The roar still echoed as Viktor surged forward, his blade already drawn, feet gliding across the polished stone tiles. The massive orc didn't wait. With speed surprising for its size, it leapt down the throne of bones and charged, each step thunderous, shaking the ground.
Viktor met the orc in the center of the chamber, steel colliding with jagged iron. The clash unleashed a shockwave that sent a gust of air rushing past Ares and the others.
"Stay behind!" Viktor screamed as he clashed with the monster—but within seconds, it was clear the plan wouldn't hold.
The orc was stronger than any monster they'd faced. Faster, perhaps even more intelligent. Every swing of its cleaver came with monstrous force, each movement deliberate. It wasn't blindly raging—it was fighting.
