Ushnar the Battle Leader
Ushnar threw another punch to the elf's body.
The prisoner cried out in pain.
"Please! No more, I've told you everything I knew," the elf pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
The orc swung his fist again, hitting the elf in the sternum. The elf screamed in agony.
"Now tell me—what was their plan? Where were they hiding?" Ushnar demanded.
"I've told you before, great orc! They didn't share their plans with me. They just left… without freeing me!" The elf begged, voice trembling.
Ushnar kicked him hard. The elf doubled over, struggling to catch his breath.
"You need to understand this, elf. I will not allow my son's future to be destroyed, nor my pack to be executed. I will break every bone in your body and cut you slowly to pieces until you tell me where they are," the orc declared harshly.
The elf tried to cringe away, desperation in his wide eyes.
"I—If you worry about your family or your pack because of what happened… I—I know someone who can help you. He can ensure your family's safety… as well as your comrades."
Ushnar laughed bitterly at the suggestion. If only it could be true.
He struck the elf again with his fist. The elf grunted in pain.
"You dare insult my intellect, elf? You think you can fool us? Play games with us?"
Ushnar's blows rained down until the elf sagged helplessly in his bindings.
"Now, for the last time—tell me where they are, or I will start breaking your bones."
"Borkul… will help you," the elf gasped.
Ushnar froze at the mention of their clan leader. With a snarl, he grabbed the elf's neck violently with one hand, squeezing tight.
"How did you know his name?" he growled fiercely.
The elf's face turned red from the choking. Then suddenly—his demeanor shifted. He began laughing.
"Your clan leader Borkul serves a new master now, orc," the elf declared with renewed energy, his confidence startling Ushnar.
Ushnar balled his fist and slammed it into the elf's face. But to his shock—the elf ignored it, as though it were nothing more than a breeze.
The elf looked up at him, smiling.
"Would you like to meet your leader's new master? Here… let me show you."
In the blink of an eye, the trees were gone.
Replaced by a vast courtroom with floors of inlaid marble and rare stone. At the end of the hall loomed a massive throne, carved from the skull of a dragon.
Beneath it lay piles of bones and skulls from every creature in the Ancient Realm.
"What sorcery is this?" Ushnar whispered, breath shaking.
It had to be a hallucination. He blinked, shook his head, trying to tear himself from the nightmare.
Then he saw it.
A figure made of shadow, sitting upon the throne. Blazing eyes pierced into him. Every bone in Ushnar's body locked, frozen in paralyzing fear.
"Do you know who I am?" the shadowed figure asked in a deep, ominous voice.
In another blink—he was back in the forest.
The elf was still laughing at him.
"Did you see the Dark Lord, orc? Will you serve him?" His laughter grew maniacal.
Ushnar snapped out of his paralysis and pummeled the elf with furious punches.
"What did you do to me!" he roared.
The elf shrugged off the blows, still laughing.
"He will conquer and rule all the Dark Realm, you know. Will you serve him? Or do you prefer to die?"
"Fool! Do you think your meager illusion is enough to defeat the Demon Emperor?" Ushnar growled. He was tired of wasting his fists.
"Let's see if breaking your bones will make you talk." He decided to start with the elf's fingers.
"Illusion?"
The voice rumbled. Ushnar's eyes widened. He was no longer in the forest.
Once again, he stood in the vast courtroom.
Suddenly, his body was yanked into the air, dragged violently to hover before the shadowed figure on the throne.
"Illusion?" the blazing eyes burned into him.
Then, the scene shifted.
He stood atop a massive tower. Ushnar gasped, looking down at a sprawling city being built by countless goblins. Slaves from the light races toiled alongside them.
He turned his gaze outward. Vast walls surrounded the city, bristling with guards. To the east—an enormous army of dark creatures, unlike any he had ever seen.
Above, the night sky stretched across the Never Day. Nine moons glowed brilliantly among the stars.
"Illusion?" The voice asked again—this time, right behind him.
Ushnar spun. The dark figure loomed, eyes blazing.
Beside him knelt a massive orc with a heavy black mane—one Ushnar recognized instantly.
"You summoned me, Dark Lord?" the orc announced, kneeling on one knee before the shadowed master.
"Borkul," the Dark Lord said, "this orc claims that everything here is an illusion."