Leo stood frozen in place, his fingers tightening into fists as he processed the devastating news. Caius and his soldiers were annihilated. No, that couldn't be true. Not without confirmation. His brother was a monster in battle, and the thought of him lying lifeless in some wasteland didn't sit right with him. He had to see it with his own eyes.
But the moment he stepped forward, voices of opposition roared against him.
"Your Highness, you cannot!" a knight blocked his path, bowing deeply yet firmly. "The battlefield is no place for you."
"Leo, please." His mother's voice trembled, raw with pain. "I can't bear to lose you too."
"You're not strong enough," one of the ministers added. "Even if your brother is alive, you'll only be throwing your life away."
A lesser man might have faltered. Leo did not.
His gaze swept across them, a storm brewing in his golden eyes. They still think I'm weak. And that was exactly why he couldn't stay here. Words wouldn't convince them. Actions would.
Late that night, as the castle halls fell into silence, Leo vanished into the shadows.
Far to the southern border, inside the ruins of an ancient fortress, Caius and the surviving soldiers huddled together in the cold darkness.
Blood seeped into the cracks of the stone floor, mixing with dirt and sweat. Commander Halbrecht, the veteran warrior, leaned against the wall, his right arm now nothing but a bloody stump. His face was pale, his breathing ragged. "Damn that thing…" he muttered, wincing.
Caius clenched his sword with a shaking hand. His once-impeccable armor was cracked and covered in blood, both his and his enemies'. He surveyed the dozen men who remained—wounded, exhausted, terrified.
Hundreds of mutated monsters prowled outside the ruins, their monstrous eyes glowing in the night. They could hear the low growls, the heavy breathing, the scraping of claws against stone.
But nothing terrified them more than the one sitting above them.
The Orc King.
The monster sat atop a massive stone pillar, a grotesque parody of a king upon his throne. Its bulging muscles pulsed with unnatural power, and its dark green skin bore scars of countless battles. The Orc King was different from the others—it wasn't just a mindless beast. It was aware. Intelligent. Calculating. And that made it even more terrifying.
Halbrecht's voice was hoarse as he spoke, "If that thing comes for us, we won't last a minute."
Caius exhaled slowly, trying to mask his exhaustion. "We hold out until reinforcements arrive."
A soldier whispered, voice shaking, "What if they don't?"
Caius didn't answer. He couldn't.
Back at the palace, Leo crept into the royal stables, scanning the horses. He needed the fastest one if he was going to reach Caius in time. His eyes locked onto a magnificent black stallion, separated from the others. It had a wild, untamed aura, its eyes filled with a sharp intelligence.
"Perfect," Leo muttered, stepping closer. "You're coming with me."
The horse snorted and turned away.
Leo frowned. "Don't ignore me."
He reached for the reins, but the stallion took a step back, staring at him like he was an insignificant bug.
Leo narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I see. You think you're better than me? Just because you have muscles, a shiny coat, and those arrogant eyes? Well, newsflash, buddy, I've seen prettier horses, and they actually listen."
The stallion yawned.
Leo twitched. "Alright, how about this—you take me there, and I'll make sure you get the finest hay and the most expensive grooming for a whole year."
The stallion turned its head, uninterested.
Leo groaned. "Fine. How about a deal? If you take me there, I'll give you a beautiful female horse when we get back."
The stallion didn't react.
Leo sighed. "Okay… how about five beautiful horses?"
Nothing.
Leo squinted, rubbing his chin. "Wait… maybe you're gay? Is that why you have no interest in female horses?"
The stallion's ears twitched.
Leo smirked. "Alright then, how about a male horse?"
WHAM!
The horse kicked Leo so hard he flew into the haystack.
Coughing out straw, Leo groaned. "I'll take that as a no."
Still lying there, he gazed up at the ceiling for a long moment before speaking softly. "You know, I also had a brother in my previous life. But he was nothing like Caius. In fact, he was more of an enemy than a brother. I lost count of how many times he tried to kill me. In the end, he died a gruesome death… and honestly? He deserved it."
Leo clenched his fists. "But Caius? He doesn't deserve that kind of death. And this family doesn't deserve such a tragic loss. So please, help me save my brother before it's too late."
The black horse stopped. Its powerful frame tensed, its eyes flickering with something unreadable.
Then, slowly, it stepped forward and lowered its head.
Leo smirked. "Heh. Knew you had a heart somewhere in there."
With one swift motion, he mounted the stallion, and the moment he did—the horse burst forward with such speed that the world blurred around him. What should have been a five-day journey was now just two and a half.
As Leo approached the city gates, a lone figure stood in his path.
Marlin.
His personal maid was waiting, holding a large leather bag.
Leo pulled the reins, stopping before her. "You should be asleep."
She bowed slightly, offering the bag. "Master, everything you need is in here."
Leo took it, feeling the weight. "…Did you bring 'THAT' as well?"
Marlin nodded, her expression unwavering. "Yes, Master. It's in there."
Leo's fingers tightened around the strap. Good.
Without another word, he turned the stallion toward the road. Marlin stepped back, watching as Leo and his new companion disappeared into the night, racing toward the battlefield where death awaited.
The Storm is Coming
Back at the ruins, Caius sat against the cold wall, staring at his sword. His men were barely hanging on, the monsters were waiting, and the Orc King still watched from its throne.
Far away, across hills and forests, Leo rode like a storm, his mind focused on one thing:
Saving his brother.
And when he arrived—
The monsters would know fear.