While finishing her words, Nafız turned to the first three warriors in the row. The orcs she targeted, although they woke up to the situation, were playing dumb by looking at different places. These people had used neither the gifts they received from the reward dungeon nor their techniques from the beginning.
They were fighting with their axes, the most basic orc weapon, in their hands. The annoying part of the business was that even this way, they hadn't encountered anyone who could cause them trouble. Actually, this situation was valid for number five too; he had used the Golden Chakram, his weapon from the reward dungeon, only for the guards at the entrance of the first tribe.
He had a technique blended from the assassination techniques of mercenaries and the Hell Realm. It was impossible for him to develop this ability called Death Seller, dedicated to the places where it was compiled, in a pitched battle.
Nafız gave him a new target. He would kill the chieftains of rebel tribes who didn't surrender. He had to slip through thousands of orcs and cut the throats of these people with his own hands. Using the Golden Chakram was forbidden; the Blood God thought the more obstacles she put, the more progress would be made.
He had been wounded a few times in this difficult task and could only kill the chieftains of five tribes twice before they surrendered. Having to apply his technique, designed to hide in darkness and attack unexpectedly to kill his adversary, in broad daylight while a life-or-death struggle was happening played a big role in reaching this result. Although he didn't take Nafız's scolding personally, he wasn't pleased with his situation at all. Therefore, he was as indifferent to what was spoken as the first three.
Unlike him, this journey was very productive for people using weapon-based techniques. Number six was experiencing something similar to what number ten felt. The person he was paired with was number three, and this orc wasn't very eager in wars. Whether intentionally or not, he was clearing the way for him and his unique spear to shine.
The nickname unique was due to it being the first and only changeable equipment among the gift weapons given from the reward dungeon until now. While its length could extend and shorten, the cutting part at its head could take different shapes according to the situation.
Nafız had directly named the technique he worked on, Black Cobra. Piercing moves coming out of a calm stance played a big part in this. With his unique spear, number six had come to the fore in all wars, making small but steady progress with every enemy he killed.
When morning came, it was the seventh tribe's turn; the group setting out to end a total of nine rebel tribes would move towards their next target. When the sun came right over them, they reached their targets, but there was neither an orc nor a tribe in sight. While a deathly silence prevailed on the plain decorated with empty and ruined tents, warriors burning with the excitement of fighting were quite upset about this situation.
"Apparently, they understood what would happen to them and cut and run!"
After looking around with indifferent eyes, Nafız spoke with a nonchalant tone of voice while turning her back and proceeding towards the vehicle carrying them. Along with the Elite Ten and Miloş returning one after another, there was nothing to do but set off towards the next tribe.
The scene awaiting them in the eighth tribe wouldn't be much different either. Signs indicating a hasty escape were winking at them from every corner. While the darkness of the night began to fall, the team chose to rest by camping to capture the ninth and final tribe.
"What's up, show-offs? What happened, did you get nervous?"
The Elite Ten members were tense because no enemy appeared before them. Since they were few in number, opponents had always targeted them. For the first time, two tribes they would fight had abandoned their settlements and fled, and this was a new event they weren't used to.
"Ma'am, shouldn't we have searched for our enemies? Let them not ambush us by hiding somewhere nearby!"
The questioner was number nine; due to his technique and temperament, being cautious was ingrained in his soul. Nafız guessed this question would come; there was a chance for the two tribes to unite and attack them from behind in the last war.
"Don't worry at all! Just as I know my name is Nafız, I am equally sure that the fleeing cowards are waiting for us in the ninth tribe!"
After these words they heard, the looks in the warriors' eyes changed. The traitors who escaped from their hands had united and were waiting for them. Even the first three, showing signs of boredom from the beginning, seemed to be slowly getting into the mood.
"I made a small change for you too. There will be no mercy in the last war. If they know we are coming, the fleeing tribe members must also be aware of our conditions. This means they don't want to work in mines as captives!"
The Blood God's deduction was quite logical. If they had thought of surrendering, they would have stayed behind and waited for them to come.
"Since the ninth tribe accepted all refugees, it declared its decision from the beginning. I don't know how you will do it, but you will not stop until the last person dies!"
Completing her words while her eyes were on the first three, Nafız got up from where she sat and proceeded into the grove a little far from where they camped. She had given her order; there was no forgiveness or taking prisoners. They would leave no stone standing, no head on shoulders.
While the Elite Ten got into the mood of the struggle they would engage in tomorrow, Nafız also slowly stepped among the tall trees. The trade region was a place with plenty of forest areas due to its climate. The grove on the edge of which they were currently camping was one of these.
Advancing calmly, the Blood God understood that the temperature decreased towards the depths thanks to a shiver falling inside her. If it were daytime when the sun was high, it could be considered normal, but the night was almost halfway through; obviously, there was something fishy here. Suddenly Nafız stopped and called out into the void without lifting her head.
"How much longer will you watch? Will you come yourself, or shall I take you down!"
A figure jumping from the branch she turned her gaze to with her last word accompanied by rustling started moving away from her rapidly. This person had reacted before a breath passed, but this elapsed time corresponded to a very long time for the person opposite him.
"Come here!"
A long whip from her right wrist shot towards a little further from where the movement happened just a moment ago. Its blood-red color was practically tearing through the darkness. Nafız pulled her arm back hard; a shadow fell to the ground along with the whip wrapped around its body.
"Bam!"
"You asked for this; die, you filthy orc!"
When the Blood God approached to look at the thing she caught with her weapon, a stream consisting of ice and snow rushed onto her. The source of the attack was the person trying to escape just a moment ago. He had played his last trump card with the ice-based magic attack coming out of his mouth; obviously, he had no intention of stopping even though the veins on his face were swollen.
"Smack!"
Even if he didn't want to, his technique would end with a solid slap he received. The location of his mouth had practically changed; he was looking at the female orc opposite him in a state of disbelief at what he saw.
"Why are you blowing your foul breath on me? Whatever you ate, your mouth smells like a dead dog!"
His attack that would turn a normal person into an ice statue was his secret weapon. Especially from such a close distance, it had never failed to work.
"What are you staring at blankly; are you very surprised? On a winter day, in the morning frost, we hit the roads a lot with just a jacket on our backs. Will I be affected by this attack of yours like a camel fart?"
Nafız was showing off right now. Even though she wasn't affected by the ice-based technique thanks to the elemental protection she received, everyone didn't need to know this.
"Who are you?"
This person, whose veil covering his face opened with the slap he received, was a male and shouted in panic as he couldn't overcome the shock of what he experienced.
"Who are you actually, my lion? Since when did the Orc Steppes become a place where humans capable of ice attacks pass through!"
This was a quite logical question. They were currently in the relatively inner regions of the continent, and seeing humans here, except for people managing trade caravans, wasn't a very familiar thing.
Even more interesting, this person was a human spying on them secretly and, on top of that, capable of magic attacks. Since they settled in the camp area, this person was watching them from the forest; obviously, he was the person providing information to the two fleeing tribes too.
"I am a member of the Gray Hyenas mercenary organization. I am here for a job. I saw you camping; I had to hide myself in the forest to avoid causing a misunderstanding."
"And I bought this, right? Look at me, you clown! Either you speak immediately, or I know very well how to make you sing like a canary!"
Nafız was getting angry due to the words of the man playing dumb in front of her. What kind of impudence was this when everything was crystal clear?
"You can't do anything to me. Otherwise, the organization I am affiliated with will find and kill you wherever you are!"
The man with a huge handprint on his face spoke arrogantly. From his daring looks, it could be read that he had infinite faith in every word he said.
"I understand; I guess there is a spell on you allowing the moments you lose your life to be seen by others!"
The Blood God's face fell; she looked as if she was panicking. Even the grip of her whip wrapping the man she caught weakened a bit.
"You guessed right! Whatever I see and hear within the sixty breaths I spend before dying will be transmitted to the organization center. If you prostrate before me and beg for forgiveness, maybe I will spare your life!"
Seeing the female orc fall weak and indecisive, the man pressed immediately. He would take his enemy's life the moment she gave an opening.
"Is that so; meaning the elders of your organization are watching me right now. Then it is necessary to be a little respectful!"
Nafız's tone of voice was trembling, but the man opposite her couldn't make sense of the words she said.
"Gray Hyenas! This is your second interference in our internal affairs; you know very well what happened in the first one!"
As soon as her words finished, Nafız would grab the head of the man she caught with her whip with both hands.
"This is my last warning to you! If I see one more person belonging to your organization in front of me, I won't even let you beg to die!"
"Crack!"
The neck of the man, who had a mark turned from red to purple on his face, took a strange shape when the Blood God's speech ended. Where his chin used to be, now there was his forehead, and his almost bowed neck and head reminded of the dog figure used as a car ornament.
Those chatting beside the mechanical vehicle intended for transport were unaware of what happened inside the grove where tall trees were lined up densely. The distance the man wanting to spy maintained was very ideal; even the sounds of his own death hadn't reached the orcs in his target.
"Come here, Alice! Your dinner is ready!"