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After the Battle of the Thundering Marshes, the barbarians suffered the loss of over two hundred thousand troops. Although for the barbarians, who are a nation where every able-bodied person is a soldier, these troops included more than half of the elderly and women, the total population of the barbarians, which is no more than eight hundred thousand, can now muster only about one hundred thousand young and strong warriors. Including the available women, elderly, and children, they have no more than two hundred thousand soldiers ready for battle. Moreover, the combat strength of these forces is far from matching that of the regular troops who have already perished.

Barbarians claim to be the descendants of frost giants, and the harsh winter season should have been their time to thrive. The barbarian guerrilla units that roamed the forests and snowy plains were once the nightmare of the orc legions. However, as the situation changed, this scenario was reversed. Even the barbarians who lived in the ice fields all year round could not find enough food in the icy winter. Previously, relying on the support of six fortresses scattered across the ice fields, grain would be continuously transported to hundreds of hidden supply points on the ice fields, and the barbarian guerrilla units would rely on these supplies to fight. But now all six fortresses have fallen into the hands of the orcs. Not only can they not provide any supplies, but they have also become the base for the orcs. A large number of cold-resistant elite troops continue to rely on the fortresses to carry out large-scale sweeps of the scattered barbarian tribes on the ice fields. From the beginning of winter to the approach of early spring, more than 200,000 families of barbarian tribes have been exterminated or captured by the orcs. The prisoners were sent to the rear to become slaves. With the unique forced selection of bloodlines by the orcs, it is easy to gradually integrate these excellent groups into their own racial blood.

The Temple's hierarchy is now aware that the Orc Alliance, after years of preparation, would be difficult to counter once they launch an offensive, leaving little room for redemption. Consequently, while investigating the theft of the "Doom Horn" and actively providing weapons and supplies to the north, they have also begun to prepare for a contingency plan in the event of failure, striving to ensure that the barbarians are defeated but not annihilated, giving them the opportunity to quickly rise again after the war. Should the orcs prepare to attack the human world, they would be able to immediately reclaim the ice plains.

With the astonishing reproductive capacity of the barbarians, restoring their population is merely a matter of time. The key lies in finding a place to preserve the barbarian lineage. The human world is out of the question; their system is formidable enough to rival that of the orcs, and their reproductive capabilities are so fearsome that even the orcs are intimidated. Should they be allowed into the human world, it would be uncertain whether they could be expelled in the future. The only viable option is the tundra to the far north of the ice plains. Fortunately, over the years, the barbarians have learned from the failures of their predecessors and have stockpiled a significant amount of food on the tundra. Centuries of accumulation, coupled with the aid of the tundra's harsh cold, have built a considerable reserve. With further assistance from humans, they should be able to sustain themselves for a while.

At present, the barbarians on the ice plains number less than four hundred thousand. Although the main force is assembled at the hub between the ice plains and the tundra, guarding the Hurricane Fortress in the Crystal Grand Canyon, and some of the elderly and young have begun to retreat to the tundra, the situation was reversed too abruptly. Many scattered tribes were unable to retreat in time and were cornered by orcs in other parts of the ice plains. Thus, only tens of thousands were able to retreat successfully. This is enough for the barbarians to preserve the spark of their race, but for humans, it is far from sufficient to become a restraining force in the future battles.

"Therefore, to prepare for the worst-case scenario, we have proposed the final contingency plan, the Third Plan, in addition to the first plan 'Coordinated Defense' and the second plan 'Retreat and Lurk'. Due to the involvement of many secrets of the Temple, the details of this plan cannot be disclosed to everyone at the moment. However, His Holiness the Pope has agreed to this last resort plan," the Gold Badge High Priest said, glancing back at the Pope, who imperceptibly nodded his head. He continued, "The Temple has always regarded barbarians as an important shield to protect the human world, so this time the Temple will also fully commit to the northern operations. Next, I will assign tasks to those who will participate in the plan. To ensure success, everyone will only be informed about their part of the plan. For the future of the human world, please do not mind."

Afterward, High Priest Dàwèi Lǐān distributed the plans in his hands one by one. Surprisingly, more than half of those present were involved. Knight Apu and Knight Lansino, along with myself, were assigned to the same mission—led by Knight Apu, to protect a significant individual on a journey to the ice plains.

I don't know who this important person is, but from the deployment of the mission, I have a vague feeling that this person should be an important part of the so-called third plan.If I were really a human Holy Grail Knight, these plans would have nothing to do with me, but since I am an orc and I know about the possible plans of the Temple against orcs, I naturally have the obligation to find out the truth.But now is not the time to find out. Anyway, the Knight Apu in charge of the mission should know some inside information, and he will naturally be able to find out some clues at that time.

The entire Temple has been activated in an urgent mobilization. The once seemingly empty and tranquil Saint Spirit Mountain has suddenly become extremely noisy. People from outside, those running out from various institutions and courtyards, and those who usually live in seclusion for cultivation have all been mobilized. This has allowed me to witness the strength that the Temple has accumulated over hundreds of years. Experts, mages, and extraordinary individuals emerge endlessly. All kinds of strategic materials, magical weapons, precise maps, and detailed information are available. Moreover, human and material resources have been gathered from supporters in various empires. Just to suppress the North Sea Fleet of the Orc Alliance, three fleets have been assembled, and other preparatory work is being carried out at an astonishing speed and scale.

The mission I am assigned to is part of the later stages, so it will be another month before we set out. By the time we reach the Northern Ice Fields, it will be around May or June, just as summer begins there, and the decisive battle for the fate of the ice fields will officially commence. Naturally, I cannot bring Jin Luosha with me to the battlefield, but I also cannot leave her at Saint Spirit Mountain with peace of mind, as I may choose to revert to my orcish identity during the war in the Northern Country. Leaving Jin Luosha at the Temple would be a significant hindrance to me.

Fortunately, the young girl proved to be quite capable. Over the past half year, she not only managed to study magic and divine arts independently, without the assistance of her Temple instructors, but also, with the help of "Dragon's Blood Wine" and the Sacred Beetle, advanced her magical power to the ninth level. This advancement allowed her to further master the power of the Sacred Beetle and gain the ability to freely enter and exit the "River Styx Tower," an extraplanar Magic Tower belonging to the Twelve Sages. As long as she could locate the spatial coordinates left by the Twelve Sages on the Mainland, she could use a spatial magic array to teleport into the Magic Tower where the Crystal Dragon was created, and then exit from another location. Such spatial coordinates exist not only in the human world but also within the territory of the Orc Alliance, naturally making them the best escape routes.