TRAIGS - Chapter 766

‘That woman…’

Raon narrowed his eyes, gazing at the woman standing at the forefront of the monster horde.

‘Is she the source of all this?’

Her tall stature and honed physique stood out, rivaling that of any male warrior.

She wore a black orc helmet adorned with two horns protruding from the forehead.

– ‘She’s a swordsman.’

Wrath licked his lips as he studied the woman wearing the black orc helmet.

‘Indeed. She’s wielded a sword for a long time.’

The way she gripped her sword exuded a refined sword energy, confirming her identity as a swordsman whose primary weapon was the blade.

Yet, the specific swordsmanship style she used remained unclear.

‘Hum.’

Raon extended his sensory perception discreetly.

‘Her strength matches mine.’

The woman with the black orc helmet was advancing toward the pinnacle of Grand Mastery, much like himself.

Unlike the Dual-Headed Ogre or the Silent Blade, she was an opponent who would require his full strength to defeat.

‘I should be able to win…’

So why did a chill run down his spine?

An inexplicable sense of dread wrapped around his shoulders as he stared at her—a feeling disconnected from thoughts of victory or defeat.

‘She may be hiding some unique ability.’

Raon’s instincts had never failed him. It was best to stay cautious for now.

– ‘Hmm.’

Wrath turned his head from side to side, a frown forming on his face.

– ‘That woman… there’s something strange about her.’

He muttered, narrowing his eyes as he remarked on the woman’s peculiar presence.

‘I wouldn’t call it strange…’

Raon clenched his teeth, refusing to break eye contact with the woman wearing the black orc helmet.

‘I’d call it… familiar.’

Though her eyes were obscured by the helmet, Raon felt an uncanny familiarity.

It was as if, should the helmet come off, he would recognize her face.

“Is she the monster king?”

Martha brushed her hand along the hilt of her sword as she looked down at the battlefield.

“That aura is vicious. Just looking at her makes me sweat.”

Despite her words, her gleaming black eyes revealed a desire to fight.

“She’s not the only problem.”

Burren sighed deeply, his gaze sweeping over the vast monster horde filling the plains.

“We’ve probably killed hundreds, but it doesn’t look like we’ve even scratched their numbers. Did they bring every monster from the continent?”

He straightened his chin, preparing for what he anticipated would be a long war.

“…”

Runaan kept her hand on the hilt of the Snowflower Sword, her quiet fury elevating her murderous intent.

‘Hum.’

Normally soft and dazed, Runaan’s anger brought forth a chilling aura more menacing than anyone else’s.

“Don’t be afraid. Retreating from here would mean hell!”

Wendy confronted the nightmarish situation head-on, showing the demeanor of a true leader.

“C-Captain,”

Dorian cautiously approached Raon, bowing his head.

“Should we stop the repairs for now?”

He glanced nervously at the monsters, whose heavy breaths suggested they were moments away from charging.

“Continue.”

Raon shook his head calmly.

“What?”

“This war will be won by the side that endures. We need to alternate between fighting and regrouping. If there’s even a second of time, fix the walls.”

Even with his sensory perception and the Glacier’s abilities at full stretch, he couldn’t count the number of monsters.

This would be a long and grueling war—there was no time to rest.

“But, uh…”

Krein, gripping the fractured wall, furrowed his brow.

“Why aren’t they attacking?”

He bit his lip uneasily, watching the monsters stop just outside the range of their arrows and spells.

“That’s because—”

Before Raon could reply, the woman in the black orc helmet plunged the Lion Sword into the ground.

Scarlet energy ignited around her shoulders, blazing intensely.

‘Roar!’

The monster horde, inspired by her aura, let out ferocious howls, their eyes turning blood-red.

But instead of charging the fortress, they descended upon the remains of their fallen kin, sinking yellowed teeth into the flesh of the dead.

They tore into their comrades’ flesh and drank their blood, indulging in a grotesque feast.

“Ugh…”

“T-They’re eating other orcs?”

“Cannibalism…”

“Disgusting bastards!”

The soldiers of the Light Wind Division and the Arian family broke into a cold sweat, horrified by the monstrous scene unfolding before them.

‘Rumble.’

Raon brushed his hair back, watching the monsters revel in their bloody feast.

‘Could it be…’

Are they growing stronger by consuming their kin?

Each time the monsters devoured the flesh of their fallen, their aura intensified.

What had started as flickering flames of energy soon grew into a roaring inferno.

“…”

The woman in the black orc helmet stood still, as though she had orchestrated this from the beginning, silently observing the banquet.

“Wait…”

Rimmer narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the woman.

“Is that the Green King?”

“G-Green King? What’s that?”

Dorian gulped and asked nervously.

“A ruler of green-skinned monsters like goblins, orcs, trolls, and ogres.”

Rimmer furrowed his brow as he explained.

“It’s an incredibly rare talent. For it to be passed down to the strongest of orcs, the Black Orc King…”

He bit his lip in disbelief.

“That explains why high-ranking monsters like ettins, cyclopes, griffons, and gargoyles are following her.”

“Then the way their aura is growing stronger…”

“That’s also one of the Green King’s abilities.”

Rimmer sighed, calling it a dire situation.

– ‘What kind of orc dares to use the title of king!’

Wrath roared in displeasure.

– ‘True kings, like this king, possess both nobility and elegance!’

He waved his hands, demanding that the title of king be stripped from her.

“…”

Raon, recalling Wrath drooling as he ate a bowl of ice cream pearls, shifted his gaze to Rimmer.

“Does she have any other abilities?”

“Normally, their strength isn’t exceptional. But she’s… different.”

Rimmer exhaled sharply, noting that this Green King seemed powerful even by her own standards.

“Shouldn’t we stop them now?”

Dorian raised his hand nervously.

“Exactly! The monsters are already gathering; we need to eliminate them before they grow stronger!”

Krein nodded quickly, fear evident in his eyes.

“That’s a trap.”

Raon shook his head calmly.

“A trap?”

Runaan turned her gaze toward him, puzzled.

“There are two other monsters in that forest just as strong as the Green King.”

Raon looked down at the tranquil, swaying forest.

“The moment we target the Green King, they’ll ambush us.”

The Green King was like bait dangling from a fishing rod. There was no need to bite into their trap.

“But… they just keep gathering…”

Dorian bit his lip, more worried about the others than himself.

“We’ve already sent our report. Reinforcements will come. Besides…”

Raon scoffed, his gaze fixed on the ever-growing horde of monsters.

“No matter how many monsters there are, it’s better than being ambushed by two Grand Masters.”

Eden’s strategies often mirrored the nature of monsters—wild and unpredictable. The best option was to hold their position and counter from the safety of the fortress.

“The captain is right.”

Rimmer, unusually formal, addressed Raon as “captain” and nodded.

“We have the advantage of defense. There’s no need to charge out. Conserve your aura and recover.”

Rimmer stepped behind Raon with his hands clasped, seemingly ready to fulfill his role as vice-captain.

“What’s gotten into you?”

Raon turned to Rimmer with a dry chuckle.

“It’s a vice-captain’s duty to support the captain.”

Rimmer grinned broadly, as if to reassure Raon.

“When you act out of character, it’s a sign something bad is about to happen. Go back to slacking off as usual.”

“I don’t die, remember? Worry about yourself.”

Raon and Rimmer exchanged banter, reminiscent of their time back at the training grounds.

“He’ll probably ask for money next. It’s obvious.”

Martha shook her head, glancing at Rimmer.

“I heard most gambling halls have shut down lately. Where’s he even spending it all?”

Burren frowned, seemingly unable to comprehend.

“Ice cream pearls.”

Runaan casually stated that Rimmer must have spent it on a large stock of ice cream pearls.

“That’s not possible…”

Dorian shook his head, denying the claim.

“I saw him at an ice cream shop.”

Runaan tilted her head, adding that she had seen Rimmer there herself.

As the captains joined in the lighthearted chatter, the tense atmosphere along the wall began to ease.

Even the knights and soldiers seemed less anxious, their unease gradually fading.

‘Whoosh!’

Recognizing the moment to rally everyone’s spirits, Raon raised the Heavenly Drive.

A sacred crimson flame flared to life along the silver blade, illuminating the dark night sky.

“Do not be afraid.”

He lifted his chin with regal confidence, his voice steady.

“I am here.”

Raon’s resolute voice echoed throughout the fortress, igniting a fire in the soldiers’ spirits that rivaled the monsters’ oppressive aura.

—

“Hmm…”

The Dual-Headed Ogre licked his lips, watching Raon remain steadfast after an entire day.

“So, he’s no fool.”

He had hoped that the Light Wind Division would recklessly charge out, allowing him and the Silent Blade to ambush them. However, they showed no signs of moving.

‘He must’ve sensed me and the Silent Blade.’

Even though he hadn’t completely masked his presence, noticing him from that distance was no small feat. Raon Zieghart was no ordinary foe.

Without relying on the power of his helmet, Raon had achieved such strength at his age—it was hard to believe.

‘Well, the Fallen One was deceived by him too.’

This was the same Raon who had shredded the Fallen One’s supposedly flawless plan to pieces.

If it weren’t for him, the balance between the Five Kings and Five Demons would have crumbled long ago.

“Regardless, what a fascinating scene.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre licked his lips, his gaze flicking between Raon and the Green King, their eyes locked in an intense standoff.

“Even in a play, if the plot were this obvious, the audience would boo. Don’t you agree?”

“…”

The Silent Blade remained silent.

However, the faint trembling of his fingers, resting on the hilt of his sword, did not go unnoticed.

“Humans are so entertaining.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre chuckled, watching the Silent Blade’s reaction.

“But just sitting here and watching is getting dull.”

He pulled out a branch adorned with three small bells from his coat.

“Our forces are strong, and their reinforcements haven’t arrived yet. Let’s stir things up a little.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre raised the branch above his head and shook it.

‘Screeech.’

A faint, insect-like noise echoed as the bells clashed.

The sound grew louder, expanding toward the fortress walls.

‘Screeech!’

Though Raon and Rimmer reacted quickly, striking with their swords, they couldn’t entirely block the sound.

‘Boom!’

The right and left edges of the fortress walls, still under repair, cracked under the impact, leaving them on the verge of collapse.

The fresh materials used in the repairs hadn’t fully set, amplifying the damage.

‘Clatter.’

The Dual-Headed Ogre tossed the now-blackened branch aside, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Let’s have some fun.”

—

“Ugh…”

Raon clenched his fist, staring at his tingling palm.

‘What was that?’

The energy had been invisible and undetectable, yet it had pierced through, carried by sound.

If Yua hadn’t heard it first and warned him, the walls might have completely collapsed.

“I’m sorry… I should’ve noticed sooner.”

Yua trembled, apologizing as she bit her lip.

“No, you did well. Thanks to you, no one died.”

Raon patted her head before turning his gaze outward.

‘Roar!’

The monsters, now emboldened by their feast of blood and flesh, let out a massive roar, their aura thick and menacing.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

At Raon’s command, the Light Wind Division and Arian family knights shouted in unison as they returned to their positions.

‘Hum.’

The Green King inhaled the air thick with the battlefield’s tension and drew the Lion Sword from the ground.

She stepped forward with her left knee, raising the sword she held with both hands high above her head.

‘Lion Cleave.’

As her lips moved subtly and the sword descended, a colossal sword strike surged forward, as though it could cleave the Arian fortress in half.

‘Boom!’

Raon mirrored her movement, stepping forward with his left foot, the Heavenly Drive in his hand swinging forward.

From the glowing red blade, a fiery dragon roared forth, unleashing a breath of flames that seemed ready to engulf the monster horde.

‘Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation – Heavenly Inferno.’
‘Dragon Blaze Slash.’

Raon’s aura and the Green King’s energy were both the same vivid crimson hue.

Their red strikes collided, staining the sky and earth a bloody shade as they clashed.

‘Rumble!’

The duel between the two Grand Masters paused momentarily, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

With a deafening roar, the monsters, spurred by the chaotic energy, charged toward the Arian fortress like raging demons.

“Fire!”

At Freka’s command, rangers and soldiers loosed arrows and bolts, while knights unleashed sword energy and aura to halt the monsters’ approach.

But the sheer number of enemies made it impossible to stop them all. Soon, monsters began gathering beneath the walls.

The battle had erupted in an instant, shrouding the air with despair and the stench of blood. Amid this grim atmosphere, the Green King advanced.

She moved with the monsters, unleashing a second devastating strike.

‘Screeech!’

Raon intercepted the slash aimed at the fortress gate, deflecting it as he stood atop the wall. Flames that banished the surrounding darkness burned brightly along his blade.

‘Boom!’

The moment Raon and the Green King’s gazes met again, the two pushed off the ground simultaneously, their swords aimed at each other’s throats.

– ‘Now I understand the source of this king’s unease.’

Wrath let out a heavy breath as he watched Raon charge toward the Green King.

– ‘That woman…’

Wrath’s voice carried a strange weight.

– ‘She smells like you.’ (T/N: Raon’s sister?)