Three days ago.
Luna walked through the forest with Roselle by her side.
Her eyes sparkled with wonder as she took in everything around her. The towering trees. The patches of colorful wildflowers. The sounds of birds and rustling leaves.
She ran ahead excitedly, then circled back, then ran off again.
"Look, look!"
She plucked a flower and bounded back to Roselle, holding it up proudly.
Roselle knelt down and accepted it with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Young Lord. It’s beautiful."
Luna bead and dashed off once more, chasing after a butterfly.
Roselle watched her go.
The Young Lord is too cute.
Then her expression shifted.
Her eyes darted to the side.
Tch. They’re here.
Her smile returned.
But this is too little.
I need to catch a bigger fish.
"Young Lord!" she called out sweetly. "Please wait for !"
Luna paused and turned around.
"Okay!"
They continued deeper into the forest.
Roselle guided them further and further from the village, all while maintaining her cheerful deanor.
Eventually, they reached a dense clearing.
Luna tugged at Roselle’s sleeve.
"Should we go back now? Dad might be worried."
Roselle nodded.
"You’re right, Young Lord. Let’s..."
"Since you’re already here..."
A deep voice rumbled from the shadows.
"Why not stay forever?"
Roselle pulled Luna close, positioning herself protectively.
Heavy footsteps shook the ground.
From behind the trees erged a massive orc.
He stood nearly three ters tall. His skin was a deep green, covered in ritual scars. Muscles rippled beneath his hide as he walked.
A giant axe rested casually on his shoulder.
He pointed the weapon at Roselle.
"What do you think? It’s not a bad deal, right?"
Roselle smiled.
"You think you can take down by yourself?"
"That’s where you go wrong."
Another voice. Higher pitched.
"He’s not alone."
From the opposite direction, a figure erged from behind a tree.
A goblin.
But not like other common goblins. She was taller and had a more refined air around her. Ancient markings covered her weathered green skin. In her gnarled hands, she gripped a large wooden staff.
She pointed it at Roselle.
"What about now? Do you still think you can get away?"
Behind the shaman, goblins began erging from the underbrush. Dozens of them. Ard with crude weapons, their eyes filled with malice.
Behind the Orc King, more orcs gathered. Each one massive and ard.
They surrounded Roselle and Luna completely.
Roselle’s eyes widened.
"The two of you... tead up?"
The Goblin Shaman cackled.
"Don’t you know? In the human world, they have a saying."
She grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
"The enemy of your enemy is your friend."
The Orc King wore a smug smile, his tusks gleaming.
Roselle looked around.
They were surrounded by enemies on all sides with no path of escape.
Luna tugged at her clothing.
"Roselle... are these bad people?"
Roselle’s expression softened.
"No, Young Lord. They’re just old friends."
She surveyed their surroundings once more.
This is bad.
I hadn’t expected these two to team up.
I was planning to pluck them one by one.
Then she exhaled slowly.
Well... maybe this is a good thing.
It makes things much easier for .
Red markings began spreading across her face.
Her nails elongated into razor-sharp claws.
Her aura exploded outward, sending a shockwave through the clearing.
The Goblin Shaman’s eyes narrowed.
"Everyone, be careful! She’s entered her combat form!"
The Orc King raised his axe.
"CHARGE!"
The army surged forward.
Luna clutched tighter at Roselle’s clothing.
"They... they don’t look like friends."
Roselle exhaled to calm herself.
"You’re right. They are indeed not friends."
"Young Lord, what should I do now? I was thinking we capture them and bring them to Lord Lunaris."
She tilted her head.
"What do you think?"
Luna considered this seriously.
Then she nodded.
"Capture them. Bring them to Dad."
Roselle’s smile widened.
"Consider it done."
...
Present day.
The church.
Luna sat on a small cushion, hugging Lunaris tightly against her chest. His sli form squished comfortably in her arms.
"And then we fought!" she declared proudly.
Lunaris processed her story.
"Hmm. So that’s what happened."
The events seed a little suspicious.
But he supposed it was alright.
Knock. Knock.
Roselle’s voice ca from beyond the door.
"My Lord, I’ve brought them."
Lunaris hopped out of Luna’s hands.
He transford mid-air, landing on his feet in human form.
"Let’s see these so-called Goblin Shaman and Orc King."
...
Earlier.
The Orc King’s face twisted with rage.
"That damn rabbit! How dare she do this to us!"
He slamd his fist against the ground.
"When I get out of here, I’ll crush her skull with my bare hands!"
The Goblin Shaman remained silent, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
"Haven’t you noticed sothing strange?" she asked quietly.
The Orc King grunted.
"What?"
He asked, disinterested.
The Shaman turned to face him.
"Haven’t you realized how weird it is? Roselle got so strong all of a sudden."
She tapped her staff against the ground.
"For beings like us who have almost reached our peak... we don’t just grow overwhelmingly stronger overnight. That’s not how it works."
The Orc King clicked his tongue.
"So what? It’s just a little strength."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Just you wait. I’ll definitely defeat her next ti."
The Shaman fell silent.
This guy...
He’s all muscle with no brains.
Why did I even team up with him?
Her gaze drifted to the village around them.
Rabbit beastn moved about, going about their daily tasks. Building. Carrying supplies. Training.
But sothing was off.
Even these random villagers... their base strength seed to have exploded.
She could sense it. The mana flowing through their bodies was denser and more refined.
It’s definitely not as simple as "just a little strength."
Just what the hell is going on here?
"Oh, there you are."
A voice ca from behind them.
They spun around instantly.
Roselle stood before them, her expression calm.
"You...!"
The Orc King roared and charged toward her without hesitation.
His massive fra barreled forward, fists raised to strike.
The Shaman just facepald.
This idiot...
Roselle didn’t move.
She simply raised one hand.
Her palm caught the Orc King’s head mid-charge.
Then she slamd it into the ground.
CRASH!
The earth cracked beneath the impact.
Before he could react, she lifted him by the skull, bringing his face level with hers.
Her eyes bored into his.
"I’ve been tolerating your disobedience for a while now."
Her grip tightened.
"Because I had so use for you."
The Orc King struggled, but he couldn’t break free.
"I’m going to bring you to et my Lord."
Her voice dropped.
"Unlike , who can tolerate your disrespect..."
Her eyes began to glow.
"If you dare show this attitude to my Lord..."
The Orc King froze.
He felt it.
His imminent death.
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