Kael wanted to use giant spider Shelob's silk to create an invisibility cloak.
The only problem? Shelob was Ungoliant's offspring. Extremely powerful and difficult to deal with.
Plus, Shelob's dwelling place was located at Mordor's border at Cirith Ungol pass, very close to Minas Morgul. The former Gondorian fortress Minas Ithil, now a Mordor fortress.
Going there would inevitably enter Sauron's field of vision. Easy to attract his attention.
However, Kael felt he could still risk it. At worst, if anything felt wrong, he'd immediately use a Portkey to leave.
Besides, he didn't need to defeat or kill giant spider Shelob. Just collecting enough spider silk would suffice.
"Portus!" Kael transformed a brooch into a one-time Portkey and grasped it.
Instantly, with dizzying spinning, he appeared at Edoras, Rohan's royal city.
Portkey destinations required previously visited places. Kael couldn't teleport directly to giant spider Shelob's lair, so he had to first come to Rohan's capital.
He didn't linger at Edoras but continuously Apparated to visible locations, progressively shortening the distance.
Finally, he reached the easternmost end of the White Mountains, entering Gondorian territory.
At the White Mountains' eastern end, the Anduin River flowed through, eventually emptying into the sea to the south.
East of the Anduin lay the north-south Ephel Dúath mountain range. Mordor's border mountains.
Giant spider Shelob's dwelling was located on the western side of Cirith Ungol pass in the central Ephel Dúath.
This was one of the only passages from the west into Mordor, guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
The Tower of Cirith Ungol was originally built by Gondorians after the Last Alliance war to monitor Mordor. But as Gondor declined, the tower was occupied by Sauron's minions, becoming an outpost of Minas Morgul.
Kael Apparated across the Anduin River, arriving at the Ephel Dúath side.
Originally he could've Apparated south along the Anduin to reach Gondor's capital, Minas Tirith, and complete a check-in there.
But to avoid complications, Kael temporarily abandoned this temptation and headed straight for Cirith Ungol pass.
His mission was obtaining Shelob's spider silk. Other matters could wait.
Anyway, Gondor could be visited for check-ins anytime. No rush.
Approaching Cirith Ungol pass, Kael saw distant watchtowers and nearby patrolling orcs.
After consideration, he waved to transform his clothing into tattered appearance, matching the orcs' attire.
Simultaneously, his facial features rapidly changed, skin becoming sickly pale.
Then he conjured a mirror to examine himself, immediately startled by his reflection.
"Ugh! So ugly!"
In the mirror, Kael had become orc-like. Sparse hair, flat nose, green lips, and fangs, looking hideous.
Reluctantly accepting his current appearance, Kael waved to disguise his wand as a large wooden club.
Then he swaggered directly toward Cirith Ungol pass.
Just reaching the watchtower:
"Halt! Where you from? Never seen you before!" A one-eyed orc in tattered armor blocked Kael, asking suspiciously in harsh Black Speech.
Surrounding orcs, clearly led by him, looked at Kael with ill intent.
Kael stopped, studying these orcs while using Legilimency to examine their thoughts and memories.
"I'm talking to you! You deaf, boy?" Seeing Kael's delayed response, the one-eyed orc felt ignored and grew angry, charging forward with his mace.
"Boy, if you don't want a beating, answer me!"
The one-eyed orc came too close. Kael directly smelled rotting, putrid odor that nearly made him vomit.
Without a word, he grabbed his wooden club and sent the one-eyed orc flying.
This sudden scene stunned the other watching orcs into silence, unsure how to react.
"You dare hit me? Boy, you're dead today! I'll tear you apart!"
The flying one-eyed orc's head spun dizzily.
After recovering and shaking his head vigorously, murderous intent erupted in his eye as he stood up menacingly, swinging his mace toward Kael.
Kael said nothing, similarly wielding his wooden club to fight the one-eyed orc.
The one-eyed orc had no technique, relying on strength to swing his mace with killing intent.
Kael's strength was equally formidable, and having been trained by brothers-in-law Ellohir and Elrohir, his combat skills were increasingly proficient. Dealing with this orc was easy.
But to avoid exposure, he deliberately restrained his skill level and hid obvious fighting techniques, appearing to fight instinctively with wide, sweeping moves.
For a moment, both sides seemed evenly matched.
Surrounding orcs were surprised, then became more excited, cheering for the one-eyed orc.
"Kill him, Captain!"
"Yeah! Smash his skull!"
The watchtower area erupted in chaos.
Hundreds of orcs formed a circle, waving weapons and roaring encouragement.
In the center, Kael and the one-eyed orc fought fiercely.
The one-eyed orc, this orc group's leader, grew ashamed and furious at his inability to defeat Kael.
He drew a dagger from his waist, charging at Kael with lethal intent.
Seeing the performance was sufficient, Kael deliberately exposed a fatal weakness. When his opponent charged, he quickly blocked the mace while snatching away the thrusting dagger.
Under the one-eyed orc's disbelieving gaze, Kael mercilessly slashed his throat.
The one-eyed orc clutched his neck, spurting black blood, collapsing unwillingly. After convulsing several times, he went completely still.
Witnessing this, surrounding orcs fell silent, staring in disbelief.
"Now I am your captain!" Kael threw the blood-stained dagger to the ground, surveying the circle with cold, blood-red eyes and a low voice. "Anyone who objects can challenge me now!"
"But be prepared to die like him!" Kael sneered contemptuously.
Hearing this, surrounding orcs looked at each other speechlessly. Finally, all bowed their heads in submission.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
All orcs unanimously acknowledged Kael as their new leader.
Seeing this, Kael couldn't help smiling slightly.
This was orc tradition. Anyone who could defeat the previous leader through strength could take their position.
The one-eyed orc had been the strongest in this group, leading them for many years. Previous challengers had failed and become his victims.
So the one-eyed orc commanded high respect in this orc unit.
Now that Kael had killed him, these orcs naturally acknowledged his strength and unconditionally accepted him as their new captain. Even though they'd never seen him before or knew his name.
As for suspecting Kael was a spy? Looking completely orcish, no one would suspect him.
Thus Kael became captain of hundreds of orcs at the watchtower, responsible for maintaining guard and preventing Gondorian assault.
Of course, given Gondor's current decline, they lacked the ability to cross the Anduin for attacks.
So these orcs were basically idle.
"Captain, what should we do with the former captain's corpse?" an orc asked carefully.
Kael glanced at him coldly, snorting. "What else? Same as always. Send it to Torech Ungol's lair."
Torech Ungol was giant spider Shelob's lair. A shadow-shrouded, foul-smelling cave at the base of nearby massive rock walls.
To make giant spider Shelob the perfect guard for Cirith Ungol pass, Sauron ordered orcs to deliver severely wounded, weak, or dead orc corpses, plus useless prisoners, to Shelob's lair for consumption.
Giant spider Shelob naturally didn't refuse such benefits.
Thus, both sides formed tacit understanding. Giant spider Shelob stayed at Cirith Ungol pass, devouring anyone trying to enter Mordor through the pass.
While Sauron regularly sent orcs or prisoners as food for Shelob.
Hearing Kael's words, the questioning orc immediately showed terror, asking more nervously. "Then... who should deliver it?"
Other orcs grew tense, shrinking back fearfully lest they be chosen.
Delivering orc corpses to giant spider Shelob was a nearly suicidal mission.
Because Shelob had a large appetite. If delivery personnel couldn't escape in time, Shelob wouldn't mind keeping them as additional food.
So feeding giant spider Shelob became a deadly task almost no one wanted.
Kael looked at the surrounding tense orcs, eyes flashing with mockery.
"I won't directly decide who goes. For fairness, everyone will draw lots. The last two to draw marked arrows will deliver the corpse," Kael said. "I'll also participate without exception."
Hearing Kael would participate, the orcs were surprised.
Then Kael had all orcs gather over a hundred arrows, dyeing two arrowheads red and mixing them with others in a long tube showing only small tail sections.
He announced that whoever drew red arrowheads would deliver the corpse to the giant spider's lair.
Orcs queued nervously, like awaiting fate's judgment.
Those drawing unmarked arrows sighed with relief, showing lucky escape expressions.
As orcs drew one by one, finally an unlucky one drew a red arrowhead and showed a desperate expression.
Other orcs showed no sympathy but gloated instead.
As arrow numbers dwindled, remaining orcs grew more nervous, fearing they'd draw the last red arrowhead.
Finally, only two arrows remained in the tube.
Only one orc and Kael hadn't drawn yet.
That orc looked anxious, unable to choose between the two arrows.
Seeing this, Kael showed impatience and kicked the orc aside.
"Stop dawdling! I'll go first!"
He directly grabbed and drew out an arrow.
Gasps filled the air.
All orcs stared in shock at the red arrowhead, looking at each other speechlessly.
The kicked orc showed a delighted expression.