The air was thick with tension, every sound amplified—the crunch of boots against dirt, the low growls of the remaining Orcs, and the heavy breathing of Liam's group as they prepared for the next round of battle. Marcus stood with his sword at the ready, staring down one of the Orcs. Its hulking frame towered over him, muscles rippling under its rough skin as it snarled, brandishing a crude club.
"This one's mine," Marcus muttered, his voice low but laced with determination.
Jason stood to his left, gripping the axe he'd claimed in his earlier fight. His opponent, another Orc, eyed him with a twisted grin, as if relishing the thought of ripping him apart.
Eleanor, ever calm and composed, took a step forward to face her own target. Unlike the others, she held no blade or axe. Instead, a long, black whip dangled from her hand, the leather gleaming ominously in the sunlight.
Sophia remained on her horse, her bow raised and an arrow notched, her eyes locked on Grogath. The leader of the Orcs began to step toward her, his massive frame exuding raw power and malice. His yellow eyes narrowed as he growled low in his throat, unfazed by her arrows.
Sophia let her arrow fly. It struck Grogath square in the shoulder, but instead of stumbling or even flinching, he pulled the arrow out with a snarl.
Her system interface popped up.
[Skill Notification: Venomous Quiver Effect Nullified.]
Sophia's heart sank. Grogath wasn't like the others—he was far stronger, far tougher.
Before Grogath could get closer, Liam slid off his horse, stepping between Sophia and the Orc leader. His fists clenched at his sides as he stared down Grogath, who smirked in amusement.
"You're brave, little man," Grogath rumbled, cracking his knuckles. "But bravery won't save you."
"I've got more than bravery," Liam replied, his tone calm but firm. "Drop your grudge and leave. You don't have to die here."
Grogath's laughter boomed across the clearing. "Die? You think you can kill me with those puny fists of yours?"
"We'll see." Liam took a fighting stance, his eyes sharp and focused.
As Grogath lunged forward, the battlefield erupted into chaos.
---
Marcus dodged the first swing of the Orc's club, the weapon smashing into the ground with a deafening thud, sending up a cloud of dirt and debris. The sheer force of the blow made his heart race, but he smirked, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The Orc grunted, yanking its club from the ground, its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Marcus. It roared, a guttural sound that vibrated in Marcus's chest. He didn't flinch.
"Let's dance," Marcus muttered, gripping his sword tighter.
The Orc lunged forward, swinging the club in a wide arc. Marcus sidestepped, the wind from the weapon brushing past his face. He retaliated with a quick slash of his sword, the blade slicing across the Orc's forearm.
The creature howled, its blood staining the ground. Yet, it didn't slow down. It swung again, this time with more precision and speed.
Marcus narrowly ducked, the club grazing the air above him. He rolled to the side, springing back to his feet with practiced ease. His muscles ached from the close calls, but his mind was sharp, calculating.
"Not bad," Marcus muttered under his breath, his smirk widening. "But I'm better."
The Orc snarled, its rage evident in every movement. It charged again, raising its club high above its head. Marcus seized the moment, closing the distance between them in a burst of speed.
He delivered a series of rapid slashes, his blade moving like a blur. The Orc attempted to block with its club, but Marcus was too fast. His sword found its mark, cutting deep into the Orc's side.
The creature staggered, blood dripping onto the dirt, but it wasn't finished yet. It roared, swinging wildly in an attempt to catch Marcus off guard.
Marcus dodged the attack with a fluid backstep, his breathing controlled despite the intensity of the battle. The Orc's wild swings left it momentarily unbalanced, and Marcus capitalized on the opening.
He dashed forward, slashing at the creature's exposed thigh. The blade bit deep, and the Orc stumbled, its movements growing sluggish.
But even wounded, the Orc was a formidable foe. It roared in defiance, gripping its club with both hands and swinging it downward with all its might.
Marcus crossed his sword above his head, bracing himself for the impact. The force of the blow reverberated through his arms, almost buckling his knees.
"Damn, you hit like a truck," Marcus hissed, his teeth clenched as he pushed back against the Orc's overwhelming strength.
The Orc leaned in, its grotesque face mere inches from Marcus's. "You'll die here, human."
"Not today," Marcus growled, twisting his body to the side and sliding his blade along the club, freeing himself from the lock.
He spun around, delivering a precise slash to the back of the Orc's knee. The creature roared in pain, dropping to one leg. Marcus didn't hesitate, stepping around to its front and driving his sword into its shoulder.
The Orc howled, its massive hand swiping at Marcus. He jumped back just in time, avoiding the claws that could have ripped him apart.
The Orc, now severely wounded, panted heavily, its blood pooling beneath it. But it wasn't done. It reached for a hidden dagger strapped to its belt, its movements slower but still dangerous.
"Persistent, aren't you?" Marcus muttered, his eyes narrowing.
The Orc lunged with the dagger, its strike aimed at Marcus's chest. He sidestepped, the blade grazing his armor. In a swift counter, he kicked the Orc's wrist, sending the dagger flying.
The creature roared in frustration, swinging its fist at Marcus. He ducked, coming up behind the Orc and slashing at its back. The blow was deep, and the Orc staggered, its strength finally waning.
But Marcus didn't let up. He circled the creature, landing calculated strikes on its arms and legs, further weakening it.
"You're tough, I'll give you that," Marcus said, his tone almost admiring. "But this ends now."
The Orc, now on its knees, glared up at Marcus, its yellow eyes burning with hatred. With a final, powerful thrust, Marcus drove his sword straight into the creature's chest.
The Orc let out a guttural gasp, its body convulsing before collapsing to the ground. Marcus yanked his sword free, breathing heavily as he wiped the blood off the blade.
"One down," he muttered, his voice steady despite the toll the fight had taken on him.
He turned, his eyes scanning the battlefield to see how the others were faring.
---
Jason rolled his shoulders, the axe feeling heavier in his hands now that the adrenaline was wearing off. His opponent charged at him, swinging a massive hammer with both hands.
Jason sidestepped, the hammer smashing into the ground where he'd been standing. He took the opportunity to swing his axe, the blade biting into the Orc's thigh.
The Orc roared, but instead of backing off, it swung its fist, catching Jason in the side. He stumbled back, gritting his teeth as pain shot through his ribs.
"Okay," Jason muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "You're stronger than you look."
The Orc grinned, charging again. This time, Jason was ready. He ducked under the hammer swing, coming up behind the creature. With a powerful strike, he buried the axe in the Orc's back.
The Orc howled, spinning around to try and swat Jason away. But Jason held his ground, yanking the axe free and delivering another blow to the creature's chest.
The Orc fell to its knees, blood pouring from its wounds. Jason raised the axe one final time, bringing it down with all his strength. The creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Jason wiped sweat from his brow, looking over at Marcus. "Two down," he called out.
---
Eleanor circled her opponent, her whip coiled in her hand. The Orc sneered, clearly unimpressed by her choice of weapon.
"You think that little string will hurt me?" it taunted, raising its mace.
Eleanor didn't reply. Instead, she snapped the whip with a loud crack, the tip lashing across the Orc's face. The creature roared in surprise, clutching its cheek as blood welled up.
The Orc charged, swinging its mace in a wide arc. Eleanor danced out of reach, her movements fluid and precise. She struck again with her whip, this time wrapping it around the Orc's wrist.
With a sharp tug, she disarmed the creature, sending its mace flying. The Orc snarled, lunging at her with its bare hands.
Eleanor sidestepped, using the whip to trip the Orc. As it fell to the ground, she delivered a series of rapid strikes, the whip slicing across its body.
The Orc tried to rise, but Eleanor was relentless. With a final crack of her whip, she struck the creature's neck, the force snapping it.
Eleanor let out a slow breath, her expression calm as she turned to rejoin the others.
---
Liam ducked under Grogath's punch, the force of the blow sending a gust of wind past his ear.
"You're quick," Grogath admitted, smirking. "But you won't last long."
"We'll see about that." Liam darted forward, landing a quick jab to Grogath's ribs before retreating.
Grogath growled, swinging again. This time, he managed to graze Liam's shoulder, the impact making him stumble. But Liam recovered quickly, his movements calculated and precise.
The two circled each other, exchanging blows. Grogath's strength was overwhelming, each punch capable of crushing bone. But Liam's agility and technical skill kept him in the fight, allowing him to evade and counterattack.
The rest of the group gathered nearby, watching the battle unfold. Sophia, still on her horse, gripped her bow tightly, her eyes glued to Liam.
"Come on," Marcus muttered, his fists clenched.
Liam ducked under another swing, delivering a powerful uppercut to Grogath's jaw. The Orc stumbled but didn't fall, his rage fueling him.
"You're annoying," Grogath snarled. "I'll crush you like a bug!"