Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Orc Rider Onslaught
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"Ha, it really respawned..."
I let out a hollow laugh at the absurd reality and turned my head.
"Steelstone! Hundred!"
"Yes, my lord."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Lead the territory's people north and keep moving. I'll hold them off here."
At my words, the two knights' eyes wavered. They'd clashed with orcs multiple times themselves, so they knew their strength all too well. And these weren't just any orcs—they were riding the wolf beasts that dominated the Killians Mountains.
Steelstone spoke up.
"My lord, Sir Hundred received elite training from the Silver Sword family."
"And?"
"He could lead these barely thousand-strong villagers on his own."
With that, Steelstone secured the heater shield from his back firmly onto his left arm and drew his long sword.
"You might die."
"We might have back then, too, during the peasant hunts."
I smirked at his grinning face, then turned to Hundred.
"Head straight north. Monsters have appeared in the northern territory too, but they'll be far weaker than these orcs. Their average height barely tops a meter."
Of course, land existed beyond territories. With territories spaced a full hundred kilometers apart, there was plenty of room for humans between them.
The problem was the beasts.
Ley lines—those that strayed from the continent's grid—teemed with magical beasts like mad. Humans didn't cluster their territories and villages near ley lines for nothing.
"And Smile."
"Yes, sir."
The territory's sole mage, who'd been silent until now, stared at me with a rigidly tense face. Her usual beaming smile was nowhere to be found.
"Assist Hundred and send a communication via crystal orb every day at noon. I'm not charging off to die for sure."
"Yes! My lord!"
Smile, who'd been anxiously bracing for an order to follow, snapped to attention. I nodded and began walking toward the orcs charging from afar.
Hundred's voice called from behind.
"...Please take care."
"Yeah."
"Everyone, hurry! Drop anything that's a burden! Full speed north!"
I sent the villagers off and eyed the orc riders hurtling toward me like maniacs. I'd acted calm, but the situation was dire.
'They've got mobility.'
I wouldn't have feared a hundred orc warriors charging because I could outmaneuver them and pick them off one by one—not because I could take them head-on.
No matter how well I fought, without spamming sword auras or unleashing AoE spells, I couldn't overcome numerical inferiority.
And now, even the orc champion who'd pushed me to the brink in our duel had shown up!
Even strengthened by my class and collections, I had to stay sharp or I'd lose my life.
"I'll take the lead. Steelstone, finish off any I let slip and follow. Prioritize killing the wolf beasts."
"Yes, my lord."
Steelstone didn't question or object to the order sending the shield-bearer—the safer position—to the rear. I scanned the dozens of orc riders thundering in, then checked my status window.
ID: Han Jaeyeon
Class: Duelist (Hero)
Title: New Adventurer (Common)
Level: 28
Strength: 46 (+100) Stamina: 48 (+102)
Vitality: 36 (+59) Agility: 52 (+180)
Mana: 1 (+70) Mana Power: 1 (+25) Magic Resistance: 1 (+15)
Recovery: 51 (+15) Mana Recovery: 21 (+11) Luck: 10
Free Stats: 79
Status: Normal
My stats had ballooned insanely. Even though I'd only used one free stat point experimentally since level 21 and saved the rest.
'Feels like my old self, ten strong, couldn't touch me.'
The hero-grade class bonuses and collection effects were truly tremendous.
Without profound mana insights or realms of enlightenment, these specs alone granted superhuman combat prowess.
'Ah, if only I'd gotten a legend class—I'd just charge those hundred head-on.'
But with no legend class, I had to assess coldly and clearly.
I climbed the hill slowly, pondering.
'Is it possible?'
The answer came quick.
'Impossible. Not like this, at least.'
I watched the orc riders closing in. I gauged the distance between trees visually, then timed them passing through.
One hundred meters in six seconds.
"Wow, those wolf pups are hauling that bulk like pros."
"Still can't believe it. Beasts turned magical mounts, carrying riders..."
In Ardenia's long history, no human had ever tamed a magical beast.
'Always saw them as prey.'
Wolves still classified as beasts evolved into wolf-beasts, then one-horned wolves—commonly called ten-man beasts. "Ten-man" meant ten humans.
Not that they matched ten humans in power.
They'd eaten ten humans.
'No beast overcomes that instinct. Without ley lines, humanity would've gone extinct ages ago.'
Beasts that evolved by devouring humans never shook their instincts, no matter how young you raised them.
Even if they saw you as parent or sibling, given the chance, they'd devour you. Taming was impossible.
'Maybe orcs are different? No, even elves, dwarves, beastkin—same story.'
Thud thud thud!
Lost in thought, the orc riders drew within five hundred meters. At seven seconds per hundred meters, they were practically on us.
"It has been an honor serving with you, my lord."
Steelstone's voice from behind, steady despite the oncoming horde.
I raised my left hand.
"Steelstone, see this?"
"A card... I think."
"Spot on."
"Looks like a sword drawn on it."
A pretty good omen—I couldn't help a slight smile.
'Maybe... it is possible.'
He'd braced for death here, but perhaps a different outcome awaited.
"Take it."
Ping!
I tossed the card; Steelstone snatched it reflexively.
And that instant.
*-Pledge loyalty to the Empire and offer your life as its shield!*
"Even third parties hear it, huh."
Ping! A purple glow signifying hero-grade burst and faded.
"Wh-what is this, my lord?"
I glanced back. No outward change. Steelstone's gear was the same, no aura or anything.
But naturally, he'd feel what happened to himself.
"Feel any different?"
"The sword and... shield feel like feathers. Armor light, power surging through me."
"Good."
Applying a class card to someone else was great news. Short-term, I needed it myself, but long-term, it strengthened my forces.
Even a common class allowed leveling and item effects once obtained. Owning a job meant more than just class perks.
"Ororororo!"
"Human! The human who killed my brothers! I'll take him!"
"As I said earlier..."
The orcs were upon us now, charging. I spoke while facing them.
"Finish off any I let slip and follow. Kill the wolf-beasts especially. To retreat, we cripple their mobility."
Clang!
[Parry successful!]
I deflected the downward axe swing; the orc warrior's stance crumbled. I slashed horizontally across its exposed side...
"Gurk!"
Then stomped the wolf-beast's head with my foot.
"Kyeng!"
The orc and wolf, barreling at insane speed, tumbled across the ground.
Unlike the orc warrior spilling guts and teetering on death's edge, the wolf-beast just reeled dazed—but Steelstone behind me swung, severing its neck as it lay there.
'No exp from killing wolves, huh.'
But when the orc warrior fell next.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Level-up effects burst from Steelstone. He looked baffled.
"Level up?"
I frowned at the sight.
"No, why only three levels? I took some contribution, sure, but he was level one?"
A moment's thought revealed why.
"Goddess's Blessing."
Goddess's Blessing was a buff granting extra exp, items, and gold on hunts.
Revenge players stopped hunting when it dropped to stage 1 (0 grace points, 100% rates)—like a fatigue system.
I eyed the feather icon top-right of my view.
Goddess's Blessing Stage 3 (810 points)
Exp Gain: 700%
Item Gain: 500%
Gold Gain: 300%
It auto-charged to 200 points in safe zones or logged out. Over 200 was stage 3. Stage 1: no hunting. Stage 2: free-to-play. Stage 3: pay-to-win.
Problem: No safe zones in Ardenia now.
Hunting meant facing zero-grace for everyone, paid or not. No auto-charge.
Revenge let you log out for recharge even sans villages... but Ardenians lived here—no logout.
'Leveling's gonna be tough. Combat's hard enough without blessings.'
On a whim, I pulled an item from my [Killians] character to Ardenia.
[Used Chalice of Blessing! Goddess's Blessing 810 -> 860]
"Ah, the sweet taste of fodder."
Revenge's push items at 12, 6, and 9 PM—all used in Ardenia. Per-character blessings meant rotating alts kept them topped.
"Human scum! Daring to look away?!"
The second orc warrior didn't swing—instead, spurred its wolf-beast into a body slam. Topple first, deal with it later.
I met the orc warrior's glare.
I kicked off the ground.
Pop!
Focus. In that split second, I stomped the wolf-beast's gaping jaws aiming to bite.
The wolf tried shaking its head, but I blasted off its skull first.
Crack!
Its neck snapped; my body launched. The shocked orc swung its axe—too late.
[Critical hit!]
[Defeated Orc Warrior!]
Blood fountained; severed head flew. Still airborne, I pounced the next oncoming orc warrior.
It screamed.
"No... way!"
"No way my ass."
I sneered, swinging my sword.
Clang!
[Parry successful!]
Parry stacks built; attack speed surged. Body still midair, but decapitating the orc with its broken stance was child's play.
[Critical hit!]
[Defeated Orc Warrior!]
Thud!
"Kyeng!"
I crushed the wolf-beast's spine; it yelped like a dog. Hearing Steelstone's follow-up kill, I roared.
"Come on, you exp bags!"
"Human! Human!"
"Kill him!"
"O~~rorororo!"
Amid their rage-filled cries.
Two humans clashed against dozens of orcs.