Dawn was still a promise on the horizon when I stood in the central courtyard of Kharadun, reviewing the base interface one final time.
[Kharadun Outpost – Progress: Basic Fortification (68%)]
[Resources Updated: Scrap Metal +22, Wood +15]
[Morale: Cautious Optimism]
The raid on the caravan couldn’t wait any longer. Grimgor’s bounty was spreading, and every day we delayed gave his hunters more time to find us. We had managed to catch another scout, and after torturing and interrogating the beast, I had learnt that Grimgor was likely going to send more forces after us. A warlord, the scout had said, Thragor the Crusher. We needed weapons, armor, and supplies before that storm arrived.
I gathered my core group in the old forge chamber. Lira, Garrick, Elara, and five of our strongest fighters crowded around a crude map scratched into the stone floor.
"The caravan route Lira scouted runs through the narrow pass two days east," I said, pointing with a dagger. "Lightly guarded, maybe twenty escorts, mostly orcs and goblins with a few wagons. We hit them at the choke point where the trail bends near the cliffs. Lira, you and three others will provide ranged support from above. Garrick, you hold the rear and prevent escapes. I’ll lead the main assault from the front."
Garrick frowned. "We’re risking a lot on one caravan. If we fail—"
"We won’t fail," I cut him off. "We need the supplies if we hope to stand a chance against what’s coming next.."
Garrick didn’t say anything else, but I could feel his opposing look on my neck. I didn’t care, I needed to Level up if I hoped to stand a chance against Grimgor and his forces. I was currently the strongest in this group, and if I died, they all perished as well.
Lira’s ears twitched with anticipation. "I like this plan. My people used to ambush orc patrols like this."
Elara clutched her amulet tightly. After analyzing the amulet, I had found it to be a protective charm. It was a low level one, but it should be enough for her for now.
"I want to fight too," She managed after the tension had died down
I nodded, we needed all the help we could get. "Stay with Lira’s group. Use that amulet if it activates. The rest of you, remember the drills. Precision over brute force. We hit hard, take what we need, and vanish."
The group dispersed to prepare. And I got to preparing myself. Once we were done with preparations, we left a skeleton crew at the ruins and moved out under cover of pre-dawn mist. The journey was grueling. Mountain paths tested every step. Twice we had to hide from distant patrols, pressing into crevices while orc horns echoed below. Hunger gnawed at us, but the promise of captured rations kept spirits up.
During a brief rest, Garrick fell in beside me. "You really believe we can build something lasting? An empire? With this handful of broken people?"
I kept my eyes on the trail. "Broken people can be reforged. The strong will rise. The weak will serve or die. That’s how every empire starts."
He didn’t reply, but I felt his unease. His loyalty was still fragile, but I would strengthen it with victories.
By the second night, we reached the ambush site. The pass was perfect, narrow, with steep cliffs on one side and a sheer drop on the other. We took positions as the sky lightened.
The caravan appeared right on time. Eight wagons loaded with crates, escorted by twenty-two warriors. I spotted iron-bound chests—likely weapons or tribute for Grimgor’s war host. My blood sang with anticipation.
"Now," I whispered.
Lira’s group unleashed a hail of rocks and scavenged arrows from above. Chaos erupted instantly. Orcs roared, scrambling for cover. I charged from the treeline with six fighters, ready to dismember every enemy in our path.
The first orc died before he fully turned. My enchanted axe cleaved through his shoulder guard with the new mana edge, severing bone and spraying blood. The faint blue glow left a cauterized trail.
[You have slain Level 3 Orc Warrior. +15 XP]
Two goblins rushed me with spears. I spun inside their reach, using martial footwork to slam an elbow into one’s throat before burying the axe in the second’s skull. Bleed effect triggered, and dark blood poured from the wound.
[You have slain Level 2 Goblin Skirmisher. +8 XP]
Around me, my people fought with desperate ferocity. Garrick held the rear like a veteran, his shield bashing goblins off the cliff edge. Lira’s spear darted from the rocks, impaling an orc archer. Elara surprised me—she hurled a rock with surprising force, then used her amulet to create a small flash of light that blinded an enemy, letting one of our fighters finish him.
The caravan leader, a burly orc with a chain whip, charged me directly. He was stronger than the rest, even stronger than Karg, a Level 5 orc. But I was far stronger than I was when I faced Karg.
"You’re the Orc Slayer?" he snarled, whip cracking toward my legs.
I leaped over the strike, closing the distance. His whip wrapped around my forearm, biting deep, but I ignored the pain. Brutal Strike Lv.2 activated fully. My axe swung in a devastating arc, enhanced by the mana edge. It shattered his guard and carved into his chest, the bleed effect opening a horrific wound.
He staggered, eyes wide. "Grimgor... will crush you..."
I twisted the axe free and took his head in one clean motion.
[You have slain Level 5 Orc Caravan Captain. +28 XP]
[Level Up! You have reached Level 5.]
[HP and Stamina increased. +5 Attribute Points available.]
I felt my body shiver with strength. Without wasting time, I allocated four points to Strength and one to Agility. The world felt slower, sharper. My wounds closed partially as the system rewarded survival.
The fight ended quickly after that. We lost two good fighters—one to a goblin spear, another crushed under a wagon that toppled during the chaos. Painful, but acceptable. The rest of the escorts were dead or fled.
We looted fast. Weapons, armor, food stores, over two hundred gold coins, and several sealed letters. One letter made my blood run hot:
"...Thragor the Crusher marches on Kharadun with fifty veterans. Bring the Orc Slayer alive. Double bounty stands..."
Grimgor was coming faster than expected.
We burned the wagons we couldn’t carry and retreated with our spoils. The return journey was heavier but triumphant. When we reached the ruins, the waiting survivors cheered at the sight of captured supplies.
That night, I stood on the repaired outer wall, looking out over the mountains. Garrick joined me, his armor newly upgraded with orcish plate.
"We did it," he said. "But Thragor is coming. Fifty veterans. We can’t fight that head-on."
"We won’t," I replied. "We prepare traps. We train harder. And if necessary, we set an ambush on our own terms. This raid was just the beginning."
[Base Management Update: New Resources Acquired]
[Morale: Rising]
[New Quest Generated: Defend Kharadun or Evacuate. Reward 100XP]
I reviewed my status as the others celebrated with captured ale.
[Name: Antoine Freeman]
[Level: 5]
[Total XP: 15/600]
[Title: Breaker of Chains (Beginner)]
The empire was no longer a distant dream. With every kill, every raid, it grew closer. But getting stronger would also be a lot more difficult from here. The XP points I needed to Level up were growing larger, and small orcs and goblins weren’t going to cover the gap fast enough.
Thragor was going to be a big challenge, we weren’t ready for that, and telling these people that we needed to evacuate after we had just gotten comfortable would kill their morale. But then again, we weren’t strong enough to face the forces coming for us, not even with the supplies we’d gotten. Sure, there was the idea of setting traps, but I doubted it would be enough.
I took a deep breath and calmed my thoughts, it was too early to fall into despair. If push came to shove, I would simply abandon these people and save myself.