Chapter 78: The Border of the Kadro Province—The Monster’s Northward Journey

At the end of September, the earthen fortress atop Lumen South Mountain had taken rough shape. Four walls, six meters high, composed of yellow clay blocks, stood firm upon the hill, instilling a powerful sense of security among the defending soldiers. Unlike the meticulously crafted outer walls, the interior was exceedingly simple—only the safety of water and provisions was ensured, while all else was kept minimal.

Afterward, a thousand men remained to garrison the hill, while the remaining five battalions were dispatched to establish outposts, fell trees, and clear out monsters. This work continued until mid-October, by which time things were largely settled.

In early October, Verin received another guidance from fate, an unimportant yet relevant piece of information:

[In three years, a natural spatial passage will form at the county seat of Maple Leaf County, in the Duchy of Lightend. It will link to the underground world.]

Currently, Star Lake still harbored a small sealed teleportation array underground, connecting to some unknown subterranean realm. This event, separated by several provinces, left Verin unsure how to handle it. He considered a commercial approach—purchasing and stockpiling land in advance to profit handsomely from adventurers and young nobles—but he would need to ponder it thoroughly.

That night, inside his tent, Verin analyzed the intelligence gathered by reconnaissance, weighed it against the current situation, and concluded that the monster coalition attacking the Province of Selop might head north to seek a new breach.

And indeed, outside the borders of Selop Province, the Fourth Monster Clan Coalition’s commander—Vaksmann, the legendary red dragon’s most trusted lieutenant, Nurul Vaksmann, chieftain of the half-dragon tribe and a formidable soul-will warrior bearing five soul rings—grew increasingly irritable with each successive defeat, despite his reputation for wisdom.

Confronting the border wall of Selop Province in the Kingdom of Ilia, no matter the stratagem or force applied, they could not breach it to invade human lands.

“Honored commander, I believe we could bypass it, attack Selop Province from the north via Kadrow Province,” a scar-ridden lizardman stepped forward respectfully.

“Jangula, have you forgotten the prophet’s warning? Kadrow Province must never be attacked—it is watched by more than one deity. Attempting it would bring only destruction,” a muscular gnoll glared at Jangula, snarling.

Faced with the gnoll marshal Perlich’s words, Jangula quietly returned to his place, silent.

Nurul, the half-dragon, understood the prophet’s prediction well. Before departure, the legendary commanders had already declared Kadrow Province, that tiny patch of land, forbidden to attack, and enforced strict compliance among all tribal chiefs and racial leaders.

Thus, all bronze-rank and higher warriors from monster clans surrounding Kadrow Province were transferred to other monster armies, used as cannon fodder to extract their remaining value.

Moreover, the Goblin King, who had prepared to launch a surprise attack on Kadrow Province, was ordered to halt his actions. Years of scheming were undone, his elite troops absorbed, and he himself reassigned to the southernmost battlefield.

The legends feared the Goblin King might already be under divine scrutiny, so they sent him as far from Kadrow Province as possible to avoid unforeseen consequences.

Originally, the plan had called for the Goblin King to lead the first monster army assault on the human kingdom. This puzzled Verin greatly, for the guidance of fate after leaving the Gut territory indicated that within a year, the Goblin King would attack southern Kadrow Province. Yet nothing of the sort had occurred.

Now, the north was off-limits, the south was occupied by other monster armies, and only the path of continued assault remained.

As the wisest among the four coalition commanders, Nurul waited a full month after the other three launched their attacks before striking Selop Province, hoping the humans would shift their focus southward. Yet the opposite occurred: he was met by even more prepared human forces.

“Commander, I have a suggestion,” a ratman sorcerer stepped from the rear ranks, addressing the half-dragon.

“Speak.”

Nurul loathed the despicable ratman, but forced himself to respond.

Unbothered by the commander’s disdain, the ratman began expounding on his plan.

“According to your strategy, send a team north. Without violating the legends’ rules, slip through the border between Kadrow and Selop Provinces to launch a surprise attack.”

“Yes, sir, that’s exactly what I mean,” the ratman grinned, exposing rotten teeth that sent a foul stench wafting through the tent, forcing the other monster marshals to cover their noses.

“Who will carry it out?”

Immediately, all monster leaders stepped back. They weren’t foolish. Success brought no reward, failure meant facing the fury of the legends.

Nurul scanned the room, saw their retreat, and turned to the ratman sorcerer: “Tatsol, since the plan is yours, you shall execute it.”

“Wh-what?” Tatsol was stunned.

“Do you have any objections?”

The other leaders eyed him with mockery and scorn, not a trace of sympathy.

“Honored commander, our ratmen are weak—perfect cannon fodder, but executing such a crucial, yes, crucial mission is beyond our station. Only the stronger races are qualified,” Tatsol protested, wiping sweat that didn’t exist from his brow.

“Then, let the other leaders provide troops, with you in command. How about that?”

Clearly, Nurul had no intention of changing his mind.

“This, this…”

“Commander, our lizardman legion will contribute two hundred warriors.”

“Commander, our gnoll legion will add one hundred Skullbreakers to support the ratman sorcerer.”

One after another, the monster leaders volunteered—one offered a squad, another a hundred soldiers. Within minutes, they assembled a “elite” force for the ratman sorcerer.

With no escape, Tatsol had to swallow his bitterness and accept the deadly task.

“Guards!”

Two low-gold half-dragons entered the tent, saluting Nurul.

“Follow Tatsol. If he so much as hesitates to flee, cut him down.”

“Yes, sir.”

With this safeguard in place, Nurul dismissed the meeting, ordering the next day’s attack on Selop Province’s border as planned.

The following morning, a force of two thousand “elite” monsters was handed over to Tatsol.

Looking at this motley crew, Tatsol wished for death, cursing himself for volunteering.

The two half-dragons stood behind him, eyes fixed on his neck, searching for the right spot.

“Tatsol, the commander has decreed: if you don’t depart before noon, it counts as desertion,” one half-dragon declared arrogantly.

“Yes, I’ll depart at once.” As a lower-gold ratman sorcerer facing two lower-gold half-dragons, Tatsol had no choice but to comply.

Thus, two thousand “elite” monsters, three thousand ratman warriors, and fifteen hundred goblin laborers-cum-rations marched north in a grand procession.