Web Novel Chapter 1: Anna's Escape and the Amazing Cave
The battle had reached its peak. Cries, explosions, and the clash of swords filled the air, yet the humans were weak, their numbers dwindling one by one.
Adrien, watching his troops fall and realizing they were losing, ordered a retreat. His thoughts immediately went to his wife and unborn child. With all his speed, he raced toward the village. When he arrived, the gates were closed.
The ruthless, rebellious orcs stormed the village, breaking the defensive lines. The wooden gates shattered under their axes, and they poured in. The villagers fought bravely, but their resistance was futile. Soon, the orcs began slaughtering indiscriminately, and the village was engulfed in flames and chaos.
Adrien hurried into his home and found Anna. Grabbing her hand, he said anxiously:
"We must go! The orcs are destroying everything!"
Anna's eyes filled with fear as she looked outside. The village burned in blazing fire, and the ringing of the tower bell signaled that everyone needed to evacuate immediately.
They ran to the stables. Adrien grabbed two white horses and helped Anna mount one. He mounted his own and said:
"You take the southern gate toward the mountains. I'll follow right behind you. Go ahead!"
They moved together, but when they reached the southern gate, it was locked. Adrien dismounted and quickly opened it.
A massive orc charged at Anna and her horse. She froze in terror, but Adrien stepped in front of her, drawing his sword. With furious determination, he blocked the orc's axe to protect his wife. Exhausted, he held the orc back and shouted:
"Go! Are you scared?!"
Adrien knew he couldn't defeat this orc alone—it was the leader of the others. He didn't want Anna to see him die; he just needed to buy time for her and their child to escape.
Anna snapped back to focus and, with all her strength, spurred her horse toward the southern gate. Explosions, smoke, fire, and the screams of the villagers surrounded her like an endless nightmare. Adrien raised his sword and shouted:
"Go! I'll hold them off!"
But the real nightmare was right behind her. After a few moments, Anna heard Adrien's cry. She turned and saw an orc's axe embedded in his neck. Her heart clenched in agony, and tears streamed down her face.
"No… Adrien… don't leave me!"
The merciless orc struck again with a second blow, slicing Adrien in half. He collapsed to the ground. The leader roared, and two more orcs appeared, rushing toward Anna.
Yet Anna, summoning all her courage and thinking of the life in her womb, resolved to survive. She spurred her horse toward the mountains. Midway, she heard the orcs' cries—they were still in pursuit.
She dismounted and used a clever trick: sending her horse in another direction to mislead the orcs. She took a moment to catch her breath and regain strength.
Struggling under the weight of her pregnancy, she climbed to the top of the mountain and rested for a few moments, gathering energy. She thought:
"Maybe they've lost track of me… maybe they've given up…"
But the peace was fleeting. From below, the orcs' shouts echoed. Standing on a rock and looking down, Anna saw the entire orc army advancing up the mountain.
Placing a hand on her belly and breathing heavily, Anna braced herself. She knew she had to escape this dangerous peak and fight every moment for her life—and the life of her unborn child.
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The cold wind howled through the mountain. The orcs were getting closer. Their heavy steps echoed through the mist.
Atysh held her breath and slipped through a narrow crack between the rocks. The rough stone scraped her skin, but she didn't stop until the sound of pursuit faded away.
Inside the cave, half darkness ruled. The pale light of the moon barely reached its depths. The air smelled of wet soil and iron.
Atysh moved carefully, her hand brushing the wall for support. Her body trembled from pain and hunger.
She sat down for a moment, pressing her back to the cold stone, whispering to herself,
"Just a moment… just a little rest."
After a few minutes, she stood again and walked deeper into the cave.
There she found a small pool, hidden in the shadows. Its water shimmered softly, as if it was breathing.
She crouched beside it. When her fingers touched the surface, it wasn't like normal water — it was alive, pulsing with some invisible energy.
She hesitated. "Can I drink this?" she thought.
But hunger defeated caution. She took a sip.
At once, invisible threads of energy awakened inside her. Warmth surged through her veins; the wounds across her body began to close — right before her eyes. Her heart pounded. She felt another rhythm within her, something wild and ancient.
The child in her womb kicked hard.
Atysh gasped, falling to her knees as blue light flickered beneath her skin. Then everything went black.
When she awoke, her clothes were damp and stained with something dark and tar-like that had seeped from her pores. Her body felt light. Her vision sharp. Her power multiplied. The hunger was gone.
Terrified, she touched her belly — and felt the faint movement of life. Relief flooded her chest.
For the first time in days, her mind was calm.
But the image of Adrien and the burning village still lingered in her thoughts. Tears welled up and spilled freely.
She cried until her body gave up, and then she fell asleep beside the glowing pool.
In her dream, white light wrapped around her. There were sounds — not words, not music, but vibrations that trembled in her soul.
A vision appeared: a black heart with a red glow at its center, covered in veins and strange ancient symbols.
The heart was pulsing deep inside the mountain — the same mountain that now held her.
Something — not a voice, not a sound — was calling her, pulling her toward the core of existence itself.
The child within her stirred again, and Atysh fainted once more.
Two days earlier...
At the foot of the mountain, amid the smoke and dust, the orc tribe had gathered.
Chains rattled. War beasts growled. The air was thick with fire and sweat.
At the front stood the shaman — an old man with hollow eyes and a necklace of bones — kneeling before the chieftain.
Shaman (with a broken voice):
"Chief… the prophecy came true. The winds spoke. The bones have spoken. We must plant our roots within this mountain. This is our destiny."
The chieftain, a massive figure with an ancient scar across his forehead, grinned grimly.
"Old shaman, you told us to destroy the humans and claim this land. Are you certain your dreams are not lies?"
The shaman raised his hand to his chest, his eyes blazing.
"The earth trembled, the omens were clear. This mountain holds the Power — the force that will make our tribe eternal. The humans were only obstacles."
The chieftain turned to the gathered warriors and roared,
"Then hear me! From this day on, this mountain is our home. Whoever stands in our way — human or beast — will perish!"
The orcs howled. Fire danced in their eyes.
The shaman lifted his necklace and whispered the ancient words of blessing.
Deep within the mountain, the crystals shivered… and the buried Heart gave its first pulse.