After the destruction of the Sand Palace, the Guardians of the Burning Sands made themselves scarce. The mighty monstrosities dove down back into the underground, to their own homes or to where they belong.

The alliance between the orcish horde, the Ereians, and the dark elves was finally put into the light. The Ereians and the orcish horde had their alliance still standing strong because of the agreement between Khao’khen and Adhalia, but the alliance with the dark elves was something that was still shaky.

The city of Ishtar, the capital city, and the heart of the Ereian kingdom was ravaged by the descents of the demonic swarms, was almost turned into complete rubble.

It was only the outer walls surrounding the entire city which was still almost completely intact, minus the damage done by the orcs in their initial charge, in order to take control of the walls, and start their conquest of the city.

The Ereian citizens were still wary of the presence of the non-human races that were present within their city, but their was nothing that they could do against it. Many of them had witnessed the orcs, trolls, ogres, and the dark elves dealing with the demons who had sought out their death and destruction.

They had no qualms with their presence within the city, but the wariness against something that was of a different from them was still present.

Thanks to the effort of the Drakhars and the previous defense garrison of the city, telling them that everything is going to be alright, that the new faces within the city didn’t mean them any harm, the takeover of the orcish horde went somewhat smoothly.

The voice of disagreement of their takeover of the city came from the nobles of the kingdom.

“Throw them all in the dungeon…” Khao’khen commanded in annoyance at the numerous nobles, who came to complain to Adhalia and Faynah, about the damages that was done to their properties in the previous chaos.

“Idiots…” Syvis commented as she coldly glared at the nobles who were being forcefully escorted by a group of Drakhars towards the dungeon, “I don’t know how such people became nobles of this kingdom. They are nothing but a headache.”

The rowdy nobles were put in chains by the people under the command of Adhalia. Many of them were given a sever beatdown by the Drakhars before they began to behave accordingly.

Many of the Ereian nobles thought that they could still take advantage of their noble status to pressure the new leader of the kingdom, but lo and behold, their noble status meant nothing to Khao’khen.

“According to the reports, many of the best commanders of the kingdom was sent away by that idiotic king to an impossible mission. They were given the task of invading the Kingdom of Alberna with minimal to almost no support at all,” Adhali had a frown etched on her face as she informed Khao’khen of the current situation of the kingdom, “I just hope that they are all still doing well,” she sighed.

She still had high hopes for the suicide army sent out by King Gyassi. Her confidence lay with the fact that the suicide army was under the leadership of Commander Nassor, and by all means, she knew that the old man was someone who would always be cautious in almost all situations.

“There was only a single town from here towards the borders with Alberna. I am sure that the border town is where many of Commander Nassor’s men would be stationed at. And if against all odds, they manage to push through the Albernan defense, they would be here,” Adhalia pointed at a fort which belonged to the Albernans, close to the border between the two kingdoms.

“I doubt that the old man would push through inside hostile territory without any sort of plan,” Faynah commented as she glance at the part on the map, pointed by Adhalia.

“Deploy runners and scouts to figure out, if they successfully manage to break through the border defense of the neighbouring kingdom. Or try to locate where such army is at now.” Khao’khen ordered.

Although he was not familiar with the man called Commander Nassor, he was certain that he was a wise man that wouldn’t risk everything without a certain percentage of success in whatever plans he had in mind. He was confident that the army under his leadership still existed.

A week had passed since the orcish horde and their allies claimed the city of Ishtar, yet the air remained heavy with suspicion and unease.

The Ereians, once proud and noble, now felt a sense of displacement within their own capital.

The streets of Ishtar bore the scars of the recent demonic invasion, with charred buildings and rubble-strewn pathways serving as stark reminders of the city’s near destruction.

While the outer walls stood firm, the inner districts told a different tale. The once-bustling marketplace lay in ruins, with only a few brave souls attempting to salvage what they could from the wreckage.

The presence of the orcs, trolls, ogres, and dark elves among the surviving Ereians created an atmosphere of tension and distrust.

Despite their assistance in driving out the demons, the non-human races were viewed with apprehension and unease. The Ereians struggled to reconcile their gratitude for the aid with their inherent wariness of the unfamiliar.

The orcish horde, for their part, maintained a stoic demeanor, going about their duties with an air of detachment. Their interactions with the Ereians were minimal, and their intentions remained a mystery.

The city’s defense garrison, alongside the Drakhars, worked tirelessly to maintain order and ease the tensions between the two groups. They patrolled the streets, ensuring the safety of all residents, regardless of race.

Yet, their efforts could only do so much to bridge the divide. The Ereians kept to themselves, their eyes betraying a mixture of fear and resentment as they watched the non-humans move through their city with an air of ownership.

The nobles, once a powerful force within the kingdom, had been reduced to little more than prisoners.

Those who dared to voice their discontent were swiftly dealt with, finding themselves in the dungeons or on the receiving end of a severe beating by the Drakhars. Their complaints fell on deaf ears, as Khao’khen and his allies focused on rebuilding and securing the city.

The orcish leader understood the importance of maintaining control, and the nobles’ protests were but a minor distraction. The true extent of the destruction within Ishtar became evident as the days passed.

The once-grand palaces and mansions of the Ereian nobility now lay in ruins, their elegant architecture reduced to little more than crumbling stones. The city’s infrastructure was in dire need of repair, with water and the almost non-existent sewage systems damaged beyond use.

The scarcity of resources loomed large, as the demonic invasion had destroyed most of the warehouses within the city, leaving the city’s inhabitants to rely on whatever provisions they could scavenge or barter for.

Despite the challenges, there were glimmers of hope within the ravaged city. Acts of kindness and camaraderie emerged, as strangers banded together to face their uncertain future.

The non-human races, though viewed with suspicion, extended aid to those in need, regardless of race or status. It was as if the city and its inhabitants were slowly healing, finding solace in the shared experience of survival.

This was the moment where two of the almost unknow nobles of the kingdom made themselves known to the residents of the capital.

The two remaining barons had sent out everything that they had within their territory that they could manage to help their fellow Ereians get back on their feet.

The lumber which were supposed to be used to build siege engines to attack the city were quickly repurposed. They were now being used to build shelters for those who needed it.

From the south, the baron, the surviving member of the Bulwarks of the Sand sent out food supplies to keep his fellows away from hunger. He had sent out all excess of his granaries towards the capital, everything that he doesn’t need at the moment, he had sent them all out.

He was trying his best to earn the favor of the orcish chieftain, for he knew that his very survival, his manhood, and his noble status all relies on his capability to be of some use to the chieftain.

Khao’khen can’t help but shake his head in amazement at the length that the baron was willing to do, in order to gain his favor. Well, he had no qualms about his efforts, if anything else, he approves of his efforts.

With supplies coming from the stabilized parts of the Ereian kingdom, and the fast travel of supplies because of the new road extending from the capital city of the orcs, Ishtar managed to tide through the recent difficulty.

Many things were pouring towards the ruined capital of Ereia, from the corners of its kingdom, and from the lands under the control of the orcs who were under the command of Khao’khen.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep