Play MOTI's cover of Proof of a Hero*

(Grim POV)

"You want us to vanquish the Orc Lord?" I asked to make sure that we hadn't misheard the drayd infornt of us.

She merely smiled and nodded before talking, "That is correct Lord Grim."

Benimaru then walked in from behind Rimuru to face Treyni, "That's quite the demand from someone who just waltzed in out of nowhere. "Treyni the Dryad" or so you call yourself. Why have you come here? There must be other races that would be better suited than the goblins."

Treyni then gave Benimaru his answer, " It is a good question. If your ogre village were still standing now, I might have come to you for help instead. But even if that were the case, I do not think I could ignore the presence of the ones before me now. If the Orc Lord attacks the dwelling of the Treants, we dryads alone cannot stop him. Thus, I have ventured from my home to seek the help of the mighty."

Following the explanation Rimuru began to speak, "We had only hypothesized that there was an Orc Lord roaming about."

before he could continue Treyni cut in, "Dryads are always aware of what occurs within the forest. And there is most certainly an Orc Lord here."

She then look a chip that was on the table and took a bite before muttering, "Oh this is delicious."

After some talking from the others about the confirmation of the Orc Lord's existence in the forest. I spoke up.

"I must ask you to wait for an answer Treyni," I began, "Belive us with this revelation we would be willling to lend our aid however, we'd rather gather and organize information before we commit to war."

Treyni simply replied with a simple, "I understand."

Rimuru then decided to resume the meeting as Treyni took a seat in an empty seat.

"So with that out of the way … Let's continue the meeting. Does anyone have any thoughts on what the Orcs might want?" He asked the room.

Now I had an idea. What was the possibility of this being a case of an invasion because they were misplaced. Either due to another invader of thier lands or because of a shortage of food ala the Deviljho.

Shuna then asked a question, "If the existence of the Orc Lord is unquestionable, then i have one idea," she then turned to Soei, "Did you inspect the ruins of our villiage Soei?" She asked.

"… I did." Soei said.

Shuna then asked another question, "And … were they empty after all?"

"They were. I did not find a single one - of ours or theirs."

With a quick glance to my dear we both knew what they meant. It was the case of a Deviljho invasion. Looking for food, even delving into cannibalism.

During the quick conversation Rimuru was filled in on the Unique Skill : Starved that the Orc Lord has.

He then began to speak, "In that case, suppose we're in danger, too. We've got Tempest Wolves, Kijin, Wyvernkin and the Hobgoblins. Plenary of juicy bait for the orcs."

Benimaru then looked at Rimuru, "Are you forgetting the most tempting bait of them all," at that Rimuru hummed, "We've got the strongest slime and Wyverns in existence here.

Rimuru then laid his head down before Treyni began to speak again, "Is this starting to hit closer to home perhaps? In addition to the north of the Orc Lord we have confirmed the presence of a Majin as well. I do not believe you can ignore such a being. This Majin serves one of the demon lords after all."

At that Rimuru shot up, obviously thinking of our promise to Shizu.

Treyni then began to speak again, "Again, I ask of you three to vanquish the Orc Lord. Surely the Wards of the Storm Dragon - the ones who conquered the Direwolves, and the patrons to the Kijin, would be a worthy match for the Orc Lord."

The three of us were about to answer before Shion answered for us, "Of course they would! That piddling Orc Lord won't stand a chance against our lord!"

Rimuru who was picked up by Shion then became a slime again before giving Treyni the answer all three of us knew we would say, "Very well, we'll take on this Orc Lord for you. The rest of you prepare yourselves."

After that we began to plan, first we would align ourselves with the Lizardmen so we can more easily win the battle when it begins. Soei was dispatched to deal with the meeting with the current chieftain of the Lizardmen.

As day broke the next day the three of us stood in front of the village explaining the plan.

"And therefore, we're taking on the Orc Army. The decisive battle will take place in the wetlands. As long as we win, all is well. But if we lose, you need to abandon this place at once and flee to the treant gathering." Rimuru said as I began to speak.

"In all honesty the foe we face will be powerful, But should we lose there is no cause for panic. We will keep in touch through thought and Wyvern Communication."

Soon we bang to announce the names of those going to help with the attack.

Soon we had arranged a meeting in person with the chieftain of the Lizardmen. In that time better clothes were made for Rimuru and the Kijin as the armor and weapons of me and my beloved were completed as well.

Soon we were on the march to the wetlands. Venus had taken to her Glavenus form as we took flight to establish an aerial view in the small chance we were ambushed.

Eventually as we neared the place where the battle would occur if not already underway. Soei while checking our perimeter while we were setting camp for the night encountered a female lizardman fighting an orc and losing.

After he alerted us to her plight he canceled camp set up and went with Rimur to talk with the lizardwoman.

Rimuru healed her and introduced himself. The Orc that Soei had injured rose to fight. Only for Shion to appear and cut down the orc before we could interrogate him for information.

after he and the rest of the orcs were slain the lizardwoman deliver the news that Gabiru had betrayed his father and imprisoned him. Thinking that he and his forces are more than a match for the Orcs. Through the revelation that the lizardwoman was the daughter of the chieftain she served as proxy to accepting the alliance.

Soon as we arrived at the battle we saw the dire circumstances. With the three of us flying over the field in our human forms with our respective wings on our backs we observed the battle as our forces moved in to attack.

As we observed we saw as the Kijin and our other reinforcements slammed into the orcs lines with large fireballs being thrown by Benimaru and as Shion and Venus cleaved bloody swaths in thier lines with their weapons.

Soon a storm rolled in, one caused by Ranga referred to as Death Storm by Advisor. Then I noticed the red lighting indicative of dragon energy as I looked over to where Zino was only to be greeted with a notice of her evolution into a Stygian Zinogre.

As we flew we eventually spotted a truly massive Orc. One standing well double of his subordinates. It was the Orc Lord Himself.

as we noticed him he also noticed us. I closed the visor of my suit of armor while my dear adjusted the circlet on her head and Rimuru put on Shizu's mask.

We were in for one hell of a fight.