Chapter 54

From the corner of the crooked shaft emerged the Orc. He was towering impressive 2.5 metres and was as wide as three humans. He had massive 15-centimetres long tusks protruding from his large mouth, intelligent eyes and long, black hair. His deep-green skin was rough as sandpaper and his bulging muscles looked like they were carved from steel, brimming with sheer power.

He was a bonafide low-level 4th-tier Monster or maybe even [Class] practitioner. As he caught up with them, he focused on the druegars. "Are you the party of the druegar named Jarka?" He inquired with a booming, deep voice and an impeccable celestian.

The frozen Jarka nodded.

"Are you sure?"

Jarka nodded again and visibly relaxed as the Orc did not murder them on the spot.

"Finally," the Orc sighed in relief and continued, "Shaman-Garza sends a message; don't return to the village for now."

Jarka frowned and carefully put Stone back into the bag and handed him back to Scout-Durza who passed it to Dori.

"Did he say anythin' else?"

"No. But I have orders to bring you to the temporary camp. Oh, yeah, and sorry about those two idiots. They were supposed to bring you to the camp," he looked at the remains of the goblin party that were splattered across the ground, "without any killing. What happened to the cretins?"

"Killed."

"Hmm, good job," the Orc nodded in acknowledgement. "No wonder they chose you…" He muttered. He turned from where he came and beckoned the druegars to follow him.

"What was that?" Dori asked, his eyes wide.

"I'll explain later. Let's go. Boss is waitin'," Jarka whispered back.

The dwarven siblings peeked at Jarka with confusion, but Scout-Durza calmed them with a crooked smile.

"You are traitors!" Scout-Korag yelled as he woke up from his befuddled stupor.

The Orc halted, "should I kill him?" as the Orc asked, he disappeared from everyone's eyes.

Only Lucifer was able to follow his movement thanks to his perception dome.

The Orc activated some kind of skill that increased his movement speed by several times and appeared behind the scout, grabbing his neck with one hand in the angle that would allow him to snap his spine with a single twitch.

"Don't! Durza! Talk to him. He survived to this moment. He's strong. I wanna him," Jarka exclaimed and the Orc slightly relaxed

"Yea, boss," Durza replied and turned his eyes to the hanging druegar, "Korag! Donna be stupid. We have known each other for a long time. Ya know I woulda naet chose a side without thinkin'. Swear to Jarka with soul-bind," he stopped and pulled out a peculiar opaque bottle, "or drink this. It's the delayed poison from the 3rd-tier Tropa Snake."

"What about Dori and Eriv?" Korag asked as he glanced at them with hope.

"They're dwarves who paid for their stay. They will not make problems," Jarka turned to the siblings and clearly threatening them, asked, "right?"

"What do ya think, Eriv?"

"Meh. I don't care much. We survive, we get stronger and have each other back."

"Agreed. But what about that friend of yours? Dafur, I think?" Dori asked.

"He's naet mae friend. Actually I donna know him that much… We just met a few days ago…" When she thought about it, she realized that Dafur was a complete stranger. Maybe, she liked him for a bit before. Maybe even had a crush on him, but the last few days erased every thought of him.

"Fine, drink the potion," she devilishly smiled and handed them the two opaque vials. The siblings glanced at each other and swallowed it without a word. "Now, what do ya say, Korag? Death? Poison? The Oath?"

"… oath," the druegar warrior mumbled and the Orc's hand tightened again.

"What was that? I dinna heard ya."

"Oath!"

"Good! So swear!"

"I, Korag, with mae free will pledge loyalty to Jarka with mae soul," Korag ceremoniously proclaimed and a golden collar briefly appeared on his neck.

Eriv's and Dori's faces contorted in disgust as they saw it. This was basically a form slavery. Jarka knew about dwarven opinions of slavery and that was why she had not even asked them.

The Orc released the druegar warrior and led them through the shafts to a familiar camp, which Lucifer recognized almost instantly. "Aaah, here we go again… But I wonder… why didn't she say anything about me, the mysterious person who saved them?" Lucifer pondered.

The goblins shivered in the presence of an Orc and most of them even prostrated as he proudly walked around. He ordered a few of the 2nd-tier guards and a new large tent was built with a swiftness found only in the goblin's fear and respect for the Orc race.

Meanwhile, the Orc went to report. The druegars sat around the campfire and rested while some goblins brought them water, grog, and grilled goblin meat seasoning with dried Moss.

"This is so strange… We're in the middle of goblin camp…" Dori muttered to cover his light smile as he heard his purple fire, "Maaasssstteeeerrr, the poiissooonn iiiissss gooooneeeee."

"Heh, there're way stranger sights in the Abyss…" Durza answered while he happily devoured his meal and sipped the grog.

"How can ya drink t'at?!" Korag was horrified and disgusted, "dinna ya hear from what it's made of?"

"I like it…" Scout-Durza replied with an overacted hurt tone.

"Heh, pass it, Durza," Jarka stretched her arm and grabbed the metal canteen. "Do ya know why it's in metal, Korag?"

"Why?"

"Because the leather would run away!" She loudly laughed and took a mouthful swig.

After a while, the Orc returned, "boss is hunting now. He will be back tomorrow. Go to sleep. You are under my boss' protection now. I will stay here to ensure your safety."

"And to make sure we won't wander… but… hehe…" Lucifer thought to himself while he waited for everyone to sleep.