120: dead end

Facing the scattered Orcs fleeing in all directions, who had completely lost their will to fight, Angus's indifferent gaze merely swept over them, not ordering a division of troops to pursue. His objective was very clear: to completely destroy the core and backbone of this allied army.

"All units, heed my command! Tighten the encirclement, target those who are making a desperate stand!" He raised his command flag, his voice piercing through the battlefield's clamor.

The well-trained Star Sea Territory army swiftly adjusted its formation, like a constantly tightening steel net, firmly trapping nearly ten thousand Orc warriors who were either trying to make a last stand with their leaders or were panicking and huddled together with nowhere to flee, within a small forest clearing.

The archers and spearmen on the outer perimeter formed an impenetrable ring of death, while the inner circle consisted of the core strangling force, primarily the Orc Legion and the Star Sea Territory heavy infantry. The scattered routed soldiers who had fled into the depths of the mountains were no longer a concern; the immediate priority was to deal with the greatest threat at hand.

The encircled Orcs were like trapped beasts in a cage, their eyes interwoven with fear, despair, and madness. Kustu and Bedrock were surrounded by the experts of the Star Sea Territory, with only a few personal guards remaining.

Angus slowly rode forward, entering the inner layer of the encirclement, his cold gaze falling upon the blood-soaked, panting Boar King. He had no intention of persuading surrender; for an Orc chieftain who lived by plunder and slaughter, an offer of surrender was meaningless and would only lead to endless troubles. Only complete death could declare victory and bring true peace to this land.

"General Ocean," Angus's voice was calm and unruffled, yet carried the weight of a final judgment, "Kustu, I'll leave him to you."

Upon hearing this, Ocean's lips curved into an arc mixed with Battle Intent and confidence. He shook the bright silver spear in his hand, and his battle Qi, as deep blue as the ocean, surged even more powerfully and solidified, with faint sounds of tides swirling around him. Not long ago, after tempering and experiencing life-and-death insights, he had successfully stepped into the Realm of an Intermediate Earth Knight. This was a moment of soaring Aura and a desire for battle. Facing Kustu, who was also an Intermediate Earth Knight but already exhausted and riddled with wounds, he felt no fear, only boiling Battle Intent.

"Just as I wished!" Ocean let out a long laugh, his figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow! His spear thrust forth like a Dragon, no longer a mere probe, but a fatal attack with a decisive Aura capable of splitting seas and breaking waves! "Kustu, pay for the sins committed by your tribe!"

Kustu let out a beastly roar, his dark red battle Qi burning wildly as he swung his battle-axe to meet the attack. He knew this was a desperate situation; only a fight to the death remained! The duel between two Intermediate Earth Realm experts instantly erupted with earth-shattering power. Spear shadows and axe glows intertwined and collided, and the battle Qi shockwaves churned up the surrounding ground layer by layer, breaking trees. Ordinary warriors could not even approach.

On the other side, Karl and Shirei also intensified their offensive against Bedrock, while Batu and Augus provided support from the flanks, completely cutting off the last possibility for the two Orc leaders to join forces or break through.

The battle, amidst desperate roars and unwilling howls, headed towards its destined end.

Ocean's spear technique, a Fusion of the Star Sea Territory's tenacity and the vastness of the ocean, possessed endless stamina and an incessant offensive. Kustu was already exhausted, and his mind was shaken. Under Ocean's attacks, which surged like tidal waves, his wounds continuously increased, and the dark red battle Qi light visibly dimmed.

"Sea Breaker Strike!" Seizing a tiny flaw in Kustu, Ocean's eyes flashed with brilliant light. The deep blue battle Qi on his spear instantly compressed to its extreme, transforming into an incredibly condensed, deep blue beam of light that seemed capable of piercing through anything. It incredibly swiftly penetrated the gap in Kustu's hastily parrying battle-axe, brutally impaling his chest!

"Urgh—!" Kustu's massive body stiffened abruptly, and the light in his crimson eyes rapidly faded. He looked down at the spear tip protruding from his chest, then laboriously raised his head, staring fixedly at Ocean, as if wanting to say something, but only large mouthfuls of blood gushed out.

Ocean remained expressionless, twisting his wrist, and the battle Qi from his spear erupted with a roar!

"Bang!"

Boar King Kustu, this ambitious chieftain who ruled a tribe of one hundred thousand Pig-Headed People and intended to expand, collapsed with a crash under the tearing force of the violent battle Qi, falling silent.

Almost simultaneously, the battle on the other side also concluded. Chieftain Bedrock, under Karl's powerful greatsword slashes and Shirei's elusive spear attacks, finally had his arm severed by Karl's sword, and Shirei's spear followed closely, piercing his throat. Bedrock's ox-like eyes stared wide as he fell backward unwillingly.

The deaths of the two leaders were the final straw that broke the camel's back. The already shaky will to resist instantly collapsed.

"Clang!" "Clang!"

The sound of weapons falling to the ground rose and fell. The remaining nearly five thousand Orc warriors, many of whom were the more formidable Minotaur and the direct elites of Kustu and Bedrock, turned ashen. They dropped their weapons and knelt, abandoning futile resistance. Their eyes were filled with fear, bewilderment, and despair for their unknown fate.

On the battlefield, aside from the wind, the crackling of burning flames, and the groans of the wounded, an extraordinary silence fell.

Karl shook the blood from his greatsword and walked over to Angus, looking at the kneeling mass of captives. He frowned: "Angus, how should we deal with these Pig-Headed People and Minotaur?" His meaning was clear; according to the previous order of "no captives," these surrendered soldiers should also be executed.

Angus's gaze slowly swept over the kneeling Orcs, his eyes profound. He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice not loud, but clear enough for the generals around him to hear: "Executing all of them would be a waste."

He raised a finger and pointed to the vast yet barren, undeveloped land around them, then looked towards the direction of the Boar King's tribe in the southwest: "This newly acquired land needs to be developed. Roads need to be laid, mines need to be exploited, fields need to be cultivated... all of this requires a large workforce."

He paused, his tone cold and pragmatic: "Killing them would only bring temporary satisfaction and mountains of corpses. Keeping them, letting them atone for their sins through labor, and sweat their lives away for the Star Sea Territory's reclamation and expansion until their dying breath, is a better 'punishment' for them and a better 'contribution' to this land."

He looked at Karl and the other generals: "Pass down the order: confiscate all captive weapons and guard them strictly. Those severely wounded and useless..." A cold glint flashed in his eyes, "deal with them on the spot."

"What about the Wild Boar Kings Court?" Shirei inquired. The Royal Court still had tens of thousands of Orc women, children, and elderly, which was a huge burden and a potential hidden danger.

Angus had already thought it through and decided: "The army will rest briefly. At dawn tomorrow, we will march to the Wild Boar Kings Court. Within the Royal Court, all who dare to resist, the old and infirm who are unable to work, the worthless burdens... will be eliminated without exception. Only the able-bodied women and children, as well as valuable artisans, will be kept as Slaves, integrated into Labor Camps, and managed uniformly."

His orders were ruthless and efficient, entirely based on the Star Sea Territory's practical interests and long-term rule. Mercy was a luxury here; only iron-blooded pragmatism could establish a foothold in this brutal land.

"Clean up the battlefield as quickly as possible, and tally the results and losses. Commander Batu, the Orc Legion will serve as the vanguard for vigilance. General Ocean, prepare your legion. The rest of you, restrain your troops and guard the captives well." Angus gave his final order, "Tomorrow, we will go to receive our 'spoils of war' and engrave the Star Sea Territory's new order upon this land."