The Aftermath and the Unexpected

Zoren scanned the battlefield, a grim expression etched across his face. "File the dead," he ordered, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Take everything we can still use from their territory."

As his soldiers moved to follow his commands, Zoren's eyes lingered on the scene before him. The cleanup was complete. A gruesome pile of dead Hogfolks lay before him, alongside the fainted forms of Kaen, Grishak, and several other troops.

Among them were also the fallen members of Zoren's crew, a small number compared to the hundreds of Hogfolks that had been defeated, but their loss weighed heavily on his heart.

Zoren's gaze hardened as he suppressed the sorrow threatening to surface. He had no time to grieve openly. "Burn the dead Hogfolks with their territory," he commanded. "We'll bring our fallen crew back to our territory and bury them there."

As the orders were being carried out, Corvus approached Zoren, his face solemn. "What about these Hogfolks?" he asked, gesturing to a group of captured Hogfolk soldiers and civilians, including children, all huddled together and crying.

Zoren turned his eyes to Skargash standing nearby. "What do you want to do with them? They killed your friends," he asked, his voice low but firm

Skargash, the leader of the Blue Orcs, looked up at Zoren, his expression conflicted. "Master, I don't have the authority to bring judgment upon them. I got my revenge on Grid, and you saved us. We will follow your decision." He knelt before Zoren, His loyalty is clear.

One of the Hogfolk soldiers, the Vice Commander of Grid's army, stepped forward, his body trembling. "Kill us," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "But please, have mercy on the civilians… we beg you, have mercy on them." He dropped to his knees, his eyes filled with desperation.

Zoren regarded the Vice Commander with a mix of admiration and sorrow, realizing that they too were victims of this brutal game. "Help them," Zoren finally said, his voice filled with resolve. "Bring them into our territory."

The troops began to organize for the march back to their territory. At the front were Faun Basilisk riders led by Alderon, carrying the fallen crew, the spoils, and the fainted troops in carts. Behind them marched the Beetlefolk infantry and other troops. In the middle were the Hogfolk civilians, guarded by Corvus, Nyx, and Elara. Bringing up the rear were the three Blue Orcs, Lyara, Fae, and finally Zoren, their steps heavy with exhaustion.

Zoren glanced up at the sky, dark clouds gathering ominously overhead. "It's about to rain," he muttered to himself. As they neared the walls of their territory, a sudden message flashed before his eyes, sending a chill down his spine.

[NOTICE!]

[Bonus Round!]

Name: Kill The Boss

Difficulty: S

Duration: 30 Minutes

Details: There are only 30 minutes remaining in Lohar's Event! Kill the Boss to earn your spot! Warning: It's extremely difficult. It only attacks all living creatures outside of the territory.

[Rewards: 500,000 Points, Lohar's Lost Technology blueprints (Collection)]

[It will start in 30 seconds]

Panic surged through Zoren as he realized the danger. Without hesitation, he bellowed, "RUN!!! RUN TO OUR TERRITORY!!" His voice echoed through the ranks, filled with urgency.

He sprinted to the front of the march, urging them to move faster. Despite their confusion, his troops obeyed without question, their trust in him unshakable.

Zoren's face was tense, his eyes darting between the exhausted soldiers and the clock ticking down in his mind.

As they reached the front of the territory, a massive 7-foot-tall humanoid robotic golem appeared, standing ominously in their path.

Its metallic body gleamed under the darkening sky, and its red eyes burned with a deadly intensity. Draped in a crimson cape, it held two gleaming katanas at its sides, motionless but radiating menace.

"Damn it!" Zoren cursed under his breath. His troops were exhausted, yet he could see the determination in their eyes as they ran with everything they had. "RUN FASTER!!" he shouted again, his voice hoarse with desperation.

[20 Seconds]

The countdown continued, and only a third of the march had entered the safety of their territory. "Damn it!" Zoren muttered again, knowing that time was running out. He pulled his twin spike hammer from his inventory, preparing for the worst.

[10 Seconds]

Half the march had made it inside, but there were still so many left. Zoren's heart pounded as he barked out his final orders. "Defend the civilians! Protect them until they enter the territory!"

[5 Seconds]

As the final seconds ticked away, the robotic golem sprang to life, its movements swift and lethal.

Zoren felt a cold dread as it vanished, reappearing near the Hogfolk civilians. He raced to intercept it, his hammer colliding with its katana in a clash of sparks. The impact was so powerful that Zoren's hands went numb, but he held his ground, teeth gritted against the pain.

The golem vanished again, this time reappearing amidst the fleeing Hogfolk. Zoren wasn't quick enough, and a Hogfolk civilian fell, their life snuffed out in an instant. The sight sent a wave of panic through the civilians, who scattered in terror.

Enraged, Zoren launched himself at the golem, swinging his hammer with all his might. The golem, however, was relentless, its focus entirely on killing the weak. Zoren did his best to defend the civilians, but the golem was too fast, too powerful.

In the chaos, Zoren saw the golem lock onto Fae, who was struggling to keep up, exhausted from the battle. The golem charged, its katanas raised for the kill. Zoren's heart pounded as he sprinted towards her, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time.

Just as the golem was about to strike, Alderon, Leader of the Faun Basilisk riders and Fae's father, threw himself in front of Fae, shielding her with his body. The golem's blade pierced through Alderon, and Fae watched in horror, so shocked that she could neither move nor speak, as her father was slain before her eyes.

"Nyx! Bring Fae back to the territory!" Zoren shouted, his voice breaking with urgency. Nyx obeyed, dragging Fae away as tears streamed down her face.

Skargash and Corvus joined the fray, attacking the golem with all their strength, but the golem was focused on its deadly mission. It tore through anyone in its path, and the number of fallen grew.

Amidst the chaos, Lyara was helping the civilians when the golem locked onto her as its next target.

Zoren saw it and sprinted towards her, his heart in his throat. "Lyara!" he shouted, but the golem was faster. It surged towards her, its blade targeting her heart with deadly precision.

Zoren threw himself in front of the blade, feeling the cold steel pierce his chest. He grinned through the pain, relieved that he had saved Lyara.

But when he looked back, he saw the golem's blade had pierced through him and into Lyara as well. "Thank you, master…" she whispered, her voice fading as she collapsed.

"Masterrr!!!" Skargash and Corvus roared, charging at the golem with renewed fury. But despite their efforts, the golem was too strong, too fast. Zoren's vision blurred as he watched his remaining comrades fall one by one.

The last thing he saw was Skargash being impaled, lifted high into the air by the golem's blade before everything went dark.

[KINGDOM OVERVIEW]

Kingdom Name: Kingdom_1270548

Server: 204 Power: 40,065(+50%) City Level: 1

[City Level Up Info] [Event Calendar]

Kingdom Skills: Art of War (P), Polyglot (P), Urban Planning (P), Appraisal (A), Taming (A), Mimicry(A): Weapon Master (P), Feline Reflexes (P), Mana Heart(P), Phoenix Rebirth (P)

Title:First to Build a Sturdy House (P)

Population: 382

Race : (6) Human: 2 Kenku: 1 Beetlefolk: 50(-10) Khajiit: 53(-20) Blue Orcs: 3(-1) Faun 55(-10) Hogfolks 200(-55)

Monster: Dreadhorn: 1

Basilisk Rooster: 30(-5)