Riley was a blur as he dashed through the underbrush, the forest whipping past him in streaks of green and brown.
A crooked smirk plastered itself across his face as he tore forward, boots barely touching the dirt before launching into another explosive stride.
The thrill of power continued surging through him like a drug, and he felt like he was floating on top of the world.
Then—
Roar!
A guttural ROAR erupted from the thick bushes up ahead.
With a sudden crash, a massive orc burst from the foliage, its heavy frame shaking the ground as it landed hard in Riley's path.
In its hands, it gripped a spiked club almost as large as itself, the iron head snarling with jagged, rusted edges.
Trails of dried blood lined the spikes of the weapon, making it look even more menancing.
The beast let out another guttural snarl and charged, its footsteps like hammer blows as it lunged forward and swung its club with feral force.
Riley didn't flinch.
He didn't move.
He didn't even blink.
