The forest trembled.

At first, it was subtle—a faint rustling that could have been mistaken for the wind. The leaves shivered, and the branches swayed, their movements erratic and unnatural.

A strange quiet settled over the hidden horde.

The usual sounds of battle above—the screeching of harpies, the gusts of slicing wind—seemed to dull, muffled by some invisible force.

Volk’s brow furrowed. His glowing eyes scanned the canopy, sensing something amiss.

The Orcs and Ogres in the branches froze, gripping their weapons tighter as an eerie tension seeped into the air, like the calm before a violent storm.

Then it began.

CRACK.

A single, sharp sound echoed through the forest.

A branch splintered violently above, falling with a slow, almost deliberate grace.

The broken limb crashed to the ground, leaves scattering like droplets of blood. The Orcs glanced around, confused. Their nerves were taut.

CRACK-CRACK.

Another sound.

Then another.

Louder this time.

Closer.

Branches snapped and groaned in protest, their wood splintering with unnatural force.

Leaves cascaded downward, fluttering like green snow, caught in erratic bursts of wind that shouldn’t have been there.

“W-what’s happening?” one Orc muttered, his voice breaking the uneasy silence.

Volk’s gaze snapped upward, his senses sharp. His radioactive glow intensified as his instincts screamed at him. Something was wrong.

And then, the first tree fell.

BOOOOOOOM!

The earth shook with the impact. A mighty trunk, thicker than ten Orcs standing shoulder to shoulder, exploded at the base, sending it toppling like a titan brought low.

Leaves and debris erupted into the air, choking the light and filling the canopy with chaos.

The Orcs above screamed, clutching at branches as they swayed dangerously, nearly throwing them off.

The Ogres on the lower limbs flinched, their massive hands gripping bark as the vibrations pulsed through the trees.

One of them lost his balance, crashing to the ground below with a sickening THUD.

Volk’s roar cut through the madness. “HOLD YOUR GROUND!”

But it didn’t stop.

CRAAAAAACK—BOOOOOM!

Another tree splintered and fell, its massive trunk shearing through smaller branches like a blade through flesh.

The roots, ripped violently from the earth, sent cascades of soil and stones flying.

The noise was deafening—a primal symphony of snapping wood, collapsing giants, and screaming warriors.

The Orcs could only watch helplessly as the forest, their shelter, turned against them.

The canopy that once protected them now betrayed them, raining down destruction.

Leaves fell like a torrential downpour, their bright green turning black with dirt and blood.

Volk’s eyes darted across the collapsing grove, trying to pinpoint the source of the destruction.

His mind raced.

What was causing this?

The harpies?

No.

This was something else—something bigger.

“WHAT IN THE PIT IS HAPPENING?!” Volk bellowed, his voice shaking the branches near him.

Above, the harpies circled, their laughter echoing like haunting bells.

They weren’t attacking anymore—they were watching. Enjoying the spectacle.

CRACK. BOOOOOM. CRACK. BOOOOOM.

Tree after tree was ripped apart.

Mighty trunks groaned as their ancient bodies gave way, shattered by some unseen force.

Entire portions of the forest began to fall like dominos, their roots screaming as they were torn free from the earth.

Ogres bellowed in confusion, their massive bodies forced to leap from collapsing branches.

Some landed with crushing force, rolling to their feet with bloodied limbs.

.Orcs clung to the swaying canopy, only to be thrown loose as their perch gave way beneath them.

“VOLK! WHAT DO WE DO?!” an Orc screamed from above, his voice shrill and panicked.

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Volk’s hands curled into fists, his radioactive glow pulsing brighter—an ominous beacon of his fury.

“GET DOWN! EVERYONE—ON THE GROUND! NOW!”

His command sent a ripple through the horde. Orcs scrambled down tree trunks, sliding and leaping in desperation. Ogres dropped like boulders, their massive frames crashing into the earth, shaking it anew.

But the destruction wasn’t stopping. The falling trees were like a wave of annihilation, crashing closer, ever closer. It was as if the forest itself had turned into a living storm, tearing itself apart to devour them.

Volk’s gaze whipped upward just in time to see a massive tree hurtling toward him. Its roots were still clinging to chunks of earth as it fell with terrifying speed.

“MOVE!”

Volk dove to the side just as the tree crashed into the ground, sending an earth-shaking shockwave that rippled outward.

Dirt and debris exploded into the air, chunks of wood flying like shrapnel.

Volk rolled to his feet, his radioactive glow now a searing blaze against the darkening chaos.

The horde gathered on the ground, panting and bleeding, their numbers scattered amidst the debris.

The air was thick with dust and falling leaves, the light dimmed by the storm of destruction.

Volk stood at the center, his chest rising and falling with deep, controlled breaths. His glowing red eyes burned as he glared at the horizon, where the destruction seemed to have started—an unseen force still tearing its way closer.

The harpies were still above, circling like vultures, their mocking laughter echoing through the chaos. Volk could feel their gaze—piercing, judging—as if they reveled in his struggle.

“You think this will stop us?” Volk growled, his voice like a rumbling earthquake. “Is that it?! HAH! You cowards can burn this forest to the ground, and we’ll still find you! We’ll tear you out of the sky with our bare hands!”

The harpies gave no reply. Only more laughter.

But Volk felt it then—a shift in the air. A gnawing sensation. The source of the destruction was close. Very close.

The ground rumbled beneath his boots, faint at first, like distant thunder. His warriors felt it too, their eyes widening in terror as the earth trembled once more.

Volk’s glare narrowed. He stood tall, unbroken, despite the chaos around him.

“Whatever comes for us next, let it try,” he growled to himself, his radioactive glow blazing brighter as he prepared for the unknown.

The forest fell silent for a breath—a single, fragile moment of calm.

And then the next tree exploded.

The destruction surged forward, unstoppable and hungry.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep