Do You Want to Defy Orders?

Orgrim followed the old orc into his command tent. As the old orc entered, Orgrim ordered his second-in-command to secure the tent. No one was to come near without his permission!

The old orc plopped down in Orgrim's chair, stretched comfortably, and narrowed his eyes. "I've been traveling for days and I'm exhausted. Do you have anything to eat?"

Orgrim called in a warrior and gave him a quiet order. Before long, the orc warrior brought in a large piece of roasted meat and set it on the table. The old orc suddenly grabbed him, a glint of wicked light in his eyes.

"Let him go!" Orgrim roared. He darted forward, yanked the orc behind him, and said grimly, "Whatever you want, say it quickly. Don't touch my people!"

The old orc gave a dry chuckle. "Fine, I won't touch him. It's not as if I'm short one. Besides, if Gul'dan found out about this, I wouldn't fare any better!"

"You're dismissed. Get out!" Orgrim sent the orc warrior away, then stood before the old orc. "Why have you come?"

The old orc picked up the roasted meat and devoured it in great bites. After eating for a while, he noticed Orgrim's growing anger. He set the meat down and wiped his hands on his robe. "First, let me introduce myself. My name is Agmar, and I belong to the Shadow Council. I've come here as Gul'dan's advance envoy to have a chat with you!"

"The Shadow Council!" Orgrim gritted his teeth. After glancing at the old orc, he suppressed his anger and asked, "What did Gul'dan send you here for?"

At the mention of Gul'dan, Orgrim seemed to be transported back to those dark days.

Orgrim's homeland had been much like this world, filled with many races and living creatures. It had once been peaceful, too. The orcs held vast territories and firmly dominated the other races, but wars were rare.

Everything changed because of Gul'dan. He was a warlock who had somehow learned dark magic and gained the power to control Fel. Like his teacher, the old Shaman Ner'zhul, he became infamous!

But Gul'dan was incredibly powerful, and he also had the support of a being who claimed to be a god. His power continued to grow until he seized control of the Horde. He supported Blackhand, chieftain of the Horde's largest clan, the Blackrock Clan, and placed him on the Warchief's throne, keeping the Horde's true power firmly in his own hands.

Wherever Gul'dan went, his evil magic followed, leaving wasteland in its wake. Any region touched by Fel became desolate, with every living thing destroyed and not a blade of grass left. Forget meat—even grain could no longer grow there.

Then one day, Gul'dan declared that he could lead the Horde away from their dying world. He infused the Horde's warriors with Fel. More and more orcs underwent the transformation, becoming many times stronger and more powerful than ordinary orcs.

Gul'dan had people build the enormous portal he spoke of, which he called the Dark Portal. After sacrificing the lives of all the prisoners from other races the Horde had captured, the portal opened, and the orcs passed through into this world.

After Orgrim's chieftain, Durotan, tried to violently resist Gul'dan's rule, Gul'dan shamelessly had him killed. He then ordered Blackhand to slaughter the rest of the Frostwolf Clan, leaving Durotan's infant son to wander off, lost and alone.

At the thought, Orgrim could no longer contain his emotions. He slammed both hands onto the table, nearly smashing it to pieces, and shouted, "Don't mention Gul'dan again! He's a disgrace to the entire Horde!"

"Orgrim, Gul'dan is beyond question!" Agmar stood up and said sternly. "And a little chieftain like you has no right to insult him!"

"Am I wrong?" Orgrim laughed. "Gul'dan may be powerful, but all he brings is death. Wherever he goes, he leaves nothing but wasteland!"

"Gul'dan will bring honor to the Horde!" Agmar's face reddened as he replied coldly.

"Hmph, honor?" Orgrim scoffed as if he'd heard a joke. "Gul'dan dares talk about honor? He lost every last bit of it when he murdered Durotan in cold blood! He has no right to honor, and no right to call himself a member of the Horde!"

"Durotan brought it on himself. No one else is to blame!" Agmar said. "He betrayed the Horde, and a traitor deserves a traitor's fate!"

"Gul'dan is the traitor! He betrayed the entire Horde!" Orgrim leaned close to Agmar and spoke each word deliberately. "Gul'dan brought the Horde to this state. He's led us down a road of no return! He bears full responsibility for the Horde's plight!"

"Orgrim, you dare!" Agmar had clearly run out of arguments.

"What wouldn't I dare?" Orgrim said. "I brought my people here because I wanted to break away from him for good. Since we can't go back, we'll find somewhere to build a better future!"

"Not a bad idea, but you're being far too naive!" Agmar sneered and plopped back into the chair.

"Say what you like. Gul'dan has lost all honor, and no one will truly obey him anymore!" Orgrim pointed at the entrance to the command tent. "Now, I'm telling you to leave at once. The farther away, the better!"

"Haha!" Agmar suddenly burst out laughing. "None of that matters. I'm the advance envoy. Lord Gul'dan will arrive here soon, so you'd better prepare to welcome him!"

"How can he get here?" Orgrim was taken aback. If Gul'dan really came in person, things could get dangerous!

"Why couldn't he?" Agmar gave Orgrim a knowing look. "If I can get here, why can't Lord Gul'dan? Do you think you can escape him for good? You're dreaming! Lord Gul'dan planted a curse on the warriors long ago. He can use it to find your location, then cast a spell to teleport here!"

"What does he want?" Orgrim asked, his expression dark.

"The portal on the other continent was destroyed. Lord Gul'dan needs to open another one to bring the Horde here!" Agmar laughed. "So prepare to welcome Lord Gul'dan in all his glory!"

Still laughing, Agmar walked toward the entrance, looking as if he intended to leave.

"I won't prepare to welcome him. I won't obey!" Orgrim declared firmly.

At the entrance, Agmar suddenly turned around and looked at Orgrim, his expression dark. "Orgrim, think carefully. Do you really want to defy orders?" A faint flame was already burning in Agmar's hand.