Chapter 105: Japan (13)
Chapter 105: Japan (13)
The moment they stepped into the dungeon crawling with Orcs, Han Shin raised his sword and shield, shifting into a defensive stance.
The dungeon had been formed quite some time ago, and in a way, Han Shin’s current state reflected that passage of time.
The Orcs had already been summoned, and since they had been provoked during the earlier reconnaissance process, there was a high chance of being attacked the moment they entered.
Because of this, even though they were fighting together, it wasn't as if the Orcs' hostility toward Han Shin was particularly unique or that he was the only one being targeted.
Grace and Laysia were also keeping this in mind.
What was peculiar about this dungeon was the lighting. Usually, dungeons were shrouded in thick darkness, but this one was far from dark.
Despite being a place where the sun could not possibly shine, it was bright enough to provide perfectly clear visibility.
Since this was Han Shin’s first time experiencing such a thing, he felt a mix of bewilderment and curiosity.
‘How is a dungeon this bright?’
Han Shin had studied dungeons in his own way, but according to the information he had access to, no such dungeon existed.
To Han Shin, as well as to the general public and Awakeners who frequented lower-rank dungeons, the common perception was that a dungeon was always a pitch-black space devoid of light.
Seeing a dungeon that shattered this prejudice with his own eyes, Han Shin couldn't help but be surprised.
In truth, these bright dungeons had only recently begun to be discovered. Because they were still under research, the information was kept strictly confidential, with those involved forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Since the people entering A-Rank Portals were high-ranking officials or top-tier Awakeners with significant power, keeping them quiet was relatively easy.
‘It certainly makes things easier.’
Awakeners naturally possessed better eyesight than ordinary people, and Han Shin’s physical abilities far surpassed even those of other Awakeners.
Furthermore, Grace and Laysia always used Light spells to illuminate their surroundings as soon as they entered, so combat hadn't been difficult.
Still, he preferred this daylight-like brightness.
‘I don’t know the principle behind it, but is there some kind of illumination magic cast inside this dungeon…?’
Han Shin glanced upward, but he couldn't see anything that looked like a source of light.
Though his curiosity grew, Han Shin knew now was not the time to seek answers. He quickly scanned his surroundings.
Fortunately, Han Shin’s party wasn't attacked immediately.
There wasn't a single Orc near the portal. Instead, they stood in a meadow of ankle-high grass that stretched out in a gentle slope.
With his vision unobstructed, Han Shin immediately looked around to assess the dungeon's terrain.
The area they had entered was a classic basin, surrounded on all sides by mountains with either gentle or steep slopes.
‘They turned an entire basin into a dungeon.’
While the area consisted mostly of grassland, trees lined the edges, encircling the basin.
"Han Shin-nim. They are coming."
The moment they entered, Grace had already spotted a bird high in the sky, a short distance away.
Judging that a bird in a dungeon couldn't be normal, she assumed it was a familiar—and she was right.
Grace furrowed her brow. She couldn't identify the exact species, but she guessed it was likely a creature tamed by the monsters.
A moment later, Han Shin saw Orcs charging toward them atop giant boars.
Humanoid monsters made of muscle with deep green skin.
With their red, glowing eyes and hideous, pig-like faces, the sight of the Orcs was something Han Shin could never forget.
He adjusted his grip on his shield and sword.
Clad in Silver Full Body Armor, Han Shin showed no outward signs of it, but it was only natural for him to feel tense.
Two years ago, he had nearly died trying to block one of those things. Even after narrowly surviving the crisis, his injuries had been so severe that the hospital could barely manage them.
His body had been completely broken, and he had spent his days in despair. It was only natural that this encounter felt different to him.
Now, Han Shin had unexpectedly met Tiamat and reached this point.
By contracting with Tiamat and becoming her Proxy, he had gained the miraculous opportunity to not only fully recover his body but to become even stronger than before his injury.
However, to Han Shin, these Orcs were an obstacle he absolutely had to overcome.
In truth, considering the strength of the A-Rank monsters Han Shin had faced so far, there was no reason for him to feel this way.
In terms of individual strength, the Minotaur whose head he had just crushed with a warhammer in the previous dungeon was far more powerful.
What made him tense and bound him now was a psychological issue.
He began to feel the ground vibrate.
The massive boars carrying Orcs that easily exceeded two meters in height were Warboars—mountains used by the Orcs for transportation.
With sharp, protruding tusks and charging with furious momentum, the green-skinned monsters atop the boars brandished large axes and swords, aiming for Han Shin’s party.
The Orcs had already realized that external enemies might enter while the Japanese Awakeners were scouting the interior. They had spread scouts everywhere to ensure they would know the moment anyone stepped inside.
Among the Orcs, there were individuals capable of using mana, and some could handle familiars, which allowed them to relay information instantly.
In the short time it took for Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia to enter and scan their surroundings, their location had been reported to the Orc tribe. They had immediately charged toward the group on their Warboars.
Seeing only three enemies, the Orc tribe sent out a squad of twenty Orc warriors to handle them.
Since the Japanese Awakeners they had seen before were pathetic and weak, it was a rational decision from their perspective…
But they had overlooked the fact that their current opponents possessed a completely different level of strength.
Han Shin began to walk slowly toward the fiercely charging Orcs, his pace soon breaking into a run.
Muscular monsters over two meters tall riding giant man-eating boars.
The momentum of twenty such creatures charging in formation would have been enough to make even Awakeners—let alone ordinary people—tremble under the immense pressure. Yet Han Shin charged straight ahead to meet them head-on.
He held his shield forward in his left hand and raised the sword in his right slightly, taking an offensive-defensive stance.
Though his balance was perfect, at this rate, he would only be able to strike the man-eating boars.
The distance between Han Shin and the Orcs closed rapidly until they could feel each other's murderous intent.
His heart hammered against his ribs.
Han Shin felt his heart beating faster than usual.
‘I can win.’
Though it wasn't the same Orc from two years ago, he whispered to himself as if casting a spell while facing them up close.
His effort to overcome his trauma worked in his favor.
All his hard work until now.
While training under Grace and Laysia, he had imagined this scenario dozens of times, simulating it in his head, knowing he would eventually have to face Orcs.
In a way, few Awakeners knew as much about Orcs as Han Shin did.
The Orc leading the pack on an armored Warboar saw the three humans trying to fight back.
It was surprising enough that the tiny humans didn't run away, but it was absurd that one of them was charging in alone.
Intending to split the arrogant human in half and turn him into a lump of meat, the Orc swung the massive scimitar in his right hand and kicked his stirrups to urge the boar faster.
The Warboar accelerated instantly.
In sync with the movement, the Orc swung his blade with powerful precision, aiming for Han Shin’s torso.
Squelch!
The clean sound of flesh being severed echoed...
And black blood sprayed everywhere, staining the surroundings.
The Orc, who had died instantly without even realizing when he had been hit, geysered blood from his severed neck.
The Orc’s head tumbled to the ground and was trampled into a pulp by the following Warboars, leaving no trace behind.
The remaining Orcs were shaken.
The Orc that Han Shin had just taken down in a single exchange—the one leading the charge—was the squad leader of these twenty Orcs, even if he wasn't the dungeon's boss.
He was the leader of this scouting party that had broken off from the main force to ambush Han Shin’s group.
Taking down such a foe in one blow was undoubtedly an excellent start...
But the real battle had barely begun.
"Kill him!"
"Waaaaagh!!"
Enraged, the Orcs tried to surround and lynch Han Shin as he dove into their midst.
However, they couldn't focus their attacks on him, as Grace and Laysia charged in right behind him.
Crack!
With a sharp cry, an Orc took a palm strike from Laysia. His chest caved in, and he was sent flying like a bowling pin, crashing into his comrades.
Grace, meanwhile, lopped off heads with such clean strokes that her victims didn't even have time to scream.
Han Shin also began systematically slaughtering the Orcs, blocking attacks with his shield and immediately counterattacking with his sword, showing a mastery of the basics.