[https://i.imgur.com/sfHqwWT.jpg]

Four Orcs drag their stone clubs on the floor and surround the adventures. Small eyes stare at them as they huddle together. The orcs' large mouths salivate under large philtrums.

“Why are they here?! Orcs aren't supposed to be in this section!" the blonde-haired cleric said while guarding with her small shield and mace. Her black cassock was covered in soil and blood.

“Could it be true? That the tree is weakening?” said the archer with dark, long hair. His arm trembled from a bruise on his notching arm.

“Impossible! The tree has been working as intended for thousands of years!" The strict-faced mage shouted. His long navy blue cloak was messy, and his wizard hat crumpled.

“Weakness or not, we need to calm down and deal with the situation at hand.” The swordsman brought his sword close with its point to his enemy, the leader of the Orcs. The swordsman's strawberry blonde hair lifted subtly as he flared his aura. A white flame gathered around his armoured body. His arms and legs were covered in silver-like steel. Chainmail protected his chest. Over it, he wore a white surcoat, which had a blue coat of arms displayed on the back.

The Orcs ran out of patience and rushed with heavy clubs towards the party. With the monsters towering over the group by metres, their clubs were raised high to the sky and brought down with immense power.

“Uoro, MURUS!”

A blue dome was created and broke as soon as the four clubs hit. The Orc leader’s club hit a guarding sword, and sparks flew. The archer evaded a club and strafed to the left as he shot aura-imbued arrows. Arrows bounce off rippling green muscle. Balls of fire exploded in another orc’s face. Unperturbed, he swung on the mage, who put up a small murus in defence. A murus broke, and the orc hit down again for another Murus to break. An orc swung at the cleric, her shield bent, and she was dropped to the ground.

“LISA!!” The swordsman flared his aura and pushed the club aside. He aura-stepped to his cleric's side. The orc raised his club at the cleric again. He was too late.

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A loud thud rocked the area. The wind blew grass below and trees behind. Dust, soil, and grass blow everywhere, obfuscating the swordman's vision. The battle stood still. Every person and orc turned to see. The dust settled, and a man crouched by Lisa. The orc stood motionless with one less arm. The club fell loudly on the ground with a green arm attached.

The stranger stood up straight, and a gust of wind blew from him. Black, curly hair flowed in the breeze. Dressed in black everything, his skin was also dark. A walking shadow.

The stranger said with a bright smile, “Not too hurt, are you?” and offered Lisa a hand. She trembled in fear, refusing to take his hand. His bright smile turns sad, and he shrugs.

The one-armed orc broke out of his shock to punch the stranger from behind. The dark stranger twisted around with his long jacket trailing behind him. Fist met fist. A gust of wind blew again, and the swordsman covered his eyes. He heard bones break and took his hand from his sight. The orc roared in pain. His arm crumpled, and blood leaked where bones poked out.

The dark stranger unsheathed his sword. A white aura coated his beautiful but strange, short sword. The swordsman has never seen such aura control from someone this young. His aura was condensed tightly around his sword. No leakage can be seen with his inexperienced eyes. The aura around the stranger's body flared with such passion yet contained.

He swung his sword, and a slim aura wave cut the orc’s head from the body.

The stranger vanished.

Uoro’s orc torso was cut in half with a clean cut. The stranger became a blur again. Three waves dice the archer’s orc.

The swordsman’s aura sense detected the leader moving behind him. He jumped to the side before being crushed like the ground was. The leader's bone necklaces bounced and clanked as they swung multiple times at the fleeing swordsman. Even with aura, the swordsman's muscles hurt from the force. The leader screamed in desperation as he swung down for a killing blow.

The dark stranger appeared between them. He blocked the club with ease. A short surge of aura bounced off the stranger's blade. The orc was knocked out of balance. The stranger went low and placed his sword on his thigh. His face was full of concentration. The aura around his blade was almost blinding.

His right arm became a blur for a moment before staying still. He relaxed, and the orc leader fell to pieces. The stranger exhaled, then turned to the swordsman. No sweat crossed his brow. No heavy breathing. The dark man slayed four orcs like he was taking a stroll in the park.

The stranger sheathed his sword on his back and said, “Any more?”