Crushing the Orc Horde
Carrying the juice generator, guns, and ammo crates, we approached the gate management staff. Park Jisu, who knew the guy well, took the lead and started registering everything. Honestly, I rarely came to gates like this on my own. We always came in groups, so right now, she was the only one I could trust.
"Two participants for the B-grade Orc Settlement: one B-grade and one C-grade."
Luckily, there were no issues, so after entering our info on the tablet the staff handed over, we passed inspection.
"Hey, since you can manifest mana, I won't worry, but can I leave the front line to you?"
"It's my ability test, so just hold position and pull the trigger. I'll warm up a bit."
"You're really not stepping in?"
"You're so chatty. Little brat."
Park Jisu kicked my shin, but it just tickled.
"Ow!"
"Heh heh. Dumbass."
Ignoring my diamond-indestructible body... Cute little thing. Once she confirmed the front liner's durability herself and felt relieved, Park Jisu huffed and entered the gate. Following right after, the sight before my eyes was a massive rocky mountain and the forest below it.
"Let's grab a point midway up the rock mountain first and scout for the settlement."
I trailed behind Park Jisu as she marched ahead confidently. Hoisting her gear, we climbed the rocky mountain, and looking down revealed a vast sea of trees. She took back her stuff, set up the point, and started scanning the surroundings through her scope.
"See anything?"
"Hold on... Northwest from here, looks like the settlement. Number... about 50? Seeing some bigger ones, probably three Warrior-class elites? It's a gate I've cleared before, but more have respawned this time."
Gates always rebuild in the same spot with the same environment, repeating destruction and revival. The only changes are monster numbers and occasional irregulars. That's why people whisper that gates are portals to other dimensions. The one we came to today was one Park Jisu had cleared before, and it didn't seem much different from her experience.
"Going in?"
"I'll be here munching popcorn."
She'd actually brought some, pulling it out of her pocket and scouting the settlement through her scope. Her role was recon and sniping, so it was a habit. Confirming her position, I started descending the rocky mountain. Hopping across the big boulders, I soon reached the base. I exhaled slowly.
Now it begins.
Following the movement technique's formula, I channeled mana into my legs and took a step. The forest scenery flashed by in an instant, scenes changing in a blink. Sometimes stepping on branches, sometimes on rocks, acrobatically weaving through obstacles—laughing bubbled up at my own display.
Fuck yeah. This is badass.
Cleaving through the wind, I arrived at the settlement in the blink of an eye. The orcs hadn't noticed me yet, lost in their own world. Probably because the technique's stealth made no sound at all.
Debut fight—gotta make an entrance.
Minding the glinting scope lens far off, I approached the settlement.
Thud. Thud.
Making noise on purpose, the orcs finally turned, spotting me.
"GRRROOOAAAR!!!"
The sentry orc bellowed at the intruder, and the settlement's atmosphere shifted instantly. Towering over 2 meters with muscles blatantly inhuman, these orcs were no mere trash mobs. Sure, treated as C-grade, but ironically, anything below a C-rank hunter gets slaughtered. Poor first-awakened bastards...
Shaking off the stray thought, I saw an orc charging, muscles bulging, battle axe raised. It closed in fast, swinging—but I ducked smoothly, slipping into its guard. My palm met its belly at the same time.
Not even the Sipdan-geum First Origin Form—just pure First Origin Qi slammed into its gut.
BOOM!!!
The palm strike exploded its belly, severing upper and lower body.
"Gr... ruh..."
Its fading pupils and gurgling blood were almost poignant. Shaking green blood off my hand onto the ground, the orc horde swarmed. They stared silently at their split comrade.
"You coming?"
Grinning provocatively, the elite-looking ones roared in unison.
"GRRROOOAAAR!!!"
I smirked and charged back. First real fight using martial arts? Heart pounding.
The orc pack sensed my strength instinctively—regular orcs encircled, tightening the net, while three orc warriors claimed positions around me, swinging weapons.
Ganging up? Pussies.
Glaive sweeping low at my legs, battle axe slicing horizontally for my side, war hammer crashing down on my head. Perfect coordination like lifelong practice. I danced through the gaps with footwork.
Yielding to natural steps, I spotted the war hammer orc's dropped shoulder. My hand shot out, morphing to Golden Lock Hand, crushing its shoulder bone.
Crack!
Grabbing the limp arm, I vaulted over, thrusting a light palm strike infused with First Origin Qi—its skull burst reliably.
Ignoring flying flesh, another orc warrior rushed, gripping its weapon.
Should be rattled... Elite poise, huh?
Dodging the glaive by tilting my head, I spun with the momentum, roundhouse kick shattering one's knee structure.
"KRAAAR!!!"
Ignoring the scream, I poured mana into my hand like a vise, snatching the battle axe mid-swing. Yanking it—and him—into my embrace, I unleashed a palm thrust.
BAM!!!
Wiping splattered blood fitting its bulk, I looked down at the fallen orc warrior.
"Grraa! Kruk!"
No way I understood orc babble. Ignoring its mutters, mana-clad fist severed its head. Silence fell.
Kicking the horrified orc warrior's head toward the rest like a gift, they flinched dramatically despite their bulk.
Wind-up bitches.
Wiping sticky green blood off me, I charged the stragglers. My martial arts debut in the orc settlement was thoroughly satisfying.
+++
"Bye. Don't follow strangers even if they offer candy."
"Fuck off. Asshole."
Snickering, Kang San got out of the car and headed home. Park Jisu had cleared the gate and dropped him off. Rushing home in a daze, she showered while replaying the day's events.
That crazy bastard...
The orc settlement they entered had three elite spawns despite being orcs—enough to bump it from C to B-grade due to elites. Park Jisu hadn't fired a single shot. Couldn't, more like.
From her rocky perch tracking him, his movement was insane—like a high-grade mobility skill—crossing the forest sea to the settlement. Charging straight in, he one-shot the sentry orc, blasting its upper body.
What ability? Explosion? Just raw power type?
The fight ended in a blink. As orc warriors charged, she almost fired instinctively—but froze as he exploded one's head. Explosions followed relentlessly. Like a wolf in sheep, he pulped warriors and regulars alike.
Dripping green blood, he turned, waving at her—she was dumbfounded.
Having contracted with the Association and seen plenty of action, she'd met fellow B-grades and even A-ranks. They could match his feats.
Something's different...
But Kang San was different. The image. Glimpses of impossible movement killing orcs, fluid offense-defense shifts. Hands extending smoothly like a butterfly, legs light as flight.
On the way home, chattering with Kang San—who she'd partnered with—she looked forward to school regardless. My man's a beast? Hell yeah.
Having naturally become Kang San's woman, the good mood made her brush it off. Changing to pajamas quick, she picked up the item on the table.
"Hee hee..."
Artifact from the orc warrior kill. Mana-glowed dark wooden handle, fan-shaped steel head. Crude but exuding savage charm—a hand axe.
After clearing and as contract advance, Kang San had given it to her. Park Jisu pulled out a cloth, polishing it lovingly.
Gotta buy a whetstone too.
His first gift. Smiling broadly, she polished the hand axe endlessly.
All night...
Later, that hand axe gleamed menacingly at her waist, intimidating cadets—but that's a tale for another day.