War with the Orcs
"...Peaceful again today."
Sua was soaking in the breeze atop the utterly demolished hospital rooftop, just like always. She had her animals keeping constant watch on the vampire, but it hadn't budged an inch—nothing but sleeping in place. Of course, she had to stay vigilant since it could move at any moment, but things seemed stable for the time being.
The monster sweeps around the hospital building were going smoothly too. With the potatoes and rice Hayun kept sending, they had plenty to use and were even starting to build up reserves. Plus, they were gaining one or two Awakeners every day. In the long run, this could turn into a really solid survivor group.
By the time the vampire woke up, if they could just add another hundred Awakeners to the ones they'd already saved... it might actually be manageable. They'd need to level up too, of course.
"No alchemists among the new Awakeners today?"
"No, ma'am."
"Wonder when we'll get one."
Hayun had been desperately hunting for an alchemist because some flower was an alchemy ingredient. If they could handle that, it'd save some face—they were still the ones receiving more than they gave. All relationships had to be equal, after all.
Just then, Sergeant Park Hyunwoo ascended to the rooftop on his summoned sword. Sua returned his salute, then hopped up to sit on the railing and look down at him.
"All done for today?"
"Yes. No more threats in the area."
"That's great. We've been run ragged for a while—maybe now we can finally take it easy?"
"...With no immediate threats nearby, it might be best to focus on internal organization."
"Fair point."
Since the Gate incident, they hadn't had a single day off—just nonstop survival. Clearing monsters around them, scouting for supplies.
"If Hayun hadn't shown up, we'd probably still be raiding abandoned convenience stores for scraps."
"I'd have gone for the combat rations depot first."
"I prefer hot rice over MREs."
As the two chatted idly, something started appearing on the distant horizon.
"Mae."
"Looks like today's delivery."
"Another one-way gift."
They waited on the rooftop for Mae, just like always. But today, it felt like there was more rice than usual.
"Good harvest?"
"Not with that penguin statue around its neck."
"Really?"
Sua stood up. Hayun usually just sent goods with Mae alone. Sending a penguin statue along meant there was business to discuss. She approached with a bit of tension.
"Sending the penguin statue today—something up?"
"......"
No voice came from behind the penguin statue. Had something happened? Sua's mind went blank for a second. Should she send someone to check right now?
"...Ah, can you hear me?"
Hayun's voice finally came through.
"Sorry, I was out farming. Did Mae make it okay?"
"Yeah! What's going on?"
"Well... do you know about Haven?"
Hayun suddenly asking about Haven out of nowhere. Anyone on the Ark would know of the survivor group Hayun traded with.
"I know Haven. What's up?"
"That makes this easier. Haven's in a dire crisis right now."
"Crisis?"
Sua's playful expression vanished the moment she heard Hayun, turning dead serious. Hyunwoo edged closer to listen in too.
"A talking humanoid monster showed up. Orc King. You know it?"
"Pretty infamous one. No records of it being taken down yet, though."
"It appeared in Donghae City."
"...For real?!"
With a vampire right in front of them, another monster of similar caliber nearby? Unbelievable.
"So, any chance you could help out? I'm pitching in, but Haven can't handle it alone."
"Sure. How much backup do you need?"
"As much as possible."
"I'll send our top sergeant for now. That should be plenty."
"Thanks!"
Better to send Hyunwoo, who was over half their combat power, than split up ambiguously.
Hyunwoo took a deep breath.
"Then I'll head to the Druid's house first."
"Come with Mae right now!"
With that, Mae took off. Hyunwoo leaped and grabbed its ankle, and they soared toward the horizon.
"With Park Hyunwoo the One-Man Army coming, they can just post on the Ark if they need more."
She knew the military base was on the Ark too. Worst case, they could signal from afar. No private chat, so it'd draw some aggro with a public post, but whatever.
Right now, I was stuffing every Druid-grown plant from the warehouse into the turtle's shell—except the rice. Only combat plants mattered now.
But the real key was something else. Without this plant, my plan wouldn't work.
"All planted, nyang!!!"
"Good! Turtle, water cannon!!!"
"Understood!!"
Whoosh— a powerful jet of water soaked the field. Once the soil was drenched, I clasped my hands in front of the empty plot and poured every ounce of mana into Hyper Growth.
Sprout, sprout— the plants shot up at insane speed.
These were onions. The useless ones I'd discovered early on and left alone because they were worthless. You had to eat a bunch just for a decent shield.
These onions were about to be the core of my Turtle Ship strategy.
I harvested them all, piling up a decent amount. Enough for the op right away. I'd stockpile more if time allowed, but the world wasn't that kind.
"Danger!! Danger, danger!!!"
Penguin burst out of the house screaming. If it was panicking, time wasn't on our side.
"Ark post?"
"Orcs invading Haven right now!!"
"What a pain."
I'd figured the orcs wouldn't stay gone long.
"Didn't expect them back before the day's out, though?"
"They don't wanna give 'em time, nyang. Or maybe they waited for no Turtle or Mae in sight, nyang."
"Makes sense."
Anyway, we had to move out now. But...
"Just send Mae and Turtle first?"
"Obviously. Stay here and monitor, master."
Truth be told, going with Nyangnyang, Penguin, and me would be ideal. I could regen mana under the Tree of Life and grow plants in real-time. Supplies wouldn't deliver instantly anyway.
"......"
Still some time before Mae arrived. Perfect moment to decide. I looked to my companions for input.
"...The front lines are dangerous."
"I'm all for it, nyang. Half-assing it and leaving monsters behind is riskier, nyang."
"I think we save people when we can—no regrets."
Different opinions. But like it was saying your call matters most, Bear poked my side. My plan relied on the Tree of Life on Turtle's back for wide buffs. I'd make it work best if I was there.
Weighing pros, cons, risks, rewards... I finally decided.
"...Alright. It's settled."
Boom— Bomb Flower fruits exploded amid orc screams on the battlefield. Bows, priest guns, and all sorts of ranged weapons held back the charging orcs. Those that broke through clashed with Awakeners up front.
"Endless... Ark post up?"
"Obviously!! Help's coming soon!"
They knew Hayun was on the Ark. She'd rush over seeing the raid alert.
"Fire!!!!"
"Protect the mages!!!"
But the sheer orc numbers were overwhelming. Grunt orcs with axes were manageable, but archers sniping from afar and orc shamans with curses and weird spells wrecked havoc.
"Kanghyuk! Rear's breached!!"
"Tch, on it!!"
Kanghyuk left Seola at the Sam Mart entrance and dashed back. Front would weaken, but no choice—enemies everywhere, limited people.
Seola pondered briefly, then decided.
"Everyone!! Abandon the front barricade—fall back to the Tree of Life!!!"
Awakeners ditched barricades and clustered near the Tree. Survivors sniping from Mart's second floor rushed to reinforce elsewhere.
"Feed it potatoes!!!"
"Already on it!!"
They shoveled Hayun's potatoes under the Tree like crazy. It absorbed them one by one.
"Stay inside this circle no matter what!!!"
A circular water line near the Tree, drawn by Turtle—roughly matching the Tree's buff range.
Just like countless simulations. Relying on the wide heal, they faced the orcs.
"Front barricade down!!"
"Orcs incoming!!!"
But Haven's Awakeners, battle-hardened against orcs, didn't flinch. They gripped weapons and charged. Orc weapons landed, but wounds healed instantly. Bolder, more aggressive—they piled up orc corpses.
The orcs halted their advance, staring. Then their leader, the Orc King, stepped out.
Seola flinched involuntarily, recent memories flashing.
"That tree..."
Orc King glared at the Tree of Life, then morphed its body into a massive bone axe—not one, but two, gripped in each hand. It charged with the orcs.
Orc King's target: the Tree. Seola realized and rushed forward to intercept.
But Orc King caught her sword barehanded. The bone axe already left its grip, flying straight at the Tree.
"Protect the Tree!!!"
Before Awakeners could react, the axe rocketed skyward, then slammed down vertically—splitting the Tree in half.
Crack— the severed Tree stood forlornly. Morale plummeted with their symbol of hope gone.
"Fall back!!!"
Seola's shout snapped them out; they retreated the line.
But...
"Run!! Seola!!!!"
She'd charged alone to block Orc King—now isolated. Sword taken, just a normal Awakener.
"You're their leader?"
"......"
No answer from Seola. Orc King snapped her leg in an instant.
"Aaaargh!!!!"
She collapsed screaming, sensing death. But...
"......?!!"
Orc King ignored her and strode forward. She tried to move, but other orcs grabbed her.
"Watch from there. Your minions dying one by one."
"Ugh... urk."
Body broken, she couldn't budge. Then—
Orc King hurled bone axe at the Awakeners.
"Danger!!!"
Her cry came too late. The axe was upon them.
Crunch—
"......?!!"
Seola couldn't believe her eyes. Something from the sky smashed the axe. A familiar sight: dazzling white-furred white tiger. The one always by Hayun's side.