War incoming?

Uldren's voice grew more somber as he recounted the end of the war.

 "In the end, neither side could claim victory. The war dragged on until it ended in a stalemate, with both orcs and humans suffering great losses. Many of the strongest orc champions perished on the battlefield, leaving a power vacuum that plunged our people into chaos."

He shook his head, his tone filled with bitterness. "With our greatest leaders gone, the orcs turned on each other. Petty squabbles over land, power, and resources broke out.

"The tribes fractured, splitting into smaller clans and factions."

"Our unity was shattered, and we've been scattered ever since, too busy fighting among ourselves to reclaim the glory we once held."

Uldren's eyes glinted as he leaned on his staff. "But that was not the end of the tale. You see, the spirits of our ancestors—those who fought in that war—have not been silent."

"They have whispered to me for years, speaking of a time when a new warchief would rise. One who would unite the tribes, reclaim our honor, and rebuild what was lost."

Morgul chuckled, the sound deep and gravelly. "But I never believed them. A human of all beings would reunite us?"

"If I had told anyone that, they would've called me a madman. Orcs following a human? Unthinkable."

He shook his head, amusement flickering across his weathered face. "Yet here we are. The spirits are never wrong, even if they speak in riddles. You are the one they foretold.

"It doesn't matter if you are human—what matters is the strength you wield and the path you're carving."

Morgul's gaze sharpened, locking onto Liam. "You may be an outsider, but the spirits have chosen you, and I've seen enough to trust their wisdom. If you are to lead us, then I will stand with you."

Morgul let out a dry, bitter laugh. "How laughable it is. A human, blessed by both our god and ancestors."

"Were there no orcs capable enough?" He shook his head, his expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"For ages, we've relied on our own strength, our own blood. Yet now, the spirits look beyond us. Perhaps we've grown too stubborn, too divided by our own pride."

He looked at Liam with a glint of challenge in his eyes. "But if the gods and ancestors have chosen you, there must be a reason. Let's see if you're worthy of carrying that weight."

Morgul's voice softened. "I am here because the spirits sent me. They guided me to you. You have the strength to do what others could not—unite the orcs. Lead us to greatness. And I... I will help you do it."

*Ding*

Liam was pulled back to his senses by the sound of the notification

[Hero Uldren wishes to be your subordinate. Do you accept it?]

"yes"

Uldren as he heard those words fell to his knees and declared

"I Uldren The Wise from this day declare that I shall devote my life to serve the you, O great chief"

Liam was visibly excited as a new powerhouse might have joined him

Liam checked Uldren's stats

[Race: Orc]

[Name: Uldren]

[Title: Wise Sage, Researcher, Spirit master, Elder Alchemist, Arcane master, Grand Magus.....]

[Race: Orc]

[Class: Shaman]

[Grade: Orange (7)]

[Loyalty: 95]

[Constitution: 43]

[Dexterity : 45]

[Intelligence: 98]

[Charisma: 32]

Skills: [Alchemical Mastery]_[Spirit Summoning]_[Arcane Mastery]_[Runic magic]...

Liam stood in awe, his mouth agape as he took in the impressive array of skills possessed by Uldren.

The sheer breadth of knowledge and power radiating from the old orc was overwhelming,

Just as Liam was processing the incredible potential that Uldren represented, Grothar entered the room with a serious expression.

"Chief," he said, his tone urgent, "there's something important I need to inform you about." 

Liam's attention was drawn over Grothar as he spoke in a grim tone

"Sure Grothar what is it" Liam answered

Grothar's brow furrowed as he continued, "The orcs from the Ironblood Tribe have sent word that a human kingdom is preparing to attack them. They're in dire need of assistance, and they're asking for my help."

Liam felt a pang of concern for Grothar's former tribe, knowing the bond they shared. Grothar's eyes met Liam's with determination.

"I'm requesting your permission to go and aid them in their time of need. They're my kin, and I cannot stand idly by while they face this threat."

Liam, caught off guard by the urgency of the situation, took a moment to process Grothar's request.

He didn't respond immediately, allowing the silence to settle between them.

After a brief pause, Grothar nodded in understanding. "I will await your decision my lord. The Ironblood tribe is in dangerand I hope my lord will be understanding enough"

With that, he turned and left the hall, heading back to his camp.

At that moment, Uldren, who had been standing silently beside Liam, suddenly closed his eyes and lowered himself to the ground in a meditative position.

Liam, intrigued yet wary, chose not to disturb him, simply observing as the old orc immersed himself in whatever he was experiencing.

After a brief but tense silence, Uldren opened his eyes, their depth revealing a clarity that sent a chill down Liam's spine.

"This war is a great opportunity," he stated, his voice steady and resonant. "The spirits have shown me a glimpse of the future. You must rally all your troops and prepare to head out to war."

Liam, still processing the urgency in Uldren's words, pressed further. "What do you mean? What do the spirits say about the war?"

Uldren's expression shifted slightly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "With time, everything shall come to light. Trust in the guidance of the spirits, for they lead us to our destiny."

Liam felt the weight of Uldren's words. 

As Uldren rose to his feet, Liam contemplated his next moves, knowing that he needed to act swiftly and decisively.

*Later that day*

Liam summoned Grothar and inquired about the situation in his former tribe.

Grothar's expression grew serious as he nodded. "The human forces are advancing. They could reach the settlement in about three weeks. They have a total of 1,000 troops, bolstered by 4 heroes. 1 in the late purple and 3 others in blue grade."

Liam's brow furrowed at the numbers. "And what about your tribe? How are they prepared?"

"Right now," Grothar replied, his tone heavy with concern, "they have only 400 combatants, along with two blue grade and one purple grade hero. We are outnumbered and outmatched."

Liam's mind whirled as he considered their options. The odds were daunting, but he was determined to change the course of this impending conflict.

"Don't worry Grothar. You are my first subordinate and thus you are of great importance to me. Every one of my force will go and help your former tribe."

"We will surely win. We now also have the support of a strong orange grade shaman"

Grothar nodded, a sense of security and determination flaring in his eyes. "I can't thank you enough, my lord. Your support means more than I can express."

"Let's move quickly," Liam urged, his resolve strengthening. "We will prepare for war and ensure that the Ironblood tribe stands a fighting chance."

Liam called for Grima immediately, his mind focused on the preparations for the impending battle.

"How many of the green-grade weapon and armor sets are ready?" he inquired, recalling the request he had made for increased production.

"Chief, we have enough to equip all the combat units of our camp, along with an extra thirty sets," Grima replied, her expression a mix of pride and determination.

The amount was modest, but the quality surpassed any other green-grade armor he had encountered, leaving Liam satisfied with their progress.

"Good work, Grima. I want you to manufacture as much as possible until next week. We'll need every advantage we can get," he instructed before departing for the barracks.

Upon arriving at the barracks, he summoned Grothar and Rorgash, both of whom stood at attention. "I need you two to lead war drills with the troops from tomorrow. We have a battle ahead, and I want everyone prepared for the challenges to come," Liam commanded, his tone firm.

Grothar nodded, a fierce glint in his eyes. "We'll make sure they're ready, chief. They will learn to fight as one, to defend what's ours."

Rorgash added, "With the drills, we'll sharpen their skills and bolster their morale. They'll be ready to face whatever comes our way."

With his workload distributed, Liam retreated to his room, eager to rest after a long day.

But before he succumbed to sleep, he opened the global chat, a nightly routine that kept him informed about the happenings around him.

He planned to list some iron ores and ingots for trade while keeping an eye out for any high-grade weapons or armor to bolster his forces, especially with the impending war looming on the horizon.

As he scrolled through the chat, the screen lit up with lively discussions, a flurry of messages from various players.

[DemonHunter_X]: "Did you all hear about the peak gold-grade demon that the demon-affiliated lords just got an event for? This is huge!"

[AngelGuard]: "Yeah, but it's not like we can just sit back and let that happen. The angel-affiliated lords have a task to stop the demon at all costs!"

[ShadowWarlock]: "The chance to recruit a peak gold demon is insane. Imagine the power boost!"

[Angel_Baby]: "We need to rally our forces. If we don't act fast, those demons will overrun everything. Our task is clear: seal that demon before it can join the ranks!"

[DegenAr8]: "I say let them try! If they're that desperate for a demon, they deserve what they get. I'll be watching from the sidelines with popcorn."

[Lord_Larry]: "This is serious! The balance of power is at stake here. If the demons get a peak gold-grade ally, we'll be in deep trouble!"

[IronFist_Krol]: "Agreed. We should gather intel on the demon's location and the strength of their forces. Knowledge is power!"

.......

'Shit' Liam thought to himself

It seemed like his actions had some serious consequences.