"Wot 'da zogl happened 'n 'da city? I kould hear 'da mess from ere." Azgruz asked, sitting on a carved stone bench in front of his hut, which to an Ork, looked like a work of art.
"It's a long story, to sum it up, a Nid killed Rukzod, now everyone wants to be the new boss, but the git who started this mess keeps killing anyone who gets too strong." I replied, striking my staff on the ground to shape the earth and create a seat, since there was nothing made for my size here.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
"Hmm, I wish I had kilt Rukzod for lock'n me 'n 'da weirdhouse, but dis will do. Do ya fink I have time ta get back ta 'da city an' set someth'n on fire?" After speaking, the Weirdboy made his wooden mug levitate, filling it from the mushroom beer barrel between us, murmuring in approval after tasting it. "Diz iz gud stuff."
"Thanks, my Snots made it, I'm thinking of selling more when things calm down. Now, to answer your question, better not, I'm trying to sort things out on my end and I don't want any more trouble, besides, we still have a Nid and the gangs running around, one of them could end up killing you." I filled my mug, drinking as well, feeling on my tongue that something was missing to make the flavor unique.
BOOM!
"TISK! So yer gunna become 'da new boss uv 'da city now?"
"No, too much work, I have a plan to share the power, so I won't have to do everything alone and if someone important dies, the city won't fall with them."
BOOM!
Slowly, so slowly that one would think Azgruz was standing still, the Ork looked in my direction, a gaze so piercing that if he used his powers, a hole would be blown on my head.
"An ork 'oo shares powa an' doesn't want ta be da boss? Ya iz strange. Are yer sure yer haven't fried yer brain?"
"Sometimes I wonder the same thing, but unlike other Orks, I'm thinking about the future. My warband first, and the others later." I sighed, flinching for a second, not out of shame, but because I was ready to fight if he tried to blow my head off.
CRASH!
"I noticed, you're bigga an 'n charge uv more boyz now." The Weirdboy pointed ahead with his staff, in the general direction of the noises, where the Orks I brought with me were facing the Tyranids in the jungle.
Occasionally, the flash of gunfire gleamed through the dark vegetation, the silhouettes of both factions colliding emerged through the trees, and the squeals mixed with the classic cries of WAAAGH! and laughter echoed through the air.
Now I won't have to deal with Orks eager for a fight for at least a few days; this will also serve as real training for the newcomers to use what they've learned, and for the veterans in how to lead a group—after all, I can't keep an eye on them all the time. If what I taught them served any purpose, then they won't need me.
"This wasn't part of the plan, but Gork and Mork operate in mysterious ways. If they gave me more Boyz, who am I to complain?"
Azgruz nodded, resuming his drink, as did I, silently appreciating the scenery: Laenae throwing a ball for my Squigs to fetch while Dobby and Gulg watched, and the partially completed log wall around his cabin, with impaled and hanged Tyranids serving as a warning to others about what would happen if they approached.
"Are you sure things are alright here? More Nids appear every day."
"Yez, it's 'trange, but noth'n a lightn'n bolt to da noggin kan't fix. I also filled dis place wit' glyphs, so I'll knaw if any get too close."
I raised an eyebrow in question, and in response, Azgruz drew a green glyph in the air with his index finger, then poked it, causing it to explode into a ball of green lightning while releasing a sound similar to the roar of a beast.
My remaining eye widened and I leaned closer, overcome with curiosity.
"Interesting, what else can you do with that?"
"Various fings, 'da glyphs kan 'plode when someone touches dem, or freeze, or burn, or someth'n like dat. Yer kan also make fings float an den fall on someone, you…"
I nodded at each word, feeling my interest grow with the seemingly endless list of functions the glyphs had. In the end, it seemed to depend on the conjurer's creativity and skill to avoid exploding.
"Could you teach me?"
"Br'n more bea an we have a deal."
"With pleasure."
I couldn't help but smile at the possibility of acquiring a new skill for my arsenal; however, I turned my head forward so quickly I almost broke my neck when I saw a Hormagaunt leaping from the tree line, roaring and closing the distance to Laenae with its scythe-like arms and fangs bared.
"OH ZOG!"
My Squigs growled, forming a wall between the child and the Tyranid. Dobby and Gulg's eyes widened, both drawing their respective Sluggas, preparing to fire. I, on the other hand, aimed my staff, ready to conjure a lightning bolt in the monster's direction, but to everyone's surprise, Laenae acted faster.
"GIT!"
She pointed at the Nid with her index finger, letting out an innocent laugh, something adorable, if it weren't for what came next.
"SSSCREEE!"
The Hormagaunt took flight, its body imploding and disintegrating into dark particles in the center of a blinding light, and when it was all over, only scorched earth proved that something had happened there.
Then, without a second glance, Laenae ran towards me, grabbing my leg and jumping in pure joy, and even without being able to speak the exact words, I knew she was basically asking if I had seen what she did.
I didn't answer, because the words refused to come out, my mouth almost touched the ground and my wide eye saw that everyone around me had similar reactions, with the child in front of me being the only one oblivious to the whole situation.
I sat her on one of my arms, approaching the scorched ground, bringing my remaining hand to my mouth, biting my nails in anxiety and disbelief, because I had just seen a child do to a Tyranid what Dr. Manhattan did to Rorschach.
I barely felt Laenae's pokes on my face, and her voice was muffled in my ears. I only snapped out of my stupor when Azgruz stopped beside me, laughing and making a careless comment that made my stomach drop.
"Ha! I didn't know ya had a Weirdgrot!"
That day I learned that Grots could develop psychic powers, so I made a mental note to gather all the little guys in my warband before heads started exploding.
As if that wasn't enough, I grimaced when the smell of something burning hit my nose. Looking up, I saw pillars of smoke rising from the jungle ahead, making me sigh at the problems that kept piling up.
"Save the lessons for later, I'll talk to Doomboilah before he burns the whole jungle down."
The Weirdboy commented something I didn't understand, too distracted by the series of absurd events that had happened in such a short time. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end, because after stopping a forest fire and starting my lessons on glyphs, I had to deal with more matters in my territory. A chief's responsibilities never ended.
-XXXXXX-
I could describe the environment around me as a pale imitation of a 21st-century military base, only made by Orks. Basically, a large rectangle within my enclave, with high walls, watchtowers, and various buildings and warehouses inside, containing various war equipment.
Now I was crossing the area, observing the training of the Yoofs and Boyz who were born a few days ago, after receiving their standard equipment and learning how things work here.
The older Orks who survived the battles, and who took the trouble to learn my teachings, passed on this knowledge to the younger ones, mainly how to aim, what you should shoot at, how to conserve ammunition, and how to take cover during combat, in addition to other advice on how not to be an idiot.
There was everything, at least everything I could remember and bring to this world. Inside some of the buildings, there were Orks undergoing theoretical training; in other words, a veteran citing hypothetical situations created by me and seeing if the students responded in an acceptable way or not, correcting them when wrong. I hope that at least this way they learn to think a little.
Occasionally, a group would run past me, doing their physical training, taking advantage of their bodies' powerful biology to become stronger. The same was true for those doing push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises.
Those who reached a more advanced level practiced with their Choppas, facing a training partner, both wearing armor specially made for this situation, since it would be a waste if either of them died outside of actual combat.
In the distance, I could hear gunshots and explosions coming from the firing galleries made by my Mekboyz, rails organized at different distances, with targets in the shape of Orks and Tyranids sliding, standing, and falling at intervals, while the novices, divided into groups according to the weapon they carried, tried to hit them.
Although it lacked many details, some tracks built in a distant corner of the base were visible from afar, more to avoid accidents than to optimize the limited space. There, the Orks learn to drive my forces' vehicles, whether on clean tracks without many curves, or on those with obstacles and sharp turns.
I hope that with all these efforts I can create a minimally disciplined army capable of killing the enemy without dying in the process or blowing itself up against a wall while going two hundred kilometers per hour on a public street. Not to mention, of course, logistics; after all, Guilliman didn't conquer so many planets with poor logistics, so it's in my interest not to lose valuable equipment and resources due to the stupidity of my subordinates.
The last point of interest filled me with a certain pride. A miniature city so that the Orks could learn to fight in an urban environment, since learning to fight in the jungle was only possible by leaving my territory.
It wasn't a large construction, a group of small buildings forming an imitation of what they would find in Thumb of Gork. And just like all the other areas I visited, this one served for various types of training, the main ones being a combat between two teams using paint bullets, and another a circuit where the Ork had to take down as many targets as possible while trying to finish in the shortest time possible.
In the end, all the recruits present were still far from joining the actual combat. For now, I believe that would only happen in an emergency, but until then, I will advance slowly, consolidating my power. I don't want everything to collapse because I'm going too far too fast.
Hm… I believe that when there are more Painboyz available, I will add first aid classes to the curriculum, at least something more advanced than what the Grots taught. It would be good to have some combat medics who don't try to experiment on their patients.
-XXXXXX-
Inaugurating the guild's new building in my enclave was my second duty upon returning. The institution, due to its integral role in the city's economy, remained neutral; however, the initial chaos and various conflicts between gangs ruined the initial building, forcing members to scatter, founding a branch in each territory, since it was practically impossible to create a consensus among all the conflicting factions.
This ended with the guild still existing as a unified organization, but with each faction accessing its respective branch, with its own forces accepting available requests.
The exclusivity caused Orks without a faction or with too little power to be important from being left out, unless they joined a larger force, grew on their own, or depended on the kindness of a stronger faction to access the guild. Fortunately, I was a generous leader, so I opened the doors to smaller factions, always making it clear what would happen if they caused trouble.
The reinforced building behind me was tall, wide, and luxurious compared to normal Ork constructions, but beautiful and tidy compared to the rest of my enclave. Four stories high and with many windows for better lighting and air circulation, it had a wide main entrance with double doors, leading to a spacious reception area where missions were displayed and chosen.
The second floor was an entertainment area, with a kitchen and bar serving food and drink; the third floor was the trading post where unused Nids parts could be exchanged for teef, or vice versa; and on the top floor was the guild's administration, where the Orks who had worked in that area for years ensured everything ran smoothly.
When my speech to the eager crowd in front of me ended, a pair of Grots cut the green tape blocking the entrance, immediately running away. I did the same, stepping back from the earth-shaking green wall, watching them storm the building without a care for what was in front of them.
Well, that's their problem now. A quick glance at my Fight Detecta revealed it was lunchtime, so I returned to my car and drove to Grogak's new canteen. Let's just say the Ork was grateful to have a new establishment in my territory after the old one was destroyed, and now he makes sure to put extra portions on my plate.
I ordered takeout, as there was nothing better than eating while watching a good show. I left my car in the parking lot of what, from afar, looked like a hole in the ground surrounded by a wall, from which a cacophony of screams emanated.
Approaching the entrance, the Grots selling tickets widened their eyes and swallowed hard, guiding me through a side passage. The Orks outside tried to enter without paying upon seeing this, but a pair of particularly large and heavily armed guards made them change their minds and wait for the attendants to return.
The walk was short, crossing a corridor and passing through a reinforced door where my box awaited. A large throne for me and five smaller seats for Dobby, Gulg, and my squigs.
We sat, eating and watching the gladiatorial combat taking place in the center of my little coliseum. I decided to transform the pits into something more organized, but far from the savagery of Nuceria; I didn't want to accidentally create a second Angron.
The decoration left something to be desired; the coliseum was still a wide hole that narrowed as it deepened, with the seats on the edges, stopping just above the arena, but it wasn't impossible to improve.
The fights were something similar to those of the Roman Empire, more of a spectacle than a battle to the death, but this served to entertain the audience and satisfy the combatants' desire to fight, making them grow and improve their skills without great risks. If we wanted to vary things, we also had squig races, squigs vs. Nids, gladiators vs. Nids, and various other combinations.
Currently, what was happening below us could be described as a wrestling match, two orks in just their pants trying to immobilize each other, only with a lot more punches, kicks, headbutts, and bites involved.
I'll build a race track when my territory and resources increase, but until then, the little things will have to do.
"Laenae, you need to eat."
I had to shift my focus from the fight to the child sitting on my left leg, pulling her mouth away from the spoonful of this planet's equivalent of mashed beans. She was more focused on the roasted squig leg on a plate resting on the right arm of my throne. Her eyes gleamed and her mouth watered as she gazed at the succulent piece of meat.
The corners of my mouth trembled at the idea I had. I brought the squig leg to Laenae with my free hand, but the moment she opened her mouth to take a bite, I put the spoon there, making her eat the beans.
Her eyes widened and she grimaced, letting out a little squeal while waving her arms. I couldn't help but laugh, offering her another spoonful which she refused to eat.
"Laenae, you barely have teeth to bite a piece of meat off."
Even so, she turned her head away. I sighed, bringing the squig leg closer again, making a wide smile appear on her face, and as expected, she couldn't get a single bite off.
"See? How about you eat something made for your size?"
Her answer didn't come in the form of words; she extended her hand and the squig leg flew from my grip, stopping in her literal embrace, since the piece of meat was the size of her body.
"Laenae, no!"
At that moment I realized that perhaps I had made a mistake. Eldar felt everything in excess, including taste; if the meat was already delicious to me, what would it taste like to Laenae? Just like honey, I gave her a new favorite food.
END OF CHAPTER