Two months later, just as all the human kings were setting out for Gondor upon hearing of Sauron's appearance, Arthur also completed his plan.
Actually, his plan was very simple: since the Erdtree indeed needed more people, and the Black Gate had an endless supply of orcs appearing daily, he would just turn these orcs into Soul Runes that could summon Erdtree soldiers.
The more orcs killed, the more soldiers the Erdtree would have, until no more could be summoned.
The only real trouble was the excessive distance between the Erdtree and the Black Gate, and that was precisely the problem Arthur needed to solve.
And solving this problem wasn't difficult; it involved the portal technology previously used when the Red Lion Legion swiftly traveled to Lake-town to participate in the Battle of the Lonely Mountain.
This was also why Arthur confidently requested two months from the Regent of Gondor, as this was the time it would take him to return from Gondor to the Erdtree, and then set out from the Erdtree to establish a portal anchor point at the Black Gate.
After concluding his meeting with the Regent, when Arthur helped Melina onto Torrent's back, he assured the still worried Dihail that support from the Erdtree would arrive within two months, and that Talion and his men just needed to hold out until then.
Though Dihail's worried expression hadn't completely faded, his brows relaxed slightly.
Just moments before, in the hall, when the Regent of Gondor said he could only provide material support, Dihail's heart had sunk.
Although he was young, it didn't mean he couldn't see that the real trouble the Black Gate faced was the constant orc attacks, and the Rangers' limited numbers simply couldn't defend the Black Gate.
Dihail even briefly wondered if Gondor simply didn't want to hold the Black Gate, which was why they allowed things to happen as they did.
But thankfully, Lord Arthur gave him a reassuring word, giving Dihail the courage to report the situation here to his father.
Therefore, two months later, today, when Dihail saw Arthur and Melina suddenly appear in the desolate landscape outside the Black Gate, both Talion and Dihail breathed a sigh of relief.
Perhaps the identity of a "wizard" was just that reassuring to men.
As Arthur re-ascended the towering walls of the Black Gate, he had already noticed the changes here over the past two months.
Firstly, the biggest change was that Talion and the other Rangers no longer had their previous relaxed demeanor; their faces were filled with the exhaustion of long-term combat and the numbness of having to fight the next battle without time to mourn their fallen comrades.
Talion, in particular, had wrinkles covering his forehead, and even his formerly dashing black hair had many silver strands; his leather armor also bore many marks from sword slashes and unwashed black orc blood.
However, the Rangers soon realized that after Arthur and his companions ascended the Black Gate, no other figures had appeared outside the Black Gate for a long time, let alone any reinforcing army.
Even birds in the sky were rare; only the constantly rising and falling wind and sand undulated and stumbled.
Talion noticed that Arthur was still only accompanied by Melina, and, overwhelmed by the orc offensive, he couldn't help but ask, "Lord Arthur, are only you and Miss Melina coming?"
Arthur took a seemingly very heavy large package from the saddle, then recalled Torrent into the whistle.
Hearing Talion's words and meeting his expectant gaze for support, he didn't beat around the bush, but directly reassured him, "Don't worry, Talion, support will arrive directly at the Black Gate through my sorcery."
And Melina calmly added, "Lord Talion, Arthur has never broken his word to a friend; you can rest assured on that point. Or, do you think Arthur would deceive you?"
Arthur looked at Melina with some surprise, and Talion's face immediately showed an apologetic expression: "I didn't mean that…"
Arthur quickly waved his hand: "I know, I know. After all, you haven't seen me use sorcery, so it's understandable to have such doubts when you don't see an army. Alright, let's get down to business. See what I'm carrying? It can solve the Black Gate's troubles. Is there a slightly larger space? I'm afraid there won't be enough room later."
Although Talion still didn't understand what Arthur planned to do, he still found a relatively open spot for him on the city wall.
Arthur noticed traces of many people having lived here, but now it was covered with a thin layer of dust, indicating it hadn't been cleaned for some time.
"About a month ago, this used to be a place where a group of Rangers trained or rested, but they have all died defending the Black Gate these past few days, and their families, to avoid seeing things that would remind them of their loved ones, and for better protection, have moved to another part of the city wall. So feel free to use this place; it won't cause us any trouble," Talion explained, seeing Arthur's confusion.
Arthur nodded, then pondered for a moment, and very seriously instructed Talion: "From now on, do not tell anyone about anything you see, understand?"
He thought for a moment, and even deliberately told Talion a false piece of information: "This sorcery has a limitation: if too many people know about it, it will lose its effect. For the sake of your family and the safety of the Black Gate, you wouldn't want the sorcery to fail and be unable to receive support, would you?"
Seeing Arthur so serious, Talion immediately nodded: "Don't worry, I won't speak of anything I see from now on."
Arthur had originally intended to continue concealing the existence of the portal technology, but since the portal was on the Black Gate, Talion and the other Rangers would eventually discover this secret.
Rather than hide it, it was better to tell Talion from the start and ask him not to speak of it.
With Melina's help, the stone tablet portal was quickly and securely fixed to the city wall ground. Then, Arthur, following the method his master Sellen had taught him from memory, channeled his magic power to successfully activate the portal.
And the moment the portal activated, the stardust-like magic began to surge, and then a familiar figure wearing silver armor stepped out.
It was Bernal.
Behind him, the portal's light still shone brightly, and Igon and Millison appeared in succession, followed by the Golden Legion of Royal Capital Leyndell, Leyndell Knights in golden armor, carrying long spears and tower shields, appearing one after another.
Then came the Leyndell soldiers, each carrying a sharp King's Army Straight Sword and a sturdy brass shield.
From Talion's perspective, Arthur cast sorcery on that strange stone tablet, and then more and more soldiers began to appear, until finally, two golden-armored knights, nearly four meters tall, riding towering warhorses, emerged, and only then did the stone tablet's light slowly dim.
Two months ago, the orc souls Arthur collected at the Black Gate had all summoned warriors belonging to the Royal Capital Leyndell army after he returned.
Because when it came to defending a city, no army was more skilled than the Leyndell Legion.