon this land, though then the roles had been reversed:

Humans fleeing, orcs hunting.

Now Orm led over ten thousand men in chasing down an orc legion four times their number.

Driving the orcs completely beyond the borders of the human empire.

Victory!

As the war ended, Orm ascended.

(End of Chapter)