Chapter 391: Two more
The celebration that followed was unlike anything the floating island had ever witnessed. The air, once thick with tension and venom, now felt electrified with relief and triumph. The Pig Orcs erupted into loud, guttural cheers that echoed across the vast expanse of sky and land. Their deep voices blended into a rhythmic chant as they pounded their massive fists against their chests and stomped their feet in unison, the sound resonating like a war drum. Their primal energy was infectious, and soon, even the floating island seed to vibrate with their enthusiasm.
Lyerin stood at the heart of it all, his arms crossed, a confident grin spread across his face as he watched the victorious Orcs roar and revel in their hard-earned victory. His sharp eyes flicked to the girls, who had been hesitant at first but were slowly getting swept up in the Orcs’ contagious energy.
Sophia, still pale from her earlier collapse, managed a small laugh as Emily clapped her on the back. “You know,” Emily said, her voice tinged with relief, “I think I finally understand why they’re so loyal to him. They fight like they’ve got nothing to lose but everything to gain.”
Maria, anwhile, had her hands clasped in front of her, whispering a quiet prayer of thanks. But even she couldn’t help but chuckle softly when Cornelia—always the strategist—began analyzing the fight out loud, gesturing animatedly as she described the turning point when the Pig Orcs began adapting to the toxic fus.
“They’re incredible,” Cornelia said, her voice rising with excitent. “Do you realize what that adaptation signifies? It’s not just brute strength—it’s evolution in real-ti! That’s… that’s unheard of!”
Elena rolled her eyes playfully, nudging Cornelia. “Alright, Professor, we get it. The Pig Orcs are amazing. Now stop talking and enjoy the mont for once.”
The Pig Orcs, for their part, began gathering around the massive carcass of the serpent, their enormous hands patting each other’s backs and gripping each other’s shoulders in gestures of camaraderie. One of them, clearly the leader, raised its war hamr high above its head and let out a triumphant bellow that sent a ripple of cheers through the group.
Lyerin chuckled, shaking his head as he turned to the girls. “You see? This is why they’re mine. They don’t just fight—they celebrate like their lives depend on it.”
Fiona tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “And what about you, Lyerin? Aren’t you going to join them?”
Lyerin smirked, his expression equal parts amused and smug. “I lead the fight. They lead the party.”
Despite his words, Lyerin couldn’t resist joining in, albeit in his own way. He raised a hand, and with a flick of his fingers, summoned glowing orbs of light that floated above the group, casting a warm, golden glow over the island. The Pig Orcs paused for a mont, their eyes wide with awe as they looked up at the shimring lights.
“Is that… magic?” Lydia asked, her voice hushed.
“Not just any magic,” Lyerin replied, his tone almost teasing. “It’s a little sothing to remind them that even in victory, there’s beauty to be found.”
The girls exchanged glances, a mixture of admiration and disbelief on their faces.
As the lights continued to dance above them, the Pig Orcs began a new chant, their voices harmonizing in a deep, resonant lody that was both haunting and beautiful. The girls were drawn to it, their earlier apprehension lting away as they found themselves swaying to the rhythm.
Sophia, who had regained her strength, stepped closer to Lyerin. “Do they always celebrate like this?” she asked, her voice soft.
“Always,” Lyerin replied. “Victory is rare in their world. When it cos, they make sure it’s rembered.”
The celebration stretched on, with the Pig Orcs creating a makeshift feast from supplies they had carried and the edible parts of the serpent. They roasted chunks of its flesh over an open fire, the savory aroma filling the air. The girls hesitated at first but eventually joined in, their hunger outweighing their reservations.
Maria took a tentative bite and her eyes widened. “It’s… good,” she admitted, much to the amusent of the others.
Natalie, always the adventurous one, grinned. “See? I told you, sotis you’ve just got to try things.”
As the night wore on, the group moved closer to the fire, their earlier tension and fear replaced with laughter and lighthearted banter. The Pig Orcs, ever the protectors, stood watch around the periter, their glowing red eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of danger.
Lyerin leaned back against a rock, his expression one of quiet satisfaction as he watched the girls interact with the Orcs, their initial wariness giving way to genuine curiosity and respect.
“This,” he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire, “is how bonds are forged.”
The celebration continued late into the night, the sound of laughter, chants, and crackling fire carrying across the floating island. It was a mont of unity, a brief respite in their journey, and for the first ti in what felt like ages, they allowed themselves to simply enjoy the victory they had earned.
However, the celebration was abruptly interrupted when the ground beneath them began to quake again. The tremor was faint at first, barely noticeable amidst the laughter and chanting of the Pig Orcs and the girls’ conversation. But as seconds passed, it grew stronger, the vibrations rippling through the floating island like the pulse of a slumbering giant waking from its rest.
Lyerin’s sharp eyes narrowed as he stood, his senses imdiately alert. The girls froze mid-laughter, their expressions shifting from joy to unease. The Pig Orcs, ever vigilant, ceased their chants and turned toward the source of the rumbling.
“Lyerin,” Maria whispered, her voice trembling as she clutched at her cloak. “What’s happening?”
Before Lyerin could answer, the ground cracked in several places, sending small chunks of stone tumbling into the abyss below. From the fissures, an eerie hiss echoed, low and nacing, like a warning carried on the wind.
Lyerin raised his hand, signaling the Pig Orcs to form a defensive periter. Their massive fras moved swiftly, their earlier celebratory deanor replaced with the grim focus of seasoned warriors.
“Stay close,” Lyerin commanded the girls, his voice calm but firm. “Do not stray from my side, no matter what happens.”
The tremors intensified, and then, with a sudden and violent burst, the ground erupted not far from where the serpent’s carcass lay. Dust and debris filled the air as two massive forms erged from the darkness below, their scales shimring like molten tal under the light of Lyerin’s conjured orbs.
The creatures were nearly identical to the serpent they had just defeated—towering and serpentine, their bodies coiling and uncoiling with an unnerving fluidity. Their eyes glowed with a predatory light, and their forked tongues flicked out, tasting the air.
The girls huddled closer to Lyerin, their faces pale with fear. Even the Pig Orcs seed montarily taken aback, their weapons gripped tightly in their massive hands.
“What… what are those?” Fiona stamred, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Kin,” Lyerin replied, his tone grim. “They’ve co for the one we killed.”
The two beasts moved with deliberate slowness, their massive heads swaying as they scanned their surroundings. One of them let out a guttural hiss, a sound that reverberated through the air like a chilling song of rage and sorrow.
Then, both creatures turned their attention to the serpent’s corpse. Their glowing eyes locked onto it, and they froze, their bodies going eerily still.
The tension in the air was suffocating as everyone watched, waiting for the inevitable. Lyerin’s hand rested on the hilt of his blade, his body coiled like a spring, ready to act.
The scene ended with the two colossal serpents towering over the fallen beast, their unreadable gazes fixed on the lifeless form of their kin, the weight of their presence a dark on of the battle yet to co.
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