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.

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

against the ground, Silug extended his hand

aura and he pressed

Rumble.

started to

green glow that snaked forth like several snakes and

take long for

"Better."

brightly lit and he was able to get a good look at his

face once again turned solemn once he turned around to face a certain

There, a cell stood.

between, a dense rotting smell, and long chains that were connected to

been a while,

when he

white hair that covered his face and muscles that were only half as large as they had once been, but nonetheless, the figure still

none other than the

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

the ongoing war, it has been hard

room fell silent for a

low, slowly raised it till

to lose, aren't

voice echoed out from his

changed upon hearing his

"We are."

honest

point in

"I see..."

his tone fading a

took this moment to

"I need your help."

how orcs were. It was within their culture to go straight to the point instead of going at things in

never the ones that shied away from asking

this trait that made them

"...My help?"

again raised his head,

help after all of these years have

"Because of the people."

calmly replied. His tone

longer than a year before the demons arrive. If by then, nothing happens, we will go extinct from this planet. All of the orcs that have survived will die, and we will

room as Omolug quietly stared

I

very tense as a result of his

next moment, the two figures continued staring at each other without saying anything. They seemed to be gaging each

"So be it."

come

forward and pressed both hands against the thick

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

Cre...aaak

bars apart with his arms, Silug's muscles began

for the bars to bend to the side, allowing Silug to step

Omgolung

a deep breath, he knelt down on one knee and extended

avert this calamity and help our people

***

situation looks quite

atop a hill to overlook our surroundings

bird gently paused on her

brief moment before

not look good. Most of the land has already been overtaken by the demons. There doesn't seem to be any orcs in the