The orcs that greeted Verc and the others were Groo, Mamon, and the other leaders; Jagan, Pol, Don, and Epona.
They stood like massive stone pillars at the edge of the treeline, their presence alone enough to make the air feel heavy. But it wasn't just them who had known Verc was coming.
Back at the base, Kuma, the leader of the Gnolls, and the five kids who became vampire by drinking Verc's blood had also been waiting.
Being connected to Verc with his blood, they felt him getting closer to the [Cursed Forest]. It was a strange, pulsating sensation in their chests—a rhythmic pull that told them exactly where their master was. It was like a compass made of heartbeat and shadow.
And so, they decided to send a team to greet him.
Kuma and the kids couldn't come because they need to take care of the base. The construction was ongoing, and someone had to manage the labor and the younger ones. So they just decided to have Mamon, Groo, and the other orc leaders do it.
