Gritting my teeth, I acknowledged the elf's call for an alliance with a terse nod. The Orc's leering grin widened as he saw us regroup, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "Two against one, then?" he bellowed, his voice a rumble of mocking laughter. “Do you know who it is you face? I am a Blood Ork! A Mud Elf and goddamn Human don’t stand a chance against me. Even if it is two against one. You will make excellent sacrifices to the Death God.”

I did not give him time to continue his rant. I charged in, longsword in hand, while the elf circled to the Orc's flank. We attempted to attack in unison. My sword, empowered by Tempest's Wrath, crackled with lightning as I aimed for the Orc's massive torso. The elf, swift and agile, darted in and out, their sword glowing with magical energy, striking at the Orc's legs and sides.

Jag Roneo: This is disgraceful! Two on one—where’s the honor? Blood Orks fight alone, with pride! Everett and that Elf are cheatin’, plain and simple!

Bill Ruggles: Aye, Jag, but sometimes you gotta play the hand you’re dealt. They’re up against a powerhouse—they need all the help they can get!

The battle intensified as the Orc's relentless onslaught continued. Each strike we landed seemed only to strengthen him. His resilience was terrifyingly evident, his strength and speed growing with every hit he took and delivered. The Orc's mace swung with lethal precision and clipped me on the shoulder. The impact was devastating, the force shattering bones and knocking me backward. Pain seared through me, but I couldn't afford to falter. I quickly activated my Rainfall Regeneration ability, feeling the healing energy rush to mend what it could of my broken shoulder.

Jag Roneo: Look at that hit! The Ork’s got Everett reelin’. This is what true Blood Ork power looks like—overwhelmin’ strength!

Bill Ruggles: Aye, but Everett’s healin’ up—Rainfall Regeneration’s keepin’ him in the game. He’s gotta keep bouncin' back or he’s done for!

The elf, momentarily distracted by my fall, was caught off guard. The Orc seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful kick to their stomach, sending them reeling. I watched in horror as the Orc seemed to rejuvenate, the wounds we inflicted upon him beginning to mend. Realization dawned on me – he was healing from the damage he dealt.

I yelled out to the elf, "He's healing from the damage he deals to us!"

The elf, regaining their footing, yelled in reply, "Many Blood Orks have abilities to heal from the damage they inflict."

The Orc, overhearing our exchange, bellowed with a sadistic glee, "And I become more dangerous the more you hurt me. You should run now, Drifter. Leave the Mud Elf to me, and I will grant you a painless death. Or stay and let me feast on your blood. BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD ORK! DEATH FOR THE DEATH GOD!"

With a roar, the Orc charged at the elf, his attacks a whirlwind of fury and power. The elf was clearly overmatched, but they fought valiantly, their magical defenses flickering in response to the relentless assault. The Orc's speed was astonishing, his mace a blur as he struck with devastating force.

Seeing the elf in peril, I charged in, hoping to be of some aid. As I approached, the elf cast a spell, it made their armor shimmer, and it appeared to make them slightly harder to hit. As the Orc's strikes began to miss or glance off. The Ork was however, undeterred.

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Jag Roneo: The Ork’s unstoppable! Look at ‘im go! Everett and the Elf can’t keep up with his fury. This is Blood Ork pride right here! Death for the Death God!

Bill Ruggles: You sound crazy Jag. Settle down please.

As my Tempest's Wrath ability faded, I landed a glancing blow on the Orc's side. He screamed in rage, his movements becoming even faster, if that were possible. He turned to me, his eyes burning with fury, and swung his mace in a vicious sideswipe. I barely managed to parry with my forearm shield, the force of the blow almost overwhelming.

But my parry did little to slow the Orc. He pressed his attack, putting me firmly on the defensive. The elf, seeing the Ork concentrating on me, took the initiative and lunged with a thrust of their sword, striking the Orc in the back. The sword bit deep, but in response the Orc twisted his body violently, ripping the sword from the elf's grasp.

The Orc's skin turned a darker shade of red, and he began to laugh maniacally, screaming, "MORE BLOOD! MORE PAIN!" His rage was palpable, a tangible force that seemed to invigorate him even further.

Jag Roneo: That’s the spirit! The Ork’s takin’ the hits and turnin’ ‘em into strength. He’s thrivin’ on the pain—just like a true Blood Ork should! Blood for the Blood Orcs!

Bill Ruggles: Sheesh do you need to towel of Jag. You’re sweatin’ all over everything.

The Orc, reeling from the deep wound in his back but still driven by relentless fury, knocked me back with a fierce blow from the butt of his mace. The impact sent me stumbling backward, struggling to regain my footing.

He then turned his wrath towards the elf, seemingly unbothered by the sword protruding from his back. His rage was so overwhelming that it robbed his strikes of precision, which was the only thing saving the elf. I noticed the elf's shield shimmering like his armor, a testament to their magical prowess.

Despite mostly blocking the Orc's strikes, the elf was clearly suffering under the force of each blow. The relentless onslaught seemed to be too much; I could see them buckling, barely holding on.

As I charged back into the fray, a strange sensation overcame me. I could feel the Orc's emotions, his unbridled rage, as if it were a tangible force. A thought struck me – could he sense my emotions too? Driven by a desperate instinct, I focused on my own loss, the pain of losing my girlfriend and child, and pushed that rage, that despair, back at the Orc. I had no idea how I was doing it, but it was happening.

Jag Roneo: What’s happening right now Bill?

Bill Ruggles: Somethin’…

My emotional onslaught collided with the Orc as he screamed, "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD ORK! DEATH FOR THE DEATH GOD! MUD FOR THE MUD ELF!" His ferocious attack halted abruptly, and he turned to face me, his expression one of confusion. I felt his bewilderment, a break in his previously unshakeable demeanor.

Seizing the opportunity, the elf stood and slammed his shield into the hilt of the sword still embedded in the Orc's back, driving it deeper. The Orc's focus shattered; he spun to strike at the elf with his mace, but his movements were sluggish, weakened by the unexpected emotional assault.

Before the Orc could recover, I lunged forward, slamming my shield down vertically onto the sword's hilt. The blade slid further down his back and up through his shoulder. The Orc turned towards me, attempting a last swing with his mace, but faltered mid-strike.

"Get away from him!" I yelled to the elf. "He needs to damage us to heal!"

We both retreated just out of the Orc's reach, his swings growing more feeble as his life force rapidly drained. In a matter of moments, the once formidable Orc collapsed to the ground, defeated and lifeless.

Jag Roneo: No! The Blood Ork’s down! They’ve cheated—this ain’t how a fight’s supposed to go! Two on one…where’s the honor in that?

Bill Ruggles: Aye, Jag, it’s a hard pill to swallow. But they’ve won, and the Ork’s fury wasn’t enough to save him. It’s survival of the fittest in this arena.

Vollan, the elf, stepped over the fallen Orc, a look of disdain on his face. He spat on the Orc's body and said, "I am Vollan. Who is in the mud now?"