- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 117
**Chapter 117: A Desperate Defense, The Cult of the Dark Gods**
Rachos Assad’s first targets were the lords within a hundred-mile radius of Tono’s territory. As Thor had anticipated, the pioneering lords were initially alarmed when Rachos arrived with a sizable caravan. After all, his force was formidable enough to wipe them out with ease.
Though Rachos quickly explained that his intent was solely to trade, the lords remained wary. Only after completing their transactions and watching him leave did they finally breathe a sigh of relief. Yet, as they looked at the items they’d acquired through the trade, their eyes gleamed with excitement.
They’d never imagined obtaining such goods from the comfort of their own homes, and some even found themselves eagerly anticipating Rachos’s return.
Within days, Rachos had opened trade routes with multiple pioneering lords in the vicinity, needing only to solidify them further for a complete network. When the news reached Thor, Tono, and Babrus, they couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
“It seems this Assad heir is quite capable!” Tono remarked, a hint of admiration in his eyes as he looked at Tor.
Tor’s knack for attracting talented people, from the powerful knight Raine to Rachos, the Assad scion, left Tono both impressed and envious. If he had once thought that Thor’s future held great promise, he now saw it as inevitable.
“Yes, at this rate, he might open up the entire trade route soon,” Babrus added, nodding in agreement.
“Brother, Lord Babrus, I’ll leave matters here in your capable hands,” Thor said with a smile. “It’s time for me to return to my own territory.”
Now that the trade route was established, the next steps were merely operational, and Thor no longer needed to stay in the area. He was eager to get back to the Eagle’s territory, where his duties awaited him.
“So soon?” Tono asked, surprised.
“Yes, there’s still much to do in my domain, and I haven’t had the chance to inform Father of my barony,” Thor explained with a smile. “I’d like to get things settled before I make the trip back.”
“That makes sense,” Tono nodded. “I was hoping to return myself, but it looks like I’ll be staying put for now. Before you go, though, it might be wise to wait for the kingdom’s second wave of support and see if the Northern Province can stabilize.”
“The second wave of support?” Thor inquired.
“Yes, they were delayed by an encounter with the Cult of the Dark Gods in the Frostmoon Province,” Tono explained. “They should have been here days ago, but with any luck, they’ll arrive within a few days. If they don’t, we’ll need to reconsider; I wouldn’t want you to leave only for your territory to suffer in your absence.”
“Understood,” Thor nodded, appreciating his brother’s advice.
“Good,” Tono replied. “Take care of yourself.”
The two embraced before parting ways. Tono had intended to send a few knights with Thor, but Thor declined, unwilling to deplete his brother’s hard-won forces. However, Tono insisted on sending him off with a hundred reserve knights, and Babrus gifted him a fine knight’s sword. After some urging, Thor accepted both gestures with gratitude.
On the journey back, Thor found that the road was surprisingly peaceful. Whether it was mere coincidence or a sign of larger changes, he encountered no Orc bands along the way. As Thor returned to his domain, however, the situation in the Northern Province was still tense.
In the north, at the mighty fortress, the battle raged on. The kingdom’s second wave of support had yet to arrive, and the knights, nobles, and even Duke Karlenia and Marquis Layman felt the heavy weight of despair. They had already begun preparing for the possibility of a complete collapse of the northern defense line.
But while the Orc onslaught continued, it wasn’t as intense as feared, seeming to remain steady rather than overwhelming. Though the Orcs couldn’t break through the Tulip Kingdom’s defenses completely, the ongoing struggle was wearing down both sides.
“Duke Karlenia, how much longer until the kingdom’s support arrives? I fear we can’t hold out much longer,” Marquis Layman spoke, his voice raw and weary, as he glanced at Duke Karlenia. His right arm was missing, and his pallor was ghostly.
“The kingdom promised support within a month, but it’s already been six weeks,” Layman continued, frustration evident in his tone.
“They’re close,” Karlenia replied, her face equally pale. “They encountered the Cult of the Dark Gods in Frostmoon Province, which delayed them, but they should be here in three days at most.”
“Curse those cultists!” Layman spat, his eyes blazing with fury. In the short span of a month and a half, he had lost half of his Falcon Knights and even his right arm. Reconstructing it would cost a fortune in gold.
“Just a little longer!” Karlenia encouraged the nobles around her. “Once we break through, there will be plenty of accolades to go around.”
“Duke, perhaps we should raise additional forces from the Northern Province. If the support doesn’t arrive, we won’t be able to hold,” another count suggested.
“Indeed, Duke, we could draw upon the local noble lords. That should buy us more time,” a second count echoed.
“No, that won’t work,” Layman interjected, urgency in his voice. “The Orcs are already scattered throughout the Northern Province. If we pull forces from there, the Orcs will overrun the entire region. Twenty years of progress for the kingdom will be undone.”
He shook his head. Pulling more troops from the Northern Province would be disastrous. It would leave the region defenseless, destroying everything they had worked so hard to build.
The Northern Province alone provided at least a hundred thousand gold coins annually, so losing it would be an unthinkable blow. Hearing the earls’ suggestion, Duke Karlenia was momentarily tempted. He knew that the Northern Province was powerful, with a concentration of noble forces that could stabilize the current situation and even counter the Orc advance.
But Marquis Layman’s urgent words dispelled this notion quickly. As Layman pointed out, drawing from the province’s forces would effectively mean abandoning it. The defense line here was not the only point of entry for the Orcs; they could still infiltrate through other areas, albeit in smaller numbers.
No one knew just how many Orc tribes were roaming within the Northern Province by now. The only reason it hadn’t yet collapsed was due to the tireless efforts of the nobility, who were relentlessly clearing, fighting, and defending.
“That’s true; it won’t work,” Duke Karlenia agreed, letting out a long breath. “Hold on a bit longer, everyone. The kingdom’s support will arrive soon.”
His reassurances brought the earls to silence. They, too, had offspring and territories in the Northern Province, and they did not want to sacrifice them unless absolutely necessary.
But they were growing increasingly worried; the kingdom’s promised support had not arrived after six weeks. Who could guarantee it would come within the next three days?
The Cult of the Dark Gods had delayed it once—why couldn’t they do so again? And if another setback occurred, delaying the support by another ten days, they knew they would not be able to hold the line. They could barely hold on now.
But with Duke Karlenia’s assurances, they had little choice but to wait. Even so, morale was undeniably low. Karlenia could only sigh, for without the kingdom’s support, words would do little to change the situation. Only the arrival of reinforcements would bring real relief.
At that moment, a figure approached quickly.
“Your Grace!”
“Orcs! They’re attacking again!” A heavy knight’s voice rang out, filled with fatigue and urgency.
In an instant, the faces of everyone present changed. They had barely rested for half an hour, and the Orcs were already launching another attack.
“Let’s go!” Duke Karlenia called, launching into the air.
The nobles around him shared a determined glance, then followed. This was yet another massive assault. Five third-tier tribes were attacking, including a fourth-tier Orc tribe with two fourth-tier Orcs. Karlenia engaged the two fourth-tier Orcs directly, while the other nobles and knights took on the third-tier Orcs and those swarming the defense line.
Magic crystal cannons roared, unleashing destructive energy as the battle raged on. Powerful life forces and magical energies collided, tearing through the sky and shattering the earth.
Three hours later, as night began to fall, the Orcs were finally pushed back once again. But the victory came at a steep price. One of their heavy knights had fallen in the brutal clash, reminding them that even these skilled warriors could not guarantee their safety in such an unending war.
As the days dragged on and the reinforcements remained absent, the toll on their forces only grew heavier.