As the second orc lunged at Amukelo, he had already decided he wasn't going to stick around to fight all these orcs. He sidestepped swiftly, letting the orc's momentum carry him forward, and as the orc stumbled slightly to regain his balance, Amukelo seized the opportunity. With a running start, he leapt into the air, planting one foot on the orc's broad shoulder as if it were a springboard and pushing off with all his might.
The crowd gasped as Amukelo launched himself over their heads, landing with catlike precision a few yards away. Without a word, he broke into a full sprint, weaving through the orcs and dodging outstretched arms.
"Don't escape, coward!" the orc bellowed, his voice rumbling like thunder as he shoved through the crowd to give chase. "I haven't beaten you yet!"
The crowd, sensing the spectacle was far from over, erupted into cheers and laughter as they joined the pursuit. Orcs spilled out of the makeshift pub and nearby shops, some dropping whatever they were doing to chase after the fleeing human. Among the horde, Eliss skipped along, laughing and cheering with the others. She wasn't chasing Amukelo to catch him—she was chasing him for the sheer fun of it.
Amukelo darted through narrow alleys, leaping over crates and barrels, occasionally glancing over. His heart pounded not just from the exertion but from the absurdity of the situation.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, ducking into a shadowy alcove between two buildings.
The orc who had challenged him barreled past, too focused on his target to notice Amukelo's abrupt disappearance. The rest of the crowd followed, spreading out as they searched for him in every nook and cranny of the town.
Amukelo crouched low in the darkness, his breath steadying as he waited for the commotion to subside. The sounds of laughter and shouts gradually faded as the orcs, one by one, gave up their search. Amukelo peeked around the corner, ensuring the coast was clear, before stepping out.
A few minutes later, Eliss wandered into the same area, clearly still on the lookout. "Amukelo?" she called softly.
"Pssst… Eliss," came a hushed whisper. Amukelo emerged from the shadows, motioning for her to follow. "Over here. We're leaving the town."
Eliss's face lit up. "Why? I was having fun!"
Amukelo shot her a withering look. "Fun? They're not going to give me any peace. After beating two of their guys, every orc in this town will want to challenge me."
Eliss pouted. "I don't see the problem. That was really entertaining!"
Amukelo's expression turned deadpan. "Entertaining? For you, maybe. I'm the one risking my neck out here."
Eliss smirked and shrugged. "You handled it well. What's one or two more fights?"
Amukelo stared at her in disbelief, then turned around. "Good luck, then. I'm leaving."
"Wait, wait!" Eliss dashed after him. "I was just joking. Don't leave me here!"
Once they were far enough from the town, Amukelo exhaled heavily. "We'll need to find a new town. This one's too dangerous for me to stick around."
Eliss fell into step beside him, clutching her bag of grimoires. "Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad."
Amukelo whipped around. "Not that bad? I risked my life because of you! If just one of them had been stronger than me, what then? What good would your fun be if I ended up dead?"
Eliss's playful smile faltered, and she looked away. "I… I didn't mean for it to go that far."
Amukelo sighed. "Just don't start trouble again. Please."
After a moment of silence, Eliss looked back at him with a soft smile. "You know, you handled those fights really well. It was kind of impressive."
Amukelo shook his head, unable to suppress a small chuckle. "You're impossible. Just promise me you won't antagonize anyone else."
She nodded enthusiastically, her grin returning. "I promise."
They continued walking, leaving the chaotic orc town behind them. The road ahead stretched into the unknown, but for now, the air was quiet—just the way Amukelo preferred it.
The journey to the next closest town was long, almost a full day of travel.
As the night began to fall and the cold intensified, Amukelo pulled his cloak tighter and glanced at Eliss, who seemed to be shivering slightly. "We need to find shelter soon," he said, his tone steady but urgent. "This cold isn't something we can just walk through all night."
Eliss nodded, she cast small fires that followed them to give some light and warmth. The desolate land offered little solace, but after some time, they stumbled upon a natural rocky structure. It looked as if it had been formed by years of erosion, the stones piled and cracked in ways that created an almost enclosed space.
Amukelo gestured for Eliss to follow him into the formation. "This will do," he said, examining the cracks and crevices. The area wasn't perfect, but it provided enough protection to shield them from the worst of the wind and cold. Amukelo quickly began setting up their camp in the central part of the structure, where the rocks formed a rough circular barrier.
Eliss cast a small fire in the center of their makeshift camp, the warmth immediately cutting through the frigid air. "It's getting easier, huh?" she said, trying to lighten the mood.
Amukelo didn't respond immediately. He crouched down, preparing their meal. His ears perked up, though, when a faint, trembling sound reached them.
"Do you hear that?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.
Eliss stopped what she was doing and focused. "No… wait." Her face tightened. "I think I do. It's faint."
Amukelo's head snapped toward the right. "It's coming from that direction," he said. The trembling grew louder, and he stood quickly, drawing his sword out. "Stay alert."
Suddenly, the ground beneath them quaked, and with an ear-splitting roar, a massive worm burst through the stone to their right. Its body was a grotesque light brown, lined with jagged teeth that spiraled all along its length. Its gaping mouth, ringed with unnaturally long, sharp fangs, was both horrifying and mesmerizing. From its maw, a tongue covered in razor-sharp teeth lashed out, seeking prey.
Amukelo reacted instantly. He slashed downward with his sword, striking the worm's body, but his blade only sank about a third of the way in before the creature's thick, rubbery hide resisted further penetration. The worm let out a piercing, inhuman shriek and recoiled, disappearing back into the ground as quickly as it had appeared.
"We need to get out of here!" Amukelo shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Eliss nodded, panic flashing across her face as she scrambled to follow him. Together, they bolted toward the entrance of the rocky structure. But as they neared the exit, the trembling sound returned, this time louder and more insistent.
Amukelo's heart raced as he honed his senses, trying to pinpoint the source of the vibrations.
"Eliss! Watch out!" Amukelo bellowed. Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged toward her, shoving her aside just as another worm exploded through the wall of stone.
The second worm's emergence was even more violent than the first, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. Eliss hit the ground hard but safely, while Amukelo found himself directly in the path of the creature. With no time to dodge, he braced himself, holding his sword at an angle to intercept the worm.
The beast's enormous teeth clamped down on the blade, trapping it in its serrated maw. The force of the impact sent Amukelo hurtling backward, his back slamming into the opposite wall of the rocky structure. Pain shot through his body, but he held firm, keeping the worm's teeth from snapping shut on him entirely.