Broken Earth: Unveiling the Secrets of the Worlds

Life in peril

The other hunters seen how the orcs drop like flies with arrows hitting their vitals but some are more tenacious and needed more than a single arrow before they kick the bucket. Seeing that there is hope, they use every ounce of energy left on their bodies to actually fight back rather than defending against the orcs' attacks.

              “This is a chance! Fight back!” one of the oldest hunters shouted as his companions grab their weapons in hopes that they can all survive the onslaught.

              BAM! BAM! BAM!

              More orcs fell victim to Xerxes’ crude crossbow skills but it certainly is enough to save the lives of people who are desperate to live. The hunters starts fighting back, he can no longer get a clear shot and stopped attacking altogether. “I might hit people accidentally, I can’t take that risk.”

                Xerxes slowly descended towards the portal below where the other hunters are and brought with him the few arrows left and a knife. “There is someone coming from above! It looks like human!” one of the hunters noticed him and told the others to help him get down quickly and go back to fight. They noticed the crossbow on  Xerxes hand and then realized that it was him that helped them gain hope, without time to thank their savior, they turn back and attack the orcs who are being driven away from the portal.

              “My body freaking aches- that was a devastating blow.” Xerxes said as he holds his aching body but when he turns around, he saw that there are not only hunter but also kids his age who are with them. Their  terrified expressions and got stiff in fear after the horror that they witnessed.

                 The hunters are definitely pushing back the orcs but their number is not dwindling but growing instead. Xerxes realizes this and immediately orders everyone to give him every arrows that they can find or else help him take down their numbers.

              “Hey bud! Bring me every arrow that you can find!” Xerxes shouted at the two kids his age who seemed to have still been dazed by what happened so he shouted again. “Hey! Listen to me! If you want to live follow what I just said or we’ll all going to die!” Xerxes said with loud and terrifying tone and manages to wake them up and do what he said in an instant. The kids his age were able to grab the arrows that took the orcs down and other arrows that were scattered around the area and piled them all beside Xerxes.

              But then something unexpected happen, while looking for more arrows, one of the kids slipped and went straight back to the portal on to the other side. Others who are desperate to live then run towards the portal and got back home leaving only two other kids and the hunters that were fighting off against the orcs. ‘Ah f*ck! This is going to be a pain.” Xerxes muttered bitterly with their numbers dwindled down into 8.

              The hunters are now exhausted and fall back to where the others are to get a breather but they will no longer be able to fight again. Seeing that there is no need to fight with the time for them to come back home had arrived, they decided to head back to the portal.

              “Hey kid, are you not going to go back?” one of the hunters said as Xerxes continues to fire the crossbow. “I still have more than half an hour left before I can get back.” His words sent shock to the hunters whom he saved and were hesitant to stay, Xerxes feels this and told them to go back. “There is no need to worry about me. Go back home,  that’s the most rational decision right now.”

              The hunter that spoke with Xerxes grits his teeth in frustration as he considers leaving the one that saved his life  as his companions calls out to him. “Kid, if you ever do survive. Come and find me, I will pay back my debt.” The hunter’s last words before the others drags him inside the portal and that only leaves Xerxes and the other two kids. 

             “What are you both still doing here?” Xerxes asked them but they did not answered him and only placed the arrows near Xerxes. ‘Heh- so they plan to help me until the end huh?’ a bitter smile appeared on Xerxes face and tells him that they don’t need to do  that.

              “I refuse, we don’t have anyone that awaits us on the other side. But my friend here has some dreams that he need to achieve so-“ he then pushes his friend back to the other side forcedly. “I am indebted to you. There is no way I will die without even repaying a debt that I can repay now just by helping you. My name is Rupert by the way.” The kid said as he introduce himself. 

                  “Hahaha! This is not a really convenient time to introduce ourselves but nice to meet you, I’m Xerxes by the way.” Xerxes introduces himself. The two of them were able to hold out for a while after using all of their arrows but seeing that there is no other choice but to hold out, Xerxes tricked Rupert and told him to grab a few things for him beside the portal and the other one just followed his orders and all of the sudden kicked him back to the other side, sending him home in an instant where countless people are waiting just outside the portal.

              Rupert saw his friend Ramirez waiting for him as well as the other hunters  who were with him. “Why am I here? That bastard! He kicked me inside!” Rupert shouted as the hunters drag him away from the portal as he tries to go back even after knowing that he can't go back inside immediately.

              ‘As far as I can remember, I was walking down the street after buying a few things from the convenience store when a truck- ah! I guess that truck run over me. To think that would get transferred here just to die again. What a pain but then again. This world might be a little behind, they don’t have any conventional weapons at all. Even their dress are something that only the poor would use in my world.’ Xerxes thought as he lights up the wall of wood around the portal, he even placed a few orc dead bodies and use them as fuel.

                 His memories seem to have merged as one as the orcs approach near the portal awaiting for the flames to extinguish and feast on the kid that is left behind.

              Xerxes started to inhale the smoke that came from the burning wood and orc bodies. Even when he had already prepared a wet cloth to help him survive a little longer but then his consciousness started to fade.

              THUMP!

              A single ray of light remained in his head as he fainted from inhaling too much smoke and as the smoke died, the orcs approached him cautiously and wanted to kill him when all of the sudden an arrow struck the orc’s head and immediately fell on the ground. 

                The arrows came from the trees surrounding the portal and hits the orcs vitals with pinpoint accuracy, elves. Elves are beautiful creatures that looks the same as a human but he only thing that is different is their long pointy ears and longer life span. They despise other creatures besides themselves but what they loathe the most are creatures that are barbaric, and orcs just belong to that category.

              The orcs were wiped out in just mere moments and left without checking anything. Xerxes regained consciousness only to find the entire horde of orcs completely annihilated,  and it was already dawn, a few hours have already passed after he lost consciousness.

                 He came back to the other side of the portal a few more hours later while dragging the corpse of the orcs tied and connected to each and every single body. Xerxes is covered in blood and stinky stench of the orcs after completely dragging everything on to the other side, that alone is enough to exhaust all of his energy reserves and lost consciousness yet again in front of everyone waiting outside the portal.