Chapter 21: Orc's
Maia was moving with her knight, as they were dealing with the most recent of Olga army as they took down the last monster, as they went to retrieve to the girls that were kidnapped.
To say this was the worst thing to say was an understatement, The Monster from the Dark lands were noting like what's Aiden had, more importantly there lust was something else may knight and you girls were always kids napped and raped and used as sex slave for the next generation of these monster, they arrived but what they found shocked them, they looked like orc's but were armoured and more Immortality they seemed to be eating the other orcs, the orcs in armour didn't seemed like the typical ones from Olga army but Maia just shocked her head.
Maia looked at her knight, as she pulled out her sword. "No time to think, attack in the gaps in there armour charge"
Maia and her knights charged forward, the clanking of armor echoing across the battlefield. The orcs, larger and more imposing than any she had seen before, turned to face them, their beady eyes locking onto their prey. These weren't like Olga's typical forces; their movements were slower but far more deliberate, their armored forms looming like juggernauts of war.
As Maia raised her sword, she aimed for a gap in the nearest orc's armor. She drove her blade forward, hoping to pierce the creature's side. The blade struck true, sliding between the plates of metal. A guttural howl escaped the orc's throat, but it barely slowed. Blood gushed from the wound, but the beast swung a massive axe in retaliation, forcing Maia to leap back.
"Keep striking where their armor is weakest!" Maia shouted, dodging another heavy blow. "Don't let them surround us!"
The knights spread out, their attacks precise and calculated. Swords and spears found the gaps between the orcs' joints and necks, but each orc that fell seemed to fuel the frenzy of the others. They weren't just stronger—they were more savage. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air as Maia sliced through another, its grotesque form collapsing at her feet.
Amid the chaos, one of Maia's knights let out a scream. An orc had seized her by the arm, ripping her from her mount and dragging her towards its maw. Before the beast could bite down, Maia was on it, her sword cleaving through its neck with a furious cry. The orc fell, releasing the knight, who staggered back, breathing heavily but alive.
Maia quickly turned to assess the battlefield. They had pushed the armored orcs back, but the ground was slick with blood and bodies. She spotted one knight locked in combat with an orc nearly twice his size. The knight struggled as the creature raised a spiked club to finish him.
With a flick of her wrist, Maia hurled a dagger. It struck the orc's exposed neck, and the beast gurgled before collapsing. "Stay sharp!" she shouted, her voice filled with the authority of a seasoned warrior.
But something was wrong. Despite their heavy losses, the orcs weren't retreating. Instead, they were changing tactics—some of them were cannibalizing their fallen brethren, ripping flesh from bone with savage hunger. As they consumed, their wounds began to heal, and their muscles grew more grotesque, bulging beneath their armor.
"They're regenerating!" one of the knights called out, his voice filled with panic.
Maia's eyes widened. "They're not just orcs—they're something worse."
Suddenly, an enormous orc, twice the size of the others, lumbered from the trees, its armor blackened and covered in crude runes. It roared, its voice like a thunderclap, and the ground shook beneath its feet. This was no ordinary orc—it was their leader, and it was infused with dark magic.
Maia gritted her teeth, gripping her sword tighter. "This one's mine," she growled, charging at the giant.
The orc leader swung its massive hammer, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground as Maia barely dodged. She darted in, slashing at its knee, but her blade barely made a dent. The monster snarled, backhanding her with enough force to send her flying into a nearby tree.
She coughed, blood trickling from her lips. "Damn... he's stronger than I thought."
But Maia wasn't the type to give up. She wiped the blood from her mouth and stood, determination burning in her eyes. She had faced worse than this. Drawing in a deep breath, she tapped into her magic. The air around her crackled with energy as she began to channel her power.
The giant orc charged again, its hammer coming down with devastating force, but Maia was faster. She darted to the side, her sword glowing with magical energy as she slashed at its exposed arm. This time, the blade cut deeper, and the orc let out a deafening roar of pain.
"Now!" Maia shouted, signaling to her knights.
Her knights, seeing their opening, charged in unison, their weapons glowing with magic as they drove their blades into the weakened spots Maia had exposed. The giant orc stumbled, blood pouring from multiple wounds, but it wasn't done yet. With a final, desperate roar, it raised its hammer for one last strike.
But Maia was ready. With a shout of her own, she plunged her sword into the creature's chest, driving it through its heart. The orc's eyes went wide, its hammer falling to the ground with a thunderous crash before it collapsed, dead at last.
Breathing heavily, Maia withdrew her sword, looking around at the battlefield. The remaining orcs, seeing their leader fall, hesitated, and that was all the knights needed. With renewed vigor, they cut down the rest of the enemies.
When the last orc fell, Maia sheathed her sword, looking at the bodies strewn across the field. "We've won," she said, though her voice was grim. "But what were these things? They were nothing like Olga's forces."
One of the knights approached, his face pale. "Whatever they are, they're not from this world."
Maia nodded. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning—that something far worse was on the horizon.
She wiped her blade clean, her thoughts drifting to Aiden. He'll want to hear about this.
Maia looked at the Knight that had lost her arm. "Are you ok, can you stand up"
The female knight looked at her. "Am I ok Maia Sama... No I would like to retired"
Another Female who was also almost eater spoke. "Me as well"
A few more alsow spoke, Maia was taken a back, she didn't know what to say or what to do in this time of situation, she looked at her right hand Brynn but even she had no idea what to say
Maia's expression softened as she looked at her wounded knights. The pain in their voices, the fear and exhaustion etched on their faces, was undeniable. These brave warriors had been through horrors unimaginable, and now, their spirits were broken.
Maia knelt beside the first female knight, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You've done more than anyone could ask for. You've fought bravely, and no one would blame you for wanting to step down." Her voice was calm but filled with empathy. "Your safety and well-being matter more than anything."
The knight, struggling to hold back tears, nodded. "Thank you, Maia-sama," she whispered.
The other knights, too, looked weary beyond their years, their armor stained with the blood of monsters and their comrades. They had been through hell, and Maia could see that fighting any longer would only push them toward breaking entirely.
Brynn, Maia's right hand, stepped forward, finally finding her voice. "We've all seen enough bloodshed. If you wish to retire, we will make sure you are honored for your service. No shame comes from surviving... or choosing to live for yourselves."
The second female knight, who had almost been eaten, let out a heavy breath of relief. "Thank you, Brynn-sama... Maia-sama. I don't think I can face another battle like this."
Maia stood up, glancing around at the others. "We've all been through too much. I'll ensure that anyone who wants to retire gets the recognition and care they deserve. None of you are alone in this."
There were murmurs of gratitude from the remaining knights. Even though the battlefield still reeked of blood and death, there was a sense of comfort in Maia's words. The ones who had fought at her side for so long could now see a way out of the endless cycle of war, a chance for peace.
Maia turned to Brynn, her eyes filled with determination. "We need to regroup and head back to Celestine. They need to heal, and we need to figure out what these creatures were and why they were so different from Olga's forces."
Brynn nodded, her usual stoic demeanor faltering for just a moment as she glanced at the tired, injured knights. "I'll see to it. Let's get them home."
As they began preparing to leave, Maia couldn't shake the unease that clung to her thoughts. The orcs they had faced were unlike anything she had encountered before—stronger, more vicious, and seemingly driven by a hunger for destruction. The mention of the masked man and his mysterious necklace earlier only deepened her suspicions.
"Something bigger is happening," Maia whispered to herself. She had a feeling that the battle they had just survived was only the beginning of a much darker war.
With that, she led her knights back toward the village, each step feeling heavier than the last as the looming threat of the unknown settled deep in her heart.
They returned to Feon, as Maia handed her knight retirement paper to head minister.
The minister looked at her. "So even yours"
Maia nodded, her face serious as she handed over the retirement papers. "Yes, even mine. They've seen enough, more than anyone should. The horrors they've endured... they deserve peace now, not more battles."
The head minister, an older man with graying hair and a furrowed brow, looked down at the papers, his expression a mix of understanding and regret. "I never thought I'd see the day when some of your finest knights would request retirement, Maia. But considering what they've faced, it's no surprise. This world has changed—Olga's forces, the new orcs… things are getting darker."
Maia crossed her arms, her gaze distant as she thought back to the battle. "Those orcs were something else. They weren't part of Olga's usual army. They were... more monstrous. There's something unnatural about them, and I think it's only going to get worse."
The minister set the papers aside and looked up at her. "What will you do now, Maia? Will you continue leading the rest of your knights?"
She paused for a moment, her mind racing. "I will, but we need to rethink our approach. We can't keep throwing lives away against this unknown force. I plan to investigate further—find out where these new monsters came from and why they're so different. But first, I need to ensure my knights who remain are prepared for what's coming."
The minister sighed, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "I wish I could give you more resources, but with the situation as it is… we're stretched thin. Still, whatever support we can give, you'll have it."
Maia nodded gratefully. "Thank you. I'll take care of my knights, and we'll be ready for what's to come."
As she turned to leave, the minister spoke up again. "Maia, be careful. I've heard whispers—rumors of a masked man moving in the shadows, connected to these new threats. Some say he's offering names to monsters, giving them power."
Maia froze for a moment, her thoughts flashing back to the orcs and the strange behavior they had exhibited. The mention of the masked man sent a chill down her spine. "I'll keep that in mind," she said quietly, before exiting the room.
Outside, Brynn was waiting for her. "Everything taken care of?" she asked.
Maia nodded. "Yes. The minister's approved the retirements, but there's something else… rumors about a masked man. It's starting to connect to what we saw out there."
Brynn frowned, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her sword. "The masked man... I've heard that name before. It's been whispered among the ranks of Olga's army, too. Whatever he's planning, it's bad news."
"We'll find out soon enough," Maia replied, her voice determined. "But first, we regroup. We need to make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."
Meanwhile in a different place in Geofu, Luu Luu and her knight had seen many things, her area were close to the Nuteral Are more then the other 7 kingdom which meant she had seen some shit, like Bull, cat hybrid that breath lighting, Luu Luu always wonder how drunks she was that day, but this was different, the her knight and dwarfs where holding cross bow ans arrow's as they were talking down an small Amry of Orc.
The last time they sent an army to fight them, will it ended badly they lost and Luu Luu had to looked away as she heard the screams of her shoulders being eaten alive
Luu Luu stood on the ridge, her eyes narrowed as she watched the orc army below. Her heart pounded in her chest as memories of the last battle resurfaced—the screams of her soldiers being devoured, the smell of blood and fear. She clenched her fists, determined not to let that happen again.
Her knights and dwarven allies stood at the ready, crossbows drawn and arrows nocked, waiting for her signal. They were fewer in number than before, but this time they were better prepared. Luu Luu had learned from her mistakes, and she wasn't about to let these monsters take another inch of her land.
"They're coming," one of her knights said, his voice low but steady. "What's the plan, Commander?"
Luu Luu took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the orcs as they advanced, their grotesque figures distorted in the midday sun. This wasn't just another raid; it felt different. These orcs were organized, more aggressive. The last army they faced had been brutal, but this one seemed to have a purpose.
"We hold the line," Luu Luu said firmly. "We can't afford another loss like before. Dwarves, take positions at the flanks. Focus on picking off their commanders. Knights, stay close to me. We're going to target their leaders and disrupt their ranks."
The dwarves grunted in agreement, moving swiftly to their positions, their crossbows aimed at the orc commanders. Luu Luu's knights, loyal and ready, tightened their grips on their weapons, their expressions grim.
As the orcs drew closer, Luu Luu's thoughts briefly drifted to the strange hybrid creatures she had encountered in the Neutral Area—bull-cat beasts that breathed lightning. She had wondered many times if she had been drunk or delirious when she saw them, but now she wasn't so sure. The world was changing, growing darker and more twisted with each passing day. Who knew what other horrors lay in wait?
But she couldn't afford to dwell on that now. She had an army to stop.
Luu Luu raised her hand, signaling her archers to fire. The dwarves loosed their bolts, and a volley of arrows flew through the air, striking the orcs with deadly precision. The orcs howled in pain and anger, but they kept coming, relentless in their advance.
Luu Luu gritted her teeth, drawing her sword. "Charge!"
Her knights surged forward, clashing with the orcs in a brutal melee. Luu Luu fought at the front, her blade cutting through the enemy with precision and fury. Every strike was fueled by the memory of her fallen comrades, by the screams that still haunted her. She wouldn't let those lives be lost in vain.
But as she fought, something caught her eye—a figure at the back of the orc army, watching the battle with a calm, almost disinterested expression. He wore a mask, white with a red flower design and a yellow sun in the center.
Luu Luu's heart skipped a beat. The masked man. She had heard rumors of him, whispers from other commanders and soldiers about a figure who gave names to monsters, granting them unnatural power. Was this him? Was he the reason the orcs had become so much more dangerous?
Before she could act, the masked man turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the orcs to their fate. Luu Luu felt a chill run down her spine, but she pushed the thought aside. Right now, she had to focus on the battle.
With a roar, she drove her sword into the chest of an orc leader, watching as the creature crumpled to the ground. Around her, the tide of the battle was turning. The dwarves and knights were holding their ground, cutting down the orcs one by one.
As the last of the orcs fell, Luu Luu stood amidst the carnage, her breath heavy, her muscles aching. They had won, but the victory felt hollow. The masked man's presence lingered in her mind, and she knew that this battle was only the beginning of something far more sinister.
"We need to prepare for what's coming," Luu Luu muttered to herself, wiping blood from her sword. "This is just the start."
To be continued
Hope People have great day and like the start from the Orc arc