The Author's POV

A castle was perched alone atop a cliff, surrounded on all sides by tiny towns. It had been standing there for many centuries, heavily worn out from the times.

With some mismatched towers and asymmetrical designs, it had a fairly crude appearance. Even yet, it did not lessen the imposing impression it left.

But in contrast to its imposing exterior, it was completely empty inside.

In a large hall where large banners cascaded down the sides and a large throne sat at the far end, a meeting was taking place.

"...We've lost ground. The demons will reach the city within the next year."

The orc kneeled down on one foot.

"One year?"

A low, solemn voice filled the room.

"How long will our supplies last?"

"Five years. Supplies aren't a problem."

"...I see."

Silence descended on the room.

It was only after a while that the voice once again echoed.

"You may leave."

"...Understood, Chief."

Standing on two feet, the orc thumped his chest once and left the hall.

Silug kept his gaze locked on the orc until he left the hall. Once he left, only his presence and pressure filled the room.

"Forty years..."

Today marked the fortieth year that he had been the orcen chief. The path wasn't simple. He only succeeded in becoming chief by pure luck. Had it not been for that human that had helped him many years ago, none of this would've been possible.

He was then able to prevent the orcs from losing the conflict and forcing a stalemate with the demons.

Unfortunately, it didn't look like this deadlock would last much longer. The demons proved to be far too powerful for them to handle, and the orcs were overwhelmed by the lack of reinforcements, losing more than three-fourths of their forces during the course of the previous ten years.

"There might be a way."

Thump.

Silug pressed his foot against the hard ground.

Immediately, the hall trembled and a shockwave pulsed in an outward manner. Cracks began to form beneath the throne as Silug slowly stood up from the throne.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The cracks quickly became larger, and the throne behind him began to slant into one of them. Soon after, a hole started to appear, and the throne sank into it.

Silug stepped toward the black hole where the chair fell and he similarly fell.

Thump.

His feet crashed against the earth as rocks raced past him after he fell directly down the hole for more than ten seconds.

"...It's dark."

His voice echoed throughout the dark space.

thing he could see at the moment was an endless darkness. Aside from that, he could also hear a faint

foot against the ground, Silug extended his hand toward the

his aura and he pressed with

Rumble.

room started

and muscular arms erupted in a darkish green glow that snaked forth like several snakes and connected

take long for

"Better."

and he was able to get a good look at his

satisfied for long as his face once again turned solemn

There, a cell stood.

with small gaps in between, a dense rotting smell, and long chains that were

been a while,

greeted when he

greener-than-dark eyes fixed on the chained figure inside the cell. His features were somewhat hidden by long white hair that covered his face and muscles that were only half as large as they had once been, but nonetheless, the figure still bore a striking resemblance to the

none other than the previous

orc in Immorra who rivaled his strength, and the person whom he defeated in order to become the

it has been hard

fell silent

whose head was hung low, slowly raised it till his eyes

to

and deep voice echoed out from

his words. Nonetheless, he nodded his

"We are."

honest with

point in hiding

"I see..."

his head, his

this

"I need your help."

orcs were. It was within their culture to go straight to the point instead of

prideful, they were never the ones that shied away

was this trait that made

"...My help?"

again raised his head, blinking

of these years have passed? What makes you think I

"Because of the people."

calmly replied. His tone contained unbounded

by then, nothing happens, we will go extinct from this planet. All of the orcs that have survived will die, and we

on the room as

I betray

as a result

each other

"So be it."

come long after

and pressed both hands

year make with now? So what if you betray me? I will die regardless of choices, if so, I will gladly

Cre...aaak

bars apart with his arms, Silug's muscles began to bulge and

long for the bars to bend to the side, allowing

Omgolung

down

this calamity and help our people live, or will you allow our

***

looks quite

a hill to overlook our surroundings when I heard Ava's voice coming

a bird gently

her eyes for a brief moment before reopening them and looking

Most of the land has already been overtaken by the demons.