The Do-Over System:My Beloved is the Villain! - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: 02/14- Orcs

The orcs in the clearing hissed and grunted in their deep, guttural tongue, a language as ancient as the mountains they called home. Their voices rumbled like distant thunder, words full of malice and challenge. Skye, trained in understanding various dialects, recognized the harsh sounds of the orc language. It was a language of power and intimidation, a tool used by the orcs to assert their dominance and instill fear.

“Ulgor haktov!” the leader of the orcs snarled, his voice booming with fury. The phrase roughly translated to “Surrender, or face death!” The words carried an intensity that seemed to shake the very trees surrounding them.

Skye’s eyes narrowed as he translated the words in his mind. He had dealt with orcs before, but this group felt different—stronger, more organized. Their language was a reflection of their brutal culture, and he could sense that this group had a leader who was no mere warrior.

The leader raised his weapon, a massive iron axe that gleamed under the moonlight. He shouted another command in orcish, “Gor’gath zin kuhlor!” which meant “Kill the intruder! Bring the Oracle to me!” As the orcs charged forward, their weapons raised high, Skye’s instincts kicked into overdrive.

He moved quickly, the orcish language ringing in his ears, as he ducked under a swing from one of the orcs, slashing at its exposed side. The orc let out a screech, stumbling back in pain, but the battle was far from over. More orcs charged in, forming a brutal wall of muscle and fury. The ground beneath them trembled as they advanced.

Leona, still chained but now gathering her strength, caught Skye’s eye. She was trying to summon her magic, but the restraints were hampering her focus. Skye knew that time was running out. The orcs were relentless, and without her help, it would only be a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.

“Zogthak! Kaltha!” The leader shouted, using the orcish command for “Bend the weak! Tear them apart!” His words fueled the orcs’ bloodlust, and Skye felt the intensity of their charge. His dragonkin blood surged, and with a roar, he swung his claws wide, slashing through an orc’s midsection, the creature falling with a guttural scream.

But the orcs kept coming, their strength bolstered by the power of their language. Skye knew he couldn’t take them all on at once. He needed to find a way to tip the balance in their favor.

In a split second, he remembered the language of the orcs, and how their words were as powerful as their weapons. The way they wielded their language as a form of magic was something Skye had studied during his time in the mountains. He could use their own language against them.

With a fierce yell, Skye bellowed a phrase in orcish, his voice carrying across the clearing. “Grath’ol kor daz’gar!” The words, meaning “Bow to the fire!” caused the remaining orcs to hesitate, confusion flickering in their eyes. Skye’s voice, tinged with the power of his dragonkin heritage, echoed through the forest, temporarily disorienting the orcs. They faltered for a moment, unsure of what had just happened.

Leona, seeing the opportunity, gathered the last of her strength and cast a powerful spell, her hands glowing with ethereal light. The chains around her wrists shattered in a brilliant burst of magic, and she summoned a storm of wind and fire, scattering the orcs in all directions.

The leader of the orcs roared in frustration, his eyes narrowing at the sight of his forces being torn apart. He rallied the remaining orcs with one last command, “Fah’kor val grom!” which meant “Take them all! No mercy!” But it was too late. Skye and Leona had already turned the tide in their favor.

Skye let out a fierce roar of his own, his wings unfurling as he leaped into the air, his claws cutting through the remaining orcs with deadly precision. Leona, her magic now fully unleashed, swept through the battlefield, her power crackling like thunder. The orcs, though fierce, had underestimated the strength of their captives.

The leader of the orcs, seeing that his forces were being decimated, looked at Skye with burning hatred. “This isn’t over!” he bellowed in orcish, his words laced with venom. “You will pay for this, dragonkin!”

But Skye, his claws dripping with the blood of the fallen orcs, stood tall. “No, it ends now,” he said, his voice cold and filled with finality. With one last strike, he felled the leader, the massive orc’s body crashing to the ground with a thundering noise.

The clearing was silent for a moment, the only sound being the crackling of the fire that still burned nearby. Skye’s breath was heavy, and his body ached from the battle, but he was victorious. The orcs were defeated.

Leona approached him, her face tired but relieved. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

Skye gave her a small, tired smile. “No need to thank me. I’ll always come for you.” He watched as she steadied herself, her eyes still filled with power and determination.

Together, they had won, but Skye knew this was just one battle in a much larger war. The orcs were only a small part of something far more dangerous, and Skye wasn’t about to let Leona face it alone. They had survived this night, but there would be more challenges ahead.

The young orc, his tusks gleaming in the dim moonlight, eyed Leona curiously. “Who do we have here?” he said, his voice thick with mockery. “Wait, isn’t she the famous oracle? The one they say can see the future? Can you tell my fortune, eh?” The orc’s laugh echoed across the clearing, a guttural, teasing sound that sent a shiver down Skye’s spine. The orc leaned in closer, his eyes full of mischief. “Come on, tell me, what do the stars say about a young warrior like me?”

Leona stared at him, her expression unwavering. Despite the orc’s bravado, her gaze remained calm and collected, as if she had seen this kind of behavior countless times before. She gave a small, polite nod, but her attention was focused elsewhere. She could sense something wasn’t right in the air, a shift in the tension around them. The band of orcs may have been defeated, but the danger was far from over.

As the young orc grinned, waiting for a response from Leona, Skye’s instincts went on high alert. His eyes scanned the clearing, searching for any sign of movement that might suggest an ambush. The woods surrounding them were eerily quiet, too quiet for comfort. Skye’s dragonkin senses tingled, but before he could react, he felt the ground beneath his feet give way.

A snare trap, cleverly hidden in the underbrush, suddenly tightened around his ankle, and Skye was yanked off his feet. His body jerked violently as he was pulled up into the air, the trap having caught him by the leg and lifting him several feet off the ground. The world spun as Skye dangled, caught in the trap’s cruel hold.

“Skye!” Leona shouted, alarmed as she turned to see him hanging helplessly, his wings flailing slightly in a futile attempt to right himself. The orcs, noticing the trap, started to chuckle among themselves. “Looks like your pet’s in a bit of trouble, eh?” the young orc sneered, the taunting words echoing through the clearing. His comrades grinned, obviously enjoying the sight of Skye struggling in the snare.

Skye gritted his teeth, his face flush with anger and embarrassment. “Damn it,” he muttered, his claws scraping the air in frustration as he tried to break free. His attempts were in vain, the trap sturdy and well-made. “This isn’t over,” he growled under his breath, though it was hard to sound menacing when he was dangling from a rope like a helpless prey.

Leona, seeing Skye in peril, wasted no time. She quickly began to chant in a language older than most, the air around her shimmering with power. The ground beneath her feet hummed, and a surge of magical energy shot toward Skye. Her hands extended, a bolt of brilliant light spiraling out from her palm. The magic wrapped around Skye’s legs, attempting to unravel the snare.

The young orc’s expression faltered for a moment as he saw Leona’s power, but his amusement quickly returned. “You think you can save him with your little tricks, Oracle?” he jeered, his laughter ringing through the clearing. But Leona’s focus never wavered. Her magic glowed brighter, more intense as she poured everything into freeing Skye.

The snare started to loosen, and Skye felt the rope loosen around his leg, but the trap was still tight. The orcs began to advance, weapons raised, eyeing Leona now with a more dangerous intent. “We’ll see how long that magic holds, Oracle,” the young orc sneered, his comrades brandishing crude swords and axes.

Skye’s wings fluttered, still struggling, but now with renewed determination. “Just a little longer, Leona,” he murmured, trusting in her abilities to save him. Despite his current predicament, he could feel the strength of her magic reaching him, working its way into the trap. “You’ve got this.”

The battle wasn’t over yet. The orcs were closing in, but Skye knew Leona’s power was capable of turning the tide.