Arkas shook his head with a grin, then patted my shoulder.
"You can relax, Billion. I don't follow military rules that strictly. But as long as you're in Unit 02, you still have to call me Commander."
I nodded and let my shoulders loosen a little.
Arkas studied me for a few seconds before gesturing toward the massive cavern.
"What do you think this place is?"
I glanced around, taking in the pulsing pods, the heat, the magma pools.
"I think this is the orc Abomination's nest. You mentioned a powerful Abomination being caged here, right? Maybe this is where the orcs are created."
Arkas shook his head.
"You've got two things wrong, Billion. First, these orcs aren't Abominations."
I frowned.
"They're not? Then what are they?"