From the back, I observed as the orc horde clashed with my friends, but they didn't manage to push them bu much. Only a few steps. Then a massacre began.

Nobuo's fighting style was as usual a work of art. I'm seemed like he is performing, more than killing monsters. He was fast and precise. With the sun shining so bright, his blade was reflecting the rays while dancing in the air. None of the greenskins could stop him. None of them could even interrupt his display of skills.

Those who survived were cut down by Otis and Miyajima. They have also gotten way better. Ryuu was really fast. He lacked the precision of his master but was willing to take risks to deliver deadly hits.

Hideaki on the other hand showed more patience, intercepting enemy hits, and countering them. I observed him for a couple of seconds, and almost every single counter was a deadly one.historical

Then I checked how it was going in the center. Alice was doing a decent job with cleaning after Will, who managed to cut himself away ahead of anybody. Boris was forced to help, so he wouldn't get himself surrounded.

His way of fighting was kinda funny. It was like both hands moved separately. He was slapping orcs with his shield left and right, and those slaps were no joke. Strong enough to break bones. Then there was the ax, that mercilessly was aiming always at the head of the enemies. How the hell was he doing that - I don't know.

Sanders had the same close contact style as before. He was hitting so close to the enemies, that they couldn't move properly, and he was able to squeeze stabs and punches, moving from one to another. They tried to grab him, but somehow he was avoiding it.

The most fun to watch was Mertin, though. He was swinging his weapon without any care, sending the orcs flying. They couldn't even do anything. They couldn't retreat or dodge, because of the numbers.

Hailwic was close to him. Chopping the orcs with ease, moving a lot with a nice rhythm. She could probably do it all day, contrary to the giant.

I gave them couple more minutes, before joining with few shadow walks, and ending right in the middle of the horde. Then I just started swinging left and right. There was no thinking, parrying, or dodging. It was not a proper fight, as everything in my reach was cut down because the orcs just couldn't defend themselves.

I was so fast, that they couldn't even aim at my blindspots or the openings created because of the mindless swinging.

In a couple of minutes, we decimated them all. Then I summoned my shadows to bring the carts, and pick the score, as we caught a short rest before heading to the camp itself, and then underground.

- Wow... - said Hailwic.

She seemed to be struck by the display of my skills.

- Yeah... How the hell... How many crystals did you exactly invest in yourself since I last time saw you fighting? - asked Will.

- Many.

- A number, please.

- Close to a hundred million points.

- Holy shit - said Nil. - That's... That's a number. Yep. A number.

- Where did you get this many from? - asked Nobuo. - Is it the bear territory?

- That's where he was supposedly heading all the time - Boris answered before I did.

So I ended up just nodding.

- You greedy bastard! You should share! - growled Will. - Your mom is starving here!

- Wait... Mom? - Boris looked at him, with his eyebrows risen.

- Inside joke.

- Ok... I don't want to know more.

Others laughed.

Will quickly changed the topic of conversation, cause our little family quarrel felt like an awkward one. In the meantime, shadows returned with carts and started loading piled-up stones. Few more minutes and we could depart.

- This place always amazes me - said Alice, as we entered the orc camp. - It's like they are really living here.

- It's all a lie - was Hailwic's response.

- Yep - I agreed. - They are all puppets programmed to look like real beings from afar. There are not even normal animals around, so how the hell they could build those tents? It has no sense. They have no language, even if it seems like they do. My linguist class never picked up on anything.

- Same as mine - said Will. - But it's still strange. Why bother with all of this?

- We shaped this. The moment we cot here the device went through our minds and found the most suitable way to challenge us. I guess we had many fans of fantasy and games.

- Not everything looks like a game - said Boris. - We don't have any interfaces or anything. No windows are popping up in the air. There are no quests or anything.

- Because it's a mix. Abomination created to suit most of us, so we would have the urge to gunt.

As I was explaining we reached the cave. It was completely dark inside. I got immediately curious about what is waiting inside, but a quick glance on my friends' faces told me, they were feeling different emotions.

Anxiety was painted all over most of the faces. Only Martin and Nobuo seemed unmoved. The giant was smiling, and the samurai was focused and calm, with a blank expression.

- It's time for revenge guys. Although we won't be able to handle the boss, we certainly can handle everything else that's waiting there. Let's take what's ours.

- You are terrible at speeches - muttered Will. - We need torches first.

Without waiting for anybody else, he went to get a torch from his cart. Others followed. Only I could provide myself with a source of light without having to carry a stick. I immediately lighted them up.

With a flame still burning in my hand, I approached the darkness. I could feel shivers of excitement rining down my spine. This was the beginning of us reclaiming this world, and making it ours.. That's how I felt.