With the fortresses in Seregost and Núrnen dealt with, it was time for the group to deal with the Nazgûl in their own territory. That territory? Gorgoroth, the heart of Mordor, at the base of Mount Doom. A wasteland that was filled with fire and brimstone, and had chasms filled with lava.
"Oh man… it's so hot here!" Michiru panted as she was sweating.
"That's what happens when you've got fur on ya." Nemo said.
"Say, are you guys gonna be okay? You're aquatic Beastmen, aren't you worried this place is gonna dry you out?" Johnny asked Le Kraken.
"Don't be silly, of course we won't." Tida said. "They're not that close to their animal counterparts, and I've got ways around that."
"Oh yeah, how can you move around on land anyway?" Koening asked.
"That's easy. See this ring?" Tida pointed to an aquamarine ring on her left pointer finger. "It lets me move around like I'm in the ocean. I was planning to have it as my wedding band, but now that I'm part of this crew, I'm just wearing it now."
"Oh, okay." Ethox nodded. "Makes sense."
"Moving on to our mission, we must prepare for our final assault." Eltariel spoke up. "The Nazgûl will not go down without a fight."
"Agreed." a voice said as a black smoke appeared in front of them and shifted into the form of Talion.
"What's up, Dead-ringer?" Seiya asked.
"I'm gathering our forces for the assault on the Nazgûl's fortress." Talion answered. "My spies claim that the sisters are preparing to send a message to Onigashima, offering their aid to the Beast Pirates. We must storm them before that happens."
"Alright, whaddya need us to do?" Nemo said.
"First, see if you can recruit a rogue Uruk that's been sighted in this area. He has talents in burrowing and rallying Ghûls to his side. He might be useful." Talion said.
"And the other thing has to be related to the Warbands we've been taking out, right?" Neumann asked.
"Yes. This one is of the Feral Tribe. They're claiming rights to Gorgoroth, but they could pose a danger. Taking them down is sure to greaten our chances of success." Talion said.
"Got it. First thing we'll do then is find this Uruk. Know where we can look?" Ethox asked.
"He seems to be following Ar-Kaius's work." Talion said. "He's set up a camp near a cave, not too far from here. Start there."
"Alright, let's go!" Ethox said.
The group ventured through Gorgoroth before arriving at the cave Talion mentioned. No sooner did they get close to the cave before something started burrowing out near them. Out of the dirt came a white skinned uruk covered in gravel. He was shirtless for the most part, wearing a sort of kilt with fangs on it with the usual sandals. He wore some necklaces and a Ghûl carcass adorned his head and arms. He dusted the gravel off his head as he presented himself to the group.
Golm the Digger
Feral Trickster
"You're that Elf and those adventurers I've heard them talk about. Come to kill everything in Mordor, have ya?" Golm asked, not waiting for an answer. "Good. Everything moving around up here makes a horrible racket down below!"
"Down below?" Eltariel asked.
"You all should see it under there! Beautiful." Golm sighed. "At least it was, until that lunatic started building his "glorious future." Time to bring that crashing down!"
"Wait, lunatic? You couldn't be referring to-?" Darkness started.
"Get away from there, you rowdy!" they heard the familiar voice of Ar-Kaius as he suddenly appeared. "You are standing in the way of my masterwork!"
"I am standin' for those you would crush beneath your infernal industry - and soon they too will rise up against you!" Golm protested.
The group looked at the scene, obviously concluding they were in the middle of a feud.
"This "glorious future" is beginning to give me pause." Galadriel said to Eltariel.
"(Beginning to?)" Eltariel responded.
"I'm thinkin we should pick a side here, guys." Koenig said.
"Well it's pretty obvious which one." Kazuma said.
"Kazuma's right. We turn our backs on Ar-Kaius, we lose a hand in building ships." Goblin Slayer agreed.
"Right. Maybe Golm will listen to us even though we'll- oh, who am I kidding? He's gonna try and kill us." Ultra said
"Might as well get this over with then." Tanya said as they all joined Ar-Kaius.
"There, you see?" Ar-Kaius asked triumphantly. "Unlike you shovel-twirling layabout, these ones can appreciate my vision of a gloriously constructed kingdom!"
"Madness!" Golem shouted. "The under-folk will punish you all for your transgressions!"
With that, a horde of Ghûls crawled out of the ground, prepared to rip the group to shreds…
…only to be instantly charred to the bone of a bird-shape flame.
"Yeah, don't feel like dealing with a bunch of dirt-eating Ghûls." Seiya stated. "Plus, I need to give Automatic Phoenix the practice. Don't want to get rusty with it."
"You shoulda just stayed underground." DJ said. "Now here comes the pain!"
With Seiya's Automatic Phoenix roasting any Ghûl that tried to come to Golm's aid, it was child's play for the group to gang up on the Digger and take him down. He was dealt a swift end as Eltariel disintegrated him with Galadriel's Light.
"Well, guess we can forget about adding an option of attacking Onigashima from underground." Legolia said.
"There was really no way we could work with him anyway." Aqua admitted. "I can't stand being around Ghûls."
"Well, that was a detour." Kazuma said. "What say we go get those Warchiefs leading that Feral Tribe Warband now?"
"Good thinking, Kazuma. Everyone knows the routine?" Mirror Match asked.
"Yeah, we know." Ultra nodded. "Let's go get those Warchiefs."
The first group to find conflict was Mirror Match's. They were facing down a Hunter Warchief with a avian motif, from the feather dress on his shoulders all the way to his bird shaped helmet. His Spears were also lit aflame.
Shakà of The Burning Wings
Fiery Feral Beastmaster
"You will die upon the plains of Gorgoroth. You will know the fury of the Feral Tribe. You will feel the heat of my wings." Shakà declared.
"Claiming yourself to be like a Phoenix?" Mirror Match asked. "You'll find that heat is not our concern."
Shakà's gang of Savages charged, prompting Mirror match and Molotok to combat them. Meanwhile, the warchief himself faced off with Seiya, Rista right behind him.
"He talks a big game, but he's no phoenix." Seiya said. "We got a pretty easy one here too."
"No kidding. He's heavily weak to Ranged attacks, and he gets stunned by headshots!" Rista said as both were scanning him. "Guess he wouldn't be modeled after a bird if his weaknesses didn't reflect that."
"He really shouldn't have worn that outfit." Seiya remarked. "It gives his weakness away easily."
"Just what are you two talking abou-" Shakà could only get out before he was swiftly skewered by Seiya's 7-shot Shining Arrow, knocking him down as he was turned into a pincusion.
"Nothing that concerns a dead Uruk trying to imitate a bird." Seiya said. "Consider yourself grounded permanently."
Another hunter captain, this one in full armor, faced down Eltariel's group.
Stakûga Stone-Hive
Poisonous Feral Commander
"The Feral tribe will rule Gorgoroth!" Stakûga declared. "On our beasts we ride high above the other Orcs, and we trample the likes of Elves and Man-swine beneath us!"
"Don't be so full of yourself." Legolia said.
Stakûga started throwing his poison spears as his gang charged the group. Koenig and Legolia provided ranged support as Eltariel went straight in for the Warchief, backed up by Ultra's Xurkitree.
"I'll gut you like a pig!" Stakûga threatened.
"No way that's happening! Xurkitree, use Thunderbolt!" Ultra said as the Electric-type shocked Stakûga to the core. Eltariel then followed up with back to back light infusions and light shots.
"Keep it up, Eltariel! I don't think he can handle it!" Legolia noted, seeing how Stakûga was being damaged immensely by the application of Galadriel's light.
"Another orc who fears the light." Eltariel noted. "You've hidden in the darkness for too long!"
Repeated application of Galadriel's light a few more times was enough to make Stakûga burst into light, killing him.
"So much for trampling us, huh?" Koenig asked.
Goblin Slayer's group faced down a Savage Warcheif whose armor was made entirely out of animal skin high up on a wooden bridge. His twin axes looked vicious, and both he and his Gang of Ologs were painted entirely red.
Muzu Scar-Hide
Feral Tank
"This is Gorgoroth, the inner domain of the Dark Lord himself! Most Orcs don't deserve to set foot here, but a bunch of Tarks?" Muzu said in disbelief. "I'll put ya feet-first into a lava flow!"
"Careful, G. He looks like he can take a hit." Johnny said.
"I'll think of something. Just keep the Ologs busy." Goblin Slayer replied.
"Can do!" Johnny saluted as he and Mr. B went into battle with the Ologs. At the same time, Goblin Slayer approached Muzu, sword drawn.
"You're not like most Man-filth, are you? You've been slayin' goblins for as long as you've been alive. But that knowledge ain't gonna do you good against our kind." Muzu said.
"I know." Goblin Slayer said. "But you Orcs do have a lot in common with Goblins. You learn, get stronger, and innovate like they do, just on a different scale. In my eyes, both your races are the same to me."
"I'll teach you to lump us in with those savage beasts, Tark!" Muzu said as he charged Goblin Slayer with his axes. The two engaged in battle, axes bouncing off the humans's shield and the Slayer's blade striking blood through Muzu's armor.
"Skin pelts don't really cut it as armor against a sharp blade." Goblin Slayer said.
"It'll take more than one blade to kill me!" Muzu roared.
"Alright then." Goblin Slayer said as he pulled out the Machine Hook and jammed it into Muzu's right eye. The orc screamed in agony as he dropped his weapons and clutched his head. Goblin Slayer, without a moment's hesitation, let loose the chain connecting the hook and extended it all the way out. "Mr. B! Do it!"
Knowing exactly what Goblin Slayer was up to, the Big Daddy came to the adventurer's side after smacking away an Olog and wrapped the hook's chain around his drill. Mr. B then activated his drill, pulling the chain in, and Muzu along with it. He then grabbed the Feral by the face before slamming him straight through the bridge, sending Muzu falling. He was dead before he hit the ground.
"You Orcs are more difficult to deal with than Goblins… but you still can be outwitted with plenty of ingenuity and planning." Goblin Slayer said.
The Feral tribe Warchief Tanya's group faced down was an Archer with a jaw plate accompanied by an archer gang.
Rûg Flame-Eater
Fiery Feral Berserker
"Mordor teems with vicious beasts. And we - we are their masters." Rûg declared, locking his crossbow. "It is our right to claim Gorgoroth as our own… and to treat any creature here however we like."
"Thinking like you're above every single thing? That's not the best perspective to have, especially if you want to claim dominion in a place like this." Tanya said.
Rûg let fly a flaming arrow at Tanya in response to that, the Major taking flight along with Matheus and Vicktoriya as the archers focused on the three of them.
"These archers are better organized than the ones we've encountered before." Weiss noted.
"Maybe we should consider him to add to our army?" Visha recommended.
"Hmm…possibly." Tanya considered. "Let's deal with his archers, then see if he can be persuaded to join us."
With that, the three Empire soldiers flew over the Archer troop as they shot them down one by one, avoiding their arrows in return.
"My attacks won't hit him, but maybe I can help him favor us by pressuring him!" Darkness put together, charging Rûg while he was distracted.
"Damn Tarks! I'll burn you to-" Rûg started to yell at the soldiers before he saw Darkness running towards him. "Gah!" he yelped, swinging his bow around to aim at the Paladin…only for a bullet to knock the bow from his hands.
"Good job distracting him, Darkness." Tanya said as she landed on the ground. "Now that he's disarmed, we can have a chat with him. We've taken care of his gang. Now, I'd suggest you surrender and join our forces, unless you want to join your men."
"Why would I do that?" Rûg asked. "I told you, we Ferals are claiming Gorgoroth. The Nazgûl aiming for an alliance with this King of Beasts is all the buzz, but we only care for this part of Mordor. What would getting involved in that business, on either side, benefit me?"
"Well, it's quite simple." Tanya stated. "You may not be aware, but the Nazgûl have lied. They wish to join Kaido, only so they can attempt to stab him in the back and claim the Beast Pirates as their own. And when they inevitably fail, who will Kaido blame for their attempt?"
"Their master…" Rûg realized. "Sauron. The Beast Lord will blame Sauron and lay siege to Mordor…no, to all of Middle-Earth. We'll be crushed in a matter of days."
"Exactly." Tanya confirmed. "It's in your best interest to make sure they don't make contact with the Beast Pirates."
"...For the goal of claiming Gorgoroth, and ensuring we survive to live in it." Rûg said. "I'll serve you."
Le Kraken's group faced down a Defender Warchief in a cave. His metal shield was lined with bones, and his spear had points extending every witch way. He also led a trio of armored Caragors.
Pâsh Forge-Claw
Fiery Feral Beastmaster
"Only the strongest can survive in Gorgoroth." Pâsh stated. "Graugs and drakes…they flourish. You…will be swallowed up."
"A terrible decision, really." Le Kraken said nonchalantly. "We taste terrible, I assure you."
"We'll let my pets decide that!" the Beastmaster said as he sicked a pack of Caragors on the group.
"I wonder…" Gimilor said. "Kill his caragors first! He might lower his guard if hes left all alone without his pets!"
"Like the way you think Gimilor!" Nemo acknowledged, telekinetically aiming some throwing knives and launching them at the Caragor trio as they pounced, hitting them near their jaws as they were taken out.
"M-My Caragors!" Pâsh said in shock.
"Just like you thought, Gimlior!" Tida said. "His guard's down!"
"Bravo for correctly guessing his weakness, my friend. Now to turn him into scraps for the beasts!" Le Kraken declared as he pulled out six swords. "North, South, East, West, Up and Down…the six directions a pirate can travel. Be scattered each way! Votre Dernier Voyage!"
The captain's blades began to shine as blue as the clear sea as he stuck each of his swords into Pâsh's limbs, torso, and head. Then, the orc warchief exploded, scattering his body parts in every direction.
"Was that proof that we are strong?" Le Kraken asked.
Ethox's group faced the sixth and final Feral Tribe Warchief, which, true to the pattern of every tribe having at least one Warchief of every fighting class, was an Olog. This elk-horned mound of intimidating strength wasnt playing around, as in addition to carrying a flaming club and accompanied by a pair of Hunters, he also had a Fire Elemental Graug with him.
Ar-Beka Earth-Scorcher
Fiery Feral Tracker
"You look at Caragors, at Graugs, at Drakes, you see savage beasts." Ar-Beka explained. "We see survivors who have earned their place in Gorgoroth. Like us. Not like you."
"Nope. Definitely like us." Michiru responded.
Ar-Beka sounded his horn as his two hunters and Fire Graug charged. The group responded in kind as they engaged the warband head on. Megumin peppered the Graug with grenades in hopes of gradually slowing it down while DJ cut down Ar-Beka's hunters.
Ar-Beka, for his part, repeatedly tried to smash Michiru with his club.
"A little animal like you does not belong in a place like this!" Ar-Beka said, swinging his flaming mound of death.
"I didn't really ask for your opinion!" Michiru said as she evaded the Olog's swings, definitely ensuring she did not catch fire by her fur. "But if you want mine, I'd say I fit in anywhere just fine!" as she said that, she morphed up one of her Gorilla Arms and gave Ar-Beka one heck of a punch to the gut, sending him skidding back a few feet.
"Hmm…you are stronger than I thought." Ar-Beka mused as he charged the girl once more, his strikes less lazy and more calculated.
"He's fighting more seriously. Michiru's fur is gonna catch fire if we don't help her out." DJ said.
"Let's do that then." Ethox said as he and DJ went to help.
"Uh, yeah! You guys go help her, we got this!" Aqua said as the Fire Graug almost smashed them. "Gah! Dealing with that Ice Graug was way easier!"
"Aqua, maybe you don't remember in the heat of the moment, but you're a water goddess!" Kazuma yelled at her.
"He's right! Use your Sacred Create: Water spell and douse that thing!" DJ said as he, Ethox and Michiru fought Ar-Beka.
"Even if I could use it, it takes time! And I don't know if I can call upon my followers from the Axis Cult from this far away!" Aqua cried.
"Then use your other option." Ethox pointed out.
"Oh, right! Pressure Washers Gunblade!" Aqua said, whipping it out. With all her might, she let loose a cutting wave of pressurized water right at the Fire Graug. The resulting blast caused steam to rise up from the creature as it roared and staggered back in pain. "Hey, that actually worked!"
"Alright, Aqua. Allow me to finish this beast off!" Megumin declared as she leveled her launcher at the Graug. "Get a taste of a Heat-Seeking RPG!" she called, blasting the giant beast with said projectile as it turned to stone and Crumbled.
"My Graug!" Ar-Beka cried.
"You should worry more about yourself!" DJ called as he cut into Ar-Beca at the legs, while Michiru coiled up his arms via her elasticized own. Ethox then raced in to deliver the Coup de grace, Deep Diver in Poseidon Hammer mode.
"Haaa…!" Ethox yelled as he charged, then jumped, hammer glowing with Water Magic energy. "Time to bring down the might of Water!"
"It seems…you are survivors after all…" Ar-Beka said, lowering his head.
Ethox swung the hammer down onto Ar-Beka's head, caving it in. At last, the final Warchief in Gorgoroth was dead.
"Good work." Talion said as the group reunited. "With that Warband defeated, the chaos in Mordor shall subside."
"But this doesn't end until we make sure those Nazgûl twins can't go to Wano to form an alliance with Kaido, only to stab him in the back and make all of Mordor regret it." Mirror Match said.
"I've gathered all of the orcs in my command for this assault." Talion said. "I wouldn't normally be this drastic, but there is no room for chance. The Nazgûl cannot leave that fortress. Understand?"
"We got it." Kazuma said.
"Good. Let us make for Gâshgôr." Talion said as they headed off.
"Hey, Talion?" Ethox asked. "Once this is all over, and before we leave with the troops we've gathered for our raid… promise us that before you even become a Nazgûl yourself, you'll take off Isildur's ring and pass on."
"Ethox has a point." Ristate said.
"..." Talion was silent as he looked at the ring on his finger. "...We must make haste. We are running out of time."
"...Right." Ethox said, understanding the meaning. "We are running out of time…"