Sarak approached the throne room, he could feel the heat of Astaroth's anger radiating off of him. The walls of the room seemed to close in on him, and the air was heavy with the weight of Astaroth's displeasure.
The Demon Lord was seated on his throne, his piercing red eyes fixed on Sarak, who stood before him, his eyes downcast. Astaroth's voice was like a thunderclap when he spoke, his rage clears in every word.
"Sarak, you have failed me. You were given a simple task, and you have failed to deliver. The dragon kingdom remains unbroken, and now, the humans grow stronger by the day."
Sarak could feel the weight of Astaroth's gaze upon him, and he struggled to find the words to defend himself.
"My lord, I did everything in my power. The dragon kingdom is guarded by powerful magic and a powerful sorcerer. It was not an easy task."
"Excuses," Astaroth sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You have failed me, and now, the consequences will be severe. Your failure has set us back, and it will take much effort to regain the advantage we have lost. I will not tolerate this kind of incompetence."
Sarak fell to his knees, fear and desperation written all over his face.
"Please, my lord. Give me another chance. I will not fail you again."
Astaroth's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his gaze intense.
"One chance, Sarak. That is all you will get. Fail me again, and your punishment will be swift and merciless."
With that, Astaroth leaned back on his throne, his eyes closing as if to signal the end of the audience. Sarak, trembling and defeated, crawled away, vowing to himself that he would do everything in his power to redeem himself in the eyes of the Demon Lord.
Orin cautiously approached the hooded figure, his hand never straying far from his weapon. He had heard tales of witches and their cunning ways, and he was wary of any who claimed to have information about the curse that plagued his family.
"Who are you?" Orin demanded, his voice echoing through the dark corridor.
"I am a witch," the hooded figure said, her voice trembling slightly.
"And I have information about the curse that afflicts you and your family. I have watched you from the shadows, and I know that you have the power to defeat the goblin and save my daughter."
Orin's eyes narrowed as he considered the witch's words. He had always been skeptical of those who claimed to have the power to lift curses, but the desperate look in the witch's eyes made him wonder if there was more to her story.
"What do you want from me?" Orin asked, his tone wary.
"I want your forgiveness," the witch replied, dropping to her knees before Orin.
"I was wrong to trick you into coming here, and I beg your mercy. In return, I will give you the information you seek about the mad witch who cursed you and your family. I know where she is hiding, and I can help you find her."
Orin hesitated for a moment, considering the witch's offer. He had been searching for a way to lift the curse for years, and the thought of finally having a lead was tantalizing.
But he was also cautious, knowing that the path to lifting the curse was likely to be filled with danger and hardship.
In the end, his desire for the truth won out. He extended a hand to the witch, pulling her to her feet.
"I accept your offer," Orin said, his voice firm.
"But know this, if you betray me, I will not hesitate to bring swift justice upon you."
The witch nodded. She knew that, Orin was capable enough to end her life anytime he wants. Orin mind now was so confusing. He now can end the curse and finally die. But he does want to battle with demon lord.
He never cared about win or lose. And he doesn't mind either if he was killed by the demon lord. He only cared about the battle. Orin just want to fight anyone who strong enough to defeat him.
Ever since he was a sorcerer apprentice, he understands more and fast than other people. Zarek used to be proud with him as he was a quick learner. After 10 years, he more powerful than Zarek and no one can even touch him. He is undefeated.
Ever since then, Orin was eager to find a someone who strong enough to defeat him.
Orin raised his staff, his eyes blazing with determination. He closed his eyes, focusing his magic energy and began to chant the spell to open the portal.
With a sudden burst of light and power, the portal appeared in front of him. Inside the portal, he could see Zarek's face.
"Zarek," Orin called out, "I have found the woman who was kidnapped by the goblins. And I need your help."
Zarek's eyes widened in surprise,
"Orin! Ein, is that you?"
Ein stepped forward eagerly,
"Yes, it's us. We found the woman and we're ready to get her out of here."
Orin continued,
"I need you to send some of your men to our location. We're inside the goblin lair and we may need someone to take the woman to their place back."
Zarek nodded, "Of course, Orin. I'll send a team of our best warriors to assist you. Just hold on a little longer."
With that, the portal snapped shut, leaving Orin and Ein to continue their journey deeper into the lair.
They then approached the treasure room, Ein's eyes widened at the sight of all the glittering gold and precious gems.
He couldn't resist reaching out to grab a handful of glittering jewels, a wide smile spreading across his face. However, Orin's attention was focused elsewhere.
He noticed a ring lying on a pedestal in the corner of the room, its gold band and intricate engravings catching his eye.
Ein's excitement grew as he spotted a sword that was so shiny, it almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the room.
He eagerly reached out to grab the sword, admiring its well-crafted hilt and sharp blade.
Orin, on the other hand, remained uninterested in the treasures surrounding him. To him, the gold and gems meant nothing compared to the all the property he owned. Orin not just powerful sorcerer, he also the richest man in the world.
But as he walked closer to the ring, he couldn't help but feel drawn to it. The ring seemed to pulse with an unknown energy, and Orin felt a strange sense of familiarity as he gazed upon it.
"Now, this is interesting." Orin said. "It feels... powerful."
Ein tore his gaze away from the sword and saw Orin fixed his eyes at the ring. He joined Orin at the pedestal, staring at the ring in wonder.
"What do you think it is?" he asked.
Orin shrugged.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling it could be useful to us on our journey," he said, picking up the ring.
The room around them was dimly lit, with flickering candles casting shadows on the walls. The treasure was scattered haphazardly throughout the room, piles of gold coins and glittering gems glinting in the dim light.
The air was thick with the scent of must and age, hinting at the vast amount of time that had passed since the treasure had been amassed.
They continued to explore the room, Ein couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the wealth surrounding him.
Meanwhile, Orin couldn't shake the feeling that the ring was of great importance, and he made a mental note to keep it close as they ventured deeper into the lair.