Three days later, 6:00 AM.

Central Plains Region, Kangaroo Country, Red Earth City.

Ten miles outside the North Gate, the Orc Army camp spread out in the morning light, boundless.

Tents were packed densely, stretching from the small hill on the east to the dry riverbed on the west, spanning dozens of miles.

Hundreds of Mammoth War Elephants wandered throughout the camp, their iron armor gleaming dully in the morning light, the iron barbs on their tusks stained with dried black blood.

Smoke from countless cooking fires rose, gathering into a grey mist at low altitude, obscuring the rising sun into a blurry, blood-red disc.

In the center of the camp stood a massive tent, three times taller than the others.

The mammoth-hide walls were as thick as walls, and dozens of war flags were planted on the roof—black background with a white wolf, mouth wide open, fangs bared. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Two Orc guards, nearly three meters tall, stood on either side of the tent entrance, holding double-edged battle axes, fangs bared, eyes glowing with a dark green light.

Inside the great tent, two rows of Orc chieftains sat opposite each other—five on the left, five on the right, all level 40.

Their equipment varied: some wore heavy black iron plate armor, some wore battle robes of mammoth hide inlaid with iron, and some were shirtless, wearing only strings of bone necklaces.

But in every one of their eyes burned a dark red flame, the mark of a level 40 powerhouse.

Sitting at the head of the left side was Blood Axe Gorong. He was three meters tall, his dark green skin covered in battle scars, his messy hair braided with bones.

He gripped the Bone Crusher great axe with both hands, the blood on the blade already dried to a dark black.

He had three pieces of equipment glowing with a faint golden light: chest armor, greaves, and a belt. Added to the great axe, he possessed four pieces of golden equipment.

At the head of the right side sat another Orc chieftain with four pieces of golden equipment. He was half a head shorter than Gorong but bulkier, arms crossed, expressionless.

But at this moment, all ten chieftains wore an expression of almost devout awe, their gazes fixed on the figure at the deepest part of the great tent.

In the main seat, Orc King Saruk sat upright on a massive mammoth bone chair.

He was nearly four meters tall, covered in dark golden plate armor engraved with complex runes that faintly shimmered in the morning light.

He wore a black crown, in the center of which was embedded a fist-sized dark red gemstone with flames dancing inside.

His facial features were completely different from ordinary Orcs—deeper and more majestic.

In his dark red eyes, there were no pupils, only two burning balls of fire.

On his body, every piece of equipment glowed with golden light.

Weapon, armor, helmet, belt, greaves, boots, ring, bracelet, necklace—nine pieces of golden equipment in total, all of legendary quality.

Level 49.

Blood Axe Gorong stood up, bowed slightly to Saruk, his voice low and respectful: "Lord Saruk, according to the plan you formulated, the warriors of every tribe have been fighting day and night without rest for the past few days, and have finally captured all human territories except for Red Earth City. Except for a few city-level territories and some county-level territories where a small number of troops are stationed, all other warriors have gathered here, totaling 300,000."

Saruk nodded, his dark red eyes expressionless, his voice low like rumbling thunder: "The warriors of the tribes did not disappoint me. Today will be the final battle of the Central Plains Region. After it ends, we will immediately head south. The target is the South Pole Region."

He stood up, hands pressing on the stone table, his gaze sweeping over the ten chieftains, his voice rising a notch.

"In order to mislead human intelligence, and because I cannot use the power of Destiny Awakening at this stage, I have not made a move even once on the Central Plains Region battlefield. This was to make the human leadership misjudge us, thinking our high-end combat power is nothing special, and thus lower their guard. And then—"

He paused, the corners of his mouth slowly curling {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} up, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs, "we will destroy the South Pole Region in one fell swoop. As long as we occupy the Beacon Fire Territory, our race can descend another Orc King. By then, with two Orc Kings joining forces, the humans will have no power to resist. The South Pole Region, North Pole Region, West Pole Region, and East Pole Region will all be ground to dust under the iron hooves of our Orc race."

The great tent was silent for a moment, then a low murmur of discussion arose.

Gorong's fingers tightened on the Bone Crusher, the greed and excitement in his eyes almost overflowing.

The chieftain at the head of the right side also couldn't help but lean forward.

Saruk continued: "This world must be occupied by our Orc race. As long as our race is victorious, my promotion to level 50 will be easy. Once I break through to level 50, all of you will have the chance to break through to level 40."

Dark red flames ignited in the eyes of all ten chieftains simultaneously.

Blood Axe Gorong clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.

The chieftain at the head of the right side licked his lips, revealing a mouthful of sharp fangs.

Others whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with eagerness and greed.

Gorong stood up, cupped his hands, his voice loud: "Lord Saruk, we will surely follow you to the death! Congratulations in advance to Lord Saruk on reaching level 50, and congratulations to the Orc race on unifying the Nightmare World!"

The other nine chieftains stood up simultaneously, right fists against their chests, shouting in unison: "Congratulations to Lord Saruk!"

Saruk waved his hand, his voice flat: "Save the congratulations until after we take Red Earth City. Today, it must be taken."

He paused, "Go."

"Understood!" The ten chieftains received the order in unison and turned to stride out of the great tent.

Boots stomped on the ground with heavy sounds, and the clashing of armor plates merged into a rhythm like an urgent drumbeat.

The tent flap fell, and only Saruk remained in the great tent.

He leaned back in his chair, whispering to himself, his voice audible only to him: "Beacon Fire Territory... Great Wall... Interesting."

Outside the tent, the sound of horns rang out, low and long, like a giant beast waking from the ground.

The footsteps of the 300,000-strong Orc Army made the earth tremble slightly, and the trumpeting of Mammoth War Elephants came from all over the camp, one after another, merging into a low roar.

In the direction of Red Earth City, the morning light dyed the city walls a dark red, like congealed blood.

Saruk stood up and walked slowly out of the great tent.

The morning wind blew from the north, whipping his cloak.

He looked at the city in the distance that was about to be trampled, not speaking, just standing there quietly.

Behind him, the 300,000-strong army was forming ranks, their battle cries shaking the sky.

The final battle of the Central Plains Region was about to begin.

And the fate of the South Pole Region seemed to have already been written on his chessboard.