Path of the Deathless

140 (I) Predators [I]

[Mana Signature Recognized - Undoing Spell Seals]-Profile: Master-Inquisitor Harraman Sijik

140 (I)

Predators [I]

Orcs were creatures of cunning and initiative when it came to raids.

Adam told them the details of what was to come, what enemies they had to face, and what the objectives were. The orcs, in turn, immediately started organizing themselves into interest groups based on adversaryand mission type.

Special interest needed to be placed upon the adversary. Helix, for once, cared nothing about the Necrotechs. But he did have a special kind of loathing directed toward the First Blood. He was willing to serve and support Shiv for the coming Blackedge liberation mission, but his personal preferences were stated clearly and simply.

“I wish to inflict a genocide upon the Bloodspawn for debasing my craft with their incompetence,” Helix declared. Several other orcs called out in accord, sharing a similar desire, while most remained indifferent.

Comparatively, Bonk had eyes mainly for Sullain and all but begged Shiv forif they happened to encounter the Legendary Pathbearer.

Then, in between were orcs like Whisper. He ran counter to most orcs in that he didn’t have a favored adversary. Rather, he desired to partake in certain operations. Operations that involved high precision, stealth, and complex environments. Mortar, despite disliking Whisper, also fell into this category—and to Shiv’s surprise, they immediately started sharing notes about these details.

This was where the orcs' collective drive toward self-discipline made itself known. Shiv knew humans, goblins, and even elves generally leaned toward the path of least resistance. Not so with the orcs. They preferred resistance, and they would do anything to find the most interesting struggles and battles. So much so that they would even work against their natural inclination to be solitary predators and force themselves to collaborate with one another to see things come to fruition.

Adam, Shiv, and Uva watched on in rapt curiosity as the orcs composed themselves into after the briefing concluded. Most of them departed the Court Leviathan and descended to the camps. And these symposiums were not led by their Heroes or Masters either. In fact, the Skill Tiers mattered little in these matters. The ones who guided these symposiums were the orcs who had the highest cycle ratios: Years lived per reincarnation cycle.

It was a strange kind of pseudo-seniority that guided the orcs, but Shiv found it to be a strangely brilliant structure. It wasn’t quite a gerontocracy, in which the eldest had the most say. It wasn’t just a tyranny of brute force—as if the orcs were only brute force. It was a reign of the most efficient, guided by the best survivors and sorted among the interest areas.

And aside from formally declared duels or challenges, the orcs largely kept themselves clean from violence. Instead, they all began collective brainstorming about strategies and potential risks for the challenges ahead. They took things so seriously that practically all orcs had a notebook in their hands that they filled with details and questions. These were discussed, optimized, and then eventually collected by the orc said orcs with the best cycle-ratios and the ones who most often served in leadership roles.

The Maestros then further convened among themselves until a core group remained at the end. Then, finally, a unified document was delivered to Adam approximately eight hours after his speech. The document was about a thousand pages thick, separated into two theaters.

The first was listed as the , and it itself was split into campaigns against the Inquisition and the Necrotechs. The second was focused entirely on suppressing and crippling the First Blood. Adam speed-read through the pages, and with each flip of the page, his expression grew paler, and his eyes grew wider.

As he closed the orcs’ strategic document, he looked at Shiv and let out a shuddering breath.

Shiv said over their link with a grunt. But from what he managed to glean from the orcs’ strategic proposals, he had to agree with Adam. The orcs were smart and experienced monsters. Exactly what Blackedge and the gate might need. But that led to a new problem afterward: How the hells was Shiv going to contain them when this was done?

Shiv, Uva, and Adam had their personal meeting in the captain’s quarters. The room had a desk put back in place, but aside from that, it was mostly a wide chamber of pale bone. And though the walls were supposedly soundproofed, and the door was fused shut, the team still conducted their conversation telepathically.

Because the Court Leviathan’s crew was mostly orcs now. And Adam likely wasn't the only one with Heroic Awareness aboard.

Uva’s face twisted in an expression of quiet exhaustion at hearing that.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Adam interrupted her, his gaze wild with dread. He let out a sigh while Shiv and Uva shared a look.

The Recollector had left scars on Adam. That much was obvious to Shiv. The damned thing left marks on Shiv too, in that he hated Outsiders and would try to kill them as soon as he laid eyes on them, but he felt the same way about most vampires.

He was increasingly feeling more than a little different about the orcs. And not just because of their Social Skills working on him.

Shiv said.

Adam regarded him and frowned.

Adam said, nodding along.

Shiv shrugged.

That immediately made Adam’s face twist in horror.

Uva said.

Shiv replied.

Uva said, frowning.

Adam asked.

Uva said. Her expression turned curious.

Adam said. Shiv leaned in as well.

Uva continued relaying her findings.

Shiv paused.

Adam realized what Shiv was talking about.

Shiv added.

The Deathless grinned. Both Uva and Adam just stared at him like he was insane.

Adam’s lip curled.

Uva considered that for a moment.

Adam deadpanned.

Uva replied without getting the joke.

Shiv asked.

Shiv thought about that.

Shiv asked.

Shiv did a double-take.

Adam replied flatly.

Adam sneered.

Shiv taunted. He reached out to pinch Adam’s cheek, and the Gate Lord smacked his hand aside.

Shiv complained.

Uva said, squinting at the two of them.

Shiv nodded in agreement. And tried to pinch Adam with a stream of Vitae anyway. The Gate Lord dodged back and laughed.

Shiv chuckled.

The Umbral’s annoyed expression collapsed into one of exasperated amusement.

Shiv said.

Adam formed a Hydrokinetic limb with a middle finger extended. It pressed against Shiv’s face, and the Deathless pretended it wasn’t there at all.