The trek back to the city took nearly a month. Moving slower due to the wagon and the Lovax.

Unfortunately, at least if you asked Trillia, the small caravan faced no enemies. Ralrouk made sure to sweep the area around the wagon frequently. Trillia had a lot of time to catch up on her sleep and write many things down in the journal that Tormash and Ba'Shoon had given her.

Trillia looked over to Amelia during one of the days the two were walking behind the wagon.

"What do you think it's going to be like? For us staying in the city now?" Trillia asked nervously, the looming city walls still present in her mind.

Amelia gave her friend a comforting squeeze of the hand. "Well. Probably a lot of busy work. Making sure everyone has enough food and keeping troublemakers under control. Ensuring that no attacks breach the outermost wall. Things of that nature. At least, that's what it was like in God's Watch. The little bit that I can remember. The city fell to chaos when I was still a toddler. So I remember very little."

Trillia wasn't looking forward to the city. She had never known the nomadic lifestyle of the orcs; since they had made a make-shift city when she was born to defend. But something about the walls and closed-in stone houses. It didn't feel natural. It felt like she was suffocating.

"I wonder if I can convince Mom and Dad to let me be a scout. This way, I don't have to spend any time in the city." it was a conversation that she and Amelia had already had. They both looked forward to very different things.

For Amelia, the walls meant safety from roving monsters. It meant a constant buff to all of her stats, and her people were stronger and safer. Especially with the weakened debuff. Many minotaurs worshipped the deities that were present on Alirast. So they were no longer cut off from divine power.

For Trillia and her tribe, however, the weakened [Scorned Divinity] meant only that her tribe was at a significant disadvantage. Not that Trillia thought that any of the Chieftains of other tribes could challenge Amara for leadership. Still, Tormash, Ralrouk, and Ba'Shoon seemed worried. Which made Trillia worry.

The days and weeks passed by with nothing really going on. Trillia talked to the Lovax daily with telepathy. It was happy to pull the wagon. It also enjoyed eating and sleeping. When they stopped for the day, Trillia would remove all of its barding and let the thing roll up and roll around the camp. It quite enjoyed rolling around.

Finally, sometime during the fourth week on the road, the city came into view. Everyone's heart sank. Ralrouk snapped at Ba'Shoon that she was in charge as he took off towards the city. The previous giant walls of granite - at least those facing this road - were cracked and crumbling.

As the wagon rolled ever closer, the grey and green stone and mossy ground of the Shattered Plains turned crimson red.

Trillia's heart began to beat faster. Ralrouk had already run and jumped his way to the city gates. Even from a few hundred feet out, she could hear his bellows for a guard.

Trillia squeezed Amelia's hand. Cordaos and Amara were supposed to be in the city. Nothing could hurt them.

Trillia vaguely remembered overhearing the minotaur refugees speak of the things that attacked Amelia's home city. Of [Megapedes] that had grown ten times as long and seemed impervious to nearly all damage.

Fear tried to spiral out of control as [Unwavering Determination] crushed the useless emotion into dust. Trillia blew out a long heavy sigh and took in a deep breath. Looking over at Ba'Shoon. "Tormash would have sent word. If things were really bad, right?"

Ba'Shoon licked her lips, her eyes never leaving the walls of the city as she urged the Lovax to move just a little faster. She managed a weak nod for Trillia's sake.

As they approached the gate, it had already been swung open on Ralrouk's orders. Guards ushered the caravan inside and closed the gates. The area just inside the gates was no better. Even the walls were painted in gruesome crimson red and brown. Tormash was just inside, speaking to Ralrouk.

Ba'Shoon cried out and ran to him, and Trillia froze in place. Even her divine trait couldn't stop the fear that leapt into her. Tormash stood with one arm heavily bandaged and in a sling, a pronounced limp in his left foot, and his right eye torn from his head. Ralrouk was visibly shaking. Barely able to contain his rage.

Tormash hugged Ba'Shoon with his good arm, offering everyone who entered a smile and a little nod. Trillia's feet refused to move. Why hadn't they sent someone for them? What happened that even Tormash was so wounded?

"Back to your damn posts! It's a caravan like any other. This is no time to slack!" the bellowing voice yanked Trillia back to reality as her mind tried to race away. Uncl- No. King Cordaos strode through the streets. Trillia had almost forgotten just how tall he truly was.

But in his armor? With the mighty two-handed hammer on his back? Cordaos was a walking catastrophe. Cordaos strode forward, lifting Amelia into a hug. Trillia could only stare up at him. "Is...Is Mom?"

Cordaos looked down at her, a smile crossed his snout. A hand came down to tousle her hair. "It would take a deity to strike down Amara Demonsbane, and I'd still call it a fool's wager to bet against your mother. She isn't here right now. She went to get reinforcements."

Ralrouk spun at that. "Mother left the city unguarded?! How many people died while she fle-" Cordaos had crossed the ten-foot gap and struck Ralrouk so hard that Trillia heard his jaw snap. The mighty orc flew and landed on his back. Cordaos' eyes glowed red.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

You're in the presence of the Champion of the Pit!

Trillia watched as her mana immediately hit zero as [Stalwart Mana] tried to stop the effect.

You are too weak to resist the effects!

You will lose 5% of your resources every second until you are dead!

Trillia squeaked. "Stop! Stop!"

Cordaos' eyes calmed. The terror and panic in everyone around them lessened.

General Skill: [Stalwart Mana] Level 1 -> Level 3

Cordaos had set Amelia down, walking slowly over to Ralrouk. Reaching down one of his mighty three-fingered hands, he grabbed Ralrouk by the rapidly healing jaw and stood to his full towering height of fifteen feet. Ralrouk dangled at the end of his arm like a child.

"I don't care who you are, boy. You're an Exterminator. You're a leader. You don't ever second guess your Chieftain during a time of war again. Especially not Amara Demonsbane. People look to us to be strong. Not to panic like children and run about screaming. Am I understood?"

Trillia wanted to say something. She wanted to say that Ralrouk was just scared like she was. Like everyone was. But something about the aura she felt had simply shut down most of her skills. Like some colossal weight had been laid against her chest.

Ralrouk had his hands wrapped around Cordaos' wrist. Tormash had his good hand on his weapon, as did Ba'Shoon. But neither of them was willing to draw on the King of Minotaurs. Ralrouk let go with one hand, giving a thumbs up. Trillia felt mana surge through Cordaos and watched Ralrouk's wounds heal as he was dropped.

Ralrouk coughed up some of the blood he had swallowed, spitting it out. As he looked up, Trillia didn't see the rage she was expecting. Just a grim determination. "Forgive my weakness, King Cordaos. I'm angry at myself for not being here. Nothing more."

Cordaos extended a hand and helped the orc stand. "Don't be a fool. You were protecting a dungeon. One that will be sorely needed to raise a new generation of warriors for the hard times to come. You were protecting your family and my own. There will be plenty of killing going forward. But I need you to be a rock right now. I need you and your brother to be beacons of stoicism. Of courage and bravery."

Ralrouk nodded once more. Cordaos clapped him on the shoulder as he motioned with his head. "Come. I will fill all of you in on what has been happening."

Everyone fell in behind him. No one dared to be in his path when he turned to lead them off deeper into the city. Cordaos spoke calmly as they walked. "If you wish vengeance for the public display. Ask. Any time you want, I will grant you the duel if you believe I've infringed on your honor."

Ralrouk shook his head. "No. The guards and warriors needed to see that even a leader can be punished for cowardice and panic in a time of war. Had I let such a tantrum overtake me on an actual battlefield, it could have cost many of those under me to lose their lives. It won't happen again."

Cordaos nodded once more. "Your parents raised damn fine children. I see that my lovely Amelia and Trillia have not been idle in the past month either. I hope you have both learned a great deal and grown in strength."

Amelia nodded, both she and Trillia still a tiny bit weary of Cordaos. The mighty king spoke softly. "Amara and I will look to the two of you in the near future. The city has many, many children in it now. We need leaders for all groups of people. Even the youngest among us. I know that both of you may have had other plans, returning to the city. But right now, the United Tribes of the Shattered Plains need you to act as leaders, not as children."

As Cordaos came to a stop, so to did everyone else. Turning, he looked down at Amelia and Trillia, who somehow always found themselves standing side by side. "I am truly sorry. That I have failed as a King and as a Father. That neither of you will get the childhood of peace that Amara and I fought so hard for, for so many years. I know it's not right to thrust such responsibility on such small shoulders...yet..."

Trillia squeezed Amelia's hand for courage before she stepped forward, interrupting him before he could finish. "It is our duty. We will not let our people down. Focus on saving us all. Amelia and I will make sure that the children are taken care of."

As if pulling on her courage, Amelia stepped forward next to her. "Trillia and I have learned a great deal from the dungeon about tactics and fighting dirty. While some may look down on such things from a point of honor. I believe we can teach the children how to heal from afar. In addition to teaching them techniques to inflict debuffs on the enemy. Regardless of what they are. I believe Mother once said that in times of war, there is no such thing as a non-combatant."

Cordaos stared down at the two girls for a long moment. Nodding solemnly. "I am grateful. That those who will replace us as leaders are so level-headed." looking to Ralrouk now. "And so willing to learn. Come. I've wasted enough time being sentimental."

With that, they once more turned as a group and headed off toward whatever command building they were using.

The further into the city they walked, the more Trillia got a scale for how bad things had gotten in only a month's time. Great pits had devoured entire sections of the city underground. Perimeters had been set up around them, with various groups making skirmishes inside. Warehouses that once held food stores had been converted into giant makeshift healing halls. Alchemists and Shamans, both orc and minotaur alike, could be seen tending to the wounded. Or passed out, leaning on one another in a corner from exhaustion.

Trillia gritted her teeth. She hated the city. Hated living in it. But it was still her home. It was still where her family was. As everyone often pointed out, she was still a child. She had plenty of time left for adventure. For now, her people needed her. Even if it was to babysit the children. She and Amelia would show them all that even children could be trained to be deadly. Trillia had run the dungeon dozens of times, and she had studied the traps and the tactics of the goblins.

Funny thing that. Orc children were about the size of goblins. But twice as durable thanks to tenacity.

Suddenly. The hair on her neck stood up, and everyone except Cordaos froze in place. Unable to move, unable to breathe. A long thin blade slowly lowered next to her, easily twice her height. Segmented like a giant spider's leg but sharp on every side.

She mentally activated [Mana Sight]

[Divine Abomination(Ascension Available!) - Divine Grafter - 1537] Explosive Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits:

Pact-Bound (2nd Axle)

Forced Revelation

Functionally Immortal

Butcher of the Beast War

Dragon Killer

Primordial Abomination

Realm Walker

...13 Others

There was no system warning. Why wasn't there a system warning? Why weren't her traits activating or protecting her? Cordaos turned his head.

"Stas... my old friend."

The voice that came from behind her felt...familiar. Comforting. As if it were luring her closer to her own demise. It had the familiar twang of a goblin speaking in the orc language. "Cordaos. Amara told me to get here will all speed. I don't care to have my experiments interrupted. But she invoked the [Primordial]."

"Why did everyone stop?"

Cordaos offered a little smile. "You have to suppress your divine aura further. No one else is pact-bound, due to [Scorned Divinity]."

As quickly as the pressure had come on. It vanished. Trillia still didn't dare turn around to look at whatever the creature was. Its level alone was enough to scare most people. But for her, it was its ability to override her protections so much that even Dawn couldn't get a warning to her.