Arsen Continent, Emerald Hills.With John and Azure gone, Arthas and Crane were the highest-ranking commanders here, both at level 8 Commanding, close to reaching Monarch level.
Before them stood a complete orc army, with even its leader present.
The opposing force consisted of over ten thousand orc warriors, likely the entire strength of this camp.
Standing in front of the orc warriors were five figures, all undoubtedly Monarch level, with the strongest being the orc camp leader. This was not a battle Arthas, Crane, and their undead could win, even with their ten thousand undead army.
"Crane, return to the main city and contact the Queen," Arthas said, his blue eyes glowing through his mask.
Crane immediately headed back to the castle and entered the Portal of Transit.
Arthas wasn't seeking reinforcements; he knew the undead were currently attacking the hobgoblin kingdom and couldn't spare any forces. He also knew Alex wasn't in the castle. He needed to ask if they should abandon the two castles if necessary.
Crane understood Arthas's intent without words. After stepping out of the portal, Crane adjusted his target and re-entered the Portal of Transit, heading to Sophie's castle to contact Alex through her subjects and allies.
Sophie, with nothing else to do, spent her days overseeing the dwarves' equipment forging and resource production. Seeing the Portal of Transit's system alert, she hurried out of the castle.
To her surprise, it was an undead that looked like a zombie.
"Please inform the Undead Queen that the orc camp is attacking Emerald Hills. We cannot defeat the enemy. Should we abandon the area?" Crane quickly explained without elaborating on the situation. They couldn't win, and he wouldn't make excuses.
Sophie didn't think much of it. She was unaware of Alex's recent troubles, having stayed in her castle without visiting Hamburger. She didn't know Alex was trapped, nor about the attack on the hobgoblin kingdom or the upgrade of Hamburger.
Sophie assumed Alex had left the castle for some reason, and the undead had come to her for contact. She didn't question why they didn't contact the siblings or why the undead couldn't defeat the orc army.
Meanwhile, Alex, still on her journey, received Sophie's message. Though not detailed, Alex understood the situation. An orc camp had mobilized its entire force against Emerald Hills, and with the main undead force at the hobgoblin kingdom, Arthas, Crane, and two Monarch levels couldn't handle it.
The hobgoblin kingdom couldn't spare any forces. Though Alex didn't know the exact battle situation, it must not be going smoothly. Otherwise, the Monarch levels in the city would have aided Emerald Hills instead of having Sophie message her.
Should they abandon the castles in the Emerald Hills?
The Orc Empire was some distance from White Rock Mountains, but it wasn't insurmountable. Plus, Alex had the undead fortress; the Orc Empire couldn't escape.
However, Xiao Mu and Xiao Hui's castles were there, and Alex didn't want to abandon it easily. It could be upgraded to a city.
"Of course!" Alex suddenly thought of something and slapped the tiger's flank.
She wasn't a lone wolf anymore; she could ask Lilith and Satan for help. This way, she wouldn't have to abandon the siblings' castle and could deal with the orc camp perfectly.
Asking for help, it had to be Satan. Lilith was busy with the forest elves kingdom and likely couldn't spare the time. Satan, who loved fighting, was perfect.
Alex: "Got a moment? Need a favor."
Satan: "What? How did you know I reached level 2 Monarch level?"
Alex: "Did I ask you that?"
Satan: "Got time for a fight, nothing else."
Alex: "Come to my castle now. It's urgent. Bring a few Monarch levels. The enemy is a bit strong. I'll have my people meet you."
Satan: "No enemy a level 2 Monarch level can't handle." S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Satan seemed eager to show off his strength, but Alex didn't reply further. She messaged Sophie and continued her journey.
Meanwhile, Sophie, having received Alex's reply, informed Crane and then passed through the portal with him.
Satan had just arrived through the portal, seeing Sophie and Crane.
"Lead the way," Satan said, knowing this woman was Alex's subordinate. He and two demons followed her out.
As Satan opened the door, Sophie saw the scene outside and was stunned.
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Satan: ???
Sophie: ???
What was this? A castle?
"Holy fuck, what's going on? Did I come to the wrong place?" Satan exclaimed, heading back to the Portal of Transit.
"This is Undead City," Crane rasped.
Sophie remembered Alex asking for resources and then eagerly taking all the Monarch levels to move them after capturing Rockhammer City.
"Could it be that a city is a level above a town?" Sophie speculated, shocked but quickly understanding.
Satan reluctantly accepted the reality. He had an eighth-level town, but how had Alex developed so quickly?
"No need to leave the city. We're going to Emerald Hills through the Portal of Transit," Sophie called, setting the portal's target and gesturing for Satan to follow.
Satan, silent, led his two demons through the portal, with Sophie and Crane following.
At Emerald Hills, the undead and orcs were already fighting.
Four Monarch level orcs were engaged. If they hadn't been unfamiliar with the undead, the two Monarch level undead would have died many times over.
The orc leader's initial confidence had turned to confusion as he searched for the undead's weakness. The orcs had never encountered undead before, having never left the Arsen continent.
Satan, emerging from the Portal of Transit, forgot his earlier frustration and flew into the sky to observe the battle.
"Where are the undead? Only this many? Where are the Monarch levels?" Satan wondered, seeing only five Monarch levels. He thought the undead could handle it easily. Why had they called him? Did they know he had leveled up?
"I don't know," Sophie replied, also unsure where the other Monarch levels had gone.
"Where's Alex? Where did she go?" Satan asked.
"I don't know," Sophie shrugged.
"Aren't you her subordinate? How do you know nothing?" Satan ignored her and charged into battle with his two demons.
Satan immediately targeted the Monarch level orc leader, assuming it was the enemy boss, and attacked without hesitation.
Sophie watched from the castle, knowing such large-scale Monarch level battles were rare.
Satan transformed into a black streak, his arms shrouded in black mist, his hands growing long claws. He envisioned piercing the orc's chest with this strike.
The orc leader, wielding a bone weapon, met Satan's attack head-on.
Boom!
Satan's body was sent flying, crashing into the ground and creating a large crater.
???
Satan was stunned, pulling his limbs from the dirt. His right hand hung limp, broken by the orc's strike.
Satan stood, his right hand healing instantly. He stretched his limbs, feeling like they might fall apart.
"Alex, I believed your nonsense. You call this 'a bit strong'?"
"But I like strong opponents!" Satan's skin turned black, shrouded in black mist. Wings and a tail sprouted, and black horns emerged from his head. His eyes turned blood-red.
Satan drew his weapon, flying into the sky and targeting the orc leader.
In a flash, Satan charged like lightning.
"Now I am the complete form of a demon!"