Chapter 28: The Might of the Orc Grand General

The ground shook as the massive orc stepped forward, each footfall sending tremors through the earth. The battlefield seemed to shrink around his towering presence. His skin was a deep, mottled green, rough as stone and covered in jagged scars from countless battles. The massive war axe he wielded, almost too large for any normal being to lift, dripped with a vile, bubbling poison that hissed and steamed as it hit the ground. His tusks jutted from his lower jaw, framing a cruel sneer, and his eyes gleamed with a savage intelligence.

"I am Vorgar," he announced, his voice like rolling thunder. "Grand General of the Orc Horde, bane of kingdoms, the devourer of your pitiful kind."

The Goblin King Gruk narrowed his eyes, gripping his staff tighter. His mage armor, formed of dark wood and shimmering with green essence, pulsed in response to the threat. Though smaller in stature, Gruk was every bit as imposing, the weight of his authority and mastery over wood magic clear to all who stood with him. His sharp eyes didn't waver from the towering orc, despite the aura of raw, destructive power Vorgar radiated.

"Your name matters not," Gruk replied, his voice calm but laced with resolve. "You will fall like the rest who seek to destroy what we've built."

Without further words, the two forces collided. Vorgar moved with surprising speed, swinging his massive war axe in a deadly arc aimed at Gruk's head. The force of the swing was so great that the air itself seemed to ripple, but Gruk was ready. With a sharp motion of his staff, the ground erupted between them, a wall of vines and twisted roots rising to block the blow. The axe crashed into the wall with a deafening crack, splitting it clean in two, but it had done its job. Gruk had already leaped backward, feet barely skimming the ground as he landed with a graceful thud.

The earth trembled as Gruk slammed his staff into the ground. Massive tree roots shot up around Vorgar's feet, wrapping tightly around his legs, thick and thorny. But Vorgar let out a snarl of contempt and flexed his legs, ripping the roots apart as if they were nothing more than paper. Poison seeped from the blade of his axe, curling into a thick mist that began spreading across the battlefield.

The goblins watching from the city walls felt the intensity of the battle in their bones. Vex and Kira, standing beside their father, exchanged quick glances. The orc general's power was overwhelming, even for their father, but the siblings knew they had to trust in their family's strength and skill. The sight of their king standing firm against such a mighty foe filled them with both pride and a gnawing fear.

Vex's hands moved in a blur as he began to cast, weaving intricate water runes into the air, while Kira tightened her grip on her spear. They moved in perfect sync, their years of training and battle experience showing as they prepared to aid their father. The goblin guards along the walls cheered them on, their spirits lifted as the siblings leaped into the fray.

Vex launched a stream of water at Vorgar, drenching the orc in a freezing torrent. The icy cold slowed Vorgar's movements, his muscles visibly tensing from the sudden shock, but it wasn't enough to stop him. He snarled, swinging his axe in a wide arc, the mist of poison thickening around him.

Kira took her chance. With lightning speed, she darted forward, her spear gleaming with earth essence. She aimed for the gap in Vorgar's armor that Vex's water had exposed, her spear thrusting forward with precision and force. The spear connected, sinking deep into the orc's side. A normal warrior would have been crippled by the blow, but Vorgar merely grunted, his muscles tightening as he yanked the spear from his flesh and threw it aside.

"You think this will stop me?" Vorgar's voice was thick with venom as he swung his axe down toward Kira, intending to cleave her in two. She dodged to the side just in time, the blade smashing into the ground and sending shards of rock and earth flying into the air.

The poison mist swirled ominously, threatening to suffocate everyone around it, but before it could spread further, a wave of flames roared across the battlefield. Muwi, towering above them in his full power form, let out a feral growl as he unleashed torrents of fire, the intense heat consuming the poisonous clouds in an instant. His four massive tails swayed behind him, each one radiating energy. His claws glowed with a faint ember as he moved, his sheer size and presence drawing the attention of the goblin soldiers watching from the walls.

"Muwi!" Vex shouted, nodding in gratitude as he continued his assault on Vorgar, sending sharp water blades cutting through the air toward the orc. Kira, regaining her footing, rushed back into the fight, spear in hand. Her coordination with her brother was flawless, as Vex's water strikes distracted Vorgar, Kira closed the distance, each thrust of her spear aimed at weak points in the orc's armor.

John, watching the scene unfold, felt a familiar frustration building inside him. His aura still eluded him, hovering just out of reach despite his best efforts. But he couldn't let that slow him down now. His Fire Veil: Samurai Mode enveloped him in a protective aura of flames, his flame katana glowing hot in his hands. His samurai armor, formed entirely of fire, crackled with energy as he readied himself for the next move. His parallel technique had become more attuned to his body, the movements more natural, more precise. He could feel the difference in his speed, his reactions quicker than ever before.

In an instant, he activated Eclipse Series: Parallel. His body split into four, each form a blur as they darted across the battlefield. The world seemed to slow as he moved, each clone moving in perfect sync. Together, they weaved between Vorgar's strikes, their katanas slicing at the exposed joints in his armor. Each hit landed with force, and though the orc's armor absorbed much of the damage, the relentless barrage was wearing him down.

From the walls, the goblin soldiers watched in awe as John seemed to dance across the battlefield. "He's so fast," one of them muttered, eyes wide as John's clones attacked from all angles, confusing the massive orc. "Is he human?"

"I don't care what he is," another soldier replied, gripping his bow. "Just so long as he can keep that monster at bay!"

Gruk seized the moment. His staff glowed brighter, drawing upon the deep power of the wood beneath them. The ground beneath Vorgar's feet erupted, massive tree roots clawing their way up, grabbing onto the orc's legs and pulling him down. Vex and Kira didn't miss a beat. They launched their most powerful attack yet, Vex's water magic forming a swirling vortex, while Kira infused it with earth essence, turning the water into a whirlpool of stone and liquid that wrapped around Vorgar, trapping him in its crushing embrace.

For a moment, it seemed as if they had the upper hand. Vorgar struggled against the vortex, his muscles bulging as he fought to free himself. The goblin soldiers on the walls cheered, their voices rising in hope.

But the hope was short-lived. With a roar that shook the ground, Vorgar broke free, his brute strength shattering the stone and water like it was nothing. Poisonous mist erupted from his body once again, even more potent than before, but Muwi was there, his flames burning away the toxins with relentless fury.

John dashed in for another attack, his body a blur of movement as he struck at Vorgar's exposed flesh. His katana bit deep, drawing blood, but it wasn't enough to stop the orc. Vorgar swung his axe wildly, but John's speed allowed him to dodge each strike with ease, his clones disappearing and reappearing in a dizzying display of precision.

Gruk, seeing the tide of battle turning, channeled even more power into his staff. The ground beneath them rumbled as massive stone pillars shot up from the earth, slamming into Vorgar with crushing force. The orc staggered, his movements slowing as the relentless assault continued.

The battle raged on, each side refusing to give in. The coordination between Gruk, Vex, Kira, Muwi, and John was flawless, each one playing their part perfectly. But even with their combined strength, Vorgar was an indomitable force, his raw power pushing them to their limits.

The goblin soldiers on the walls watched with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the clash below. Their king was holding his ground, their comrades fighting with everything they had, but would it be enough?

As the battle dragged on, John could feel his strength waning. His parallel technique had pushed him to his limits, and though he had landed several solid blows, Vorgar's sheer durability was wearing him down. His aura still slipped through his grasp, but he couldn't stop. Not now.

Together, they fought on, each strike bringing them closer to victory, or defeat.