Chapter 130: The Demonic Beast of the East
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: The Demonic Beast of the East
“Fow Bwood Daggew!”
“For Blood Dagger!!”
As Nicole called my name, clan members erupted in cheers from all around. I placed a hand over my chest in salute, and as if understanding my meaning, they quickly fell silent. Najin painting our bodies had become something of a long-standing tradition for the Blood Dagger Clan.
Though it might have seemed like a meaningless act, it certainly bolstered the pride of the clan members. I wasn’t the only one who thought so; the other Orcs around me began to speak up.
“She has truly inherited Najin’s blood.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had this done.”
The Goblin Three Sisters were also in line. It seemed their business with Mev was finished, as I could hear their voices.
“Niconicole is amazing!”
“She’s really good at drawing!”
Her skill truly did seem quite good. I didn’t know if she was aware that she was doing the exact same thing her father once did, but Nicole’s expression was utterly serious. As I slowly approached her, the courteous clan members made way for me, and soon I was standing before her.
“I-It’s an honor!”
The same line as back then. I clearly remembered Najin saying the exact same thing when he first carved the dagger onto my face.
‘It’s an honor! Kkireuk!’
For some reason, I started to see his face in Nicole’s. I patted her head and settled into place. With a trembling body, Nicole slowly brought her hands to my face. As her sparkling eyes moved up and down, her hands began to move swiftly.
She was putting in far more effort with me than with the others. She wasn’t just painting my face, but also drawing unknown patterns on my upper body.
“Phew… Fo… Fow Bwood Daggew!”
Finished with her work, Nicole wiped the sweat from her brow and shouted. I opened my mouth and spoke softly to her.
“Excellent.”
When I nodded, Nicole nodded back emphatically. The future of the clan. Only then did I realize why they were all so excited.
They hadn’t put in all this effort just for a new battle.
This was for a homeland.
A land where we would plant our glorious banner. A land where the future of the clan would grow. In other words, this was an effort to claim our territory. For their sake, failure was not an option. I stood up, and the warriors roared once more. I couldn’t see my own face, but it seemed the design Nicole had drawn on my body was impressive.
“For Blood Dagger!”
As I started to walk, they, of course, made a fuss.
“I want the same one as the Chieftain, Nicole!”
“Niconicole! I want you to draw something similar for me too!”
Simple, but endearing fellows. I entered my tent and slowly began to arm myself. I slung the Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword onto my back, fastened the World Tree's Rotten Wood Long Spear to the back of my waist, and equipped Archmage Isaac's Throwing Dagger and the Ancient Flame at either hip.
“Chieftain!”
Mev must have thought my preparations were nearly complete, as she called my name from outside. I took a deep breath and stepped out.
The clan members were lined up in front of the tent. Ragia and Hakajin stood on either side of the entrance, and Mev hovered in the air, flapping her wings.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve fought alongside Blood Dagger!”
“And the new Mirror Blade is with us!”
Gark and Hark shouted, hyping up the atmosphere. Baek Ahyeon gazed at me with sparkling eyes. Everyone was looking this way, waiting for me to move.
“Let’s go, my brothers. It is time to raise a new banner.”
“UWOOOOOOOOOH!”
“UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”
“Victory! For victory alone!”
“For victory alone!”
“For Blood Dagger!”
The sound of a drum echoed with perfect timing. The Goff Clan had also finished their preparations.
“Thump.”
“Thump.”
The beating of my brothers’ hearts felt like the sound of the drums.
The Goff Clan, the Black Spear Clan, and our Blood Dagger Clan. One by one, we began to march out of the settlement as the young Green Skins and their mothers cheered. I saw Kim Yoora supporting an exhausted Nicole; it seemed they had grown close.
“For Blood Dagger!”
“May glory be with you!”
“May glory be with the Blood Dagger Clan on their path!”
And so, after a very long time, we left the vicinity of our settlement. Goff led the vanguard, Black Spear followed, and our Blood Dagger Clan watched the rear.
We began our march toward the eastern edge. Since this wasn’t an expedition to fight humans, I had decided to bring Lee Wanyong along. I figured he was probably in a meeting with Jung Hayeon and Hakajin, going over the final details.
The distance was neither far nor near. We had to walk for another three or four days, but I didn’t mind. This fighting spirit was one that wouldn’t fade no matter how much time passed. In fact, it burned so hot that I thought it might be better to let it cool down a little.
The drums continued to thunder. We marched to their beat, minimizing our rest time to move as quickly as possible.
Strangely, we encountered no demonic beasts.
There were certainly clever ones that fled, instinctively sensing the danger, but there were also bound to be those that didn’t know their place.
The fact that none showed themselves probably meant the sound of the drums was frightening them away. Of course, it wouldn’t work on beasts that had undergone many evolutions, but thanks to this, we were able to advance even faster.
We ate as we walked. We rested only once a day, just to get some sleep. There wasn’t enough space to set up makeshift tents for everyone, so our bodies were uncomfortable, but the rest periods were certainly enjoyable.
As we continued eastward, I began to feel the surrounding landscape change. The swamp hadn’t disappeared, but I got the sense that its scope was widening.
Likewise, the amount of solid ground we could walk on also began to increase. Instead of scattered patches of swamp, there were now proper plots of land where we could stand firm and pitch our tents.
It felt quite alien. The swampy areas were incredibly gloomy, while the earth where grass grew felt alive. It was as if a boundary line had been drawn, and I couldn't help but smile.
‘It suits me.’
It wasn’t intentional, but I felt that this land suited me very well. We were approaching the territory of the ‘Hydra,’ the Demonic Beast of the East, so we set up a temporary camp in a suitable location to recover our strength.
Wanting to gaze upon this land a little longer, I was quietly looking around when Goff and Black Spear approached me. They, too, had let their clan members rest and had come out for a moment.
Goff was the first to speak, his expression one of pure delight.
“This is good land.”
“I’ve heard that once we pass the territory of the Demonic Beast of the East, the land gets even better,” Black Spear added to Goff’s words. “There are trees that bear fine fruit and good soil, perfect for building a settlement. I’m glad we decided to put down our roots here.”
It was only natural that I shared their sentiment. It truly was a magnificent land.
I nodded, and they nodded back. After a few more words, I was able to send the two of them on their way. They tried not to show it, but they seemed incredibly excited.
That night, however, the Green Skins were unusually quiet. They enjoyed their meals as usual and went about their routines as usual, but there was a subtle silence.
They were simply staring at the large banner that Gark had been carrying all this time.
I, too, found myself gazing at the banner. When the wind blew, the sight of it fluttering was quite impressive.
The night passed, and true morning arrived.
We broke down the temporary camp, and Gark raised the banner. I watched him and smiled. Unable to hold back any longer, everyone instantly finished their battle preparations. The Orcs and Goblins, their bodies covered in impressive tattoos, were breathing heavily.
No more words were needed.
The Goff Clan, the Blood Dagger Clan, and the Black Spear Clan began to merge. As we had trained for so long, we were already prepared to entrust our backs and our lives to our brothers.
“Let there be glory!”
“Let there be honor!”
“Let there be victory!”
The host began to advance. I stood at the vanguard with Goff, a smile on my face. The deeper we went, the stronger the scent of danger became.
The energy that made my skin tingle seemed to declare, This is my territory. A normal human would have likely fled. But I smiled.
Goff smiled, and all the other Green Skins were smiling too.
It was a dangerous scent I hadn’t felt in a very long time. The Demonic Beast of the East was now keenly aware that someone had invaded its domain.
“To victory!”
The Orc beating the drum made from human hide began to pound it relentlessly. The stronger the beast’s scent became, the louder the drumming grew. My eyes were turning red and my breathing was growing ragged. For a moment, I wondered if the drum was producing a sound that amplified our feral instincts, but that didn’t seem to be the case. It seemed I was getting excited all on my own.
“Thump!”
We have set foot on the eastern edge.
“Thump!”
We have come to tear the Demonic Beast of the East to shreds.
“Thump!”
We have come to raise our glorious banner.
“Thump!”
And then…
As if in answer to our call, the beast’s monstrous roar began to echo.
“KRAAAAAAWWWWW!”
“KIEEEEEHHHH!”
“KRAAAAAAHHHHH!”
It was the sound of exactly three heads roaring. It felt as if the entire eastern edge was trembling; it was so loud it was, without exaggeration, painful to the ears. The moment the roar was heard, Goff began to run, moving toward the source of the sound. The advancing host also began to pick up speed.
“Krrrrrrk.”
Goff’s excited growl continuously stabbed at my ears.
“KRAAAAAWWWWWW!”
What burst from his throat was the cry of a beast. As if refusing to be outdone, Goff roared back and charged toward the creature at full speed, leading the way. What I saw was a three-headed drake. It had a colossal body, much like the root we once fought. Naturally, it turned its head toward us. Just making eye contact with the beast sent a jolt through my entire body.
The Demonic Beast of the East continued to watch us. No, to be precise, it was watching the Ogre charging at it alone. It was a reckless charge that would make anyone think he was insane. I watched Goff’s back—an incredibly broad back. The back of a warrior who had much to protect.
“Victory or death!”
“On the path my brothers walk! Let there be glory!”
And so, the Demonic Beast of the East and the Ogre clashed.