Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: 5. An Unexpected Windfall
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'If I hadn't had the Magic Suit, I would've been dead.'
So Gun-ak had reaped the benefits of the Magic Suit in spades.
Not only had its defensive power allowed him to withstand the orcs' indiscriminate attacks, but it had also demonstrated an effect of forcibly exploding the latent power within his body.
It made him wield greater strength and move with greater agility. Just wearing the Magic Suit elevated his movements to a level or two beyond his norm.
However, even this Magic Suit came with side effects. While equipped, it accelerated the consumption of his internal energy. It seemed to operate on the principle of hastening the flow of internal energy within the body to unleash that latent power.
'It's definitely worth studying.'
The Central Plains had its share of divine weapons operating on similar principles. There were demon swords that imparted phenomenal swordsmanship with just a grip, and divine swords that doubled one's power upon consumption.
In the meantime, the cavalry had safely broken through the orcs' encirclement. Nothing but orcs surrounded them now. Their allies had all already retreated into the fog.
All that remained was to lure the orcs.
Having lost their chieftain, the orcs gave in to their belligerent instincts and chased after the cavalry indiscriminately.
"Krwararara!"
The cavalry pressed forward along their pre-planned route, galloping ahead despite the limited visibility. The orcs split into five groups, advancing along each of the paths.
"Heh heh heh, now it's time for me to step in."
Horant, hidden within the fog, flashed a sinister smile.
What if their comrades, who had suddenly died amid the restricted visibility, came back to life? What if those corpses turned and attacked them?
The orcs were about to taste hell.
5. An Unexpected Windfall
Hell unfolded.
The orcs charged indiscriminately through the fog-shrouded streets of the city. When the lead orcs reached the open square, the archers' commander gave the order.
"Fire!"
Twangtwangtwangtwang!
Three hundred arrows flew toward the orcs clustered thickly in the square. The orcs were skewered by arrows from who-knows-where and collapsed to the ground.
"Grerrr."
Those fallen orcs rose again as zombies, attacking their comrades.
"I shall blind your eyes!"
"None but enemies stand at your side!"
Under the effects of the mages' confusion spells and various status-inflicting magic, the orcs not only attacked their zombie-revived comrades but also began clashing with healthy orcs around them.
"Let the flames of fire subdue our foes!"
Roarrr, boom!
Fire magic launched by the mages exploded amid the orcs. Amid deafening blasts that left ears ringing, flames erupted everywhere, and arrows rained down without respite. The orcs continued swinging their blades wildly, not even knowing at whom they aimed.
The one-sided slaughter dragged on for over two hours.
Orc corpses piled up high in the square.
But that mountain of bodies brought crisis instead. Orcs had climbed the corpses to scale the rooftops and attack.
The mages floundered, unable to handle the orc assaults, but fortunately, the cavalry arrived right on time.
They had appeared from behind the orcs, swinging their swords, and as the situation stabilized somewhat, they moved toward the buildings.
Meanwhile, as soon as So Gun-ak recovered from his internal injuries, he left the square and appeared at the orcs' rear, massacring those who hadn't yet entered the fog-choked city ruins.
Slaughtering orcs that rampaged about without formation was no great feat.
At first, they swarmed toward So Gun-ak in droves, but as their comrades fell one by one, they all fled into the fog like cowards.
Unaware that death awaited them there too.
So Gun-ak's Magic Suit was splattered with orc blood and flesh, covered in ugly stains.
Already pitch-black from head to toe, he looked like a demon lord risen from hell.
Whoosh.
Hwarang enveloped So Gun-ak's entire body in flames.
It incinerated the blood and flesh on his armor without so much as a hint of heat to him, cleansing the fearsome aura considerably.
By then, the roars and clash of weapons that had echoed for so long began to fade, soon turning into groans.
And before long, the fog lifted.
Irina had dispelled the fog formation.
The revealed city was drenched in blood.
The field where So Gun-ak stood was littered with orc and Luke corpses, but the five paths leading into the city were even worse—orc bodies stretched out in endless chains.
That grotesque sight reached its peak at the square. Orc corpses lay heaped in mounds everywhere. The mages and soldiers, witnessing the horrific scene unveiled by the lifting fog, were stunned. Even though it was their own handiwork, seeing it with their own eyes made some retch, while the more sensitive fainted outright.
So Gun-ak turned to look toward the opposite side of the city.
To the east, from where the orcs had surged, lay the corpse of Toruto, whom So Gun-ak had slain.
Beyond it, about a hundred terrified orcs were fleeing.
Exhausted from the long battle, So Gun-ak lacked the energy to pursue—and there was no real need anyway.
His mission was simply to prevent the orcs from advancing to Wright City.
He had already annihilated nearly four thousand of their massive force.
The orcs wouldn't dare approach this year.
But So Gun-ak felt elation for another reason.
'Wait for me, my brothers.'
He had overcome a major hurdle in rescuing the Black Dragon Corps members, filling him with relief.
Having completed his mission, it was now time for the Wright Magic Tower to melt the space-time barrier stone for him.
Defense Captain Bolt and the mages' leader Charlie approached.
"A great victory!"
Bolt could barely contain his excitement. They had triumphed over an enemy five times their number.
"Casualties?"
At So Gun-ak's question, Bolt calmed himself. With such a numerical disparity, hoping for zero losses was mere greed.
"Fifty-two dead, thirty seriously wounded. Returning to base immediately won't be feasible."
The reason deaths outnumbered the wounded was thanks to the mages. Minor injuries had been healed with magic. The seriously wounded had passed the critical stage with mage aid, but none could move yet.
"Two mages met a different fate."
Charlie murmured gravely.
The soldiers had desperately blocked orcs climbing the rooftops, but two mages had perished regardless.
"Send the mages back to the castle to tend the wounded, and have the soldiers recover the dead and injured."
"What about the orc bodies?"
At Charlie's question, So Gun-ak replied as if it were obvious.
"Tell Horant to handle them."
"Understood."
Bolt and Charlie walked back along the path of orc corpses, directing the soldiers and mages.
In the meantime, Horant approached So Gun-ak and bowed respectfully.
"My lord, I have a request."
"What is it?"
Horant hesitated before speaking with difficulty.
"May I research undead using the orc corpses?"
By undead, Horant didn't mean mere moving corpses like zombies. He wanted to study skeletons.
What he proposed was forbidden across the continent, so his attitude toward So Gun-ak was exceedingly cautious.
But his eyes burned with vitality.
Though his life and death now lay in So Gun-ak's hands, Horant was originally a necromancer who had researched undead here.
His answer would decide if he could continue the research to which he had devoted his life—or abandon it forever.
Perhaps sensing permission, he brimmed with anticipation.
So Gun-ak nodded readily.
"Of course!"
While morally questionable when considering the deceased, the Eternal Divine Cult had researched jiangshi techniques. Using corpses held little aversion for So Gun-ak.
Not expecting such easy approval, Horant bowed deeply.
"Thank you! Truly, thank you."
"Could you put those undead to labor, by any chance?"
Horant pondered briefly before replying.
"What sort of labor do you mean...?"
"Dredging that river."
Horant nodded.
Zombie research had begun from battlefields abroad to return the dead to their homelands. Skeleton research had aimed to aid mine laborers.
"Of course. Skeletons' strength varies by their base physique, but those made from orcs will make excellent workers."
Horant replied enthusiastically.
To him, So Gun-ak seemed remarkably open-minded about forbidden undead magic.
"Good. I'll look forward to it."
"I shall meet your expectations."
At So Gun-ak's gesture to go, Horant hurried to find Macaron's body lying amid the battlefield. It had perished in the fierce fighting, but for undead, death held little gravity.
Macaron was Horant's guard knight and cherished undead. No matter the mana cost, he intended to revive it. Horant raised nearby orc corpses as zombies to recover Macaron's body.
As he watched impassively, he sensed a presence. His eyes sharpened instantly.
'Someone's there.'
His hand moved with the thought.
Shwick!
A flying dagger shot from So Gun-ak's breastplate, slicing the air. Now their coordination was seamless—no orders needed; mere intent conveyed to Chu-a.
Chu-a swiftly infused the dagger with wind power, propelling it even faster.
Splash!
The dagger grazed leaves, passing through a dense branch.
A few leaves fluttered down—or so it seemed.
Thud.
A figure dropped from the branch.
Horant, mid-recovery of Macaron's body, widened his eyes in shock. He hadn't imagined anyone hiding there. So Gun-ak sensing it was impressive.
The man who fell from the tree was cloaked head to toe in a black robe. Struck in the thigh by the dagger, he lost balance and crashed to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Muttering a curse, the man scrambled up to flee, but he couldn't outpace So Gun-ak's movement technique. So Gun-ak surged forward with blinding speed and yanked off the man's hood.
The hood fell, revealing a face masked in black.
"Who are you?"
The man offered no reply to So Gun-ak's question. His eyes alone wavered with conflict. Wanting to see the face beneath, So Gun-ak tore off the mask.