#23 #Regression #Inventory The Sun Sets on the 6th Floor
The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the village. The air grew heavy, children's laughter fading into silence. A resident hanging laundry paused, eyes fixed northward.
Crack.
Jin So-yul caught the snap of a branch from deep within the northern forest. Heavy footsteps followed—thud, thud.
The Village Chief turned, leaning on his cane.
"……The orcs are here."
Jin So-yul checked her #Inventory. Over a hundred rebar rods, dozens of steel pipes, chunks of concrete debris, even a few H-beams. She gripped her one-handed sword, its edge honed by Karunda, and drew it silently.
Shing.
Yerina's eyes widened at the sharp metallic rasp.
"……They're here?"
"Yeah. Yerina, go inside and hide."
"But you're all alone, sis!"
"That's why it's fine. No one to worry about makes it easier."
"……You sure you're okay?"
"I'm good."
Yes, she was good. This time, she'd make sure it really was. She, of all people, would see to it.
Yerina clutched her unfinished grass bracelet carefully and dashed into the Village Chief's house. Just before the door shut, a small face peeked through the crack.
"Don't get hurt, Wanderer Sis—!!!"
No intention of it. Tonight, everyone was surviving.
"Wanderer. We've got a few able-bodied men with weapons. Any help?"
"Stay inside. Orcs aren't for civilians."
"……Figured as much."
"Get everyone into sturdy houses. Your place and the smithy are stone—safest bets."
"Got it. I'll watch Yerina too, no worries."
"……Thank you."
"We're the grateful ones. Stay safe, Wanderer."
The Village Chief began directing the villagers. One by one, house doors clicked shut. Footsteps died away, leaving Jin So-yul alone on the empty street.
Scouts first. Light armor—rebar ejection might hurt them. Warriors are the problem.
Inventory ejections couldn't carry mana. Questionable if they'd even dent a heavily armored warrior. Minimal harassment, maybe—but nothing more.
Observer of the 0th Dimension tenses up.
"Haha, even you get tense, huh, Constellation?"
Observer of the 0th Dimension affirms.
"I'm fine. Prep's solid. Got spare potions if I get dinged."
Wandering Sand of Despair worries.
"She says she's fine? Oh, and Constellation—if a scout slips to the well blind spot……mind helping?"
Observer of the 0th Dimension nods.
Jin So-yul raised her sword, back to the well, facing north.
Come on.
The forest edge rustled. Bushes parted, revealing their forms. Like bigger, meaner goblins—massive builds dwarfing grown men, green skin, bulging veins on thick arms and wide feet. Crude leather garb, iron swords in hand: four orc scouts.
One glance told the warriors behind would be even bigger.
The scouts vaulted the fence effortlessly, silently fanning out in four directions. Not one spared her a glance.
Well's the target, as expected.
Intelligent hunters, not mindless chargers like goblins—systematic, goal-oriented. But no need to wait.
She willed a rebar from her #Inventory and launched it straight at the nearest scout rounding the smithy.
Bang—!
It pierced the orc's heart, embedding in the wall.
It worked? No mana infusion……?
Constellation's power flashed in her mind. Thinking later.
Observer of the 0th Dimension points to the area behind the well.
She pivoted instinctively—trustworthy intel. Sensing the hidden scout, second shot, low angle toward the well's rear.
Bang—!!
The rebar sliced between buildings, gutting the orc. It crawled briefly before going still.
Observer of the 0th Dimension smiles.
Alone, no such tactics. All thanks to her Constellation.
"Thanks later!"
The last two scouts had infiltrated deeper, weaving between buildings—positions approximate at best. No clear shots through cover. Wait for openings or ambushes. Best: hold near the well.
Boom—!
The northern fence exploded in splinters. Dust billowed as massive shadows emerged: four orc warriors, heads taller than scouts, clad in looted iron plate. Their advance crushed debris, exuding viscous pressure.
The lead warrior raised its battle axe, baring fangs in a roar.
They charged. Distance closed in seconds. Downward chop.
Clanggg—!
Her sword parried; shock rippled from wrist to shoulder. Feet skidded, gouging earth.
She deflected the axe trajectory sideways.
Boom, ground cratered. Before countering, second warrior lunged from the left. Two rebars ejected.
Thud—! Thwack—!!
No penetration on heavy armor, but impact staggered it. Enough.
She twisted, stabbing the gap at neck and pauldron. Blade tore flesh—resistance worlds apart from goblins, but irrelevant. Rolled with sword embedded.
Two axes smashed where she'd stood.
"Grrrk……!"
The warrior gurgled, dropping its axe, collapsing. She retrieved her sword to #Inventory, redrew, and reset stance.
"Hoo……works on this too."
Observer of the 0th Dimension marvels.
Wandering Sand of Despair claps.
"This ain't much……!"
Panting, lips curved up. Mid-battle messages felt like steel at her back.
Observer of the 0th Dimension points to the well.
Scout nearing the well in that split second. Dual fronts—the tower's challenge.
Sword slashed at the frontal warrior, striking chest plate hard. Bounce created gap; she twisted, ejecting rebar. It speared the scout's skull at the well, slamming into the wall.
Rotated momentum to sever the orc's leg. Parried incoming axe, flung back by impact.
Body ached. Without mana circulation, that hit would've ended her. Focus held.
Distance from warriors opened scout's blind spot. Rebar away.
Scout rolled aside. So another.
"Grrrk……!"
Smashed calf crippled mobility—threat neutralized.
Three warriors left. She thrust her sword at them.
"Grrrrk……!"
"Grraaak—!!!"
They roared instinctively at the taunt, charging. Lead orc swung axe horizontally wide; she ducked low, diving under into its guard.
Up close, it loomed like a wall. Or would have.
Not anymore.
Concrete chunks to the face blinded it; rebar followed. Steel pipe in off-hand smashed home—squelch, blood sprayed.
"Grrk……!"
No retrieval this time. It'd die soon.
Kicked off ground, soaring. Slammed H-beam into earth, landed atop. Their eyes locked on her; she smiled. Height reversal suited her.
"Oh yeah, Constellation."
No reply, but she continued undeterred.
"Got curious if this works. Retrieval's a pain later, but—"
Hand extended. Fingers between two warriors clenched into a fist, will infused.
If it needed a name……yeah.
"All In."
Eh, looks a bit skimpy.
The two orcs stared blankly skyward. The sun hadn't set—why night? Their minds couldn't grasp it.
The sky filled with black rain. Each drop's lethality they knew—tribe-mates felled by them.
Yes, death.
Now, death incarnate poured upon the pair.