Nergui
'Still... not yet...'
As no sign of reinforcements appeared even as they neared Harharin, Tiny couldn't help but grow anxious. But they couldn't delay Zerik's steps forever. With a heavy expression, he followed Zerik toward Harharin.
"Ush, ushcoyelydfvd vregEul!! (Th-the Great Warrior has arrived!!)"
The moment Zerik appeared at Harharin's north gate, the Black Rhino orcs below the bone walls panicked and began moving about noisily. Only then did Zerik scratch his head with a sheepish look and turn to Tiny.
"Ah... I didn't think of that."
The sight of far fewer orc warriors than usual brought him a belated realization. Given their current situation, the reason was obvious. Distracted by the need to slow Zerik down, he hadn't considered it until now.
War.
"...Most of the warriors must be away on campaign."
Should he be glad about this? Watching the orcs' movements with a troubled feeling,
"Heh, even you didn't think of it, Tiny? I figured a human hero would be smart."
"Urgh."
Tiny could only clutch his head at those words. Even if he'd been preoccupied elsewhere,
'Me on the same level as Zerik...'
It stung his pride, but now wasn't the time for that.
"TsrkclvydfKzeoyy stachlctvvdedyydul! (The chieftain is away!)"
Setting aside the frozen orc warrior's attitude,
"Well, Nergui doesn't seem to be here anyway. Can you find that evidence you mentioned?"
Zerik's small yellow eyes gleamed, already making Tiny's stomach ache.
"...We'll have to investigate, but he probably didn't leave any traces."
He tensed, worried it might sound like backpedaling from what he'd said before leaving,
"Yeah, probably not."
To his surprise, Zerik nodded readily. Staring at him in confusion, Zerik smirked and explained.
"...That day, after sending you back, I handed that round thing to the shaman. It couldn't be tracked since it had no mana or magic, but we confirmed it was a weapon from the Aslan imperial family."
Tiny let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, one of Bator's shamans was knowledgeable about the outside world and sharp enough.
However.
"Now we just need to confirm if it really came from the Black Rhinos or if the Red Boars lied."
Even so, Zerik wasn't letting it go easily. His stubborn stance made Tiny's chest tighten,
'From Zerik's position, that's fair.'
But one thing bothered him.
"...So you knew that and came alone?"
"Nothing's proven about them breaking the laws yet."
"Ugh..."
How to deal with this pigheadedness? Sighing repeatedly, he noticed Zerik giving him a wry smile.
"Don't worry, Tiny. I'm just here to investigate and confirm. Even I think it's more likely Nergui did it than Batar trying to trick me."
What was this now?
"Nergui's always had a lot of un-orc-like traits..."
Zerik's expression turned bitter as he said it. There seemed to be some history, but since it favored Tiny, he didn't pry.
Still, it was frustrating.
"So you knew and came alone?"
"...I told you, no solid evidence yet."
"If the Black Rhinos really did it, they might try to kill you first since you're alone. You know that, right?"
Zerik's eye twitched at that.
"Hmph. Who could touch me?"
...Yeah, that's you. Tiny gave up trying to convince him.
Instead,
"...Just in case he left traces, let's check."
Slim chance or not, they had to try for now.
Then,
'Woof!'
The reverse-summoned Wolrang sent an unexpected signal.
"...No way they did something that stupid?"
"What?"
"N-nothing. That tent over there...?"
"Nergui's place. I was heading there anyway. Something wrong?"
...Did they really leave traces in their own tent?
'Orc bastards, your stupidity is a blessing!'
Biting back the cheer in his chest, Tiny hurried after Zerik.
* * *
"Ulaagal ulaag! (Run, run!)"
A massive orc with black tattoos on his face drove his black rhino across the plains, followed by over a thousand of the Black Rhino tribe's elite riding alongside.
Heading back to base after leaving the fierce battlefield behind, not a trace of defeat showed on their faces.
Instead,
"Zerik... Time to end our long grudge."
A ferocious smile spread across the face of the lead orc, Nergui.
How long had this grudge lasted?
He'd been a top candidate for next chieftain, praised for talent in both warrior and shaman arts.
Rather than becoming chieftain, he'd aimed for orc pinnacle under the previous Great Warrior.
But.
- Enough! Zerik wins the exchange match!
Twenty years ago, defeated by a newly adult punk. He realized true genius was elsewhere, and his mindset shifted.
- Can't beat Zerik just walking the warrior path.
Instead of deepening one path, he began studying neglected shaman arts.
But results were poor.
- No progress, Nergui.
The previous Great Warrior's cold words. The gap with the far-ahead Zerik only widened.
Realizing the next Great Warrior path was distant, he abandoned the challenge and returned to his tribe, building it strong to soothe his shattered pride.
That didn't last.
The day he prided Harharin as the strongest great city.
- A new Great Warrior is born!
- Zerik of the Direwolf tribe claims the title!
- Previous Great Warrior bestows 'Warlord' and admits defeat.
Zerik became Great Warrior by conquest, not succession. Even if the previous was aged and dying, the feat echoed across tribes for years.
No mere chieftain or city lord could touch that glory.
His inferiority exploded.
- What has the Great Warrior done for our tribe! Praise me for developing it! Me!
Tribe orcs bowed, but whispers behind his back fueled deep rage and inferiority, blackening his heart.
Then they appeared.
- We'll open the path above Great Warrior, to Orc Lord.
Irresistible. From forgotten 'Warrior's Soul' recipe to power-ups. Cost: just 20 top warriors.
- Mocking me, stirring discord anyway...
He handed them over gladly, gaining power.
- Chieftain! Have you gone mad!?
- How could you!?
- You're ruining the tribe!
Death cries of the poisoned 'offered' were laughable. Tribe reorganized perfectly under him, and he gained immense strength.
Right there.
Woooong.
Six magic cores pulsing in his chest.
'Wait, Zerik.'
Superior-grade warrior and shaman. Now with 6th circle black magic.
'This alone can beat Zerik.'
Rare triple-class. Mana-tattooed body, shaman soul brain, magic heart circles. All near peak: 5,5,6. Synergy beyond imagination, even hiding black magic.
'Possible. Totally possible!'
So he ordered partial return upon contact, ignoring allied protests.
'Beat Zerik, all problems solved.'
No pretext before, but now he provoked—perfect chance.
Great tribe chieftain, orc strongest. Claim that name, and without 'Warrior's Soul', he might be hailed Orc Lord.
Excitement surged.
"Run! Run! Don't stop!"
Dong dong dong.
Nergui drumming atop his rhino. Shaman art 'March Drum' boosted morale and minimized stamina drain for him and followers.
Part of his new power.
'Almost there.'
Harharin's bone walls on horizon. Familiar sight brought a murderous smile.
'Zerik, I'll take your life today.'
Even worst case, elites here and city warriors could finish him.
And if he could 'offer' the orc Great Warrior.
'Plus battlefield kills.'
Another leap possible. True strongest orc within reach.
That burning ambition intensified seeing nearly a thousand warriors greeting outside walls.
Weaker ones left to guard Harharin—minimal force.
But now, another strong card.
'Just Zerik. That human tagalong? Ignore.'
They warned, but stronger than Zerik? Stronger hand than his? No.
Then.
- Halt there! Nergui! I'll exterminate you for breaking the laws!
A massive orc burst from behind the left warriors, that unforgettable ugly mug shouting nonsense. Warriors lined silently, no resistance.
'Something's wrong?'
Chill premonition passed, but Nergui shook head firmly.
'Impossible.'
His black magic left no trace—he confirmed repeatedly. Offered bodies and traces gone.
No soul-seeing grand shaman, no evidence.
So.
Woooong.
"Don't make me laugh, Zerik! Don't sully Great Warrior authority with tyranny!!"
Mana spread subtly, magic stimulating for explosive momentum. Added shaman art drowned Zerik's voice.
Crushing his momentum with new skill, Nergui smiled.
But.
'Not moving?'
Immobile warriors stirred unease.
'Something's wrong.'
The moment it hit, Nergui unleashed his hidden ace from war.
"Black Rhino warriors!! Obey my command!!"
Magic oozing from him infused tribe-wide shaman art, spreading across plains.