Seeing that I was finally near the Orc territory, a smirk crept onto my face. I lifted my hand, aiming carefully, and unleashed a barrage of my skills in the direction of the Orc camp. Each blast hit key structures, sparking enough chaos to rouse the entire camp. Meanwhile, the Troll Lord was still some distance behind me, too far away to see where I was directing my attacks.
"Enemy attack!!" bellowed one of the Orc guards as he sounded the alarm. The clang of bells echoed throughout the camp, stirring every Orc to action. Within seconds, the camp was alive with the stomping of boots and the clattering of armor as Orc warriors poured out from their tents, gathering their weapons and preparing for an onslaught. Even the Orc Lord emerged from his tent, standing a head taller than the rest. Unlike the Troll Lord, who was all muscle and bulk, the Orc Lord's form radiated a controlled, deadly strength. His massive halberd gleamed as he pointed it forward, ordering his troops to prepare for the incoming "enemy."
I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching with satisfaction as the Orcs geared up for a fight. My smirk grew wider. Everything was falling into place.
Moments later, the Troll Lord finally lumbered into view, storming past my hiding spot. He paused, confusion flashing across his brutish face as he took in the scene before him: dozens of armored Orcs, all in formation and waiting for a battle. His expression quickly turned to a scowl as he connected the dots. He must have realized he'd been lured here, and by the looks of it, he was certain it was the Orcs who had done it.
"ROARRRRR!" he bellowed, his voice rumbling through the trees. Fueled by rage, he hefted his spiked club and charged directly at the Orc Lord, leaving a trail of heavy footprints in the dirt.
"TODAY ONE OF ONLY LIVE TO RULE THE FOREST!!!" He shouted as he continued his charge.
The Orc Lord, seeing the Troll barreling toward him, gripped his halberd tightly and shouted a command to his soldiers. His eyes flashed as he raised his hand, casting defensive spells around him and his warriors. He had no idea what caused this sudden attack, but in his eyes, it was an unprovoked assault from the Troll Lord.
I watched with bated breath, silently congratulating myself. My plan had worked. The Trolls and Orcs, natural rivals in the forest, were now about to tear each other apart. All I had to do was sit back and enjoy the chaos.
The battle erupted in a brutal clash as the Troll Lord charged into the Orc camp, his massive spiked club swinging through the air with devastating force. The Orc warriors closed ranks around their leader, raising shields to intercept the Troll Lord's blows, but the sheer strength behind each strike sent shockwaves through their defenses. Even those who managed to block were thrown back from the impact.
The Orc Lord stepped forward, eyes narrowed as he assessed his massive opponent. He raised his halberd, the weapon almost as tall as he was, and took a battle stance. With a quick command, his warriors surged forward, circling the Troll Lord to limit his movement.
The Troll Lord, however, was undeterred. His natural regeneration had already healed several bruises and cuts from the journey here, and he barely flinched as arrows and smaller weapons struck his tough, gray skin. The moment an Orc got close, he'd swing his club in a wide arc, sending them flying like rag dolls. The wounds they managed to inflict would only bleed for a moment before sealing up, making it seem like he was an unstoppable wall of rage.
Roaring in fury, the Troll Lord turned to the Orc Lord, recognizing the true target in front of him. With a thunderous stomp, he charged directly at his adversary, swatting aside any Orc foolish enough to block his path. The Orc Lord didn't retreat; instead, he gritted his teeth and spun his halberd, the blade glowing faintly with a spell that coated it in a sharp, dark energy.
As the Troll Lord swung his club down with a mighty roar, the Orc Lord deftly sidestepped, avoiding the blow by a hair's breadth. In the same movement, he slashed upward with his halberd, landing a deep cut along the Troll Lord's arm. Blackish-green blood oozed from the wound, only to stop flowing almost instantly as the Troll's regeneration kicked in, the skin mending itself with unnatural speed.
The Orc Lord snarled, realizing that typical injuries wouldn't slow his opponent for long. He called out to his mages in the backlines, and within seconds, orbs of fire and magic missiles filled the air, aimed directly at the Troll Lord.
But the Troll Lord hardly reacted to the barrage of magic. The flaming missiles scorched his skin and left charred marks, yet he pushed forward, each step unfazed by the pain. His furious eyes never left the Orc Lord as he continued his relentless advance.
Sensing that the battle couldn't be won by sheer force alone, the Orc Lord adopted a more agile approach. He dodged and weaved around the Troll Lord's wild swings, slicing at his legs and torso in calculated strikes. Each cut was aimed at slowing the giant down, yet every injury the Troll Lord sustained seemed to heal before the next strike even landed. Despite the relentless onslaught from the Orc warriors and the Orc Lord himself, the Troll's natural regeneration made him seem invincible.
At one point, the Troll Lord managed to land a solid hit, smashing his club against the Orc Lord's shoulder and sending him sprawling backward. The Orc Lord coughed up blood, his armor dented and cracked from the force, but he staggered to his feet, eyes blazing with determination. Gritting his teeth, he let out a guttural war cry, and his warriors rallied around him, launching another volley of arrows and spells.