One moment, Andrew was struggling forward, his footing uncertain; the next, the unforgiving ground rushed up to meet him with brutal force. A gasp escaped his lips as old wounds on his face reopened, warm blood trickling down his skin. Just as he tried to push himself up, a vast shadow blotted out the already dim light, and the lethal whoosh of a descending sword cut through the air, a hair's breadth from his neck.
Andrew's eyes snapped opened, sweating profusely and panting. He touched his neck and was glad it was still intact.
"It was just a dream" he muttered, relieved.
"Wait..a dream!! First, I slept in a dream, then I dreamt in a dream game!!"
"Could this get any weirder?!"
Immediately his expression lightened.
"Uhh.. that's true...I never actually fought the exact same opponents I fought when playing the game on the VR"
"Was the VR just a training?.. What a hassle" he said rubbing his head violently. "Let's see the weird task awaiting in Level three"
He stood up, dusted his worn out clothes and clenched tightly to his dagger.
The prompt appeared again.
[Commence Level Three]
"Commence"
The cave started pixelating, the dead wolves disappearing into thin air one after the other. In seconds, he found himself at the centre of a ruined city. Collapsed buildings, the smell of smoke and stench of blood mixed together to form an unpleasant odor.
[Welcome to Land of Ruins,Ogrema Clan, home of Female War Orcs ]
[Level Three Mission: Eliminate Ragnhildr, The Stone Heart]
[Rank: E1]
[Additional 30 Female War Orcs]
[Ranks: E2 to E3]
[Rewards: 4000 Coins_Orc Monarch Points Count Unlock_One free spin]
[Create A Personal Monarch (Reward)]
"Orc Monarch Point? How many species of dangerous creatures are in this game?"
Just before he could continue his neverending lamentations, he felt a sharp object heading towards him. His instincts kicked in and he immediately weaved the attack. The arrow whistled passed his face and landed in a wall.
Just as he was about to get back into position, two more arrows from opposite directions projected towards him. He threw himself up, weaved the first arrow and caught the second one in his right hand before it struck his skull.
He broke the arrow and scanned around trying to figure out where the attacks were coming from. He frowned his face and roared trying to be brave.
He started hearing footsteps from different angles, it was coming closer and closer. Shadows of different figures kept nearing him until it engulfed him totally. He looked around and behold!! He was surrounded by half-naked female orcs.
They all held different weapons, bow and arrows, swords, daggers, hammers and axes.
The female orcs were a formidable sight. They stood a head taller than Andrew. Their skin ranging from forest green to muddy brown.Muscles rippled beneath their scarred hides. Their tusks, some short and sharp, others long and curved like wicked blades, jutted from their lower jaws, framing fierce expressions.
Their eyes ranging from crimson to icy blue were fixed on Andrew with menace and intensity. Some had black, coarse hair braided with metals rings and bones while others shaved their hair revealing the marks on their scalps.
A menacing snarl rippled through the air, as one of the larger orcs, wearing a necklace built with teeth, stepped forward. Her eyes, burning with anger, narrowed at Andrew.
"Softskin" she growled. "You trespass in the Land of Ruins, you will be silenced".
Before Andrew could even think of a reply, orcish war cry, guttural roars and sharp yelps echoed through the ruined city.
Immediately the archers sent another vollley of arrows at Andrew, forcing him to dive behind a crumbling pillar. The impact of the arrows against rocks caused clanging sounds and shards flying across the horizon.
"Thirty of them, ranks E2 to E3," Andrew muttered, his heart pounding against his ribs. "And their leader is E1? This is going to be a long mission."
He risked a quick peek. The orcs were advancing. He gripped his dagger tightly, his mind racing. Direct confrontation meant suicide. He needed a plan fast. The ruined city, with its collapsed structures and shadowed alleys might offer some advantage if he could use it wisely.
He noticed a narrow way between two toppled buildings.
'It looks like a dead end..but' he turned and saw the orcs advancing..he had no other choice.
He darted from behind the pillar, sidestepping incoming orcs and narrowly escaping the swing of an oddly large axe.
The orcs roared in frustration and immediately followed him. He sprinted into the narrow passage, the stench of decay and stagnant water filled the air. Taking a risky glance at his back, the orcs were close behind their footfalls making a loud rumbling sound.
He reached the end of the passage and found himself in front of a tall, crumbling war. It was indeed a dead end.
"Tchhhh..great" he hissed, turned around just as the first two orcs entered the narrow passage. The two orcs, with scarred faces and wickedly curved swords blocked the exit, denying him of escape. While the rest were closing in behind them, bloodlust written all over them.
He scanned the passage desperately, the wall in front of him was high but old and cracked with loosened stones jutting out. It was a long shot, but what other choice does he have?
"Not the worst decision I've made" he muttered to himself, took a deep breath and started climbing the wall.
His fingers scrabbling for purchase on the loose stones. He started to climb, rough edges of the wall scraping against his skin.
The orcs roared, hitting their weapons against the wall.
"Get down here softskin!!" One of the orcs yelled, swinging her sword at him that narrowly missed Andrew's foot.
He ignored them and continued climbing. The stones were loose and sometimes came off the wall, threatening to send him tumbling back down to the waiting arms of murderous orcs, but he pressed on driven by survival instinct.
He reached the top of the wall and landed on the other side of the wall with a thud, scrambling to his feet. He found himself on another part of the ruined city, a maze of collapsed buildings and debris.
"Phew....moments to spare" he took a deep breath. He had bought himself precious moments, but for how long? He could already hear the footfalls of the orcs and their war cry echoing behind him.
Ragnhildr was still out there but had sent 30 enraged orcs hunting him down. Level three just started and he's already fighting for his life.
"Dammmnn...this is going to be a very longggggggggg level"