Defense of Blackridge Town

The whole Blackridge Town was on a move. The construction of the town was momentarily halted and everyone focused on reinforcing their defense.

Luarin obviously commanded over the construction, shouting at the terrified goblins due to her anger. She was mad that Wain left without sharing his plan with them. Why were dragons so arrogant? She gnashed her teeth, her aura causing all monsters to avoid her 

"We need more stones!" She shouted, commanding over the monsters, while Rryk and their strongest combatants were training with their weapons. If they were going to fight, then they wouldn't go down easily.

…

The day passed in a blink and when the sun rose again, Strusk, the chieftain of kobolds, was leading an army of three thousands on the Blackridge Town. This was the first time he has led an army big like this and it was an honor for him, but also a great responsibility.

He stopped just before they came into the archers range and his eyes searched for white flags. Unfortunately he didn't see any, so the battle was inevitable.

They really want to fight? He laughed. The result was already clear for all to see, so he thought of their decision as unwise.

However, then he looked at the town before him and frowned when he saw the tight defense.

The walls were surrounded by the spikes and a ditch that was almost impossible to get through without high casualties, not to mention the walls which were so high and looked so sturdy, that getting over or through them also wasn't an option.

That only left the gate. However the gate was at the most guarded place and placed in the position where it was possible for archers to fire from almost all directions.

Strusk had to praise the architect of this town, but this wouldn't be enough to stop them. Against their overwhelming numbers even the best defense wouldn't change the results of the battle. If they had to, they would climb the walls over their dead bodies.

"Charge!" He ordered an attack, countless monsters rushing towards the reinforced walls.

Almost immediately they got under a heavy fire. However, Strusk expected it and quickly commanded stone golems to take the lead. Against their tough skin arrows dealt a pitiful number of damage, so only few of them died before they arrived at the gate.

Once they were close to the gate, the chieftain of the stone golems took the lead and used a skill [Meteor Rush]. His body ignited and he broke through the gate in the form of a meteor.

…

Luarin was shocked by how fast the attackers broke through their defense. It almost looked like all of their preparations were useless

When the attackers broke into the town, Rryk led his squad of elites to stop them, while Luarin flew into the air, casting spell [Deadly Barrage], killing several kobolds with her dark misty missiles.

However, even their elites stood no chance against the great numbers of the attackers and they were soon overwhelmed by the enemies, who swarmed the streets of the town.

Most of their army decided to surrender at that moment, while some brave ones resisted, but they were pushed back in an unwinnable battle.

"Be careful, that winged chick is dangerous!" Strusk commanded, leading several chieftains to face Luarin, while the rest of their forces pushed back the last few dozen defenders.

Despite Luarin's attempts, she didn't fully recover yet, so she stood no chance against the combined force of the chieftains and in a dozen minutes, all of their forces were already dead or surrendered.

"Damn you, Wain!" Luarin roared, chanting a powerful spell. Although Wain said to have a plan, he didn't come to save them, she put in great efforts to protect this town, but it was hopeless.

3rd-grade spell, Dark Blast!

With a roar, she created a wave of darkness which killed dozens of kobolds. However, facing the overwhelming numbers of the enemies, their place was almost immediately replaced by other monsters and she ended up in the same desperate situation as before.

Rryk was already incapable of fighting since he suffered a grievous injury, Old Potato and Kadenn already surrendered andLuarin was also running out of mana. However, she didn't plan to die for this pitiful town, with a flip of her wings, she rose into the sky, flying into the mountains.

The Blackridge Town fell, but where was Wain?

…

After the battle was lost, they were all taken prisoners and dragged to the castle of the lord of the mountains. It was already dusk when they arrived and Rryk couldn't help but wear a grim expression.

Could Wain really abandon them? He couldn't believe it, but no matter how much he tried to deny it, he had to face reality. Wain was gone, Luarin also retreated and he was now a prisoner. At least it didn't seem the Lord of Barestone Mountains wanted them dead, otherwise they would no longer be alive.

It was already dusk when they finally arrived in front of a castle made of stones, which merged with the surrounding mountains.

"So this is where the Lord of Barestone Mountains lives." Rryk and old Potato exchanged glances filled with awe, they never saw such a tall building in their lives.

They were now the representatives of their clan and they were determined to negotiate with the Lord of Barestone Mountains to release them whatever the cost. Their main goal was survival since Wain left them alone, they didn't plan to be loyal either.

They entered a huge hall, where the Lord of the Barestone Mountains sat on a throne placed on an elevated position at the other side of the hall. The hall was filled by darkness, and they couldn't see the Lord of the Barestone Mountains clearly, but his aura filling the room was terrifying.

Meanwhile, Luarin descended near the entrance of the castle, observing the situation inside, although Wain had abandoned them, she wanted to know what would happen with Old Potato. She had spent two weeks with the goblin and he was a perfect minion, so she was reluctant to let him die.

She looked through the hall, her gaze locking on the figure in the darkness. "He is smaller than I expected." Luarin snorted. She heard rumors about the Lord of Barestone Mountains, being three-meters.tall demon, but that rumor seemed to be extremely overestimated.

"My Lord," Strusk fell on his knees before the Lord of Barestone Mountains, trembling from his enormous power. "We brought you the prisoners you requested, unfortunately the intruder leaving them was nowhere to be found, we suspect he ran away." 

"Hmm," The Lord of Barestone Mountains hummed in reply, signifying that he received the message.

The hall turned silent and Strusk couldn't help but grow anxious. Did he do something wrong? He couldn't understand why his lord was silent.

Using the silence, Old Potato decided to state his request. "Great Lord of Barestone Mountains, please forgive us for our blindness." He knelt, lowering his head to the ground to show his devotion. "We were cheated by our previous master, please give us another chance, we pledge our loyalty to you."

Old Potato pleaded, Rryk kneeling next to him. However, the Lord of Barestone Mountains didn't respond, remaining silent.

The air in the hall grew heavy from everyone's anxiousness.It was starting to be unbearable.

"My Lord, did we do something wrong?" Strusk couldn't take it any longer, and asked his Lord. This wasn't the normal behavior of Irzuk the Corruptor.

"You all disappointed me." A cold domineering voice echoed through the hall, sending shivers down their spines. Everyone who heard it suddenly felt weak, however, aside from that, it also sounded weirdly familiar.

They secretly raised their heads to take a peek at their lord, when a lightning suddenly struck outside, illuminating the hall.

It was only for a brief moment, but everyone was shocked by what they saw.

Above the throne, pinned to the wall by several dark spears, was a tall demon with two straight horns from his forehead, while the man on the throne wasn't a demon, but a figure clad in black robe.

It can't be! Strusk couldn't believe what he just saw, questioning his eyesight, just as everyone else.

"M-Master?" Old Potato couldn't help but utter in disbelief, while Luarin outside, stared at the scene with her mouth open.

The man seated on the throne clearly wasn't Irzuk the Corruptor, but someone else, they have already abandoned, while the demon was dead, hanging on the wall behind.

"How did Wain do it?" Luarin questioned outside, while Strusk jumped up, scared from what he just saw.

"Who are you?!" Strusk questioned, trembling in fear, together with the other chieftains, however, the Lord of the Barestone Mountains didn't care to answer his question.

A deep sigh echoed through the hall. "After doing so much for you, you denied me." The Lord of Barestone Mountains stood from his throne, taking a few steps forward until everyone could see him clearly. "Did you have no faith in me?" He declared with a voice reminiscing thunder as his aura within the hall intensified.

It was Wain!

At that moment, Old Potato and Rryk were speechless, they just badmouthed their master straight to his face! What is going to happen to them now? They quickly lowered their sights, not daring to look at Wain anymore.

However, Wain continued. "I am the Lord of the Barestone Mountains, Azztar Echo!" He declared, his aura becoming unbearable. "Whoever disobeys me from now on, will be killed on a spot!" His thunderous voice sent shivers down their spines and even Strusk didn't dare to disobey him at this moment.

"Greeting the Lord of Barestone Mountains!" Strusk declared kneeling down and other chieftains followed the suit. They were already drenched in sweat from the Wain's aura and they didn't want to end up like their previous lord. Nobody would dare to question Wain's claim as the Lord of Barestone Mountains after witnessing the corpse of Izruk the Corruptor. 

"From today onward, I declare Blackridge Town as my territory. Whoever wants can move their forces there and the rest will be eliminated." He declared, his voice resonating through the hall. "Disperse!"

Hearing their lord, Strusk and others didn't dare to delay any longer, leaving the hall after bowing to Wain, Old Potato and Rryk repeating after them, while Luarin hid outside, covering her mouth. This was just too shocking for her. She didn't expect Wain would become the new Lord of Barestone Mountains.

It seemed that he didn't abandon them and everything was just part of his plan. She slowly understood what happened.

Meanwhile, Wain sat back on the throne, sighing. Although Old Potato's betrayal was to be expected, it was still a hit for him. He had grown trusting to his subordinates too much, but the only reason they listened to him was his strength! As long as someone more powerful than him would appear, they would betray him without a second thought.

He sorted his thoughts, realizing they were just tools for him and nothing else. If a tool is no longer useful, he will have to destroy it!

His original plan wasn't like this. He planned to kill the Lord of the Barestone Mountains and stop the attack on Blackridge Town. Unfortunately, Izruk the Corruptor was stronger than he thought and he ended up badly injured, unable to move too much.

Moreover, in order to defeat Izruk the Corruptor, he consumed an elixir, which greatly increased his power, so the aura he currently radiated was close to 4th-grade, however, the effect of the elixir was almost gone and he would become weakened for several weeks as a backlash.

Well, I could at least deal with the last matter before the effect of the elixir run out. He decided, shouting. "Luarin, come here!"

Luarin, who was hiding outside, trembled from the power carried in his voice and didn't dare to disobey. "What do you need from me, Wain?" She uttered weakly, scared from the current Wain. Was he always this powerful? Luarin was shocked by his speed of growth, feeling inferior to his talent.

"I won't waste time talking," Wain said, his voice resonating through the hall, weighing on Luarins shoulders like mountains. "Either you will serve me, or I want you gone. Choose now!" He declared, sending shiver's down Luarin's spine.

He didn't want to have the fallen angel around any longer and decided to send her away, using the moment before he would lose his power.

Meanwhile, Luarin was deep in thought. She definitely saw potential in Wain and Blackridge Town. While Wain was currently weak, he would quickly grow stronger, probably rivaling even her current master, Sarganos Zulmar! Moreover she had a chance to be at the beginning of his rise, which would give her a way better position under Wain than her current master, so the offer was tempting.

Although Wain acted cold and uncompromising, that was the trait of all great rulers and she quite enjoyed her time in Blackridge Town.

"In that case, please allow me to enter your services." She gracefully bowed, surprising Wain with her decision, however, he didn't care which option the fallen angel would choose as long as she wasn't a threat to him anymore.

"Very well, then your first order is to return to the Blackridge Town and oversee the nine rulers of the Barestone Mountains." He commanded since his strength would soon run out.

"Yes, my Lord."  Luarin bowed and left the castle, just as everyone else.

With this, everything was dealt with. Wain had successfully become the Lord of Barestone Mountains, everyone was listening to him and he had a safe place to slowly raise his strength.

"Octader, bring me home." He said, since he ran out of strength, and soon, several tentacles engulfed him, leaving the throne hall empty.