The group continued eating amidst light-hearted teasing and laughter. Marcus leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin plastered on his face as he eyed Sophia, whose arm was firmly locked around Liam's.
"Sophia, are you sure you're not dating Liam? I mean, at least wait till we're out of this mess before you two start tearing each other's clothes off," Marcus teased, eliciting laughter from Jason and even a faint smirk from Eleanor.
Sophia shot Marcus a sharp glare, her cheeks reddening slightly. "I'm not letting him go because someone needs to keep these vultures away," she snapped, nodding toward the voluptuous elf woman serving drinks.
The elf in question was a stunning figure, even if her beauty was more exaggerated than natural. Her long, flowing silver hair framed a face with sharp cheekbones and emerald eyes, but it was her attire—or lack thereof—that drew attention. The revealing dress clung to her curves, the top half of her chest jiggling with every step. As she moved between tables, she kept glancing at Liam, her sly smile and deliberate movements making her intentions clear.
Sophia caught the elf shaking her ample breasts subtly in Liam's direction. Her hold on Liam's arm tightened possessively. Liam, however, seemed completely indifferent, his focus fixed on his food.
"Liam's a saint," Jason said, stifling a laugh. "He doesn't even notice the free show he's getting."
Sophia rolled her eyes but kept quiet, her grip on Liam unwavering.
The lively atmosphere of the restaurant was suddenly shattered by the loud bang of the door slamming open.
A hush fell over the room as a towering orc stepped inside. His presence was imposing, his hulking frame nearly filling the doorway. The orc's green skin was marred with scars, his tusks protruding from a face twisted in perpetual rage. He wore a leather chest plate studded with spikes, and his arms, as thick as tree trunks, were covered in tribal tattoos. A massive axe hung from his back, its blade glinting ominously in the dim lantern light.
The patrons whispered fearfully among themselves.
"That's Grogath... He's killed dozens in cold blood," someone murmured.
"They say he ripped a man's spine out just for looking at him wrong," another added, shuddering.
"Why is he here? What does he want?"
Behind Grogath, the inn's manager shuffled nervously, pointing toward Liam's table. "T-they're the ones who brought the carriage," he stammered, his voice trembling.
Grogath's crimson eyes narrowed as he stormed toward their table. The ground seemed to shake with every step he took.
When he reached the group, he stopped, glaring down at them with a murderous expression. His voice was a deep growl as he said coldly, "Did you guys steal the carriage after killing my brother?"
Marcus looked up from his plate, unbothered by the orc's intimidating presence. "So that stupid orc was your brother?" he said with a raised eyebrow. "I wonder where you siblings get your stupid traits from. Must be from your father. Because if you weren't a complete idiot, you'd notice that the people sitting around this table are a respected set of individuals. You're just a non-playing cha—"
Before Marcus could finish, Eleanor yanked him down by his collar, her voice low and urgent. "Shut up, Marcus! Don't say anything game-related. We still don't know how this game works."
Liam continued eating, seemingly unbothered by the massive orc towering over them. His calm demeanor was in stark contrast to the tension in the room. His hand, still locked around Sophia's, didn't falter even as the orc's anger began to boil over.
Sophia, however, was trembling slightly. Her confidence seemed to waver as her eyes darted nervously to Grogath's hulking form. Despite her sharp tongue and quick wit, she wasn't the most combat-capable member of the group.
Grogath's face twisted in rage. Marcus's flippant remarks and Liam's indifference only seemed to fuel his anger. With a deafening roar, he slammed his leg onto the table, shattering it instantly. Plates and food scattered across the floor.
The restaurant erupted in murmurs.
"Surely, they're dead now," someone whispered.
"No one survives Grogath's wrath," another added.
Sophia let out a startled gasp, instinctively pulling away from Liam. Her grip on his arm broke as she shifted back in fear.
As Sophia turned back toward Grogath, he got his first clear look at her. For a moment, his breath hitched, and his fiery anger dulled, replaced by sheer astonishment.
She was breathtaking. Grogath had never seen a human woman quite like her. Her long, golden blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders like a shimmering waterfall, framing her soft, heart-shaped face. Her vivid blue eyes seemed to glow, holding a mix of determination and vulnerability. Her lips were full and inviting, a natural blush enhancing her youthful beauty.
But it wasn't just her face that captured his attention. Sophia's body was equally mesmerizing. Her curvaceous figure was well-defined, with a slender waist that accentuated her ample hips and a bust that moved gracefully with each of her nervous breaths. Despite the tension in the room, she carried herself with an air of elegance and charm that was almost hypnotic.
Grogath's mind wavered between rage and desire. His blood boiled, but not entirely from anger. "A human like this?" he muttered under his breath. "Unbelievable…"
The orc's lips twisted into a cruel grin as his thoughts shifted.
"Bitch," he sneered suddenly, his voice echoing through the room. "If you follow me, I might let your friends live."
The crude insult sent a ripple of tension through the air. Liam, who had remained stoic throughout the encounter, finally reacted. His calm expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he slowly raised his head to look at Grogath.
Sophia froze for a moment, her face paling. "What did you just call me?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.
Grogath ignored her words, his grin widening. He stepped closer, towering over her petite frame like a shadow of doom. Before anyone could react, he reached out and grabbed Sophia's wrist in his massive hand.
With a yank, he dragged her upward, forcing her to stand. "Didn't you hear me, bitch?" he snarled, his foul breath washing over her.
"Let me go!" Sophia yelled, struggling against his grip. Her other hand clawed at his fingers, but it was like trying to pry open a steel vise.
Grogath's crimson eyes gleamed with vile intent. He licked his lips slowly, his gaze raking over Sophia's trembling form. Her defiance only seemed to excite him further. As her body twisted in resistance, her chest heaved, causing her breasts to jiggle slightly under her shirt.
"You're a feisty one," he said with a chuckle, leaning in closer. "But let's see how long that lasts."
Before anyone could stop him, Grogath stretched his free hand toward her chest. The lecherous grin on his face deepened as his massive fingers neared their target.
But he never made it.
A sickening crack echoed through the restaurant as a powerful kick slammed into Grogath's chest. His ribs bent inward with the force of the blow, and he stumbled backward, releasing Sophia in shock.
The sudden release tipped Sophia off balance. She let out a startled cry, her legs buckling beneath her.
Before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her, steadying her. She looked up to see Liam, his expression cold and unreadable, but his protective hold on her firm.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, his voice calm yet sharp, his eyes never leaving Grogath.
Sophia nodded wordlessly, her heart still racing. She clung to Liam for a moment before stepping back, her face red with a mix of embarrassment and lingering fear.
Grogath growled, clutching his chest as he regained his footing. His crimson eyes burned with rage as he stared at Liam. "You dare…!" he snarled, his voice a deep rumble that shook the walls.
Liam's gaze remained steady, his posture relaxed yet brimming with quiet confidence. "Touch her again," he said flatly, his voice low but deadly, "and you won't live to regret it."
The room fell silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating. The patrons, who had been watching from the corners, held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Grogath's rage boiled over, and he lunged at Liam with a roar, his massive fist swinging like a wrecking ball. But Liam sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise.
The orc stumbled past him, momentarily off balance. Before he could recover, Liam delivered a sharp elbow strike to the side of Grogath's head, sending him reeling.
"Sit down," Liam said, his tone calm but commanding, as if speaking to a misbehaving child.
Grogath snarled, shaking off the daze. He turned back to Liam, his hand reaching for the axe strapped to his back.
"You've made your last mistake, boy," the orc growled.
Stepping forward. Liam's expression remained calm, but there was a spark of something dangerous in his eyes.
The room erupted in murmurs again as the patrons whispered among themselves.
"Who is this guy?"
"Is he crazy? No one challenges Grogath and lives."
"I don't know… he seems different. Look at his composure."
Marcus, watching from the sidelines, grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be good," he said, leaning back in his chair.
Eleanor shot him a warning glance. "This isn't a joke, Marcus. That orc could kill us all if we're not careful."
Jason, meanwhile, seemed more intrigued than concerned. He adjusted his glasses and leaned forward, studying Liam's movements closely.
Grogath charged again, his axe now in hand. The massive weapon gleamed ominously as he swung it in a deadly arc toward Liam.
But once again, Liam was faster. He ducked under the swing and delivered a swift kick to the back of Grogath's knee, forcing the orc to kneel. Before Grogath could react, Liam grabbed the handle of the axe and yanked it away, tossing it across the room.
The weapon clattered to the floor, far out of reach.
The orc froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. No one had ever disarmed him before, let alone humiliated him like this.
"Enough," Liam said, his voice cold and final. "Leave before this gets worse for you."
Grogath hesitated, his pride warring with his survival instincts. He glanced around the room, noticing the stunned expressions of the onlookers. Finally, with a low growl, he stood and backed away, his hands raised in reluctant surrender.
"This isn't over," he muttered, his voice dripping with venom.
Liam didn't respond, his gaze steady until Grogath turned and stomped out of the restaurant.
The moment the door closed behind him, the tension in the room broke, and the patrons erupted into whispers and murmurs.
Sophia turned to Liam, her eyes wide with a mix of gratitude and concern. "You didn't have to do that…" she said softly.
Liam glanced at her, his expression softening. "Yes, I did," he replied simply.
Marcus clapped loudly, grinning from ear to ear. "That was badass! You just showed that oversized meathead who's boss."
Jason smirked, adjusting his glasses. "I have to admit, that was impressive. But we might have just made a powerful enemy."
Eleanor sighed, rubbing her temples. "We need to be more careful. Liam, that was risky. What if he comes back with reinforcements?"
Liam shrugged, sitting back down and picking up his fork. "Then we'll deal with it," he said nonchalantly before ordering another meal.
Sophia sat down beside him, her hand brushing against his briefly. "Thank you," she whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Liam gave her a small smile.