Chapter 65: Sudden Attack

The storm of arrows raced toward them, enough to reduce ordinary invaders into pincushions before they ever reached the ground.

​Yet Cassian showed no intention of dodging. His expression remained unnaturally calm, his eyes fixed on the settlement below as the Nightfang Wydra continued its steep descent, diving straight into the incoming barrage.

​Not a trace of fear showed on his face.

​Then, mana erupted.

​The SSS Grade Death speaker seated behind him finally moved, a cold, melodious voice echoing through the sky:

​"[Bone Protection]"

​The air trembled violently as countless motes of cerulean light coalesced above them.

​An enormous rib cage manifested around the trio, a construct so vast that the structure alone was larger than most buildings.

The ancient, monstrous ribs were as thick as ancient tree trunks, curving around them like an impenetrable fortress. One glance was enough to tell that the remains belonged to a titan of terrifying proportions.

​A translucent cerulean membrane stretched between the ribs, transforming the ethereal projection into a massive, impenetrable shield.

​The storm of arrows arrived.

​CLANG!

​CLANG!

​CLANG!

​Thousands of steel-tipped shafts struck the astral construct, but not a single one penetrated. The projectiles shattered, deflected, or bounced harmlessly away into the abyss.

​The skeletal meteor continued its descent, untouched, unstoppable, and hurtling straight for the defensive line.

​The Orc archer commander’s eyes bulged in pure panic. "TAKE COVER!"

​Absolute chaos erupted through the ranks. Orcs dove blindly aside, rolling behind fortifications or abandoning their firing positions entirely, while the veteran warriors fled from the impact zone.

​A heartbeat later—

​BOOOOOOM!

​The rib cage slammed directly into the settlement wall.

​The earth shook violently as a massive shockwave exploded outward. Stone shattered, bone barricades splintered into dust, and wooden watchtowers collapsed like toothpicks as an entire hundred-meter section of the outer wall simply ceased to exist.

​A towering cloud of dust erupted skyward, swallowing the perimeter whole while agonized screams echoed across the valley.

​Silence descended upon the crater.

Suddenly red streaks of raw mana shot across the sky in rapid succession as several powerful figures arrived at the edge of the destruction: Chief Morghanna, the tribal elders, the unit commanders, and the massive four-meter behemoth, Grukhar, standing at her flank.

​All of them stared at the utter ruin before them.

​As the dust slowly settled, a hundred-meter gap in the wall was revealed, a mass grave littered with shattered stone, broken barricades, and dozens of crushed Orc corpses.

​The head shaman’s face twisted in uncontrollable fury, veins bulging wildly across his thick green neck.

"WHO DARES ATTACK THE KRAGMAR DOMINION?!"

​His thunderous roar echoed across the settlement, and the remaining Orc warriors immediately erupted into bloodthirsty growls, drawing weapons as a wave of crimson intent saturated the air.

​Morghanna ignored her shouting council. Her crimson eyes remained fixed on the center of the dust cloud, where three pairs of glowing eyes stared back at her: two burning blue, and one cold crimson.

​Her fists slowly clenched, a suffocating aura leaking from her frame.

​Then, a voice echoed from within the clearing:

​"[Lord’s Call]"

​The world trembled as a tide of raw mana exploded outward, an ocean of infinite energy so absurd that several tribal elders instinctively widened their eyes in disbelief.

​The atmospheric pressure alone blasted away the remaining dust, revealing Cassian sitting calmly atop the Nightfang Wydra, with Nyxara appearing at his side, her violet eyes glowing coldly beneath her dark hood.

​Then, the mass summoning began.

​Summoning circles illuminated the crater as brilliant cerulean light flooded the ruined gates.

​Skeleton warriors marched out from the light in perfect formation, Elite Soldiers emerged carrying Elite-Grade armaments, and Special Units stepped forward in terrifying succession.

​Death Chanters, Death Speakers, Assassins, Knights, Tanks, Archers, and SSS-Grade Commanders, an entire, fully optimized legion materialized within seconds, pouring into the Kragmar Dominion like an unstoppable tide of death.

​Thousands of blue soul flames ignited across the ruined perimeter, burning brilliantly beneath the emerald sun.

​The atmosphere shifted completely.

​The Orcs stared in disbelief. The elders stood frozen in shock.

​Even Morghanna’s expression hardened into pure iron.

​Because this was no scouting party, no probing attack, and no reckless raid.

​Cassian had come personally, and he had brought his entire war machine with him.

....

Morghanna was genuinely taken aback.

​Not by the confidence of the Starbound Intruder, nor by the fact that he had personally abandoned the safety of his barrier.

​No. It was the sheer size and presence of the force standing behind him.

​Of all the Starbound Intruders she had encountered throughout her life, this was by far the most formidable army she had ever seen.

The previous ones had been pathetic in comparison, most spent their seven days hiding, struggling, and desperately scraping together a few followers.

At best, thirty. Perhaps forty, if they were exceptionally fortunate.

​Yet before her stood an absolute abnormality: nearly three thousand summons, and none of them looked weak.

​Even the ordinary frontline soldiers radiated an oppressive, battle-tested aura, while the Commanders standing at the vanguard were exponentially worse.

​Yet among them all, Morghanna’s gaze lingered on the shadow elf standing beside the one she knew to be the Lord.

​For some strange reason, Morghanna could feel an unmistakable, burning hostility emanating from her.

Not simple bloodlust, nor ordinary killing intent, but something far deeper, something personal.

​The champion’s violet eyes remained fixed on the Orcs as though staring at worthless prey.

​Morghanna’s brows furrowed.

​At that moment, a loud, disdainful snort broke the fragile silence.

​One of the council elders stepped forward, an Orc Berserker whose massive, scar-littered frame towered over every warrior present.

He stared down at Cassian before letting out a booming, guttural laugh.

​"So this is the great Starbound Intruder?"

​The surrounding Orc warriors chuckled in agreement.

​The Berserker pointed his massive war axe toward the undead legion. "You dare assault the Kragmar Dominion with such a pathetic force?"

​His grin widened, revealing jagged tusks. "We have crushed kingdoms. We have slaughtered armies ten times this size. We have buried entire civilizations beneath our boots."

​His small, bloodshot eyes narrowed into slits. "And you?"

​The elder spat a glob of phlegm onto the dead earth. "You’re nothing more than a grave-robbing whelp playing at war."

​Raucous laughter erupted through the Orc ranks once more, and even a few council elders smirked.

​Only Morghanna remained dead silent, her expression unreadable.

​The Berserker took another heavy step forward, the ground cracking beneath his weight. "I don’t even need an army to deal with a child like you. I alone am enough."

​"Don’t underestimate them," Morghanna’s voice suddenly cut through the air.