Point of View: Drakar
I looked over the warriors gathered before me.
Beasts from different tribes, brought from every corner of the Main Plane. Some were wolves with broad backs and sharp, watchful eyes. Others were scar-covered boars. There were felines with tense muscles, silent bears, nervous hyenas, and a pair of apes whose strength was obvious even at rest.
They all had one thing in common.
They had been chosen.
Snow fell slowly over Rasganorte, covering shoulders, weapons, and footprints.
—Form a line.
My voice cut through the frozen wind.
There was some clumsy movement at first, but they quickly adjusted. The rows became straight and tense.
I nodded.
—For those who do not know me… I am Drakar.
I let my fangs show as I spoke.
—Chief of the Saber Fang Tribe.
My eyes swept across their faces one by one.
—But during this mission, I will not be your chief.
I stepped forward. Snow crunched beneath my paws.
—I will be your captain.
No one spoke.
A good beginning.
—I know many of you are confused. Your leaders ordered you to come to Rasganorte without explanation. Some of you even believe this is an ordinary expedition.
I narrowed my eyes.
—It is not.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Ears stiffened. Muzzles tightened. Fingers gripped weapons harder.
—The alliance will carry out a dangerous mission. If we succeed, our tribes will grow stronger. If we fail…
I did not finish the sentence.
There was no need.
—You were called here because you are the best of your people. The most useful. The most capable of surviving.
Some lifted their chins with pride.
Others remained motionless.
—Even so, I will give you one chance. If anyone does not wish to participate… speak now.
I waited.
Only the whistle of the wind and falling snow answered me.
No one moved.
—Good.
My voice hardened.
—Then listen carefully. Before we continue, all of you will sign a soul contract with the system.
Murmurs exploded at once.
A wolf growled under his breath. A boar frowned. A hyena took half a step back.
—Silence!
I roared with the full force of my throat.
The echo bounced off the stone and ice huts.
Everything froze.
—The alliance does not doubt the loyalty of your tribes.
I dug my claws into the snow.
—But what we do here cannot leave this camp. Not through fear. Not by accident. Not through stupidity.
I looked at them again.
—If anyone has a question, speak now.
A massive bear slowly raised one paw.
—Captain… a soul contract is excessive. If we break it by mistake, we could die… or be damaged forever.
Several others nodded.
It was a reasonable concern.
—I know.
I showed no emotion.
—That is why it is not negotiable.
I displayed a system notification.
—Everyone involved will sign.
I paused.
—Myself included.
That eased some of the tension.
Not all of it.
—You will receive the contract now. Those who accept will stay. Those who refuse… will leave Rasganorte tonight.
One minute later, every single one of them had signed.
Fear, ambition, obedience.
The reason did not matter.
Now they were bound.
I nodded.
—The reason is simple.
I took a deep breath.
—We have obtained a detailed map with the locations of the dungeons belonging to the Lords of the Plane.
This time there were no murmurs.
Only shock.
Some even stepped back.
—Our objective… is to loot them.
I could smell the fear.
Before anyone spoke, I raised one claw.
—You do not need to know more. The information is reliable. The plan has been decided.
I turned my head.
My eyes settled on one of those present.
Tharok.
Even standing still, he stood out among them all.
A massive gorilla with dark fur, broad shoulders, and arms capable of splitting stone. His presence alone demanded respect.
But there was something strange about him.
He did not smell of ambition.
He smelled of conflict.
—Warrior Tharok.
He stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath his weight.
—Your father, Chief Rogan, personally insisted to the alliance on your behalf.
I saw his huge hands slowly clench.
—Most were against it.
There was no need to explain why.
—But Rogan claimed you would be of great use, and that you deserved it for your contribution.
A notification appeared before Tharok.
—You will participate under conditions. You will sign a joint contract with the warrior Sara. You will share no information with anyone outside this mission. You will obey orders. For the next few days, you may communicate only with her.
Tharok read in silence.
Then he nodded.
—Understood, Captain.
His voice was deep, heavy.
But lifeless.
—Four days after the mission is complete, the restrictions will be removed… except for keeping this secret.
I looked toward the dark sky.
—Rest. We leave at dawn.
I turned away.
—You will need it.
Point of View: Tharok
I do not remember when I fell asleep.
I only know that I closed my eyes…
And I appeared there.
My long arms swung as I walked down a path covered in ash.
I tried to stop.
I could not.
—No…!
My own voice sounded distant.
—I don't want to go!
But my legs kept moving on their own.
I recognized the road.
I had walked it countless times.
Carrying sacks of food.
Tools.
Medicine.
Hope.
It was the path to a small tribe I always helped.
When I arrived, the cubs would run toward me. The warriors would pound their chests in respect.
But now…
There was only silence.
A dead silence.
When I arrived, I stopped.
The huts were burning.
Fire consumed wood, leather, and bone.
Bodies lay everywhere.
Wolves.
Boars.
Felines.
Small children covered in ash.
My stomach twisted violently.
I collapsed onto my knuckles and knees, gasping, vomiting onto the blackened snow.
—No…
My chest rose and fell wildly.
—No…
My legs began moving again.
They dragged me toward the central square.
That place where we used to share food after clearing a dungeon.
Where we laughed.
Where we celebrated surviving.
Now only flames remained.
And corpses.
One of them moved.
I stumbled back with a choked roar.
The charred body slowly stood up.
I recognized the burned snout.
—Chief Drogmar…
His voice came out broken.
—Why did you do this to us?
Something slammed into my chest.
—No… I didn't…
—I thought you were our friend.
—I am…
—Were you not the one who gave them the map?
I stepped back.
—I didn't know…
—Were you not the one who broke your promise?
I remembered his words.
Sometimes knowledge can kill more than weapons.
I had laughed back then.
Now I could not breathe.
—I told you to destroy that map.
He pointed into the distance.
I turned my head.
Massive columns of smoke rose on the horizon.
More tribes burning.
More homes falling.
—The ones you helped are dead too.
I shook my head desperately.
—No! I didn't kill them!
Another voice spoke behind me.
—Yes, you did.
I turned.
One of his warriors stood there, torso torn open, entrails hanging out.
We had drunk together many nights.
—I didn't know what my father would do…
—Liar.
Another voice.
Then another.
And another.
—You only wanted to impress him.
—You wanted him to look at you with pride.
—You wanted his approval.
—You sold us for a smile.
I covered my ears with both massive hands.
It did not help.
The voices came from inside me.
More corpses began to rise.
Burned feathers.
Broken tusks.
Dragging claws.
Empty eyes.
—You could have warned us.
—You could have stopped him.
—You could have torn the map from him.
—You could have chosen.
They surrounded me completely and roared as one:
—Coward!
—Traitor!
—Murderer!
I fell to the ground.
—No! It wasn't like that!
They threw themselves onto me.
Cold hands, claws, and fangs pinned me down.
—Now you will lose everything too.
I woke with a violent jolt.
Breathing hard.
Soaked in sweat.
I looked around.
The room was still there.
Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
I pressed a trembling hand against my face.
—Another nightmare…
My voice came out broken.
I curled up on the bed, hugging my knees.
Outside, the wind slammed against the wood.
I closed my eyes.
And saw fire again.
That night…
I could not fall asleep again.