We started with the third attempt, but luckily, there were no dwelling of archers, but there were 1, 3, and 4, plus the well-known Orange-Sin (+1 vampire). During the early game, I quickly cleared the starting area and opened a portal to the adjacent area 1-1-5. There was snow and no roads, so I spent a day there and realized that there was nothing to be gained without logistics – I retreated. I ventured into the second portal – desert, but with roads and many treasure chests. I cleared treasure chests with vampires and archers; I was lucky the first time – in a chapel, I found a crystal of secrets, and immediately after, the Necropolis gave me logistics. Things became more interesting. But only until I saw elders with a magic orb and druids with cerberuses at the portals. I realized that I couldn't break through and retreated to the third, still unexplored, portal in my home zone.
With Path of War and Finding the Way, I rushed to the end of the zone and saw a portal guarded by elders with a fireball. But there was nothing else to do; the pace wouldn't allow me to go back. I attacked and managed to defeat them, thanks to my spell power being already at 27, and the crystal helped.
Behind the portal was a treasure. Not very rich, 3 dragon artifacts, and a ring with +10 to initiative. I spent a week clearing the treasure with 350 skeletons and 47 un-upgraded vampires, and at the same time, I upgraded Chaos and spell power to 40. And then I was lucky for the third time – in a pyramid, I got the Summon Elementals spell, with which I defeated the mentor and received fire warriors. There, I also found another stash of ghosts; on 1-4-1, I accumulated 160 ghosts. I was already planning to break through, take all the meat, and go through the Gate of Oblivion. In the castle, I got the Summon Phoenix spell, and with it, I could break through any Gate of Oblivion. But I saw the Tome of Summoning.
After that, it was simple – I broke through the portal from my treasure to the resource-rich opponent and reached his castle in 2 days.
There, Mephala was already waiting for me with purchased, but un-upgraded, meat. I attacked, initially thinking I would do a hit-and-run (crystal dealing 960 damage), but the advantage was too great. The invulnerable phoenix and 123 fire elementals quickly destroyed all of the knight's troops, and the upgrade (1960 HP) nullified all of his troops' attacks.
Thank you, Oneman, for the game. It's a pity that I didn't have much luck in this game. I owe you a rematch.