Confusion Reigns

Ever since the Orc Warlock named Agmar left, Orgrim had been unable to settle down. Perhaps it was because Agmar had mentioned that Gul'dan was on his way, but Orgrim couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

He had left and risked so much to reach this new continent for one reason: to get as far away from Gul'dan as possible, and from the Horde that no longer fought for honor. The Horde controlled by Gul'dan and Blackhand had led the warriors who followed them down the wrong path—a path of no return. Leaving such a twisted Horde had been the best choice.

Though he had somehow landed here and somehow ended up fighting those long-eared folk, he had at least managed to establish a foothold. The long-eared folk hadn't tried to take the land back, either. The nearby coast might have seemed a little barren, but it was far better than his homeland. His people seemed content, and he was working hard to rebuild a new Horde.

Yet it seemed as though all of this was about to come crashing down, all because Agmar had appeared. As Orgrim sat lost in thought, a series of thuds at the door interrupted him.

"What's going on?" Orgrim rose and strode outside, shouting. His nerves were already stretched taut, and the slightest disturbance set his heart pounding.

"Hmph. Orgrim, is this how your guards welcome their leader?" a slightly hoarse voice called from the doorway.

Orgrim froze, then sighed inwardly. Just his luck. Gul'dan had arrived far too soon.

A burly Orc in a hooded robe walked in slowly, accompanied by two masked Orcs dressed in black. The newcomer was none other than Gul'dan, the very person Orgrim had feared would come.

"Gul'dan, you should remember that you're no longer the Horde's leader!" Orgrim was furious, and his tone came out harsher than he intended.

"Oh, is that so?" Gul'dan walked over to Orgrim's chair and sat down in it, sprawling comfortably. "Then who's qualified to lead? Your long-dead comrade Durotan, or..."

"That's enough!" Orgrim roared. "Don't mention Durotan again. If you hadn't cheated in the duel, he wouldn't have died!"

"Hahaha!" Gul'dan laughed, then spoke unhurriedly. "Actually, I should thank you. Without you, how could I have uprooted the Frostwolf Clan so quickly? Anyone who opposes me opposes the entire Horde! There's only one fate for them: death!"

Orgrim ground his teeth and clenched his fists, glaring at Gul'dan. Gul'dan simply watched him with a faintly mocking smile, perfectly at ease. Suddenly, Orgrim slowly unclenched his fists, his face full of remorse. "That's right. I'm not worthy of being Durotan's comrade. Durotan dared to resist a tyrannical rule, while I was too cowardly to do anything but watch my entire clan get slaughtered."

"That's why I had to take my people and leave, to fulfill Durotan's dying wish!" Orgrim continued. "And you, a criminal against the Horde—I won't let you harm my people anymore!"

"Your people?" Gul'dan looked at Orgrim and shook his head. "No, no. They're all members of the Horde, not yours alone."

"I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense, Gul'dan!" Orgrim rushed up to him and shouted. "I won't let you do anything that harms them!"

"Orgrim, it seems Agmar's warning had no effect on you!" Gul'dan remained seated. The instant Orgrim charged, the two black-clad Orcs behind him stepped in front of him. "I'm officially ordering you to continue serving me!"

"Why? Gul'dan, why? You're no longer the Horde's leader. You've lost your honor, and you didn't kill the human leader! Neither did you, nor Blackhand! You're no longer fit to lead the Horde!" Orgrim bellowed.

"Heh. You mean that half-orc? She's nothing but a joke. Do you really think she can make the Horde accept her as their ruler?" Gul'dan laughed. "Even if she killed the human leader, she still couldn't lead the Horde. Blackhand is still the Horde's Warchief, and I'm still your leader!"

"Hmph. That's not for you to decide!" Orgrim walked to the doorway. "You'll have to ask them first!" He pointed outside, where a large crowd of Orcs had gathered, watching what was happening in the command tent.

"You're wrong again. I don't need to ask them, because..." Before Gul'dan could finish, he vanished from his chair. When he reappeared, his hand was already around Orgrim's throat, lifting him high into the air.

Holding Orgrim aloft, Gul'dan slowly walked outside. The Orcs there all sucked in their breath and began whispering among themselves. Gul'dan's ominous voice rang in Orgrim's ear. "Because without you, they'll all have to serve me!"

"Lock him up until he submits to my will!" Gul'dan flung his hand aside. Orgrim crashed to the ground, and the two black-clad Orcs pounced on him, binding him tightly with magic before taking him away.

Cold sweat streamed down Orgrim's back. He had still underestimated Gul'dan. The full extent of his strength was unfathomable. Orgrim hadn't stood a chance against him.

Gul'dan raised his head and shouted at the Orcs outside, "Your chieftain is no longer fit to lead you. From this day on, you will all serve me—serve me, Gul'dan!"

The Orcs below fell utterly silent. Gul'dan's display of strength had shocked everyone present. They knew full well that Gul'dan had spared Orgrim because he still had a use for him. Ordinary warriors like them were different. Anyone who dared directly challenge Gul'dan's authority would meet a grisly end.

Over the next few days, Gul'dan reorganized Orgrim's forces and cut down the woods around Azshara Beach to make all kinds of weapons. Three days later, the entire army, fully armed, assembled along the border between Azshara and Ashenvale.

Andrebos had noticed the Orcs' large-scale tree felling as soon as it began. While sending a message to Darnassus, he ordered his troops to prepare for battle. Watching the Orc forces gathered along the border, row upon row of them raising their weapons and snarling, Andrebos felt as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.

A few blasts of a horn sounded. At the rear, Gul'dan looked at the Orc army he had hastily assembled, and a cruel smile crept across his lips. He was determined to take Ashenvale. The portal over in the Eastern Kingdoms had been destroyed, so he had to establish another one to let the rest of the Horde's forces come to this world. Ashenvale, a valley teeming with life, was the perfect place.

The Orcs roared as they slowly advanced toward the Elves' main camp in Ashenvale. Andrebos had already given the order, and the Elven archers in the rear ranks sent volley after volley of arrows raining down over the entire Orc army.

Gul'dan raised a hand. A vast sheet of translucent green mist-like energy floated above the Orc forces, blocking most of the arrows for them. Andrebos narrowed his eyes. What was that?

As he stared in shock, a green vortex spun rapidly above the main camp, growing larger and larger. When it had expanded enough to cover nearly half the camp, two enormous rocks shot out of it. Like meteors from beyond the sky, they trailed green tails and crashed into the Elven camp with a roar.

Andrebos was stunned by the strange sight in the sky. He had never seen anything like it and had no idea what kind of magic it was. The meteors struck the ground, leaving two enormous craters. The Elves who hadn't managed to dodge were driven deep into the earth. Frowning, Andrebos approached the craters under the protection of his guards and peered inside.

Suddenly, the meteorites in the craters began to move. Something resembling an arm climbed over the edge of one crater. The meteorite unfolded into a giant nearly ten meters tall, a green stone giant wreathed in green flames.

"This..." As the two stone giants climbed out of the craters, Andrebos's camp fell into chaos.