Chapter 220
Chapter 220
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: Orc Berserker Krokchwi (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Orc capital, Ogma, had been attacked.
While it ultimately avoided falling, six Master-level warriors and shamans defending Ogma were killed, along with one High Master.
The shock from that news was tremendous.
It had happened in the deepest part of the Black Dragon Legion—the place considered the safest.
"Heh, that's what they get for crawling out."
On the other hand, the fact that the perpetrator was of the same Orc race didn't draw much attention. No one believed it could be a real Orc.
They might not have guessed polymorph specifically, but there were plenty of skills and items that could change one's appearance.
Thus, most assumed the raider was someone from the Golden Lion faction.
This only deepened their worries.
"They're pulling back after all."
It wasn't a full retreat, but the Orc powerhouses who had pushed forward were now dispersed back to the rear lines. It was only natural, given the risk of their main base being raided.
The Orcs weren't the only ones withdrawing troops. Upon hearing the news, the Goblins, Undead, and Trolls also slowly pulled back their forward-deployed forces.
Naturally, this gave the Golden Lion faction some breathing room.
With the NPC powerhouses retreating to the rear, combat strength weakened, and more users were thrown in to fill the gaps.
In a positive light, it meant more opportunities for users, but from the Golden Lion faction's perspective—still relying on user-NPC cooperation to hold the front line—it looked precarious.
"A few more prods should do it."
But Rokan had no intention of stopping there.
Afterward, he shook up several deep strongholds of the Undead and Goblins—not capitals, but significant ones.
Those places were heavily guarded by powerhouses from nearby outposts too, so none fell, but it was enough to heighten their vigilance and make them hunker down.
"This should be enough."
Like that, Rokan hammered them for two whole weeks.
Sometimes as an Orc, sometimes as an Undead, he appeared before them, wreaked havoc, and stole their hunting grounds.
Each time, the Black Dragon Legion's outposts locked down tight.
In the special circumstances of war, they couldn't fully block entry from allied races, but searches became thorough, and suspicion among themselves grew rampant.
They never knew when Rokan might show up in another form to strike.
Fear of an entity whose name and appearance couldn't be pinned down grew daily, turning them into turtles hiding their heads in their shells.
"I want to go to the Hillos Territory."
Having set the atmosphere, Rokan coolly slipped away. Instead, he headed to Hillos Territory, where the Black Dragon Legion was desperately holding a defensive line.
His form had returned to that of an Orc berserker, and those desperate for even a fern frond's help waved him through easily.
[Hillos Territory Defense Battle][Quest]
Defend Hillos Territory from the Dwarf-Gnome Alliance assault.
-Success Condition: Successfully defend Hillos Territory for 24 hours
-Success Reward: Massive Fame, Massive Experience
-Special Reward: Title granted regardless of race based on contribution if defense succeeds
-1.2x Experience Gain during Quest
The quest popped up the moment he arrived in Hillos Territory. Seeing Orcs bustling atop and below the walls made the urgency clear.
'Hmm, can't let this place fall.'
He'd anticipated his schemes would give the Golden Lion faction a big boost, but he hadn't expected them to push this far.
If even here was lost, the Gnomes would enter the site of their racial quest, the "Ancient City." That had to be prevented.
The very reason he'd used his vacation time to come here was to find the Ancient City.
'Can't let the Dwarves snatch the Lion King's relics.'
More precisely, the sealed relic of the Lion King slumbering as the temporary power source for the Ancient City.
Sure, if the Gnomes awakened the Ancient City and gained immense power to end the war, it wouldn't be the worst outcome.
But the moment the Gnomes' Ancient City stirred, something else would activate to counter it.
No—even if countering failed, he had zero intention of giving up the Lion King's relic.
Why bother?
Rokan had no desire to hand benefits to others by sacrificing his own gains, so for now, he needed to halt the Dwarf-Gnome Alliance here once.
"Oh, even this works."
[You have become a Thousand Man Commander.]
Accepting the defense quest granted him Thousand Man Commander status outright. It recognized polymorph'd Rokan as an 'Orc' and assigned the rank based on level.
Along with it came chatter from users in his unit. The Orcs' signature nasal tones were a bit grating, but it didn't matter. They weren't the point.
Rokan hurried to the wall and gazed at the black tide of Dwarves swarming in.
"Pfft."
Gnomes were smaller, but Dwarves were short too. Sturdy and strong, yet their unbalanced bodies weren't ideal for warriors.
Seeing them charge on short legs brought a smirk, but their combat power couldn't be dismissed.
"That'll do nicely."
Battle drew near.
NPCs and users were still debating field battle versus fortification, but Rokan didn't care. He did his thing.
"Grunt, hey, fire."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
What he approached was a trebuchet.
Renowned for excellent performance regardless of race, it was essential for sieges and defenses.
Instead of loading a rock, Rokan climbed on and plopped his butt down, startling the waiting Orc soldier.
What the hell are we firing? He climbed where the projectile goes?
The soldier's baffled look made Rokan—no, Krokchwi—scowl irritably.
"Sniff sniff, I said fire. I'll be the shell."
"Uh... really?"
Still dubious, but seeing the Thousand Man Commander mark on Krokchwi, he couldn't refuse.
No way a Thousand Man Commander wanted to suicide.
"Understood..."
The Orc soldier steeled himself and operated the trebuchet as requested.
"...Incoming."
Thwoom.
The trebuchet fired.
Not a rock, but an Orc berserker as the projectile.
To fly straight, he'd stowed even his battle axe in inventory. Krokchwi curled into a ball.
At the apex, he activated one skill.
"Red Meteor."
But it differed from Rokan's version. He'd noticed it with Gale Incarnation too—polymorphing as Orc subtly altered skill effects.
Black hellfire cloaked him instead of red flames, and as a black meteor, he plummeted into the Dwarf legion.
KABOOM!
"Wheel Wind!"
The area around was devastated, but Krokchwi didn't stop.
Swinging his massive battle axe with muscle-born destructive power, he shredded the cute clusters of Dwarves and Gnomes.
"W-Woaaaah!"
"Charge! Support him!"
His exploits roused the other Orcs. Stimulated from fortification debates, they flung open the gates and poured out.
A true warrior race, Orc-style choice.
"That's our Thousand Man Commander! Our Thousand Man Commander!"
"What's that guy's ID? Never seen a berserker like that."
"Who cares now? Must be a Master who's been grinding levels in hiding!"
"We can't lose out. Let's go!"
At first, they thought some lunatic had appeared with Krokchwi's sudden charge, but his feats quickly hyped everyone.
This was an age of warring states where new heroes rose constantly.
Unknown names could become legends through exploits; heroes could emerge anytime.
"Gale Incarnation."
Seizing the uproar, Rokan activated a Master skill. Black aura like storm clouds seeped into his flared nostrils and capillaries.
It birthed a massive, mighty giant Orc.
"Sniping!"
Then, a Gnome Master user struck. Activating his Master skill, he targeted the giant Krokchwi's vitals.
Bang!
"...!"
Futile.
An amateurish Master skill combo couldn't pierce Krokchwi's defense.
He'd stowed the Lion King's sealed chestplate in inventory to avoid detection, but the Emperor-granted unique full set's defense was no joke.
Already high defense was further bolstered by Gale Incarnation.
If Master skills failed, other projectiles were laughable.
Krokchwi's enlarged body was a big target, but to his immortal traits, unpiercing attacks were less than BB-gun scratches.
"You Gnomes! I'm coming!"
Dwarf users charged then. Replacing ranged-specialized Gnomes, the melee Dwarves stepped up.
"Interesting."
Three Master-level users, no less.
But their simultaneous Master skills only drew Krokchwi's sneer.
"Earth Titan!"
Leading was one transformed into a giant like him.
Leveraging Dwarf "earth folk" traits with gigantification, but it had a fatal flaw.
'Short.'
Gigantified, yet Dwarf stubby limb ratios remained. Hard to capitalize on size.
In his past life, endless refinements birthed "Mounted Giant" Master skills.
Summon, enhance, mount mechanical giant robots like mecha.
That might be viable, but a waddling Dwarf giant couldn't handle him.
"Axe Explosion!"
"Ricochet!"
While it drew eyes, a flank axe like Krokchwi's flew in.
Unexpected Master combo of throwing skill, but the name was too honest.
KABOOM!
Krokchwi twisted aside without clashing, deflecting it. The explosion-powered axe embedded in nearby Dwarves, blasting allies instead.
"Hraaaah!"
Seizing the gap, the Dwarf giant waddled in.
Swinging a hammer as huge as itself horizontally low, sweeping at Krokchwi's legs.
'Predictable.'
Clang!
Instead of dodging, Krokchwi slammed his battle axe into the ground to brace.
Hammers excelled at overhead smashes, not low sweeps.
Obvious reason: force jumps to limit mobility.
"Hammer and Anvil!"
Then, black shadow loomed over Krokchwi's head. A magic hammer bigger than the giant fell from sky, using earth as anvil.
"Hyper Acceleration, Jump!"
Krokchwi reacted instantly. He launched himself to hit the descending hammer's surface from afar.
Crackle.
Weak repulsion, meaningless. Power stemmed from ground impact.
No blocking. Krokchwi added his skill to the hammer's fall.
"Red Meteor."
Not higher, but faster, stronger—black meteor crashed down.
Adjusting angle, it detonated massively outside the hammer's zone.