As soon as Kerren said the line people around him went quiet. They couldn't understand what he was thinking! Joining the orc side!? What bullcrap! They are humans, they will support other humans!... unless they weren't enemies...
Soon, the captain's mind went back to his head after wandreing somewhere for a while.
- It doesn't look like i understand you. -- the captain said somewhat hesitantly -- Would mind explaining your decision? -- he asked kindly, trying not to anger Kerren.
- Simple enough. We're all here for profits, right? You dont have to pretend, we all know why those raids exist -- he looked around as if confirming his words -- What will you gain if you kill orcs? Some big swords? Casualties? Respect from the other side or whatever? We dont have time to get paid anyway, why bother? -- he made a non-chalant expression and smiled -- But, if we kill humans... We can loot them! Orcs dont take weapons or armor, they prefer making their own, moreover, we can find something good inside of their camp or on their bodies. Some could even carry golden coins or crystals! -- as he was saying all expressions of peoples faces became stranger and stranger.
Soon after, many agreed inside of their minds. So what if we kill some humans? This is a dungeon anyway! Who cares? It's not like people will know even if they do, so why not? After all, Kerren was right about the profits and the amount of loot they'll get from joining both sides...
But... How in the world will they even join the orc side? Yeah, some people could talk to orcs, but usually it didn't work out really well. At best, they wouldn't start the fight immediately and would trashtalk you beforehand...
- Well... -- the captain hesitated -- Even if we want to do that... How are you going to join their side? Do you know orcish or something?.. -- even if he agreed, so what? Joining their side required a bit more than just wanting to do so...
- Not a problem, i have a way. -- Kerren smiled -- After all, we weren't directly put in the human camp, right? That means that we have a choice in this scenario! -- he was all smiles, as if he was proposing a completely normal thing.
After some more talking that wasn't as important and was mostly Kerren spouting bullcrap to convince people to follow him they finally departed in a direction of an orc camp.
Soon, they saw orc, they immediately ran towards them, wishing to kill them, but...
- Stop! We're mercenaries, we're to help you fight! -- he loudly proclaimed.
That, however, wasn't enough to stop the orcs, thus he casted several spells, immobilising orcs. That wasn't so easy to do, but Kerren still willed spending some of his mana to profit.
After some time, one of the orcs finally responded!
- Why human fight against other human!? -- the orc said, looking at Kerren with fierce eyes.
- Because we want to get rich! -- he smiled as he leaned closer to the orcs face -- Listen, we will help you for free, you dont give, we help, we take bodies of humans, their armor and weapons... and what is inside their camp, you get good fight and victory. -- he continued to smile as he tried to speak as "easy" as he could.
- Why human want to help orc? Orc and human enemy! -- he didn't buy whatever Kerren was selling, maybe he simply didn't understand what he was saying.
- Enemy? We're not enemies, orc and human friend. -- he laughed a little as he said it -- Orc like good fight, i like things, orc dont need things, right? -- he was implying that orcs only cared about fighting, while he didn't, so why would they be enemies? That doesn't make sense...
Orc thought for a bit and said...
- Go talk Strong, i no Strong! -- what is he even saying?..
- Okay! -- he undid the spell that bound orcs in one place -- No fight! We friend! We go talk to Strong and attack other human! -- he said loudly.
None of the orcs were stupid enough to attack, since they all heard what they were talking about, if humans wanted to help them... why not? After all, they could still kill them later!
...
Soon, they arrived to the camp Kerren has seen while he used his spells. It wasn't that big or fancy, but it had a decent amount of orcs! Their numbers were bigger than any of the men in Kerren's group have ever seen and they started fearing them!
- Other human weak, fear orc. You not fear orc? -- one of the orcs in the lead said as he observed the group, only to find out that Kerren didn't look afraid of them at all!
- No. Why afraid of friend? Other human stupid, i not stupid. -- he boasted about being smart infront of orcs...
- HAHAHAHAHA! -- a big orc suddenly laughed, he looked old, but when other orcs saw him they made themself look smaller! -- You're a strong human! I like you! Why are you here? -- he could actually speak normally! What a surprise that was for Kerren's group! That was the first time they've seen such an orc!
- I'm here to assist you! We want to fight the other human group on your side! -- Kerren' didn't bother coming up with another reason.
- Fight on our side you say? Amusing human, what do you want as payment? -- he looked at Kerren, who was almost three times smaller than the orc!
- From you? A duel between us two and whatever other humans have. How about that? -- as he proposed the duel, many orcs and even people in Kerren's group gasped! Was he insane!?
- Duel! Amusing human! HAHAHAHAHA! -- he didn't hold his laughter -- What humans have is fine for you to get, but duel? Why do you want to duel with me? -- he didn't understand the logic behind it. A duel was something orcs valued as it helped to determine the strongers among them! Strongest didn't always mean that smartest, but try explaining that to orcs...
- To show you that attacking my group is stupid. Do you think i dont know that after we help you kill other humans you will try to kill us? -- he looked at the big orc with a "Why would you?" expression -- So, a duel will show you and your tribe that we're equals! -- he proclaimed loudly!
Many orcs raised their voices, dissatisfied! However...
- Enough! -- the big orc shut their mouths with one word! -- We will have a duel, but we will not fight! We have old custom to determine the strongest without fighting! Throw rocks! -- as he said it, many orcs started repeating his last two words!
- Throws rocks! Throw rocks! -- it was really loud and some people in Kerren's group couldn't help but hold their weapons!
- Am i allowed to use magic? It is power too, after all. -- he asked beforehand, if they didn't allow it?.. So what? His body wasn't human in the first place, what if he had to throw some rocks?
- Hmm... -- the big orc started thinking -- You are right, magic is power too, so what if i can throw rocks with my hands, you can do that without your hands! -- that orc is way smarter than a lot of people back in Kerren's world! He almost couldn't believe it!
After some screaming orcs found suitable stones. They were all similiar in size and were around 400kg each. Normal humans couldn't even dream about lifting them!
Awakened could, of course, lift them... But it had it's limitations... Throwing them, however, was completely out of question! Moreover, even lifting could be a problem for some...
Kerren, however, was a different case. He wasn't even human now, why care about some rocks? Even if he wasn't allowed to use magic, he would be able to win!
His body was much tougher and stronger than a normal one, moreover, he could directly change whatever he wanted! 10 meter long hands? Done! A giant d... well, that too...
Soon, the "duel" started. The old orc was first. He lifted the rock easily and threw it! It seemed so natural that one would think it didn't have any weight at all!
It flew around 30 meters and fell, crumbling on the spot! Other orc started cheering for him! Even for orcs such a distance was impressive!
- Not bad! You are strong! -- Kerren praised immediately -- But... I am stronger! -- he praised himself right afterwards...
Orc didn't feel too good about it and some started booing him. Did he care? Of course not. He used a spell he came up with on the spot and grabbed air!
It made a giant hand made out of mana appear, as it grabbed the rock! Kerren then threw it "lightly". It flew so fast that some orcs couldn't even react to it!
Moreover, even some people in Kerren's group couldn't believe what they just saw! Was that spell really that strong!? How come they never heard of it!?
A few moments later they all heard a boom. It was Kerren's rock that fell! It landed five times as far as the one that the old orc threw! That made all of the orcs shut their mouth!
Silence invaded their ears once again, only rustling could be heard!