Lord Evolution: Starting With SS-rank Skills

However, what they never considered while making this plan was -- What if Winterseed was prepared?

Thus, when they saw the army stationed far away, their expressions crumbled in shock.

Captain Waga and the other captains were the first to spot the soldiers, as they were looking ahead cautiously, unlike Lord Fagin, who was busy devouring a large piece of meat while riding alongside.

At first, they thought it was just their imagination, as they never expected an army to be stationed in the middle of the forest. But as they looked closer, and with the help of the dim moonlight, they realized it wasn't an illusion -- it was real!

"What?! Why are they here?" Waga was the first to react.

"Didn't that bastard spy say they wouldn't take any action until the day after tomorrow?" another captain asked in disbelief.

"Does this mean he's been betraying us all this time, feeding us false information?" a third captain speculated.

Only after the captains began discussing the situation did Fagin understand what was happening. Tearing his focus from the meat, he looked ahead and saw a small army stationed there. Even though it was thirty times smaller than his own, it still took him by surprise.

His expression crumbled instantly, and he cursed, "That bastard has been lying to us all along!" Turning to Waga, he added, "Make sure to catch that guy and bring him to me. I'll kill him myself to teach him a lesson."

While Glenwood's soldiers reacted, Rowan smirked and signaled his men to get ready. Then he pulled the reins and rode his horse forward towards Glenwood army, fearlessly.

Glenwood's soldiers barely reacted, even as they saw Rowan riding toward them. They didn't see him as a threat, but rather as prey they could easily defeat.

Fagin watched Rowan's approach with disgust.

"You're just as fat as the descriptions," Rowan mocked as he neared.

"YOU!!!" Fagin's bulky frame flinched with rage.

But Rowan ignored his reaction and continued moving closer.

"You and your people should be ashamed for taking control of a small, defenseless village just because their lord was ill," Rowan continued, berating them without restraint.

He took every opportunity to mock Fagin's obesity and ridicule their cowardice and foolishness, saying everything he knew would get under their skin.

Waga and the other captains argued back, laughing at Rowan's physique, mocking his village, and even ridiculing his father for being an irresponsible man who abandoned his duties, leaving them in the hands of a weak son.

Their verbal exchange lasted for about two minutes.

At this point, Rowan was only a few meters away, standing face-to-face with Fagin, completely fearless.

Fagin scoffed, "You talk a lot for a naive fool who doesn't even have full control over his village."

"I think you meant control over *your* village," Rowan smirked, then continued, "If your village is as strong as you claim, how did five innocent and 'weak' women escape? How did your strongest captain, Stanis, lose to me? And why doesn't even your adviser believe in you?"

Rowan dropped bomb after bomb.

In battle, one underhanded technique is to erode the opponent's confidence, shattering their morale and making them lose hope. This forces them to make reckless, unplanned decisions, inevitably leading to a humiliating defeat.

This was Rowan's plan exactly.

And, as expected, his words had a powerful effect.

Through his night vision, Rowan saw the disbelief on the faces of Glenwood's soldiers when they heard that Stanis had been defeated. It was clear that their faith had been in him.

As for Fagin, his face twisted in rage as he barked loudly, "So, Ren's with you, huh? I knew it! That bastard! After I'm done killing you and your men, I'll deal with him personally. And as for those women? I'll drag them back and make them suffer like never before."

Ren and Liara heard his words, but it only deepened their hatred and anger. They silently prayed for Fagin's swift and painful demise.

Meanwhile, Glenwood's soldiers grew enraged over Fagin's threats against their beloved sisters. Bruce gritted his teeth, vowing to cut off Fagin's tongue for his vile words.

As for Rowan, he laughed mockingly and fired back with a sharp retort: "You're going to punish my women with that tiny little thing of yours? I heard it's about as small as a two-year-old's."

Fagin immediately flushed with shame, his face reddening in embarrassment.

Some of the captains beside him struggled to keep straight faces after hearing Rowan's brutal jab.

As Fagin's anger continued to grow, a quest was triggered.

----[ QUEST ]----

**BRIEFING**: The Lord of Glenwood harbors a deep hatred for you and your people. With his army, he plans to overrun your territory and burn it to the ground.

- Objective 1: Defeat the Glenwood army with fewer than 10% casualties on your side.

- Objective 2: Take down 3 out of 8 of Glenwood's captains.

- Objective 3: Take the head of Glenwood's Lord.

**REWARDS**:

X1 Common-grade Territory Box

X1 Wheel Ticket

Unlock WHEEL feature

1,000,000 Evolution Points

----

Rowan smirked and turned his gaze toward Fagin.

Fagin was already fuming. His soldiers had drawn their swords, ready for battle. The captains lifted their hands, ready to signal any second.

"Since you love to run your mouth, I'll save you for last. I'll let my army slaughter your little group first, and then we'll see if you can keep talking," Fagin grinned.

He nodded at Waga.

Waga quickly signaled the other captains, who in turn signaled their soldiers. The sound of swords being unsheathed filled the air, spreading across the forest in the dead of night.

Rowan lifted his hand to signal his own soldiers, his eyes still locked on Fagin. "Let's have a fair fight," he said coldly.

He then rode back to his troops, who were ready for battle. "Draw your swords, men of Winterseed! Now is the time to prove yourselves worthy! The time to show your strength and make your ancestors proud."

The more Rowan spoke, the more his soldiers' confidence surged. Notifications of their rising morale popped up with each word.

Winterseed's soldiers gripped their swords tightly and took battle-ready stances. As they steadied themselves, thoughts of their families and loved ones filled their hearts, as the faces of those loved ones appeared in their heart, a supernatural boost in confidence and motivation appeared in their hearts! The strength to protect those loved ones appeared as well.

The atmosphere turned deadly serious in an instant.

The captains and soldiers hidden from Glenwood's view also braced themselves for the coming battle. Bryce and the other captains ensured their soldiers were ready while paying attention to the brewing chaos about to erupt.

As both sides prepared, Rowan and Fagin locked eyes with each other with menacing gazes, one was smug and the other bright with schemes!

With a loud voice, they let out in unison!

"ENGAGE!!"