When Boran and Kael's group initially stepped into the dungeon, they had no inkling that a pair of dragon eyes were fixed upon them. Specifically, those eyes were drawn to a black orc adorned with a slave collar.
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Inside the dungeon, the great-calamity monster hesitated, its eyes narrowing as it stared at the bone spear and sword threatening it. It released a deafening shriek, twice as powerful as before, but it was all in vain. The battle with the black orc had drained its strength, leaving it weakened.
Mortem's spell struck true, creating a gaping hole in the great-calamity's face. At the same moment, Vorgrim's sword sliced through the creature's side, cleaving its body in half.
Canna crouched next to Kael, casting a diagnostic spell to confirm that he would recover soon. He was exhausted and had fainted. "I'm sorry," Canna said sincerely. "Tonitrum thought it would be funny to send a few low-calamities to your group."
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Canna had been in the midst of training when Tonitrum called him over, claiming he had something interesting to show. Tonitrum then cast a spell, projecting an image of a group of humans and demihumans, their wagons filled with treasure, making their way through the dungeon.
Canna watched, intrigued yet concerned, as the scene unfolded, unaware of the chaos it would bring to Boran's team.
Canna watched intently as the group entered the dungeon boss room and successfully slayed the Crimson Brute Goblin. Their teamwork was impressive, especially considering the tricky nature of the monster. It was insanely fast, can dual wield and absorb fire spells and use it to strengthen himself. Canna admired their coordination, each member playing their part to bring down the beast.
As he observed, Canna couldn't help but imagine what he would do in their position. He envisioned himself dodging the goblin's attacks, striking at opportune moments, and coordinating with his allies to cast spells and land critical hits. His mind raced with possibilities, picturing himself as a vital part of the team.
But then, a sudden shift in the scene snapped him back to reality. The humans, having defeated the Crimson Brute Goblin, expected the door to open, signalling their victory. Instead, it remained firmly shut. Confusion and worry were etched on their faces, and Canna sensed something was terribly wrong.
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Once they reached the lowest floor of the dungeon, Canna hurriedly dropped Kael at the corner of the cave where he would rest. He then summoned Mortem again and asked for a diagnostic spell to double-check Kael's condition. Once Mortem confirmed that Kael was only exhausted, Canna made his way to the black orc that Vorgrim had carried into the space as well.
Canna observed the black orc closely, noting the creature's impressive strength. He wasn't confident in taking on the orc alone unless he had one of his subordinates with him. Canna took a closer look at the orc. Its body was full of wounds of varying degrees, and one of its tusks was broken. The collar was still around its neck. As Canna touched the black orc's skin, he was a bit shocked to feel fur.
It had the texture of the fur from a small dog. He put his curiosity aside for the moment and called for Mortem again, asking him to heal the orc.
Vorgrim had already mentioned that orcs had great regenerative abilities, and this particular orc was tougher than the rest. However, Canna didn't relent. If anyone else saw the black orc in its current state, they wouldn't be surprised to think it was already dead. Canna used water spells to clean some of the wound marks as well.
Since Kael only needed time to recover, Canna focused his entire attention on the black orc. Just like that, a day passed.
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During that day, Canna remained vigilant; he somehow felt guilty about it, but he couldn't do anything; the least he could do was to ensure that the black orc and Kael would receive the care they needed. The orc's wounds began to heal at a remarkable rate, thanks to Mortem's healing spells and the orc's natural regenerative abilities.
As Canna watched over the orc, he couldn't help but think about the creature's origins and the battles it must have faced.
He also pondered the significance of the slave collar. It was a cruel device, one that suppressed the orc's true potential and forced it into servitude. The thought of removing it crossed his mind, but he knew it wasn't that simple. The collar might be enchanted or linked to some powerful magic that could harm the orc if tampered with.
Throughout the day, Canna alternated between tending to the orc and checking on Kael, who was slowly regaining his strength. Mortem and Vorgrim stood guard, wary of any more 'funny' ideas Tonitrum might have.
As night fell, Canna found himself deep in thought. The events of the dungeon, Tonitrum's unexpected intervention, and the ordeal faced by Boran's group weighed heavily on his mind. To Tonitrum, they were all just a form of entertainment. Canna vowed to become even stronger, knowing he couldn't do anything about it now. If Tonitrum really wanted to kill him, he could do it without any problem.