The waiting stretched through the afternoon.

  Scouts maintained continuous observation on the orc settlement, rotating every four hours as Jonah had ordered. Reports filtered back with steady regularity: activity inside the walls, orcs moving between structures, the hunting party from that morning resting in what appeared to be a communal area near the settlement's center.

  The settlement stone stood in the encampment's center, a faintly glowing crystal pillar visible even from the elevated scouting positions. Even at that distance, Jonah felt its presence—a subtle pulse of energy that resonated deep within his mana channels.

  It made his damaged flesh tingle with static.

  That's what we're fighting for. That crystal is humanity's first real foothold on this floor. Everything else is just survival. This is the beginning of growth.

  The sun had passed its zenith and begun its descent toward the horizon when the report finally came.

  "Movement at the gates," the scout's voice carried controlled urgency. "A large group is forming up, looks like they're preparing to head out."

  Jonah was on his feet immediately. "How many?"

  "Counting... twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty. Thirty orcs moving toward the eastern gate."

  The hunting party. Right on schedule, and with the numbers he'd anticipated.

  "Get Derek and Garrett. Tell them it's time."

  The camp erupted into controlled chaos. Three hundred fighters assembled with surprising speed, weapons ready and formations tight. Derek appeared at the head of his contingent, his expression a mask of professional competence that barely concealed the resentment beneath.

  Garrett's people joined them, the big man himself taking position on the formation's left flank.

  "Remember the plan," Jonah addressed both leaders directly. "Position before engagement. Let them pass your initial ambush points before you hit them, catching them in a crossfire they can't escape. No survivors returning to warn the settlement."

  Derek nodded curtly. "We know our jobs."

  Garrett shook his head at Derek's sharp response.

  "Then do them well." Jonah watched the three hundred fighters march toward the forest. "Good hunting."

  The force disappeared into the corrupted trees within minutes, swallowed by the twisted landscape that would become their killing ground. Jonah tracked their movement until even the sound of their passage faded into silence.

  That's Derek contained. Now for the harder part.

  He turned to find Sarah, Liam, and Alexa already assembled with their team: ten fighters hand-picked for stealth and precision. The team who would clear the path for the main assault.

  "The patrols and sentries," Jonah began, "Silent elimination. No alarms, no warnings, Sarah, ensure no survivors escape to the settlement. Can you do it?"

  Sarah's expression was cold and professional. "We can do it."

  Liam's daggers hung at his sides, his Sword Saint class lending his movements a fluidity that hadn't existed a week ago. "The solo scouts will be the challenge. They don't follow normal paths and may be difficult to find."

  "Find them before they find you. I trust you all the most for this task." Jonah met each of their eyes in turn. "This is the most important part of the operation. If even one sentry raises an alarm before we're in position, everything becomes harder, and much bloodier."

  Alexa tightened her grip on her spear. Her stance reflected the Spear Fury's aggression, now tempered by her growing partnership with Liam. "We won't fail."

  "I know you won't."

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  The strike team moved out, their passage through the camp barely disturbing the air. Sarah led them toward the settlement's perimeter, her Ghost Blade abilities rendering her nearly invisible, even to those who knew what to look for.

  Jonah watched them disappear into the corrupted landscape, then turned to address the remaining forces.

  The army had split according to plan. Four hundred fighters remained with Jonah, arrayed in formations honed through days of marching and combat. Chen Wei stood at the head of his hundred, the smaller force tasked with circling around to strike the settlement from the rear.

  "Chen Wei." Jonah approached the young faction leader. "Your objective is the settlement stone. If the frontal assault draws away enough defenders, breach the rear palisade and secure it. Do not engage in prolonged combat. Get in, get the stone, get out."

  Chen Wei's expression revealed nothing. "And if the defenders aren't drawn away?"

  "Then hold position and wait for the frontal assault to create an opening. Don't throw your people against walls they can't breach."

  "Understood."

  Jonah studied him. Chen Wei maintained perfect composure, his well-considered questions probing Jonah's words. He processed every piece of information, filing it away for future use.

  This is a test. He knows it. And he'll pass it, because failing would be stupid. I just hope he doesn't think he can outsmart me.

  "Justin and David will go with you."

  Something flickered behind Chen Wei's eyes—recognition, perhaps, or understanding of why those two had been specifically chosen.

  Justin's lightning could level a building. David's Guardian presence could anchor a defensive line against overwhelming odds. Together, they represented enough combat power to ensure Chen Wei's success,

  And enough to stop him if he tried to claim the settlement stone for himself.

  "I appreciate the support. Their abilities will be valuable for the breach." Chen Wei's voice betrayed none of the calculations unfolding in his mind.

  "They will." Jonah let the statement hang.

  Silence stretched between them.

  "We should move into position. The patrol elimination will take time. We need to be ready when the way is clear," Chen Wei said finally.

  Jonah nodded. "Circle wide. Approach from the northwest. The terrain there offers cover almost to the palisade wall. You should be able to get within fifty meters undetected, if you're careful."

  "If the sentries are eliminated."

  "They will be."

  Chen Wei turned to his hundred fighters, his voice rising with the calm authority that had earned him his position. "Formation! We move quietly, we move quickly. Stand together, men! Humanity demands our victory! Anyone who breaks formation answers to me!"

  The smaller force began its march, curving away from the main army to circle the settlement. Justin walked near the rear, lightning crackling in lazy arcs between his fingers. David took position at the formation's center, his Guardian aura spreading calm through the nervous fighters around him.

  Jonah watched them disappear into the corrupted landscape, then turned to face his remaining army.

  Four hundred men and women stood in orderly lines before him. Not perfect formations, not the precision of a professional military force, but a remarkable improvement compared to the chaos of their first days.

  They held weapons with competence, maintained spacing that allowed for coordinated movement, watched their neighbors, checked their equipment, sharpened their blades even if it wasn't necessary, and did the hundred small things that turned a mob into an army.

  Progress. Visible progress.

  Martinez appeared at his shoulder. "Forces are positioned. Sarah's team is moving on the patrols now. Derek and Garrett should be in ambush position within the hour."

  "Good." Jonah surveyed his prepared army one final time. "When the signal comes, we move fast. Hit the gates before they can organize. Every second of confusion we create is a second they're not coordinating their defense."

  "The men are ready."

  Jonah drew his sword, the blade catching the corrupted sunlight with a gleam that promised violence. This would be a test of his melee skills... which he was not exactly extremely skilled at. But it was perfect. He would learn to use them out of necessity against foes that required true steel. "I know. Now we wait for Sarah to clear our path."

  "Should you be fighting? You're still injured," Martinez said.

  "Keep an eye out for me. I need to unlock melee skills and advance in that path as well. I'm not just a mage."

  Martinez frowned, but said nothing as he turned and left.

  The army settled into disciplined stillness.

  Somewhere in the forest, three hundred fighters were positioning for an ambush that would eliminate a third of the orc forces.

  Somewhere along the settlement perimeter, thirteen fighters were hunting sentries and patrols with silent precision.

  Somewhere on the far side of the encampment, a hundred fighters were circling toward a breach point that would let them strike at the heart of the orc defenses.

  And here, in the shadow of massive boulders that had witnessed the transformation of a world, four hundred humans prepared to assault a fortified position held by creatures that would fight to the death.

  The weight of command settled on Jonah's shoulders, a familiar burden. He was responsible for every life that would be lost in the coming hours; his decisions would determine who lived and who died.

  For forty-nine years, he had carried this weight.

  Once, it had crushed him, on a distant floor against relentless enemies.

  But this was different. Here, against orcs instead of WyrmKin, he could win.

  The settlement stone awaited them, humanity's first true foothold on floor one. Everything they had survived, everything they had built, everything they had sacrificed, had led to this moment.

  Jonah raised his blade, steeling himself for battle. Without spells, he had only the dull thrum of his mana blade.