'How the fuck did I get here?' was the only question on Seth's mind. Nothing made sense. He had fallen from a tower that seemed to exist outside of time... and now he was in a forest, facing an Orc who knew the boss of a completely different dungeon. Was that supposed to be connected? Because, to him, it all seemed like the stuff of a badly stitched script.
"HAHAHA! Yes, my friend would say exactly that!" the orc laughed out loud, as if the world wasn't about to collapse. Suddenly, he sat down in the lotus position right in front of Seth, with the ease of someone who has lived through a thousand wars and still sleeps peacefully.
"Come on, let's talk."
"My body isn't exactly working at the moment..." Seth muttered, his face contorted with pain. The blow had been real. The nerves in his legs didn't respond, and every breath was a reminder that some of his ribs had surrendered.
The orc stood up with a satisfied grunt.
"Ahhh... Knock first, ask questions later!" he said, grinning with pointed teeth. With slow movements, he picked up something attached to the leather belt that matched his rough tribal skirt: a small, rustic clay pot.
He threw the object with surprising precision at a brute of almost three meters.
"Drink. It will heal your wounds. Recipe from our shamans."
Seth, with trembling effort, stretched out his arm and grabbed the container before it fell to the ground. A strong, earthy smell escaped from the drink - something between moss and wild spices, with a metallic background reminiscent of blood.
A system window opened in front of him:
[Mythic Item - Drink of the Orc Tribe (Rank-S)] Description: An ancient elixir created by the shamans of Clan Kahragorn. Prepared with jungle essences, rare roots and condensed life energy, this tonic is capable of regenerating broken bones, sealing internal wounds and restoring the connection between body and soul. It is said that an Orc on the verge of death can fight again after a single sip.
Seth looked from the drink to the Orc, arching an eyebrow suspiciously. "That doesn't taste like boar's testicles or anything, does it?"
"Oh, have you tried it before?" The Orc replied with a proud smile.
'Fuck...' Seth sighed, closed his eyes, 'What the eye can't see, the heart can't feel!' and downed the contents of the bowl in one go.
The world burned inside. And, for the first time since he'd arrived in that hellhole, he felt his body begin to pull itself together.
Seth grimaced immediately - his eyes closed tightly, his face contorted as if he had bitten into liquid fire, and his throat protested with a muffled groan. The liquid was thick, bitter, and had the undeniable taste of something that should never have been bottled, let alone drunk.
"GUHHH!" he choked. "That... that was worse than sticking your face in a furnace of fermented vomit!"
The Orc burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the trees like the thunder of a tribal feast.
"HAHHAHAHA! That's the right reaction!" he said, beating his chest hard. "If you don't feel like dying when you drink, then it's not working. That's how we know it's healing!"
Seth gasped, involuntary tears streaming from his eyes as the liquid seemed to burn through his veins like magical acid - an acid with a conscience and bad intentions.
"You Orcs urgently need a cooking class... or compassion..."
"Bah!" the Orc replied with a broad gesture. "Compassion doesn't regenerate a broken leg. Drink does. Wait a minute... you'll feel the 'clan heat' in your stomach. Literally."
And as if his words had activated a switch, Seth felt a sudden wave of heat run through his body - like a warm electric shock. First, his fingers began to tingle, then his legs, and finally, his broken bones began to emit subtle clicks, like branches aligning themselves again.
[Regeneration Bonus Activated]
He let out a long sigh, his eyes closed, feeling the strength return to his limbs like a river returning to its bed.
"Damn... it really works..."
The Orc nodded with a satisfied smile.
"I am Gor'Magh. Warrior of the Kahragorn Clan. And you, stranger with questionable taste, who are you?" he pointed with his chin, now serious. "And how did you end up in the Heart of the Whispering Wilderness?"
Seth took a deep breath. There was still pain, but now it seemed distant. He sat up, this time of his own accord, facing Gor'Magh with a firmer expression.
"Seth. Just... Seth. And honestly? I also wanted to know how I ended up here." He looked around, trying to decipher some logic. "I was in another dimension and I passed through a fissure and landed here." He replied.
Fortunately, knowing that this Orc was Kharizan's friend gives him more opportunity to be truthful. Orcs are very friendly beings, and gaining the trust of one is a very good chance of ensuring your survival.
Gor'Magh arched his thick eyebrows, clearly intrigued.
"DID YOU GO THROUGH A RIFT?!" He let out a shout. "Heh. Maybe you're more Orc than you look, Seth. Only brave idiots do that sort of thing." He growled. "Damn, you're an idiot"
"Thanks for the support!" Seth said, sitting down in front of him, "I almost died, give me a break" He said and put Kharizan's axes back in the [Inventory].
Gor'Magh looked at him as if analyzing him deeply. "Why do I feel like you look like an Orc?" He asked.
Seth looked at him confused, "I don't know man, do I look like an Orc? There's no more human than me." He smiled back, but... [Equipping 'Orc King' Title]
"OH!!! THAT'S IT, YOU'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED!" Gor'Magh said excitedly as soon as the Title was automatically equipped by the System. Yes, the System took this action without Seth's approval, which made him raise his eyebrows.
Gor'Magh, on the other hand, seemed very excited...
"System, what are you doing without my permission?" he thought, frowning.
But Gor'Magh was already on his feet, euphoric as if he had just witnessed the birth of a legend.
"Seth, you have to challenge the leader of our clan!" he said, his eyes burning like torches. "The Great Urog would love to face the one who defeated Kharizan!"
Seth arched an eyebrow, still standing up fully, his body adjusting to the new state restored by the mythical drink.
"Dealing with him was hell... I can imagine dealing with another..." he muttered.
"Oh, come on! You survived that madman with the two axes? That's more than most people manage. Kharizan would respect you for that - if he were still alive."
"B-well... I killed him..." Seth muttered, he really wanted to get out of that situation... He just wanted to get home... after all... 'How much time has passed between the dimensions?...'
[...]
"That bastard! He was teasing me!" Ha-rin paced back and forth nervously. "It's been twenty minutes! And I can't get him out of my head!" She shouted, holding back her gray hair.
"D-Doctor... calm down..." One of the nurses who was in her room spoke up, she was very hesitant since Ha-rin was a Rank-S... one slap from her would turn this nurse to dust... At least in her mind that's what would happen, after all, she was only human.
"He said I have a high sex appeal!!!" She rebutted the nurse...
"But... Dr. Ha-rin... why would that be bad?" The Nurse questioned.
"Eh?" She stopped and turned to the Nurse...
"D-I mean, I'm not hitting on you!" The Nurse was embarrassed, "But Doctor... You're one hell of a hottie." She spoke honestly. "He was complimenting you on how beautiful you are..." She spoke...
Ha-rin shivered... her body froze... her heart beat fast like a drum... "What are you talking about!!!" She said embarrassed...
'28 years old and acting like a teenager... this world is lost...' The nurse thought and sighed, seeing Ha-rin's red face.