The first light of dawn filtered through twisted branches, casting a pale green hue over the forest floor. The camp stirred early—warriors sharpening blades, checking armor, exchanging quiet words.
Aditya's voice rang clear over the morning mist. "Move in tight formation. Shields up. Eyes open. We know what to expect."Veer, Ashish, and the others moved close, the night's campfire stories lingering in their minds—grief, rage, and determination propelling each step.The raid pressed cautiously into the orc-disrupted forest. Broken carts, scorched trunks, and scattered bones spoke volumes about their foe's cunning."This is too quiet," muttered Jiya beside one captain, spear ready.Veer's gaze swept the dense treeline. "They're waiting."The first wave struck like a test—a small squad of orcs flanked by snarling war wolves. They charged to disrupt the formation.Veer and Ashish moved as one, their shields faintly glowing. Blades struck with practiced coordination.Aditya's wind swept across the battlefield, forcing enemies into tight clusters. Spears and swords found marks with precision. Minutes later, the initial wave was scattered."We're stronger," Ashish said grimly. "We can push through."Veer nodded, adrenaline surging. For the first time, the forest felt conquerable.But victory was fleeting.A strange wind rustled treetops—not Aditya's familiar breeze, but cold, sharp, unnatural. Then a guttural, melodic chant echoed through the clearing.From shadows stepped a figure unlike any orc before.Tall and lithe, with dark green skin and faint violet eyes, she traced intricate shapes in the air. Arcane symbols of fire, shadow, and distortion shimmered around her.The orc mage.Her chant warped reality—trees twisted into beasts, shadows became serpentine predators, flames erupted without cause. Behind her surged a second wave of orcs—marked with strange runes, their strength and speed far beyond normal.The formation wavered. Shields clashed weakly against magical illusions. Panic rippled their ranks."Fall back!" a captain shouted, drowned by the mage's incantations.Veer's heart thundered. Ashish fought fiercely, fists glowing as he felled foes. Yet enemy numbers swallowed every kill.Aditya roared, cutting through dozens with wind, but the mage's fiery wall repelled, forcing him back.Chaos reigned. Soldiers tripped on false terrain, warriors cried out, and the battlefield twisted into a deadly maze.By mid-morning, the raid fractured.Aditya and guild veterans pressed toward the mage's position, battling forward but isolated.Jiya led a cluster maintaining order among scattered warriors.Veer, Ashish, and the quiet boy fled through a narrow pass, avoiding illusions and traps.Veer stole glances back—the mage's power was overwhelming, each spell spawning new dangers. Even disciplined warriors staggered.Ashish trembled with rage, "We can't let her win."The quiet boy's sharp eyes scanned relentlessly. "We have to hold until we find cover."
No cover came.Enhanced orcs charged—larger, stronger, exponentially more dangerous.Veer's shield flared as he braced the first impact. Ashish's stone-like body radiated power. The quiet boy manipulated gravity subtly, drawing enemies off balance, but they were too many.Veer's heart raced with adrenaline and fear.He looked at Ashish and the quiet boy. "We survive. Together."In unison, they charged—energy blazing, ready for the true test.They fought not just orcs, but the changing face of the disaster zone.