Chapter 68: Among Orcs

Volk jolted awake, with his body drenched in heavy sweat.

His heart pounded in his chest, and his breathing was ragged as if he'd just fought a battle in his sleep.

His hand instinctively reached for his side, grasping at the blankets, his mind swirling with fragmented images of his dream.

The sense of impending doom that had washed over him moments ago still lingered like a shadow.

Next to him, Solluha'r stirred, her soft voice cutting through the thick fog in his mind. "Hmm? Volk, what's wrong?" Her hand gently traced the contours of his back, the touch soothing, though her voice carried concern.

Volk exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm of thoughts.

"I had a bad dream... something bad is going to happen to the tribe."

His words came out slower than usual, heavy with a weight he couldn't quite explain.

He rolled over to face Solluha'r, her green eyes catching the moonlight that filtered through the window, reflecting back at him with a sense of curiosity and patience.

"A bad dream?" Solluha'r's brow furrowed as she adjusted herself to sit up next to him. "What did you see?"

Volk stared at the ceiling for a long moment, trying to recall the details.

"There was fire... destruction. I saw the tribe, running. There was a great shadow over us... something was hunting us. No, not hunting.

It was... watching. Waiting."

Her gaze didn't waver as she listened intently, her hand still resting lightly on his arm. "It sounds like a vision of danger. But Volk, dreams are often not what they seem."

Volk clenched his fist, the feeling of helplessness gnawing at him. "I know. But this felt different, more than just a dream. It felt like... a warning."

Solluha'r moved closer, placing a gentle kiss on his shoulder. "You've been through so much these past days. Fighting Zenveil, navigating that catacomb, retrieving that crystal… your mind is exhausted. The burden you're carrying is heavy." seaʀᴄh thё NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Volk let out a slow breath, his muscles relaxing slightly at her touch. "Maybe you're right. Maybe it's just the weight of everything catching up to me."

There was a comfortable silence between them for a few moments, the night air cool against their skin. Solluha'r laid her head on Volk's chest, her breath soft and steady as if trying to share her calm with him.

"You always worry about everyone," she said quietly. "Even in your sleep, you can't let go of that responsibility."

"It's my job," Volk muttered, though his voice lacked its usual conviction. "If I don't protect them... who will?"

Solluha'r tilted her head to look up at him, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his chest. "You're not alone, Volk. You've got me, the other Orcs, the Elves. You don't have to carry this weight by yourself."

He smiled faintly, placing his large hand over hers. "You always know what to say."

"I just know you," she replied softly, her fingers entwining with his. "And I know how hard you push yourself. But even the strongest need rest. You can't protect the tribe if you're worn down."

Volk let out a low chuckle, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You make it sound so simple."

"It is simple," she said, smiling gently at him. "But that doesn't mean it's easy."

For a while, they simply lay there, letting the quiet stretch between them.

The tension in Volk's body gradually eased, and the storm in his mind began to settle.

Solluha'r's presence was grounding, like the earth beneath his feet—a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, there was always something solid to hold onto.

He exhaled again, feeling a little lighter, and his thoughts turned to his abilities.

He glanced at his fist, and with a faint flash in his mind, he heard the familiar ding! of his internal system.

| Ding!

| 1. Nuclear Devastation Botanical Strike: (10)

| 2. Nuclear Devastation Wind Strike: (6)

| 3. Nuclear Devastation Earth Strike: (10)

| 4. Nuclear Devastation Water Strike: (3) |

His eyes widened slightly as he focused on the third option. "Has my Earth magic improved?" he muttered aloud.

Solluha'r looked up at him, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"The crystal I took from the dungeon... it must've done something. My Earth magic... it's stronger now." He glanced at her, still half-wondering how he had unlocked this improvement. "You said it was a Stone and Earth magic crystal, right?"

She nodded, brushing her hair back from her face. "Yes, exactly. Since you don't have any natural affinity for Stone magic, the crystal must have channeled its energy directly into your Earth magic."

Volk flexed his fingers, the power humming through him, raw and unyielding. "Makes sense. I feel... like I can move mountains with this."

"You probably can," Solluha'r teased, smiling at him. "But you'll need all that strength tomorrow. Today, we should focus on resting. There's no telling what the migration will bring."

Just as they settled back into the comfort of each other's presence, a loud trumpet blast tore through the air. The sound was jarring, high-pitched, and urgent.

Zeeeeeeeeeeenng!

Volk shot up from the bed, his instincts kicking in immediately. Solluha'r followed, both of them now fully alert.

"That's the signal," Volk muttered, grabbing his nearby gear.

Another sound followed, a booming male Orc voice resonating through the village. "All Orcs, assemble! Prepare your necessities first!"

Volk and Solluha'r exchanged a quick glance. Without wasting any time, they scrambled to gather what they needed for the journey.

A second voice followed shortly after, this one was feminine, smooth yet commanding. "Elves, prepare and assemble!"

The commanding tone cut through the early dawn, signaling that the time had come.

Solluha'r pulled on her traveling garb, her movements fast but precise.

"It's time," Volk said, nodding toward her.

His gaze shifted toward the small bundle of supplies he had hastily thrown together.

They didn't need much, just the essentials.

There would be no looking back once they left.

They both stood in silence for a moment, then Solluha'r gave him a quick smile. "We've got this," she said, her voice filled with confidence that Volk desperately needed to hear.

Outside, the Orcs and Elves were already gathering, the heavy atmosphere thick with the weight of the unknown.

One by one, they emerged from their tower homes, their faces grim as they prepared to leave behind the place they had called home for so long.

The air felt different, heavier, as though the land itself mourned their departure.

Volk and Solluha'r joined the line of Orcs, standing shoulder to shoulder with their comrades.

The somberness of the moment washed over their presence like a wave of mournful mist, the realization that this might be the last time they stood on their homeland pressing down on their chest.

Volk's hand tightened into a fist, his eyes scanning the crowd.

There was something else here, a hidden danger lurking just beyond their sight.

As they moved slowly toward the gathering point, a familiar ding! echoed in his mind once again.

| Ding!

| Mission: Find at least one of the traitors.

| Rewards: High-level Boxing.

| Failure: Nuclear Devastation Earth Strike will be lost. |

Volk's eyes widened, with his heart immediately skipping

a beat.

Traitors?

For real?

There were traitors among them, and he had no idea who they could be.