As swords clashed against their shields and their footsteps reverberated heavily, the band of warriors pressed onward towards the territory of the beast guarding the forest's exit.
"Men, charge with all your might and make as much noise as possible! We must draw out the beast," bellowed the commanding voice of The Chief Org Fray, instilling bravery and determination in his 32 companions.
Approaching the site of their previous devastating encounter with the beast, fear glingered among the warriors, yet not a single orc faltered in their resolve.
Upon Shelur and Hanz's return to the forest village and telling of what happened, they were met by the Chief's stern gaze, though beneath it lay an unyielding determination to protect and rescue his people from the clutches of the tyrant, Bruger.
Realizing the inevitable suffering awaiting his people in Grunthree, whether he chose to confront Bruger or not, Chief Org Fray steeled himself for the battle ahead.
With a grim determination etched upon his face, he led the charge, prepared for whatever fate awaited. For him, sacrificing his life in the pursuit of justice was a far more honorable fate than abandoning his people to tyranny.
Shelur raced closely behind the chief, with Hanz struggling to maintain pace. The absence of Muk, whom Shelur and Hanz had decided to leave behind with the others, was keenly felt.
As they neared the forest's edge, a sense of foreboding gripped everyone except the chief. Despite the sun slowly setting and visibility diminishing, caution was discarded in favor of a strategy to lure out the beast, eliminating the risk of a surprise attack from an unexpected angle.
This risky approach stemmed from the dire circumstances outside the forest. The impending nightfall added to the gamble, as the chief couldn't predict if the forest imps would appear, a possibility that led him to bring only 32 men, excluding Hanz and Shelur, leaving the rest in the village. The decision to leave their families behind felt akin to abandoning them to a pack of wolves, but there was no other choice.
Many skilled warriors opted to remain and protect the village, a decision met with unanimous support, as no one could bear to leave their loved ones defenseless.
As Org scanned the area, frustration boiled within him. "Where is that damn beast that halted our progress last time?" he pondered, eyes darting in all directions.
Meanwhile, Shelur's gaze darted frantically, ensuring no corner of the forest escaped her scrutiny. She too was puzzled by the absence of the beast, or wolf, they had encountered earlier.
Hanz struggled to keep up with Shelur, his small legs unable to match her pace. It had been a while since he had run so much, not since he fled his home before meeting Takagi. With him, he carried his staff and Takagi's old wooden spear.
The orcs, unfazed by the absence of the beast, were relieved to have one less threat to contend with.
Org took the lead, stepping boldly across the boundary that marked the edge of the forest and the beginning of the outskirts of Grunthree.
As they approached the city gates, a scene of chaos greeted them—rampaging fires and rooftops ablaze. The city's people were in open revolt, battling against the guards and followers of the orc tyrant, Bruger.
"Prepare for battle! Aid our people and vanquish our enemies!" Org commanded, donning a worn helm borrowed from one of his warriors to disguise himself.
Inside the city, they were met with a gruesome sight—innocent civilians lay bleeding, some already lifeless, their bodies splattered with blood. Those inexperienced in battle suffered the worst fates.
Despite the horror, some civilians bravely stood their ground, defending their homes. In the streets, fierce battles raged, with experienced warriors engaging Bruger's army, easily identified by their moderate armor.
Org demonstrated his battle-hardened skills, effortlessly overpowering those who stood against him. His attacks were swift and calculated, slashing in all directions and even using his feet to kick and incapacitate foes.
He ensured that anyone who dared to engage him or his blade met the same fate as the fallen innocents scattered on the ground.
As the rest of the orcs surged forward behind Org, swiftly dispatching any enemies who managed to slip past him, chaos erupted on the battlefield.
A courageous woman hurled a metal ingot at one of Bruger's men, the clang echoing loudly through the air.
Though the blow caused him slight discomfort, his armor protected him from serious harm. Her sole aim was to shield her son, who stood dangerously close to the guard and narrowly avoided a deadly swing not intended for him.
Infuriated by the woman's defiance, the guard taunted her with vile words, advancing slowly toward her.
"Oww…what is your problem you fucking bitch! You want to die next? Yeah, that makes sense. 'Put me out of my misery already' is what you're probably thinking right now," he sneered.
She instinctively rushed to shield her child, kneeling down and scraping her knees on the unforgiving ground. Bracing for the worst, she closed her eyes in dread.
A piercing scream shattered the tense moment, and she opened her eyes to witness a young boy wielding a spear, the weapon driven through a weak spot in the guard's armor, fatally piercing his stomach.
"Ahhh!!!" the guard cried out in agony.
It was Hanz, trembling with a mix of fear and vengeful determination.
"You fucking brat!" a man shouted behind him.
Hanz acted slowly, turning only to find the man struck by a sudden arrow piercing through his skull.
"Come on Hanz, you can't afford to get distracted at a time like this!" Shelur screamed as she pulled her bow back with another arrow and launched it towards another target.
Hanz looked at his spear and locked back into the battle. There was no time to dwell on something like taking your first life during a battle.
—
"Here... what in the... what happened to the well?" Org asked, removing his helm to survey the scene before him.
Common Man's Well, one of the centers of Grunthree, lay in ruins, the other being a garden situated on the opposite side of the building that separated the two.
It was a scene of devastation, as if a great battle had taken place in their absence.
Accompanied by Hanz, Shelur, and two other warriors, Org had mentally prepared for a confrontation with Bruger, but instead, he was greeted by the grim sight of destruction and death.
"It wasn't like this when we left," Shelur remarked, leaping onto a large wooden stake for a better view.
The sun was setting, casting a purple hue in the sky, providing just enough light to illuminate the battlefield that had once been a bustling center of activity.
Carefully navigating through the maze of wooden and ice stakes, which were slightly taller than Shelur and obscured by branches, the group encountered bodies impaled and torn apart.
Using his sword, Org began cutting through the obstacles in their path.
"Shelur… it's the boy," Hanz cried out.
Shelur moved towards Hanz, her expression one of horror. To her, the sight of a child's life lost was far more devastating than that of an adult.
She covered her mouth, closing her eyes to prevent tears from falling.
A hand gently rested on Shelur's left shoulder. "Hey, we should get moving. He still might be out there," the chief said, trying to calm her.
She nodded and tugged Hanz along, who was still in shock and lost in his thoughts. Despite everything, he held onto a sliver of hope that they might arrive in time to prevent the worst, but alas, they were too late.
"Over here, you two, come here!" the chief called from a short distance away.
As they approached, Hanz's gaze locked onto something that stirred mixed emotions within him.
Bruger lay dead, his body impaled by a wooden stake and his head skewered by an ice lance that had not yet melted.
"He... he did it!" Hanz exclaimed, his expression shifting slightly.
"What happened here?" the chief inquired, walking in another direction.
"Who knows, father, but look, do you know what this means? We... we will get our home back!" Shelur shouted, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks.
The chief, however, remained cautious. "There might be something else at play here," he mused, squatting down.
Both Shelur and Hanz felt a surge of happiness and internal celebration at the sight of Bruger's demise.
"Why do you say that, father?" Shelur asked, her excitement tempered by his words.
Approaching her father, she saw him squatting in front of another body.
"Father?" she questioned, her eyes widening as she took in the lifeless form before her.
She cringed and stuttered, "T-Takagi."
-End of Volume 1-