"The southern city of Loshanier has also clashed with the orc vanguard cavalry; the battlefield has even extended to the foot of Loshanier." Thorin handed the letter from the Aranthor and others to Bard, who was sitting nearby.
"It seems the orcs plan to attack from both sides?" Bard sighed. The orcs' cunning tactics put the already outnumbered coalition forces in an even more dire situation.
"Have the people of Dale been arranged for safety?" Thorin shifted the heavy topic.
"Yes, I've already arranged for them to take refuge in Erebor. I'll need your help with what comes next," Bard nodded in thanks. After all, it was a significant favor for the dwarves to allow humans to seek refuge in Erebor during this crisis.
"Dwalin clashed with the orc vanguard again yesterday. We each suffered losses, but I'm puzzled as to why this orc army remains stuck north of the Lonely Mountain," Thorin said, rubbing his temples.
"Perhaps the terror from the last great battle still haunts them, making them wary of the Lonely Mountain?" Bard speculated.
"Who knows? I always feel uneasy," Thorin sighed, unsure of the source of his discomfort.
"The situation in the south isn't any better; their army is in poor condition!" King Dain of the Iron Hills strode into the hall, his voice booming.
"What's the matter? Did you discover something?" Thorin turned to Dain, who had just returned from Loshanier.
"Well! They've somehow managed to find an elven army. Other than this elven force, the quality of their remaining troops is concerning," Dain shared his observations from Loshanier.
"Dain! An elven army? Is it from the Wood Elves?" Thorin's brow furrowed. Although he was reluctant to fight alongside elves, they could not abandon the northern front for the south!
"No, they have sky-blue hair, and their banners and armor are unlike anything I've ever seen." Dain spread his hands, revealing his confusion.
According to Thorin, Loshanier had only recently been established; where could this elven army have come from? He was perplexed.
"Forget it. Let's not dwell on this issue. The elves have nothing to do with us; we must figure out how to annihilate the orc forces in front of us," a spark of wisdom shone in Thorin's eyes.
---
"Boom~ Boom~" The heavy footsteps sent shivers through the hearts of all the sentinels on the walls of Loshanier. From the horizon not far away, orcs surged like a tide from the south.
"Quick... ring the alarm! The orc... army is coming!" The militia guarding the wall were at a loss, their hearts freezing as they stared at the moving black wave.
"Ding ding ding!" The clear sound of the alarm shattered the dawn's silence, and the entire city of Loshanier sprang into action.
"What's happening?" The knight on duty, Maple Leaf, grasped the arm of a panicking militia member.
"Sir... the orc... orc army is here!" The militia was so frightened that he flailed his arms and legs. The approaching "black tide" seemed capable of devouring everything, instilling despair in the hastily armed civilians.
"Idiot! Look at your cowardice! Are you a child of the wasteland? Are you a citizen of the kingdom? A soldier of the tribe?" Maple Leaf was infuriated by the sight of the militia's cowardice.
"Look here! The king is with you! I am with you! The elven army is with you! We have no way to retreat! Behind us are our families!" Maple Leaf roared angrily, causing the chaotic scene on the city wall to slowly settle around him.
"What's going on?" Aranthor rushed over and saw the city wall, now under Maple Leaf's control, with everyone preparing orderly for the upcoming battle.
"The orcs are coming!" Maple Leaf pointed at the approaching orcs.
"Hmm! Have they finally arrived? Light the beacon! Inform King Rynar across the river that the orcs are attacking!" Elenthor stepped out from behind Aranthor, brandishing his curved blade.
"How should we fight?" Aranthor looked up, seeking Elenthor's opinion. After all, this guy had participated in the last Alliance War, so he had much more combat experience than himself.
"The walls of Loshanier are too low; we cannot let them climb up.
You know we lack warriors; we cannot afford to exhaust our valuable ranged units in close combat with the orcs," Elenthor said, not wanting his kin to engage in a bloodbath with the orcs—it would be too costly.
"Are you planning to have the elven army suppress them directly? No holding back?" Aranthor asked, curious as he watched Elenthor plan to unleash a storm of elven arrows.
"Just hide Elandor, and the Star Dragon Knights will be enough to deal with them," Elenthor replied, glancing at the gigantic ogres mixed in with the orc army.
"Alright, then you take command," Aranthor decisively relinquished command; no one understood warfare better than Elenthor.
---
"The orc army is here!" Rynar watched the thick smoke rising from across the river and felt a sinking feeling. Seriously, what's this first thing in the morning?
"Caslow! Gather everyone for a meeting!" Rynar scowled as he descended the city wall.
"Ding dong! Main quest activated: Second Battle of the Lonely Mountain.
Victory conditions: Riverguard must not be breached, and civilian casualties must be fewer than 50%. Rewards: 500 random troops, 1000 civilians, and five random rewards.
Hidden victory conditions: 1. Kill Azog (reward: 100 Zaltarion heavy cavalry), 2. Kill Bolg (reward: 10 Elaris Woods rangers), 3. All allies must not be wiped out (reward: 5 priests).
Killing rewards: 25% of total orc forces defeated by the coalition rewards (recruits equipped with steel long swords), 50% of total orc forces defeated by the coalition rewards (human sacred shield Eliar), 75% or more of total orc forces defeated by the coalition rewards (Knight's second sacred ring: Ring of Compassion)."
The system suddenly popped up.
"This... System, you're like my dear dad..." Rynar glanced at it, and tears of gratitude immediately flowed from his eyes.
Not to mention those random troops and items, just thinking of the heavy cavalry, the Elaris Woods rangers, the sacred shield, and the sacred ring made his mouth water!
"Azog, Bolg, and all you adorable orcs, leave your lives here! Contribute to my lord's cause!" Rynar thought, gleeful.
"Hahaha~" Rynar laughed loudly as he walked down the street, leaving behind a crowd of dazed civilians and soldiers.
---
"So they've built a city here! Haha! Darkness will eventually consume you! Warriors! The chance to drink dwarf blood has come! Kill! Breach the city! Slaughter everyone! Roar!" Azog rode on his white warg and arrived ten miles from Loshanier.
"Roar!"
"Kill!"
"Roaaar!"
Over ten thousand orcs surged toward Loshanier, with ogres among them carrying huge battering rams, trudging toward the city.
"Two miles away! Fire! Arrows of the North!" Elenthor roared, drawing his elven curved blade.
"Bang!" The sound of bowstrings vibrating echoed from the city walls as elven archers and rangers instantly launched their North Wind Arrows at a 45-degree angle.
"Whoosh~" The piercing wind ripped through the sky.
"Elven archers!" Azog's expression changed.
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