In the southern military camp of the City of Fire Protection.

Smerkel lay sleepless through the night, tossing and turning in his bed as anxiety and self-doubt warred with visions of victory in his mind.

Just as dawn broke, Guard Captain Luqi entered the wooden cabin, immediately noticing Smerkel’s troubled state.

“Your Highness.”

“Do not doubt your abilities. We have never questioned that you will lead us to victory.”

Luqi led Prince Smerkel outside the camp, where soldiers were already training in the early morning light.

The soldiers snapped to attention as Prince Smerkel stepped into view, their backs straightening with pride.

Luqi brought Smerkel among the troops. The soldiers of the City of Fire Protection gazed upon their prince with fierce devotion, seeing in him the same towering strength and divine grace that had made his father legendary. The Proof of Blood Kinship gleamed on his arm, a symbol of his blessed destiny.

“Prince Smerkel!”

“Smerkel!”

“Smer-kel!”

The crowd’s voices thundered across the camp. Luqi turned to Smerkel.

“Do you hear their cheers?”

“Do you see your soldiers and subjects?”

“Everyone supports you, everyone trusts you.”

“So why can you not believe in yourself?”

Smerkel looked at his good friend Luqi, patting him on the shoulder.

Luqi bowed his head slightly, remembering his place despite their friendship.

Smerkel declared: “I will lead you all to victory.”

When the army of ten thousand departed, King Alpens’s figure appeared atop the city walls.

Though Smerkel could not make out his father’s expression, he felt his gaze following him.

The army arrived at Moonlight city to await the arrival of other forces.

Not only had the City of Fire Protection sent troops, but other city lords had brought their soldiers as well.

They had all sworn oaths to the Divine Blessed King, promising to send soldiers when war came.

All gathered here to form a combined force of nearly thirty thousand, with Prince Smerkel as their nominal commander.

Looking toward the Moonlight Jungle in the distance, Smerkel asked Guard Captain Luqi beside him.

“I remember you’re from Moonlight city, aren’t you?”

Luqi told Prince Smerkel: “Yes, I am the city lord’s son.”

Smerkel turned to look at the city, a place of great prosperity and abundance.

“Your family has built this place well.”

“As our poets sing in their verses, this place birthed the first seeds of our civilization,” Luqi said, his voice rich with pride. “It was here that the first Fire Guardian Alcina discovered the fern balls that changed everything.”

Smerkel nodded thoughtfully: “The fern balls truly transformed our people. Who would have thought the Moonlight Jungle, once called the forbidden land of death, would grant us the blessing of life?”

Smerkel turned his gaze back to the city.

“What a beautiful and prosperous city.”

“Indeed,” Luqi agreed solemnly. “That’s why I will protect this place at any cost, even with my life.”

His eyes met Smerkel’s with unwavering loyalty. “This is why we follow you to war, because we are protecting our homes and our loved ones.”

Smerkel remained silent, but gained a new understanding of war’s true meaning.

Prince Smerkel first sent scouts to gather information about the enemy while familiarizing himself with his army and its commanders.

A messenger burst into the command tent, bringing news that made Smerkel’s blood run cold.

Smerkel put down his pen, his expression shocked: “Fort Pence has fallen?”

The scout nodded: “Yes, Your Highness.”

“The Wing Demon tribe’s leader launched a surprise attack on Fort Pence, catching us completely unprepared.”

“The fortress lord could do nothing against the Wing Demons, though he fought bravely until the end.”

“By the time we arrived, the enemy had not only taken Fort Pence but was systematically capturing our stone fortresses as well.”

“The enemy has advanced along the hundred-mile Great Serpent Road. They will likely reach us within two days.”

Fort Pence was established over seventy years ago, an incredibly strong military fortress supported by dozens of stone fortresses. Over two thousand elite soldiers were stationed there, constantly guarding against herding tribe attacks.

Behind Fort Pence stretched the hundred-mile Great Serpent Road, narrow and treacherous.

Most of the stone fortresses were positioned along this road, blocking enemy advances while serving as early warning posts.

This natural barrier had made it difficult for herding tribes to raid southward.

They had protected the peace and stability of the Suinhor City-State.

As the once-mighty Stone Demon tribe gradually declined, another tribe called the Wing Demons rose rapidly to power.

Their leader was not only a third-rank ability user, but years ago their ancestors had discovered a Wing Demon egg from the Snake Mother’s era. Through difficult methods, they finally managed to cultivate offspring from this egg.

By the current generation, they possessed nearly ten Wing Demons, forming a formidable fighting force.

The Wing Demon tribe’s leader commanded a ten-person Wing Demon squad that could appear and disappear without trace, ranging freely across the central western plains.

A group of Wing Demons suddenly descended upon Fort Pence, catching everyone off guard and seizing control.

Even the stone fortresses meant for warning and defense could not send messages when faced with such beings.

If Smerkel hadn’t sent scouts ahead to assess the situation, they might still not know that the herding tribes were already advancing down the Great Serpent Road.

The city-state alliance army erupted in outrage, soldiers shouting and demanding revenge against the barbarians from the northwest.

“We must recapture Fort Pence!”

“Teach them a lesson! Leave none alive!”

“But herding tribe strongholds line the entire route. The battle line stretches over a hundred kilometers. They now hold the advantage. If we attack Fort Pence, we risk being cut off and trapped there.”

“Yes, we must stabilize the situation first.”

The loss of Fort Pence had severe consequences, causing heated arguments within the alliance army.

Smerkel stood in the temporary wooden camp, studying a map carved into a wooden board. This was his first military command since coming of age, and he faced an incredibly difficult situation.

As commander of the alliance forces, Smerkel needed to make a decision that would affect countless lives.

Should he heed the aggressive calls to recapture the city, or follow the conservative advice to stabilize their position?

Smerkel turned to address his commanders, and the arguments immediately ceased as all eyes turned to him.

“We cannot act hastily. Recapturing Fort Pence must wait for now.”

His voice carried the weight of command as he pointed to a spot on the map: “Our priority must be defending Great Serpent Town and the surrounding settlements. Though it’s a small town, its defenses are well established. It was once an important strategic position.”

“Only because we’ve had years of peace and the herding tribes haven’t chosen to invade via the Great Serpent Road has it been forgotten.”

“If we hold this position, the enemy won’t dare advance freely into our heartland.”

Through years of observing his father and listening to military discussions, Smerkel had absorbed the fundamental principles of warfare. His commanders offered additional guidance, serving as his advisory council.

Most importantly, Smerkel’s cautious nature had led him to send scouts ahead.

If they hadn’t learned of Fort Pence’s fall two days early, they would likely have lost not only the fortress and Great Serpent Road, but also several key defensive positions at the entrance.

Such a defeat would leave their entire northwestern territory defenseless, opening their cities and villages to the mercy of raiders. Countless innocent lives would hang in the balance.

The tribal warriors excelled at swift raids and guerrilla warfare. Once they penetrated deep into settled territory, rooting them out would prove nearly impossible.

Though some aggressive commanders disliked this conservative approach, they recognized the wisdom in Smerkel’s words.

The commanders exchanged glances, then turned as one to their young leader.

“You are our commander!”

“Of course we will follow your orders.”

The army sprang into action, marching swiftly toward Great Serpent Town as soon as the strategy took shape.

They moved with urgency, racing against time with the snake people of the herding tribes.

Whoever arrived first would gain the advantage.

Smerkel acted quickly. Upon reaching Great Serpent Town, his forces immediately secured key strategic positions. Soon after, they spotted the advancing herding tribe invasion force.

Wing Demons circled overhead, their hisses sending chills down spines.

“Hissss!”

Though winged, the Wing Demons’ bodies resembled a hybrid of insect and snake, their voices eerily snake-like.

Smerkel climbed to a high position, gazing up at the Wing Demons in the sky.

“The enemy approaches.”

Sure enough, columns of herding tribe soldiers soon appeared in the distance.

They wore leather armor and carried short swords, spears, and heavy hammers.

Most herding tribe soldiers drove Toothed Beasts as pack animals for supplies and food. Some snake people rode Land Dragons, their tails coiled around the beasts’ bodies as they approached Great Serpent Town.

Smerkel drew his bow and struck down several Land Dragon riders, earning thunderous cheers.

The crowd erupted again in passionate calls.

They shouted Prince Smerkel’s name.

The riderless Land Dragons bolted back toward their own lines, leaving their fallen masters behind.

When the herding tribe soldiers discovered that Great Serpent Town and surrounding settlements were heavily garrisoned, they let out angry cries.

Faced with arrows from the walls, they had no choice but to withdraw.

More troops continued gathering in the distant camp as various herding tribes of all sizes arrived, following the Wing Demon tribe leader’s orders.

Smerkel sensed the great battle approaching and ordered his city-state commanders to prepare.

He also sent messengers to other towns to coordinate with their garrison commanders, sharing battle plans developed with his veteran generals.

The herding tribes mobilized every warrior, bringing their entire tribes and beast herds when they raided.

This time they numbered nearly one hundred thousand.

Their warriors covered the plains as far as the eye could see, an endless tide of bodies and weapons stretching to the horizon.

With their Toothed Beast pack animals and Land Dragon cavalry, their charge made the ground itself thunder beneath them.

Smerkel stood atop Great Serpent Town’s walls and issued his command.

“Prepare for battle.”

The herding tribes struck first, sending waves of small Stone Demons forward.

These monsters stomped toward Great Serpent Town, intent on crushing everything within.

The city-state alliance’s ability users stood upon the walls, summoning Fire Demons with waves of their hands.

The Fire Demons swooped down, wrapping around the Stone Demons.

A wide river encircled Great Serpent Town. Any Stone Demons that tried crossing this moat while burning red-hot from the Fire Demons’ flames would shatter.

The city-state alliance’s battle experience showed as several charging Stone Demons, unable to stop in time, fell into the water and crumbled to pieces.

The remaining Stone Demons halted in fear, no longer daring to charge across the river.

Then the other herding tribe soldiers attacked.

These snake warriors swam across the moat and tried building simple bridges for the Stone Demons to cross.

Smerkel led an elite squad out to repeatedly destroy these bridges and kill the enemy warriors.

The clear river turned red with blood, littered with corpses.

The Wing Demon tribe leader circling above grew furious at the situation. First the Stone Demon charge had failed, then the bridge-builders suffered heavy losses. He decided he must stop Smerkel from leading these devastating counterattacks.

“Hissss!”

Wing Demons plunged from the sky, their powerful wing beats creating a storm that forced warriors below to shield their eyes.

A Wing Demon burst through the wind-whipped chaos straight at Prince Smerkel.

But Smerkel had anticipated the attack. The Proof of Blood Kinship on his arm flared to life.

Scale armor immediately covered Smerkel’s powerful frame as a blood-red cape billowed behind him.

He raised his spear high, piercing straight through the Wing Demon’s body.

The Wing Demon let out a shriek as divine power seeped into its wound.

The cursed energy doubled its pain, preventing any chance of healing.

But just as Prince Smerkel prepared to finish off the Wing Demon, a third-rank stone colossus emerged from another direction, striking at him.

Smerkel immediately raised his left shield to block.

The massive force knocked him to the ground, his spear flying from his grip.

The Wing Demon broke free of the spear and soared back into the sky.

Smerkel burst from the dust cloud, completely unharmed. With a wave of his hand, the lost spear reappeared in his grasp.

Smerkel’s spear transformed into a lance of flame while blood snakes dozens of meters long erupted from his shield to devour and bind enemies as he battled the stone colossus.

This was a third-rank Seal Spirit, a manifestation of the Wing Demon tribe leader’s power and will.

On the battlefield below, Smerkel fought this terrifying colossus with the power of the Blood Kinship set, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle.

“Ahhhh!”

Smerkel’s battle cry shook the air as he single-handedly fought the stone colossus while simultaneously driving back diving Wing Demons with expert spear work.

His display of divine might ignited the city-state forces’ fighting spirit. Arrows blackened the sky in continuous volleys from the walls.

The herding tribes’ warriors faltered before such power.

Fewer and fewer herding tribe soldiers dared cross the moat, leaving corpses scattered across the ground.

Suddenly, commotion erupted in the distance.

City-state reinforcements had arrived on schedule, striking the herding tribe army’s flanks.

Great Serpent Town’s gates opened and its drawbridge lowered.

The assault troops charged out according to plan, beginning their counterattack.

Smerkel’s divine might proved unstoppable. Blood snakes from his shield gripped the stone colossus while his spear pierced its head, destroying its core.

The stone colossus instantly collapsed into sand.

However, being merely a manifestation of the ability user’s power, it could reform once the user recovered their strength.

“Come on!”

“Face me!”

Smerkel stood upon the battlefield, roaring his challenge to the sky.

But the circling Wing Demons dared not descend despite his taunts, thoroughly intimidated by his power.

The wounded Wing Demon flew unsteadily, clearly affected by Smerkel’s curse-laden spear thrust.

“Your Highness!” Luqi called as he brought the war chariot to a stop beside Smerkel. “Your chariot awaits.”

Guard Captain Luqi had never strayed far from his prince’s side throughout the battle.

Smerkel grabbed his hand and leaped onto the chariot.

“Charge!”

Luqi drove the chariot as the two fought side by side, pursuing the enemy.

The blood-red cape billowed in the wind, its protection extending to cover Luqi as well.

Land Dragons pulled their chariot across the battlefield as they hunted down retreating herding tribe soldiers.

The herding tribe forces scattered in retreat, leaving countless bodies behind.

The Wing Demons circling above gradually disappeared into the clouds.

The Guard Captain looked across the blood-soaked battlefield and smiled at Smerkel. “Victory, Your Highness!”

“We have won.”

Smerkel nodded but added: “For now.”

He watched the cheering crowds and saw how their gazes upon him burned even brighter with admiration.

Having so many people trust him and fight alongside him stirred something within.

Suddenly the weight of kingship felt lighter on his shoulders. Here was the true meaning of leadership: protecting their homes and people while fighting shoulder to shoulder with loyal companions who looked to him with genuine devotion.

The battle had taught him crucial lessons. His dismissiveness toward the herding tribes vanished after witnessing the Wing Demons’ might.

Even with the Proof of Blood Kinship, these aerial sovereigns posed a formidable threat. Their power commanded respect.

The sight left an indelible impression: nearly one hundred thousand warriors surging forward with their beasts of war, a force that could overwhelm any unprepared defender.

Without the divine blessing of the Blood Progenitor, even he would have faltered before such might.

The Wing Demon tribe departed with their own revelation: divine power demanded caution. Some forces in this world lay beyond their ability to challenge directly.

Though the herding tribes suffered a severe defeat at Great Serpent Town, the battle had not crippled their forces.

They maintained their strength and refused to abandon their southern raids.

Such minor losses would not deter them from their goal.

They immediately adapted their strategy. Instead of direct confrontation, they dispersed their tribes across the northwestern region of Suinhor to strike from multiple directions.

They struck swiftly at weak points and vanished before retaliation could arrive.

Wing Demons circling high above tracked every movement of the Suinhor army, giving their raiders perfect intelligence.

Whenever the main army approached, the raiding parties would melt away, leaving the city-state alliance forces grasping at shadows.

Any smaller units sent in pursuit found themselves caught in deadly ambushes.

Fortunately, Guard Captain Luqi’s brilliant defense of the supply lines to Moonlight city maintained a steady flow of resources despite the herding tribes’ Land Dragon cavalry. Without this lifeline, they could not have endured.

Their defensive position also kept the raiders from penetrating deeper into Suinhor’s heartland, confining them to nearby areas.

Smerkel now fully grasped the Wing Demons’ true advantage. Beyond their aerial supremacy, their ability to scout from above gave the enemy perfect knowledge of every move.

Tension filled the halls of Great Serpent Town as city-state commanders gathered daily. Their strategy sessions dissolved into heated arguments without resolution.

“Cowardly barbarians!” A commander from the City of Fire Protection slammed the table, grief and rage burning in his eyes. His son had led a small unit from Great Serpent Town only to die at enemy hands.

“They won’t face us directly, only striking from shadows,” others agreed.

“We must recapture Fort Pence, or we’ll remain trapped in this defensive position,” someone revived the previous proposal.

The commanders pressured Prince Smerkel to commit to decisive battle, arguing they should risk everything to take Fort Pence rather than endure constant harassment.

But Prince Smerkel held firm, seemingly waiting for some opportunity.

Yet the pressure mounted daily.

Whispers of doubt about his leadership spread through the camp like poison.

Though troops from the City of Fire Protection remained largely loyal, most soldiers came from other cities. Some deliberately spread malicious rumors.

Smerkel knew certain factions hoped for his failure, even praying for his defeat.

He dispatched numerous scouts to gather information about the herding tribes’ movements.

One day, scouts returned with urgent news.

“Large enemy scouting parties have been spotted near Moonlight city.”

Smerkel studied the map, his finger hovering over Moonlight city as realization dawned.

Moonlight city served as their crucial supply hub and the wealthiest city in the northwest.

If cut off, their position would become precarious.

With Fort Pence and the Great Serpent Road blocking their front and their supply lines severed behind them, tens of thousands of troops would lose support. They would have no choice but to withdraw from Great Serpent Town.

The raiders could then plunder the entire northwest freely, even parading before the City of Fire Protection itself.

Even with Smerkel’s formidable combat power, they would run him in circles.

Like a foolish Toothed Beast led by its handler.

“We must save Moonlight city,” Smerkel declared, his voice firm with resolve.

But as soon as he spoke these words, he recognized the futility. What good would rushing to Moonlight city’s aid do?

The enemy would simply withdraw at the first sign of danger, perhaps even inflicting more casualties in the process.

It would solve nothing, leaving them forever reacting to enemy movements.

Smerkel felt the weight of command bearing down upon him.

His eyes swept the map once more, and suddenly he saw it.

Smerkel’s eyes lit up. “This is our opportunity.”

His finger traced the map to their target: Fort Pence.

He had hesitated to attack Fort Pence because the herding tribes could trap them in the Great Serpent Road, attacking from both ends.

His elite forces might be annihilated before even reaching Fort Pence.

Even with his personal strength, he could be surrounded and contained.

Armies needed food, and warriors needed rest.

But now, an opportunity presented itself.

The herding tribes planned to take Moonlight city and trap them, forcing a retreat that would expose weaknesses or at least create perfect raiding conditions.

But the city-state forces could turn this to their advantage.

Smerkel formulated a daring plan: use Moonlight city itself as bait, letting its splendor and stored wealth draw in the herding tribes’ main force.

Such a mighty city would require tens of thousands of their warriors to capture.

Meanwhile, he could strike at Fort Pence, cutting off the herding tribes’ retreat and trapping these mobile raiders.

Their fate was sealed. These raiders would find no path of escape.

This strategy came from studying his father’s campaigns. Alpens had once trapped the mighty Stone Demon tribe when they raided southern cities, cutting off their retreat.

Stranded on the plains with nowhere to flee, they were completely destroyed.

Smerkel hesitated, knowing he would risk an entire city.

Moreover, they could show no sign of their true purpose until Fort Pence was taken, or everything would fail.

Smerkel gathered his commanders to discuss the plan, sharing his thoughts.

Instantly, every commander rose to their feet.

“An excellent plan that minimizes our risk,” an elderly general looked at Smerkel with approval.

“I agree. Once we retake Fort Pence and the Great Serpent Road, these barbarians are finished,” the aggressive commanders grew excited at the prospect of finally taking offensive action.

“I’ll slaughter them all to avenge my son,” declared a father burning with hatred for the tribal snake people.

However, Royal Guard Captain Luqi stepped forward, his face darkening with dismay.

“Your Highness,” Luqi stepped forward, his voice filled with urgency. “You cannot make this decision.”

Luqi stared at Smerkel in disbelief: “Do you remember what we discussed?”

“We joined this war to protect our homes and loved ones. How can we sacrifice innocent civilians, an entire city’s population?”

Moonlight city was Luqi’s homeland. How could he watch his home become a sacrifice?

Smerkel lowered his head, unable to meet Luqi’s gaze.

“I’m not sacrificing them. This is just part of the strategy.”

“Once we recapture Fort Pence and the Great Serpent Road, we can immediately turn back to save Moonlight city.”

Smerkel knew his words rang hollow even as he spoke them.

True miracles defied the possible, and holding Moonlight city would require nothing less.

The other commanders hailed it as a brilliant plan, further proof of Smerkel’s superior bloodline. Moonlight city’s fate meant nothing to them, as they had no connection to it.

They wanted only victory, the death and defeat of these herding tribe barbarians.

“Your Highness, consider the time,” a commander interjected. “The herding tribes could take the city within a day.”

“No, half that time would suffice,” another added grimly.

Prince Smerkel wavered: “I…”

He felt deeply uneasy about this course of action, but the pressure of recent weeks weighed heavily. This seemed his only chance for victory.

Outside, frustration and anger spread like wildfire through the ranks.

The endless waiting, dwindling supplies, and constant harassment had pushed the troops to their breaking point.

“Let’s fight them head-on! Better to die than waste away here.”

“We need victory!”

“Why do we sit idle? We don’t need such a cowardly commander.”

“If I had divine-blessed power, I’d have fought them to the death already.”

The loudest voices of dissent rang with the accents of Sains City soldiers, but they weren’t alone in stirring unrest.

Beyond the command tent, voices thundered like a gathering storm.

Day by day, the soldiers’ unrest had grown, and even their gazes toward Smerkel now held doubt.

People whispered that though the prince possessed great power, his heart was weak.

Only victory after victory could prove a true commander.

These soldiers followed not just strength alone, but those who could wield that strength to lead them to triumph.

Smerkel finally understood that kingship was not about wielding absolute power.

A king bore immense pressure, facing choices between life and death.

The sacrifices demanded of a king defied imagination – they could mean the lives of countless civilians, the sacrifice of thousands.

Smerkel looked at Luqi, his dearest friend.

Drawing a deep breath, he spoke with resignation.

“I have no choice.”

“My friend and brother.”

“If we cannot achieve victory, we face only defeat.”

Smerkel’s grip tightened on the table’s edge. “And I absolutely cannot fail.”

Luqi knew he could not change the course of events. He gazed silently at Smerkel before speaking softly.

“Your Highness.”

“Please allow me to lead troops back to Moonlight city. Let me defend my homeland with my own hands.”

The commanders in the room immediately erupted in protest, distrusting the Guard Captain.

“We cannot let him leave. He might warn them and ruin our plans.”

“Bind him! He cannot be trusted.”

“Your Highness, think of the city-state!”

Luqi roared: “I will swear an oath before God!”

His eyes locked onto Smerkel’s, blazing red like a desperate beast.

Smerkel met Luqi’s gaze, his voice heavy with finality. “Take your city’s soldiers and go. But wait until the night after tomorrow.”

Luqi donned his battle helm and turned toward the door.

Smerkel called after him suddenly: “Once I take Fort Pence, I will come immediately to save you and Moonlight city. I swear it.”

Luqi departed without a word, his figure vanishing into the darkness.

Under Smerkel’s command, thirty thousand troops crossed the now lightly defended Great Serpent Road in a single day, no longer needing to worry about their rear being cut off.

As darkness fell, the city-state alliance army reached Fort Pence.

Prince Smerkel led from the front, charging onto the fortress walls as their vanguard.

He single-handedly fought Stone Demons and Fire Demons, turning Fort Pence into a river of blood like some god of war.

In Moonlight city, death and destruction mirrored their advance.

Prince Smerkel had recreated his father’s miraculous classic strategy, using wealthy Moonlight city as bait to draw enemy forces south, then blocking their retreat to trap them completely.

The herding tribes, stripped of their mobility, found themselves cornered like beasts in a trap.

Prince Smerkel held an emergency meeting in Fort Pence’s lord’s mansion, the floor still stained with fresh blood and bodies.

“I will go to aid Moonlight city.”

“You will remain to guard Fort Pence and establish defenses around it.”

“I have only one requirement.”

Smerkel’s voice turned cold. “Not a single person escapes through the Great Serpent Road.”

Prince Smerkel left twenty thousand men to hold Fort Pence and the Great Serpent Road, while he led ten thousand elite troops from the City of Fire Protection on a night march toward Moonlight city.

Night marches often scattered armies into chaos, leaving soldiers lost in darkness.

Yet Smerkel pressed on.

His flame-like cape served as a beacon, drawing his soldiers forward. These were troops from the City of Fire Protection, the most loyal followers of Alpens and himself.

When dawn came and they counted numbers, barely anyone had fallen behind.

Ten thousand strong, they burst from the Great Serpent Road.

Meanwhile, the herding tribe alliance army panicked upon learning that Fort Pence had fallen.

They began a frenzied retreat, hoping to escape Suinhor’s territory before the city-state forces could completely block their path back to the pastoral plains.

One force raced to save, the other fled in panic.

The tens of thousands of retreating herding tribe forces collided with the elite city-state troops emerging from the night march. Even the Wing Demon squad hadn’t expected Smerkel to attempt a night advance, making the encounter completely unexpected.

They had assumed he would be resting and repairing the captured city and stone fortresses.

The surprise left them completely vulnerable.

The city-state forces traveled light, while the herding tribes were burdened with carts full of captured women and plunder.

“Kill!”

Smerkel’s army engaged immediately upon sighting the enemy.

Rows of war chariots led the charge, their Land Dragons moving with deadly grace. Smerkel brandished his blood spear and raised his shield as he leaped from his chariot.

He plunged alone into the herding tribe ranks, instantly sowing chaos.

The herding tribe warriors had lost all stomach for battle. Their thoughts turned only to escape, ignoring their leaders’ commands as they clutched their stolen wealth.

They had already seized more wealth than they’d ever seen from Moonlight city.

Smerkel’s army cut through the herding tribe alliance like a blade. This glorious battle proved completely different from their previous game of cat and mouse.

Bodies carpeted the earth as the City of Fire Protection’s soldiers fought to exhaustion.

The herding tribes finally broke completely, their formations shattering as they fled in all directions.

Most fled toward the Great Serpent Road, while others, lost and separated from their army, scattered aimlessly.

Witnessing unprecedented victory, everyone burst into celebration.

“Victory!”

“Victory!”

“Victory!”

Even exhausted soldiers lying on the ground shouted themselves hoarse.

They knew this battle had brought true triumph.

Smerkel stood blood-soaked in the battle’s heart, his entire form stained crimson atop a mound of corpses.

A group of commanders approached and knelt respectfully before him.

An elderly general dared approach the god-like warrior prince. “A shame some escaped, Your Highness.”

Smerkel’s gaze hardened. “The Great Serpent Road will become their grave.”

After this battle, the herding tribes would lack both courage and ability to raid southward for at least a decade.

Moonlight city burned with raging flames, its streets nearly emptied of life.

Prince Smerkel advanced through the burning city with his army.

He had executed a perfect strategy, achieving what seemed impossible.

But fate granted no second miracle.

Moonlight city fell as expected, its people suffering the full fury of the herding tribes.

The tribal snake people swept through like a plague, leaving only ashes and death in their wake. Those few who survived had hidden in cellars and secret places, emerging to find their world destroyed.

Bodies littered the burning city.

Soldiers, adults, elderly, women, children.

Prince Smerkel’s mouth fell slightly open, his cheek muscles trembling.

His strategy had succeeded perfectly, unfolding exactly as planned.

Yet clearly, he had never truly understood the weight of his words about “following the plan,” for speaking such things had come too easily.

Seeing the reality before him left him stunned.

“I…”

The prince stood motionless, corpses and flames reflecting in his pupils as words failed him.

After a long silence, he asked the soldiers beside him.

“Did I achieve victory?”

No one answered, leaving only deathly silence.

Prince Smerkel walked down the great street until he suddenly encountered a horrifyingly familiar face.

A head impaled on a wooden spear, its body nowhere to be found.

“Luqi.”

Smerkel spoke his name.

Luqi had died brutally, his eyes still open in death.

Smerkel stepped forward but could not close those staring eyes.