Chapter 22

On the other side of the mountain, Gudrum, youngest orc of clan Garzand stares at 7 orc galleys. On the side of those galleys hang dead orcs, their tortured and burned bodies raised for all to see.

Anger, is something that all orcs feel, but the most powerful must always find a way to control it…...or at the very least….suppress it.

Gundrum reminices the past few months, having come here with his brothers Gorz and Gant.

At first, everything was going well. Finding the cavern and mining the entrance was time consuming, but easy enough with slave labor.

Unfortunately, everything went to shit after Gorz went to raid for slaves. He did not return for a week, so Gant chose to bring another group through…...but they awakened it.

“Dragon,” Gudrun whispers, grinding his teeth, the flashes of memory turning his mood quickly sour. With a heavy sigh, Gudrun turns away from the orc corpses…...the same ones that left his brother to die.

“RRRRROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRR.”

A massive sound vibrates through the earth. Gudrun quickly turns towards the mountain, anger slowly being replaced with fear as a feeling of dread slowly overtakes him.

With a deep breath, Gudrun walks towards his ship, making sure that if the dragon chose to leave its home, he would have a way out.

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Night befalls the orc camp as the moon's shadow casts a foreboding light over the ocean as it ripples silently, as though it awaits for something…...or someone.

Even so, mortals must sleep and that is what Garren has been waiting for, watching carefully as the camp lights itself for the night.

“Alright, this is as good a time as any,” Garren announces behind a stone outcrop, conveniently covering the small army. ”They may outnumber us by five times, but we are far stronger than them. Especially if we strike first.” He exclaims, picking up his hammer.

“No.” Wukong interrupts,”I will not be allowing you to lead my men with such a paltry plan,” he announces annoyingly.

Garren stares dumbfounded, but before he can say anything, Wukong continues.

“What we are going to be doing is splitting our forces.” He looks to Darius, "You will be leading the feline beast-kin towards the ships. Use them to take out the defenders so those cannons cannot be used against us.” He turns to the bear-kin,” and you will be taking all of our heavy infantry into combat, specifically I need you to take the minotaurs and destroy those tents. Make them scared, this will buy us time to engage from behind,” Wukong then points to a outcrop above the camp, towards the mountain.” I will have archers take position above and focus on any mages or ranged support that you will have to deal with.” he pauses, looking towards the others, making sure they understand,” finally I will lead the charge towards wherever the orcs attempt to regroup, this way we can keep them as disorganized as possible……….any questions?”

Garren opens his mouth….then closes it….then opens it….and closes it again. He finally nods slowly at Wukong, finally realizing why he is a general, even if his pride is slightly hurt right now.

Noticing Garren’s acceptance, Wukong smiles internally, a small win for him, even if such things are petty in the current situation.”Good, let's get into position. Remember Garren, the harder you hit, the better the plan goes,” Wukong says, going towards the awaiting soldiers.

“You know Darius, he is a great general…...but man does he piss me off,” Garren exclaims, glaring at Wukong’s retreating back.

“Heh…….what’s important is that he does his job,” Darius answers from his side,” If I remember properly, we were at one point in the same situation,” he reminisces, walking towards the army, getting ready to invade the ships.

As Darius trudges away, Leona walks up to Garren.”I…..um….sorry for trailing you,” she says, a slight blush on her cheeks,” I just wanted to not be so….useless,” she forces.

“I understand.” Garren rumbles beside her, ”I used to be young too, constantly wanting to prove myself, make myself stronger,” he turns his head towards her, ”It is my fault for not expecting you to follow me.”

“So...” she starts.

“No!” Garren interrupts, predicting her thoughts.” You will be going with Darius, not with me into a bloodbath. You are untrained, so I will not allow you to risk your life for something as petty as honor.” he exclaims firmly.

Biting her tongue, she controls her seething anger, nodding slowly at Garren. All she wanted was to fight by his side…...like her father did. ”I…..understand,” she squeaks, walking away from him, trying her best not to cry.

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The orc camp is asleep, only a small number of guards patrol the perimeter halfheartedly, expecting no surprise attacks, especially as the entrance to the cave has been blocked off for the night.

Wukong smiles from his perch, watching silently as preparations start to complete. Darius directs the feline beast-kin spreading them out to climb up the ships. The archers slowly get into position, a clear sight of the sleeping camp greets them, their bows ready and waiting for the signal.

Garren trudges as silently as his large girth allows, his size indenting the sand with every step. Him and over forty soldiers walk through the sand, muffling the sound, allowing them to get very close to the enemy tents unnoticed.

As Garren gets to the position of the largest tent, he sends out his mana, quickly strings of energy form around his muscles, strengthening him. With a solid grip, he sends his mana to his hand, the same one holding his hammer, the runes starts to extract mana from his hand, guiding it towards the metal ball. Quickly it starts to vibrate, a sonic sound emits from its screech, confused orcs waking up, but not at all alarmed…..yet.

With a tremendous jump, Garren hops into the air, and as he reaches the ground, he swings.

An enormous shockwave spreads through the ground, creating a giant sand wave that blasts through the orc camp, covering tents and soldiers alike. With a loud roar, Garren jumps out of his crater, brimming with energy as he watches his soldiers tear into the unprepared orcs.

From above him, beast-kin shoot arrows at the prone orcs, many of which are doing their best to climb out of the sand. With a vicious smile, Garren runs into the fray, his hammer breaking bone and armor with every swing.

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Wukong watches with a scowl, the battle is going much too smoothly. Disorganization is prevalent in all of the orc ranks, as though many of the commanders are outright missing.

Directing his troops, he has them run towards a mass of retreating orcs, striking them from behind, but even so, the battle is clearly much too easy. Looking towards the ocean, he finally notices the problem.

Six ships are docked, the seventh is heading away from the battle, its oars striking the water with a hurried force.

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The next morning, Valen walks outside, onto the deck of the Wiseman, Lin, giggling and running circles around him the entire time, her arms spread wide as she mimics a plane.

“Maybe I shouldn't have shown you so much anime yesterday night,” he says to Lin, watching her make plane noises.

“It was so much fun,” she exclaims passionately, referring to how her and Valen watched tv shows on his laptop, in bed, with popcorn and soda.

Smiling, Valen extends his arm into the air, stretching out the muscles, attempting to circulate the blood and remove the pins and needle feeling he woke up with thanks to Lin falling asleep on it.

Checking his army fatigues, he finds a pocket, filled with coins, given to him by Alfred, after explaining to Valen that David is passed out in bed and would not be awake for some time.

“Well then Lin, since Diva needs to have that mercenary guild test today, it's going to be just me and you,” he smiles kindly, Lin smiling back.

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A few minutes Later, Valen and Lin find themselves at a fancy stall selling expensive and rare enchanted items of…..reputable quality.

“Kid, do you have any idea how rare what you are asking for is?” a dark elf store owner asks, eyes looking at Valen with shock.

“Well yes, that's why I came to you. This place was recommended if I wanted to find unique and powerful enchanted items. I figured that you would have something that can create a interspatial place.” Valen exclaims adamantly.

The dark elf sighs at the sheer ignorance of the individual before him.”A pocket ring, as is most common, would allow someone like myself to live the rest of my life in peace if sold.”

“Valy, look, look,” Lin says from Valen’s side, but Valen is much too engrossed in listening to the elf.

“The only people who would have such items are those with truly immense wealth or those royalty.” the dark elf exclaims.

“Vaaaalllllyyyyyyyy,” Lin moans from his side attempting to gain his attention.

“Thus, you would have to pay a literal kings fortune for such an item. I can assure you, this city does not contain such an item.” the dark elf exclaims adamantly.”

“Vaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,” Lin moans loudly.

Valen sighs,”please give my a moment,” he says to the elf, turning to Lin. In Lin’s hand, she hold a ugly rat in her claws, squealing with fright from the predator that has gotten hold of it.

“Lin…..thats a rat,” Valen says to her.

“No,” Lin pouts, holding the animal closer to him.”It’s Pikachu,” she exclaims adamantly.

“Lin that's not pik-,” Valen stops, looking at the ugly yellow rat, its cheeks have red dots and the tail is zigzagged.” That………….actually does look like Pikachu,” Valen replies after a pause.

“Can we keep him,” Lin asks, smiling adorably.

“Lin...thats a ugly animal, were not keeping it,” Valen answers, turning back towards the elf, but Lin does not easily give up.

“Please!!!!!,” she moans from his side.

“Nope,” Valen answers without a pause.

“Pikachuuuuuu,” she moans again.

“No,”

“Pikaaaaaaaaa,”

“Not gonna happen,”

“What if I give you the puppy dog look?” she asks from his side

“You’re not a dog, Lin.”

“Woof woof.”

“Still no.”

Before Lin can ask again, a dog runs straight towards her at a full sprint, and with uncanny accuracy, bites into the rat, ripping it out of her claws, and running away with his new prey.

Valen, noticing what happened from the side of his eye, quickly grabs Lin by the hem of her dress.

Immediately, Lin attempts to run after the dog, only to fall on the ground, prone.

“Naooooooooooo Pikaaaaaachhhhhuuuuuuu,” she scries out, her hand extended at the retreating form of the dog as it escapes with the squealing rat.

“Lin, get up…. You’re causing a scene,” Valen tells her, gazing at the other shoppers and shopkeepers as they stare at the squealing tigress.

Slowly getting up, Lin turns to Valen, tears streaming down her face.”I...sniff...wanted to...be a pokemon trainer,” she says between sniffles, tears slowly pouring down her fur.

Valen just rubs his face with his hand, amused and annoyed at Lin’s antics. Sighing loudly, Valen bends his knee, leveling himself to the crying Lin.”Lin…..why would you want to become a trainer? Why not become pikachu instead?” he asks Lin.

Thinking briefly, Lin looks into Valen’s eyes, mesmerized with the Idea. ”Really?” Lin asks, the rat quickly all but forgotten.

Nodding, Valen smiles at the cute tigress,”Yup, just let me finish with a purchase,” he says, getting up and turning to the dark elf.

“So…..these pocket rings….what materials are they made of?”

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About twenty minutes later, Valen walks down the street, Lin following behind, a Pikachu costume covering her body.

“Pikaaa, pikaa, pikaaa, pikaa, pikaaa,” she chants with every step, following her trainer adamantly.

Valen continues to walk forward, gaining the attention of the passersby. His hands hold a mithril ring, engraving covering its form.

“Now I just need supplies,” Valen announces softly, repositioning the red and white hat comfortably on his head.