Gavin Ward turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the small figure that had been trailing him all this time.
Only then did Waumu realize that a half-orc girl had been standing quietly behind Gavin, her petite body hidden by his tall frame.
"Master, he speaks the truth," the girl said softly. Her voice trembled but carried weight. "Among the earth orcs, there exists the oath of origin blood. Only high-ranking earth orcs can swear upon it. Should they break that oath, the punishment is beyond imagining. Not only will their own life be cursed, but even their descendants' blood will suffer dreadful changes."
Lina, the half-orc girl, peeked out and nodded earnestly. It was clear that she understood the severity of such an oath.
"Good." Gavin's voice was calm but resolute. He gave a brief nod, satisfaction glinting in his eyes. Though he carried himself as a mere knight, he acted with the caution of a seasoned ruler.
The blood oath sealed, Gavin felt something shift within himself. Closing his eyes, he suddenly became aware of Waumu's presence, as though a bond had been forged. The oath wasn't just ceremonial—it had real power.
Gavin's strength also seemed to swell faintly, a subtle but undeniable increase.
Waumu, once a proud warrior chief among the earth orcs, had been reduced to a captive after his brother's death. Shamed and broken, he had willingly thrown himself at the mercy of the Ross army, hoping for a warrior's death. Yet when Gavin had asked him a single, piercing question—"Do you want to be emperor?"—something deep within him reignited.
That spark of hope refused to die. The earth orc tribes still needed him. He could not perish yet.
Now, standing beside Gavin, Waumu had surrendered completely. He had fought the Ross army before, had seen their unmatched firepower, and knew no force—not even the mighty Central Magic Empire—could stand against them.
If following Gavin Ward meant a chance to rebuild his people, then Waumu would follow him into the abyss itself.
"Waumu," Gavin asked evenly, "how many earth orc soldiers marched under your banner this time?"
"Nearly one hundred thousand," Waumu admitted. "Most have fallen into your hands. But understand, Master—most of them are auxiliary troops. They wear armor and carry weapons, yes, but they were never allowed to charge the front lines. To the beast orcs, only their so-called honored warriors deserve that glory. We earth orcs, closer to humans in culture and heart, are seen as cowards. They look down on us and send us to support roles. Because of that, we've taken fewer losses."
Waumu's voice grew bitter with each word, resentment thick on his tongue.
"Excellent." Gavin's lips curved into a cold smile. "Then here is your first task: speak to your people. Convince the earth orc soldiers of where their future lies. Rotis!"
"Yes, my lord!" Rotis stepped forward and snapped to attention.
"You will separate the beast orcs from the earth orcs. Then—execute the beast orc prisoners. The execution will be carried out by the hands of the earth orcs themselves."
The command struck like thunder. Even Waumu stiffened, but Gavin only patted his shoulder firmly.
"Consider this your proof of loyalty," Gavin added.
Waumu bowed his head deeply. "Yes, Master."
---
The captive camps sprawled across the plain, rows upon rows of captured orc soldiers bound in chains. Ross guards patrolled relentlessly with rifles slung over their shoulders, machine guns mounted at key points, and tanks stationed at the edges like slumbering beasts of steel.
The prisoners muttered among themselves, fear gnawing at their hearts.
"What will happen to us? Will they kill us?" an earth orc whispered, his voice shaking. "I don't want to die. My son… my mother still waits for me at home." Tears filled his eyes.
A werewolf snarled from another line of captives and lashed out with his chained foot, knocking the earth orc down. "Pathetic coward! No wonder you earth orcs are despised. Talking of mothers and sons—worthless! The weak deserve only death."
The contempt between the two groups was stark. Earth orcs clung to family and honor, while beast orcs worshiped strength alone, even discarding their elders as useless.
The scuffle was cut short when three Ross soldiers stormed over, black uniforms gleaming, iron-faced helmets hiding any shred of humanity. One struck the werewolf across the jaw with the butt of his rifle, sending him sprawling.
"Silence!" the soldier barked coldly. "By His Majesty's order, the beast orcs will be separated from the earth orcs!"
A wave of Ross troops marched in, boots pounding the ground in perfect rhythm. Their commander's voice rang out:
"The earth orc clan has surrendered. The beast orcs will be executed. And the executioners—will be the earth orcs themselves!"
The announcement sent shockwaves through the camp. Beast orcs erupted into furious howls.
"Traitors! You filthy earth rats! You should have been wiped out when the empire was founded!"
"Kill us then! We will curse your names until the end!"
Their rage was raw, but their chains left them helpless. The earth orcs, by contrast, stood silent—shocked, yet inwardly relieved. They had chosen life, and life had been given to them.
Gavin's army had captured nearly 180,000 orcs. Among them, around 100,000 were earth orcs—largely intact. The rest, eighty thousand, were beast orcs, their numbers gutted from the slaughter on the front lines.
Now, the plain was prepared for their grim fate.
---
A massive execution ground was arranged.
The beast orc prisoners were dragged out in long rows, bound and forced to their knees. Behind each of them stood an earth orc soldier gripping an axe, face pale but determined.
Ross trucks circled the grounds, machine guns ready, tanks positioned as iron guardians of discipline.
Every orc present trembled at the sight of the steel beasts, memories of the battlefield still fresh. They had watched their kin torn apart by bullets and shells. To resist now was madness.
Waumu stood tall at Gavin's side, his deep voice booming across the plain:
"My fellow earth orcs! You know me—I am Waumuji!"
His declaration silenced the muttering. All eyes turned to him.
"You have seen our fate if we stay divided. The beast orcs despised us, used us as fodder, cast us aside as weaklings. But under Lord Gavin Ward, we have been given a chance—not only to live, but to rise again! Today, we prove our loyalty. Today, we cut away the chains of our humiliation!"
A roar swelled from the earth orcs, axes raised, trembling no longer.
The beast orcs spat curses, but their time had come.
On that day, eighty thousand beast orc captives were executed by the hands of their own kin—the earth orcs—under Gavin Ward's command. The plain was drenched in blood, and a new order was carved into the hearts of men and orcs alike.
For the Ross army, it was a demonstration of absolute control.
For the earth orcs, it was the first step on their path of survival and revival.
For Gavin Ward—it was another stone laid on the road to empire.
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