Kuzak never cared much for the architecture of the pointy ears. To him they were grandiose, gaudy, as though they wished to demonstrate they were smarter than others by constructing such buildings. Even in this ruined hovel beneath a mountain, the pointed architecture lined with reflective gemstone had not lost that sickening glint.

It was enough to make him sick.

“Up ah’head bozz,” Tek’s irritating voice echoed as the band approached a large room circled by six towering statues. At the far end was the large door they had to pass through. Kuzak ordered the expedition to halt. The warlock had told him that the elves had enchantments on every nook and cranny within the vault, which was why he was entrusted with the black blade blessed by the god of Chaos. However, the moment it was opened the ancient guardians will awaken, meaning every inch of the vault will become a battlefield.

“He he,” one of his orc warriors chucked, gently caressing his glave. “Diz is we’re da fun beginz,”

The other nine orcs shared his enthusiasm, as did Kuzak. All ten fanned out from the door, preparing for the inevitable battle. Kuzak walked past the goblins who were less enthusiastic about the potential brawl, burnishing the black blade as it hummed with power. With a roar, the warboss unleashed the power of the blade, the black energy nullifying the elves' enchantment while blowing the door down.

As the slabs landed, echoing across the arena. Lines of power began to course through the statues, blue mist flowing out of the helmet visor. Runes lit up along the blade and ever so slowly, the statue began to move.

****

“You’zz sure day he’re?”

“Day came dizz way!”

“Come out! Cowards!”

The orcs bellowed as they filed into the small shaft. With the other tunnel blocked there was no way anyone could escape. Yet as the nine orcs and fifteen goblins continued to tear the shaft apart trying to find the prey that had fled.

“.... They really can’t see us,”

“Man, I really wish I got into magic,”

“This isn’t soundproof...”

Huddled together in a corner where the three adventurers had fled the previous cavern. Upon seeing that they had reached a dead-end (and against two wishes to simply fight it out), Soma backed them into a corner and conjured a spell that would cover the three in an invisibility cloak (which he explained would only project what was behind them in front of where he was casting). Due to its range, the trio had to back themselves to a wall in order to fit.

“You sure this will work? They’re getting quite close?” Mar asked with his spear clutched close to his chest.

“I-It should. Provided they don’t get too close to see the distortions in the enchantment.” Soma replied truthfully.

They froze as an orc approached their position, one with a still bloodied eye and his weapon fastened to his right hand.

“How close…?” Silica asked.

“..... I-I’m not so certain,”

“I know ya here humies,” It snarled. “It’z onza you dat took me eye.”

Probably Liana. Silica thought, holding her breath as the orc got closer.

“Eye for an eye, dat’z da law in da crooked moon.” The orc was now approaching. Silica readied her dagger, the only weapon small enough to be brought to bear with ease. Soma clutched his staff, holding his breath as the orc got closer, staring right at them as though he could see him.

Then, Silica began to feel a tickle in her nose. Mar and Soma panicked silently as one noise could give them away. Silica held her nose as the orc leaned in close. After an agonizing time, it snorted before turning away.

“We’z will find ya humiez!”

Silica sighed with relief, the urge to sneeze now-

“Achoo!” Soma sneezed, attracting the attention of another orc flanked by two goblins.

“S-Sorry…”

Orc got closer, squinting at the cover placed ahead of them. Unlike the last orc, this one was suspecting that the wall was fake, reaching out with its crude blade, close enough to pierce through the veil.

“Shit…” Mar swore, readying his spear while carefully keeping it beyond the veil. “What now?”

“What else,” Silica plunged her dagger into the eye of the orc. As it wailed in pain, Silica broke through the vail, kicking a goblin in the face. Mar did the same, passing it by as the vail vanished. Soma killed the orc with an energy shot to its chest, followed by two more shots at the two goblins.

“They know where they are now,” Silica said, standing at the edge of a cliff overlooking the pursuers. “Let’s take them out!”

She pounced on a nearby orc, stabbing her silverstine dagger between its eyes. As she drew the weapon out, she kicked the beast, rolling backward on the ground as the orc fell backward.

*****

“She’s… very reckless,” Soma said as he caught up with Mar.

“Ha, I like her style,” Mar said gleefully, twirling his weapon. “I’ll go help her. Her sister won’t be happy if she gets herself killed.”

“Or her ‘familiar,’” Soma chuckled as Mar leaped down. “I’d better do what I can,” Slowly he began to pool his mana into the crystal tip of his staff, ready to unleash his magic should the two of them-

“URGH!” Something then slammed into Soma’s left side, sending him flying away, losing grip of his staff.

“I remember youz. You dat git with the glowy stick,”

Looking up, Soma saw the eyepatch orc towering over him, running his finger along his crude metal blade. Soma got back to his feet, realizing only too late he didn’t have his staff with him. He could see it, caught in the uneven ground behind the orc. Without it, Soma was completely powerless.

Oh no…

“I’ll finish da job dis time. I’m gonna rip ya ta shreds!”

*****

A hammer struck the wall behind Silica, hitting so hard that it shattered the earth beneath it. Rolling, Silica parried a blow from a goblin before stabbing it in the throat. Kicking it aside, the same orc with a hammer threw its weapon overhead before Mar landed on its back, digging his spear through its backs and out through its lower abdomen.

“I got your back!” He withdrew his spear before lunging it at a charging goblin, piercing it through the chest.

“Thanks,” Silica stood at the ready as two of the orcs charged her. She rolled back, dodging an axe blow. She charged past the first orc as Mar lunged on it as it recovered, running the beast through. The final orc swung its blade at her. She dodged it by sliding under the overhead blade, stabbing the monster’s shin, dodging another swing by ducking before stabbing it in the stomach.

Son of a bitch…

Withdrawing her weapon, Silica cursed not having a sword, praying that Jil could catch up with them. As much as she was a pain, fighting orcs with only a dagger weren’t working for her, each blow not hitting deep enough.

“Mar!”

The spearmen seemed to have been of the same mind, running the orc through from its back. A goblin with twin blades pounced at Silica, exchanging a few blows before Silica broke its guard and stabbed it. As it fell, another pounced at Silica’s back before it was killed when Mar stabbed in with his spear, pinning it to the ground.

With his weapon still embedded in the goblin, an orc rushed towards Mar, swinging its large, blunted chopper over its head before swinging at him. Silica rammed into Mar, knocking him to the ground before blocking with her dagger. The orc hit with enough force to break her guard, and was about to split her in two before the grounded Mar lunged his spear through its chest. Shocked, the orc grasped the spear stuck in its chest before Silica stabbed it in its throat, finally killing it.

****

Soma scrambled, narrowly avoiding a blade strike. He scrambled, ducking under a nearby crevice while the orc sundered it in half.

“Where’z yer fight, humie!” The orc bellowed, taking another swing at the young wizard. “Where’z dem magiks ya were usin?!”

Soma rushed and ducked behind a nearby mine cart and quickly rushed away as the wooden box was shattered into splinters by the orc's weapon. Soma tripped, scurrying into the darkness of rocks giving him a brief respite from his pursuer.

“Where are yaaa,” the orc hissed. “YA CAN’T HID FROM ME!”

Timidly, Soma peaked his head out from his cover. Off in the distance, he could see this crystal staff illuminated by the dim torchlight. Without it, he could not channel any mana, making him completely defenseless. If he were to stand any sort of chance, he needed to get it back.

The orc, however, was not about to let him go and get it back.

****

“HAAAA!” Silica cried as she pounced on a nearby goblin, stomping on its head breaking its long nose. Mar meanwhile skewered another goblin, spinning it around before throwing it at an incoming orc, hitting it in the head, knocking it down a small slope. Mar was about to pursue before turning.

“Shit, Silica!”

Silica turned and saw a hammer coming towards her, slamming into her side and sending her flying away. The dagger flew out of her grip as she struck the wall, collapsing to the ground. The orc that had done the deed charged towards the downed girl.

Mar was about to rush to her aid when a chain caught the end of his spear. He turned and saw two goblins holding onto it, tugging the weapon away and leaving him open.

“Let go you…” Mar growled as he tried to get his weapon back. Another goblin pounced on him from above, landing on his shoulders pulling back a small knife. Blood splattered Mar’s face…. But not his. The goblin fell backward to the ground with an arrow through the throat.

Two more arrows followed, catching both goblins holding the chain and another orc, catching it in the eye. As Mar got his spear back, he looked around and saw Liana waving at him.

“Behind you!” She then shouted.

Mar turned back, seeing the wounded orc rushing at him again. With his spear free, he vaulted over the orcs head, dodging his clumsy strike, repositioning himself before plunging down on the monster like a cannonball.

“Ahhh… That hurt….” Meanwhile, Silica was just recovering from her blow, looking up to see the orc rushing over to her, throwing its hammer back behind its head.

“Silica!” Hearing a familiar voice, Silica rolled right, avoiding the hammer pulverizing her. As a flash of light erupted from her hand, Silica swung her right arm.

The orc remained where he was before falling on top of Silica. A nearby goblin slowly approached the orc, seeing if he had finished off his prey. Its answer came when a silver sword pierced through its chest. The headless orc body began to move as Silica finally freed herself, Caliburn in hand, pushing the severed orc head to the wayside as she crawled away from the body.

“…. That was too close,”

“So it appears,”

****

The orc continued his prow, striking furiously at any hiding place Soma could possibly use. Each time the weapon smashed through the terrain, Soma froze, knowing that one lucky guess could be his last.

“SHOW YASELF COWARD!!” The orc bellowed as he swung his weapon in fury. “Can’t do nothen without ya shiny stick?” More rock went flying as the orc shattered more cover. “Dat’s why you’z humiez ‘re weak!”

Soma began to move, seeing an opening for him to run to his staff.

“Dat’s why we’z orcz, we’z strong. We don’t needz dem flashy lightz you humiez and pointy earz do. We’z strong! Da mountainz tremble at de march of a thouzand orcz!”

The orc turned and saw Soma fleeing. Furious, the orc lunged towards him, reaching the small boy and grabbing ahold of his leg, tripping him down.

“Diz is da end-!”

“Spirit shot!”

A burst of blue light fired past the orc’s head, searing out his remaining eye. As it dropped its weapon and howled with pain, Soma got back to his feet, taking aim with his staff, channeling mana into the tip. The orc attempted to throw its fist at the boy, but a spirit shot ripped a hole through its chest. The orc tumbled to the ground dead.

“.... I find brute strength overrated.”

*****

“Dey strong,” The final orc grunted. “Retreat!” Waving his weapon, the goblins sprinted for the cave entrance with the orc following after them.

“Hey! Get back here!” Silica yelled as she chased after them.

“Let them go. It would be unwise to pursue them when we know nothing about what lies ahead,” Jil said before transforming back.

“They’ll come back with more of their friends now,” Silica said irritatedly, watching the monsters vanish into the dark. “Or setting up another ambush along the way.”

“Both are possibilities, yes.”

Despite her desire to hunt the last few orcs down, Silica did know better than to simply charge forwards through an underground network she knew nothing about. Especially when the enemy knew more about it than she did. Lost in thought, Silica was startled when Liana joined them.

“Hey. You okay sis?”

“Of course,” Liana nodded. “Though… that was a close call back there. Without Jil, that archer could have killed me.”

“That was… certainly an experience I wish not to have happened again.” Jil shuddered. Given the amount of dust that still blanketed Liana, Silica could only imagine what a grueling experience it must have been.

“Liana!” Mar approached, “And Jil. Glad to see you two are okay. Hm?” Then looked around. “Where’s Soma?”

“Here!” The young man yelled as he rushed to his companions' side.

“Whoa, what happened to you?” Silica said without thinking, taking in Soma’s filthy appearance.

“A bit of a close encounter… a little too close,” Soma said, adjusting his cap before looking back at the mound of dead orcs and goblins lining the cave. “Was that all fo them?”

“Na, an orc and a pair of goblins escaped.”

Soma sighed. “Then it’s safe to assume there will be another ambush or retaliation waiting for us.”

“Which means more fighting,” Liana sighed, pulling out her quiver hanging from her waist.

“How you doing for arrows?” Silica asked.

“.... I have enough for now, but I don’t think I have enough for every orc in the mine.”

“Hopefully the vault’s not too far now,” Mar said, tapping his spear to the ground. “But then again… that’ll take us directly into the heart of the hoard.”

“In all probability... yes. It would be prudent for them to have set up their main camp close to the entrance.” Soma said grimly.

“Ahh, which means more of those bastards,” Silica groaned while the group set off again. “Who’s bright idea was it to come down here again?”

“I do believe it was yours,” Jil said sternly.

“Ohhh, right.”

****

The goblin patrol huddled close together, flanking alongside two orcs. A messenger from Golga arrived telling them to increase the patrols around the ruin. Human scouts had infiltrated deep within the mines, and no doubt the sentries manning the hidden passage would be skinned for allowing them to make it this deep in.

The warboss had already descended into the ruin, and when he returned to find out humans had infiltrated them, he would most certainly be taking heads.

“Wait.” One of the orcs suddenly stopped, shining his torch down a dark passage.

“What iz it?”

“I thought a saw somethin’.”

There was nothing.

“Come.” The orc dragged the other away. The goblins followed suit, unaware of something stalking them. Slowly, swiftly, and silently, a long metal thread flared from the darkness. The goblins were cut into bloody pieces without so much as a sound, and the orcs kept moving not realizing what had happened.

“.... Oi! Move it!” An orc finally called out, noticing the silence. “I said-!” When he shined the torch behind him, he noticed the goblins were no longer there. “Where’z are ya!” The orc yelled.

The other orc turned around to look, but something then pounced on it from the dark, slitting its throat. The orc turned, and in front of its dying clan brother, saw a slender figure in a wooden mask staring back.

“Humie!” The orc bellowed, raising its weapon. The figure disappeared, just as the weapon crashed to the ground. In a burst of wind, she reappeared to the orcs right just out of reach of both it and her. She then swung her strange sword. When she did, the blade snapped apart, flailing like a whip at the rampaging orc. The near-invisible thread that held the leaf blade together coiled around the orc's neck, taking it off with a swift movement from the woman. The headless orc collapsed to her feet as the weapon coiled back into the curved leaf blade.

“I’m no human, orc.” The weapon vanished in a puff of green sparks.