Rowan stood tall amidst the chaos,
blood streaking his face, his
once-pristine shirt now torn and singed.
His chest rose and fell heavily, the
weight of countless lives bearing down
on him. Before him, the orc shaman
stumbled back, clutching his staff, eyes
wide with disbelief. Rowan's presence,
despite his injuries, emanated an
undeniable aura of defiance.
The remaining orcs regrouped, snarling,
their guttural chants echoing through
the devastated streets of Stagpeak.
With their numbers dwindling, their
desperation only grew, and they sought
strength in their shaman. The shaman,
though terrified, grinned slyly, masking
his fear.
"You might have survived my fire," he
sneered, his voice trembling, "but that
was merely the beginning. Watch as
true power unfolds!"
He began chanting, his guttural words
vibrating the air. The staff he held aloft
glowed ominously, shifting hues
between a sickly green and a deep
crimson.
Rowan could feel the pulse of magic in
the air, and he braced himself, his
broken sword now discarded at his feet.
His gaze flickered to the fallen orcs,
their crude weapons lying within reach.
In one swift motion, he lunged for a
jagged orc club and gripped it tightly.
The shaman unleashed his spell, a
swirling torrent of wind infused with
slicing magical energy, aimed directly at
Rowan. It crashed into him with the
force of a hurricane. Dust and debris
obscured the battlefield, leaving the
villagers who watched from the
shadows gasping in terror.
When the dust cleared, the shaman's
triumphant grin faltered. Rowan was
still standing. His body bore deep
gashes, his blood soaking the ground
beneath him, yet he stood tall, his fiery
hazel eyes locked onto the shaman.
"H-how are you still alive?!" the shaman
stammered, taking a step back.
Rowan didn't respond. Instead, he
advanced, each step measured and
deliberate, the club dragging against
the ground, creating a chilling sound.
The shaman, so often the predator, was
now prey.
"Stay back!" the shaman screamed,
backing into a corner. He frantically
hurled weak magical bolts at Rowan,
but they fizzled out before they could
even reach him.
Rowan lunged forward, his movements
fueled by sheer willpower. The orc
shaman barely had time to scream
before Rowan's swing cleaved through
his neck. His head fell with a sickening
thud, rolling to the feet of his terrified
brethren. Rowan looked down at the
decapitated head, his face devoid of
emotion, before muttering, "What a
cOward."
The villagers, hidden within the rubble,
watched in stunned silence. Some
whispered prayers of gratitude, while
others wept openly, clutching their
children. Maya, who had been calming
the panicked townspeople, stood
frozen, her hands covering her mouth
as tears streamed down her face.
"He's... he's really doing it" she
whispered, awe filling her voice.
As the dust settled around Rowan, the
sound of heavy footsteps filled the air.
The ground seemed to tremble beneath
the weight of something massive. The
remaining orcs suddenly rallied, their
fear replaced by fervent cheers.
"lgnatz! lgnatz! Ignatz!" they chanted in
unison.
From the shadows emerged lgnatz, the
towering orc general. He was unlike any
orc Rowan had faced before. His
muscles rippled under his thick green
skin, and his presence alone was
enough to sap the air of hope. Clad in
dark armor that bore scars from
Countless battles, IgnatZ carried an
enormous jagged blade, its edge
gleaming wickedly in the fading
sunlight.
Rowan's eyes narrowed as Ignatz
approached. "So, you're the one behind
all this destruction," he said, gripping
his club tighter.
Ignatz tilted his head, his deep voice
rumbling like distant thunder. "The
destruction? No, human. This is merely
the beginning." He pointed his massive
blade at Rowan. "You're the one l've
been sensing, aren't you? That surge of
power earlier-it was you."
Rowan didn't answer, his stance steady
as he prepared for whatever was
coming.
lgnatz chuckled, a low, menacing
sound. "Interesting. You took down my
shaman. but let's see if you can handle
this." He turned to one of his remaining
orcs and barked an order. "Attack him."
The orc, smaller than lgnatz but still
massive, hesitated briefly before
obeying. It raised its hand, summoning
a fireball and hurling it at Rowan. The
villagers screamed as the flames
hurtled through the air.
But Rowan stood unmoving, letting the
fireball engulf him. As the flames
dissipated, he emerged unscathed.
Ignatz laughed heartily. "I knew it!
Immune to flames. How... Curious." His
laughter subsided, and his eyes
narrowed dangerously. "But don't think
for a moment that makes you invincible,
little man. I'|l find your weakness."
Rowan didn't reply, his focus now
entirely on the towering figure before
him. Around him, the villagers
whispered in disbelief, their fear giving
way to cautious hope.
"Is he even human?" one man asked,
clutching his son tightly.
"No," Maya said softly, her eyes never
leaving Rowan. "He's something
greater."
Ignatz stepped forward, the ground
quaking with each movement. "Come
then, human. Show me the strength
that terrifies my men."
As Rowan met lgnatz's challenge, the
villagers could only watch in awe. Their
savior, bloodied but unbroken, was all
that stood between them and utter
annihilation.