The Survival of an Inferior

"Wait wait, musclehead, stop! At least let me-" 

Gnokz attempts to calm Markov but to no avail. 

Markov throws a quick jab at Gnokz which he barely dodges.

*BOOOOOOOOM!!* 

The simple jab shot out a shock wave powerful enough to decimate a large section of the town.

"Have you not considered other possibilities like an intruder? Why would I declare war near my son's birthday?!" Gnokz asks.

"You used the intruder excuse for the previous events too. Do you think I'm stupid?!" Markov exclaims.

"Shit..." Gnokz mumbles. He didn't expect his mischief would bite him back like this. 

"Demon Raul and Lucy will not be happy." Gnokz still tries to salvage the situation.

However, Markov retorts. "Then I will annihilate your race before they catch wind of the situation." 

Gnokz grits his teeth and glares at him. 

"Markov, you think too highly of yourself," says Gnokz.

"Heed my call! Every orc that can fight is to join the battle! Today, we will destroy the midgets!!" Markov shouts.

"YAAAAAA!!!!" The orcs behind him cry out.

"Chief Gnokz..." a female goblin named Ird behind Gnokz says.

Gnokz nods and says. "Pass down the order, hold for as long as possible until the demons come. Ird, send 3 goblins to inform the demon."

Ird stares at Gnokz anxiously. 

Gnokz smiles. "I won't die, not to the likes of those muscleheads."

Three orcs charge at Gnokz. Gnokz unsheathes two shiny diamond daggers and instantly decapitates all three orcs with ease. 

The next second, Markov appears behind Gnokz.

!

He throws a punch at Gnokz who dodges it and follows up with a slash to Markov's neck. However, it leaves only a small cut that heals back instantly.

Gnokz clicks his tongue as Markov smirks. Markov grabs Gnokz and slams him to the ground sending clouds of debris and dust into the air.

*BOOOOOM!* 

When the dust clears up, Gnokz is missing from Markov's hand.

??

Instead, Gnokz is seen behind Markov.

*PST!!* 

And Markov's body burst into a bleeding spree, many cuts appearing on his body.

================================== 

*BOOOOOOOOOM!!!* 

I can hear a loud explosion from afar. 

In the middle of the Orc town, there is a building that is only slightly wider than the others, making it difficult to spot. 

I hide in a cabin near the special building. 

Several orcs run past the cabin in a hurry. Each is holding spiked mace and wearing rigid black armour.

I gulp as sweat paints my face. 

If I fought against those orcs instead of the foolish third son Kastro, it will be almost impossible to win. 

I take a decoy that I carved from wood and lift it above my head. From the exterior, it seems like a human is peeking out from the window of a cabin. This is to ensure no orcs specialized in long-range attacks have their eye on me. 

...

Nothing, good.

I look around and notice no orcs. I quickly run to the "special" cabin.

*thud* 

I slam the door close once inside. 

At first glance, everything looks the same: broken and rotting furniture, broken machinery, et cetera. 

But...

*creak* 

I push aside a bookshelf. A rectangular part of the wooden wall behind it is darker.

Pushing that section, it reveals a small hole that only a person can fit through. 

I take a deep breath and crawl into the hole. Within the hole, I may die from the lack of oxygen. Thus I quickly attempt to wiggle my way through. My sweat ironically helps me push myself forward until I finally see the end.

I lightly hit the ground below me and it crumbles, revealing a cavern lit by torches. 

"D-Damn it...it's too stuffy..."

The ground below me gives in and falls.

*Thud!* 

...

"Ouch..."

I get up rubbing my back. 

Behind me are rows of prison cells. The prisoners are mostly skinny humans with no light left in their eyes, I am unable to distinguish their gender. 

------------------------------

One Side Mission has been created!

Save the noble "Kate" and her butler "Led".

Note: This mission can be rejected without penalties. 

Warning! Completing this mission will change the fate of many characters!

Reward: 

+5 favorability from Kate 

+5 favorability from Led 

[Accept][Reject]

-------------------------------

Favorability...

When an important character's favorability of the protagonist reaches a milestone, they can provide several benefits and even change the story. 

In other words, Favorability is a core system of "Elvis Arcane". 

The noble Kate is supposed to become friends with the protagonist Rena and help her on her journey, thanking Rena for saving her; She is a core main character of the game. She is also the target for the first main mission of Rena, the reason why Rena and her army came to the dungeon.

...

Although I feel bad for Rena, if I want to reach the so-called "True Ending", I eventually have to take things into my own hands. I'm sorry Rena, I need Kate.

I accept.

----------------------------

Side Mission accepted.

Save the targets within 3 hours or they will die.

---------------------------- 

Hm? Die?

They did not die in the original plot until 2 days later.

Is it because of me?

I sigh.

For a landmark, I carve a circle into the walls. 

This prison is located under the main dungeon and stretches from the castle, the abode of the Monster King, to the orc's territory. Secondly, the prison is a maze...a huge one.

However, the entire layout of the prison is inside my head...

================================ 

A frail man wearing a tattered black coat is chained to the wall with another woman wearing a torn dress.

The man has white strands among his messy black hair and an untidy moustache below his nose. He looks up and says "My lady, those orcs are gone..." 

The young blonde woman with azure eyes tries her best to look up. Her long and messy hair across her face obstructs her view. 

...

She ignores the man. 

"Young lady Kate, please have hope. The Everlasting Knights will come for us." says the man.

Kate glances at the floor. "I hope so, Led, I don't know how long it's been...since we were abducted." She replies.