A few days later…
"There's no one here."
A rugged human guard, drenched in sweat, stepped forward and bowed deeply before the seven-foot-tall, slender man seated atop a large boar.
They had marched to Yolan Village without a single pause. Most of the squad was exhausted, but no one dared complain. Being assigned to Duan's kill squad was a curse few could escape.
Duan was notorious. Every mission he undertook was fast, efficient, and bloody. Since joining the Tribe's army, he'd pushed himself to the brink, evolving into a ruthless, well-trained machine of war.
But Duan had one flaw: he lacked any understanding of his subordinates' limits. He held everyone to his own brutal standards, which drained his men to the edge of collapse.
After all, they were only human.
"They fled… that makes sense." A calm, level voice spoke next to Duan. A young man with blond hair stood, expression unreadable, the only one seemingly unaffected by their grueling journey.
Vincent.
He was a warrior on Duan's level, but his skill was tempered with reason, not savagery. He was here to balance Duan's ruthlessness, to prevent chaos from swallowing their mission.
"We'll flush them out." Duan nodded, then looked toward one of the weary soldiers.
The cowards had abandoned their home in fear of what was to come, it was disgraceful, but they would flush them out.
"Burn the village to the ground and Wait here, If you see any movement, signal me."
Pulling on his boar's reins, Duan turned away. The beast stomped the ground as it obeyed, its tusks flashing in the dim light.
Even if they didn't have the balls to face them head on, burning their village to crisp would definitely get a reaction from them.
"Four of us will scout the perimeter for any signs of life," he continued.
Setting the village aflame was more than just an attack—it was psychological warfare. The rising smoke would drive the hidden villagers to desperation, tempting them to reveal themselves in a bid to protect their homes or avenge them. Either way, the chaos would betray their position.
What they didn't know, however, was that the villagers were hidden in a place where no smoke could reach them, sheltered beyond the mountain of Malvorrak.
…
"He's back!"
"Quickly, make way!"
"Thank you for your hard work!"
The villagers of Yolan gathered near the mountain's base, clearing a path for Malvorrak as he approached with steady, powerful steps.
He'd made it his duty in recent days to bring back extra game for them, just enough to keep them fed and safe. It was part of his agreement with Zysera—keeping these people alive was the price of peace.
With a low growl, he dropped two massive, flightless bird carcasses to the ground and gestured with one claw. "That one," he indicated the smaller of the two,
"should be enough for tonight."
"Thank you." Three lizardman guards stepped forward, dragging the carcass to the edge of the camp.
Malvorrak watched with a curt nod, then hoisted the larger bird and began his ascent back up the mountain.
"You're going soft, big guy," a voice called out as he entered the cave.
Malvorrak cast a sidelong glance at Cious, who was smirking at his effort to feed the villagers.
"They're in my territory under a deal," Malvorrak replied, his tone flat. "It's my duty to keep them from starving. When they leave, it'll be a different story."
With a final look, he trudged deeper into the cave. He felt no affection for these villagers; they were merely guests in his land. As long as they stayed within the terms of his agreement, he would protect them.
"He's starting to think more deeply," Cious murmured, rubbing his chin with curiosity.
Malvorrak's once simple-minded outlook was evolving. He'd developed a firm sense of duty, a personal code that separated business from emotion.
Below, the villagers set to work on the bird, their fire's smoky glow flickering in the gathering dusk.
Unbeknownst to them, another fire was spreading—a blaze meant for ruin, not sustenance. From atop Malvorrak's mountain, it was clear as day: Yolan Village was being razed to the ground.
Yet even as the villagers remained blissfully unaware, one lizardman on the mountain's peak had witnessed everything. He'd been tied here for weeks, brutalized by goblins, but nothing stirred his rage like this.
"Those bastards!" Qarc screamed, his voice echoing as veins bulged across his neck and forehead, his anger searing through the night air.
He was furious