The direct disciples fought for a few more hours into the night. Nearly exhausting all of their aura reserves while they pushed their bodies to the limit, only stopping when they all decided that they had their fill.

Souls: 97 -> 132

As the priests and healers brought them back from the brink of exhaustion, Hektor simply smiled once more as he clicked a button.

[A random Low-Class Minion preset has been unlocked.]

[Bulky Imp- Cost:1,000 Mana, 5 Souls]

'As far as I know, they're lesser demons with the ability to summon balls of fire.' He thought to himself while the troops at the camp enjoyed their dinner. He poured some of the stew onto a bowl while he listened to the discourse.

Tarik and Garnesh were back at each other's throats while Paul did his best to calm them down. The rest of the other disciples and most of the soldiers who saw their display seemed to watch the four of them closely. Whispers like "They're the next generation." Or "The master truly does know how to pick disciples" were amongst the things that Hektor heard.

'If we get a day off then I'll surely test this summon out.'

Souls: 132 -> 107

"Fwoooo." Hektor whistled, calling in a few of his birds. "I need you to watch the northern front, if anything larger than a regular goblin pops up then wake everyone up."

Hektor and the rest of the other soldiers slept soundly that night, knowing that goblin waves were the only threats that would bother them that night.

The next day started off in a similar manner.

[A soul has been added to your collection.] The other disciples under Hektor moved with more vigor, doing their best not to burden their squad leader.

Squawk. Squawk.

"Fall back, The ORCS HAVE ARRIVED!" Hektor shouted out as the others began to run.

"You heard him, SOUND THE ALARM!" A drafted soldier barked out as the bells rang. It was finally time for the spellcasters to do their part.

The ground began to shake, running from right behind the small line of goblins were the hulking figures of the orcs. Said to have the strength of ten men and the constitution of a boar, these green-skinned monsters are a challenging foe even for the more experienced soldiers. The only soldiers that can face such creatures are ones that have fully grasped the basics and even then the odds are not stacked in their favour.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Defense against the orc forces can be said to be well-practiced in the north. Using their walls and their more skilled warriors as shields, the Markluzian Mages take this opportunity to use magic that counteracts the regenerative abilities of the orc. With the main spells in use being flame magic.

[Breath of Fire] a spell that constantly channels one's mana with a lack of control it will keep doing so until the spellcaster has fully ran out. Multiple spellcasters from above the makeshift watchtowers casted this same spell.

A sea of fire, a spectacle that the commoner soldiers would have to get used to soon enough.

Hektor and the rest of the other aura users stayed near the barriers with the goal of picking off whatever got through.

A few of the orcs did manage to go through. The smell of burnt flesh and iron filled the air, the soldiers could hardly breathe due to the burnt up oxygen in the area. Yesterday, they had to push themselves to even break a sweat. This time around the environment and opponents alone made it a tall task from the beginning.

Those that got through came barrelling in. Forcing their way to the disciples.

Paul pushed forward shield in hand blocking the orc's battleaxe. While holding his ground and managing to even somewhat pushback, it was obvious that he was struggling.

Soon enough Garnesh and Tarik came in, one from each of Paul's sides. Pincering the orc with their own respective Aura-enhanced blades.

"To think that our Master takes care of these things all on his own." Paul commented only to see that on his right Hektor already took down the other two stragglers.

Tarik charged forward positioning himself near the flames. After just a few more minutes of waiting the flames finally died down. The spellcasters from behind them ran out of mana.

While the wave of flames managed to take down more than 30 of the green goliaths, it was obvious that the fight was only beginning.

This front had over three hundred men if the drafted soldiers were involved, with those kinds of numbers taking care of a horde of goblins was light work. But to follow protocol these same soldiers must not face against the orcs, with only 30 or so aura users it was an uphill battle from there.

With most of the regular soldiers and mercenaries under the prince and directly dealing with the orc hordes, it is expected of them to take care of these "smaller" threats with only the bare minimum.

Hektor watched as at least a fifty more of them walked forward. "I see."

"Fwoooooo." Hektor called out to the birds in the vicinity with his left hand raised.

"Finally getting serious huh?" Asked Tarik while he motioned for the other two disciples to look.

"This is what I've been telling you two about." Tarik then took out a dagger, he now carried a sword on his right hand and a dagger on his left.

In their spars together, no one has ever forced Hektor to get serious. The closest one has been Tarik but even he hasn't forced Hektor to use the crows. Only Tarik and those that were present during the day of the trial even caught a glimpse of this state.

Hektor's whistles would soon stop as dozens of birds began to fly around him.

"It's almost like they are a part of him." Paul commented.

"Well, no matter. We have to keep going. You two better not fight this time around!" Paul called out to both Garnesh and Tarik.

Souls: 107 -> 123