Loid stood at the edge of the barracks, staring at the forest line where Angela's massive frame disappeared. His hand hovered over the UI again.
A single skill for her? Something flashy, maybe an active that would let her cleave through crowds…
But then he shook his head. "No… she's not Selvara. Her spirit's barely there. She doesn't need tricks. She needs endurance. A passive that makes her harder to kill."
The thought made him clench his jaw. Selvara was already risking everything at the cave mouth. If Angela fell, too, then...
Loid stopped himself, exhaling. "Don't think like that. She won't."
Still, his hand tightened on the interface. "A good passive will keep her alive. That's what matters."
The UI pulsed faintly, as though listening.
---
Angela moved like a juggernaut through the trees, her massive frame weaving between trunks with surprising grace for her size. Each stride shook the earth faintly. The six-foot greatsword rode across her back, its weight meaningless in her grip.
The deeper she went, the stronger the stench of rot. Goblin corpses littered the path, limbs twisted, heads caved in, bodies charred with strange burns.
Angela paused briefly, crouching over one corpse. The chest was split open cleanly, as if cut by a blade sharp enough to slide through bone without effort. Lightning scars marred the wound.
Her lips curved faintly. "Selvara," she muttered.
She rose, eyes narrowing as a sound reached her, shrieking, dozens of voices. She broke into a run, branches snapping under her boots.
Ahead, she found them. Goblins tied to a massive tree, ragged clothes binding their limbs, their jaws screaming in guttural panic. And there, stepping from the shadows, was a woman.
Tall, lean, clad in black and silver. Long black hair framed a pale face, silver eyes sharp as knives. Twin short swords gleamed at her sides.
Angela slowed, stopping several feet away. Her voice rang out low and commanding. "You must be Selvara."
The woman's head turned, eyes locking onto her. Her voice was calm, clipped. "I am. And who might you be?"
Angela drew herself up, resting her gauntleted hand on the hilt of her greatsword. "Angela. The second summoned mercenary of Loid."
Selvara's gaze lingered, studying her height, her armor, the sheer mass of steel on her back. Then she nodded once. "So you're here to help me deal with this infestation."
Angela inclined her head slightly, though her presence remained regal. "Correct. My blade is yours to coordinate, if you lead."
Selvara tilted her head faintly, silver eyes narrowing. "Lead?"
Angela's lips curled just a little. "Strength bows to none, but I will not waste effort fighting against your rhythm. Tell me where you strike, and I'll split the earth beside you."
Selvara considered her words. For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Selvara's swords slid free with a metallic whisper. "Fine. Prove you can keep up."
Before Angela could answer, the cave mouth erupted with shrieks. Dozens of goblins poured out, crude weapons in hand.
Selvara blurred, her body vanishing into speed. She was among them instantly, blades carving through necks and spines, sparks leaping from every fifth strike. Goblins collapsed screaming, blood spraying the air.
Angela charged after, greatsword drawn. The first goblin she reached swung a rusted spear. She caught it with her gauntlet, snapping the shaft in two, then brought her sword down in a crushing arc. The goblin was split from shoulder to hip, the ground quaking from the force.
Another lunged. Angela pivoted, caught its throat with her free hand, and squeezed. Bone cracked, flesh ruptured, the creature's skull bursting like overripe fruit. She threw the twitching corpse aside and stepped forward, blade cleaving through two more in a single swing.
Selvara's voice carried between strikes, clipped and sharp. "You're slower than me, but brutal. Good. Don't waste swings. Make them count."
Angela snarled in satisfaction, smashing her boot into a goblin's chest. Ribs crumpled inward, blood spurting from its mouth as it flew back into the cave wall. "Every swing counts when it's final."
For several minutes they carved together, Selvara a storm of speed, Angela a wall of force. Goblins fell in droves, bodies piling at the cave mouth.
When the last one gurgled on its blood, silence settled. Both women stood among corpses, breathing steady. Selvara wiped her blades clean against a corpse's rags.
Angela rested her greatsword across her shoulder, crimson hair sticking faintly to her armored cheek. She looked at Selvara with a half-smile. "Not bad. You carve like lightning."
Selvara gave the faintest shrug. "And you crush like thunder."
They shared no more words before more noise echoed from the cave.
---
The ork known as Grug stood with arms crossed, his tusked jaw clenched as he glared at the swirling portal. Dark gray and purple, it pulsed like a beating heart, its light throwing jagged shadows across the cavern walls.
Twelve ork mages knelt around it, hands raised, their guttural chants low and rhythmic. Sweat beaded their brows as the air crackled with foul energy.
Another ork approached, armored in scraps of iron. He bowed his head. "Boss Grug. The goblins are being slaughtered again. Someone... two someones are cutting through them like weeds."
Grug's yellow eyes narrowed. "Tsk... Fucking annoying pests. I told them to stay inside."
He spat on the stone, then growled. "Send two guards outside. Test these meddlers. If they're weak, capture them. Alive. The nest will enjoy their screams."
The subordinate grinned, tusks glinting. "At once."
---
Angela crushed another goblin's skull under her boot, blood spraying up her greaves. She exhaled, flexing her fingers.
Selvara stood beside her, swords dripping red, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Her silver eyes flicked to the cave mouth. "It's too quiet again."
Angela's grip tightened on her greatsword. "Then something bigger's coming."
A low rumble answered her words. Heavy footsteps echoed from the darkness.
Two figures emerged, orks, towering brutes clad in crude armor, their tusks gleaming in the moonlight. Each carried massive cleavers jagged with rust.
One of them sneered, eyes narrowing at the two women. "So it's you two, huh? You've been causing trouble."
The other grinned wickedly. "We'll capture you alive. Then let the whole nest have fun with you."
Behind them, several goblins hissed and laughed, weapons raised.
The first ork raised his cleaver. "All goblins, back inside! The realm break is nearly complete. Leave these two to us."
The goblins hesitated, eyes darting between Selvara and Angela. They shrieked in fear at Selvara's silver gaze and Angela's towering frame.
Angela's and Selvara's eyes met briefly like two predators, two storms cut from different skies. And then, without another word, they charged.
Angela roared, swinging her greatsword in a wide arc that cleaved the air itself. The ork met her strike, cleaver raised, and the clash rang like thunder through the forest.
Selvara blurred past, silver eyes glowing, twin blades flashing toward the second ork's throat.
The battle for the cave mouth had only just begun.