What to do now?

Edward took a few deliberate steps forward before turning back to face the group, who now resembled a cluster of anxious rabbits caught in the headlights.

Without uttering a word, he raised his hand and pointed to the hill behind him. Then, with a simple gesture mimicking walking, he made his intention clear to the group.

His expression turned serious as his gaze swept over each of them. Finally, he raised his hand and drew a finger across his lips in a zipping motion, signalling the need for silence throughtout their next journey.

Some members immediately mimicked the gesture, while others responded with a quick thumbs-up to indicate that they understood it.

Satisfied with their response, Edward gave a slight nod, quietly appreciating the sharpness of the team despite majority of them were simply civilians before.

He then pointed at himself and gestured toward the muddy road nearby. Next, he pointed at Claire and Thomas, raising two fingers to indicate their position.

Claire and Thomas gave a quick nod of agreement. Edward continued, pointing at the four civilians, followed by Iris and David, and held up three fingers. Finally, he gestured to his soldiers, raising four fingers to indicate their place in the lineup.

The entire exchange took less than a minute. Everyone understood the order. Edward would lead at the front, followed by Claire and Thomas, the civilians in the middle, and the soldiers taking up the rear.

Satisfied with their comprehension, Edward turned back toward the road without hesitation. He had no desire to linger in this place a moment longer and could only hope they would exit the village safely.

With that, Edward stepped cautiously onto the muddy road. Claire and Thomas followed closely behind, trailed by Iris, David, and the group of civilians. Bringing up the rear, the four soldiers maintained a watchful presence.

As they advanced carefully, the group silently appreciated the light of the multiple moons shining above, their silvery glow making it easier to navigate and keep their bearings.

In the line, Iris walked just behind David, his gaze drifting toward the orc village. He observed it with quiet fascination. As expected of the orcs, the village was a crude assembly of structures, each one a testament to their limited intelligence.

After fifteen to twenty minutes of nerve-wracking movement, the team finally reached the base of the hilly region.

"That was fucking dangerous."

David muttered, collapsing against a tree as he tried to catch his breath, his voice edged with both relief and frustration.

Iris sat down beside him, unfazed by the mud soaking into his clothes. Unlike the others, he didn't curse, but a faint sense of relief softened his usually composed demeanor.

Edward himself looked visibly less pressured but maintained his vigilance. He wasn't ready to relax yet, uncertain whether this spot was secure enough for such a respite. 

"Everyone, don't let your guard down." He commanded firmly.

"We are not safe until we get back. We know nothing about this place or what might lurk in this forest. Kai, Ray, Jim, and Tony... Spread out in four directions and keep watch for any dangers. The rest of you, take a five-minute break. After that, we'll begin climbing the mountain." 

As he spoke, Edward's eyes roamed over the terrain, assessing it carefully to get a better understanding of their surroundings. 

"Are those things what I think they are?"

One of the civilians, a man in his mid-thirties, finally blurted out, unable to hold back his growing concern.

"Indeed. Damn, what kind of world are we in?"

"Are we still in the same solar system? This might be Saturn..."

"I think we're not even in the same galaxy..."

The group erupted with speculation, unable to contain their unease.

"Not sure where we might be."

Edward replied calmly, his tone steady to ground the rising chatter.

"But we're definitely not on Earth, and those orcs seem quite dangerous."

Even Thomas and Claire, usually reserved, joined the conversation. Despite their experience with strange events over the past few years, the reality of encountering an entirely new race not native to Earth was something they hadn't fully adjusted to.

"Captain Edward, isn't it more dangerous to traverse through this forest at this time?"

Claire asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. The idea of entering the forest and climbing a mountain didn't sit well with her, especially since she believed forests were inherently more perilous than any civilized area. 

"Young Claire, you're forgetting that this place isn't Earth, and these orcs aren't humans."

Thomas interjected calmly before Edward could respond.

"The entire orc village is settled below this hill without walls, and the orcs are sleeping outside, quite drunk..." 

Edward let out a soft sigh but masked it quickly. He understood Claire's concerns after all, she had been just a civilian mere days ago. Patience... He reminded himself, was necessary, even in these dire circumstances.

"Uncle Thomas, you mean these forests are likely less dangerous than the village?"

David asked, a glimmer of understanding crossing his face.

"Indeed!"

Thomas replied with a nod.

"The most ferocious predator in this area is most likely the orcs themselves."

His explanation helped clarify his earlier point, and those who had struggled to grasp his reasoning now began to understand. The group fell silent, absorbing the unsettling logic behind their decision to move through the forest rather than linger near the orc village.

"Captain Edward! I suggest we don't climb all the way to the top."

Iris said, breaking his silence for the first time during their discussion. His calm demeanor immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Why, Iris?"

Edward asked, not dismissing the suggestion outright. He knew the young man rarely spoke unless it was important.

"At the top, the forest thins out, reducing the chances of wild animal attacks. Plus, the hill is littered with large stones where we can hide from the orcs without worrying about being ambushed by other creatures."

Edward further added his own reasoning, his tone measured, showing he was open to hearing Iris's thoughts. Everyone waited expectantly, curious about what had prompted him to speak up.

"First of all, let me ask how many of you have observed the altars in this village?"

Iris asked, raising a question instead of directly explaining his reasoning, which left the group a bit confused.

"I did."

Claire replied from the side, having checked the altars for any useful information after they arrived.

"The left altar now has a third timer, about forty-eight hours left."

She explained, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty. Given their rush, she hadn't been able to fully grasp all the details.

"Indeed, and there also seems to be a count of 1,500 on the right altar."

David added from the other side, recalling what he had seen.

"That's probably the number of orcs in the village."

"Not just that."

Another civilian remarked thoughtfully, his tone serious.

"I saw a red line with a count of (0/150) below the third timer. I couldn't understand what it meant exactly, though."

His words carried a hint of thought, as if he were beginning to form his own conclusions about it.

"Captain Edward! Most likely, the timer on the left altar indicates how long the portal will remain open for our return. The count (0/150) is probably a condition we need to meet before we can access the portal."

Iris said swiftly, cutting off the remaining people who seemed eager to offer their own thoughts.

"Most probably, that count represents the number of orc bodies we need to add or say kill?"

David interjected, convinced this was the most plausible explanation. Given the nature of the entity that had pushed both worlds into this situation, he doubted it would set a condition as lenient as gathering 150 stones or something similarly trivial.

"That's indeed a likely explanation, but we're not certain yet. We'll find out soon enough."

Edward replied, his tone grim as he braced himself for the trouble that was undoubtedly just beginning.

"And first of all, we don't have the time to keep hiding behind rocks or the stamina to climb up and down constantly. Second, aren't we here to gather food and other necessary materials? If we stay hidden on the top, how are we supposed to gather anything? Lastly, we won't be able to gather any information either."

Iris said firmly, before stepping back from the group. He didn't want to add anything further, trusting that someone like Edward could understand the situation and make the necessary decisions. 

Soon after, Edward and the others began discussing their options, while David and Iris quietly sat near a tree, gazing at the massive moons that illuminated the sky.