[EP5. Arena]
[Holy and dignified gods!
Hellooooo!
The deathmatch you've all been waiting for is baaaack!]
Holy and dignified gods!
Hellooooo!
The deathmatch you've all been waiting for is baaaack!
Waaaaaaah!
The gods' reactions were different again from when Jae-jun had fought right in front of them.
The massive cheers, bordering on madness, made the orcs roar in response.
Kraaaaaah!
Kraaaaaah!
The orcs' killing intent stretched out, making the air crackle and tremble.
Is your heart already tingling with excitement?
The god of the losing team will be forgooooottteeeen forever!
Doesn't that make your chest tingle?]
Waaaaaaah!
The gods in the stands went wild at the indirect terror of obliteration they could feel.
Now, let's introduce the glorious gladiators!
Team Luciiiiifer!
Why has that mighty demon realm god ended up in such a state?
It's a team full of pathetic, filthy mongrels!
Especially that barbaric human—makes you cringe! Hahahahahaha!]
'Mongrels?'
"Filthy bastard."
Nariel spat a quiet curse.
In contrast, Barik was spacing out, ignoring whatever the announcer was babbling.
When Jae-jun tapped his shoulder, he jumped in surprise and turned.
"What's up?
Is the fight starting?"
'Sigh.'
It was a mystery how he'd survived this long.
Team Orkuuuuus!
The mighty god and deity of the brave orcs from the continent Pantadium!
They came to the arena to savor the thrill of battle, right?
Behold our heroes—the orc champion and mighty warriors!
Unlike certain teams, eh?
Hahahahaha!]
A quest has been generated.
Overwhelmingly Annihilate the Enemies!
As Lucifer's gladiator, grant death's peace to the ignorant fools who mock the gods, and instill the terror of oblivion in their god.
🎁 Reward: None
💀 Failure: Death
Jae-jun nearly burst out laughing at the quest.
The reward was none.
He knew roughly why, so he let it slide.
'Probably because of that half-broken sword Lucifer handed me.'
Even Jae-jun hadn't expected it to be that.
But for this reason alone.
He'd win overwhelmingly.
Jae-jun's eyes sharpened.
"Barik, Nariel."
"Yeah?"
Both looked at Jae-jun, tension plain on their faces.
"Can you hit 'em with a big one right at the start?"
"A big what?"
Barik asked.
"AOE skills, I mean.
Doesn't have to do direct damage—just make 'em panic."
"That much is fine.
But what next?"
"Next."
Jae-jun grinned.
"I'll handle it."
Nariel stared at Jae-jun.
"Why're you talking casual to us, kid."
Jae-jun was momentarily speechless.
Now!
Let the brutal deathmatch begin! Personally, I pray it lasts foreveeeeer!
Staaaart!]
Boom!
Barik drew the double axe from his back and slammed it into the ground.
"Stone Ground!"
The earth rumbled as rocks erupted upward.
Most orcs dodged the attack with ease.
"Chaa!"
Right beside him, Nariel kicked off into the air.
"Blizzard!"
A massive storm of mana swirled down from the sky, freezing the ground.
A few orcs caught in the blizzard had their limbs flash-frozen, turning into ice statues in an instant.
Jae-jun grinned at the chaos Barik and Nariel had unleashed.
Now it was his turn.
'Legion Summon!'
'Stone Golem!'
Boom!
Boom!
Stone golems poured into the midst of the orcs.
But the orcs were overwhelmingly stronger than the stone golems.
The golems were smashed and shattered in seconds.
But as long as Jae-jun supplied mana, they regenerated endlessly and charged the orcs again.
Human Choi Jae-juuuun!
Trying to hide behind monsters again, but no dice against orc warriors!]
'Blink!'
Jae-jun's body flickered, teleporting to the orcs trapped in the blizzard.
'Acceleration!'
'Shadow Slash!'
Slash!
Jae-jun severed the neck of a fallen orc.
Before its eyes could even close, he grabbed its head.
Poke!
Orc heads were skewered one by one onto the spit in Jae-jun's hand.
The heads trembled, shrinking to fist-size.
Slash!
Slash!
Jae-jun methodically hunted the weaker orcs.
Kraaaaaah!
An orc with legs several times thicker and grotesquely elongated than the others charged at Jae-jun.
Kaboom!
'Blink!'
Good dodge.
The spot Jae-jun had just been was pulverized.
'How many heads so far.'
Eight.
The eight heads writhed, screaming from their mouths.
Kreeee!
Kree!
The spit was the Necklace of the Dead he'd gotten from the lich.
B-Grade (Rare)
Ability: Skill Chant Speed +50%
Special: Multi-Chant
An ancient necklace used by a shaman.
Skewer the head of a slain prey just before its eyes close to chant spells through its mouth.
Note: Wearer cannot chant themselves.
Jae-jun hung the necklace around his neck.
Multi-chant plus infinite mana.
He could overwhelm them.
Jae-jun was confident.
Like the lich before, he flipped them off and raked his finger across the orcs' faces.
The screams grew louder.
"Chit!
That human's keeping our brothers from even dying!"
"Kill that human!"
"Chit!
Kill him!"
The orcs went berserk, tattoos glowing on their bodies.
They surrounded Jae-jun with double the speed and power from before.
42.
No, 41.
One was standing off to the side, arms crossed, watching.
Red skin covered in dense tattoos.
Strength emanated from its relaxed gaze.
'That's the champion?'
"Be there soon."
Jae-jun mouthed to the orc.
The champion orc bared its teeth in a mocking grin.
Then.
Magic exploded from Jae-jun's body.
'Chain Lightning!'
'Demon Realm Wildfire!'
'Shadow Hand!'
Crackle!
Roooar!
Crunch!
One side overflowed with waves of lightning; the other rained unquenchable demon wildfire.
In between, shadow hands grabbed orc legs and feet, pulping them into bloody messes.
"Wh-what!
Chit!"
A few orcs broke through the magic, thrusting weapons at Jae-jun.
'Acceleration!'
'Blink!'
'Shadow Slash!'
Three skills chained, punching a hole through an orc's chest.
He ripped off its head and skewered it on the necklace.
"Good."
'Chain Lightning!'
'Demon Realm Wildfire!'
'Shadow Hand!'
The heads on the necklace chanted spells endlessly.
"Chiiiit!
Human!
You're too strong!"
"Chit!
Champion!
Help us!"
An orc with one arm crushed by shadow hand crawled to the champion.
"Chit!
An orc warrior retreating? Shameful!"
The orc champion seized its head.
Squelch!
"Chit.
S-sorry!
P-please!"
Splat!
The head exploded, brains splattering.
Incredible grip strength.
Jae-jun subtly retreated.
'Not done yet.'
'Designate Familiar!'
⊳ Giant Centipede
⊳ Worker Ant
⊳ Wanderer Orc Tilke
⊳ Hobgremli
⊳ Queen Ant
⊳ Gargoyle
⊳ Twin-Head Ogre Weger
⊳ Lich
⊳ Troll
'Lich'
'Troll'
'Twin-Head Ogre Weger'
'Giant Centipede'
Subspace tore open, summoning the monsters.
Kraaaaaah!
Rumble rumble boom!
The giant centipede burst from the ground.
The troll and twin-head ogre Weger swung massive clubs at nearby orcs.
"What are these monsters! Chit!"
Finally.
'Hestia!'
A massive form was summoned from the arena sky, descending.
Kuuuung.
Krooooaaar!
Red scales clinked and reflected light with every movement.
Her once round, cute face had elongated into a sleek, agile shape.
The Hestia who used to fit snugly in Jae-jun's arms was now the size of a fighter jet.
Hestia circled the arena leisurely a few times upon summoning.
Her crimson eyes looked down at the orcs.
Some orcs couldn't even lift their heads at her appearance.
It was due to the strength and the majesty skill unique to dragons.
....Red... dragon?
Impossible!
Dragons clearly...!]
Hearing the announcer's shocked voice somehow felt good.
Time for the climax.
'Hestia.
Breath!'
Hestia glanced at him, then soared high into the sky.
She opened her maw toward the clustered orcs.
— Author's Note —
Thank you.