Shame of despair

The magical whirlwind hadn't subsided yet.

Kano breathed heavily, his body pulsing in rhythm with the new energy of the orcs, but even he could sense that something had changed. Something else, something powerful, unlike everything else.

His gaze involuntarily stopped on one figure at the center of the explosion of light.

Naira.

Her body seemed to freeze in mid-air. Her feet barely touched the ground, and around her swirled a fiery vortex of energy that prevented anyone from getting close.

Even the other orcs, those who had undergone the transformation, stood frozen, sensing something extraordinary in her awakening.

Kano felt it too.

It was a power without limits.

The transformation of all the orcs was overwhelming, but hers… hers was something more.

Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, as if she were trying to say something, but her voice couldn't break free.

The light around her suddenly compressed, pressing into her body — and at that very moment, she opened her eyes.

Her gaze now glowed — yellow-golden, bright like the sun itself.

Kano couldn't take his eyes off her.

Her body had changed.

Her massive, muscular frame, which had always marked her as a warrior, had now transformed into a perfect harmony of strength and grace.

Her muscles were no longer bulky but more defined, perfectly sculpted — her body had become the ideal fusion of elegance and power.

Her skin, like the other orcs', had taken on a deep bronze-brown hue — not just darker, but like molten metal. It captured the light, and her smooth surface appeared almost flawless.

Her tusks had shrunk. They no longer jutted out but had become a part of her natural, ferocious smile.

But the most important thing…

Her figure.

She had always been incredibly attractive, but now… now her form had become even more perfected.

Her waist seemed even slimmer, accentuating the enticing curves of her hips, which had taken on a more pronounced shape.

Her breasts remained just as enormous, but now they appeared even more perfectly proportioned to her new body.

Kano noticed how even the other orcs, who had always seen her as a warrior, stared at her in awe.

Naira now looked not just like a warrior, but like a living legend — a true queen of battles, the wild goddess of war, descended to Earth.

The magic still swirled around her.

Kano felt something shift in her aura.

Naira trembled.

She lowered her head, as if listening to new sensations, then sharply raised her gaze and locked eyes with Kano.

And he…

He felt her.

Not just saw her.

He felt her power as though it were piercing his very soul.

— "What..." Kano whispered, feeling a shiver run down his skin.

Naira slowly shifted from her spot.

Her movements became lighter, faster — she no longer moved like just a powerful warrior.

Now she was a predator.

Graceful.

Incredibly fast.

Perfect.

She slowly circled around Kano, bending down and staring into his eyes like a predator studying its prey.

— "What, mighty chief? Can't take your eyes off me?"

Her voice was the same, but now it held different tones — something dangerous, playful, confident.

Kano didn't respond.

He couldn't.

His mind simply stopped working.

Naira smiled.

It was the same cheeky smile he had seen before... But now it carried a completely different energy.

She was pleased that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

She knew she had become something more.

And she knew that Kano saw it.

— "Damn..." he exhaled.

Naira winked and lightly tossed her long black hair off her shoulders.

— "Ready to lead your little army, mighty chief?"

He was about to respond when…

Darkness enveloped him.

His legs buckled.

The ritual had drained everything from him.

His mana was completely exhausted.

His body could hold no more.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the surprised expression on Naira's face, which suddenly shifted to one of concern.

— "MIGHTY CHIEF!"

The light went out.

MIGHTY CHIEF!

Kano didn't feel his body hit the ground.

His vision faded. His consciousness wavered, and the world around him began to disappear.

He could only hear muffled voices breaking through the darkness.

— "What's wrong with him?!"

— "He's losing consciousness!"

— "Selina, do something!"

The voices blended into chaos, but one was clearer than the rest.

— "STAND BACK!"

Selina's soft, commanding voice silenced everyone.

Someone gently lifted his body.

Kano tried to move, but there was no strength.

His arms, his legs — everything felt heavy, as if made of stone.

Something cold touched his forehead.

— "Healing magic isn't working!"

That voice belonged to Selina.

— "What?! How can this be?!" Naira's voice was tense.

— "He has exhausted himself. Completely. His mana has been burned down to the last drop. Not even the strongest healing magic can help until his body heals itself."

Silence.

Heavy, oppressive silence.

— "So what do we do?" one of the orcs asked.

— "We take him to the tent," Naira finally said, her voice firm. "He needs rest."

Kano felt his body being lifted by strong hands. He was carried, the crowd of orcs parting as they anxiously watched what was happening.

— "What about the chief?"

— "Will he survive?"

— "He gave us his strength... and now he's lying unconscious..."

— "I've never seen magic drain someone like this..."

The voices shifted and overlapped, but Kano could no longer respond.

Darkness took him completely.

Time vanished.

Kano didn't know how long he had been in the dark.

His body felt heavy, as if bound by invisible chains.

Strange images filled his dreams.

Flames spreading across his body…

Red eyes that stared through the darkness...

A helmet that fastened itself onto his head...

Fire, born within his veins...

And suddenly — a gentle touch.

Warmth.

Tender, cautious.

Kano opened his eyes.

Before him stood a tent. The fire in the lantern flickered, casting soft shadows on the walls.

He lay on an improvised bed of fur and fabric.

Someone was sitting beside him.

Kano slowly turned his gaze.

Selina.

She was the only one not asleep. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her delicate fingers gently brushed his hand.

Kano felt warmth spreading through his body.

— "You're awake..." she whispered, relieved.

Kano blinked.

— "W... where am I?"

— "In your tent. We carried you here after the ritual."

It took him a few seconds to recall everything.

The ritual.

The orcs.

The transformation.

He suddenly sat up but immediately grabbed his head — his body hadn't fully recovered.

— "Slowly," Selina carefully placed her hand on his shoulder. "You were unconscious for almost the whole day."

— "The whole day?" Kano froze.

His head pulsed.

He suddenly felt that the tent wasn't empty.

On the other side, Naira slept, sprawled on the furs, one arm under her head.

Lianel was also asleep, curled up near the entrance.

Kano lifted his eyes to the ceiling of the tent, trying to gather his thoughts.

— "How... how are the orcs?"

Selina smiled.

— "They're waiting for you."

Kano exhaled slowly.

He had no other choice.

He needed to go out.

— "Alright..." he slowly rose.

His legs were weak, but his body was regaining control.

Selina helped him maintain his balance.

Kano took a deep breath.

He had gone through the ritual.

He had bound himself to the orcs.

Now, it was time to face them.

He pushed aside the tent flap and stepped outside.

Before him stood dozens of Higher Orcs.

They were all waiting for him.

Kano stepped beyond the tent — and instantly, dozens of eyes turned to him.

Higher Orcs.

They stood silently, their gazes piercing him, but in the silence, there was no fear or doubt.

Only anticipation.

Their powerful figures looked even more imposing under the light of the campfires burning around the camp. They were no longer the same orcs that had stood here yesterday.

Now, they were an army.

Stronger, faster, more enduring than ever before.

And all of them were waiting for their chief.

Kano felt something heavy settle on his shoulders — a burden he could not escape.

Slowly, without a word, Kro'Ghan stepped forward.

The old chief no longer looked weak.

His body had changed too: his back was straightened, muscles under his skin stretched like ropes, and his eyes glowed with a golden gleam. But the most important thing — he was no longer the chief.

He walked up to Kano, stopped before him, and lowered his head.

— "Now you are the true chief," he said. "You have accepted us. You are bound to us."

Kano didn't answer immediately.

His eyes scanned the crowd of orcs.

Then he saw Elgot.

The mage stood a little farther away, arms folded across his chest, carefully studying the situation.

His expression was far from admiration.

— "Tell me," Kano slowly turned to him, "that I haven't turned them into slaves."

Elgot smirked.

— "Actually… you have."

Kano gritted his teeth.

— "Can I free them?"

The mage shook his head.

— "No. If you try, the magic of the bond will simply destroy them. You can't remove the connection."

Kano almost swore.

He turned his gaze to the orcs, who continued standing silently, but now there was even more expectation in their eyes.

They didn't ask.

They didn't demand.

They simply waited for his decision.

Kano sighed, wiping the weariness from his face.

He lifted his head.

— "I didn't want this," he said loudly so that everyone could hear. "But now, this is my path."

Silence.

— "I will not rule over you as slaves. I will not command you as a lord commands his servants."

He looked at Kro'Ghan, then at each one of them.

— "You will follow me not because you have to. But because you want to."

Someone drew a sharp breath.

— "I will find you a home," Kano continued, his voice firm. "But we will not be thieves. We will not be a clan waiting for mercy from the stronger."

He took another step forward, looking each orc in the eye.

— "We will be a force that will change this world."

And then...

The orcs roared.

The roar of their voices surged through the camp, lifting the dust, making the ground vibrate with their mighty rumble.

— "Chief Kano!"

— "Chief Kano!"

— "Chief Kano!"

He felt their strength, their unity, their boundless faith in him.

Naira stood beside him, arms crossed over her chest, grinning boldly.

— "Well then, mighty chief, now you have a real horde."

Kano took a deep breath.

— "Yes. And now we will find them a place."

Elgot placed his palm to his face.

— "Oh, yes… now we have a damn Horde…"

Rudgard grunted.

— "This will be interesting."

Kano felt relief mix with a deep resolve.

There was no turning back.

The Higher Orcs now had a chief.

And this world would learn about them.