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Chapter 169 - Gud Khodror [2]

Gud Khodror was located 3,000 meters above sea level, on top of a large desolate mountain on the southern hemisphere of Immorra.

After the demons invaded Immorra, the orcs had no other choice but to migrate to the south of Immorra where the land was drier and the soil was more infertile.

...the orcs weren't a united race as they would always tend to fight against one another due to their personalities.

However, with their race on the verge of extinction, they had no other choice but to unite.

As a result of this, after searching for a while, the orcs managed to find the perfect spot to set up a city and created Gud Khodror...the last remaining orc city in Immorra.

An impenetrable fortress that hid between a cluster of large mountains.

-Rumble! -Rumble!

Marching with the other orcs, lifting his head up and staring into the distance, Kevin's voice softened a little bit as he said.

"...so that's Gud Khodror?"

"Yeah..."

From the way he was speaking it was evident that he was overwhelmed by the sight before him, however, I couldn't blame him as I too was overwhelmed by what I saw.

On a different mountain than the one we were currently marching on, another enormous mountain appeared in the distance.

Its peak was majestic, and the mountain's topography seemed steep and perilous. From a distance, the mountain appeared to have three sides that stretched upward vertically, forming a semi-circular natural barrier that stretched all the way to the sky.

An ocean of clouds drifted above the mountain ridges making the place look even more majestic and mysterious.

Reaching one-fifth of the height of the mountain ridges, enclosing the natural semi-circular mountain barrier, was an enormous artificial wall that blocked anything from passing through.

By the side of the gates stood two enormous statues depicting two orcs looking down towards the ground beneath them holding onto two large axes that interlocked with one another.

The statues looked extremely intimidating creating an oppressive and menacing feeling.

In the middle of the wall stood a large wooden gate connected to a long and wide flat bridge that linked two mountains together. The one Gud Khodror was on and the one we were currently marching on to get there.

-Thump! -Thump!

As we marched across the stone bridge, looking below the bridge I couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva as I muttered.

"How deep is that?"

Utter darkness.

What was below the bridge was utter darkness that I could see no end of...

If I dropped a rock down the bridge, I'd estimate that I still wouldn't be able to hear the sound of the rock reaching the bottom a couple of minutes after dropping it...it looked bottomless.

"huuuu..."

As we neared the gates, taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my heart down. At the moment my heart was beating faster...and that was due to the two statues at the front of the gate.

Those two statues created a natural sense of fear towards anyone that looked at them for too long. It felt as though the real orc was standing and looking down on me.

...and when I mean orc I didn't mean a regular orc, but one that was at a league of his own.

"Open the gates"

Arriving before the large gates, walking out was Silug's figure. Glancing left and right and raising his large axe in the air, he shouted.

"I, Silug, third legion commander of Gud Khodror is waiting to report. Open the gates and let us in."

As he spoke, his powerful voice echoed across the mountain range.

-Klllllling! -Klllllling!

Not long after Silug's voice faded, the loud sound of chains falling resounded across the mountain range as the enormous doors slowly opened up revealing the insides of the city.

-Kamp!

As the gate reached the top, staring at the vast city before me, I couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.

"So this is the true Gud Khodror..."

...the last orc stronghold in Immorra.

As I looked at the city from behind the gates, I noticed that the city itself looked somewhat crude as the infrastructures weren't created with the finest craftsmanship.

With its black wooden rooftops, faded marble walls, and what seemed to be the bones of fallen comrades and demons, Gud Khodror had a frightening atmosphere.

...the atmosphere was especially stifling as bones could be seen everywhere around the city either out as decoration or as materials itself for the houses.

"...hey Ren, look over there"

As I was observing the buildings around us, feeling a slight bump next to me, and hearing Kevin's voice, I turned my head around and noticed Kevin staring towards the distance.

"What?"

"Check out that building"

Looking in the direction of where Kevin was looking at, I soon spotted an enormous infrastructure standing in the middle of the city.

...as I was too busy admiring the area around me, I only noticed the enormous building now.

Seven lean, circular towers made out of black stone surrounded the building that Kevin was pointing at. The infrastructure was twice as tall as the towers and was the tallest building that I could see...overlooking the whole city.

Similarly made out of black stone, the tall infrastructure resembled a pyramid as its peak reached all the way towards the clouds in the sky. However, contrary to a regular pyramid its infrastructure was circular rather than squared.

By the side of the circular pyramid-like structure, enormous blood-red flags fluttered in the air adding further grandeur to the infrastructure.

"Move along!"

Entering the city, Silug once again shouted towards his army. Next to him, two more orcs appeared leading him towards the distance...more specifically the tall building in the distance.

-Rumble! -Rumble!

As we marched forwards, standing next to me, Kevin frowned. Thinking of something, looking at me, he asked.

"...so how do we get out of this situation?"

Now that they were in the city, how were they going to get out of the army?

This was especially so considering the fact that they were basically stuck in between hundreds of orcs.

"Hm?"

Hearing Kevin's question, I didn't answer immediately as I hesitated. I soon took out my red book and opened it.

...well, I did in fact have a plan, but it would probably piss someone off.

Not hearing my response, repeating again, Kevin said.

"Hey, how are we supposed to separate ourselves from the other orcs?"

Still looking at the red book, I vaguely said.

"...ah, that, we just do it"

Seeing how vague I was being and looking at me incredulously, Kevin exclaimed.

"Don't tell me that you still haven't thought about it"

Shaking my head and closing the book, I immediatly responded.

"No, I do have a plan"

"...and?"

"Well, you're probably not gonna like it..."

Pausing for a second as he squinted his eyes beneath his mask, Kevin had an ominous premonition as he carefully asked.

"How am I not going to l-huh?"

"Sorry"

Smiling beneath my mask, putting both of my hands on Kevin's metal armor, I pushed him. As I pushed him, I made sure to apologize to him.

"You'?!"

-Clank!

"Who dares?!"

Crashing against a nearby orc, carrying the momentum with him, Kevin crashed against multiple other orcs. Without looking at what was happening, turning around, with a couple of rocks on my finger, I flicked them towards a couple of more orcs standing before me.

-Plack! -Plack!

"Who?"

"Who dares?"

As the rocks hit the two orcs I aimed at on their helmet, turning around the orcs shouted out loud as they glared at their surroundings.

Shortly after, the two orcs that I hit looked at each other. Pointing towards each other, they shouted.

"Was it you? You disgusting bastard!"

"So it was you?"

"You want to have a go?"

"I'll fight you!"

Within a minute, both sides raised their weapons and slashed towards one another, and a small shockwave appeared as a result of their clash.

-Bam!

"How dare you!"

Pushed back by the collision of the two orcs, another orc shouted out loud as he raised his axe and slashed down.

-Bam!

"I'll kill you!"

...soon a massive brawl ensued as more and more orcs joined in on the fight creating massive mayhem.

Fortunately by the time the fight got serious I had already left, else I might've found myself in a pickle.

"ooof..."

If I had to be honest, this strategy wasn't something I had come up with on the spot. I remember seeing this in a movie so I just tried to imitate it.

Create chaos amongst the orcs and use the opportunity to slip out whilst everyone was distracted.

Since orcs weren't the brightest creatures and were easily provoked, this strategy proved to be rather effective. Had they been even a little bit smarter, this plan would've never worked.

Plus, I knew everything was going to be fine...

Staring at the book in my hands which no one else could see, I leisurely walked away from the orc army.

Fortunately, I had the book with me. With it, I could pretty much see if my plan would've failed or not. Of course, even though I saw that the plan I was planning on using worked, it didn't mean that the future depicted in the book was correct.

...had I missed my shot towards the two orcs everything wouldn't have gone as the book had depicted.

Therefore, even if the book showed me that everything was going to be fine, it didn't mean that it was going to guarantee success...there was always a chance of failure.

Had I messed up, none of what the book showed me would've happened.

'...Well, since everything is fine now, I shouldn't dwell too deeply into it'

Putting the book away and turning around, I soon saw Kevin sneaking out from the army of orcs.

Soon his eyes interlocked with mine.

'Well, someone doesn't look too pleased'

Staring at him for a couple of seconds, I lightly waved at him as I sneaked my way into the depths of the city.

...as I moved, recalling Kevin's angry face, a smile appeared on my face and I softly mumbled to myself.

"...ah, sometimes I can't help but marvel at how trashy I can be"

Though not often, it happens...and when it does, well, couldn't say I was the most pleasant person.

Melissa and Smallsnake probably knew best.

Chapter 170 - Gud Khodror [3]

-Thump! -Thump!

Inside of a dark hall, a tall orc slowly walked forward. With each step he took, the ground beneath him would tremble slightly.

Halting his steps in front of the entrance of the hall, Silug knelt down on one knee and proceeded to look down on the ground as his powerful voice resounded across the hall.

"I, Silug, is here"

As Silug's voice echoed across the surroundings, he was only met with silence. However, Silug didn't mind it as he remained kneeling on the ground.

"Enter..."

Exactly five minutes after Silug made his presence known, a dark and raspy voice shook the whole building as a humongous pressure engulfed Silug's body completely.

"khrr...Yes"

Forcefully bearing the pressure and standing up, Silug sluggishly walked towards the hall before him.

As he entered the hall the first thing Silug saw were tremendous braziers hanging from ten ivory columns by the side of the hall lighting up every part of the hall, including the dark brown oaken floor that was covered by a black rug, compromised of the skin of some sort of beast.

The rug ran from the throne down at the center of the hall all the way towards the entrance where Silug was walking.

Rectangular banners with black and red sigils hung from the side of the walls and between each banner sat a small altar full of candles, illuminating the statuettes of powerful creatures depicting either orcs or other fantastical creatures such as dragons and gargoyles.

In the middle of the hall sat a magnificent throne made out of bones with two imposing statues depicting two large orcs holding onto their weapons. The throne was covered in sacred etchings and fixed on each of the front legs was a red ruby that pulsated a red hue continuously like a heart.

Sitting on top of the throne was a figure whose features were obscured by a large shadow cast by the two statues next to the throne.

However, despite the fact that his features couldn't be seen, his majestic presence enveloped the whole hall causing anyone that saw him to subconsciously feel inferior.

-Thud!

Arriving a couple of meters before the obscure figure, taking a knee, Silug once again spoke.

"Silug, is here to report"

Silence once again prevailed over the surroundings as the figure sitting on the throne observed Silug from his throne.

"Khhrr'|khrrr"

With each breath the figure took, the hall would shake slightly. Turning his head to the side, the figure coldly spoke.

"Zornaraugh"

"Yes father"

Standing next to the throne was a rather young-looking orc.

He was only half as tall as Silug and his muscles weren't as pronounced. However, a regal and majestic presence exuded from his body that was only slightly inferior to the orc sitting on the throne.

Zornaraugh

That was the name of the young orc standing next to the orc chief sitting on the throne.

Birthed sixteen years ago by the current chief of Gud Kodror, Zornaraugh was exposed to the best resources and best education possible, making him the orc with the greatest potential.

'The young chief'

That was what everyone in the city called him as the elders and the chief unanimously decided on making him the next chief.

Aside from the current chief, no other figure was as important as Zornaraugh who was the next chief in line.

He was the last hope the orcs had at reclaiming the lost land of Immorra.

Presently, the reason why he was attending the meeting was because his father, the current chief, wanted for him to observe and understand what his job consisted of. He wanted him to learn from him...and Zornaraugh naturally understood this.

Pointing towards Silug kneeling down on the ground, the figure sitting on the throne, the current orc chief of Gud Khodror asked.

"What do you think?"

Turning his head towards his father who was imposingly sitting on the throne, Zornaraugh slowly said

"Father'|Silug's sin is undeniable, he should be punished"

Breathing out loud, the orc chief nodded his head as he asked

"khhrr..yes, Zornaraugh, what do you think is the appropriate punishment for his failure?"

Without hesitation, Zornaraugh responded.

"Death!"

"Are you sure?"

Nodding his head resolutely, Zornaraug stared at Silug kneeling on the ground whose face was expressionless. With a trace of disgust on his face, Zornaraugh said.

"Yes, we orcs don't need failures like him, why must we keep him?"

Staring at Zornaraugh for a couple of seconds, turning his attention back towards Silug, the orc chief's powerful voice resounded across the hall as he asked.

"Silug, do you have anything to say against Zornaraugh's decision"

Hearing his name being called, lifting his head up, and staring deeply into Zornaraugh eyes, Silug nodded his head.

"Yes..."

Hearing Silug's response, feeling challenged, Zornaraugh raised his voice as he shouted at Silug.

"You dare!"

Raising his hand from the armrest of the trone, the orc chief glared at Zornaraugh.

"Shut up! Only talk when it is your turn to talk, do not interrupt otherwise"

As soon as his voice left his mouth, the whole room shook violently. Dreadful energy propagated outwards of the chief's body like a turbulent wave as it engulfed the entire hall.

-Rumble!

Realizing his mistake and lowering his head, Zornaraugh nodded his head.

"...yes, father"

"As the next chief in line, you need to think long-term instead of short-term. As a leader, you must always be composed and mustn't let our primal instinct cloud or decision making"

Enlightened, Zornaraugh nodded his head in understanding.

"Understood father"

"Good..."

Seeing that Zornaraugh had understood, turning his attention back to Silug, the orc chief's voice once again resounded across the hall.

"...So, Silug, since you are so dissatisfied with my son's decision. Tell me why we should keep you"

Respectfully looking at the orc chief before him, Silug raised his voice as he said.

"I, Silug, third legion commander of Gud Khodror have a lot to offer"

"Oh? Like what? You better sound convincing or I might just do what my son had proposed"

Punching his chest once, Silug said. frёeωebɳovel.com

"My strength, my loyalty, my blood...and my troops"

Raising his brow, the orc chief snorted.

"Your troops? The ones that were just battling outside a moment ago?"

Hearing the orc's chief statement, Silug's voice remained stoic as he continued.

"Yes, they are faithfully loyal to me...killing me would have a detrimental effect on the morale of the troops which you cannot afford to do at the moment"

"Killing me would also negatively affect the overall power of us orcs as killing me would mean killing an important asset to the orcs..."

Pausing for a second, Silug loudly said

"Killing me would result in your position to shake"

Gripping onto the armrest of his throne, the orc chief squinted his eyes.

"Oh? Are you threatening me?"

...be it humans, elves, demons, or dwarfs, power struggles were normal.

It would've been strange if the current orc chief had no other people vying for his position.

Silug's point was quite a valid one as his death would mean that the current chief would have his power considerably weakened as not only will he lose a powerful commander, he would also a lot of the soldiers that are loyal to Silug.

...normally the current orc chief would have taken notice of the small threat as his position was solidified...However, glancing at Zornaraugh next to him, he had to make his decision carefully.

Though his position was solidified, Zornaraugh's position still wasn't. If he lost Silug's support, then his ascension as next chief would become much harder.

Simply put, this would do more harm than good for Zornaraugh as it would allow for rivals to gain valuable time to grow.

This could not happen, and Silug knew this.

Noticing the orc chief falling into deep contemplation, shaking his head, Silug raised his head and stared at the orc chief straight into his eyes as he coldly said.

"No, I am not threatening you...I just know my worth"

Silence soon prevailed over the surroundings.

Deeply staring at Silug's eyes for a couple of seconds, the orc chief tapped on the armrest of his throne for a couple of seconds before opening his mouth.

"Khhrrr...khrrr...very well"

Nodding his head, the orc chief looked at Zornaraugh as he mumbled.

"'|you still have a long way to go Zornaraugh"

Turning his attention back towards Silug, the orc's chief powerful voice shook the whole hall as he spoke out loud.

"From henceforth, Silug, third legion commander of Gud Khodror will be dismissed from his duties and will guard the food storage for the next three years...until then, he will no longer have anything to do with the third legion and will only be responsible for safeguarding the main food supply"

Deeply staring at Silug as he released his pressure, the orc chief said.

"Do you have any problems?"

With an incomparably dark face, Silug stood up and shook his head.

"khhrrr...no, I will comply"

Turning around, Silug soon left the hall.

As he turned around, his face became especially terrifying. If looks could kill, then right now Silug could slaughter a whole army.

Although his punishment was on the lighter side, Silug knew that it was merely a mask.

By separating him and his troops for three years, the orc chief was trying to diminish the loyalty they had towards him so that in the future he would've been able to pull off the same stunt.

As his thoughts paused there, Silug clenched his teeth tightly as he walked out of the building.

'Don't think that I'll let your plan succeed that easily...'

...

Not so far from where Silug was, in a rather secluded spot in Gud Khodror, with Kevin still glaring daggers at me, I leisurely sat down on the ground and took off the bulky armor.

-Clank! -Clank!

"Haa...this was hella stuffy"

As I threw the armor to the side, I couldn't help but take a big breath of fresh air as I rejoiced at the fact that I no longer needed to wear the armor.

...it felt as though I was staying inside of a sauna.

"...Are you seriously not going to address the fact that you literally pushed me towards the orcs and abandoned me?"

Staring at me from above, Kevin's mouth twitched.

"That?"

"Yes..."

Turning my attention back to Kevin I dully said.

"Well, we did manage to get out, didn't we? Moreover, you're not hurt either right?"

"No bu-"

"Enough of that, we've got more important things to talk about"

Cutting Kevin off before he could finish speaking, I diverted the conversation. No use crying over spilled milk.

Helpless, Kevin nodded his head as he asked.

"...so, what are you planning on doing?"

"What am I planning on doing?"

Taking off the metal pads from my arms, a faint smile appeared on my lips. Channeling flame psyons towards the tip of my fingers, I proceeded to snap my fingers.

-Snap!

-Fwaaa!

As soon as I snapped my fingers, a small red flame appeared on my hand.? Deeply staring at the flame in my hand, I said.

"We're going to ignite the flame that will rage upon Immorra and leave nothing but devastation in its wake..."

Pausing for a second as the smile on my face deepened, glancing towards Kevin for a couple of seconds, I clenched my fist and said.

"....we're going to start a war"