Arkas shook his head with a grin, then patted my shoulder.
"You can relax, Billion. I don't follow military rules that strictly. But as long as you're in Unit 02, you still have to call me Commander."
I nodded and let my shoulders loosen a little.
Arkas studied me for a few seconds before gesturing toward the massive cavern.
"What do you think this place is?"
I glanced around, taking in the pulsing pods, the heat, the magma pools.
"I think this is the orc Abomination's nest. You mentioned a powerful Abomination being caged here, right? Maybe this is where the orcs are created."
Arkas shook his head.
"You've got two things wrong, Billion. First, these orcs aren't Abominations."
I frowned.
"They're not? Then what are they?"
"They're creations of that powerful Abomination. The orcs, the golems, even the hounds outside, they're not independent creatures. They're puppets, maybe even just summoned pets. They were created using laws and Essence."
I narrowed my eyes.
