Chapter 606
The “Immortal Orcs” dwelling in the tower’s middle levels.
Each individual’s combat power was outstanding, but it was the long-inherited shamanic arts and runic imprints that truly pushed this tribe beyond the simple category of orc.
Predators that devoured the large monsters of the mid-levels and proudly took on the role of suppressors.
That was the status enjoyed by the Immortal Orcs.
There were even thousands of them moving as a mass, and even great powers hesitated to face them directly.
And yet….
A mere human, nothing more than prey, dared to take them on.
And in numbers so laughably small you could count them on one hand.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The earth-shaking steps grew louder.
“Kruooo!”
“Krrr…!”
Orcs that had been hunting everywhere began to appear.
Dozens, hundreds… and then thousands.
Orcs packed into the ruins formed a massive legion.
“Can you hear that? Already above there are countless of our kin gathered to chew you alive. With a gap like this, it’s almost a shame there won’t be much to eat.”
“Well, they did come in droves. I’d heard the outbreak caused chaos, but did their ranks rank up faster than expected? What a pain.”
Kang Jinhyuk sensed the footsteps from above.
It was a force capable of sweeping away many factions overnight.
“They’re still acting cocky. Well, those so-called ranked players you brag about — every time they tried to come at us, we ate them. They must not know they just came here through a gate.”
The chief-like orc casually swung his glaive.
The blade, forged from iron-ore, sliced the ground as if cutting paper.
Shreek!… Kuku-thud! Kraww!
Fallen debris tumbled away and the outside of the building came into view.
There, many orcs had formed a perfect battle line.
So complete that not even an ant could slip through.
“Ssssk! Did you use a horn to hunt less than fifty of them?”
“Well then, nothing to tear apart. I’d been looking forward to a proper feast.”
“They were arrogant humans who needed the help of great warriors. Understandable.”
“Oh ho. Then we’ll eat them limb by limb. Teach them their place.”
“The head’s mine.”
The orcs spoke cruel words without a second thought and gradually drew up their killing intent.
“Support the warriors.”
“If there are humans who use magic, neutralize those troublesome ones first.”
The shamans began casting various spells.
Countless natural magics appeared atop the black magic circles.
Water, fire, lightning, earth.
These were high-level spells of at least six circles.
At that moment,
a faint something was summoned above Kang Jinhyuk’s head.
“What is that?”
An orc pointed toward Kang Jinhyuk’s head.
—
[‘Crown of Tyranny’ is summoned!]
The sacred relic symbolizing the tower’s absolute ruler completed its full form.
At the same time, crimson mana began to gather in the fist that gripped the hilt.
Kukukuku!
A grim, ominous aura.
Chilling.
“What… what is that?”
“This aura is….”
“Impossible. No way.”
The mocking smiles vanished from the orcs’ faces.
The gap in power was overwhelming.
The predators who had been scheming how to toy with their prey to the utmost torment were gone.
Instead, only prey stood before a giant serpent.
“D-don’t be scared. It’s only—”
Puff!
The orc commander who had tried to raise his voice suddenly had his upper body vanish.
The shockwave reduced the dozens behind him to a handful of blood and nothing else.
The mana density shredded flesh down to molecular levels.
No one could even gauge how strong the mana was.
It was monstrous.
The orcs’ instincts sent the ultimate warning: do not fight that human.
“Run…! Everyone, get out of here!”
The most powerful warrior among the thousands screamed at the top of his lungs.
Fleeing was the only way to save even a single tribesman.
“Eeeek!”
“Move! Move!”
“Me first!”
The belatedly panicked orcs abandoned weapons and armor and bolt-raced away.
“Don’t pity them. Sweep them all away.”
Kang Jinhyuk ordered curtly.
“Understood.”
“As you command.”
“I’ll finish this quickly.”
Each member infused their weapons with mana.
[Chun Yoosung activates ‘Song of the Sword’.]
[Alice von Ataraxia draws out ‘Blood Spears’.]
[Teresa du Laurentia uses ‘Angel’s Song’.]
Shreek! Paf-paf-paf!
Kraang!
Swordlight flashed; blood-made skewers and dazzling crosses struck the ground with crushing force.
There was not even a sliver of mercy in their hands, so the orcs’ casualties exceeded imagination.
Even Teresa showed no hesitation about risking her life.
They had no choice but to change.
While living within the operator and the barrier around the ‘man’ above, the Veteran Corporation had to stand daily on the knife’s edge between life and death.
Surviving endless waves of monsters had made killing a matter of course.
‘Perhaps… this, too, is what he aims for.’
They knew the reason.
‘Fun and excitement.’
There was no doubt the absolute ruler, bored and seeking new stimulation, had orchestrated this.
Fine. If he wanted a spine-tingling, visceral thrill, they’d oblige.
They would make him regret ever giving them a chance to grow.
Dealing with these orcs was the first gate for that.
‘Let’s see how much you’ve grown.’
Kang Jinhyuk leapt off the spot with a thud, and four ancient magic circles appeared around him.
From the space fully opened by ‘Triple Magic’ and the ‘Barrier’, dazzling high-circle spells were launched.
Kraaaaak!
“Kraaah!”
“Kweeek!”
When the building was engulfed in flames, the orcs began to burn alive.
The acrid smell of burning flesh stung the nostrils.
A little farther off, orcs struck by [Glacial Sculpting] froze rapidly.
The sluggish, frozen orcs made excellent prey to be cooked easily.
The skills flowed smoothly.
[Unique Holy Spear – ‘Eight Swamps’ is activated!]
From Kang Jinhyuk’s fingertips spread green mists of varying hues.
Ssshk!
In the blink of an eye, a virulent poison that rotted flesh was unleashed, perfect for mass slaughter.
If they hadn’t discarded armor made of iron-ore, their survival chances would have been much higher, but the orcs had long since abandoned rational thought.
More than a thousand orcs trapped in the swamps lost their lives.
The remainder would fall soon enough.
But just then.
Kraaaang!
Green flames exploded at Kang Jinhyuk’s flank.
“Ugh!”
He frowned at the shattered barrier.
This was not an ordinary shaman but someone who wielded shamanism equivalent to the tenth circle.
Smoke rose from a newly formed magic circle as if from a spatial teleportation.
‘An elder.’
One of the strongest among the Immortal Orcs had appeared.
And his arrival meant….
“Krrr….”
“He’s powerful. Pressure the one wearing the crown while protecting the elder.”
“A rare catch worth hunting.”
It also meant the tribe’s strongest bodyguard force had arrived.
Five in total.
One elder plus five bodyguard-level orcs joined the fray.
Tsk! Thud…!
The nimble bodyguards raced in from different directions to target Kang Jinhyuk.
A red aura gleamed on the black glaives like a burning sun.
Almost at the same instant—
[Elder Medmash activates unique ability ‘Flare Horizon’!]
Seven fireballs spun clockwise from the elder’s staff.
Though it had a long cast time, its power approached that of a breath attack.
Its range was considerable; if allowed to fire, who knew what variables could arise.
“Kang Jinhyuk!”
“I know.”
At Chun Yoosung’s shout, Kang Jinhyuk activated [Grave of Swords].
Different techniques of the ‘Ancestral Sword’ had merged into one.
Having practiced against each other countless times, their swords had already drawn the optimal paths.
“Kruooo!”
The bodyguards closed to within three meters.
If he failed to defeat the elder in a single strike, ‘Flare Horizon’ would erupt.
He had to produce the ultimate blade.
A bit more….
‘The eleventh technique.’
Five glaives flew in a square.
Only one second.
If that passed, the blades would reach the neck.
A little more….
His grip loosened.
Not a powerful swing, but a light curve that used the sword’s weight.
…Now!
‘[One Sword, One Unity].’
Two swords became one.
The crossed sword stroke flew like a storm.
So fast the enemies didn’t even realize how they were struck.
The bodyguards caught in the gale were shredded into dozens of pieces and vanished.
“……!?”
The elder casting behind them widened his eyes.
He hadn’t expected the bodyguards to die all at once.
Fortunately, the presence of the bodyguards had reduced the sword’s power by a few stages.
Crack!
The Ancestral Sword shattered the elder’s shield.
But that was all.
“My victory…!”
The elder finished casting and unleashed his breath.
Except for a slight drop in power, it was a perfect attack.
There was only one problem: someone existed who could use a far stronger skill in a shorter time.
[Alice von Ataraxia activates unique ability ‘Blood Lord’ – ‘Master of the Black Night’!]
Paf-paf-paf!
Skewers wrapped in a red whirlwind pierced through the green flames.
The spear lunged relentlessly, tearing through the remaining shield and even the elder who had fired the breath.
With that, all means for the orc tribe to survive were gone.
—
At the same time.
Within the Awakened Association, one of Korea’s last strongholds, a subtle mana ripple appeared.
‘Finally….’
Unknown, who had been on high alert and waiting, opened his eyes.
The moment he had been waiting for had finally come.
“Escaping the barrier successfully… impressive. Just as the Master said, this hopeful one is admirable. In a sense, worthy of respect.”
They had survived that terrible place intact.
He felt the worth of the meticulous preparations over the past five days.
“Isn’t that right, Association Head?”
Unknown nodded toward Han Sangjin standing beside him.
“Yes. Truly… impressive.”
Han Sangjin nodded slowly.
Already branded by the Mark of Spirit Draining, Han Sangjin was in a position where he could only obey Unknown’s orders absolutely.
The enemy who gave true information to slowly earn trust and then took everything in one sweep.
Now they finally knew who was real, but it was too late.
Everything in the Association had fallen into Unknown’s hands.
Maximizing the outbreak’s damage by cleverly dispersing forces had been one of the bitter consequences.
“Let’s prepare the final stage. The actors are all set, and public discontent has peaked, so dealing with Kang Jinhyuk and the Veteran Corporation will be easy.”
Monsters from the outbreak.
Survivors trapped in the apocalypse.
Players and Awakened alike.
All would become blades aimed at Kang Jinhyuk’s throat.
Unknown turned his body toward the camera.
In the broadcast room set up for a live stream, every preparation for the final blow had been completed.