<h4>Chapter 23: Winter Orcs</h4>


    Winter Orcs were creatures dreaded all over the North and the mere mention of their name struck fear in the hearts of the people. They were territorial beast, who usually didn''t leave a specific region, but once every decade, for unknown reasons, they marched towards human''snds.


    The Winter Orcs shared many simr characteristics with the Greend Orc, including arge build, sharp teeth, and prominent tusks. The only noticeable difference was their pure white skin. Despite their brutality, Winter Orcs were semi-rational beings capable of living in organizedmunities, based on religion and a hierarchical system, where the strongest reigned.


    This social development led the Winter Orcs to establish a Kingdom in the Frozen Forest, with a Transcendent Stage Orc as their leader. However, this budding Kingdom was destroyed in the hand of Garret Von Stahl, the founder of Stahl, who put an end to their future, delegating them to a life of raids and scattered existence. This was only a chapter in the history of the Frozen Forest, which serves as a reminder of the power of the Winter Orcs.


    At this moment, Henry and the Expedition Team were on top of a cliff, witnessing the might of the Winter Orcs as they rampaged through the barbarian vige, destroying their wooden houses and indiscriminately killing woman, children, and elderly. Henry could even see some of the creatures using their sharp andrge teeth to tear flesh from their victims.


    The barbarians were valiantly fighting back, but their resistance was futile against the sheer strength and the number of their attackers. There were even a few Fourth Stage Winter Orcs amongst the group, making the battle even more one-sided, as the barbarians had no powerhouses to hold the fort. They were being decimated at an rming pace.


    The women tried to protect their offspring and the elderly picked their rusty weapons, only to be killed by a single strike. Even those with Tribal Tattoos could not hold their ground against these creatures. Of course, they managed to y a few enemies, but it wasn''t enough to turn the tides of this war. The dead barbarians'' gushing blood was enough to create a small stream on the snow.


    "RAhhhhhh!" - Gedhe and the barbarians let out a wild shout as their eyes zed with fury at the sight of their people being exterminated.


    Henry, Luther, and the members of the First Battalion were unable to contain them as they recklessly tumbled down the cliff, disregarding their own safety. Some leapt from rock to rock, like monkeys, while Gedhe and a few others just directly jumped down. Although the cliff wasn''t that high, only a hundred feet tall, it was still a surprising scene.


    In a couple of seconds, the barbarians of the Expedition Team were already charging towards the horde of Winter Orcs, estimated to number around a hundred.


    Henry shook his head and nced at his soldiers, who stood at attention, waiting for hismand. Despite the barbarians being responsible for countless Stahl''s civilians and soldiers deaths, Henry''s warriors were ready to obey if he ordered them to assist in the situation.


    Henry did not hesitate. He had already decided to swallow these barbarians into his Kingdom and integrate their knowledge into Stahl. He needed their workforce and power, that''s why they couldn''t die here.


    "Assist them!" – Henrymanded and turned his head back to the vige in anger – "Luther, kill that Fifth Stage Winter Orc, he dares to kill my new workforce, no…my subjects."


    Before long, Luther, Henry and the Expedition Team was descending the cliff and dashing towards the confront. They were not as graceful and swift as the barbarians, but they still made it safely to the ground.


    "I will wait here!" - Luke''s cowardly voice could be heard from the top of the cliff, as heid on the ground, afraid that an avnche would bring him down. It was safer this way.


    The barbarians were already engaged in a brutal battle against the Winter Orcs. They abandoned their traditions and furiously swarmed a few isted orcs with sheer numbers. Their madness fueled their violence as they wildly swung their weapons, seeking to inflict as much damage as possible.


    "Kill them!" – This was the only thing in their minds when they witnessed their brothers and sisters being murdered. They were a tight-knitmunity after all.


    It didn''t take long before the Winter Orc''s leader, a being in the Fifth Stage, finally noticed the disturbance. He was standing in the middle of the vige, where the houses were already destroyed and the floor was littered with corpses. The orc let out a guttural growl and discarded the lifeless body of a young girl, which had the clear signs of a bite on her belly.


    *Grrrr*


    At that inhuman sound, the Winter Orcs abruptly ceased their attacks and turned their attention towards the battle in the distance, where their kin were being rapidly yed. They obediently turned to their leader, awaiting his next order.


    *Gr*


    The Winter Orc Leader''s growl echoed through the battlefield as all the Orcs start charging towards the Expedition Team, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Houses crumbled under their massive feet, and corpses were crushed, turning into pools of blood.


    The Leader was also about to charge towards these new enemies, however, a silhouette of a puny human being appeared in front of him, blocking his way. The huge being looked down at Luther with an annoyed look, wondering how this small ant dared to stand in front of him.


    The Winter Orc swung his arms at the old man, not sparing him a second nce and ready to crush his head. However, a powerful force held back his strike. The orc leader tried to push forwards, but he found himself immobile. He looked down again and saw the old man''s small hands holding his pinky finger with a gentle smile on his face.


    "My liege still needs to be honed."- Luther said in a calm butmanding tone- "and your kin will be the perfect sharpening tool. He must learn to ovee all obstacles to be a stronger and better king. So, you''lle with me for a bit and be a good boy."


    He then swiftly broke the orc''s finger, causing the beast to scream in agony as it fell to its knees. Luther didn''t care for the creature''s agony as he looked towards Henry. There, near the entrance of the shabby vige, he could see his King killing an Orc with a single sh.


    A proud and encouraging expression could be seen on Luther''s face, it was like a father watching their son winning a baseball match or scoring their first goal. It was exhrating andforting.


    "They really grow up" – Luther murmured, still holding the creature''s broken finger.