His breath was very calm, his gaze locked onto Leo with cold determination. Blood dripped from Leo's wounds, staining the ground beneath him, but he held his sword firm despite the pain running through his body.
The leader had a predator's instinct, he knew when a fight was nearing its end, and this was it.
"You've fought well," the leader admitted, his voice calm and authoritative. "But this is where it ends."
He raised his sword, with both hands, Muscles tensed, veins bulging along his forearms, he brought the weapon down with all the force he could summon—a strike meant to cleave through Leo completely.
Time seemed to slow.
Leo's body ached, screaming at him to move, to dodge, but his limbs felt sluggish. He knew he couldn't block the blow head-on, not with the sheer power behind it. Still, despite the grim reality, a small, almost mischievous grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
The leader's eyes flickered with confusion at the sudden smile of Leo. "What the…"
Before he could finish the thought, a deep, guttural roar erupted from behind him.
*THUD!*
The forest floor trembled slightly under the weight of the new arrival. The massive figure that appeared out of nowhere was none other than the resurrected Orc King, summoned by Leo's necromantic powers at just the right moment.
The leader barely had time to process the looming shadow before *WHAM!*
A tree-trunk-sized leg swung upward with insane speed, its trajectory aimed with a precision that would have made a sniper jealous. The Orc King's thick, gnarled foot connected squarely between the leader's legs with a force that could shatter boulders and possibly
dreams…
A deafening silence followed.
His eyes bulged, his mouth opening in a soundless scream. The sword fell from his hands, clattering uselessly to the ground. His knees buckled instantly as the full gravity of the situation—both metaphorical and very, very literal—hit him.
Leo couldn't help it. A laugh bubbled up from his chest despite the pain wracking his body. "Did... did he just...?"
Mia gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Jerry, ever the one for theatrics, doubled over, wheezing with laughter. "Oh man—*that's* gotta hurt," he managed between gasps. Even Caleb, usually composed and serious, let out a disbelieving snort.
The leader wobbled, his body swaying like a tree caught in a fierce windstorm. His face had turned an alarming shade of purple, sweat pouring down his temples as he clutched at the space where his dignity had once resided.
Grimfat, oblivious to the sheer absurdity of his actions, grunted in satisfaction and stepped back, crossing his massive arms over his chest as if proud of his contribution to the fight.
The leader tried to stay upright, his pride battling valiantly against the overwhelming urge to collapse. For a brief moment, it seemed like he might recover. But then his legs gave out completely, and with a final, pitiful groan, he crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Passed out cold.
The forest was quiet again, save for the occasional rustle of leaves.
Jerry clapped Leo on the back, grinning from ear to ear. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, man."
Mia shook her head, still chuckling. "Honestly, I didn't think *that* was how this would end."
Leo shrugged a playful glint in his eyes despite the exhaustion weighing him down. "Sometimes you just gotta let the Orc King do his thing."
The group stood there for a moment, basking in the absurd victory. The Iron Claws leader, once a formidable force, now lay unconscious thanks to a perfectly timed and *extremely* unfortunate kick from beyond the grave.
The scene was absurdly quiet for a moment, except for the occasional groan from the unconscious Iron Claws leader sprawled on the forest floor. His once-commanding presence was reduced to a pathetic heap after the Orc King's brutal intervention.
"Oh hell na…," one muttered, eyes darting between the fallen leader and Grimfat's towering frame.
Another gulped audibly. "We're not paid enough for this!"
And then, just like that, they bolted.
The forest exploded with the sound of panicked footsteps crashing through bushes as the Iron Claws scattered like frightened rabbits. Branches snapped, leaves rustled wildly, and Jerry, who had been wiping tears of laughter from his eyes gasped anew as he pointed toward the fleeing group.
"Look at that!"
Jerry wheezed, nearly doubled over.
"Is that... Zane leading the race?"
Indeed, Zane, the self-proclaimed "fearless strategist" of the Iron Claws, was sprinting at breakneck speed far ahead of the rest of his crew. His long legs pumped furiously, his previous bravado forgotten as sheer terror propelled him forward.
Leo grinned faintly, though exhaustion was beginning to creep into his body. His cuts stung with each breath, and his muscles ached from the fierce battle. Still, he couldn't deny the satisfaction coursing through him. Victory, however bizarre, was still victory.
Turning back to Grimfat, who stood like a sentinel awaiting further orders, Leo let out a breath. "Thanks, big guy. You came through."
Grimfat grunted in response, a sound that somehow conveyed both pride and finality. Slowly, his massive form began to shimmer, fragments of light swirling around him like embers caught in the wind.
"Rest up," Leo said softly, watching as the towering figure dissolved into nothingness, returning to whatever realm he had been summoned from.
The forest grew quiet once more, save for the distant rustle of leaves as the last shadow of the fleeing Iron Claws disappeared from view.
"Man, I'll be telling that story for *years*. The legendary leader of the Iron Claws, taken out by one well-placed or poorly placed, depending on how you look at it, kick from an orc. Absolute gold."
Jerry straightened, still grinning.
Leo chuckled weakly, wiping sweat from his brow. "Glad I could give you a story to tell."
Mia stepped closer, her expression softer than usual. "You okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Leo nodded, though the ache in his body said otherwise. "I'll live."
As they walked again, Mia kept glancing sideways at Leo, clearly struggling with something.
Leo noticed, raising an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"
She hesitated, biting her lip. "I... just wanted to say... thanks," she managed, though the words sounded awkward coming from her.
Leo smirked. "That hurt to say, didn't it?"
Mia shot him a glare, though there was no real heat behind it. "A little," she admitted grudgingly. "But seriously... you saved me back there. Twice, actually. I wasn't expecting that."
Leo shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the warmth spreading through his chest at her words. "Well, can't have you getting chopped up by some overcompensating wannabe warlord, can I? Besides," he added with a teasing grin,
"you'd probably haunt me forever if I let that happen."
Mia snorted, shaking her head. "Damn right, I would."
They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before Mia spoke again, her tone more genuine this time. "But really... I owe you one. Big time."
Leo glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. "You don't owe me anything," he said simply. "We're a team, right? Got each other's backs."
Mia's lips quirked into a small smile. "Yeah. I guess we are."
The tension that had lingered between them since they first met seemed to ease just a little, replaced by a tentative but growing sense of camaraderie.
As they continued through the forest, Leo couldn't help but feel that, despite the pain and chaos, they were finally starting to come together, not just as individuals but as something stronger.
A team.