The high orc stood tall, its massive frame towering over us, its battle-scarred skin glistening under the dim light of the flickering flames.
Its tusks jutted out menacingly, and its eyes glowed with a cruel, mocking light.
It gripped its massive battle axe with one hand, the other flexing as if eager to crush more of us.
The ground beneath its feet was cracked and scorched, a testament to the chaos it had already unleashed.
"Pathetic," the orc growled, its voice deep and guttural, like rocks grinding together. "You humans... so weak. So fragile. I'll crush you all like insects."
I clenched my teeth, my rapier-like longsword trembling slightly in my hand.
The blade was thin and elegant, a stark contrast to the brutish weapon the orc wielded, but it was all I had left.
My fire elemental form flickered, the flames around me sputtering as my mana reserves dwindled.
I could feel the heat of my own magic waning, the exhaustion creeping into my bones.
"Grant!" I shouted, my voice cracking with desperation. "Hurry up with that spell! We're running out of time!"
Grant didn't respond, his eyes closed, his hands glowing with an intense, swirling energy.
He was deep in concentration, his lips moving silently as he chanted the incantation for the tier 6 spell.
The air around him crackled with power, but it wasn't ready yet. We had to buy him more time.
Katherine nocked another arrow, her hands steady despite the chaos.
The tip of the arrow glowed faintly with a mix of fire and lightning, and she let it fly with a sharp twang.
The high orc swatted it aside with its axe, the arrow exploding harmlessly against the ground. Katherine cursed under her breath, already reaching for another.
Joseph charged forward, his longsword glowing with radiant light.
Despite missing an arm, he moved with precision and grace, his strikes calculated and deadly.
The orc parried his blows with ease, its massive axe deflecting Joseph's attacks with a metallic clang. Joseph gritted his teeth, his face pale but determined.
Viona joined him, her great sword swinging in wide arcs.
She was a powerhouse, her raw strength unmatched in our group, but even she struggled against the orc's raw power.
The orc laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine.
"Is this all you've got?" it taunted, its voice dripping with malice. "I expected more from you humans. Disappointing."
I couldn't let it get to me. I focused, channeling the last of my mana into my blade.
Fire and lightning intertwined, forming a swirling plasma that crackled with destructive energy.
The orc's eyes narrowed as it noticed the attack, but it was too late. I lunged forward, thrusting the blade toward its chest.
The orc dodged to the side, but not fast enough.
The plasma grazed its shoulder, searing through its tough skin and eliciting a roar of pain.
It retaliated with a swing of its axe, forcing me to leap back. My blade trembled in my hand, the plasma flickering as my mana reserves ran dangerously low.
"Alex, watch out!" Jessica's voice cut through the chaos.
I turned just in time to see her lunging at the orc with her short sword, her movements quick but desperate.
The orc caught her mid-air, its massive hand closing around her torso like a vice.
"No!" I shouted, but it was too late.
The orc lifted Jessica effortlessly, its lips curling into a sadistic grin. "This one's weak," it sneered. "Let's see how far she can fly."
With a brutal swing, the orc slammed Jessica into the ground.
The impact was deafening, the earth cracking beneath her body. She didn't even have time to scream.
The orc raised its axe, and with a sickening crunch, it ended her life in a spray of blood and gore.
"Jessica!" Katherine screamed, her voice breaking. She fired another arrow, this one striking the orc's chest, but it barely seemed to notice.
My heart pounded in my chest, panic and rage warring within me.
I glanced at Grant, who was still chanting, his spell nearly complete. We couldn't lose anyone else. We couldn't.
"Hold on!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. "Just a little longer!"
The orc turned its gaze to me, its eyes filled with malice. "You're next," it growled, raising its bloodied axe.
I tightened my grip on my sword, the flames around me flickering one last time. This was it. This was the end of the line. But I wouldn't go down without a fight.