Chapter 46: Another One
The orcs' hearts pounded in their chests as they prepared themselves for the fight of their lives.
Suddenly, a familiar chime echoed in Volk's mind, a sound that had become all too common in this strange new world.
| Ding!
A system notification flashed before his eyes:
| Mission triggered.
| Defeat the foe Dozer: Version 2 with your tribe!
| Note: Anything works!
| Failure: Removal of your Sidestep ability in your normal Orc form.
| Rewards: Controlled Radiation in your Radioactive Form state. |
Volk's throat went dry as he read the words. He didn't know what "Controlled Radiation" meant, but the idea of losing his Sidestep ability was daunting.
That skill could save him countless times in the future, after all, he would be vulnerable on his Radioactive form once the duration of the Radioactive form was done.
The thought of Sidestep ability being taken away sent a shiver down his spine. But there was no time to dwell on it. He had a mission, and his tribe was counting on him.
Volk tightened his grip on the Axe of Dissection, feeling the familiar weight of the weapon in his hands.
He looked at the twisted creature before him and felt a surge of determination. He couldn't afford to fail.
"If we beat it once already, we can beat it again!" Volk bellowed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "That random disgusting flesh on top of one of its three heade will not change a thing! ATTAAAAAAAACCKKK!!!!"
The orcs, ignited by Volk's unyielding confidence, roared in unison.
"Lok'tar Ogaaaaaaaaaar!!!"
Their war cry filled the cavern, reverberating through the stone and striking fear into the heart of their foe.
But the creature atop Dozer's body merely sneered, its lips curling into a twisted grin. "I am not Dozer," it hissed, its voice dripping with venom. "You all won't win against me especially if I strike you first! You filthy, hazardous, bone-eating blockheads!"
Without warning, the monstrous three-headed dog, now controlled by the red elf-like creature, lunged at Volk with terrifying speed.
The ground shook beneath its massive paws as it charged, one could see all its three heads snapping and snarling, with its eyes locked onto its target.
The orcs, who had been ready to charge, faltered in fear as the beast bore down on their leader.
Kabam!
The force of the impact was like a thunderclap.
The cavern floor trembled as Volk was slammed into the ground, the air forced from his lungs.
Dust and debris flew up around them, obscuring the battlefield.
For a moment, everything was still.
The orcs stared in horror, their hearts sinking into despair.
Their leader, the one who had guided them to victory before, had been struck down first!
What do they do now?
Without, will they make it alive?
But then, through the settling dust and debris, a voice rang out, steady and strong. "I am fine."
The orcs turned their heads in disbelief.
There, standing tall and unharmed, was Volk. He had somehow evaded the beast's devastating attack, his body appearing in another place entirely.
The red creature on top of the three-headed dog recoiled in shock, its twisted features contorted in disbelief. "How… how did you—?"
Volk's voice cut through the creature's confusion like a blade. "Don't let me distract you! The battle is not over! ATAAAAAACK!!!"
The orcs, shaken from their momentary stupor, rallied once more.
"ROAAAARRRRR!!"
Their leader was still standing, still fighting. And as long as Volk was with them, they would not give up.
With renewed determination, they raised their weapons and charged, their war cries filling the cavern once more.
"LOK'TAR OGAAAAAAARR!!!"
The battle was a furious storm of steel and flesh.
The three-headed dog was a blur of teeth and claws, its monstrous heads snapping at anything that came close.
Volk's orcs fought with everything they had, dodging and weaving, striking whenever an opportunity presented itself. But the creature was relentless, its power seemingly endless.
"Grashk, to the left! Grok'Thar, fall back and cover the rear!" Volk shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Lhum'Baggar, flank it from the right! Wait for its head to dip, then strike!"
The orcs followed Volk's commands with precision, with their movements seemingly synchronized like a well-oiled machine.
They struck and retreated, timing their attacks perfectly to avoid the beast's deadly counterstrikes.
Kabang! Kabang! Kabang!
Every blow they landed was a small victory, every dodge a testament to their growing skill.
"Keep your distance from its heads! Wait for it to lunge, then move in!" Volk commanded, his eyes never leaving the creature. "We can wear it down! We've done it before!"
But the red creature atop the beast would not be silenced. It cackles maniacally, its voice grating against their ears. "You think you can defeat me? You think you can stop the power of Dozer? I will crush you all! Starting with you, hazardous orc!"
The beast lunged again, its massive body crashing through the ranks of the orcs.
Volk sidestepped the attack again, disappearing from where he was instantly.
The creature snarled in frustration, one could see its six murderous eyes were now burning with deep seething hatred.
"Strike now! Its left head is exposed!" Volk shouted, pointing with his axe.
Lhum'Baggar charged in, with his massive hammer held high.
With a roar, "RAAAAAAARRRRHHH!!" he brought it down with all his might, the weapon connecting with a sickening crunch.
CRAAAAAAACCKKKK!!!
The left head of the beast recoiled, blood spraying from the wound.
The red creature screamed in fury, its control over the beast faltering for just a moment. "No! How dare you! You will all die! DIE!"
But Volk ignored the creature's ravings, his focus solely on the battle. "Grashk, Grok'Thar, hit the right head while it's distracted! Don't give it time to recover!"
The two orcs moved in tandem, their weapons slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The right head of the beast snapped at them, but they were too quick, their blades cutting deep into its flesh.
The beast howled in pain, its movements becoming more erratic, more desperate.
"Now, everyone! together! Strike the center head! This is our chance!" Volk yelled, his voice filled with the fire of battle.
The orcs charged as one, with their weapons raised high.
The beast, its three heads now wounded and bleeding, could do little to defend itself.
Soon, he received the strike with all their might, with their weapons buried deep into the center head's skull.
Craaaagggg!!!
The beast roared in agony, its body convulsing as it struggled to remain standing.
"AAAAAAAAARRGHHH!!"
But the red creature was not done. "I am not finished! I will consume you all!" it shrieked, its voice cracking with madness.
It pulled at the beast's flesh, trying to force it to keep fighting, to keep moving. But the beast was at its limit. Its body was failing, its strength waning.
"Push it back! Don't give it a chance to recover!" Volk ordered, his axe flashing as he struck again and again.
The orcs did not relent.
They hammered the beast with everything they had, their strikes fueled by a desperate determination.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The red creature screamed and cursed them, its voice growing more hysterical with each passing moment.
"No! No! This can't be happening! You filthy orcs! I will kill you all!" the creature wailed, tears of frustration and rage streaming down its face. But its threats fell on deaf ears.
The orcs were beyond fear, beyond hesitation. They were fighting for their lives, and they would not stop until the beast was dead.
Finally, with one last, mighty blow, Grashk brought his hammer down on the center head.
KABANG!
The skull cracked, CREEAKKKKK!! bone and flesh giving way under the force of the strike.
The beast's body shuddered violently, then it collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.
VOOMM!!
The cavern fell silent, the echoes of the battle slowly fading away.
The orcs stood panting, one could see their bodies battered and bruised, but alive.
The three-headed beast, Dozer, lay motionless at their feet, its massive form finally defeated.
But the battle was not yet over. The red creature, now lying atop the beast's corpse, glared up at them with wild, bloodshot eyes. "You… you will pay for this," it hissed, its voice trembling with fury. "I will make you all suffer…"
But before it could utter another word, Grashk stepped forward, his hammer still in hand.
Without a word, he raised the weapon high and brought it down on the creature's head with a sickening crunch.
The red creature's body went limp, its threats silenced forever.
The orcs stood in silence, their chests heaving as they caught their breath. The battle was over.
They had won.
However, the cost had been great, and the memory of the twisted creature's madness would stay with them for a long time.
Volk lowered his axe, his body trembling with exhaustion. But as he looked around at his tribe, at the orcs who had fought and bled by his side, he felt a deep sense of pride.
They had faced the impossible, and they had prevailed.
"Lok'tar Ogar," Volk whispered, his voice filled with gratitude and respect. And as the orcs echoed his words, he xouskrn help but feel at ease, each of their voices were strong and unwavering.