Chaos, Famine, War. Every single time, it always ends with these three. I have done everything I could, but it seems this fate is inevitable. I thought.
Blood dripped down the sword embedded in my chest. The metallic tang of my own essence filled my nose, mixed with the acrid scent of burning flesh. The air was alive with the sound of crackling fires, devouring what little life remained. The sky, once a serene blue, now mirrored the red sea, stained by the unrelenting ash-gray smoke that clawed at the heavens.
This is the end. The calamity, the annihilation of everything, was upon us. Everything will perish.
"Graasaah! The humans have perished!" a guttural voice roared triumphantly.
The monsters. Their cheers, their laughter, their victory.
These fucking monsters!
My hands trembled as I gripped the sword hilt jutting from my chest, refusing to let the darkness take me. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to stay down, to accept death, but I wouldn't. Not this time.
I slammed a bloodied fist into the dirt and pushed myself up.
"A dying human?" A deep, mocking voice echoed. "Wait, you're the hero, right?"
An orc stepped forward, towering over me. His grotesque grin revealed jagged, yellow teeth. His gnarled club rested on his shoulder, a weapon that had crushed countless lives.
I glared at him, pouring every ounce of hatred and bloodlust into my gaze.
The grin faltered.
"G-gah!" He stammered, taking a half-step back. "Y-you're more monster than we are!"
His hesitation didn't last. It never does. "But this is your end!" he snarled, swinging the massive club toward me.
I dodged to the side, my body screaming in protest. The club slammed into the ground, cracking the earth where I'd been moments ago. The shockwave sent me stumbling, but I steadied myself, pulling the blade from my chest with a sickening squelch.
The orc charged again, roaring as he swung the club horizontally. I ducked, the weapon passing over my head by mere inches. Using the momentum of my movement, I drove my sword upward, slicing into his arm. Black blood sprayed as the orc bellowed in pain.
"You'll regret that, human!"
He spun, his injured arm hanging limp, and swung the club with his uninjured hand. This time, I couldn't dodge. The impact sent me flying, my ribs cracking like dry twigs. I hit the ground hard, my vision swimming.
I coughed, tasting blood, but I forced myself up. Not yet. Not like this.
The orc stomped toward me, rage burning in his blood-red eyes. He raised his club for a killing blow, but I rolled to the side, his attack smashing into the ground once more. I took the opening, slashing at his leg. The blade bit deep, and the orc stumbled, roaring in pain.
"Damn you!"
He kicked me with his good leg, the force sending me skidding across the dirt. My vision blurred, but I held onto my sword, planting it into the ground to stop myself.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," the orc growled, limping toward me. Blood oozed from his wounds, yet he seemed unfazed, his sheer size and strength overshadowing his injuries.
I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up again. Every movement was agony, but I wouldn't stop. If I die here, they win.
The orc swung his club down with all his might. I raised my sword, bracing for the impact. The force nearly shattered my arms, but I held firm, the ground beneath me cracking from the sheer power of the blow. I pushed back, deflecting the club to the side, and lunged forward, plunging my sword into the orc's abdomen.
He roared, spitting blood as he grabbed me by the throat. His grip was like a vice, lifting me off the ground.
"You're nothing, hero!" he snarled, his rancid breath washing over me.
I choked, clawing at his hand, but his grip only tightened. My vision darkened at the edges, but I wasn't done yet. With the last of my strength, I drove my knee into his wounded leg. He howled, his grip faltering just enough for me to slip free.
I hit the ground, gasping for air, and scrambled backward. The orc clutched his abdomen, his rage now mixed with desperation.
"You think you can defeat me?!" he bellowed, swinging his club wildly.
I dodged, weaving through his attacks despite the pain wracking my body. His movements were becoming sluggish, his strength waning. I saw an opening and took it, slashing at his side. The blade tore through flesh and bone, and the orc fell to one knee.
"You… bastard…" he growled, blood dripping from his mouth.
I stood over him, my sword raised. "This ends now."
With a final strike, I drove my blade through his neck, severing his head. The orc's body collapsed, lifeless.
I staggered back, my vision swimming. The ground beneath me felt like it was shifting, the world tilting as I struggled to stay upright.
I could feel my strength leaving my body. The pain, the exhaustion, the blood loss—it was too much.
"I failed" I whispered, my legs giving out beneath me. I fell to my knees, the sword slipping from my grasp.
Once again, I had failed.
"you fucking hero! I'll kill you!"
The shout came from somewhere distant, a voice I barely registered. My vision was almost gone, the edges darkening as the world slipped away.
The orc's severed head still grinned at me, as if mocking my futile efforts.
As his voice faded into the void, I felt something warm and wet trickling down my face. I closed my eyes, letting the darkness take me.
This time, I'll do better.
The thought was my last before everything went black.