Deep in the forest, an oppressive tension crept closer, suffocating the air. Heavy footsteps shook the ground, accompanied by the dull clinking of armor plates colliding with one another.
Caine, Roddy, and Tario lay prone beneath the dense underbrush, cold sweat dripping from their brows. Ahead of them, a well-equipped orc army marched steadily along the forest path, their footsteps uniform and imposing.
They held their breath, barely daring to make a sound. Through the gaps in the foliage, they could see the orcs, clad in armor forged from a mix of bone and metal, moving in disciplined formation. Each stood over two meters tall, their muscular frames exuding strength, their expressions cold and calm—unyielding, yet devoid of recklessness.
These were no mere beasts. They were... soldiers.
"These aren't the same orcs we've fought before…" Roddy whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Their equipment is too organized... Every one of them has a weapon, and look—" Tario pointed at a cloth banner draped over one of the orcs' shoulders. It bore a dark red emblem of claw marks. "They even have a unified insignia."
Caine's gaze remained fixed on the marching column, his frown deepening with every passing second. Around the formation, scouts moved frequently, weaving in and out of the trees. Their keen sense of smell far surpassed that of humans, and at one point, one of them almost caught the scent of the group hiding in the bushes. For a moment, the three of them froze, holding their breath, narrowly avoiding exposure.
"They're searching for someone…" Roddy's face turned pale.
The next moment, a sharp snap broke the silence—a dry twig cracking beneath Tario's foot.
"Who's there?!" the lead orc bellowed, his voice echoing through the forest as he raised his head in a roar.
The entire column halted instantly, weapons drawn. Several orcs began advancing toward the bushes where Caine and the others were hiding. The oppressive presence was suffocating, their hearts pounding like war drums.
Lua moved swiftly, stepping to Caine's side. Her hands crossed, and from her body emanated a thin veil of shadows, delicate and ethereal, like mist or soft velvet. The shadows enveloped the three of them, shrouding them in an unnatural darkness.
In that moment, Caine felt as though his very presence had been erased, his breath hidden within the shadows. It was as if they had vanished entirely.
The orcs drew closer, stopping just five meters away. Their savage eyes scanned the area, nostrils flaring as they sniffed the air, but they found nothing.
"The scent was here a moment ago… but now… it's gone?" one of the orcs muttered in confusion.
The lead orc inhaled deeply, then snorted in frustration. "It's just the wind playing tricks. Move on. The target isn't far."
The orc column resumed its march, their heavy footsteps fading into the depths of the forest. Night once again descended upon the woods, but the oppressive atmosphere lingered.
Caine finally broke the silence. "Are those… really still orcs?"
"That's not just an orc horde," Roddy said, his voice heavy with unease. "That's a trained army. Their equipment, their formations, their tactics—we don't stand a chance against them."
"Their elemental aura…" Tario added, his brow furrowed. "I sensed ice, fire, lightning… even traces of earth. But it didn't feel natural. It was like something forcibly infused it into them."
Caine's sharp gaze turned to Lua. "What exactly do you want us to do? Now would be a good time to explain."
Lua's eyes followed the orc army as it disappeared into the darkness. Her expression, for once, was grim.
"I need your help to rescue the ones they've imprisoned—the elemental spirits."
The three of them stared at her, stunned.
"What did you say? Elemental spirits… can be captured?" Tario asked, disbelief etched across his face.
Lua nodded slowly. "The orcs have discovered a technique to extract pure elemental energy from us and store it in crystals. These crystals are the key to strengthening their army."
"That's why we're seeing orcs with mixed elemental powers," Caine said coldly.
"Can this technique work on bonded individuals?" Roddy asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes," Lua replied. "Humans with elemental bonds produce weaker energy, but it's still valuable to them. And even when humans are drained of their energy, they remain alive. Those who survive are enslaved… or turned into experiments."
"And your kind…" Tario hesitated.
"For us," Lua said, her voice soft, tinged with pain, "our energy is our essence. If it's drained completely… we return to nothingness. We can never reform."
Her words struck like icy water, extinguishing the last flickers of hope in their hearts.
"That's… monstrous," Roddy growled. "This isn't war. It's slaughter. It's exploitation."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Tario's fists clenched, sparks of lightning flickering around him. "Let's charge in there and tear those bastards apart!"
"Calm down," Caine barked, his voice low but commanding. "We can't act recklessly. An army of this magnitude… the three of us aren't enough. We need to understand what we're dealing with first."
After a long silence, Caine spoke again. "You want us to help you rescue those spirits. Why can't your people do it?"
"We can't get close to that place," Lua said, her voice dropping. "Their extraction technology can detect us from a distance. They've set up barriers specifically designed to trap us. I… am the only shadow spirit who escaped."
The three exchanged glances.
"This is the first time we've faced an enemy of this scale and with this level of technology," Caine said, his tone level and measured. "If we act rashly, we'll all die."
"We should scout the area near their camp first," he continued. "Observe their defenses and patrols. Then we can decide on the best course of action."
Lua studied him for a moment, a flicker of respect in her eyes.
"You're a leader with a strategic mind," she said, nodding. "I'll take you to the edge of their camp. You can see for yourselves."
With that, Lua turned and began walking deeper into the forest.
She moved with absolute silence, guiding them past traps and patrols with ease. Her familiarity with the forest left Roddy and Tario quietly impressed.
Caine, meanwhile, kept his eyes on the enigmatic shadow spirit. There was a loneliness about her, a quiet determination that reminded him of fragmented memories from before he lost his past—fleeting images of a dark night, an empty hand…
"Where are you from?" Tario finally asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
Lua didn't turn around. "I come from the shadows… and from forgetfulness," she answered softly.
Roddy chuckled awkwardly. "That's even harder to understand than my question."
Lua glanced back at them, a faint smile on her lips—both ancient and childlike.
"You're amusing," she said. "You want to ask more, but you're too afraid to. It's as if you think I'll devour you."
Caine frowned. "Can you stop talking like that?"
"No," she replied with a playful grin. "I'm not human. I'm a spirit. This is how I speak."
Tario leaned toward Roddy and whispered, "Doesn't she remind you of Eina?"
Roddy nodded. "A little… but Eina wasn't this… creepy."
Caine said nothing, but his pace quickened. He knew they were heading toward an impossible mission—one that might reveal the truth behind the orc army.
Under Lua's guidance, they carefully navigated through layers of wards and patrols, drawing closer to the orc stronghold.
Finally, they crouched behind the shadow of a hill, gazing at the distant lights and structures.
The fortress was a crude yet orderly construction of bone and metal. Spiked towers jutted into the sky, and at its center was a circular plaza, blazing with firelight as orcs moved about in constant activity.
"These structures… I recognize some of them," Tario murmured. "They're based on military designs from the Akasir era… but modified."
"They've retained the original strategic layout while incorporating tribal elements," Roddy observed.
"It's not just tribal—it's a war machine," Caine said coldly. "This isn't just a prison. It's a training ground, a laboratory, and a mass production facility."
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The weight of the sight before them was indescribable. They knew that breaking into this place was impossible for just the four of them.
They would have to plan carefully, prepare thoroughly, and pave the way for a rescue mission that might spark a war they could never turn back from.
Lua stood beside them, her voice barely a whisper.
"Now you understand… what we're truly up against."