“That’s not good,” Bob said, jumping to his feet. Noah followed suit, feeling naked without a weapon in his hands.


    “What’s going on?” He whispered.


    “Monsters.” He said, gathering with the rest of the captives in the back corner of their prison yard. “They usually don’t make it to us, but it wouldn’t be the first time one slipped through the cracks.” Noah stood on guard in front of the rest of the people, joined by a couple of other able-bodied adults. The stars illuminated the night, but the large walls cast dark shadows around them. He heard orders being shouted and feet stomping through the village, accompanied by a cacophony of roars and bestial howls. Noah clenched his fists as he looked for a way out.


    The ruckus continued for a while, and the longer it went on, the tenser they became. Noah started to wonder if he should act. If the orcs failed in their defense then he would be left to protect the others on his own. When another cry for help sounded a few minutes later, he made up his mind. With a running start, he jumped and scaled the wall–a move his fellow humans would no doubt fail to mirror. He looked out over the city, and saw it overrun with various beasts. More than one orc lay motionless in pools of red and the remaining defenders were being pressed on all sides. The monsters’ attacks were chaotic and just as aggressive toward each other as they were toward orcs, all competing for the same prize. He saw an orc isolated from the rest, desperately staving off a raptor-like creature and falling to the ground. He dashed in her direction, stopping to pick up an axe from a fallen warrior. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw him with his axe raised and she tensed as he swung it down. With a crunch, the axe bit through flesh and bone, bringing a swift end to the beast.


    [50 XP Gained.]


    She looked into his eyes with confusion and he recognized her as the one who had taken him captive. He extended his hand and with hesitation she gripped it, allowing him to pull her onto her feet.


    “Why?” She asked. He shook his head.


    “No time,” He responded, crossing the distance to the next orc. Catching the offending monster in the back of its hind legs. It crashed to the ground, allowing the orc to end the fight. He ignored the XP message and continued on, hoping to save as many lives as possible. It was his first time attempting to fight in the middle of a monster swarm, and he preferred his method of hiding and waiting it out. The largest group of defenders was in the middle of the village standing around the piled meat. It wasn’t the smartest choice tactically, though his stomach could understand the instinct. Starting from the edge he began attacking the beasts that were already engaged in battle. Every blow would lighten the pressure on the warriors and give them some breathing room. He caught several confused or frightened glances as he wreaked havoc on the invaders. Given what they had done to his people he felt it was a fair response. Noah continued his attacks, but the torrent of monsters didn’t stop. A loud boom sounded across the clearing and a large orc was sent flying toward one of the buildings. He connected with a crash and Noah watched in fascination when he slowly got back to his feet. The Iron.


    Noah turned his eyes toward the beast that had thrown the orc, a massive reptilian beast not dissimilar to a T-rex if all of its legs were the same length. He noticed a disturbing resemblance between the beast and the other creatures. They weren’t the same but they all had reptilian features. Could that one be leading them? The beast crashed through the weaker orcs making its way toward its previous foe. The chief swung his hammer, connecting with the side of its massive head only to be whipped off his feet by its tail. Noah bounded in his direction, exchanging his one-handed axe for a larger one he found on the way. He chopped at its rear calf with all his strength and was rewarded by a loud snap as the tendon gave way. He was rewarded by a swift backhand that sent him sailing through air. He landed on the heap of carcasses with a meaty thud. He gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Noah heard a loud battle cry from the orc chieftain, and he hurried to rejoin the fight. Together they wore down the assailant, taking turns landing blows and being sent sprawling. With a final crunch, the orc delivered the last blow, sending the hulking beast to the ground. A loud cry filled the air as the remaining beasts went into a frenzy, some fleeing and the others attacking in wild abandon.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Together the two warriors entered the fray, ending beasts with deadly efficiency. When the last beast was put down the orcs raised their voices in a roar of triumph. Noah felt himself being swept up in the moment and yelled out his victory. As the shouts came to an end, there was a moment of stillness as the orcs seemed to remember that he had been their captive. The chief made his way across the clearing and stood before Noah, dwarfing in bulk but not in height. He stared deep into Noah’s eyes for a moment before extending his arm, grabbing Noah’s forearm in a warrior’s embrace. He grinned.


    “You fight like an orc berserker!” He bellowed, “I, Chief Ro’Kar honor you as a warrior!” Without hesitation, the rest of the orcs stomped their feet in unison and held their weapons across their chests. The chief held up his fist and the orcs went still.


    “Why did you hide your strength from us? Is this the way of humans?” He asked. Noah considered his response and settled on a blunt approach.


    “I came for my people, but I knew nothing of you. It would have been weakness to fail for lack of information.” He replied. The chieftain looked off into the distance, appearing to mull over Noah’s statement.


    “Ah, I was wrong. Orcs have more berserkers than tacticians, but we too recognize knowledge as a form of strength.” He said nodding. Noah found himself appreciating the orc’s directness.


    “As for your people, they are weak in heart. Why do you call them your people?” The chief asked. Weak in heart? Noah was unsure of his meaning.


    “I did not know these people before now, but they are humans like myself.” Noah explained. The orc burst out laughing, a thundering sound that filled the village.


    “You are bold, young warrior! You claim every human as your own! I like that!” Ro’Kar roared, slapping Noah heartily on the shoulder. Noah frowned at the misunderstanding but decided to let it pass.


    “I meant what I said though.” The chief started again, “These humans will never rise above their caste. They are dust, as the system says. Why do you care for dust?”


    “Why do you say they will never rise?” Noah challenged.


    “They are weak in heart. They do not fight back, nor do they have the fire in their belly. Orcs do not tolerate this, we are a strong people.” He finished. Noah thought about the chief''s words. They weren’t even level 10. He recalled Bob’s story and couldn’t help but understand the orc’s perspective.


    “Ro’Kar, do your people have those that foresee the future?” Noah asked him.


    “I have no sages among my people, but there are orcs that do.” Ro’Kar agreed. Noah nodded, this would make it easier.


    “I foresaw the collapse of our world and the beasts that have flooded it.” Noah shared. The chief narrowed his eyes.


    “Is this true?” He asked, his tone serious.


    “It is. And what I saw was grave indeed.”


    “Tell me.” Ro’Kar said, bracing himself as if for battle.


    “We fail. The world will be run over with great hordes far larger and more powerful than the one from tonight. Then a judge will appear and deem us unworthy.” Noah shared. Several of those present inhaled sharply.


    “Why do say this?” The chief asked.


    “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can join together and repel the beasts. But if we fight amongst ourselves we will be too weak for what is coming.” Noah explained. The chief listened, his brow furrowed.


    “This will be hard for my brethren to grasp. We recognize power.” He began. “I have shed blood with you though, and I do not believe you to be a deciever.” He paused before looking at his warriors.


    “We will heed your warning. By what name do your people call you, young warrior?” He asked.


    “Noah.”


    “No’Ah. A good name.” Ro’kar responded, smiling. Then he opened his mouth and shouted forcefully.


    “Release the people of No’ah!”