Chapter 218: Strong Ideals
As they were getting closer, they could see that the humans and orcs had almost equal number of people with a slight advantage on the human sode. The humans were pressing hard against the orcs defending the last few buildings where the civilians were hiding.
The humans were so focused on pressing the orcs that they hadn't noticed Naguk's group approaching from behind. "Come on," Naguk said, raising his voice just enough for the others to hear. "We can limit casualties if we hurry up. Charge!"
With a collective roar, the group of orcs surged forward, rushing down the rubble-strewn streets and into the rear ranks of the human force. The humans turned too late, they were suddenly pinned between two sides.
Naguk fought at the forefront. He ducked under a human's sword swing, countering with an upward slash. Nearby, Ezukar fought with the same determination as Naguk.
The humans, now with no retreat path, fought more and more desperately. Eventually, the tide of battle turned. The humans fell one after another. Those who remained alive backed into a small pocket, surrounded on all sides.
One of the orcs stepped forward, hefting his bloodied axe. "Surrender," he growled, his voice rough and commanding. "Otherwise, we will end your lives here."
A human at the front, a grizzled soldier with a scar running down his face, huffed loudly. He steadied himself, gripping his sword with both hands. "We'd rather die than surrender to you orcs." His comrades, though clearly afraid, mimicked his stance. They prepared themselves for what would surely be their last stand.
Before the orcs could close the gap and finish the fight, thick vines erupted from the ground. They coiled around the humans' legs and arms, twisting tightly and rendering them immobile. The humans struggled and shouted, but the vines held firm.
The orc leader of the defending force stepped forward. He studied the bound humans with a cold, assessing gaze. "See? Your determination changed nothing," he said mockingly. He then turned to his warriors and signaled with a sharp gesture. "Take them to the camp. We'll get everything they know."
The scarred human spat at the ground in front of the orc leader. "You'll get nothing from us. We're soldiers. We don't betray our people." His said proudly.
The orc leader tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "We'll see about that." His warriors moved forward, roughly pulling the humans to their feet and dragging them toward the camp. Their hands were still bound, and they stumbled on the uneven ground as they were led away.
As the orc leader turned back to address Naguk's group, Ezukar suddenly stepped forward as he said. "Wait!" he called out, his voice cutting through the tense air.
The orc leader stopped and turned to Ezukar. "What is it, boy?"
Ezukar took a deep breath. "Maybe we could send them to discuss a ceasefire. This constant fighting doesn't lead anywhere. People are dying on both sides—for absolutely no reason."
The orc leader regarded Ezukar with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You're very idealistic, young man," he said slowly. "But you don't know how it works. If we released them, they would only use that to their advantage. They'd come back with greater numbers and strike this place again and again. And now that they know there's a base here, we cannot allow that."
Ezukar's jaw tightened, but he continued. "I know how it works," he said firmly. "But think about it. If they attacked this place now, they'll attack it again. They already know about the civilians hiding here. If we don't do something to stop this cycle, it will never end."
Naguk stood beside Ezukar, listening intently. He had heard Ezukar's ideas before, but this was the first time his friend had voiced them so boldly in front of someone with authority. The orc leader stared at Ezukar for a long moment, clearly weighing his words.
"And you think they'd listen?" the leader asked finally, skeptically. "If we released one of them?"
Ezukar nodded. "Maybe not right away. But if we show them we're willing to talk, maybe they'll realize we're not so different. Maybe we can stop this."
The orc leader's expression hardened again. "You're a fool to think they'd see reason. Humans don't want peace with us. They want us gone."
Ezukar stepped closer, raising his voice with passion. "Then let us be the ones to break the cycle! Let us be the ones who try. If we don't take the first step, no one will."
A heavy silence fell over the group. Naguk glanced between Ezukar and the leader. The leader stared at Ezukar, unmoving, as if searching for something in the young orc's face.
Then the orc leader crossed his arms. His gaze was cold, but there was a flicker of curiosity. "And how would you want to do that?" he asked skeptically. "For all I know, if we release them—even if only to deliver the message about a potential peace—he might just walk away. You'd never know. He might not deliver anything at all."
Ezukar's confidence faltered for a brief moment. He looked at the humans, at their hardened faces, then back at the leader. Clenching his fists, he said, "Then send me with them."
The orc leader blinked. "What?"
"I will go with them," Ezukar repeated. "I'll make sure they deliver the message. I'll speak for us. I'll make sure they know we're serious about peace."
The orcs standing nearby exchanged glances. Even the humans, despite their bindings, looked surprised. A murmur rippled through the group, but no one interrupted.
The leader tilted his head, regarding Ezukar as though trying to gauge his sanity. Finally, he sighed deeply, rubbing his hand over his face. He turned to the orcs holding the humans. "Wait!" he ordered sharply.
The warriors stopped dragging the humans, turning back toward their leader with questioning looks. The leader turned back to Ezukar. "You're serious about this? You'd risk walking into their camp, with their blades at your back?"
Ezukar nodded. "Yes. If this is what it takes to stop this endless bloodshed, then it's worth it."
From the group of humans, one of them—an older soldier with a hardened glare—snapped. "If you think we'll fall for your tricks, you're wasting your breath! We won't be fooled by this little show of 'kindness.' Do you think we believe anything you say?!"
The orc leader's brow furrowed in irritation, but he didn't react immediately. He clenched his fists, but instead of snapping back, he exhaled through his nose. "You heard that young man," he said, his tone calmer than expected as he addressed the humans. "We will release one of you to deliver the message. That is all. A show of good faith. Take it or leave it."
The humans remained silent. Some of them still glared at the orcs with open defiance, but others—particularly the younger ones—appeared uncertain, even afraid. The reality of their situation was beginning to sink in.
The orc leader turned to Ezukar again. "But I can't send you alone. If I send you alone, there's a chance they might try something. You're young, idealistic, and you wouldn't stand a chance if they decided to put a blade in your back."
He looked out over the group of orcs, raising his voice. "Someone else will have to go with him. Someone strong enough to keep him safe—and to make sure this mission isn't a failure."
The gathered orcs fell silent. The idea of walking willingly into enemy territory was suicide, and everyone knew it. Naguk scanned the faces of his comrades, seeing their hesitation. No one volunteered.
The orc leader shook his head and was about to speak again when Naguk said hesitantly. "I will go."
The leader paused, looking at Naguk. Ezukar turned to him, his eyes widening in surprise and gratitude. "Naguk…"
The leader studied him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Fine. You'll go with him." He turned back to the humans. "Now, as for you…"
He pointed to the youngest among the captured humans—a boy barely older than sixteen, with an unsteady stance and a look of terror in his eyes. "You. You will lead these two to your leader to discuss a possible ceasefire."
The boy flinched, his face paling even further. He glanced nervously at the older soldiers bound beside him, as though hoping one of them would speak up in his defense. Instead, one of the older humans snarled. "Don't listen to them! It's a trap. They just want to learn the position of our camp!" He struggled against his bindings, his face flushed with anger. "You can't—"
Before he could finish, the orc holding him punched him hard across the face. The human slumped forward, blood dripping from his nose, but he said nothing further.
The young human looked between the soldier and the orc leader, his whole body trembling.
Ezukar stepped forward, his voice softer this time. "Please," he said, addressing the boy directly. "This doesn't have to be more fighting. You can help stop this. All you need to do is deliver the message."
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