Chapter 33 - Murder in the Air

The creatures that inhabited the new zone were larger and more menacing than those in the starter area. Orcs dominated this region, a significant step up from the feeble goblins they had encountered before. These orcs brandished dangerous weapons and donned sturdy body armour, and were significantly more intelligent than the pea brained goblins. They congregated in formidable groups, which Trev and his companions quickly discovered when they stumbled upon a pack of dark green orcs, only minutes after entering the new zone. The orcs had large teeth protruding from their jaws, likely making it very hard to talk, so all they did was yell.

Without hesitation, a group of six orcs charged at them, prompting Emilee and Mari to unleash their ranged attacks. Emilee had recently invested her points in enhancing her iceball ring, transforming her attacks into deadly ice bullets. Though these projectiles possessed remarkable speed and would have been lethal in the starting zone, they now faced two challenges. Firstly, the orcs expertly blocked ranged assaults with their shields, forcing Emilee and Mari to have to outmanoeuvre their foes. Secondly, the orcs exhibited an uncanny ability to predict shots, nimbly dodging and turning potentially fatal hits into mere glancing blows or strikes against limbs. By the time the six orcs closed in on the group, Emilee and Mari had dispatched one, wounded two, and three remained unscathed.

Trev stood nearby, patiently waiting, prepared to activate his lightning shield and catch the orcs off guard at close range. Beside him, Elena donned her wolf helmet, which seamlessly enveloped her face, its eyes glowing a menacing red. As two orcs swung their axes down toward Trev, he seized the opportunity, activating his lightning shield in the nick of time. The shield crackled with energy, deftly blocking and electrocuting two orcs mid-swing. The orcs collapsed to the ground, dropping their axes, which turned to dust as they fell. Meanwhile, Elena engaged another orc, skillfully parrying its attack before showcasing her remarkable agility. She swiftly slid behind the orc and struck it down with a lethal blow. As the orc's blood mysteriously flowed into the wolf helm's nose, Elena's blade glowed with an ominous red hue. While the two orcs were down, electrocuted by Trev, Elena jumped towards them dragging the tip of her blade along the ground, slicing through their bodies, the blade now lit with a bloody fire. With the two remaining orcs pinned down by Mari and Emilee, one fell victim to an iceball to the face, while Trev charged the other, smiting it with his shield, and enabling Elena to deliver the final blow.

The group heaved a collective sigh of relief, all the orcs had been vanquished. Once they had caught their breath, they proceeded to loot the ashen remains left behind by the defeated enemies. While the piles contained the usual spoils of coins and crystals, the quantities in this zone were noticeably greater per kill.

Mari, intrigued by the fiery spectacle emanating from Elena's blade, gestured toward it and asked.

"Is that the fire you mentioned?"

Elena's face brightened as she replied.

"Indeed, it's the power of the wolf helm. Not only does it increase my cutting ability, but it also sets things I attack on fire."

With the wolf helm still hungry for more blood, the group pushed forward. They encountered and dispatched two more groups of orcs, which brought them three-quarters of the way to reaching level five. These kills released Elena from the grips of the wolf helmet, which she promptly took off.

Eager to stay within a safe distance of the border, the group ventured onto a side street that looped back toward the starter zone. As they rounded a corner, they noticed a peculiar sight—a solitary orc sitting on a step, tears streaming down its face. Unlike the orcs encountered thus far, this one had a light green complexion and lacked the menacing teeth. Cautiously, they approached the weeping creature, who seemed oblivious to their presence.

"Are you okay little guy?" Asked Emilee, cautiously approaching the child.

The orc child continued to sob, unresponsive to their presence. Trev, sensing potential danger, remained on high alert, prepared for an ambush. Emilee drew nearer and stood within a metre of the orc, prompting the child to initiate an interaction.

"Hey, lady, can you help me?" the orc whimpered.

"Of course, what seems to be the matter, young one?" Emilee responded kindly.

"I've lost my mother," the boy wailed, his crying intensifying.

"What is your name?" Emilee inquired, crouching down in front of the orc.

"Lacktar," the boy sobbed.

"Well, Lacktar, can you tell me where we should look for your mother?" Emilee asked with compassion.

"There's a camp nearby, but the path is dangerous. Can you take me there?" Lacktar pleaded.

"Yes, we'll accompany you," Emilee agreed.

As Emilee's compassionate response echoed through the air, a quest notification appeared in Trev's log, along with a corresponding marker on the map—[Escort Lacktar]. Lacktar stood up and began walking down a side street.

"Follow me!" he exclaimed, a toothy grin adorning his orcish face.

Maintaining a heightened sense of caution, Trev kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings as they progressed. Being a quest, he anticipated a challenge lurking ahead.

"How far is this camp Lacktar?" Inquired Trev.

"Not far to go," he replied.

Seeking to test the limits of the orc's intelligence, he ventured to ask a question unrelated to the quest.

"Lacktar, what's your favourite food?" Trev inquired.

"Hmm, probably chicken," Lacktar responded.

"We don't have any chicken but we have an apple if you're hungry?" Offered Trev.

"Bleh, plants! Disgusting!" Lacktar retorted dismissively.

"Very well, let us know if you become hungry enough to consider one," replied Trev, mildly amused at his responses.

As they continued on their way, the surrounding bushes rustled intermittently, indicating a possible presence of someone or something lurking within. Despite the unnerving sounds, Trev did his best to disregard them, dismissing them as mere figments of his imagination. However, he approached Elena and whispered in her ear, seeking validation.

"Sanity check. Is there something, or am I imagining it," Questioned Trev.

"There is something, not sure what," Elena responded, confirming Trev's suspicions.

As they conversed, distracted by their exchange, their unknown assailant seized the opportunity to strike. A cloaked orc, dressed in black, materialised out of the shadows, brandishing a knife with deadly intent, hurtling through the air in a bid to assassinate Lacktar. Trev observed helplessly, realising there was no way for him to intervene in time. Lacktar's life hung in the balance.