Rynan's group had been marching relentlessly for the better part of an hour. Sweat clung to their clothes, their legs aching with every step. The sun hung high in the sky, its heat pressing down on their backs, but despite the oppressive warmth, they kept moving.
After 56 minutes of non-stop walking, they came to a halt. Rynan's feet scraped against the dirt as he turned, his body screaming for rest. Ahead of them stood a lone tree, its broad branches offering a much-needed shade. Without a word, they all headed straight for it.
Dropping to the ground in unison, they let the weight of their exhaustion pull them down. Rynan sighed, the coolness of the grass beneath him offering a brief but welcomed relief. The quiet moment settled around them like a soft blanket.
"Damn, this is boring..." Leo's voice broke the silence, lazy and thick with fatigue, as if he didn't care about anything at the moment. He stretched out on the ground, letting his head rest against the soft, green grass, closing his eyes. His breath slowed as the exhaustion of the walk caught up with him.
Rynan, however, wasn't quite ready to surrender to the peace of the moment. "SHHHH!" he hissed, his hand snapping out to tap Leo's shoulder. His voice dropped to a sharp whisper. "The Commander, you idiot!"
Leo's eyes shot open, his body freezing at Rynan's warning. Slowly, he turned his head, and there, beneath the tree, was Commander Ria. She lay in a still, peaceful slumber, her chest rising and falling with each slow breath, a stark contrast to the dangerous presence she held during their patrols.
Leo let out a long sigh of relief, his body relaxing at the sight. "Whew..." he muttered under his breath, the tension fading from his frame.
The next half-hour passed in relative peace, the group lounging under the tree's shade. The air was thick with the scent of dirt and the rustle of leaves in the wind. Nothing stirred. The monsters they had been warned about seemed to be nowhere in sight. Just the quiet of nature, undisturbed.
After what felt like an eternity, Rynan sat up, his muscles stiff from the long march. The brief respite from their patrol was over. He could already hear the soft rustle of movement as the others began to rise. The weight of their mission pushed him back into motion.
Without a word, the group gathered themselves, and within moments, they were back on their feet, spreading out to continue their patrol.
But still, there was no sign of the monsters they'd been expecting. Rynan's eyes scanned the horizon, his senses on high alert. Something felt off, but the miles stretched on with nothing to show for it.
Then, as if the world itself had taken a breath, the air around them thickened. The wind, once a steady breeze, suddenly died. Everything grew still. Too still.
Without warning, Ria came to a halt. Her movements were so abrupt it was as if she had hit an invisible wall. The suddenness of her pause sent a shiver through the group, a silent warning that something had changed.
"Commander, are you—" Leo started, his voice faltering as his eyes locked onto something in the distance. His words got stuck in his throat as his gaze fixed on what lay ahead.
Rynan's eyes followed Leo's line of sight, and in an instant, he understood the source of the shock. His heart skipped a beat.
There, through the shimmering haze of the midday sun, something enormous began to emerge. At first, it was just a shadow, a dark outline against the bright sky. But as it drew closer, Rynan's pulse quickened. His breath caught in his chest.
A High-Orc.
The creature was a nightmare come to life. Standing over seven feet tall, it was a mass of muscle and rage. Its skin was a deep crimson, the color of burning embers, streaked with battle scars that spoke of countless wars fought and won. Every inch of its body radiated raw power, from its massive shoulders to the rippling muscles that tensed with each breath.
The sun glinted off its skin, making it appear like molten stone, forged from fire and blood. Across its chest, crude tattoos—symbols of war and death—sprawled like cracked earth. The tusks jutting from its lower jaw were yellowed with age, curling into a wicked grin that promised pain.
But it wasn't just its size or its appearance that made Rynan's blood run cold—it was the weapon. The High-Orc's axe was monstrous, twisted with iron and bone. The blade was thick, chipped in places, but still sharp enough to carve through flesh with terrifying ease. Dark, fresh droplets of blood clung to the edge, dripping steadily to the ground, staining the earth beneath it.
The creature's eyes locked on them. Cold, calculating, and burning with predatory intent. There was no fear in its gaze—only the certainty of violence.
Rynan's throat tightened, his pulse spiking. The air around them seemed to grow even heavier, the weight of the impending confrontation pressing down on him.
The High-Orc shifted slightly. A small movement, but it was enough to make the leather straps on its wrists creak as its massive frame adjusted. The wind, now carrying the thick scent of blood, rushed through the air, cutting through the tension like a blade.
The world around them felt like it had frozen. Rynan's heart pounded, echoing in his chest like a drum. His mind raced with thoughts he couldn't control. This isn't just a monster. This thing... it's a death sentence waiting to happen.
The High-Orc stood still, its eyes locked on them with a dangerous intensity. Time seemed to stretch out, every second pulling painfully long.
Leo's body trembled, his hands shaking violently. His legs felt like they were made of stone, his wide, terrified eyes never leaving the towering figure. The beast—a High-Orc—took slow, deliberate steps forward, each one making the ground shake beneath its weight.
It was a beast ranked 5. The higher the rank, the stronger the monster, and 5 was already far too much for their group. Rynan's mind churned with the horrible realization: We need at least ten more men. At least ten, and even then, this thing could wipe us all out.
His pulse thundered in his ears as he stared at the High-Orc. This... this is it. This is the moment I die.
Ria, standing by his side, stiffened. Her eyes widened as the truth hit her too. "Why is a monster THAT strong roaming around here?" she thought, a cold knot of fear twisting in her gut. Her gaze flickered to the formation of soldiers who should've been patrolling. The soldiers who should've been here to stop this. The higher-ranked soldiers... They were... killed!?
Rynan's voice broke through the suffocating silence, sharp and desperate. "COMMANDER!" he shouted, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "WHAT SHOULD WE DO?"
Ria didn't hesitate. Her voice cut through the panic, cold and steady. "Stay calm, unsheathe your swords!" she ordered, a calm force in the chaos.
"RIGHT!" Rynan barked, snapping his sword from its sheath. His hands gripped the hilt with both palms, knuckles turning white. He could feel the adrenaline burning through his body. But Leo—Leo stood frozen, rooted to the spot.
Damn it, Leo, now's not the time to freeze! Rynan thought, his frustration boiling over. He reached out, grabbing Leo by the shoulders and forcing him to meet his gaze. "LEO, ACT FAST!" he barked.
Leo blinked, his mind snapping back to reality. "Sorry!" he muttered, shaky, as he unsheathed his sword and took his place next to Rynan.
"FORMATION 3!" Ria shouted. Her voice was sharp, commanding, like the crack of a whip.
"YES, MA'AM!" both Rynan and Leo responded in perfect unison. Every muscle in their bodies screamed to obey her command.
The formation was simple but effective. Designed for large threats, it had them working in tandem, with Ria at the front, the leader who would face the monster head-on. Rynan and Leo would flank it, aiming to sever its mobility before the final strike.
Rynan's heart hammered in his chest. This was it. His first real battle, and it wasn't against some weakling creature. This was a 5th-ranked monster. His grip tightened on his sword, his thoughts spinning wildly.
Ria stepped forward, her posture unwavering. She was calm, but the tension in the air was heavy. She was the leader. No second thoughts. No hesitation. She was ready.
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
Each step of the High-Orc felt like a tremor, the ground beneath its massive feet cracking with every movement. The creature's monstrous frame seemed to charge at them with terrifying speed.
"READY UP!" Ria's voice rang out, a warning. Her command left no room for doubt.
The High-Orc leapt.
"GRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!" The beast's roar shook the air, deafening, as its massive axe swung above its head, ready to bring down destruction.
Rynan's breath caught. They had only a split second to react.
"DISPERSE!" Ria shouted, her voice sharp and unyielding.
Without hesitation, Rynan and Leo dove, rolling through the grass with practiced precision, their swords held firm. Their eyes never left the High-Orc.
"ELEMENTAL MAGIC: INSTANT DEFENSE!" Ria shouted, her sword raised high. A brilliant blue glow exploded from her weapon as hexagons of glowing energy spiraled around her, forming a protective shield.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The earth shook beneath them as the High-Orc's axe collided with Ria's shield. The force of the blow sent debris flying in every direction, a thick cloud of dust enveloping them. For a moment, everything disappeared behind the choking gray.
Rynan's stomach lurched. Please survive, he thought, fear clutching at him. His grip on his sword tightened. He wasn't ready to lose someone—not like this.
The smoke began to clear.
And there she was.
Ria stood tall, surrounded by a flickering sphere of hexagonal light. Her shield was cracked, but it still held. The High-Orc wasn't done. Its eyes burned with rage as it snarled.
"GRRRRRRAAAAAARGHHHHH!!!" The High-Orc roared, its fury unrelenting. It swung its axe again and again, battering Ria's shield with relentless force.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The shield shook with every hit, but it held. Barely.
We have to help... or she'll die, Leo thought, terror seizing his chest. His heart pounded wildly, every breath shallow and tight. We can't just stand here!
Rynan and Leo exchanged a glance. No words needed to be spoken. They understood. It was time to move.
A second passed. Then two. Then three.
With a yell, they charged.
Their swords were raised, their hearts pounding with determination. The High-Orc's roar was deafening, but they didn't falter. Not now. Not when Ria needed them.
Not when their lives depended on it.