Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Ram Heads
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Mountains bordering the Demon Realm.
Untouched by human feet, the area was blanketed in a forest of massive, lush trees.
Neatly trimmed planks were embedded regularly between the trees, forming a natural fence.
Torches near the fence drove back the darkness.
"Gruk!"
A group walked along the fence.
Following it would lead to a wooden structure.
It stood tall, immediately catching the eye.
A watchtower.
At the top, two orcs stood guard, scanning ahead.
Beside them sat quivers filled with large arrowheads. Spotting the approaching group, they nocked their bows.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
The lead orc of the group shed his massive robe at the sentry's shout.
"It's me, Mallox!"
He was an orc too, his red hair striking.
Mallox raised his torch high.
"Hunt's over—back from the kill!"
At his words, the orcs behind hoisted their prey high.
Confirming they were kin, the sentries waved them through.
No such protocols existed before.
But the tribe had grown too large.
Orc bands had merged, and now goblins shared the dungeon too.
Hence the watchtowers and sentries around the perimeter.
"I'm off to see the chieftain. Handle cleanup yourselves!"
"Gruk!"
Mallox left the rest to his subordinates and headed into the dungeon.
The dungeon took the form of a vast cave.
A wooden door sealed the entrance.
Opening it revealed a wide, open space.
Trophy skulls and hides from hunts adorned the walls.
Torches blazed fiercely above, illuminating every corner.
Passing the space, the path split two ways—right led to the orcs' quarters.
Left was goblin territory, so Mallox turned right.
First came walls lined thick with weapons.
Swords, massive axes, shields, armor—all on display.
Among them, weapons forged from minotaur horns hunted by ancestors.
Mallox pressed on past.
Soon, the training grounds appeared.
Orc warriors clad in gear sparred fiercely, honing their edge.
The air reeked of raw power and bloodlust.
Young warriors basked in it, proudly flaunting their strength.
Mallox nodded at the sight.
'The tribe's future shines bright.'
A true warrior needed that spirit and confidence.
In that light, their prospects looked golden.
A bit farther, another clearing opened up.
This one vast, with a figure seated at its end.
Skol, chieftain of the dungeon's "Red-Head Tribe."
He'd led his band even before the merger—a mark of greatness.
But Mallox didn't call out right away.
Skol's eyes were shut.
Not sleeping—he replayed a battle from hours ago.
The mark of a great warrior; a habit, even.
After a long while, Skol opened his eyes.
He glanced down at himself immediately.
Something felt subtly off.
Mallox boomed a greeting.
"Chieftain, you've grasped enlightenment! Congratulations!"
Skol replied.
"Mallox, you're here."
Even as he spoke, he probed his body for changes.
'Stronger...?'
He flexed his arms.
No, not raw power.
Yet something had shifted, undeniably.
Warriors checked their bodies constantly.
Only by monitoring every nuance could they unleash peak might in battle.
Skol sensed the subtle difference.
He closed his eyes again.
Felt the change ripple through.
'My body's healing!'
Wounds mending, ever so faintly—but faster than before.
And not just that.
Drained stamina surged back swiftly.
"Hah..."
Another power lurked, unidentified for now.
But his physical prowess had risen, no doubt.
"Is this true strength?!"
Why grant it to him?
Mallox spoke up.
"Gruk. The Ruler bestowed it, no?"
Skol eyed him.
"Sound logic."
The Ruler's powers were proven.
This very dungeon had expanded under his might.
And stronger beings flanked him.
Mallox was right—this was a gift from the Ruler.
"Power from the Ruler!"
Skol clenched his fist.
Then bellowed a laugh.
"Krahahaha!"
His roar shook the chamber.
Why this boon?
The question thrilled him.
And it didn't linger long.
"Your duel with that human warrior—gruk—the Ruler was impressed!"
Spot on.
Victory over the human earned this reward.
"Indeed! Well said, Mallox!"
The Ruler honored warriors.
Knew their honor, rewarded skill fittingly.
A leader who inspired utter loyalty.
"Didn't expect this much."
Not mere brute dominance.
Nor weakness.
'The way of a true Ruler.'
Skol's path forward—and his sworn liege.
"From now on, I, Skol, fight only for the Ruler!"
Gruk!
Skol raised his shield high.
A human warrior's severed head dangled from it.
Honor for him, and the fallen foe.
Skol had no doubt.
"I'll prove myself to the Ruler!"
Not satisfied yet.
"We'll prove our worth!"
Young orc warriors had gathered before them.
The tribe's future stock.
Skol swept his gaze over them, raising the shield again.
"One goal!"
More heads would adorn shields ahead.
Skol wouldn't stop till then.
Not till every band's shield bore trophies.
And they'd show it.
Prove their strength to the Ruler.
More warriors to face.
A grueling road.
But they'd never have started if unable.
Skol rose.
Innumerable orcs watched.
"Behold me! Gruk!"
Ooooh—!
Orcs roared.
"We'll face more warriors!"
Uoo! Uoo! Uoo!
Tough path, but together—victory.
"More heads for our shields!"
Uoo! Uoo! Uoo!
"Show the Ruler our worth!"
All bellowed at Skol's cry.
Their battles truly began now.
Collecting more warrior heads to prove value.
Warrior's honor.
That day, every orc claimed the goal.
Loyalty to the Ruler, of course.
Celia looked up from her reports.
"The Master has issued a command."
Abstract again, though.
Minions in the dungeon should gain enlightenment.
"Enlightenment..."
Celia pondered deeply.
Grasping true essence wasn't easy.
But she interpreted the great one's words earnestly.
A servant's duty.
"Hm."
She'd go straight at it.
"Goblin Lord."
At her call, the Goblin Lord rose.
"Kehum!"
"Intensify goblin training from now. Master's will. Execution rights for any who disobey."
The Goblin Lord marched out at her order.
"Next..."
Death Knight gazed hopefully.
Still punished from the monster wave fiasco.
Dreaming of lifted house arrest.
"...Death Knight, keep fortifying as is."
No such luck.
Celia turned to the Arch Lich.
Excelling as inspector lately.
Even granted fine robes by the Master.
Approved, so...
"Zone 1 undead training to you, Arch Lich. Master's will—execution rights granted."
The Arch Lich nodded and departed.
Zone 1 undead hadn't trained before.
No clue how, but the Arch Lich wasn't worried.
Observed other monsters' sessions as inspector.
Enough to go on.
From core, past Zone 4, back to Zone 1.
Entering, he snapped.
"Snap!"
(Ram heads!)
But none grasped it.
No training history—baffling.
As they stared blankly, he snapped again.
Boom—
Boom—
Two undead ahead exploded.
The Arch Lich's training had just begun.
"Oh."
Just commanded Celia to induce enlightenment.
Effects already popping minutes later.
"Celia's sharp as ever."
Alarms kept chiming. A sudden doubt hit.
"Why only undead gaining it?"
Were enlightenments this easy?
Malu faked his in the smoke, post-battle.
Now undead via training?
"Training does it?"
Thought it'd take ages.
Worried in vain.
"Was gonna grind 'em to near-death if needed."
That saying—brink of death changes people.
Figured monsters too.
No need now.