Second World

Jack did not mind the guyʼs insensitive comment, he was just glad that this would be over soon.

He heard some drumming sound in the distance. The orcs started to move away after this drum sound was heard. He assumed the sound contained some messages that only the orc understood. This must be how they communicated in the field, since they didnʼt have instant communication system like the players. That sound just now must have called for them to regroup with the main army.

??

As the orcs left, they also headed in the same direction, making sure not to get too close with the marching orcs.

When they arrived back at the place where the main battlefield used to take place. They saw both armies were lining neatly opposite each other. Jack and the others joined back with the main army. Bailey was there, she went to receive Prince Alonzo. She had managed to break free from Hubesi and the other orcs after providing enough time for the prince to escape. She had been searching around the battlefield in vain for the prince before regrouping with the main army and was told by Captain Salem that the prince was safe with Jack.

In the empty space between the two armies, the leaders of the Humans and the Orcs stood facing each other and appeared to be conversing. The players went forward to the front of the army to where John and Captain Salem were standing.

”What are they doing? Having after-war chats?” Jack asked John.

”Something like that,” John replied simply.

ʼShould have known to not ask this a**hole,ʼ Jack grumbled in his mind. Captain Salem was more considerate. He told Jack that both parties had decided on a ceasefire. The leaders were discussing the terms and agreeing on non-aggression for a determined timeline.

”There is such a thing?” Jack asked.

”Apparently there is, itʼs their culture. At least for the humans and orcs,” John commented.

”Good thing there is no casualties amongst the dukeʼs and the others,” Jack said, but he could see most of them had their HP less than half already. ”I was worried there will be some that die, considering they fought for entire day and night.”

”They only fought to prevent the other from interfering with the battle of the army,” Captain Salem explained. ”They were not really serious to fight to the death. There was also Laurent present, it would be difficult to kill someone if the High Priest intends on keeping the said person alive. That Overseer beside the Warlord is also a Master Shaman, his healing prowess was not low either.”

”I thought they were fighting separately?”

”They were at first,” John said. ”But when the High Priest started healing the others that were low in HP, the Orc Master Shaman did the same as well.”

”Anyway, glad the war is over. It is really over, right?” Jack asked.

”Looks like it, for now,” Captain Salem said.

”Great, I was sleepy as hell,” Jack said, he looked to the side and saw some of the players were already lying down on the sandy ground, uncaring of the soldiers around who gave them weird looks.

”Oh, so you guys havenʼt slept? I had a really nice sleep last night inside the defensive formation,” John gloated.

Jack completely ignored the guy as he asked Captain Salem, ”so how long will this peace talk last? Can I go to the back and assembled my tent first?”

Before Captain Salem could reply, a thundering voice suddenly resounded, ”Who is the outworlder that killed my son! Show yourself!!”

Jack looked over and saw that it was the aide of the Warlord who had made the shout, the one that they called the Overseer and Master Shaman.

”Iʼm Badu Thickskull, Overseer of the army of Warlord Abasi Raretooth! I demand the outworlder who was with the Prince to show himself! You have the guts to kill my son and yet did not dare to show yourself? Coward!!”

An orc came over to the Overseerʼs side, he then pointed in the direction of Jack. Baduʼs eyes stared straight at Jack as he shouted, ”you? Coward! Are you the one that killed my son? Are you so coward to deny it?”

Jack was stumped by the sudden allegation. He yelled back, ”the hell! Mister, I donʼt even know who your son is!”

”My son is Wangombe Thickskull! You killed him when you are with the prince!”

Oh, Wangombe. Now he remembered. It was that Grunt orc who he had killed together with the Captain of his team when he was saving the prince.

”Oh, that piece of crap is your son? Iʼm sorry! I was saving the prince at the time, I have no choice but to do it,” Jack said.

Jeanny rolled her eyes at him. Do you have to apologize and insult people at the same time?

John, on the other hand, gave him a thumb up.

Hearing Jackʼs words, Overseer Badu roared with rage. He made a lunge forward, but both Duke Alfredo and Commander Quintus came and stood on his path.

”Badu, Stop!” Warlord Abasi stepped in.

Badu stopped, but his body was still trembling with rage.

Commander Quintus said, ”death is common on the battlefield. It is not just that outworlder who killed your son, my soldiers play a part as well. Your son had also killed many of my soldiers. Are you to deny his honor like this?”

”Do not teach me about honor, human!” Badu roared. ”I have no problem with your soldiers. As you said, this is war. It is our duty to fight. But these outworlders are different! They are outsiders! They know nothing of our honor!”

Warlord Abasi said to Duke Alfredo, ”duke, give me that outworlder, I will promise you support of peace from our clan against your kingdom, and I will send you conciliatory gifts when I get back to my clan.”

”I am sorry, those outworlders are our comrades. We are not going to sell our comrades,” the duke replied without hesitation.

”Hmph! Are you saying they are worth our wrath? They are just weak outsiders!”

”Let me tell you, these weak outsiders are the reason that you failed this war. It was thanks to their plan and their cooperation that we managed to beat you back despite your superior number.”

Warlord Abasi frowned when he heard it. The duke didnʼt sound to be lying.

Badu was unwilling, he yelled, ”I donʼt care! If you donʼt give me that outworlder, Iʼll–”

”Badu, control yourself!” Warlord Abasi called out.

”But…!”

”There will be time for revenge, now is not the time.”

Badu gave a death stare at Jack, he knew it would not be possible to take his vengeance now. After all, he was also the one that had reasoned with the warlord to stop the war. With the supply carts they had at the moment, it was only enough for a return trip to their nation. If they insisted on continuing the fight, they would be left with the decision to go all out against the human army and hopefully steal their supply carts when they defeated the human. There was no reason for this desperate do-or-die option.

Not to mention the probability of winning was also not that high. The supply carts not only housed water and food, but also recovery potions. Natives didnʼt have the magical space bag like the outworlders, so they had to carry the potions physically on their belts or backpacks. The army had been fighting with limited recovery potions and they had also lost a significant amount of healers due to the charge by the human cavalry reserve troops. So even though they still outnumbered the humans, the chance of victory was actually rather low.

That was of course before he learned of his sonʼs demise. Now he wished he had counseled the warlord to continue fighting. He roared loudly before turning away, pushing all the orcs that were in his way.

ʼGreat, now I got another high-level native enemy. Is this luck stat of mine really working?ʼ Jack complained in his mind.

”With your personality? Even triple your current luck stat will not be enough to avoid more enemies,” Peniel commented.

Warlord Abasi gave a last look and said, ”I congratulate you on your victory, Duke Alfredo. The glory this time is yours. Do understand that I will claim it back for my honor.” He then turned around and left.

”Wait!” Duke Alfredo called out.

”What is it? Our conversation should have finished,” Warlord Abasi stopped and said, but didnʼt turn back to look at the duke.

”Our armyʼs movement. You should have found out about it from someone. Can you let me know how you come to this information?”

Warlord Abasi snickered and said, ”your second prince.” He then walked away. There was no need to protect the second prince, he was not an ally after all. Let the princes of Themisphere fought amongst each other. That should weaken the country enough to allow an opportunity for an invasion.

The orcs started to retreat in an orderly manner. Warlord Abasi came to the side of the fuming Badu.

Badu noticed the presence of his liege, and said, ”Iʼm sorry, my lord. This rage has taken over me. I find it hard to control it even with this age of mine. Iʼm truly ashamed.”

”There is no shame in it,” Warlord Abasi said. ”I will carry this vengeance with you as well, Wagombe was also a part of my army after all. But as you see, that outworlder is protected by the Themisphere kingdom. We canʼt do anything to him if he continues to stay inside the kingdom. One way to solve that is to invade their country, but in order to do that, our Raretooth clan has to become the first clan, our chief becomes the grand chief. I will do all I can to make that happen, and then we will both get our revenge, my humiliation here, and the loss of your son.”

”I will put everything in me to support that into reality, my lord,” Badu said passionately.

Warlord Abasi had a moment of silence before he said, ”there is probably a need to change our nationʼs policy once we are back, I will talk with my father, the chief, once we are back.”

”What policy is that, my lord?”

”We should stop disregarding our nationʼs outworlders.”

😉