Progress

"Ha!"

Malone shouted and swung his weapon at Teron Gorefiend.

Teron Gorefiend's expression grew grave.

Although he blocked Malone's attack and didn't feel the slightest bit tired, he quickly slid to one side.

Teron Gorefiend knew Malone would soon attack his right flank.

Sure enough, just as Teron Gorefiend had expected, after Teron blocked his sword, Malone immediately let go with one hand and switched to a one-handed grip.

Malone was far stronger than Teron Gorefiend, so he boldly used one hand to keep his opponent at bay, freeing the other to punch him in the stomach.

Of course, Malone's attack missed. Teron Gorefiend never let his stomach or ribs fall within Malone's reach.

But Malone had learned how to counter Teron Gorefiend. Though he was still at a disadvantage in the fight, he was no longer just taking blow after blow.

Still, this turn of events didn't make Malone happy. His brow furrowed more and more.

He'd realized he was getting tired.

It made sense. He wasn't a real Death Knight. He needed to eat, and of course he needed to rest.

Teron Gorefiend noticed Malone slowing down. He hesitated, then stepped back a few paces and put away his weapon.

"What's wrong, Maicomarlon?"

Teron Gorefiend asked with concern. He wasn't sure if he'd accidentally hurt Malone.

"Nothing. I'm just a little tired..."

Malone looked up at the sky. The skies over the Burning Steppes always looked half-dead, but he could tell from the sun's position that it was already noon.

"How long have we been fighting?"

Malone looked at Teron Gorefiend in surprise.

"About two hours, maybe a little more."

Teron Gorefiend answered.

"That long..."

Malone stuck his two-handed sword into the ground, signaling that Teron Gorefiend should take a break.

"Aren't you tired, Teron?"

Malone plopped down on the ground, braced himself with both hands behind him, and leaned back to look up at Teron Gorefiend.

"No."

Teron Gorefiend shook his head, then sat down beside Malone.

"Why would a Death Knight get tired?"

Teron Gorefiend seemed puzzled by Malone's question.

"Is that so... Maybe I really am different."

Malone replied vaguely.

"Hmm... You're improving quickly. You really are different."

Teron Gorefiend said.

"Really?"

Malone was glad to hear Teron Gorefiend say that.

"Indeed. I've trained many Death Knights, but none of them had talent like yours. Maybe by this time tomorrow, you'll be ready to start learning how to use spells in combat."

Teron Gorefiend said.

"Isn't that easy enough?"

Malone seemed to have forgotten their earlier argument over "disarming." He casually cast a small Death Coil at the ground in the distance.

"See? I already know how."

Malone said to Teron Gorefiend, watching a puff of dust burst into the air.

"That's not the same."

Teron Gorefiend shook his head.

"When you're completely focused on fighting an enemy, you always forget that you can use spells. If you keep thinking about your spells, you might not be able to focus on watching your enemy's movements."

Teron Gorefiend explained.

He was right... Malone thought. He'd just fought Teron Gorefiend for two hours and hadn't once thought to cast a Death Coil.

It seemed that splitting his attention really was difficult in a fight like this.

"You need to keep training, Maicomarlon. Master one or two spells you can cast instantly with runes, then learn to use them instinctively in battle."

Teron Gorefiend said.

"Mm, I understand."

Malone nodded.

"Let's keep going."

Malone had rested enough. He got back to his feet and pulled his two-handed sword from the ground.

"Don't you need to rest a little longer?"

Teron Gorefiend also stood up, but didn't immediately attack. Instead, he asked Malone.

"No, I'm good."

Malone shook his head. Though he couldn't go without sleep like a Death Knight, his body wasn't as fragile as a human's. He was something in between.

"Then let's continue. Try to see if you can use that spell of yours in combat."

Teron Gorefiend said.

"Okay!"

Malone didn't hesitate. He raised his hand and cast a Death Coil at Teron Gorefiend, then rushed in with his sword while his opponent was busy dodging.

While Malone fought Teron Gorefiend to grow stronger, Rend Blackhand stood before Orgrim in the Warchief's tent.

The Orc Warchief remained seated on his throne, his expression stern.

"Should I put your plan into action now, Doomhammer?"

Rend's tone wasn't exactly respectful, but at least he didn't address Orgrim as bluntly as Kaldara did, and he even bowed slightly.

"Tomorrow."

Orgrim replied.

"But..."

Rend raised his head. He didn't understand why they wouldn't resolve the matter right away. If the conflict between the Trolls and Orcs escalated further, the Horde could fall apart.

"Don't rush. Let's wait and see. I want to know whether Kilrogg is really going to do anything."

Orgrim said.

"If he..."

Rend left the thought unfinished, but he believed Orgrim understood what he meant.

"If he really intends to use this incident to oppose me... I'll smash his brains out without hesitation. Then... the Bloodfang Clan will need a new chieftain."

Orgrim didn't seem to have any intention of hiding anything from Rend Blackhand.

Yes, you will... just as you did to my father.

Rend Blackhand thought to himself.

"Rend?"

Orgrim noticed that his second-in-command had drifted off.

"Oh... If there's nothing else, I'll head back."

Rend Blackhand said with his head lowered.

"Mm."

Orgrim nodded and waved his hand, though Rend couldn't see the gesture with his head bowed.

Rend's heavy, thick-soled boots made soft footsteps against the ground inside the tent.

After the young Orc—once one of Blackhand's Orcs, and now chieftain of the Black Tooth Grin Clan—left the tent, Orgrim shifted in his throne to find a more comfortable position.

"Sigh..."

After some time, Orgrim let out a sigh.

For a tent of its size, it was far too quiet. If only Durotan hadn't... been gone.

The Orc Warchief thought.