Chapter 179
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Dancing with the Orc
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Was it the maddening rage?
My vision went black for a moment.
"You..."
The world darkened only briefly.
My sight returned.
I swung my blade down in a near frenzy of fury. A beastly scream—whose, I couldn't tell—erupted each time, and the orc countered with ultimate defensive techniques born of sheer muscle power, blocking my strikes.
So tough.
So heavy.
His skill was lacking, but raw strength was the issue. Human and orc muscle structures diverged from birth.
Look at those powerful muscles wrapped around his organs like macho armor. Orc muscles were the real deal. Protein from hunting, bulked up through hunting—100% battle-hardened!
The very race of machos, the fortress of muscle!
That was the monster known as the orc!
"A real macho, huh."
But I'm no fool.
From the intense battle just now, I'd grasped his style to some degree. He must have done the same to me. Our attacks sharpened further, each blow now lethally precise.
The fight evolved explosively, reminiscent of that ancient, brutal Precambrian era.
Opabinia, Hallucigenia, Anomalocaris... The most savage warriors born after the Cambrian explosion clashed in extreme evolution, vying for Earth's dominance in the violently primal Precambrian!
Dinosaurs didn't even exist back then!
"Precambriaaaaaan!!!"
Why did they struggle?
To survive!
All they had was the barbaric ancient power flowing in their blood! Yet they fought for survival and supremacy with raw physicality alone, evolving relentlessly!
Skreeeeech!!!
For some reason, those ancient powers seemed to seep into my body, transcending time and space... Ohhh...! Ancestors! My ancestors! The primordial power etched in my DNA!!!
Squawk!
I swung my sword again.
The orc matched my movements perfectly. I slash, he blocks. He slashes, I block. Repeating this, it was like two men in tuxedos dancing to a melody.
That's right—this was...
"A dance!"
I surrendered to the flow.
It looked like combat, but it wasn't mere clash. Like the mellow tones of old jazz, relaxed and easygoing. The flowing strikes were fierce yet supple. At the center, my dance with the orc burned hot but remained utterly composed.
"This bastard... got some moves!"
"Human! You too!"
For some reason, it felt like the orc was speaking. Yes. In this transcendent dance battle arena, barriers of race and language had crumbled like the Berlin Wall.
The orc and I danced with swords, uniting like East and West Germany—fervently! Beautifully!
Perfectly synced movements to the rhythm! An opponent with elegant attire and gentlemanly poise! Facing each other, matching choreography! Thrilled at finding the ultimate partner, I asked his name.
"What's your name?! I'm Kim Katt!"
Grk! Skreeeech!
"What?"
Skreeeeeech!!
"Speak so I can understand, you fucking bitch!!!"
Uwaaaaaah!!! I couldn't suppress the rage anymore! The distorted reality around me shattered rapidly. Clang! Like breaking glass—the sound of crossing blades!
This wasn't the Precambrian anymore. Nor was this Berlin.
No jazz melody lingered; only transcendent, savage cries and whooshes aimed at each other's throats!
Kieeeek!!
This was a hellish otherworld!
The meaning of my swings? Solely survival. Then? Doesn't killing the enemy become the only true purpose?
Clang!
Swordplay that fails to kill has no meaning.
Clang!
In my thoughts, sparks flew.
Blades clashed violently, iron sparks searing my retinas with intense afterimages. My gauntlet-wrapped fists throbbed. The repeated shocks felt like my finger joints were liquefied.
Where's Claudy? Fighting.
Kobson? Fighting too.
Winia? What the hell is she doing instead of helping me?
I was dying to know. But to find out, I had to cut down the orc before me. That was humanity's first and last task, the sole path to heaven!
Skreeeech!!!
The orc parried my sword and roared, swinging wide. No technique or finesse, but the massive arc powered by honed muscle clearly held enough force to shatter my blade!
A familiar sensation.
The enemy's blade about to sever my life.
"Manager."
Power surging from within.
Since when? In battle, when my mind half-broke into a trance, an unknown power would well up.
"Swordsmanship."
Again and again.
Repeatedly.
Transcending my limits, saving my life.
Dryad.
Bellverja.
And Kobold Guardian.
The same sensation from those life-or-death battles against transcendent foes enveloped me— instantaneous omnipotence! Surging courage! Boundless inner power and sharpening blade!
"Dejavooooooo!!!"
No need to dodge,
Clang!
no need to block.
Grk????!!!
Just honestly.
I met the orc's full-force swing head-on. Sparks flew fiercely, like a grinder slicing an H-beam.
Blades locked, radiating heat.
This power...
What is it?
Not Precambrian. Right here, right now. Surging power. Courage reaching omnipotence. Unbelievable grit. All seeped into my muscles.
"—I'll carve you up."
I stepped forward.
Advanced one step.
For some reason, overflowing power overwhelmed the orc's strength and burst forth. Like a blade under heavy gravity, it crushed his stance. What was the source of this endless courage?
Another illusion?
Grk! Skreech!!
No illusion.
The orc's scream was real.
At some point, I dominated the orc.
He seemed flustered by my sudden surge. Now, my skill and power surpassed his completely.
Thinking this was a fight I couldn't lose fueled the mad courage already at its limit, enveloping my world.
The world of courage.
"Do you"
It was the legendary realm where machos were said to thrive. Fragments of the world I'd yearned for now appeared vivid.
I reached out.
"know the sword?"
'Macho' seemed within grasp.
Simultaneously, the orc's blade yielded as mine dug into his shoulder. Pure overwhelming force pinned him, hot blood spurting.
"I asked if you know the sword."
Skreeeeeech!!!!
The orc didn't know swords. Nor language, nor humans. That's why he lost. This world wasn't all about muscle.
"If not, let me teach you."
I yanked the hilt.
By lever principle, the blade sank deeper. Drool from the orc clung to his fangs, dripping slowly.
Finally, the blade tip felt bone.
I slashed.
Cut the orc.
"This"
Grk! The more pressure, the more blood gushed. I added force. Pushed the blade, pulled. Bone sawed, white bone dust like sawdust misting in blood fog.
"is the sword."
A massive scream erupted.
Skreeeeeeeeeech!!!!!!!!!
Flowers wilt to bloom again, but what of life?
Life bursts forth with cheers of joy. But the dying orc's scream held neither joy nor cheer.
Only despair.
And pain.
Thud!
The orc's body, bisected from shoulder to heart, collapsed. Simultaneously, the surging power vanished without trace.
"This power... what the hell is it?"
Just now, I'd transcended myself.
It had surged against the dryad, Bellverja, and Kobold Guardian too. But never burned this fiercely until today.
As I pondered, a familiar scream rang out.
"Uwaaak!!!"
I shoved thoughts aside.
First, help Kobson.
"—Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon."
Habitually, I unleashed the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon's secret movement, but this time, no extra power rode it. Because that mysterious force had vanished? Unknown. But...
"Babaaaarian!!! Help meeee!!!"
"Hold on a bit!!!"
I still had my muscles.
That was Kim Katt.
Whoosh!
I rushed to support Kobson, one step from death. The small orc was toying with him, but no expert to win 2v1. I thrust into the fray.
Skreeeech!!!
The panicked orc screeched.
In the crisis, it switched targets to the new attacker—me. That's ganging up's advantage. Distracted mid-fight?
"Kobson!"
I shouted, and
"Iiyaaaaap!!!"
Kobson, snapping to, skewered the distracted orc's gut. Skreeeech!!!! As it convulsed and dropped its sword, I rammed my blade into its neck. That ended it.
"Hoo! I lived! Thanks, Barbarian!"
"Haa... haa... Yeah."
One left.
Only the boss orc Claudy faced!
I glanced at Winia. She scanned the battlefield, guarding against other threats. Important too.
Clang!
I looked at Claudy.
She was slightly shorter than me, but the orc neared 2 meters—a musclebound brute swinging an iron longsword, like a green-skinned general.
Skreeeeeech!!!!
Feathers flew. A slash too fast to track; I saw only a blurry, smoky blade trail. But Claudy didn't dodge.
She just raised her curved sword.
Clang!
Sparks flew. The unbelievable speed from muscle power halted simply by lifting her blade. The orc's rotten face twisted further.
The orc, deeply bent, leaped back to create distance.
Insane leg strength.
Over 5 meters backward, no run-up.
Whoosh!
Claudi exploited the gap. Crossed blades charged to shred green flesh. The orc desperately defended. Claudy utterly dominated.
Help?
No.
Clumsy interference would shred me like a chick in a blender. I formed up with Kobson ahead of Winia.
"Sis fights like a beast."
"Huh?"
"Look. She's toying with it."
Winia lowered her staff and approached, acting like the fight was already over.
"Anyway, darky. Am I imagining it?"
"Imagining what?"
"Hmm... Nothing now..."
"What?"
Winia drew near, grabbed my face, peered in, and grinned.
"Nothing."
At that moment, it ended.
Skreeeeeeeeeetch!!!!!
The boss orc, curved swords embedded cross-like in its nape, dropped to both knees. Claudy kicked its chest. Thud. It toppled backward on its knees.
Dead.
"Hmph, that all? Decent opponent, satisfying... but a bit short. Still, not bad."
Claudi pulled her swords, approached us with a refreshed face.
"Handled the rest well? Heh. Our Katt's impressive. Taking down an orc solo."
"Yeah, well. I won in the end... with a little help from Winia."
"You got help? Aw, that's a shame. No biggie. Bare-handed like that is plenty. Next time, aim to solo... Huh?"
Claudi's rising excitement spilled words rapidly. Approaching the orc I'd killed, her expression turned puzzled.
"Katt. This corpse. You did this?"
Claudi pointed at the orc bisected from shoulder to heart.