The card was about the size of a driver's license, its surface a hazy, indistinct blur with no visible information or patterns. But the moment Orion's fingers touched it, he knew exactly what it was.

It was a Rebirth Card, a true artifact.

By channeling a mere sliver of his soul into it, he could generate a projection of himself in a special, alternate plane of existence.

In other words, Orion could control this projection to establish his own faction in another world, harvesting even more faith. And best of all, this method was completely foolproof, a zero-risk operation.

"Now this is a hell of a gift," he murmured.

He had to admit, the item Arthas had given him was exponentially more valuable than the boons from the Deputy Commander and Alexander. Orion could see the difference clearly. Arthas had given him a permanent, sustainable channel for acquiring faith. It wasn't a one-time boost; it was a steady, inexhaustible stream.

"I owe him big for this one."

After equipping his Deathly Soul-Reaper with a few more contingencies, Orion allowed his main body to sink back into its deep slumber.

His plan was now simple, divided into three prongs.

First, his true body would dedicate the majority of its focus to slumber, continuing to comprehend the other two Lord's Stones. This was the path he had chosen for his core progression, and for now, it was unchangeable.

Second, the Deathly Soul-Reaper would shoulder the responsibility of forging a path for the Stoneheart Horde into the Abyss. From there, it would proceed to the sixth layer in search of the Abyssal Springhead.

Finally, his avatar stationed at Leonidas's palace would lead the remainder of the Stoneheart Horde's forces to conquer the three Godforsaken Lands that Alexander had marked for him.

But before any of that, he needed to prepare and allocate his forces.

***

Emerald Dream Realm, Leonidas's Palace.

The mirrored avatar, a mirror image of Orion that had been in slumber, awoke and teleported directly to Lorelia City. An invasion of the Godforsaken Lands would require cannon fodder, and that meant he needed Soraya.

"Soraya," Orion's voice echoed down into the subterranean main nest, "prepare your forces. In one month, we invade."

The command startled Soraya, who was overseeing the hatching of new small scorpions, but she recovered instantly.

"Understood!"

***

Titanion Realm, the Northern Glaciers.

When Orion's telepathic command reached her, Lumi led a squad of her sword-maidens out of the Ice Phoenix Palace. As a lord of elemental life, she was a key part of his new deployment. With a wave of her sleeve, a flurry of wind and snow lifted her and her retinue into the air, carrying them swiftly toward Blackstone City.

The Sea, Aenari Island.

Marina pulled a purple conch shell from her robes as Orion's voice drifted out from it.

"Marina, return to Stoneheart City. There's a new campaign."

"Of course," she replied without hesitation. He hadn't specified the details, and she hadn't asked. Trust was the foundation of their partnership. She found Rendall and Drakthul, gave them instructions regarding the island's ongoing development, and teleported back to Stoneheart.

***

The next morning, in the main castle.

It was a rare sight. Orion's five consorts—Lilith, Soraya, Lumi, Marina, and Sylvana—were gathered in one room, a stunning collection of power and beauty. The most awkward person present was, by far, the dwarf Harbek, who stood off to the side, looking entirely out of place among the Legendary-level women.

Orion, having roused himself from his deep meditation, addressed them. His aura was heavier now, his voice colder and tinged with the aloofness of supreme command.

"Lilith, you will remain in Stoneheart City and oversee all Horde affairs. Sylvana will assist you."

"As you command," they replied in unison.

"Harbek," he continued, turning to the dwarf, "you will take the portal to Blackstone City and assume command of the Bureau of Weapons. Your mission is to push forward the standardized development of our transformative weapons. Upon its completion, the dwarf race will be granted a fiefdom north of Stoneheart City."

Harbek dropped to one knee, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Harbek will not fail the task you have given, my lord!"

The dwarf race had few opportunities to prove their worth since joining the Stoneheart Horde. He needed this chance to earn merit and gain the trust of his new comrades. Entrusting him with a place as vital as the Bureau of Weapons was the ultimate sign of Orion's faith in him.

"Soraya, Lumi, Marina. You have one month to prepare. You will march with me to the Godforsaken Lands."

The order landed, and everyone immediately understood. This was the reason for the summons. The upcoming war was the main event.

With three of his top female commanders being deployed, Lilith and Harbek would now serve as the northern and southern anchors of the Tribe's defense. In truth, if Gustalon, Dirtclaw, Lorelia, and his sister Clymene weren't all tied down on the front lines in the Silverwood Realm, he wouldn't need to send this "women's regiment" to conquer an otherworldly plane.

"Furthermore," Orion added, "commanders Selenis, Jarex, Slagor, Gurnar, Arden, Lycan, Rolan, Tarn, and Hammerhoof will be transferred to your command. They will lead two cannon fodder troops and two regular armies on this expedition."

Of the names, Lycan was the least familiar to most. He was the former Skytalon Tribe lord from the early days in Thunderwood Forest, a master at taming flying beasts. Though not often on the front lines, he and his tribe had earned significant battle achievements, allowing him to trade for several Alpha-level resources and advance his power. Rolan, his recently promoted Alpha-level disciple, was another name of note; Orion intended to temper him under his direct supervision.

"This is the first territory we will conquer," Orion said, unrolling a map of the Godforsaken Land. He and his commanders bent over the table, and the war council began in earnest.

***

Meanwhile, to the north, in the Abyssal Chasm.

While Orion's true body planned the invasion with his leadership, his Deathly Soul-Reaper avatar was already riding an abyssal dragon deep into the darkness of the underground caves. This had once been the lair of the Gareth. In its deepest part lay a sizable tributary of the Abyss itself.

The Stoneheart Horde had a similar, albeit much smaller, tributary in Moonshadow Valley. But that valley now served as the Horde's main military encampment—a critical strategic location that could not be compromised.

With Blackstone City situated just outside it, Orion had ultimately decided to establish the gateway to the Abyss here, in the colder, more desolate Abyssal Chasm. This place was now fated to become another forbidden zone of the Stoneheart Horde. Once he opened the path to the first layer of the Abyss, his armies would pour through.

The abyssal dragon moved steadily through the darkness, the howling of wind from the deeper caverns giving the place an eerie atmosphere. After what felt like an eternity, it reached the end of the caves, stopping at the edge of a pitch-black pool of water.

This was the entrance.

Without hesitation, the dragon, with the Deathly Soul-Reaper on its back, slowly submerged itself into the inky depths.

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