The Orc Lord's Vengeance
Orc Lord's skill 'Avatar of Vengeance' is currently active.
Each time an orc under your command is killed, your Attack, Defense, and Agility increase by 1. The boosted stats persist until the killer dies.
That status window was a kind of warning, and Han Ji-woo and Os Gillro's eyes went wide as they saw it.
"Kweeiiik!"
With that, the Orc Lord charged like a bolt of lightning, prompting Os Gillro to shout, "Run!" as he drew the golden axe strapped to his back.
Boom!
By then, the Orc Lord was right upon them, his sword clashing against the axe.
But it wasn't just the axe blocking the Orc Lord's sword. A steel sword etched with spiral engravings was assisting it, wasn't it?
The startled Os Gillro yelled at Han Ji-woo, who held the single-horned steel sword.
"I told you to run—why are you still here!"
"Then why are you still here!"
"A brave dwarf warrior doesn't turn tail from a fight! Raaah!"
Os Gillro shoved Han Ji-woo aside and activated his unique skill.
Os Gillro's body spun rapidly in place, deflecting the Orc Lord's sword. The Orc Lord thrust again, but...
Clang! Clang! Clang!
It was repelled by the storm-like whirlwind of the axe blade.
Os Gillro gripped the end of the axe haft with both hands and extended it fully. His attack range widened, and the spinning axe nearly sliced open the Orc Lord's belly.
But the Orc Lord nimbly ducked and closed in.
Whoosh!
The Orc Lord's sword aimed for Os Gillro's ankle.
"You scum!"
Os Gillro halted his spin and shifted sideways, targeting the Orc Lord's exposed back. A golden trail arced toward it.
The axe blade was about to sever the Orc Lord's spine in one blow!
Clang! An invisible force blocked the axe blade. The Orc Lord had used wind magic to compress the air into resistance.
But his opponent wasn't just Os Gillro.
Seizing the moment, Han Ji-woo's single-horned steel sword gleamed coldly.
Scree!
The sword tip flew toward the Orc Lord's forehead.
"Kweeik!"
The Orc Lord roared and covered his face with his left arm.
Clang!
He wore a round shield of iron on his left arm.
'Blocked!'
The moment Han Ji-woo thought that...
Thud!
Os Gillro flew far back with a dull sound.
He crumpled to the ground, clutching his strongly struck jaw, groaning and unable to rise easily.
Having taken one fighter out of commission, the Orc Lord now focused solely on Han Ji-woo.
Scree! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang-clang!
"Nngh!"
Han Ji-woo groaned as he blocked the Orc Lord's lightning-fast sword strikes. It wasn't just the speed—the power behind them was immense. If he weren't wielding a steel sword, the blade would have shattered already!
Meanwhile, the Orc Lord's sword was old, rusted, and unremarkable, yet it withstood his monstrous strength. Looking closely, a faint aura shimmered around the blade.
'No way... sword aura?'
Han Ji-woo had never heard of an orc using sword aura.
And for good reason. It was a skill the Orc Lord had awakened upon being dragged into the Dungeon Prison.
"Kweeiiik!"
Clang!
"Guh!"
Han Ji-woo blocked a blow from the Orc Lord but was pushed back, overwhelmed by the force.
With the blazing orc village at his back, the Orc Lord ground his teeth.
"Me and my orcs... Dragged here because humans lost a bet with the gods on their own. Kweeik! Why do humans judge everything? Why are humans considered the masters of the Bryunak Continent! Kweeiiik!"
After venting his resentment, the Orc Lord let out a long howl.
Then, Os Gillro's choked voice emerged like a groan.
"Bryunak Continent...? These guys were pulled from a different dimension than me...?"
Even in the heat of battle, Han Ji-woo's mind raced.
'That makes another dimension.'
Earth, where Han Ji-woo lived.
Adrigur Continent, where Os Gillro lived.
And Bryunak Continent, where the Orc Lord lived.
Now, three races from different dimensions faced each other in this Dungeon Prison.
Moreover, the Orc Lord's words held crucial information.
'Humans lost a bet with the gods, so all life on Bryunak Continent paid the price.'
That meant the monsters in the Dungeon Prison were likely all from the same dimension as the Orc Lord, enslaved here as the penalty for that loss.
The god who created the dungeon had used Bryunak's monsters as creatures to populate the Dungeon Prison.
The Orc Lord's roar-like cries continued.
"My orcs! Dead! Everything mine is gone! Other orc tribes... jealous. Now I have nothing! Kweeiiik!"
The Orc Lord wasn't grieving his tribe's death. To him, they weren't family—they were possessions. He raged at losing all his property.
"R-Run!"
Os Gillro, his senses returning, barely lifted his upper body to warn them.
But it was too late to flee. The Orc Lord, having closed the distance on Han Ji-woo, swung his rusted sword.
"Raaah!"
Clang!
Han Ji-woo countered with his own sword.
"I thought you were a shrewd dwarf uncle who knew when to cut losses, but turns out you're the type who loses forever!"
"Are you insane? I said run!"
"Me? Leaving a comrade behind? That's not human!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Trading blows with the Orc Lord, the immense force traveled from the blade to the hilt, tearing open Han Ji-woo's palms. Blood streamed from both hands, but he refused to yield, holding his ground against the Orc Lord.
Watching this, Os Gillro bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"How long have we even known each other that you call me comrade? Run, damn it!"
"You're trying to save me right now! If that's not a comrade, what is?"
"...!"
Clang! Clang! Grind! Clang!
"I'm dying here—stop talking!"
Han Ji-woo endured the Orc Lord's onslaught, never abandoning his post. Watching him, something hot welled up in Os Gillro's chest.
'I have to help somehow...! Ngh!'
But his body wouldn't obey. Every time he tried to stand, his head spun, and he collapsed again.
Han Ji-woo was visibly losing ground, his torn palms spraying blood everywhere, covering him in it.
'What do I do!'
Os Gillro pounded his chest in frustration.
Han Ji-woo was in the same bind.
'How's it this strong!'
Every block drained him. The balance, tilted from the start, exhausted him quickly.
"Hah! Hah! Hah!"
His breathing grew ragged, sensation left his hands. His sword arm trembled like a leaf.
The Orc Lord sensed it was time to end it.
"Die."
Now, gripping the sword was all he could manage. His limit had come long ago, held back only by willpower.
Just give up—it'll be easier, won't it? Something whispered inside, urging him to accept the Orc Lord's blade.
But.
Grit!
Han Ji-woo ground his teeth until they bled and mustered every ounce of strength.
Clang!
He barely blocked the Orc Lord's strike.
In that instant!
"The pinnacle of all swordsmanship is reached by endlessly honing the basics."
A voice echoed in Han Ji-woo's mind.
Then a system message appeared.
You have far surpassed the limits of Basic Swordsmanship in a life-or-death battle.
Hidden conditions fulfilled: 'Basic Swordsmanship' evolves to 'Intermediate Swordsmanship'.
Swordsmanship learned from the Sword Emperor 'Ruden Barfogia'. Perfect execution of all sword techniques.
Now Han Ji-woo understood. The voice in his head belonged to Sword Emperor Barfogia.
Acquiring Intermediate Swordsmanship strengthens your body, granting stat bonuses!
Stamina, Attack, Defense, and Agility each increase by 50!
"...!"
With the system messages, tremendous power surged through Han Ji-woo's body.
"Stop resisting and die! Kweeiiik!"
The Orc Lord swung what he thought was his final blow.
But the scene he envisioned shattered.
Scree—
A silent single stroke cleaved the air.
The moment it met the Orc Lord's sword...
Crack!
"...Kweeik?!"
The Orc Lord's sword was repelled.
Exploiting the split-second opening, the cold blade targeted the Orc Lord's throat.
It was utterly different from the basic, technique-less swordplay he'd used until now. A flawless sequence of attack and defense seized the advantage in one strike—and aimed to end it.
'Am I dying like this! Kweeiiik!'
However.
Stop.
Han Ji-woo's sword halted before the thick hide.
"Hey, pig."
"...Kweeik?"
At Han Ji-woo's call, the Orc Lord opened his closed eyes and looked at him.
"I'm not particularly sorry. You're monsters, and even if I hadn't trashed your village, you'd have tried to kill me anyway."
True enough. Orcs hunt humans on sight. It was just the law of the jungle.
"I know. Kweeik. Kill me."
"Sure. Killing you would be easy. But there's a path where we all win, even if it takes a detour. Wanna try?"
"Kweeik?"
Han Ji-woo smiled at the Orc Lord tilting his head in confusion.
"I'll help you get back what you lost."
"...I submit. From now on, you are the master of our tribe."
The Orc Lord had stormed into another tribe alone and subdued their lord, claiming the entire tribe.
Impossible before, but now possible thanks to the Avatar of Vengeance buff from Han Ji-woo.
Clap clap clap!
As the Orc Lord became the new tribe leader, Han Ji-woo approached, applauding. Os Gillro followed with a reluctant expression.
"Congrats, pig."
"Thanks to you. Kweeik!"
The hatred in the Orc Lord's gaze toward Han Ji-woo had faded considerably.
The other orcs bristled at the sudden human, but with their new master unconcerned, they didn't dare touch him.
"Now I stay here with the other orcs. That's it. Kweeik! Grudge... forgotten. Kweeiiik!"
Like they'd made a cool deal, the Orc Lord tried to neatly sever ties.
But Han Ji-woo had no intention of stopping there.
"What're you talking about? There are still two orc tribes left."
"Kweeik?"
"You gotta take those too!"
"...!"
At Han Ji-woo's unexpected words, the Orc Lord's eyes gleamed.
Yes—power must be used. Was he finally achieving the orc tribe unification he'd failed at on Bryunak Continent!
Hot ambition surged in the Orc Lord's chest.
Han Ji-woo smirked inwardly at the sight.
'You do the dirty work. I'll reap the honey.'