Michael arrived back in the Nation of Reborn. But what welcomed him wasn't the sunny, overly bright, and usually positive scenery of the Paradise in the Desert.
Instead, he found himself in an extremely dark room. Stygian. The only form of illumination in the room was the lambent light coming from the flickering candles attached to the walls.
"Narito, Sasuki… are you all here?" he asked.
And in front of him, the figures of the two Shadow Orc Chieftains arose from the darkness.
They kneeled in front of him. "Just as you commanded," they both recited.
"Is this an urgent matter, Lord Michael? You usually don't visit our Shadow Realm," asked Narito, his werewolf-like fur alert.
This Shadow Realm was simply what they called their hideout, located very deep on the bottom of the Nation of Reborn. It was so deep that the only way to get inside here was through the Shadow Teleportation inherent in all Shadow Orcs.
"Are you having some trouble in New Sparta? We've heard that the Thunderfoot company that you visited is currently embroiled in a thieving problem," said Narito, his quill spines ready.
Michael nodded, impressed at the Orc's information gathering skills.
"Yes, you are right. It involves the Thunderfoot. We are now tasked in helping them find the item stolen from them and demand recriminations. I added that last part."
The two Orc Chieftains tensed their bodies, not letting their excitement get in the way of Lord Michael's words.
They furtively glanced backwards, towards the ocean of shadows silently watching from afar. With a single look, they already warned their Orc soldiers to be ready for the mission that they were about to partake in.
Hundreds of eyes opened in the darkness, nodding. Their excitement was palpable.
"I realize that I haven't been making use of your abilities as you would all like to," Michael said. "And for that, I am sorry."
Narito started. "Please do not apologize, Lord Michael! It is our incompetence that should be blamed! The world that you currently delve in is something that our shadows cannot overcome."
Sasuki grimaced. "But we will do everything we can to help you in any kind of way!"
The hundreds of Shadow Orcs behind them grunted, their eyes showing fervent resolve.
"Don't worry, I have noticed your efforts, my Shadow Orcs. And now, it is time for me to reward you with something that I know you all yearn for."
Michael raised his hand, a shadow forming in front of his feet.
With a single gesture, drops of white, flaming drops appeared in the air.
GodForge pieces. The Shadow Orcs held their breaths, their excitement breaking the silence and solemnity of their hideout.
"Lord Michael! Are you… are you…"
Michael nodded with a smile. "That's right. I am bequeathing GodForge pieces."
Narito began slamming his fists into his own chests, shouting his tribe's incinerating roar. And for a second, Michael felt as if a true Werewolf was standing right in front of him.
Sasuki didn't lag behind. He crossed his arms, reaching into the sharp quills on his shoulders and began to strum them like a guitar.
The two Orc Chieftain's tribal rituals would ordinarily sound discordant and disharmonious, jarring even. But the zeal, excitement, and fierce loyalty they felt for the man in front of them created a melodic duet that made one's blood boil with excitement and hair-raising anticipation.
Michael flicked his hand, and the drops of flaming GodForge pieces shot towards the two Orc Chieftains.
They wholeheartedly received this gift, the GodForge pieces entering into their hearts and changing their lives from here on after.
"How do you feel?" "I feel… a void, Lord Michael. It's dark and lonesome, like my shadow. Comforting," Narito muttered as he savored the new power beating alongside his heart.
"It's the same for me… it's a chasm. But like a dark sea, I can see myself traversing through this space and reaching the power in the distance."
Michael nodded, then set his sights on the sea of Shadows just watching them from afar. They were bubbling. He could feel their anticipation from here.
"Elite Penumbras. Come forth," he commanded.
And in an instant, ten shadows formed in front of him.
The Elite Penumbras were a subgroup within the Shadow Orcs who were considered to be the best of the best, below only that of the Chieftains themselves.
"You have all proven yourselves worthy of becoming Maugnetics. Last I heard, you defeated a warlord in their sleep and prevented a war that would have cost thousands of lives."
He flicked his hand, bestowing upon them their own GodForge pieces.
The ten Elite Penumbras staggered as the white, flaming drops shot through their chests.
Almost immediately, they felt the sheer power of Aubility Powers now coursing through their heart, making them drop to their knees.
Hmmm… they didn't take to the GodForge pieces as well as Narito and Sasuki, he noticed.
"High Penumbras. Step forth," he commanded.
A thousand eyes looked up at him with surprise. It took them a hot second before they appeared from the sea of darkness in the room and presented themselves in front of Michael.
They didn't think they would be called upon. Of course, the Chieftains were bequeathed GodForge pieces. They were Chieftains not only in name, but in ability as well. The High Penumbras were a close second.
But High Penumbras as well?
"You are a group of Orcs that have shown grit, skill, and power. You are the backbone to the Shadows of Reborn. Receive your gifts."
A large shadow formed in the ground, before hundreds upon hundreds of flaming white GodForge pieces floated upwards.
Then, with a flick, these drops shot towards the large group of a thousand Shadow Orcs.
Immediately, the Orcs that received their GodForge pieces dropped to the ground, clutching their chests in pain. It took more effort from them to assimilate this new power into their bodies.
And curiously, some of the Orcs received theirs, while some didn't. The GodForge pieces seemed to choose their own wielders, ignoring those who they didn't deem worthy.