For the first two weeks, I didn't go through the portal at all (I was saving up for archers)...
As soon as I went through and visited the Seer, Ravenna immediately appeared, who was almost sent back to the graveyard without any losses (besides 2000 archers, she had nothing to reproach me for), leaving me with a bunch of useful artifacts.
After capturing Orange, Nicholas appeared with 4000 archers, 300 ghosts, 400 zombies, etc. Sharing Ravenna's fate, he resurrected at Orange, and accordingly, I had one less city...
I decided not to bother with fighting for the city and started collecting artifacts, combining this with visiting various useful places... This lasted quite a long time, about 2 months, and my goal was to open the map, because after such a period, I no longer dreamed of completing the mission...
But miracles happen, after getting the artifacts and exchanging them for phoenixes, I decided to gather the remnants of the army and die like a real man. So, my army before the final battle consisted of 200 archers, 130 druids, 100 ents, 50 unicorns, 15 emerald dragons, and 5 phoenixes.... Nicholas's army - ONE PLAGUE ZOMBIE...
I didn't even have time to do anything, and the mission ended undeservedly....((((
p.s. the hero is leveled up without any magic....(attack, defense, experience, luck....) and also, I think it is very important to get the elven bow and use the "sworn enemy" skill effectively.