Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Killed Orc Champion at Lv1 (2)
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"Damn."
Rokan had no choice but to deflect the guy's greatsword, but that ruined the element of surprise in his ambush. By the time he regained his stance, the guy's steel boot was already flying at him.
"Guh."
The kick from the surprisingly nimble brute for his size slammed into Rokan's gut. His breath caught for a moment, but Rokan gritted his teeth and swung his axe viciously.
The opponent had no intention of trading blows either and retreated lightly. Instead, he retrieved his rebounding greatsword and flashed a sneer.
Rokan flew into a rage at the sight. This bastard who would've had his limbs severed in one hit back in the day dares to mock me?
"You pig bastard!"
Rokan charged again. Gripping the axe handle short, he knocked away the incoming greatsword to create an opening.
Then, the moment the guy's movements lagged significantly, he slid forward, extended his grip on the axe handle, and unleashed a full swing.
"Iron Wall!"
Tachual couldn't afford to take this attack lightly. He made a frustrated face and hurriedly activated his skill.
It was a second-class job skill that dramatically boosted defense in an instant.
A skill typically used by defense-oriented knights was unfolding from Tachual of all people.
The job skill combinations that high-level monsters possessed were random, and it just so happened to be a defensive knight-line job.
Puk!
Perhaps because of that, even though Rokan's battle axe tore into flesh, the wound wasn't deep. The skill had activated, enveloping him like full-body armor and greatly increasing his defense.
"Krraaaang!"
[You have been exposed to Battle Cry. Stats reduced due to level difference. Stat correction reduces the drop amount.]
Then, as the guy's Battle Cry erupted from his mouth, Rokan felt his strength drain away. The stat correction lessened the drop, but the fundamental level gap was too vast.
That one hit reversed the situation. He'd been compensating for the initial stat disparity with control, but now the gap had widened even further.
On top of that, Tachual seemed ready to fully unleash his second-class job skills.
"I'll kill you, insolent human!"
"You cowardly bastard..."
Rokan mocked Tachual, who pretended to be an attack-oriented warrior wielding a greatsword but had even learned defensive knight skills.
But that didn't change the situation. If anything, it made things harder. Incorporating defense skills meant Rokan would take much greater damage.
Tachual might even opt for a style of trading blows one for one.
Was there no way?
No. Rokan still had one opportunity left.
He had one skill that could ignore the stat difference and second-class job skills alike, waiting to be used.
"Berserk!"
Without further thought, Rokan activated Berserk.
A 200% stat boost for 10 minutes. That would be enough to go toe-to-toe with Tachual at full strength.
The world turned entirely red, and the chills like a fever vanished.
In their place, he lost the ability to distinguish friend from foe. All he saw were red silhouettes—the stronger the hostility toward him, the deeper the red.
[Unyielding Will activates.]
[Resists all negative mental effects.]
But the next moment, his vision returned to normal. His emotions felt heightened somehow, but the colors were back.
This was the power of the title, Unyielding Will.
"Krraaheng!"
Rokan exhaled the boiling hot energy surging from his gut and charged at Tachual.
With all his stats doubled, even Tachual was affected this time. His stats dropped slightly.
Yet he was a warrior among warriors, hardened by battle. He didn't panic and bulged his muscles. With momentum like splitting a mountain, he swung his greatsword at Rokan.
"Chwiik, die, human!"
"What're you grunting, you pig bastard!"
Rokan snapped irritably as he parried the greatsword.
Thanks to Unyielding Will, his vision was back, but sounds were muffled. Other noises were clear, but the low skill level restricted speech.
"No!"
Rokan didn't catch Tachual's greatsword with his axe blade. Risking it getting severed, he hooked it on the crook where the handle met the blade and yanked with raw power.
The orc battle axe's durability took a massive hit. But in return, Tachual's stance crumbled badly.
His upper body lurched forward like caught on a hook, bringing their heads close.
"Hrah!"
Crack!
As Tachual's face drew near, Rokan headbutted him. A ram straight to the forehead of the helmetless brute.
Rokan's vision swam for a moment, but Tachual's condition was worse. He couldn't compare to Rokan's deliberate strike.
"Strike!"
Kakang!
The battle axe that swung again split the guy's chest.
Thick armor blocked some, but the immense force caved in the area around his heart. Breathing would be labored now.
But Rokan's assault didn't end there.
Freely adjusting the axe handle's length, he hammered several more times, and cracks began forming in the guy's armor.
"Damn defense skill."
He hadn't intended to destroy the armor from the start.
But with the guy stubbornly using defense skills to hold out, the armor's durability would hit zero before his HP did.
Either way, destroying the armor would slash his defense, so it was a gain.
But Rokan's expression wasn't good.
'Not enough time.'
Time wasn't on his side.
Even with the upper hand, the guy's active use of second-class skills prevented a finishing blow.
Meanwhile, nearly 7 minutes had passed.
Berserk's remaining duration: 3 minutes! Fail to end it in that time, and Rokan would be the one trampled.
Failing to finish even with Berserk, only for stats to halve afterward? No way out then.
'No choice.'
Rokan finally made his decision. Instead of toying with control, he opened his stance wide to prepare a devastating blow. A monstrous strike that could pierce any defense!
"Hiding in your shell like a turtle—is that your honor? Then I'll split you armor and all!"
He didn't forget to taunt even then.
Tachual reacted. His warrior's honor stimulated, and Rokan's gapping movements drew out his ferocity.
"Power Attack!"
"Strike!"
A clash of raw power against raw power once more.
But it wasn't as pure as the first exchange. Confirming each other's formidable strength, they quickly maneuvered weapons to exploit openings.
Tachual's low sweep. Rokan hopped over it, then slashed upward from low to high in a diagonal, aiming for a vital.
"Where!"
But Tachual was no pushover. He pulled back his greatsword just in time, barely escaping range.
"What're you grunting now?"
The problem: that was still within Rokan's predicted range. Assuming he'd whiffed the full swing, Rokan spun his entire body for a full rotation.
Whoooosh! Crackle!
Another upward slash! That blow depleted the last of the durability, and Tachual's armor shattered.
"Nice body, bastard."
Even the exposed bare flesh was sturdy like armor, but not quite the same. Glancing at the time, Rokan rushed him.
"Dash!"
"Power Attack!"
Berserk granted infinite mana anyway. Using skills as cooldowns reset, Tachual's sure-kill strike came crashing down like a guillotine.
"Kuh!"
Rokan evaded the vicious blow masterfully. Or so he thought. But Tachual wrenched the greatsword from the ground and backhanded him with the flat. Brutish power.
Just the flat of a man-sized greatsword. Unarmored Rokan couldn't take it lightly.
Crashing into him like a dump truck, his ears rang. Felt like ruptured eardrums. Bones ached, but he endured— this was big. Balance disrupted immediately.
"Kruk..."
But Tachual wasn't unscathed. The moment he lifted the greatsword, Rokan had hurled his battle axe with all his might.
If he had a throwing skill like the guy, it might've ended it, but alas, shallow wound. Serious, but not fatal.
"Hraaaah!"
Still, it loosened his grip on the greatsword. Confirming it, Rokan dragged his aching body forward.
Every step throbbed agonizingly, but compared to past-life pains, this was nothing.
Rokan barreled in and kicked away the guy's right hand.
"Kreng!"
He dropped the greatsword, but bare fists were terrifying. Tachual unleashed monstrous strength, pummeling Rokan and yanking the battle axe from his chest to hurl it back.
"Throwing!"
Sneaky, channeling skill power for payback.
Screee!
"Close call, fuck."
Rokan flipped away urgently as the battle axe grazed his nose and embedded.
[60 seconds until Berserk ends.]
Retrieve the weapon?
No. Not enough time.
Rokan charged barehanded. Fists clenched, he initiated a brawling frenzy, punching while taking hits.
"Uwaaaaa!"
Their fight was brutal. Even surrounding orc warriors forgot their kin and cheered the two trading bare-knuckle blows.
But victory was everything.
'Die anyway if I lose.'
Rokan had accepted death. Even if shown mercy, Berserk's end would kill him for sure. Lv1 Berserk shaved 50% max HP instantly.
Only way to survive: kill him and level up.
So Rokan kept pouring punches without stop.
[30 seconds until Berserk ends.]
'Not enough.'
Damage insufficient.
Unknown remaining HP, but his punches still packed power. Needed another play.
Thud!
Finishing damage calc, Rokan stopped punching and wrapped his arms around the guy's waist. Not to topple— he squeezed like crushing, using raw strength to snap the spine.
"Kraaaat!"
Veins bulged across Rokan's body as Tachual's punches intensified. Sensing danger, going all-out.
But Rokan had no intent to dodge. HP already at 0. Toughness boosted defense, but unarmored against those hits? Too much.
[HP fallen below 5%.]
[Title 'Unyielding Will' effect: All stats +50%.]
But that turned into a boon. HP below 5% triggered Unyielding Will again.
All stats +50%!
Rokan's monstrous strength surged anew, caving Tachual's waist.
[10 seconds until Berserk ends. 9, 8, 7...]
5 seconds, 4, 3, 2...!
Crack!
Just before Berserk ended, something snapped, and Tachual's body went limp.
Incredulous expression as his face turned gray.