Chapter 637 638: Ents of Fangorn Forest

"I need more territory and resources to produce Orcs…"

After more than a decade of continuous experimentation, Saruman, in Isengard, had extracted a more powerful, primitive Orc gene by fusing Orc and human genes.

However, Orcs required a large amount of underground ore and blood and flesh sediment as nutrients.

"Go, flatten the forest before you, and plunder its resources to your heart's content—"

Ultimately, his infinitely expanding desires led Saruman to set his sights on Fangorn Forest, directly in front of Isengard.

In his view, any bloody accumulation was worthwhile for a greater goal.

After all, compared to Orcs, who were only five feet tall, hunched over, and appeared timid, Orcs, rapidly cultivated from ore and blood and flesh sediment, not only possessed the powerful physique of Orcs but also intelligence no less than that of humans.

Saruman believed that as long as he produced enough Orcs, he could sweep across Middle-earth with this powerful army.

"Roar—"

The Orc army, over six feet tall and robust, raised their weapons and roared as they marched towards Fangorn Forest after receiving Saruman's command.

Yes, in just a few days, Saruman, returning from Mordor, had cultivated another army of several thousand Orcs using the resources at hand.

Moreover, through training, these intelligent Orcs had also learned simple coordinated combat.

Watching the Orcs efficiently and quickly cut down large swathes of the forest, Saruman nodded in satisfaction before slowly walking back to the wizard's high tower behind him.

…

"What should we do? Those monsters have started cutting down trees, and a large number of animals are being captured and killed by them…"

"I knew that mysterious wizard wasn't a good thing. Why don't we rush out and fight him…"

"…"

Fangorn Forest, like Tom's Old Forest, was a magical forest.

A group of walking, talking Ents lived here.

At this moment, upon discovering the Orc's invasion of the forest, these Ents' tree-like faces were filled with rage.

"Now is not the time. Those monsters have sharp blades that can threaten our lives. Rushing out like this would be like moths flying into a flame…"

The ancient Ent named Treebeard spoke, dissuading his kin.

The Ent race was the earliest intelligent race in Middle-earth, and their height could reach over thirty feet.

In terms of individual combat strength, they were undoubtedly stronger than the Orcs.

But no matter how strong they were, their bodies were made of wood and could be cut by large axes and sharp blades.

Furthermore, there were fewer than a hundred Ents here in total, and most were slow-moving. Once thousands of Orcs found an opportunity to drag them into a prolonged battle, their demise would only be a matter of time.

"Then what should we do? Are we just going to watch those monsters destroy the forest?" The tall, thin young Ent, Quickbeam, asked indignantly.

Just as Tom's power came from the Old Forest, the Ents' power also came from Fangorn Forest.

The Orcs destroying the forest were undoubtedly digging up the Ents' "roots."

And although the Ents possessed intelligence, in their perception, they were no different from the other trees in the forest; everyone was family.

The Orcs cutting down trees was harming their family.

"Wait!" Old Ent Treebeard said, "The situation here will surely be discovered by others outside. When someone comes to stop those monsters, that will be our chance to counterattack."

This was undoubtedly the wisest decision.

"How long do we have to wait? There must be a time limit. What if no one comes from outside?" Quickbeam asked again.

Every minute they waited, countless large trees in Fangorn Forest were cut down.

If Fangorn Forest was truly flattened, the power the Ents relied on would also disappear, and it would be too late to resist then.

"Let's wait a little longer…" Old Ent Treebeard's face also showed a hint of sadness, implying a sense of resignation to fate.

…

On the other side, Mike, in a hurry, flew directly into the sky, crossing the mountains to reach the skies above Fangorn Forest.

"Are those human weapons? It seems Saruman took a lot of good things from the previous King Théoden, Thengel…" The magical fluctuations in the forest below made Mike notice the Orcs cutting down trees.

Their weapons and armor were no worse than those of Rohan's regular army.

Such a well-equipped Orc army, if placed on a human battlefield, would definitely be a terrifying existence, capable of fighting ten to one.

"Thengel, you really know how to put your own son in a difficult position." Mike sighed, then slowly descended.

Since he encountered them, Mike naturally wouldn't leave such a well-equipped Orc army to reach the human front lines.

After all, for ordinary people, such an army was simply too destructive.

"Who are you?"

Seeing someone descend from the sky, the Orcs in Fangorn Forest quickly surrounded him.

Being quite intelligent, they clearly sensed that Mike was not to be trifled with, so they formed a battle array and did not immediately launch an attack.

"I've come to collect you." Mike said no more, waving his hands to summon countless vines, which swept towards the Orcs.

In the magic-filled Fangorn Forest, his wood element abilities could be fully utilized.

Mike had secretly learned this move from Tom in the Old Forest.

Countless vines formed a large net, binding a large number of Orcs, squeezing and squeezing them.

Amidst roars and wails, the Orcs caught in the vines were quickly crushed into pulp.

However, Mike's brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.

These Orcs were nothing to him, but Mike could feel that this Orc army was much stronger than Orcs.

Their strength was roughly between Orcs and Trolls.

If they were heavily armored and encountered humans on a frontal battlefield, their lethality might not be any worse than that of Mountain Trolls.

"In that case, I certainly can't let you live." Just imagine, thousands of Orcs, whose strength was comparable to Mountain Trolls, charging at human towns; probably few people could withstand them.

Thinking of that scene, Mike immediately summoned more vines and attacked the surrounding Orcs.

As for the Orcs, although they possessed intelligence no less than that of humans, having Orc genes, they also had a wild side deep down.

The deaths of many of their kind not only failed to scare them but the blood further stimulated their ferocity.

Thus, it was seen that after a large number of Orcs died, even more Orcs charged at Mike.

One after another, wave after wave…

Before long, under the strangulation of the vines, the scene became a blood and flesh furnace.

…

"Boss Treebeard, a human is fighting those monsters. The opportunity we've been waiting for has appeared." Because Quickbeam was faster than the other Ents, he volunteered to scout the Orc's movements.

Just now, he had witnessed Mike summoning vines to strangle the Orcs.

Quickbeam quickly realized that this was the opportunity the Ents had been waiting for.

"How many humans came, and what's the situation now?" As the oldest Ent, Treebeard was essentially the leader of the Ents.

Compared to the young Ent, Quickbeam, he considered issues from a longer-term perspective.

"Just… just one, but that human is very strong. He killed many monsters with vines. No one is his match…" Quickbeam recounted what he had seen, finally saying, "Let's act! If we miss this chance, Fangorn Forest might truly be beyond saving!"

Just as Quickbeam said, at the Orc's tree-cutting speed, it wouldn't be long before Fangorn Forest was flattened.

When that time came, even if no humans came to help, the Ents would ultimately choose to launch a death charge against the Orc army.

Now, with a powerful external ally, the situation was already very good for the Ent race.

Treebeard turned to look at his kin around him, finding that their faces were filled with hope, clearly having been swayed by Quickbeam.

"In that case…" Treebeard said in a deep voice, "All Ents, move out!!!"

Compared to his kin, Treebeard's hatred for the Orcs was no less.

Thus, under his leadership, the Ents marched out of the depths of the jungle in a mighty procession, heading towards the battlefield.