Evolution Island: Kill to Survive

Obey your Gods

Aaron and Zach spent the rest of the day, sitting around the bonfire and listening to the stories of the Cayuga. By evening they had managed to learn a lot more about their world. From what the tribals told them, it became clear that they were from a world where cavemen and hunter gatherers lived alongside terrifying pre-historic beasts. Dire Wolves, Smilodons and pterosaurs were quite common in their world and they would often be attacked by hungry beasts outside their village. In their world, humans had only just discovered fire and learned the use of basic stone tools.

Odolo helped them learn more about Zofran forest by meticulously describing all the special herbs and shrubs found there along with the myriads of birds and reptiles. When Aaron showed him the digital map of the forest on his Z-band, he was astounded by it. Having no knowledge of modern technology, he thought of this as some kind of magic.

“Do you know where the Dark Orc camp is located?” Aaron asked.

“The Dark Orcs build their homes on a ridge just past the fig trees. Their camp is full of horrible bone totems. It is a place of terrible profanity where human women are forced to do unspeakable things.”

“What do they do to your women?”

“The filthy hybrids use our women to satisfy their lust! They are forced to carry their cursed children in their wombs.”

“What the hell!” Aaron was shocked by this revelation. “Why don’t they reproduce with their own women?”

“There are no women in the Dark Orc camp. They are all males. That’s why they raid human villages and abduct the women from their homes. Even the Nagochi haven’t been spared from their lustful gaze.”

“That is some messed up shit.” Zach felt disgusted just listening to this. He couldn’t help himself from turning away in revulsion.

Aaron however, became more interested in learning about the Dark Orcs. The fact that they used human females for breeding immediately caught his attention. He remembered playing an RPG a few years back where the Orcs had a similar way of life. It was quite possible that Gilbert had copied parts of that game and merged it with this game world.

“Tell me more about that Dark Orc camp. Everything that you know,” Aaron pressed on.

The elder explained that the Dark Orc camp was home to over a hundred Dark Orcs and dozens of human women and young human male slaves. The camp was a home to the fiercest Orc warriors, led by Rothnak, the bloodthirsty Orc Warlord. No human had ever managed to escape from that camp, once captured. All the information about the Orc settlement came from the Cayuga hunters who had once mistakenly ventured into their territory while chasing a pair of wild boars. Odolo had also been among them and had witnessed all the horrors with his own eyes. If the Orcs hadn’t been busy with a feast, they all would have been captured and flogged to death. Though they had all managed to escape that day, they had never been able to forget the horrors they had witnessed.

With the help of the details provided by the old man, Aaron was able to draw a rough map of the forest on the ground, highlighting the Dark Orc camp and the lone path which lead straight to the front gate of the camp. Being situated on a ridge provided the Orcs with a clear line of sight, allowing them to spot all threats from far. A direct approach was suicide. The only other option was to approach under the cover of darkness. However, the night had its own share of horrors. It was when the mighty beasts came out to hunt. Even with their special skills and abilities, the two of them stood little chance against an entire Dark Orc camp, especially now that they had joined hands with the Hobgoblins.

“Looks like we have our hands full, bro,” Aaron said, turning to Zach.

“There’s no way we two can clear a whole damn Orc camp. We need a full party of 4 players to attempt something so crazy,” Zach responded and went on to write down the 4 special roles needed for the task. “We need 2 frontline fighters, one AOE caster and a healer to support from the back.”

“Well, there are just the two of us here.”

“Then it’s time to improvise.” Zach’s face curved into a slight grin and Aaron could already tell he had come up with some crazy plan.

“I don’t like that look, man. What are you thinking, bro?”

“We make use of our allies,” Zach answered, and almost immediately stood up to address the tribe. He looked at all the Cayuga men and women gathered around the fire and saw that look of reverence in their eyes. These people looked at him as if he were some God, meant to be worshipped and praised. Every single one of them was ready to serve his will. This was an opportunity he wasn’t willing to miss. Taking in a deep breath, he began his impromptu speech.

“I see you gathered before this sacred bonfire...and I share the pain that you feel. Your people have been killed by those filthy Orc Raiders. The Dark Orcs tried to destroy your village, and would have been successful too, if we hadn’t been there. We saved your tribe.”

“Zach, what the hell are you doing?” Aaron whispered, clutching at his arm.

“They need a savior and we need an army,” Zach replied under his breath. “We already saved their tribe, now it’s time for them to repay us.”

Before Aaron could get in another word, Zach strutted off and stood right in the middle of the crowd surrounding the bonfire. He raised his voice a pitch higher and puffed up his chest. “The Dark Orcs plunder your villages and murder your children. They abduct and r**e your women right in front of your eyes. Does it not make your blood boil? Does it not make your fists harden in rage?”

The people looked at Zach in awe, their gazes fixed upon his face, brightened by the glow of the sacred bonfire. “The time has come for you to rise against your enemies! Show them that the Cayuga are not cowards. I say, we hit the Dark Orc camp and rescue all the women they kidnapped. Let’s teach them a lesson they will remember forever!”

“But all our warriors are dead.”

“We are not strong enough to fight the Dark Orcs.”

“Yes, we will all be killed if we attack them.”

“You forget that this time you have the support of your Gods!” Zach gestured towards Aaron who was standing there stunned into silence. “We two are divine beings blessed with power which no mortal can possess. We are here to help your tribe prosper, but you must be brave and follow our path. The time has come to take the fight to them. Let’s attack the Dark Orc camp and give them a taste of their own medicine!”