Embrace of the void

Michael and Nyxar ventured deeper into the forest, the thrill of their mission coursing through their veins. Their objective was clear: infiltrate the orc village, gather intelligence, and assess the threat posed by its inhabitants.

As they navigated through the underbrush, they encountered various monsters. Some were weak, easily dispatched by Michael's blade or Nyxar's stealthy strikes. They moved swiftly, avoiding the stronger beasts that roamed the darker corners of the forest, knowing that their primary goal lay ahead.

Finally, they reached the orc village, a primitive settlement surrounded by sturdy wooden fences. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and the sounds of orcish life. Archery towers punctuated every corner of the village, with vigilant guards stationed atop them, bowstrings taut and ready.

Two guards stood at the gate, their muscular frames casting long shadows in the fading light. Michael weighed their options carefully. "I'll keep watch from here," he whispered to Nyxar. "You go in and find the orc chief."

Nyxar nodded, slipping into the shadows with practiced grace. Michael settled into a concealed position, his eyes scanning the village.

From his vantage point, Michael observed the orcs engaged in their daily chores. Young orcs trained relentlessly, their grunts and shouts echoing in the air as they honed their combat skills. The primitive nature of the village struck him; it was a stark contrast to the sophistication of the world beyond.

In the heart of the village, Michael noticed a hut constructed of wood and bones. It stood out, exuding an aura of importance. His intuition told him that this was likely the orc chief's residence.

Meanwhile, Nyxar slipped into the hut, the shadows enveloping him as he moved silently across the threshold. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. The orc chief sat upon a bone chair, an imposing figure towering at over two meters tall. His green skin glistened in the dim light, and the hood of his cloak obscured his body, revealing only his face and hands.

The chief's visage was terrifying, sharp fangs protruding from his mouth, and two black tattoos snaked from his eyes to his lower cheekbones, giving him an even more fearsome appearance. In his hand, he held a communication crystal, engaged in a conversation that Nyxar strained to overhear.

"Is everything okay?" a voice emanated from the crystal.

"Yes, so far, everything is going well," the chief replied, his tone calm yet authoritative.

"I will send you the next batch of weapons and armor. Once you are settled and secure in the forest, we will begin our plan."

"Okay," the orc chief responded, nodding slightly.

Nyxar's heart raced. It was clear that this orc was not merely a petty warlord; he was a servant of a noble.*

As Nyxar listened, he relayed his findings to Michael. "I overheard him talking to someone through the crystal. It seems he's in league with a noble."

Michael's pulse quickened. "What makes you say that?"

"The weapons and armor they're discussing are too substantial to be supplied by anyone other than a noble or a wealthy merchant. They have a plan, and it's likely a dangerous one."

Tension rippled through Michael. "Are we still proceeding with our plan?"

"Absolutely. Not only will we continue, but we'll also seize those weapons and armor for ourselves," Nyxar replied, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Okay, return now," Michael urged, urgency in his voice.

Nyxar used his Void Step skill, reappearing beside Michael in an instant. "We need to train hard if we want to succeed against this village," Michael said, determination etched on his features.

"I'll aim to break through to Rank D, while you focus on reaching the top of Rank E," Nyxar replied, his enthusiasm infectious.

"And we must investigate the noble supporting the orcs. We need to know who we're dealing with," Michael added, his mind racing with possibilities.

"Leave that to me," Nyxar assured him, the glint of mischief in his eyes.

"Let's head back. We have a lot of work ahead of us," Michael concluded, resolve steeling his nerves.

With a shared understanding, they turned away from the village, determined to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. The shadows of Deepwood Hollow whispered of danger and opportunity, and Michael felt the weight of destiny on his shoulders.

The journey back to the city took Michael and Nyxar over two hours. Nyxar concealed himself within Michael's shadow, to make sure he wasn't detected as they approached the noisy entrance to the city.

As they neared the gates, Michael's attention was drawn to a familiar group of people.; it was the same trio he had encountered in front of Silverfang's house—Lily, John, and Sarah. To his surprise, he recognized another face among them: Alexa.

With her dark skin, black eyes, and short black hair, Alexa stood out as a striking figure.Alex had feelings for Michael in his previous life, but he rejected her because of his relationship with Sarah.. After that rejection, Alexa had become Tom's lover, the leader of the Black Mamba gang—a notorious figure who had orchestrated Michael's abduction before his untimely death and reincarnation.

Michael's expression hardened as he continued walking, ignoring the group entirely.

"Look what we have here! The orphan prince is back from his little hunt!" John called out, a mocking tone lacing his words. Lily laughed at the comment, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Michael remained stoic, refusing to rise to their taunts.

"Those idiots were so eager to befriend you when your parents were alive. But once they died, these idiots have broken off their relationship with you," Nyxar sneered in Michael's mind.

"Perhaps, but not many know about your status. Only nobles and influential families, like the Silverfangs, are privy to that information. Maybe Nora warned her daughter to steer clear of you, but I doubt she disclosed the reasons. As for John and Alexa, their families are of lower standing. They wouldn't have access to such knowledge," Nyxar explained.

"Still, we might need to deal with them before they become a nuisance," Nyxar cautione.

"Why's that?" Michael asked, curiosity piqued.

"Remember Alexa's brother? who you hospitalized in your previous life?"

"Yes, what about him?" Michael questioned, recalling the incident.

"He's joined the Black Mamba Gang in this world as well.Unlike your previous life, the Black Mamba Gang is extremely dangerous., their leader Tom is Rank A, and Alexa's brother is now Rank D," Nyxar warned.

Michael's expression darkened. "Is there a chance we'll clash with them?"

"I can't say for sure, but it's wise to keep our distance—especially from Alexa. Her brother already knows you, and you've crossed paths more than once. We don't want to be on his bad side," Nyxar advised.

Sighing, Michael muttered, "Why do these problems always seem to fall on me?"

"By the way, how can I hear your voice in my head like that?" Michael asked Nyxar.

 "It's because I'm connected to you. Your spirit has merged with mine. I believe all your summons will be able to communicate in the same way. With further mastery of black magic, you might even gain the ability to see through my eyes," Nyxar explained.

Michael felt a surge of excitement at the prospect. "That's incredible!"

Eventually, Michael arrived at his home and began preparing a meal. "Are you hungry?" he asked Nyxar.

"Absolutely," Nyxar replied, and they shared a quiet dinner together, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating.

"I'm going to sleep now. We need to wake up early for training," Michael announced, stifling a yawn.

"Sounds good," Nyxar responded.

"What will you do?" Michael inquired.

"I'll return to the Void World. It's more comfortable there," Nyxar answered.

"Okay," Michael replied, focusing on his skill. He activated Undead Storage, feeling a drain on his mana as a crack opened in the void.

Nyxar stepped through the rift. "Goodbye," he said before Michael closed the crack behind him.

As the silence enveloped the room, Michael reflected on Nyxar's words about staying in the shadows. The complexity of using Undead Storage weighed heavily on him, a reminder of the challenges he still needed to face.

With that thought in mind, he quickly succumbed to sleep, readying himself for the training and trials that awaited him in the days to come.