From the depths of the cave came heavy, resounding footsteps, each one reverberating through the hearts of everyone present with an oppressive force. Cain tightened his grip on his longsword, sweat dripping from his forehead, yet his body felt as if it were shackled by invisible chains, unable to move.
The orc leader had arrived.
It was a massive wolf-like orc, clad in dark crimson armor, exuding a thick aura of bloodlust and death. Its golden beast-like eyes burned with fury and impatience, its fangs interlocked, and its chest heaved violently. A low growl rumbled from its throat, a sound that seemed to tear through the air like a crack in the fabric of reality.
"So, it's you... disrupting my plans," the beast's voice rumbled like thunder, its tone a mixture of anger and disdain. "A pitiful and foolish group of insects." Its gaze swept across the humans, a cruel smirk curling at the corners of its mouth. "And you even dared to kill my subordinates... pathetic and idiotic..."
The wolf orc leader stepped forward, its heavy steps cracking the stone beneath its feet. Its crimson eyes scanned Cain and his companions, the wicked smile still lingering on its face. "A bunch of useless weaklings," it sneered coldly. Behind it, the bodies of its fallen soldiers lay lifeless, fueling its rage, which it now intended to unleash upon the young humans before it.
A wave of overwhelming pressure radiated from the orc leader, crashing over Cain and his group like a tidal wave. In an instant, their bodies stiffened, their hearts raced, and cold sweat poured from their brows. It was as if invisible chains bound their limbs, rendering them immobile.
"Damn it... my body... I can't move..." Tario gritted his teeth, his lightning blade trembling in his hand, the electric currents flickering unsteadily.
"This monster... its mere presence is enough to paralyze us..." Milena frowned deeply, her protective wind barrier flickering like a candle in a storm, on the verge of extinguishing.
"How is it this strong..." Rody's legs sank into the ground as he tried to summon the power of earth beneath him, but his connection to the element was severed by fear.
"I can't... move..." Lorne's face turned pale as he pressed his back against the stone wall, his trembling hands gripping his weapon tightly. Without the power of his element, the enemy before him was an insurmountable wall.
The wolf orc leader approached with a cruel grin, its blood-stained fangs glinting as it raised a claw, its sharp tips gleaming coldly in the dim light, aimed directly at the paralyzed Cain.
"Die, human..." The orc leader's claws tore through the air, a sharp whistle accompanying its deadly strike.
In the shadows, Rey shifted slightly, his fists clenched within his gauntlets, his cold gaze fixed on the scene before him. "... Is it time to step in?"
Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth from Cain's body.
"What's this?"
Cain's eyes glowed with a holy white light, a faint golden aura radiating around him. A warm and pure light spread from beneath his feet, quickly expanding into a translucent ring of light that enveloped his companions.
The warm, steadfast energy washed over everyone, dispelling the fear and stiffness that had gripped their bodies. It was as if they were bathed in the morning sun, the cold and darkness vanishing in an instant.
"What is this...?" Tario's eyes widened as the icy chill that had paralyzed him melted away, his heartbeat steadying.
"It feels... like my whole body is lighter... no, not just my body, even my mind is clear!" Rody exclaimed in astonishment.
Cain stared at the glowing circle beneath his feet, a deep sense of understanding dawning within him. This was his power—his Holy Light Domain.
"This power..." Rody murmured in disbelief, the earth element beneath him suddenly becoming more stable and responsive, flowing with unprecedented speed.
"So this is what it is..." Tario gripped his lightning blade tightly, the electricity dancing wildly along its edge, surging with a strength he had never felt before.
"The wind... it's answering me!" Milena gasped in delight, her delicate hands guiding sharp gusts of wind that sliced through the air with incredible precision and agility.
"My body... it feels lighter... no, my spirit has been awakened..." Lorne muttered in disbelief. Though he still couldn't control his element, his reflexes were sharper than ever, and a long-lost fighting spirit reignited within him.
As the group adjusted to their newfound strength, Cain's firm voice cut through their thoughts.
"Move!" Cain shouted, sidestepping to avoid the orc leader's claws. His companions, their reflexes now heightened, followed suit, narrowly escaping the deadly strike.
From the shadows, Rey raised an eyebrow, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. "That kid... he actually awakened... A Holy Light Wielder, huh? Interesting."
"Interesting..." The wolf orc leader tilted its head with a cold smile. "You managed to break free from my suppression... Then I'll just have to tear you apart myself... and watch you crumble in fear once again!"
It lunged forward, its claws like blades, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
"Earth Barrier!" Rody stomped the ground, his fists slamming down as thick walls of stone rose to block the attack. Though the barriers shattered, they managed to stall the orc leader's advance.
"Not fast enough—Thunder Strike!" Tario accelerated in a flash of lightning, his twin blades crossing in a fierce slash aimed at the orc leader's flank, thunder roaring in his wake.
"Wind Blade Array!" Milena's hands moved swiftly, sending dozens of wind blades hurtling toward the enemy like a storm of arrows.
The wolf orc leader snorted disdainfully, sweeping its claws to scatter the wind blades, while the thunder slash merely sparked against its armor. It turned sharply, its fist crashing toward Tario—
"Watch out!" Lorne dove in, shoving Tario aside just in time, only to be thrown against the stone wall by the resulting shockwave, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Lorne!" Milena cried out.
"I'm fine... stay focused!" Lorne staggered to his feet, refusing to fall.
"Don't think you'll last long, humans..." The wolf orc leader sneered, its aura surging violently. Its armor cracked, black energy coiling around its body as its power doubled.
"This thing... it's getting stronger..." Tario's expression darkened.
"That aura!" Rody exclaimed in shock. "It's the same energy as the Shadow Elves!"
The dark energy radiating from the orc leader was similar to what they had encountered before, but far more volatile and dangerous.
"Hold your ground!" Cain's eyes shone, his Holy Light Domain expanding once more, flooding his companions with renewed strength.
Rody roared, his fists slamming into the ground as waves of earth surged up to entangle the orc leader's movements. Tario, shrouded in lightning, unleashed a flurry of slashes, while Milena's wind blades darted through the air, disrupting the enemy's vision. Lorne weaved through the chaos, intercepting smaller orc squads attempting sneak attacks.
"Not bad... their reactions, strength, and coordination... all improved..." Rey observed from the shadows, a faint smile on his face. "That kid... is doing well..."
The battle reached a precarious balance, but the wolf orc leader's rage soon erupted. Its fur turned a dark gray, black energy surging as it roared, shaking the entire cave. Stones fell from the ceiling, cracks spreading along the walls.
"I'm tired of this! You will all die—now!!"
It slammed its fists into the ground, black energy exploding outward, shaking the very space around them. The ground cracked beneath the force.
"Scatter!" Cain shouted, leading the charge out of the blast radius.
"This thing... it's gone berserk!" Tario's face twisted in alarm, his lightning flickering as he struggled to maintain his defense.
"Careful!" Milena spun her twin blades, summoning a whirlwind to counter the incoming shockwaves, though it pushed her back several steps.
"Damn it... the Earth Barrier won't hold much longer!" Rody's knees buckled under the strain, his arms trembling as he forced the crumbling walls to stay upright.
The wolf orc leader charged at them with terrifying speed, its movements a blur as it became a shadowy streak of destruction. Its claws tore through the air, aimed directly at Cain—
"Too fast...!" Cain's heart pounded as he summoned Holy Light to shield himself, but the enemy was too quick, its attack breaking through before the barrier could fully form.
"Move!" Tario yelled.
"There's no time!" Milena gritted her teeth.
The wolf orc leader grinned savagely, its claws descending for the kill.
"It's over," it whispered, its voice dripping with cruel certainty.
But in that instant, clear footsteps echoed through the cave, as if someone had stepped out of thin air.
A figure suddenly appeared between the orc leader and Cain's group.
"You've underestimated us."
The cold voice carried a calm confidence. Dressed in black, Rey stood with one hand behind his back, the other effortlessly catching the orc leader's claw.
Boom!
The impact sent shockwaves through the cave, fragments of stone flying in all directions. With a slight movement of his fingers, Rey dispersed the orc leader's earth-shattering attack entirely.
"You...!" The wolf orc leader's eyes widened in disbelief as it stared at the slender man before it.
"You wanted to see me, didn't you?" Rey said coldly, a sharp smile on his lips. "Well, here I am."
He clenched his fist, and the air around him trembled violently. An overwhelming aura crashed down on the wolf orc leader like a tidal wave.
"Now it's my turn," Rey said, his voice calm but laced with danger, his smirk deepening.
The sight of Rey's figure, though aged, stirred a long-buried fear in the wolf orc leader's heart. The gauntlets, the piercing gaze—memories of past terror flooded its mind.
In an instant, its battle lust vanished, replaced by a single thought: Run.