Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Orc Master Kankun
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The moment the faction was selected,
the voice of Orc Master Kankun began to echo.
―That great witch Adora who massacred our tribe! I will tear you to shreds.
A voice brimming with rage.
Soon, another scene materialized before their eyes.
Kankun, with red skin and a frame three times larger than an ordinary orc.
And the witch Adora, with her violet hair and snow-white skin.
The two powerhouses clashed in an open plain.
Boooom!
The earth crumbled, and the heavens shook.
A terrifying display of might, enough to make even mid-tier demons yield.
There was no victor.
It was a deadlock.
Adora wielded the magic of death, while Kankun unleashed sword auras, demonstrating the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Their duel was so riveting that no one could look away.
However, in the end, both sustained fatal wounds and collapsed unconscious.
When Kankun opened his eyes again, he found himself on the 1st floor of the Tower of Pride.
―Warriors. Join me in ascending this tower and slaying the Witch of Death Adora. But my wounds are deep right now. First, heal me. Only the power of relics can mend me.
*Ding!
The wounds from his battle with Adora.
They hadn't healed yet.
Infused with death magic, only relics could cure them.
But purging the death magic itself was no easy task.
It was a spell so potent that ordinary relics couldn't touch it.
'If either one dies, the tower record ends.'
The highest record in the Tower of Pride's history was the 8th floor.
Because Orc Master Kankun had perished.
To climb the Tower of Pride, both Orc Master Kankun and Witch of Death Adora had to reach the 10th floor unscathed.
The moment one died, no further ascent was possible.
The entire tower vanished, summoning all challengers back to the entrance.
'The problem is Kankun. He's such a whiner.'
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.
The Tower of Pride was a fascinating challenge.
He remembered gathering quite a bit of info on it in the past.
Interestingly, unlike the Witch of Death Adora's faction, those who chose Orc Master Kankun's side showered him with curses.
It was unanimous.
Not a single one spared Kankun the abuse.
Some even called reaching the 8th floor a miracle.
'It's not just Kankun's issue. Adora's faction had heavy hitters like Han Shin.'
But it wasn't solely Kankun's fault.
Adora's forces were simply too strong, keeping him in check.
Most of the powerhouses Park Chan-woo remembered had sided with Adora.
The reason was crystal clear.
Orcs were a stubborn race that didn't listen to reason, infamous for their bullheadedness.
Plus, the creators contracted to them likely advised as much.
About the Witch of Death.
The terror of a being named for death itself.
Creators couldn't interfere in the Tower of Pride, but they could offer advice to their contractors.
'Most incarnations probably sided with Adora.'
Han Shin and the incarnations alike had likely joined Adora.
That was why Park Chan-woo chose to team up with Im Chang-yeol.
He wasn't an incarnation, at least.
And he knew the Seoul Union had bled choosing Kankun.
'Both Kankun and Adora matter, but the tower itself is brutally tough.'
When Kankun died on the 8th floor, fewer than 1% of challengers had reached it.
Most gave up on lower floors or got stuck unable to proceed.
Those who saw the 10th-floor clash between Kankun and Adora? Probably under 0.1%.
Maybe none at all.
The Tower of Pride had that kind of infamous reputation.
'I need to strengthen Kankun as much as possible.'
Kankun was a whiner.
But a being dubbed Orc Master wasn't a coward.
He likely knew his own condition all too well.
'Kankun just wants to avoid fighting Adora again. He thinks he'll lose.'
Having faced death magic, Kankun was scared.
In a word: overwhelming power.
Only mighty relics could restore his confidence.
"...Looks like everyone's here. Let's go meet Kankun."
The tower's 1st floor was a vast plain.
A massive altar loomed in the distance, with Orc Master Kankun leaning against it.
As the 50 members of the Seoul Union were summoned, Im Chang-yeol led them toward Kankun.
Kankun turned his head.
The moment they saw his gaze,
everyone froze solid.
'......He's strong.'
'Level 83?'
'Those stats are insane.'
'Whoa, he's huge......'
Just his snort could wipe them all out—an aura of overwhelming majesty.
His sheer presence froze them to the core.
'Even more buffed up than this, he still died on floor 8.'
Park Chan-woo thought gravely.
Level 83.
Swordmaster class and Orc Master title meant he was one of the apex monsters.
True to that, his stats were monstrous even without gear.
Back when he reached floor 8, he'd been far more enhanced, yet he couldn't overcome it and died.
Floors 9, 10, and beyond? Unimaginably brutal.
"New warriors, eh......"
Kankun spoke, leaning against the altar.
A dry, expectant tone devoid of hope.
"Bunch of worthless weaklings."
He sighed.
Humans who couldn't help even a little against Adora.
Kankun waved them off dismissively.
"Go fetch relics. Help me purge this death magic, and I'll handle the rest. You'll earn glory as vast as the stars."
Would he, though?
In the past, Kankun never handled anything himself.
You had to coax and coddle him just to get him moving.
Sniff, sniff.
Then it happened.
Kankun suddenly sniffed the air and tilted his head.
"...Hold on. One of you reeks of a true warrior."
Rumble.
In an instant, Kankun rose fully to his feet.
Then, lumbering his massive frame, he approached right up to Im Chang-yeol's face.
But he brushed past him immediately.
Gulp!
No one could move.
Just standing near Kankun choked the breath from their lungs.
Soon, Kankun stopped.
"It's you. The one emanating the fierce scent of a warrior."
......Park Chan-woo.
Right in front of him.
Kankun bent down, peering into Park Chan-woo's eyes.
'The souls of orcs dwell within him.'
Kankun could see it.
The countless souls accompanying Park Chan-woo.
The setup Han Shin had prepared in the Shrine Dungeon, stolen away.
From consuming the Ten Thousand Blood Immortal Pill, infused with the blood serum of ten thousand orcs.
Merely consuming it would've poisoned him with their grudges, leading to self-destruction.
But what accompanied Park Chan-woo now were not vengeful spirits, but radiant warrior souls.
The souls of Orc Priest Yan and the ten thousand orcs!
Even blessed by the altar.
In other words.
'A human blessed by orcs? Worthy of trust.'
This human was a friend to orcs.
The only one in this tower.
...A warrior he could believe in.
"Warrior! Magic is the most vile thing in the world, and witches who wield it deserve death. Do you agree with me, Kankun?"
Kankun asked in a grave tone.
A final test of sorts.
Even a friend and warrior of orcs couldn't join if their views differed.
Right now, Kankun was offering Park Chan-woo the chance to stand by his side, up close.
To win his affinity, agreement was obviously required.
No need to deliberate.
Park Chan-woo answered curtly.
"I disagree."