Suddenly, Volk’s expression shifted, the heavy tension in the air snapping like a taut string breaking.

He stood tall, his lips curling into an unexpected smirk.

Then, to the surprise of all, he began to clap.

The sound was slow and deliberate at first, each clap echoing through the silent crowd like the toll of a great bell.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

The Orcs around him exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of this abrupt change in tone.

Even Kragath, battered and trembling, looked up with a mix of confusion and suspicion.

“Well said, Kragath,” Volk began, his deep voice breaking the uneasy silence. He continued clapping, the sound now quicker, sharper. “You know what? I agree with you.”

Kragath blinked, his jaw slack. “W-what…?”

“Yes.” Volk nodded, his smirk widening. “You deserve credit. All of it. Without your sacrifice—your willingness to become the lapdog of humans—none of this would have been possible.”

He began to pace slowly around Kragath, his eyes scanning the gathered Orcs as he spoke.

“It’s true. If not for you, those monsters—those humans—would’ve swept through this forest like a flood. They would’ve wiped out every last one of you. Without your… bravery?”

He paused, pretending to consider the word before nodding.

“Yes, let’s call it bravery. Without your bravery, this horde wouldn’t exist. I wouldn’t have been able to gather you all under one banner.”

Kragath narrowed his eyes, unsure if Volk was mocking him or genuinely agreeing. “I did what I had to—”

“And you did it well!” Volk interrupted, his voice booming with theatrical enthusiasm.

“A dog. A slave. A shield. You were all those things for them. And because of you, because you bore that humiliation, they allowed this forest to survive. They allowed the Orcs to live.”

The gathered Orcs murmured amongst themselves, uneasy. Volk’s tone was strange—too friendly, too approving.

“And let’s not forget the humans,” Volk continued, his voice dropping into a mockingly reverent tone.

“Those terrifying, shiny warriors. Their swords, their magic, their overwhelming numbers. Truly, Kragath, you were right to fear them.”

He paused and turned to face the horde directly.

“Let’s all take a moment to remember how frightening they are.”

He held up his hands, as if summoning the fear itself.

“Their glittering armor! Their endless ranks! Their champions who stand so tall, so powerful! They are everything we Orcs should fear. Right?”

Some of the Orcs nodded hesitantly, others frowned, uncertain where this was going.

“RIGHT?” Volk barked suddenly, his voice sharp enough to make them jump.

“Yes!” Kragath interjected, desperate to regain some ground. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you! They’re too strong! You can’t—”

“But!” Volk held up a hand, silencing Kragath immediately. His smirk faded, replaced by a cold, commanding stare. “Times have changed.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and absolute.

“What did you say?” Kragath stammered, his voice weak.

“I said, times have changed.” Volk’s voice was like a hammer, each syllable striking with deliberate force.

“You speak of the past, of chains, of submission. But let me ask you, Kragath…”

He crouched down, his eyes locking onto the fallen Orc.

“Do you see chains on me? Do you see fear in my eyes? Do you see submission in my stride?”

Kragath’s lips trembled, but he said nothing.

Volk rose to his full height, towering over Kragath like a monolith.

“Those humans you feared? Those champions you cowered before? They’re not gods. They’re not invincible. They’re flesh and blood, just like us. And flesh and blood can break. It can bleed. It can burn.”

He turned to the horde, his voice growing louder, more fervent.

“We are not slaves. We are not dogs. We are Orcs! Born to fight. Born to conquer. Born to rise above those who would chain us!”

The Orcs began to stir, their unease melting away as Volk’s words ignited a fire within them.

“You call yourself our savior, Kragath,” Volk continued, his voice a thunderous roar now. “But all you did was buy time with cowardice. And now that time is up. Because I’m here. And I don’t kneel. I don’t bow. And I sure as hell don’t fear humans!”

He pointed a gauntleted finger at Kragath, his voice filled with scorn.

“You speak of sacrifice as if you’re the only one who’s bled for this horde. But let me make one thing clear. Your time is over. Your fear dies here. Your chains end now. Because I am Volk, and this horde will never kneel again!”

Kragath’s face twisted, a mix of anger, fear, and humiliation. “You’re a fool…” he muttered weakly.

“No, Kragath,” Volk said, his voice calm once more, dripping with finality. “You’re just scared, and I will show why you are scared!.”

The horde erupted in a deafening cheer, the sound shaking the very ground beneath them. Volk turned his back to Kragath, his gauntlet shining in the dim light.

“To prove to all of you that times have changed,” Volk said again, quieter this time, but no less powerful.

And with that, he walked away, the horde following him like a tide.

Not long, Volk’s footsteps came to a halt, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the uneven terrain.

The Orcs behind him also stopped, their murmuring subsiding as they looked to their leader for guidance.

Then, without warning—

DING!

A sound rang in Volk’s head, clear and distinct, like a hammer striking steel.

His vision flickered, and there it was—a system notification hovering in front of his eyes, etched in radiant energy.

[ Mission Complete: The Warchief’s Call! ]

| Objective: Form a new horde in the Orzaroth Realm by adopting scattered Wild Orcs or Ogres.

| Reward: Exact location and status of original horde members. Random radioactive horde power-up.

| Failure: Horde marks disappearance.

| Status: COMPLETED. |

A brief moment of satisfaction flashed in Volk’s eyes as he read the completion message. But his focus was interrupted by an abrupt shift in the air.

It started faintly, almost imperceptibly, like the gentle hum of a distant storm.

Volk stiffened.

His senses were sharp, attuned to even the smallest disturbances, and this… this was unusual.

His brows furrowed as he scanned the surroundings, and then he felt it.

At first, it was so weak that even Volk questioned if it was real or just his imagination.

The ground beneath his feet seemed to quiver ever so slightly, like the heartbeat of a sleeping giant.

The Orcs behind him began murmuring again, confusion rippling through their ranks.

One of the newly recruited Wild Orcs stepped forward, his face twisted in a mix of curiosity and apprehension. “Warchief…? Do you feel that?”

Volk raised a hand, silencing him immediately. “Relax,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “Stay still. Watch.”

—

The Horde’s Reactions

The vibrations intensified, growing from a barely-there tremor to something tangible, almost alive.

The Orcs began to shift uneasily.

“What is this?” one gruff voice called out, its owner scratching at his chest as if trying to brush off an unseen insect.

“Is it the humans?” another asked, his hand already reaching for his weapon.

“No… it’s something else…” murmured a female Orc, her eyes narrowing as she stomped her foot, trying to match the rhythm of the vibration.

The sensation spread through their bodies now.

It wasn’t just the ground—it was them.

The vibration started weak, like a faint shiver running up their spines.

Then, it grew stronger, sharper, resonating deep within their bones.

One Orc let out a startled gasp. “My arms—they’re… shaking!” He held up his hands, the fingers trembling like leaves in a storm.

Another clutched at his chest, his voice a mix of awe and fear. “It’s like my heart’s beating too fast, but I’m not even running!”

Volk’s eyes narrowed. He turned, scanning his horde, taking in their various reactions.

One Orc stomped his foot repeatedly, as if trying to quell the vibrations coursing through his legs.

Another gritted her teeth, flexing her arms as if fighting to keep them still.

A younger Orc dropped to one knee, slamming his fist into the dirt to steady himself.

“What’s happening to us?” one called out, his voice tinged with panic.

“It feels… it feels like my blood is boiling!” shouted another, his veins bulging visibly against his green skin.

“Silence!” Volk barked, his voice cutting through the growing cacophony like a blade.

“Relax,” he repeated, his voice calm but firm. He stood tall, his gauntleted hand raised as if to hold the vibrations themselves at bay. “Whatever this is, it’s not an attack. Focus. Let it happen.”

But the Orcs couldn’t relax. The vibrations only grew stronger.

Their bodies trembled violently now, their muscles twitching uncontrollably.

One Orc’s legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching at his chest.

Another let out a guttural roar, swinging his axe wildly in an attempt to expel the strange energy.

Volk, however, remained calm. His body vibrated just as much as the others, but his expression was one of cold focus.

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, feeling the energy coursing through him.

“It’s not pain,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. “It’s power.”

As the vibrations reached a fever pitch, something incredible began to happen.

The Orcs’ green skin glowed faintly, an ethereal light pulsing beneath the surface.

Their eyes widened as they looked at one another, the glow spreading like wildfire through the horde.

“Oh shit?” one whispered, staring at his glowing hands in awe.

“Am I… changing?” another asked, his voice trembling with both fear and wonder.

The vibrations reached their peak, and then—just as suddenly as they had started—they stopped.

The silence that followed was deafening.

From his position behind the horde, Kragath watched the entire scene unfold, his battered body slumped against a boulder.

His jaw, already bruised, dropped open further as he took in the sight before him.

“This can’t be,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

His eyes darted from one glowing Orc to the next, then to Volk, who stood at the center of it all like a beacon of power.

The gauntlet on Volk’s arm shimmered faintly, pulsating in time with the light radiating from the horde.

“No… no, this isn’t possible,” Kragath muttered, his voice rising in pitch. “That energy… that’s an Orc magic!!”

He tried to stand, his legs shaking beneath him, but the sheer weight of the realization forced him back down.

His hands gripped the dirt as he stared at Volk, his face pale with a mixture of awe and terror.

“This can’t be!” Kragath shouted, his voice cracking. “You… what are you?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep