Africa Leveling

The journey back to the village was eerily quiet. Though victorious, there was no celebration, no cheers of triumph. Every orc warrior, hardened by countless battles, knew the truth—the real fight had yet to come.

Jajwok walked at the front, keeping pace with Urgak, who carried his shattered warhammer over his shoulder. Their bodies bore fresh wounds, but none of them complained. In the Black Crag Clan, pain was a lesson, and victory was survival, nothing more.

Yet, something felt different. Jajwok could sense it within himself. The golden power inside him was changing, shifting like a beast stirring from slumber. During the battle, it had surged beyond his control, reacting as if it had a will of its own.

As they neared the village gates, they saw Chieftain Brakzul and Kragzul waiting. The other orcs gathered quickly, their eyes searching for answers in the expressions of the returning warriors.

"You return victorious," Brakzul said, his deep voice carrying through the clearing. "And yet, your faces tell me we have not won."

Jajwok exhaled. "Because this was just the beginning."

Urgak stepped forward. "The vanguard is dead, but they were protecting something. A stronger demon, different from the others."

Kragzul's expression darkened. "A lieutenant."

Jajwok narrowed his eyes. "Explain."

The orc mage gestured for them to follow him into his hut. The wooden structure smelled of herbs and burning incense. At the center of the room lay an old map, covered in markings. Kragzul traced a clawed finger along its surface.

"The demons do not attack without order," he said. "They are guided by lieutenants—elite warriors who serve the Demon King directly. If you fought one today, then the true horde is not far behind."

Urgak growled. "So killing them won't stop the invasion?"

"No," Kragzul admitted. "But every lieutenant we slay weakens the horde's coordination."

Jajwok crossed his arms. "Then we hunt the next one before they gather more strength."

Brakzul nodded. "Agreed. But we cannot face them head-on. We must strike fast, before the horde fully mobilizes."

Jajwok turned back to Kragzul. "You knew, didn't you? That my power is different."

The mage met his gaze. "I had my suspicions. Now, I am certain."

Jajwok clenched his fists. "What am I?"

Kragzul studied him for a long moment before speaking. "An anomaly."

The word struck deep.

"You are not truly orc," the mage continued. "Yet, nor are you human. The golden power within you—it is something ancient, something that should not exist in this world."

Jajwok's jaw tightened. "Then how do I control it?"

Kragzul's eyes gleamed. "Through battle."

The chieftain placed a firm hand on Jajwok's shoulder. "Then it is decided. We hunt the next lieutenant before they gather strength."

Urgak grinned. "Now that is a plan I like."

The Hunt Begins

Before dawn, twenty orcs set out through the dense forests, moving like shadows between the towering trees. Jajwok walked alongside Urgak, his senses sharp. The golden energy within him stirred restlessly, as if eager for the coming battle.

By midday, they reached an abandoned human outpost, its walls crumbling, its towers shattered. The air was thick with decay, the scent of death lingering in the ruins.

Urgak knelt, studying the ground. "Tracks. Fresh."

Jajwok followed his gaze. Clawed footprints, too large to belong to humans, led deeper into the ruins.

"They're here," he muttered.

Kragzul stepped forward, raising his staff. "Then let us announce our arrival."

With a flick of his wrist, fire erupted from his fingers, soaring into the sky in a bright explosion.

The village fell silent.

Then, the shadows moved.

A deep, guttural roar echoed through the ruins as demons emerged from the wreckage, their red eyes glowing.

Jajwok's grip tightened on his blade. "Here we go again."

The demons charged.

The Battle in the Ruins

Jajwok met the first demon head-on, his blade flashing as golden light flared to life. His strike cut deep, searing through flesh and bone. The creature screeched as it collapsed, its body dissolving into black smoke.

Urgak swung his broken warhammer with brutal efficiency, shattering skulls and breaking limbs. Kragzul stood at the rear, hurling waves of fire and lightning that sent demons screaming into the dust.

The orcs fought fiercely, but the demons were relentless. Clawed hands raked through flesh, spears pierced armor, and the battlefield became a chaotic storm of blood and fire.

Then, the ground trembled.

A towering figure emerged from the ruins, wrapped in dark armor, its eyes glowing with malevolent energy. The lieutenant had arrived.

Jajwok barely had time to react before it moved.

The demon blurred forward, striking with impossible speed. Jajwok dodged, rolling to the side as the ground where he had stood shattered beneath the force of the attack.

Urgak roared and charged, but the demon caught his warhammer mid-swing and shattered it with a single grip.

Jajwok pushed himself up, golden energy crackling around him. The demon turned its glowing eyes toward him.

"You are the one they whisper about," it rumbled. "The human-orc anomaly."

Jajwok smirked. "You talk too much."

He launched himself forward, golden flames trailing behind him as he swung his blade. The demon met him mid-air, its claws clashing against his sword in a deafening explosion of power.

The force sent them both flying. Jajwok landed hard but rolled to his feet, already charging again. The demon followed, moving like a shadow, its strikes coming faster than the eye could follow.

Jajwok blocked, parried, countered—but the sheer strength of the creature was overwhelming. Each impact sent shockwaves through his bones.

The golden energy within him surged, desperate to break free. Jajwok gritted his teeth, forcing it under control.

Not yet.

The demon lunged again, aiming for his heart. Jajwok sidestepped, twisting at the last second, his blade flashing in a deadly arc.

The strike connected.

Golden flames erupted, consuming the demon's arm. The creature howled, recoiling as its flesh blackened and cracked.

Jajwok pressed the attack, his body moving on instinct. Each strike was faster, stronger, fueled by the golden power surging through him.

But the demon was not finished.

It let out a deafening roar, and the shadows themselves twisted, coiling around its body. Dark energy crackled as the lieutenant's wounds healed before Jajwok's eyes.

"You cannot kill me," it sneered. "Not with such pitiful power."

Jajwok exhaled, steadying his grip. His golden light flickered. He could feel the limits of his strength pressing down on him.

Then, a voice whispered in his mind.

Let go.

The golden energy within him pulsed, demanding release.

Jajwok closed his eyes for half a breath—then opened them.

The battlefield was bathed in golden fire.

His power erupted, a radiant explosion that engulfed the demon and everything around them.

The ruins trembled. The surviving orcs shielded their eyes from the blinding light.

When the dust settled, the lieutenant lay on the ground, its body smoking, its armor cracked.

It was still alive—but barely.

Jajwok stepped forward, blade raised for the final blow.

But the demon only laughed. "You are strong… but you do not yet understand what you are."

With its last breath, it whispered a single word.

"He is coming."

The body crumbled to dust.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Jajwok's heart pounded. He turned to Kragzul, who looked pale.

"Who?" Jajwok asked.

Kragzul's voice was barely above a whisper.

"The Demon King."

The real war had just begun.