Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: A Fateful Choice
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“What will you do?”
One of his subordinate Holy Knights approached and asked.
“Hmm…”
Oien wore a grim expression, unable to give any answer.
“You must decide.”
“I need a moment to think.”
“We don’t have much time left.”
The Holy Knight said that to Oien, then bowed respectfully and stepped back a short distance.
“Haa.”
Oien let out a sigh as he gazed ahead.
Not far away.
So close that if he sprinted with all his might, he’d reach it in less than a minute. There, an enormous number of soldiers stood in formation.
The additional 80,000 troops dispatched from Aier.
They were pressuring Oien into making a choice.
‘Obey, or resist.’
If he chose the former, he’d have to cross Derhan once more.
And…
‘I’ll definitely encounter the “Black Existence.”’
The situation would unfold differently from before.
As warned, the “Black Existence” would no longer hold back and would slaughter Aier’s soldiers.
Combined with his own forces, that made 130,000.
‘Can this number stop him?’
Common sense dictated that a battle between one person and 130,000 could never happen.
But Oien thought differently.
A fight was inevitable, and the odds favored their defeat.
‘No, we’ll definitely lose.’
They’d suffer catastrophic losses that would go down in history.
Yet choosing the latter wasn’t an option either.
That would lead to Aier’s own troops turning on each other.
They were comrades, friends, family.
Better to die to the “Black Existence” than spill each other’s blood.
‘What should I do?’
Oien squeezed his eyes shut.
He was deep in thought, but the answer was already as good as decided.
‘Brothers can’t slaughter each other.’
If forced to choose, it was better to stand against the “Black Existence” and die.
‘So it comes to this after all.’
Oien opened his eyes and called for his subordinate.
“Tell them we will obey the Holy King Jeonhwa’s command.”
“…Are you sure?”
The Holy Knight asked with a worried expression.
He knew full well the dilemma Oien had just wrestled with.
“There’s no other choice.”
For now, they had no option but to follow their orders and hope the “Black Existence” showed mercy later.
“Understood.”
The Holy Knight nodded gravely and headed toward them.
And so, a massive force of 130,000 was formed.
The news spread across the entire continent in the blink of an eye, as if it had grown wings.
* * *
Meanwhile, Seo Woojin had arrived at the destination with his team.
“That’s a lot.”
Kang Byung-gyu whistled as he eyed the gathered cluster of Ancient Orcs.
“How many exactly?”
At Seo Woojin’s question, Kang Byung-gyu activated his ‘Scan’ skill.
The terrain and Ancient Orcs in the vicinity began appearing before his eyes.
“Hmm, 763. Wow, that’s way too many.”
Far too many for just five people to handle.
But Kang Byung-gyu didn’t look worried.
If anything, he seemed excited.
‘Well, he’s here, after all.’
He glanced at Seo Woojin.
It would’ve been tough with just them, but Seo Woojin was with them.
“No big deal. Right?”
Seo Woojin grinned as he spoke, and everyone nodded.
Only Kim Woo-ram still looked like he couldn’t shake off his anxiety.
“How’s the situation on the other side?”
“Just as you predicted.”
Kang Byung-gyu gave a wry chuckle and shook his head.
They had moved slowly on purpose.
To guard against any potential interference or tricks.
And that precaution had paid off.
“They’re herding mobs straight toward us.”
Kang Byung-gyu’s ‘Scan’ skill gave him a clear overview of the entire area.
Thanks to it, he could see exactly what the other teams were up to, as if it were right in front of him.
“How many teams?”
“All of them. These guys are dead serious.”
Five teams, 26 people total, were heading their way.
And the number of Ancient Orcs they were herding…
“Around 2,700.”
Kang Byung-gyu’s face went pale.
Adding the ones here, that approached 3,500.
The thought of facing that many with just five people sent a shiver of fear through him.
“Perfect.”
But Seo Woojin looked pleased, like it was just right.
700 or so wouldn’t even be a warm-up.
For them all to grow quickly, they needed far more monsters than that.
And 3,500 was the sweet spot.
“Ignore them for now and focus on these guys. Leave the rest to me.”
Seo Woojin spoke without a trace of concern, and everyone nodded.
‘If it’s him.’
He’d handle it somehow.
Just like he always had.
So, as Seo Woojin said, they could focus solely on growing stronger without worry.
With that in mind, Kang Byung-gyu pulled out his map and began marking the Ancient Orcs’ positions.
“These ones are heading toward our base camp right now. They probably don’t expect us to strike first. They’re lax on alert, and their formation’s a mess.”
As he said, the Ancient Orcs on the map were scattered haphazardly.
“They’re specialized in group fights, sure, but that doesn’t make them warfare experts.”
No scouts, no proper perimeter watch.
In a real war, they weren’t utilizing even the most basic tactics.
“We exploit that gap.”
Over 700 might sound like a lot, but scattered ones weren’t so scary.
“When do you think the ones the other teams are herding will arrive?”
Seo Woojin asked, and Kang Byung-gyu did a quick calculation before answering.
“Fastest in an hour, latest within three.”
At that, Seo Woojin looked up at the sky.
The heavens were growing dim.
“An hour, huh.”
Plenty of time for night to fall.
Seo Woojin smiled as he spoke.
“Let’s start when it gets dark.”
That’s when things would get chaotic.
For the Ancient Orcs and the other teams alike.
Seo Woojin’s face filled with anticipation.
* * *
“You sure this is the spot?”
Park Jin-han roughly wiped his sweat as he asked.
Driving hundreds of Ancient Orcs without killing them had worn him out.
“Y-Yeah.”
Im Tae-eun nodded faintly.
Her little dragon perched on her shoulder had confirmed it.
“Why the hell are they so late?”
By plan, they should’ve already shoved the Ancient Orcs at them by now and been laughing at the panic.
But Seo Woojin’s team had arrived much later than expected.
It had delayed things considerably.
“What if they caught on to our scheme?”
Park Jin-han’s expression hardened slightly.
Memories of getting brutally thrashed by Seo Woojin before flashed in his mind.
“Probably.”
Kim Tae-jin nodded nonchalantly.
“What? Then we’re screwed!”
Park Jin-han yelped in surprise.
“No need to panic. We planned for him to notice from the start.”
“But if he did and…”
He couldn’t voice the rest: ‘What if we get beaten senseless again?’
“It’ll be fine. We’re just messing with them a bit. No way he falls for this kind of trick.”
Seo Woojin was strong.
Incomparably so.
Ancient Orcs?
This number posed no threat to him at all.
‘…His teammates are a different story.’
Seo Woojin’s team consisted of low B- and C-rankers.
The two B-ranks were non-combat classes, to boot.
Child’s play that Seo Woojin would scoff at, but for them?
‘It might actually put them in real danger.’
That was exactly the situation Kim Tae-jin hoped for.
Seo Woojin’s precious comrades in peril.
‘Seong Yu-ra.’
His friend was dead.
Reason or not, as her friend, he couldn’t just stand by.
‘Sorry.’
Kim Tae-jin apologized to her in his heart.
If only he’d paid more attention to her.
Comforted her, listened, empathized.
Maybe she wouldn’t have lost her mind.
Regret, guilt, and vengeful fury toward Seo Woojin burned in his eyes.
‘Feel it yourself. Then you’ll know how I feel.’
Kim Tae-jin was targeting Seo Woojin’s teammates.
When the Ancient Orcs hit their rear, he’d seize the moment and use his skill on one of them.
At a timing and method even Seo Woojin couldn’t block.
‘Even if it costs my life, I’ll make you feel it.’
Kim Tae-jin glanced at the irritated Park Jin-han and the wary Im Tae-eun.
He felt bad for them.
They didn’t know his real plan.
They thought it was just a prank, to see them flustered.
But he couldn’t tell them.
‘They’d oppose it.’
Park Jin-han might go along, but soft-hearted Im Tae-eun would refuse.
So he had to act alone.
‘For what comes after.’
Success or failure, someone had to pay.
Park Jin-han and Im Tae-eun needed to stay clear of Seo Woojin’s wrath.
‘One person is enough. Me.’
With that thought, Kim Tae-jin let out a small sigh.
“How much farther?”
“Uh, almost there. Ten minutes? Should arrive any moment.”
He nodded at Im Tae-eun’s answer.
“Contact the other teams. Execute the plan in exactly 15 minutes.”
Four other teams were in on it.
If they all brought their Ancient Orcs, it’d form a horde of thousands.
“G-Got it.”
Squeak-!
The dragon shot into the sky like a beam of light and vanished.
To relay Kim Tae-jin’s message.
Watching it go, Kim Tae-jin began circulating his mana.
Fifteen minutes from now.
After that, there’d be no turning back.
Amid expectation, tension, and fear, Kim Tae-jin waited for time to pass.
One minute, two minutes flowed by.
Finally, the long yet short 15 minutes elapsed.
“Let’s begin.”
At Kim Tae-jin’s word, Park Jin-han roared and charged forward.
Kwaaaang-!
A massive explosion erupted.
Dozens of Ancient Orcs burst into bloody mist and vanished.
The panicked Ancient Orcs fled from Park Jin-han.
The same happened simultaneously at four other locations.
The Ancient Orcs stampeded in one direction.
Straight toward Seo Woojin and his team.
“Wait.”
Kim Tae-jin glared ahead with blazing eyes, grinding his teeth.