As the group of orcs continued their journey through the catacombs, the oppressive silence of the dark tunnels was broken only by the occasional clank of armor and the shuffling of heavy feet on stone.
Volk walked at the head of the group, his mind still troubled by the conversation he had with Lhum'Baggar.
The thought of losing Solluha'r was indeed heavy even if he denies it, and the uncertainty of what awaited them at the end of this expedition only added to his worries.
Suddenly, one of the orcs in the group moved up to walk beside Volk and Lhum'Baggar.
He was a broad-shouldered, muscular orc with a long, jagged scar running from his forehead to his chin.
His eyes were a sharp, intelligent green, and his presence commanded respect from the others.
"I am Grashk, son of Kor'Thul, known as the Child Protector," the orc introduced himself, his voice deep and resonant.
"My father was a respected warrior, and I have earned my title by ensuring the safety of the young ones in our clan. But today, I may have a solution to your problem, Volk."
Volk, intrigued by the orc's confident tone, turned to him. "What solution do you speak of?"
Grashk nodded, as if he had been expecting the question.
"At the end of this tunnel, there lies a special crystal, one that is a thousand times more valuable than the scattered crystals we've seen here and there. This crystal is no ordinary gem—it is said to be infused with ancient magic, capable of swaying even the most stubborn elders. If you were to obtain it and offer it to the elders, they might reconsider taking your wife from you."
Volk's interest was piqued, but he remained cautious. "Might? They might reconsider?"
Grashk met Volk's gaze steadily.
"Yes, might. It is not a guarantee, but it is better than nothing. The elders are bound by tradition and the will of the tribe, but they also respect power and sacrifice. Offering them something of such value could sway their decision."
Volk considered the orc's words.
The idea of finding this crystal was appealing, but the uncertainty gnawed at him.
Still, as Grashk had pointed out, it was better than doing nothing. He nodded slowly. "Very well. We'll find this crystal."
The group continued forward with renewed determination, the promise of the crystal driving them onward.
The tunnel ahead seemed to stretch on endlessly, the darkness thickening around them as they delved deeper into the catacombs.
The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sounds of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.
After what felt like hours of walking, Volk's mind began to wander.
The more he thought about the crystal, the more questions arose in his mind. Something didn't quite add up.
Finally, unable to shake the feeling that something was off, Volk broke the silence.
"Why haven't we seen any crystals around here?" he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet. "In all this time, we've come across dead orcs and empty tunnels, but not a single crystal. Why is that?"
The other orcs exchanged uneasy glances, hesitant to answer.
Finally, Grashk spoke up, his voice carefully measured.
"The other orc tribes came to this place first. They've already taken the crystals from these tunnels. That's why we haven't seen any."
Volk frowned, not entirely satisfied with the answer. "And why are we following the same path as those other tribes? Why not take a different tunnel, one they haven't explored yet?"
The orcs were silent for a moment, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. Finally, one of the older orcs spoke up, his voice respectful but firm.
"Because the other tunnels are more dangerous, Volk. There are beasts in those tunnels, unknown creatures that we've never encountered before. The dangers there are greater, and the risk of losing our lives is too high."
Volk raised an eyebrow. "What kind of dangers?"
The older orc hesitated before answering, clearly wary of spooking the group.
"There are four dangerous tunnels, each with its own threats. Some say there are creatures there that are unlike anything we've faced before—giant, skinless beasts, swarms of venomous insects, and shadows that move of their own accord, not just the same monster that is common inside this dungeon. And in one of the tunnels, there could be creatures that are said to be as powerful as a Level 5 Mag'Durotan. So it would be better to follow their paths…"
The mention of a creature as powerful as a Mag'Durotan sent a ripple of unease through the group.
Even Volk felt a chill run down his spine at the thought. But as he processed the information, another thought struck him, and he stopped in his tracks.
The orcs behind him halted as well, looking at him in confusion.
Volk turned to face them, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"What happened to the creatures we were supposed to encounter in this tunnel? If there are beasts in those other tunnels, why haven't we seen any here? The only thing we've come across are the bodies of orcs from other tribes. Where are the monsters?"
The orcs stared at Volk, suddenly a realization slowly dawning on them.
Grok'Thar, who had been listening quietly, suddenly let out a laugh.
"Of course! The monsters are scared of you, Volk! They're avoiding us because of the hazardous magic particles in your body. They think you're some kind of powerful beast!"
The other orcs looked at Volk with wide eyes, the truth of Grok'Thar's words settling in.
If the creatures in this tunnel were avoiding them because of Volk, then there was no reason to fear the dangers of the other tunnels. With Volk leading them, they had nothing to worry about.
One of the younger orcs, his face lighting up with excitement, pumped his fist in the air.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head to the other tunnels! If the leader's presence is enough to scare off the monsters, we can gather all the crystals we want without any trouble!"
The rest of the group quickly joined in, their earlier fear and hesitation replaced by enthusiasm. They began to cheer, their voices echoing off the stone walls. "Volk! Volk! Volk!"
Volk couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. He hadn't expected this outcome, but it was clear that his presence was a powerful advantage.
With renewed determination, he led the group back through the tunnel they had come from, heading toward one of the unexplored tunnels.
As they entered the new tunnel, the air felt different. It was heavier, charged with an unseen energy. But the orcs didn't falter.
They pressed forward, their excitement growing with each step. And as they went deeper into the tunnel, their eyes began to catch the glimmer of something in the darkness.
Crystals.
The walls of the tunnel were studded with them, glowing faintly in the dim light.
The orcs let out triumphant shouts, their hands reaching for the crystals and quickly filling their bags with the precious stones. It was a treasure trove beyond their wildest dreams.
Volk watched with satisfaction as his warriors gathered the crystals, their earlier fears forgotten.
The tunnel, which had seemed so foreboding at first, was now a source of great wealth. And all because the creatures that usually guarded these places were too afraid to face him.
The group moved through the tunnel like a well-oiled machine, gathering crystals with practiced efficiency.
Their bags were soon bulging with the precious stones, and the mood among the orcs was jubilant.
They laughed and joked as they worked, their voices filled with the thrill of victory.
"Can you believe it?" one of the orcs said, his voice full of awe. "We've filled our bags in no time! And it's all thanks to Volk!"
"Aye!" another orc agreed. "We're lucky to have him as our leader. The beasts didn't stand a chance!"
"We're going to be rich!" a third orc exclaimed, holding up a particularly large crystal with a grin.
The mood was infectious, and soon the entire group was celebrating their good fortune.
They slapped each other on the back, their laughter ringing out through the tunnel.
Volk couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had led them to this victory, and their success was undeniable.
But just as the group's celebration reached its peak, a sound cut through the air—faint at first, but growing louder with each passing moment.
The orcs fell silent, their laughter dying on their lips as they strained to listen.
It was the sound of battle.
The clashing of weapons, the shouts of warriors, and the roars of something inhuman.
The orcs exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier joy replaced by a growing sense of unease.
Volk's hand tightened around the hilt of his weapon as he listened to the sounds of the distant fight.
Whatever was happening up ahead, it was something they couldn't ignore.
The celebration was over.
It was time to face whatever it is.