The portal opened directly in the settlement's main courtyard—the same place Satou had departed from what felt like a lifetime ago, though it had only been a few hours.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the earth-formed buildings. The settlement was transitioning into evening routines—goblins and orcs finishing their day's work.
The moment he stepped through, a bell began ringing. The lookout had spotted the portal, was alerting everyone that their chief had returned.
Within seconds, doors burst open. People came running from every direction—the same crowd that had greeted him earlier, but this time with a different energy. Not just relief, but desperate need to know.
Did the chief win? Countless questions started coming out from everyone
