Level Up: Voidwalker

Chapter 20: Grak'Thar Gromog'ar

[Grak'Thar Gromog'ar - the one who points the way]

[Grishna's POV]

Grishna traveled for days until she reached the biggest city in the southern part of the Thalassia Empire. While passing through the main entrance, she was greeted with thousands of people coming and going.

She had to dodge around some merchants who weren't watching where they were going. Grishna headed for the Adventurers Guild to sell the monster parts she gathered on the way here, and thanks to all her hunting, she gained several levels and upgrades to her attributes.

While strolling down the main street, she checked her last gains from hunting some Grassland Goats wreaking havoc on a nearby farm.

[Level Up: 105?106]

[Experience: 780/5000]

[Experience Gained: 3200]

[Health: 846?866]

[Mana: 2318?2368]

[Strength: 1598?1680]

[Stamina: 1322?1368]

[Charisma: 560?566]

[Intelligence: 350?10]

'Lovely,' Grishna mused. 'Those little fuckers were a pain in the ass when they scattered, but the experience was worth it.'

Following that, she saw the Adventurers Guild in the distance, which caused Grishna to pick up the pace and walk down the street, dodging families and people on their way to work. She also noticed they had no manners, which annoyed her, but she ignored it and entered the guild only to see it busy.

With a roll of her eyes, Grishna approached the shortest queue, only to be intercepted by a familiar adventurer group. The leader, Thorne Blackhammer, wielded a greatsword and stood six foot five with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a gnarly scar down the right side of his face.

Behind him were four women: two humans, an elf, and a wolf demi-human. She recognized this party as the one persistently trying to recruit her, which would mean joining Thorne's harem—a prospect that held no appeal for her.

''No, I don't want to join your harem, Thorne,'' Grisnha warned. ''Do you want to get knocked out again?''

"Woah, Grish," Throne held his hands up before revealing why he was bothering her. ''I know you're not interested in me, but I was here to see if you're traveling to the Everglade Kingdom. They've found several level 3 dungeons giving out good spoils."

''Yes, I was going to take the train down to Greenglade City before trekking to the Darkheart Jungle to level up,'' she answered the man.

Throne nodded, but the wolf demi-human, Mia, spoke up, ''Why do we travel together, Grish? We're headed for the Devil's Swamp Dungeon outside the Darkheart Jungle.''

She narrowed her green eyes at the wolf woman just as one of the humans who was Throne's mage said, ''It will be good to have a strong warrior join us for the journey. I heard monsters are running rampage through the Kingdom.''

Grishna sighed. ''Okay, but don't try anything funny,'' she exclaimed before turning to the elf. ''None of your love potions, Blondie, or I will cut your hair again.''

The elf squeaked before hiding behind Throne, who spoke, ''Don't scare Jenna; she only tried to give you the potion once during that dungeon raid.''

''She was lucky Draksha caught her. Otherwise, I would have been a love zombie, which is disgusting,'' she said the last bit with venom in her voice that caused Jenna to squeak again, making Grishna laugh.

''Where is Draksha? We haven't seen her in a year or so,'' Mia questioned.

''She joined a cult who worships Grak'Thar Gromog'ar,'' Grishna spat out the last words with a bitter feeling as she lost her best friend to the traveling warrior devotees. ''Stupid fanatics of a being that isn't going to come and is just a prophecy told by the elders to give hope to the warriors.''

Throne laughed, ''Yes, the older generation loves their tales. Ours tell us of the Azhar the Devil like he's real when we all know it's just a children's story used to scare them into being good.''

Grishna nodded, ''Okay, meet me at the Suncrest Train Station in the morning. The train should be leaving for the south.''

The adventurer group nodded and left the guild, allowing Grishna to sell her haul. She earned 10 gold, 89 silver, and 20 copper, which pleased her greatly. With this, she could afford a decent room and a hearty dinner, which excited the Orc warrior.

She left the guild behind and headed for an inn she knew well, the Prancing Pony, which served delicious food. Grisna saw the large stone building decorated with beautiful blue wood, causing her to quicken her step.

When Grishna entered the inn, she was welcomed by an old man named Bronn. ''Oh look, who is it?'' he said in a jovial tone. ''The little Orc Warrior has returned to Suncrest.''

''Shut up, old man,'' she replied with a smile. ''I'll stay until morning, so give me the usual.''

''Yes, Princess,'' Bronn answered with a chuckle. ''Same room, and I'll send little Lucy up with the food.''

Grisha threw him a gold ring. ''Thanks, Bronn. I'm glad you're well. It's trying times out there.''

''You too, darling. Mariam misses her Orc daughter too much, and you have to make sure you see her the next time you're here,'' Bronn said with a fatherly smile.

''I will; it's been chaos at home. Father is frustrated that I couldn't catch up with my siblings, so I'm heading for the Everglade Kingdom to level up.''

Bronn nodded, ''Some traders were in here a week ago claiming the kingdom has gone mad due to the old king falling ill and his sons fighting among each other, causing monsters to run wild, so if it's the experience you're after, Everglade is the perfect place to go.''

''Okay, old man, I'll be going to rest as I've had a long journey from the Bloodfang Kingdom and fought many monsters, so I'm going to put my feet up and have a nice hot bath,'' Grishna said while heading for the staircase.

Ten minutes later, Grishna stood in her room and locked the door behind her. She stripped off her dirty armor and let it drop to the floor with a thud before entering the bathroom connected to the room she rented for the night.

Grishna stepped into the relaxing hot bath and sank until her head was the only thing out of the water. She slowly started to doze off, but it wasn't sleep. Something divine took hold of her mind.

She woke up in a white room, which confused her. Grishna looked around but saw nothing until an older woman's voice was heard, ''My little Orc, it has been a while since we last spoke.''

When she heard the voice, she spun around, only to see an older Orc woman wearing a white toga and a motherly smile, causing Grishna to speak, ''Goddess Gruum'ka, it good to see you after so long,'' she went to bow but was stopped.

''No need to bow, little one; I'm here to inform you of the arrival of the Grak'Thar Gromog'ar, and he will be coming to your destination, but I need you to find him and become his fist.''

Grishna's eyebrows shot up, ''He's real? Draksha was right,'' she said in shock.

Grumm'ka started giggling. ''Of course, he is, but the boy's future is clouded, and none of us gods can see where he's going,'' she informed her.

''We cannot tell how he will play along with our plans, but I have a slight suspicion that Grak'Thar Gromog'ar isn't as simple as he looks and will shock Goddesses Luxia and Nyx who made him their champion,'' the Orc goddess informed her.

But all Grishna could think about was her friend being right, and they fell out over it, which made her feel even worse. Grumm'ka reassured her, ''You two will reunite as Draksha is the second fist, so don't worry, little one.''

She nodded as the goddess, ''What do I need to do?''

''I will come to you when the time is right, but continue with your journey as the Grak'Thar Gromog'ar. He hasn't arrived in the Darkheart Jungle, but you'll know once you look at him.''

''Okay, I will do it, goddess,'' Grishna replied. ''Thank you for this opportunity. I hope he can bring peace to the Orc Kingdoms.''

Grumm'ka smiled, ''Now enjoy your bath, and good luck on your hunt, little one.''

After her divine encounter, Grishna was roused from her bath by insistent knocking on the door. "Coming!" she called out, hastily wrapping a towel around her body before heading to answer.

Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a beaming blonde girl who quickly exclaimed. "Sister Grish! How have you been?"

''I've been good, Lucy,'' she replied to the little human. ''Come in.''

Grishna let her enter as she held the door open, and the little girl pushed the trolley inside before unloading dozens of plates like a pro, which amazed the Orc Warrior.

After some small talk, Lucy had to get back to work, leaving Grishna alone to eat. She sat down and started tucking into the feast that Bronn's cook had made, which tasted delicious. She continued to eat everything until she was full and lying on her bed with a bloated stomach.

''Grak'Thar Gromog'ar's real,'' she sighed. ''I'm sorry for doubting you, Draksha.''

Grishna fell asleep after wrapping the blankets over her and getting comfortable. The following morning, she woke up to cheering and whistling, which irritated her. She got out of bed and opened the window only to see a group of well-dressed men and women marching down the road.

When Grishna tutted, ''Damn, Argonian Adventurers are hitting the Thalassian Dungeons again. I wonder if that blonde bitch Estelle is there; stuck-up princess thinks she's the best Rank G around; I'll show her one of these days.''