When Onyx spoke, his voice was low. Though he showed little outward emotion, Dirtclaw could still hear the pride in his tone.
Giants, succubi, buffalofolk, and obsidian golems—those four races were the first to pledge loyalty to Orion. They'd also displayed the highest loyalty.
As the Stoneheart Horde expanded, more and more races joined. Even so, there was still a clear line between those closer to Orion and those further away. One obvious illustration was access to a precious resource like the Abyss Gate.
Even if Orion chose to open it, it naturally tilted in favor of those four core races he was closest to.
The gnolls, on the other hand, didn't hold much sway in the Stoneheart Horde yet. Dirtclaw was all too aware of that. He gazed at the distant Abyss Gate, silently giving himself a pep talk:
"I have to push harder. I have to prove myself. I have to reach Alpha level.
