Roland stared blankly at Raven Hill, his mind a whirl of chaotic thoughts.

"Carlos!" Roland's voice was raw with emotion.

Hearing his lord's call, Carlos shook off a swarm of bats and hurried towards him.

"Send me to Raven Hill!" Roland demanded, his tone fierce.

Carlos, just having landed, nearly fell off the dragon's back. "My king, you want to die with them?" he muttered under his breath, knowing it was suicidal. Even a third-tier great knight like Reynold wouldn't stand a chance.

A loud eagle's cry echoed through the sky.

"The giant eagles are here," Bilbo said, eyes wide with excitement.

"Roar!" Druid Bion transformed into a giant bear, using his natural magic.

"Roar!" With a swift motion, he decapitated a troll, its body crashing through the orc ranks, leaving a trail of destruction. His thick fur provided him with unmatched defense.

The giant eagles dove down, their talons tearing apart the war bats, clearing the sky in an instant.

The brown-robed wizard Radagast waved his staff, releasing wood-type magic. Thick thorns erupted from the ground, ensnaring orcs, as prepared dwarves and Lagrand soldiers swiftly finished them off.

…

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"Break!" Thorin's blade sliced through an orc's neck, and he realized there were no more enemies in front of him.

Bard and Thranduil had also finished off the invading orcs in Riverdale.

Legolas, from his vantage point on the arrow tower, saw only mourning humans and injured elves. He jumped down, stunned by the sudden quiet.

…

Roland landed with a thud, rolling to avoid a potential attack. When he looked up, he saw Carlos's cautious eyes and his heart sank.

On the vast Raven Hill, only Azog's banner remained. Through the smoke, Roland saw the orcs retreating.

"They ran away! My lord!" Carlos said, shaking his head.

"Azog is a coward," Carlos thought to himself.

"Why did they retreat when they had the upper hand?" Roland was perplexed.

"They don't want to face the knights on the plain," Carlos explained. "If the orcs hadn't fled, do you think I would have brought you up here? With the giant eagles and the druid arriving, the orcs had no chance."

"They would lose tens of thousands of troops in this terrain," Carlos continued. "Our knights are not ordinary. These are 100 second-order professionals. The orcs knew they couldn't win without severe losses."

Orcs had their own calculations. They served Sauron to rule Middle Earth, not to decimate their own race. Azog had hoped for a quick raid but encountered unexpected resistance. The arrival of powerful allies and a dragon knight made him reconsider.

Azog suspected the Battle of the Lonely Mountain was a trap. Despite outnumbering their enemies, the presence of formidable foes like paladins, druids, and giant eagles made victory uncertain. So, he chose to retreat and survive.

…

Roland knelt before the corpses of the Swift Stream infantry. They had advanced less than a mile but left behind nearly 2,000 dead orcs and 300 fallen comrades. Each infantryman had fatal wounds in front, a testament to their unwavering charge.

"Azog! I will kill you!" Roland swore, his voice filled with hatred.

The knights and Batanian archers silently moved the bodies of the Swiftstream infantry, their mood somber. These were their brothers, now cold and lifeless.

Roland led the effort to bury the fallen on Raven Hill. They had died stopping the enemy, and now they would guard the mountain in death.

"Congratulations to the host for winning the Lonely Mountain War! Participation is 87%! The system is being updated! The task panel is loading..." The system's voice rang out.

"Update completed! The system has unlocked functions: shopping mall, mission hall, storage."

"The Lone Mountain War rewards are being distributed..." It continued.

"Bonus City: Rapid Town! The host can manifest at any time on land that meets the conditions." The system concluded.

Roland was stunned. After losing 300 rapid soldiers, this reward was a blessing. A town, especially a Rapid Town, was invaluable. Rapid Towns could recruit Swift Infantry, powerful troops crucial for future battles.

Roland planned to establish the town at the mouth of the original Long Lake, the location of Rapid City in the game. He believed it would become a beacon of Lagrand's glory. But first, he needed to discuss compensation with Thorin.

Clapping his hands, Roland mounted his horse and rode towards Thorin and the others, who were gathering the bones of fallen dwarf warriors in front of Elub City.