After a few hours, Dagger returned from scouting ahead and informed his team about what he found.

“Leader, I’ve found the orc chief’s location,” Dagger said to Ethan.

"Good. Let's go." Ethan commanded.

His team rested enough, got up, and followed the lead of Dagger.

Dagger led them to a place that resembled an ancient temple, with crumbling pillars and faded carvings.

Ethan looked at the entrance of the temple and saw a lot of orcs guarding it. He also noticed a few orcs that seemed to be bigger and more aggressive than others. He quickly recognized them.

They were orc warriors, the leaders of the orc tribe’s troops. They wielded heavy armor and weapons.

"Is there any other path to enter?" Ethan asked.

"I'm sorry. I didn't find any other path." Dagger replied apologetically.

“…We have to fall back for now,” Ethan thought before giving the order.

They quickly withdrew to an area enclosed by towering plateaus.

"What is your next plan?” Emily asked, curious about Ethan’s strategy.

"We need to build a trap." Ethan said as he looked around.

"Do you have any digging tools?" He asked.

"So you are planning to make a pit." Emily understood his plan.

"What do you mean vice leader?" Leo asked, not understanding why they have to dig a pit.

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"His plan is simple. We will dig a pit and cover it with some branches and leaves. Then, we will lure the orcs and finish them off as they fall into the pits." Emily explained.

"That sounds easy enough." Leo said.

"It is. But we have to be quick and careful in luring. We don't want them to notice the trap and neither get into a fight." Emily said.

"Alright. Let's do this." Leo said.

"But who will lure them?" Mia asked.

"Don't worry. I'll lure them as I'm faster than them." Dagger said.

"Good. Let's start." Ethan commanded.

They all nodded and started to work on their plan.

Ethan, Dagger, and Leo quickly dug a pit while Mike and Mia covered it with leaves and dry branches.

"Dagger, go lure them. Everyone on your positions." Ethan commanded.

As Dagger darted towards the temple, the orc guards noticed his presence and began to chase after him. He led them skillfully, maneuvering through the landscape, making sure to maintain their attention without giving away the trap.

Meanwhile, Ethan and the rest of the team hid behind the plateaus, waiting for the perfect moment. Emily kept a keen eye on the approaching orcs, calculating their movements and timing.

As the orcs drew nearer to the concealed pit, Dagger skillfully circled back, leading the group closer to the trap. With a sudden burst of speed, he leaped over the hidden pit, narrowly evading the trap himself.

Just as the pursuing orc warriors charged forward, they fell prey to the hidden pitfall, crashing down amidst a cacophony of surprise and confusion. The ground shook with their heavy thuds as they plummeted into the concealed trap.

Seizing the opportunity, Ethan signaled the ambush. Emily, Leo, Mike, and Mia emerged from their hiding spots, swiftly attacking the bewildered orcs. Emily's arrows rained down with precision, Leo engaged in close combat, deflecting blows with his shield, while Mike and Mia supported the team with their magical prowess and healing abilities.

Despite the chaos, the team moved with practiced coordination, swiftly dispatching the trapped orcs before they could recover. The sounds of battle echoed through the surroundings, but within moments, silence once again settled over the area.

Ethan surveyed the battlefield and found that his plan had worked.

“Let’s go to the orc chief now.” He ordered, his voice cold and determined.

His team nodded and started following him. They reached the temple door and saw orcs, but they were a lot lesser than before.

"Finish them." Ethan ordered his team.

They easily killed the orcs and entered the temple. The temple was spacious with an altar at the center and many engravings on the old walls and pillars.

The orc chief was performing a dark ceremony on an altar, surrounded by four shamans and a horde of orcs and orc warriors.

He was a fearsome sight, towering over the other warriors in his clan. His dark gray skin was covered in scars and tattoos, marking his victories and losses in battle. His bald head, pointed ears, and sharp teeth gave him a predatory look, enhanced by his piercing yellow eyes. He wore a heavy armor of metal and leather, adorned with skulls and spikes. His posture was confident and aggressive, ready to face any challenge or enemy.

The ceremony was simple but horrifying. The orc chief was placing severed heads on the altar, while the shamans were chanting some spells. The heads belonged to orcs, humans, and other races that the orcs had slaughtered. Ethan recognized the heads of griffin team members.

This scenery made a chill run down the spine of each member, even Emily felt a bit uneasy. Only Ethan seemed completely unaffected.

"Let's kill him quickly before he completes his ceremony." Dagger unleashed his weapon and charged ahead.

"Stop. Let him continue." Ethan stopped him.

"What? But Boss.." Leo didn't understand and wanted to say more, but Emily stopped him.

The orc chief also gestured his tribesmen, who were also about to charge forward, to stop. He was curious about Ethan’s decision. He had expected him to attack, not to watch. He wondered what Ethan was planning.

Emily looked at Ethan with worried eyes, while Ethan's focus was on the pictures engraved upon the walls of the temples.