Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Fall of Orcus
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The castle gate opened.
Countless orc soldiers came into view. This wasn't the company-level force we'd faced earlier.
They stretched on so far that you had to stand on tiptoes just to glimpse the end.
As we drew closer, I could hear the breathing from the frontmost line of orcs.
'Their hands are shaking.'
No matter how battle-hardened a race, they couldn't help but tense up before a desperate fight for survival.
The closer we got to the fortress, the more a foul stench assaulted my nose. The smell of rotten corpses and zombies wafted from them.
Even though these guys had antibodies to the virus.
'...They haven't turned into zombies, though.'
-Kieeeek!
Park Gyuhwan and the trolls charged first, clashing with the orcs.
They tangled in a frenzy of combat. Casualties mounted everywhere, with no clear winner.
What surprised me was the orcs' combat prowess.
These guys, far below my trolls in level, matched them blow for blow with superior physicality and sheer numbers.
They smashed through the infinite regeneration that even elite dwarves and elves couldn't breach—pure brute force.
My subordinates, who had charged in with such momentum, stalled at the front of the orc lines, unable to advance.
Park Gyuhwan fought valiantly, but even he couldn't handle over a thousand alone.
Even undead had physical limits to their stamina.
One orc warrior swung an axe at a troll's neck.
"Uwooooh!"
Slow but heavy strike.
Kwachik!
-Kieeeek!
Finally, one X Troll went down.
[X Troll 1 killed.]
A voice tickled my ear, like an eliminated contestant on a TV show.
Arms crossed, watching the battle, I wagged my finger side to side.
'Gawain, charge in. Park Gyuhwan, fall back.'
Park Gyuhwan glanced at me, then withdrew with the X Troll unit.
To buy time for the trolls to recover while the skeletons held the line.
Gawain gripped his sword hilt tight, dashed to the orc front, and lowered into stance.
His blazing blade radiated intense heat.
"Shall we hear the song of the fire spirit, Salamander?"
An aura erupted from the tiger's body.
Then my vision flashed.
Fwoosh—
Kwarung!
Thunder roared.
Flames danced in the arc of his swing, a massive blaze like a phoenix in flight.
The fire engulfed the orc unit, scorching the front lines. Orcs wreathed in flames writhed in agony, hopping like they were tap-dancing.
-Ahh! Hot! Aaaah!
Skeleton soldiers rushed the orc warriors.
* * * * *
Undead trolls with infinite regeneration, fearless of death, and Yoo Sora's injections keeping skeletons respawning endlessly despite falls.
Abilities that bridged over a hundredfold troop disparity.
Power no other class could dream of.
"Kabata! Your soldiers are down to half already."
Kabata, perched on Orcus's shoulder, glared down at me.
"...Not bad."
"Not bad? Haha..."
I let out a disbelieving laugh and stepped forward.
Enemies dropped in sync with my advance.
Perfect.
The plan had gone slightly off-track on the way here, but the outcome was sealed.
Minus Sylvia's death and Blant's betrayal, it was flawless.
"Hoo—."
As the orcs fell back, Kabata finally stepped up himself, unable to watch.
"Everyone, out of the way!"
['Kabata' appears alongside BOSS monster Orcus.]
[All players, prepare for combat.]
Flash!
Every player in this round warped inside the orc fortress.
Ma Jeongwoo looked around and whistled.
"Wow— Kim Cheonjae. You took out this many already?"
"...Jeongwoo. I wanna handle that guy solo."
"Huh? Orcus?"
"Yeah."
"...You're taking the boss alone?"
I nodded.
"If it looks impossible, I'll ask for help. Just stall till then?"
Ma Jeongwoo glanced at the other players, then said,
"No problem. I'll handle the rest, so don't worry and go wild."
The other players erupted at our exchange.
-Who the hell does that guy think he is, always hogging the spotlight?
-Hey! Don't be a dick—let's take the boss together. Why act like the protagonist?
-It's not even solo-reward round, what's his deal?
Jo Youngki sauntered forward with an irritated scowl.
"...My friend's itching for a solo fight. Any complaints, step up."
Everyone looked away.
'A gangster?'
Jo Youngki glanced back at me and winked.
"Kim Cheonjae. We can mop up the small fry, right?"
"...Yeah. Just leave Kabata alone."
"Got it."
Kim Yeonhee bounded over and clung to my back.
"Kim Cheonjae-koong!"
"Ah, w-what the—? I'm in a bad mood, so buzz off."
"Huh? Why're you in a bad mood?"
"Argh, just go!"
I flung Kim Yeonhee to the ground. The frail assassin twisted midair, landing safely.
Thud.
"Treating a lady like that."
"I believe in gender equality."
"Sigh..."
Yoo Sora frowned and approached.
"Cheonjae-ssi, injection time's up, right?"
"Not yet. Skills got an upgrade?"
"Ah... They said duration extends with levels, so that's why it's lingering?"
"Probably. You got special training from Jeongwoo while we were apart?"
She nodded.
"Yes! I'm no deadweight now."
Never called her that, but she's hyping herself up.
"From now on, protect yourself. Got it?"
"Of course. Jeongwoo-ssi drilled it into me..."
"My request, so blame me if you're mad."
"N-No!"
Yoo Sora waved her hands, flustered.
I grinned and yelled at Michael.
"Michael! You're on healing duty for every player here. No one falls behind—that's your job."
"Okay! Tell me if it hurts, Kim Cheonjae- I'll heal you—"
"No, you lunatic! I told you holy spells don't work on me!"
Michael winked.
"Joking~"
Wink.
American humor? Lame as hell.
If he weren't a groupmate, I'd undeaden him.
'...Undead priest, huh.'
I grimaced and shook my head.
Thud— Thud— Thud!
Kabata advanced, dragging Orcus. We spread out wide on both flanks, waiting.
Other players eyed us and followed Ma Jeongwoo and Jo Youngki.
['Kabata's' barrier envelops the fortress.]
A transparent bubble swelled, encasing the entire fortress.
[From now, all players cannot leave the fortress until the event ends.]
Everyone fell back.
I alone stood at the front, facing Orcus. The giant orc's face loomed only when I looked up.
Kabata shouted at me.
"This is Orcus, my secret weapon with the strength to move mountains. You can't handle him!"
['BOSS. Orcus' casts Earth Rend forward.]
[A power once used in the gods' wars—earthquake-level strike. Beware.]
An attack that works on gods.
Fatal if you can't dodge.
Orcus arrived before me, raising his massive club overhead. It pierced the clouds.
Kabata laughed at me.
"Kuhahaha! Block it if you can!"
To evade the wide AOE Earth Rend, only one way: dash behind Orcus.
All players bolted for Orcus's rear—the fortress backline swarming with orc warriors.
Ma Jeongwoo yelled passing under Orcus's legs.
"Kim Cheonjae! If you die, tell me logout method in my dreams!"
I flipped him off.
"Scram."
Only an idiot takes Earth Rend.
Its glacial speed made it the easiest skill to dodge—rank 1.
Reason Orcus lingered in round 5.
Dumb brain, sloth-like speed.
Bwooooong—
He swung the club.
"Come on."
I stared blankly at his motion.
Orcus's strike crawled like a sloth.
'Now.'
Kabata casts curse.
He swung his staff, chanting.
-Slow!
Yellow sparkles rained down.
"Puhahaha! Kim Cheonjae, you can't run now!"
Kabata's smug confidence.
I took the curse head-on, slowing.
Not that I planned to move.
As Orcus's club passed chest height, I whispered, activating the curse.
"Iron Maiden."
['Iron Maiden (Curse)' activated.]
Transparent thorns flew, coating Orcus.
Unique curse among many—turns foe's attack against them. Necromancer Kabata had to know.
Too late now.
Kabata realized, screaming.
"No—!"
Orcus couldn't halt his swing.
I flattened prone at max speed.
My troll horde raced in, piling over me like a human shield game—hamburgers.
Skeletons topped it, igloo-style.
Over a hundred monsters tanked the hit simultaneously.
Thus—
Orcus's self-damage: over a hundred times his attack power.
I grinned.
* * * * *
Kwang!
Club hit ground.
My skeleton soldiers shattered, scattering. X Trolls burst, shockwaves building on me.
"Keuuk."
Groan escaped. Pain overwhelmed speech. Bones ground to breaking.
Earth Rend's aftermath cracked earth, twisting my body.
"Hup."
Saliva burst from my mouth unbidden.
Death Knight armor saved me—otherwise, I'd be dust.
Crack.
Bone snapped somewhere. Left shoulder? Clavicle? Adrenaline dulled it.
Not too bad.
"Hoo."
Orcus's Earth Rend ended, ground still trembling.
I endured.
Lucky it was just a couple bones.
Knew I wouldn't die, but the impact's scale surprised me.
No sane person tanks it head-on.
'...That insane person's me...'
Regaining senses, I raised both hands high. Power surged, clavicle throbbed. High stats made it bearable.
The crushing club lifted slowly.
All my minions around me: dead.
'...Good.'
Except the two held back.
[Summon List]
-ⓁPark Gyuhwan (Soldier) 1/1: Standby
-Gawain (Tiger) 1/1: Standby
"Pha— Thought I was done."
Kabata stared down in disbelief.
"Im... Impossible."
"Huh? What?"
"Orcus's Earth Rend terrifies even titans... And you tanked it?"
"Titans?"
"Yeah, the giant leader who declared war on gods. Even he feared Orcus fights, yet a puny human blocks this...?"
I feigned exasperation.
"Comparing a mere titan to me?"
Deep down, thrilled at Kabata's words.
Titan guarding hell's gate.
NPC Kabata equates us.
Joyous—me at round 5 boss level with next round's.
Kabata eyed the transparent thorns on Orcus.
"Kim Cheonjae. Call off the curse, and we'll withdraw."
Sudden shift.
Tone, expression flipped. Better abandon long-planned scheme than lose Orcus.
Without Orcus, plan's dead anyway.
I grinned mockingly.
"Withdraw just like that?"
"Yes. We'll pull all troops from the fortress and leave this forest, as you proposed."
"...That was then."
"Then name it. I'll meet any demand."
Arms crossed, head tilted.
"Demands... Ah! Got one."
Kabata's bitter look.
"What?"
"What else? Your life, for pissing me off."
"You... Crazy bast—"
['Iron Maiden (Intermediate)' activates.]
Thorns glowed.
Bang! Kwang!
Thorns on Orcus detonated in chain. Waves battered from head to toe. Body twisted like shelled, bones snapping endlessly.
Earth Rend backlash amplified dozens-fold...
No race in this game survives that.
'God-tier power, dozens times over...'
Thud!
Orcus knelt.
His bar-like HP bar blackened instantly.
Kabata on shoulder hit zero too. 'Life Link' backfired.
"Fool."
Game over—meteor shower streaked toward World Tree.
Shiyuuuuu—
['Orcus' killed. Main boss of fifth round defeated.]
['Starfall Hill' World Tree gate to next round opens.]
[Well done, everyone.]
Bang!
Flames erupted from World Tree.
Other groups' players gaped.
-Solo...? For real?
-Wait, how even?
-Orcus needs a hundred clinging on...?
-Insane.
['One Man Army!' title acquired.]
[Summon level +1!]
[Summon level '8' reached]
[Subordinates' attack, defense, stamina slightly up.]
Ma Jeongwoo wiped fake sweat, grinning.
"Hey! Good work."
I shrugged my right shoulder like a dislocated arm.
"Right arm broken. Let's heal quick."
Yoo Sora raised syringe at me.
"Heal now?"
"Nah, broken bone—better elves handle it."
"Ah..."
Michael aimed rifle.
"Angel's Hymn?"
"More holy magic on necromancer? I'll actually die this time, man."
"Hahat, joking~"
['Kim Cheonjae' player selected as MVP of round's boss raid!]
[Special rewards + 'Star's Blessing' mark for all group players.]
[Star's Blessing (Spirit): Star spirit follows, granting blessings.]
-Players with Star's Blessing deal 30% more damage to all races.]
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