The Bloodfang Tribe wasn't a massive settlement.
But the moment news of Hulk's victory over Borzak spread through the camp, it stirred a storm of whispers and roars of approval. The orcs grinned, tusks flashing, speaking with growing curiosity.
But when they remembered whose sister Hulk had, realization struck, and the noise quieted to murmurs of understanding.
Gorrka—the fiercest young warrior in the entire tribe. Of course, her brother wouldn't be ordinary.
"Now that I think about it… that brat's already past his twelfth winter. He's not a runt anymore.
"Aye. Who would've thought that scrawny Hulk could beat Borzak in close combat? Seems he's not just sharp with words, but sharp with his fists too. That boy's got both might and wit. Just watch, he's going to shake this whole valley."
Within the largest tent at the tribe's heart, the elders gathered.
Chieftain Grond Bloodfang sat cross-legged at the center, silent as a stone slab, but his tusks gleamed faintly in amusement.
Hulk was his son. Whether he chose the path of the war-shaman or the blade, as long as he brought strength to the Bloodfang name, Grond was satisfied.
Just then, an orc with a thick scar across one cheek rushed into the hall, shouting urgently.
"What? Gorrka took half a season's worth of smoked meat?!"
"Are you mad?! Summer's end is near, and once the voidspawns roll down from the peaks, the beasts vanish, and the ground turns to ice. We've got to hoard every scrap we can."
"You—you let her take it?!" one elder barked, eyes narrowed. "Muzgash! Don't tell me you agreed because you're sniffing after her skirts."
"What?! She beat you up and took it anyway?" Roars of laughter erupted around the tent. "You're a warrior of Bloodfang, and you can't handle a single she-orc?"
Muzgash flushed but stood his ground. "It was for Hulk. She said he needs it to grow into a future warlord. And besides, she's not just any she-orc. She's Gorrka."
The elders glanced among themselves, then turned their gazes to Grond.
The chieftain finally spoke, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder, "It's just food. If we run low, we hunt more. Most of what's in those stores was gathered with my hands anyway."
"I watched that boy's fight with Gorzak," another elder grunted, nodding. "Once his blood awakens, he's going to be something fierce."
"Bah! Next time, don't come running about dried meat."
The matter was dismissed with a wave and rough laughter.
…
Since the duel, no new trials or quests had appeared.
Hulk clenched his fists. His hunger for power boiled inside him, but for now, the path forward seemed frustratingly vague.
"Is it combat that triggers it? Strange… even push-ups got me progress before."
Could it be that his physical body now needed a greater challenge?
"No shortcut to becoming the strongest. One step at a time."
Sighing, Hulk made his way back toward his family's lodge.
"Mother, I won against Borzak."
Vrakka, grinding herbs with practiced ease, lifted her gaze with a satisfied smirk. "Of course you did. You've got my blood in you."
Before more could be said, Grond pushed into the tent, his booming laughter shaking the walls. "Boy! You've earned your place among the core families. Pick a good spot. I don't care if you build your tent next to mine—you've earned it."
Hulk's heart stirred. The core of the Bloodfang camp—the homes of the strongest warriors, his parents, his sister. But…
"Father, I'm honored, but living there makes me feel like a cub still at the teat. I want my own ground, my own space. I need to stand as a warrior."
Grond's grin widened. "Good. Spoken like a Bloodfang."
At dawn, Gorrka accompanied Hulk to the western rise of the camp, far from the busy heart, near the old dens of retired war veterans.
"That one's Zogar," Gorrka said, pointing to a hunched elder sharpening bone needles by a smoky fire. "In his prime, he cracked skulls alongside Father. Learn something."
Hulk stepped forward, bowing slightly. "I'm Hulk. I'll be your neighbor."
Zogar snorted. "Long as you don't touch my stew-pot, we'll get along."
Without another word, he shuffled into his hide tent.
Thud. Thud.
Gorrka emptied a hide sack filled with thick beast bones and ragged furs. With a grin, she drove a femur the size of a war club halfway into the dirt with a single punch.
"How's that for strength, little brother?"
Hulk cracked his knuckles. "Cute trick."
He braced himself, slamming his fist down on another bone. It shuddered but only sank halfway as deep as hers.
"Hah! Not bad—but you're still not me," Gorrka teased.
Hulk wasn't finished.
With a devilish grin, he untied his beast-hide skirt.
"Wha—what are you doing?"
With a grunt, Hulk raised his hips and slammed his thick orc weapon straight down like a hammer.
Thud.
The bone drove fully into the ground with a satisfying crunch.
For a moment, silence.
Then Gorrka burst into booming laughter. "Hells, brother—you never cease to impress me."
With her help, Hulk raised his first personal tent—spacious, sturdy, with thick furs on the floor and strong bone frames holding the tanned hides aloft. It wasn't the chieftain's hall, but it was a warrior's den.
Lying on the furs, Hulk closed his eyes, thinking of his battle with Borzak.
Strength—acceptable.
Speed—lacking.
As if answering his thoughts, that strange whispering panel appeared before his eyes again:
[Trial Unlocked: Run 5 kilometers burdened by 20 stones of weight. Reward: +1 Agility.]
A red shimmer glowed faintly around his limbs. Hulk stood, testing the added weight. Heavy—but laughably easy for a Bloodfang.
Without hesitation, he sprinted into the dark wilderness, completing the trial swiftly.
[Trial Complete: Agility +1]
Another panel appeared.
[Next Trial: Run 10 kilometers, burdened by 200 stones of weight. Time limit: 25 minutes. Reward: +1 Agility.]
Hulk's tusks gleamed. "Good. Give me more."
He pushed his body to the limit, sprinting with brutal effort. In 21 minutes, he finished.
But the panels kept coming:
[Next Trial: Run 10 kilometers burdened by 2,000 stones of weight. Time limit: 30 minutes. Reward: +1 Agility.]
This time, the burden hit like a mountain. Hulk staggered after only a hundred paces.
"Not yet… But soon."
As the glow faded, a new panel replaced the last:
[New Trial: Devour 20 pounds of fresh meat. Reward: +1 Strength.]
Hulk grinned, tusks glinting.
"Perfect. I was hungry anyway."