Chapter 24
Escalation
“Stop moving around, I told you this won’t hurt.” The orc continue to struggle as I place my hand on his forehead. The black aura slowly seep into the orc’s body.
The best word that would describe my power is “poison”. My power is a poison to life itself and unfortunately for everyone on this planet, there is no cure. Once a poor sap comes into contact with my power they’ll either die or turn into madmen or demons as people like to call them. It mostly depends on what mood I’m in. Lucky for this guy, I need him alive. Of course I have no intentions on turning this orc into a demon. The last thing I need is a demon going around causing a rampage. No I just want to fiddle with his mind until he becomes my mindless slave.
I kept pouring my black aura into the orcs body until I notice he was foaming at the mouth.
Shit, I didn’t kill him did I? Sensing he was no longer a threat to me, the plants drop the orc face first unto the ground.
“Hey you’re not dead are you?” I poke the orc a few times hoping he’ll respond.
“Yes.” Hearing him suddenly talk I jump back few feet away from him. I excepted him to get up and attack me, yet for some reason, he remain on ground.
“You aren’t going to attack me?”
“No” The orc said in a monotone voice.
Huh, I guess my mind control work, I didn’t think I could pull it off in this body.
“Get up.” The orc pick himself up from the ground. I was shock to see his eyes were completely blank. And foam was continuously spilling out from his mouth.
Jeez, I completely broke him, I hope he still remembers where my sword is.
“Seeing how many people you guys kill/ kidnapped I’m pretty sure you guys got a lot of stolen goods. So tell me, where do you keep your stolen weapons?”
“In the cave. That’s where we hide everything.”
“Of course, it just had to be in the cave.” That’s the last place I wanted to go. Oh well, I guess I can try to free the prisoners while I’m at it.
“C’mon lets go, also wipe your mouth off while you’re at it.”
I reluctantly walk back to the cave with my brain dead minion. As we got closer I notice a lot of orcs were running past us. I guess they’re still trying to find the girl Aaron save. I wonder if she made it back to town. Naw, she probably got eaten by some monster. Doesn’t really matter to me, as long as these guys are busy looking for her, I should be able sneak in and out the cave easily as long as my minion stay next to me.
We continue to walk past the unobservant orcs until we finally reach the cave, but before we could go in, an orc got in our way.
“Out having fun huh?”
“….” My minion remain quiet.
“Say something.” I whisper while elbowing him.
“What do you mean?” My minion said in a monotone.
It’s over, he’s going to blow my cover.
“Don’t play dumb, I saw you sneaking around with her. Trying to get ahead of everyone else, maybe I should do the same thing.” The orc stuck his hand to out grab me, but my minion stop him by grabbing his arm.
“Cain don’t want no one touching her till tomorrow, do you really intend on defying his order?”
“…” The orc pulled his hand away from my minion and step out of our way. Seems like everyone here is really terrified of their leader. I guess my minion isn’t that brain dead after all, he was smart enough to use Cain name to make the orcs back off.
“Nice one minion, you literally just save my ass.”
Now that we’re in the cave all we need to do is retrieve my sword and free the girls. My sword comes first since that’s the main reason why I’m here. Plus if I free the girls and we were to travel in a pack the orcs will definitely suspect something.
Heh, heh. I just realize I’ve been using my brain a lot lately. If only I use it this much in the past I would’ve probably took over the world by now. Anyway enough of the past, I need to move now.
“Take me to my sword.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Great, now he’s saying “yes ma’am.”
We walk through the dark cave until my minion stop me at a room full of weapons. The room had every weapon imaginable. Spears, bows, dagger, swords, etc.
“Jeez, are you guys planning on starting a war or something?”
“Yes.”
“What?” I turn around to see my minion had a blank expression on his face. I was joking around, but these guys are seriously planning on going to war.
“You guys plan on attacking the town nearby aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
I should’ve known, why else would the orcs be so close to a human settlement?
“We need to move now.” I look around the room until I found my sword hanging on the wall.
“Alright, now where’s the elf’s?” Unlike my sword, I was easily able to find Claire’s weapon since it’s really not a weapon. It’s just a wooden staff which made it stick out amongst all the sharp object in the room.
I doubt she’s going around beating monsters that’s twice her size with this stick. Which means she probably focus her magic through it so she can increase her range or something.
Now that I got my sword, all I have to do is free the girls and get out of here. Should be easy especially with the elf helping me. But still, what my minion said is bothering me. If they camp around here plan on to attacking that nearby town, then how would they react if they found everyone one of their prisoner escape and headed for that town?
Well if I was them, I would immediately attack the town before they could prepare themselves. And if they do that I would be caught in the crossfire of their attack, and I really don’t want that. I need to find a way to delay their attack.
“Minion, this Cain guy does he have anyone helping him manage you guys. Like a general or a lieutenant or something?
“No.”
“I see.” How unorganized, but I think I might have a plan now, a half-assed plan, but a plan regardless. But before I do anything stupid, I should free the elf first.
After leaving the weapons storage, I walk back to the place where they were keeping the prisoner. I made my minion
keep a good distance from me, because I didn’t want the girls questioning why an orc was helping me.
After finding the room that held the girls, I cut the lock and kick the door open. Everyone looked at me confusingly.
“Well what are you guys waiting for? Let’s get out of here.”
“….” The girls slowly stood up, but for some reason none of them move from their spot. All of them looked at me cautiously.
“C-can we really leave?” One of the girls said weakly.
“Of course, you guys are all free to escape from this hellhole.”
Their eyes that once was full of defeat, became a little bit hopeful. One of the girls hesitantly took a step towards me. After a seconds has pass, she took another step than another one. Each step she took she would move faster until she started walking at a normal pace. Following her example, the other girls also started walking towards me.
“Thank you very much.” The girl deeply bow her head to me.
“Yea, yea, not get out here.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for saving me.”
Each and every one of the girls thank me and some kind of way before leaving. A few of them tried to hug and even kiss me, but of course, I brush every last one of them away.
“Ok you got to tell me, how did you get those chains off?” Claire looked at me curiously.
“That’s a secret.”
“C’mon tell me.”
“Amazing, was that a command? No, that was an enhance magic wasn’t it?”
“…” The reason why I use that attack just now was so I could scare her off, but all I did was just increase her curiosity. Her blue eye were practically shining now.
“So are you going to tell me how you broke those chains or not?”
“Listen Claire, you think you’ll be able to escort everyone out of here by yourself?”
“Yea I should be able to do it, but what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to buy us some time.”
“…You’re not planning on sacrificing yourself are you?”
“Heh, heh.” I let out a small chuckle. “Trust me that’s the last thing I’ll ever do.”
“Good, I’ll be sad if you died without telling me your trick.”
“….Would you go already?” I toss Claire her staff.
“Alright, but once this is over, you got tell how you did it!” Claire shouted while running towards the exit.
“Finally, she’s gone” I let out a sigh of relief. Now, on to business.
Aaron or that girl he saved should’ve hopefully warn the town. If they did then the town will be fully ready for orcs attack. And with Claire leading the girls to safety, the orcs will be too busy dealing with her to worry about what’s going on in the cave. Which will make killing this guy name Cain really easy.
If all goes well, the death Cain should cause the orcs to panic and delay their attack on the town, which should give me enough time to get the hell out of here and go to Athens like I originally intended. Hmm for a plan I pulled out my ass a few seconds ago, I think it sound pretty smart.
“Minion.”
Slowly, my minion walk out from his dark hiding spot and headed towards me. As he was walking, I notice his skin was becoming paler, and his movement was becoming more sluggish. As I said before, my power is a poison to life itself. Even people who serve me will eventually die.
“Alright minion.” I lightly pat him on the back. “I got one last mission for you.”
(Aaron P.O.V)
“You guys don’t have to do this you know?”
“I know, but I hired you guys and I refuse to let anyone I hired die. Plus I still own your sister for saving me.”
“Yea and if it wasn’t for me, your sister wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“Thanks guys.” But I think it be easier if I do this alone, especially since I don’t have a plan. I turn towards the cave to see there were about ten orcs guarding it.
What do I do? There’s far too many for me to take out by myself. The maximum arrows I can fire accurately at once is three, but that’s only with the assistance of magic, and if I use magic they’ll sense it thus giving my position away. But if I do it the normal way and take them out one at a time, then they’ll start to panic, which will make them become unpredictable. And a lot can go wrong if things become unpredictable.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
No matter what choice I make thing won’t end well for me, but I just can’t leave my sister in that cave. The image of my sister being forcefully taken away flash in my head again.
It’s…because of me, it’s because of me my sister got capture. I have to save no matter what…
I look back at the cave to see the orcs were still standing around.
I’ve decided… I reach into my quiver in pull a single arrow out.
I’ll take them out one by one, and then when things get bad I’ll start using magic. Hopefully this will work out.
“Wait Aaron.” Hearing Max call me completely mess my aim up and force me to stop from firing my arrow.
“What is Max?” I said slightly irritated.
“Do you really intend on fighting all these orcs by yourself?”
“I have no choice it’s the only way we’re getting in that cave.”
“I guess that true, but instead of doing alone why don’t we work together.” Max reach into his pocket in pulls out a white crystal.
“What’s that?”
“It was something I was saving just in case things got bad, from the looks it things got bad. Once this explodes, it’ll blind everyone who eyes aren’t cover. This should help you take all the orcs out.”
“Thanks Max.”
“Hey it’s what friends do.”
“Friend, you consider me a friend?”
“Of course, even though we meant yesterday, I think we spend enough time together to become friends. And just like you, I’m also worried about Anna, so let’s work together to save her ok?”
“Right?” A friend huh? I think the closest thing I had to one was my sister. For some reason, even though we’re in a dire situation I was smiling. No matter how hard I try it wouldn’t go away.
“Alright, on the count of three I’m going to throw the crystal, once the flash go off I want to take out as many orcs as you can, before the flash wear off.”
“Got it.”
“1...2…3”
A strong wind suddenly blew from the cave. All the orcs that was nearby were blown into the forest. I tightly grab onto a tree so I wouldn’t be blown away too.
“What the hell is going on?!” Max scream.
“I don’t know, is this your crystal doing?!”
“No, I didn’t even throw it yet!!”
After a few second had pass the wind died down. Just as it faded, a little girl wearing a red dress walk out the cave along with a group of women follow her.
“That’s!” The women next to me stood up.
“You know who that is?”
“Yes it’s the other prisoner who were capture by the orcs.
“Wait does that mean they free themselves?” Max ask.
“I don’t know let’s find out.” The woman jump up and headed for the group. I also quickly got up and follow after. As I got closer I notice the little girl was an elf.
Wow an actual elf. She was probably the one that took those orcs out. Looking at her you wouldn’t think it was possible seeing how small she is. Seeing her take on people twice her size remind me of my sister. Wait, where is she? I looked through the crowd and notice that my sister wasn’t here.
“Hey you seen my sister? She has black hair and red eyes.”
“Eh, Anna your sister?” The elf had surprise look on her face.
“Yea she’s my sister, you know where she’s at?”
“She’s still in the cave, said something about buying us some time.”
“Time?”
“Yea that what she told me, I no sure what she meant.”
“Alright, thank you.” I bow my head to the elf.
“No problem.” I watch as the elf lead the women into the forest. “Oh, one more thing.” The elf stopped walking. “Can you make sure Anna gets out that cave a live, she still haven’t told me her secret.”
“Um, ok.” Secret? Was my sis planning on telling her she the Demon King?
“Buying time huh? You think Anna plan on killing all the orcs in the cave?” Max ask.
“I don’t know, let’s hurry up and get her out of there before it’s too late.”
(Anna P.O.V)
“So do you want to show me?” Hearing a voice get closer to me, I quickly hid in the shadow.
“You’ll see in a few minutes.” The monotone voice immediately told me that was my minion.
“Ok but are you alright? You looked pretty pale.”
“I’m fine.”
The sound of footstep grew closer. It wouldn’t be long till they reach the prison room. Once they reach the room I’m going have to kill Cain as fast as possible and get out of here.
Thanks to my good eyes, I was easily able to see everything even though the cave is pretty dark. Once they the reach the prisoner room. I was able to tell the expression on Cain face change.
“Why is the lock broke?” Cain demanded.
“….” My minion blankly stare at Cain. I would’ve been impress that minion was able to fearlessly stand up to Cain, if I didn’t take all emotions away, even fear. Realizing he wasn’t going to get any answer from my minion, Cain open the door to the room.
“Where the hell are they?!” Cain quickly turn around and grab my minion by his throat. Of course, the facial impression on my minion didn’t change at all. “Tell me now!” Cain tighten grip on my minion throat, but my minion still didn’t react even though he was being choke to death.
“He’s not going to tell you anything, he works for me now.” I step out the shadow to face Cain.
“You again?” Cain drop my minion to the ground to face me.
“Yup it’s me again, if you’re wondering what happen to the other prisoners I free them.”
“You got a lot of guts for telling me that, so tell me why didn’t you run away with them?”
“It’s simple, I stay here to kill you.”
“Do you really think you can kill…” Before he could finish his sentence, I quickly dash towards him and pull my sword out. Just as I was about cut him in half, I notice something was coming towards me insanely fast in the corner of my eye. Before I could figure out what it was I jump backwards to avoid it.
A loud sound echo through the cave. I look to see that somehow he was able to grab a hammer and smash it against the wall. Cracks were spreading all over the area his hammer hit. If that would’ve hit me, I would’ve became a pancake. How the hell was he able to predict my attack? I look up to see that just like me, Cain also had surprise look on his face.
I see, that attack just now wasn’t a conscious decision. Just like how I avoided his hammer, his body move before he himself knew what was going on.
Ok, let’s try this again. I dash towards him again. Cain rose his hammer up and swung it at me with all his might. I quickly raise my sword up to stop his attack.
His hammer bounce away from my sword the moment it hit it. Cain confusingly looks at his hammer as it fly away from him.
While he was still confuse, brought my sword back down and tried to thrust it into his stomach. Cain quickly jumps backwards and grabs his hammer from in the air.
*Tch* “You wasn’t supposed to dodge that.”
“Not only did you dodge my attack, you even knock my weapon out my hand. You’re pretty interesting.” A small smile appear on Cain face.
Well this isn’t good. Every single one of our clash ended in a stalemate. If this keeps up this will become a long draw out fight which I don’t have time for. I need to quickly kill him and get out of here before more orcs join the fight.
The warm energy in my body was slowly replace with a more cold and sinister one. I could see the proud smile on Cain face slowly change to fear.
“Alright, let’s end this.” Just as I was about to strike. An object going at an insane speed flew over me and heads straight for Cain. Cain raise his hand up and grabs it. It took me a few second to realize it was an arrow. Attach to the arrow, was a white crystal. Before I could figure out what it was, a blindly light emits from it, forcing me to close my eyes.
As I was struggling to see, I felt myself being lifted off the ground. I wiggle my body around hoping I could get back on the ground.
“Calm down Anna, it’s me!” I stop moving once I realize it was Max. “I got her Aaron, let’s get out of here!”
After a few seconds had pass, my vision finally return to me. I look up to see Max was carrying me like a princess for some reason. Normally, I would be piss off being put in this situation, but I had something else to worry about currently. I looked back down the cave to see a bunch of orcs were now surrounding Cain.
Damn, that was my only chance to kill him. Now nothing will stop them from attacking the town.
(Cain P.O.V)
If those guys hadn’t interfere just now, I definitely would’ve been killed. A cold shiver runs down my spine. I live my whole life fighting anything that would get in my way, but this is the first time I actually wanted to run from something. And to think it would be a little girl that would scare me. She really is interesting.
“Are you ok?” One orcs look at me with concern.
“Yea I’m fine.” I get back on my feet and wipe the sweat off my face. “Tell everyone to get ready, we’re going to attack that town.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“Yes sir.”
“Wait.” I quickly grab him before he left. “Tell the men if they see a girl with black hair and red eyes, tell them not to touch her, She’s mines!”
(??? P.O.V)
“This is disappointing, I thought orcs were stronger than human.”
“They are, but I don’t think you count as a human.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I just told you, I don’t think you’re human.”
“Shut it you two, do you guys not understand the situation? We’re dealing with orcs, beings that are far stronger than humans, and for this many to be close to a human settlement it must mean they plan on attacking it. So, what should we do, Alexander?”
“….” Taking off his hood, a man with blonde hair and cold blue eyes looks up at the night sky. “Get ready to move, we’re going to eliminate this threat.”