NOVEL NEXT Chapter 271. The Orc’s Downfall III
Dragon King's Harem Chapter 271. The Orc's Downfall III
Burz's eyes flickered between the bracelet in my hand and my gaze. A hint of skepticism played across his face, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What kind of king wears that on his wrist?" he quipped, a bitter edge lacing his words. I could sense that he already understood the significance of the object.
A knowing smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I met his sarcasm with a cool demeanor. I leaned in slightly, my voice carrying a steely resolve. "This is not a matter of choice, Prince Burz," I clarified, my words carrying a hint of challenge. "It is an order."
A smirk played upon my lips, a mix of confidence and determination shining through. "Besides," I added, my tone laced with a touch of amusement, "you shouldn't be asking for too much. You have no other choice. The options before you are not 'yes' or 'no,' but 'yes' or 'yes.' It's a matter of taking it or having me claim it on your behalf." My words were a firm reminder of the limited alternatives he faced.
Burz's silence filled the chamber. His eyes once filled with defiance, now flickered with a mix of contemplation and uncertainty. It was evident that the choice before him was far from easy.
I observed his internal strugglers and prepared myself for Burz's response, but I was taken aback when another orc leader spoke, his voice tinged with pain and breathlessness. "But if he wears that," he interjected, his words laced with a mix of concern and skepticism, "wouldn't that be the same as him losing his authority?"
My gaze snapped towards the orc leader, a sharp glint in my eyes. I met his gaze with unwavering intensity, my voice carrying a subtle warning. "Indeed," I retorted, my tone firm and uncompromising. "But it is a necessary sacrifice—one that comes with sparing your lives and allowing the orcs to retain their rightful territory."
A flicker of displeasure was clear from my features as I addressed the orc leader's concerns. I was well aware of the orc's inherent pride and arrogance, qualities that mirrored those of my own draconic nature. It was an undeniable truth that dragons and orcs shared a certain kinship in their stubbornness and desire for independence. However, at this moment, I expected the orc leader to understand the situation and appreciate the generosity I was extending to their tribe.
I continued, my voice tinged with a touch of impatience. "You should be well aware of the circumstances," I asserted, my gaze sweeping across the orc leaders gathered before me. "I offer you a chance to preserve your people's lives and maintain your territory. It is a compromise, a concession that few would be willing to grant."
However, even as the words left my lips, I knew that there would be those among them who would choose death over submission to another tribe's authority. Their pride ran deep, intertwining with their identity and the history of their people. I could see it in their eyes—the fierce determination, the unwavering loyalty to their own tribe. They would rather face annihilation than bend their knee to one another.
Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted from outside the hall, interrupting our tense conversation. The air quivered with the shriek of wyverns' voices, their piercing cries cutting through the atmosphere. The sounds of battle grew closer, intensifying with each passing moment.
The ground beneath our feet rumbled, vibrating with the force of an explosion. The hall seemed to tremble as the detonation drew nearer. Dust particles danced in the air, carried by the unsettling energy that permeated the surroundings.
Our attention was momentarily diverted to the chaotic commotion outside the hall. The noise grew louder, punctuated by the piercing shrieks of wyverns and the clashing sounds of battle. The ground beneath us quaked.
But my focus quickly returned to Burz, his figure still rooted in the center of the hall. With a cool and calculated demeanor, I broke the silence, my voice carrying a hint of urgency. "It seems time is not on your side, Burz," I warned, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "The longer you delay, the more lives of your fellow orcs will be lost."
Burz, with visible effort, rose to his feet and extended a trembling hand towards the Magic Bracelet in my grasp. Yet instead of immediately putting it on, he hesitated, his gaze fixed upon the bracelet as if it held the weight of the world. His hands shook with conflicting emotions—anger, disappointment, sadness, and regret.
I regarded him with a steely gaze, my voice firm and unwavering. "Remember, Burz, if you choose to cast aside this opportunity, if you choose to discard the chance at peace, then this negotiation shall be deemed null and void," I asserted, my words laced with a commanding tone. I met his gaze head-on, unflinching at my intimidation.
Burz's eyes bore into mine, his internal turmoil was evident in the depths of his gaze. The weight of his decisions, and the consequences of his actions, were all converging upon him in this pivotal moment. I knew that this was not a choice to be made lightly, for it held the fate of not only his tribe but the entire orc civilization.
The doubt lingered in Burz's eyes, his internal struggle evident in every tense line of his body. It was as if he stood at the crossroads of his fate, torn between the desire to preserve his tribe's pride and the desperate need to prevent further bloodshed.
However, before Burz could come to a decision, a sudden movement caught us all off guard. Glasha, driven by her own conviction, stepped forward with determination etched across her face. In one swift motion, she snatched the Magic Bracelet from his grasp and firmly secured it around Burz's trembling hand.
There was a brief pause, a collective intake of breath, as the realization of Glasha's actions sank in. She had taken matters into her own hands, bypassing the hesitations and doubts that had plagued Burz's mind. Her resolve was resolute, fueled by her understanding of the grim reality that loomed over them. She knew, as did I, that this decision was the best chance they had to avoid further bloodshed and protect their people.
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