Fates of Grenora: Return of the Night

The steady rhythmical beats of the drums rose to a crescendo as the two warriors in the circle readied themselves.

Both Tar-Nurbag and Aldrin quickly skimmed the system message before locking eyes with each other, waiting for the end of the drums. The Orcs surrounding the circle waited with bated breath when the drums stung their last beat and the warriors charged forth at each other.

Clang!

Boom!

Their weapons clashed. Metal ringing against metal as they scraped against each other. Tar-Nurbag didn't let his surprise show as Aldrin matched the blow with a smirk. They intricately danced around each other. A forward step and thrust from Tar-Nurbag and a side-step with an upward slash from Aldrin made metal ring once more. Aldrin spun to get inside the guard of Tar-Nurbag but for each step Aldrin advanced, the orc was forced to give ground in order to keep leveraging his spear.

On the outside of the circle, Jared nervously watched, fearing ‌any sort of change Aldrin might show. "Your friend is pretty good," one Orc gruffly stated, who was decorated in yellow feathers and small bone pendants.

"Are Skills allowed?" Pierre glanced at the Orc before returning his gaze to the fight.

The Orc barked out a laugh and shook his head. "It's a battle of who the warriors are, not what makes them. So no, any Skills that need to be activated are not allowed. It's seen as dishonorable if you can't even beat your opponent without your own merit."

Pierre nodded at the response as there was another loud boom from the blows of the two in the circle. He noticed Aldrin had a smile as he fought against Tar-Nurbag, and it was then that he understood Aldrin in a different light. The thrill of battle kept him feeling alive.

Pierre couldn't help the chuckle that escaped from him, earning a strange look from Jared. "Mind sharing with the class, what's so funny?" He asked with a wry smile.

"Class? What class?" Another Orc asked, confused about the saying.

"It's just a saying," Evie cut in before any more questions could be asked as she focused back on Pierre. "Now what's funny?"

Pierre shook his head with a grin. "Aldrin is just as bad as his sister. Look," he said and pointed at Aldrin's widening grin as he and Tar-Nurbag fought.

Jared laughed, as did Evie, when it finally clicked. The excited gleam in his eye, his smile, and his relaxed yet purposeful movements all indicated that Aldrin was indeed a battle maniac just like Adeline, although he could hide his better than her. Now they watched with renewed interest as Aldrin dodged and countered the spear strikes.

However, instead of pulling back like Aldrin figured, Tar-Nurbag rushed forward with three quick and precise spear lunges that thudded against Aldrin's chest and sides. Aldrin leapt back, effortlessly gliding through the air.

Tar-Nurbag raged and gritted his teeth as he knew the three strikes should have ended most enemies. "Gorsh-Nik will not shine on you for your dishonorable lies!" he taunted, hoping to throw Aldrin off.

Aldrin planted Sin-Screamer in the ground and held his arms wide to show no marks or wounds upon him, his Undead Body passive Skill showing its use again. "I am favored by Gorsh-Nik, Tar-Nurbag! Even now he protects me! Unlike you! You tuskless worm!" He grinned tauntingly.

Enraged, Tar-Nurbag rushed at Aldrin with his spear point aimed at Aldrin's heart. There was a trickle of doubt within Aldrin as he watched the Orc charge at him, roaring spittle as he lost all sense of reason from the insult.

Instead of moving out of the way, Aldrin took the spear to the chest. It shattered on impact, the spear point scraping against Aldrin's bare chest as he tensed, bunching his muscles together to counter the blow. The result of the broken spear had unintended consequences as the wooden shaft broke skin, forcing Aldrin to panic and grab hold of the wooden shaft with his one hand before it could enter any further.

Tar-Nurbag dug his heels in as he pushed with all his might, but Aldrin gripped the wooden shaft with both hands now, keeping it, and Tar-Nurbag in place. Aldrin heard a gasp from within the crowd, and his Servant Strands spiked with worry and concern.

Aldrin grunted with effort as he heaved the Orc and shaft away from him. He peered down at chest to see a black-crimson bead of blood form. He wiped it away, but not before a laughing Tar-Nurbag rose back to his feet. "Favored by Gorsh-Nik, my ass! For Tar-Kresh!" he spat greenish-blue blood, then he charged again, this time unarmed.

Realizing he no longer needed to hide his nature, as Orcs respected strength above all. He picked up Sin-Screamer, his vampiric instincts combined with the mental wailing of the greatsword, and even the sight of his own blood made him lose any sense of reason as he swung the greatsword in a wide arc, severing Tar-Nurbag's head from his body. There were screams of fear and then a roar of rage from Tar-Xuk as he watched his son's headless body crumple.

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Tar-Nurbag's head landed a few feet away, his face etched in surprise, but all focus was still on Aldrin as he heaved heavy breaths. He tried his best to calm down, but to no avail could he as he slowly shifted to his vampiric form. His brown curly hair turned ‌white, grey skin subsumed his paling copper skin tone as his nails turned into matte-black sharpened claws. Crimson red eyes overshadowed his bright green ones as two sets of fangs took their rightful place as he roared his challenge. Aldrin's tight control over himself had been released. The Vampiric Aura combined with his titles made even the strongest of Orcs shudder in fear as they watched the transformation.

Jared and Evie were rooted in place, but Pierre carefully observed for any sudden movements from within the crowd. Then there was a deep, menacing laugh that started off slow, making the hairs on the back of Pierre's neck stand.

"This is the best you had to offer?" Aldrin spoke in a dual-laced voice. It was his, but there was more of a growl to it, like the vampire within still fought for dominance. "Gorsh-Nik would be displeased at the display witnessed here," he spat as he turned, making every Orc avert their gaze at the monster, all except one.

Tar-Xuk stepped forward, blinded by rage and grief as he summoned his hammer. Aldrin felt the shift behind him as he peered over his shoulder. He laughed at the Orc that dared to challenge him as he fully turned to face him. "Tar-Xuk, the great Khotals of my adoptive tribe, would trample your tribe. You should have believed me when you had the chance!" Aldrin grinned, licking his fangs as he gripped Sin-Screamer. Its purple runes lit up as specters of wailing faces danced up and down the blade, revealing its newest addition, Tar-Nurbag.

"Face me, Great Chief! Avenge your son, show your tribe what it means to be Tar!" Then Aldrin rushed at him, his speed greater than what the Chief expected. He swung his hammer, attempting to collide with the body of Aldrin, but it was hopeless as Aldrin jumped over it, flattening his body to be parallel to the ground, and swung Sin-Screamer at the shaft, shattering it. Aldrin landed as he watched the chief roll away to avoid being clipped by the tip of Sin-Screamer.

Tar-Xuk looked at his destroyed weapon until he remembered the wood had affected Aldrin before. He snapped the remainder of the shaft in two, dual-wielding the stakes.

Aldrin sneered and hissed, showing his fangs in distaste for the wood. "You realize you lose, I take your tribe, right? You can back down and still have your honor," he goaded, his red eyes alight with rage.

Tar-Xuk didn't respond as he circled around Aldrin, who mirrored each step. Then the great Orc chieftain charged, throwing one stake at Aldrin, forcing him to duck below it.

Tar-Xuk didn't let the ‌distraction go to waste, sending a flying knee careening towards Aldrin's face that connected when Aldrin came back up. His head snapped back from the force, but he still swung Sin-Screamer, using the flat of the blade as a blunt force, snapping the arm of the orc.

Tar-Xuk didn't let pain show as he used his other hand, the one with the stake, to strike at Aldrin, but he caught it and looked at the chief with crimson red eyes that glowed balefully. "I'm going to eat your soul!" He then dropped Sin-Screamer and sent a kick straight into the chest of the orc that sent him tumbling back.

Tar-Xuk had no time to gather his bearings as Aldrin was on him within a second. They tumbled to the ground and wrestled for dominance until Tar-Xuk found purchase and kicked with all his strength, sending Aldrin flying off of him.

Aldrin landed on all fours and rose to his feet with a cat-like grin. "Fight me like a real Orc or you will die," he chided. "The Har-Jugag was finished when I slayed your offspring!"

"Aldrin!" Evie's voice pierced his battle-crazed mind as his eyes snapped to Evie, who tried to look stern, but there was a nervousness to her. Aldrin growled low, sounding more animal than ‌man as he stalked towards her. Tar-Xuk took the time to shoulder bash Aldrin with a Skill.

Unfortunately, Tar-Xuk only bounced off Aldrin, who turned and grabbed him by the tusks, ripping them from his jaw. Loud gasps echoed around the circle as Aldrin held the chieftain's tusks in his hands. The ultimate shame.

He dropped them as he kneeled to a bloodied Tar-Xuk, who clutched his mouth and stared up at the monster in defiance. "Submit to me and you will live," he whispered low enough for only the two of them to hear. His eyes never left the chieftain's as he rooted him in place. "Better yet," Aldrin devilishly smiled, then used Charming Gaze, the new rank of the Skill allowing him to bypass natural mental defenses.

Then Aldrin mentally commanded him to submit. There was pushback, but Aldrin's willpower was higher than the chief's as he completely shattered any identity, replacing it with his own needs and desires.

"I… I…" Tar-Xuk struggled to speak with blood in his mouth. "Submit. The tribe of Tar is yours," the chieftain said with a defeated breath when Aldrin finally took full control.

Then Aldrin stood as one by one, each Orc, male and female, including the children, knelt with their heads down. "May Gorsh-Nik bless Khotal-Ur's leadership," they murmured as most were still in shock from the change of events.

Then Aldrin looked to his friends, who stared at him with shock and fear as he returned to his normal self. There was a brief flicker of regret in his eyes, but he knew the Orcs of this tribe would accept none of them, not without serious actions. He did it for them to repay the help they had given so far. They would soon see why once this duel finished.

He glanced at the elders of the tribe where Tar-Xuk had come from, seeing them mutter under their breath with their heads bowed. He chose not to intervene, as there would be time for that later. Now it was time to consolidate his newfound foundation.