I Am Chaos and Void
I am Chaos and Void.
"Not an easy opponent, huh."
I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don't get impressed yet. This was just a light sprinkle to warn you I have tricks up my sleeve."
Shalita narrowed his eyes.
"You mean you went easy on us?"
"If you get it, good. So don't come at me alone acting all high and mighty—bring everyone."
"Human. You're insane."
"Not insane, just thorough and coldly calculating."
Orcs submit strictly to the strong. Of course, they'd never bow to a human like me, but I could at least shut their mouths.
And these Master Berserkers gathered here were the core of Grollmog's forces. Smash them all, and I'd have a much easier one-on-one chat with Grollmog.
"But we orcs are honorable. We never stoop to cowardice in a sacred duel."
"That's why you get your asses kicked by humans every time."
"What did you say?"
"If it's awkward, I'll go first."
I swung Yojyo at Tur standing beside me. It was sudden, but restrained enough that he barely blocked it by lowering his sword.
Furious, Tur charged with a roar.
"Cowardly human! Die!"
I smirked at his incoming blade. These orcs bite at the slightest bait. Focusing all my mind on Yojyo's blade, I swung horizontally.
"Gah!"
With a booming crack, Tur's sword shattered along with its Aura Blade. As he recoiled in shock, I launched myself at one of the Master Berserkers.
Before Shalita could intervene, the orc Master Berserkers rushed me all at once. I slammed Yojyo into the ground with all my strength.
A shockwave erupted from Yojyo, upheaving the earth in a massive wave that buried the Master Berserkers under a tsunami of dirt.
Orc warriors groaned amid collapsed buildings and soil. Tur, barely grabbing his fallen sword and rising, charged again—but the follow-up magic from Yojyo sent him tumbling back.
Watching this, Shalita's eyes trembled.
"N-No way... Kaoyan of the White Mask?"
I brushed the dust off my armor and approached Shalita.
"Now that you know, all of you come at me together? Even alone, I smashed Ulbaros pretty much single-handedly. A few Master Berserkers won't faze me."
Shalita backed away.
"Stop. Weren't you here as an envoy of peace?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then why attack us? Was the message of peace a trick?"
I snorted.
"Heh. Who provoked first? Don't pin the fraud label on me. If there's one thing I share with you orcs, it's zero tolerance for provocations. You told me to crawl like a dog, so I showed you a dog in action. Alright, round two."
"......"
Suddenly, a massive double-headed axe wrapped in Aura Blade spun toward me from somewhere, its blade extending nearly 10 meters. I flashed a triumphant smile.
I swung Yojyo with full force, smashing the giant axe. It ricocheted with a thunderous crash, demolishing buildings before embedding in the ground.
Then, the stone pavement around me spiked upward, hammering my armor repeatedly.
Letting out a small grunt, I spun sharply, flinging off the writhing, tentacle-like stone protrusions.
"Not an ordinary guy after all."
A frail, white-haired orc elder appeared, strolling through the air with hands behind his back. Ordinary presence, ordinary aura—the textbook image of a Mind Master.
I dusted off my armor and glared at the orc elder.
Grollmog. It'd been ages since I'd seen the old orc. In my past life, he'd chased me to the brink of death. Wonder how this one would go.
But I lowered Yojyo's tip. I was here as a peace envoy. I couldn't gamble the future on momentary bloodlust.
"Hey there. Who's this? Isn't it Orc Grandpa?"
Grollmog landed lightly.
"Quite rough for a human."
"Sorry. Living in a harsh world toughens the tongue."
"Still, a modicum of courtesy is due, no? Kneeling would suit you well."
As Grollmog extended a hand, I warned.
"Mind attack? Better not. Cloud Grandpa tried that on me and regretted it deeply."
Grollmog paused, a faint smile creeping in.
"You've met that Cloud fellow?"
"Yeah, around last year."
"Is that so? What’s he up to now?"
"Why the old man?"
"No recent rumors, so I wondered if he'd kicked the bucket."
"He's still spry, no need to worry. Just vanished for some business—perfectly fine."
Grollmog tilted his head.
"Strange. He rallied for a million-strong army, then ditched alone? Not like him to be that irresponsible."
"Even grandpas need bathroom breaks sometimes. Urgent business calls."
"Fair enough. But what could it be? Only one thing comes to mind..."
"Probably that. I was there when he left."
Grollmog's face darkened sharply. My words implied the orcs were in dire straits.
"He's off seeking the path."
"Yeah. Seems he found a lead."
"And a year later... he must've grown considerably."
"If he didn't waste time digging holes."
Grollmog nodded and walked ahead.
"Let's talk while walking. Too many eavesdroppers here."
"Sure, works for me."
As I fell in step, Grollmog spoke.
"You proposed a conditional tripartite alliance, yes?"
"Yeah."
"Why stir such nonsense?"
"Told Turei: world peace."
"Spare the lofty excuses. Spill your real motives."
I grinned slyly.
"You wouldn't believe me anyway."
"Try me. I'll judge."
"Honestly? I want Orc Grandpa alive."
Grollmog eyed me puzzled.
"Me?"
"Yeah. If you die, the orc race fractures. I don't want that."
"Why?"
"Can't say. Tied to massive gains. But it's good for orcs—never bad."
Grollmog leaned in close.
"Better tell me."
"Why?"
"Curiosity might spark war."
"Do what you want. War or not, you and the orcs pay the price."
Grollmog narrowed his eyes.
"You don't want war?"
"Changed en route. Thought I'd prevent it at all costs before, but now? If inevitable, let's fight fair and square without headaches."
"Why?"
"Got a replacement if you die. Convincing him's a pain, but doable."
Grollmog named someone.
"Zenbe?"
"Yep."
"Easy with him?"
"Not hard."
"True, he's accepted by all. But don't forget Shalita."
I stared at Grollmog.
"Just fought him—nothing special."
"To you, maybe."
"Same for Zenbe. He's grown a lot. Knows desire now. I taught him well."
Grollmog laughed heartily.
"Hahaha. Yes, that's what he lacked. Worth exiling him from the plains."
"Worth? Without me, he'd be chopping with kitchen knives till the end."
"But he succeeded."
"Succeeded? Just hit the jackpot."
We'd entered the palace gates. But Grollmog led not to the reception hall, but a lush back garden.
Grollmog beamed.
"Anyway, glad he grew. Time for my business."
"What?"
"Fight that human."
I scowled.
"Hell-bent on war?"
"Before it's too late. If he grows more, orc survival's threatened."
"Not scared of me?"
Grollmog clucked his tongue.
"Think smashing one Ulbaros makes you unrivaled? I could handle it easily."
He wasn't wrong.
Mind Masters fly, hurl Sky Swords with Aura Blades. Ulbaros was huge, but no match—pierce its chest weak spot, done.
"Still, no war."
"Why?"
"I'll stop it."
Grollmog scoffed.
"Thought you were capable, but you're a fool. One man can't shift the world's tide."
"Why?"
"Yosrahim Empire vs. orcs? Inevitable in history's flow. Mutual hatred births this war. Not for one meddler to change."
I chuckled at his firm words.
"Why not? I think I can."
Grollmog shook his head, pointing at the garden.
"See this garden. Pluck one blade—does the whole change?"
"No."
"Good. Add one—same?"
"Probably."
"That's the era's self-correcting flow. What happens, happens. No individual alters it—masses do. First insight to Mind Master: respect the vast collective consciousness."
Sound logic, but I scoffed inwardly. Exceptions exist.
Smirking, I pulled my Magic Bullet Launcher and fired a firebomb at the garden. Flames roared, spreading wildly on prairie winds.
"Wrong. One flick changes it."
Grollmog panicked at the inferno.
His logic shattered by a trigger pull. The garden transformed utterly.
"Wind and fire alter it? Natural law?"
"Yeah. Collective consciousness is great, but inferior to nature's laws—it births from them. Tame with nature, and one man changes it. That's my work."
"What exactly?"
"Simple. Selling human-farmed food to orcs."
Grollmog stroked his chin.
"That shifts the era?"
"Yes. Trade frees orcs from famine. Humans use your Chaos Pieces for magic industry boom. Enemies become symbionts."
"Ho. Fulfill mutual desires, erase war reasons? Plausible."
"Yeah. Not permanent peace, but ten years? Enough. Don't need more."
Grollmog looked anew, impressed. Symbiosis removes opposition. No one discards the needed.
He frowned meaningfully.
"Human, one more question?"
"Shoot."
"You were with Cloud when he vanished?"
"Yes."
"What'd you tell him?"
I nodded calmly.
"Mm. Something."
"What?"
"Can't say yet."
"Why?"
"He bolted right after. If you bolt now, I'm screwed."
"Knew it."
Grollmog nodded knowingly.
"I'll teach you later. Don't rush."
As I turned to leave, Grollmog grabbed my shoulder.
"Tell now. I'm not irresponsible like him. If I vanish, orcs fracture and fight."
"Really?"
"Yes. Duty as chieftain."
I pondered deeply.
"Not free, though."
"Palace warehouse full of Chaos Pieces. Million units?"
A million units? Over 120 top-grade Essences. Invaluable.
I whispered soul mechanics to his ear.
Grollmog's eyes quivered.
"Souls truly unbound by time?"
"Yes. And space."
"How..."
He paced, deep in thought. I added,
"Cloud Grandpa said: 'Chaos itself.'"
Grollmog froze, trembling like struck by lightning.
"Yes! Chaos!"
"What?"
"Hahaha. Chaos indeed. Chaos!"
He cackled maniacally, leaping away—but I grabbed his nape. Fool me once...
"Hey, Grandpa. Where you bolting?"
"Let go! Must consolidate this insight."
I yelled.
"You leave, orcs fracture!"
"Fracture's natural. Some sacrifice, but growth pains. Makes us stronger."
"Argh, that's not what you said!"
"Sorry. Urgent."
Seeing his desperate eyes, I sighed.
"Fine, say your insight first. Otherwise, feels like unfinished business."
Grollmog blurted.
"Your view on justice?"
"Ambiguous. Seems there, not; right, wrong."
"Spot on. Seekers feel chaos, void."
I twitched an eye, catching on.
"N-No way...?"
"Justice confounds; souls more so. Defy nature, shift time—pure chaos."
"Then...?"
"Yes. Humanity, this world: chaos and void. Merely harmonious, nothing else."
"Whoa, mind blown."
"Got it? I'm off."
As shock loosened my grip, Grollmog fled afar.
I couldn't chase, just tore at my hair. Me, a monster of chaos and void? Absurd.
I am Chaos and Void.