Jerik vs. Nergui: Honor, the Transcendent Weapon
In Orcish or beastkin tongue—what they called the warrior's language—the word Hundetgel meant "honor." It was a transcendent weapon handed down through generations to the orc great warriors, renowned as one of the mightiest among its kind.
But its effect was exceedingly simple.
[Increases the wielder's combat power.]
Just that one thing.
Yet its implications were far from simple.
It amplified every aspect of mana-related abilities and attributes by 100%—not just physical prowess, but everything. For a superhuman's might to be boosted to such extremes made it one of the pinnacle powers among transcendent weapons, reserved not for common folk or low-to-mid-tier mana users.
And when combined with Jerik's trait as an Aura User, Contempt for the Weak, it formed solid grounds for the prophecy of past great warriors and the title Jerik had proven with his life: Warlord.
Just like right now.
"Grraa!"
"Kyaaak!"
Axes and spears swung by black rhino tribesmen with eyes rolled back in frenzy.
"Get lost!"
But Jerik ignored the attacks plummeting to cleave him in two and swung Honor with all his might.
BOOOOM!
While his glowing red aura cleaved through enemies and black rhinos alike, their strikes landed squarely on Jerik's body.
But...
Thud!
"Annoying!"
No one could halt Jerik's charge, even briefly, as he shook off the blows like mere dust. An absurd sight, no matter the combat disparity.
It was the effect of Jerik's trait: Contempt for the Weak.
Most who awakened aura gained only the basic total ability boost, but some acquired special traits. Jerik was one such case.
His trait ignored attacks from enemies two realms lower. Of course, as a mid-realm being, Jerik had limits too, so he charged even more ferociously toward Nergui.
Moreover, his attribute was wind. Added to an orc's inherently mighty frame, it granted terrifying speed. Silver aura whipped and twisted from his axe, dyeing dozens of meters in blood in an instant.
Krraa-boom-boom-boom!
"Gaaah!"
"Aaaagh!"
Black rhino elites crumbled in droves amid screams.
"Scum, all of you—out of my way!"
With haughty disdain, as if it were only natural, Jerik surged toward Nergui without pause. A one-man army in momentum.
Who else in the world suited the moniker Warlord so perfectly?
It was no wonder Nergui's face drained to blue as he faced that onslaught head-on.
But Nergui didn't yield easily.
"You... you again blocking me, Jerik?!"
Grinding his teeth, he spewed black demonic power that overlaid the black rhino phantom.
If Tiny had seen this, he would've clearly discerned the mana tattoos, spirit brain mana, and demonic energy clashing and tangling as they spread. And how it was shaving away Nergui's lifespan in real time.
Even without such acute mana sensitivity, Jerik could tell this was no ordinary ploy.
"Grk... grrr."
"Kuhhh."
Black energy rose from the corpses of black rhino orcs slain by him and their mounts, swarming toward Nergui in a flash.
"Kiyot!"
Queeeeeek!
With a bizarre screech(?), Nergui's body and rhino form grotesquely warped.
The eerie sight only spurred Jerik further. Rage boiled like blood surging backward.
"Nergui, you bastard...!!"
He could see enemy life force flowing to their leader. But he couldn't just stand by without clearing a path.
"If any warrior's pride remains, cling to your senses! Clear the way!!!"
His wind-attuned mana roared into the charging orcs' ears.
But only a scant few flinched, forcing Jerik to raise his axe again.
In the end...
"Gaaah! Come to me!!"
Krraa-boom-boom!
Churning black demonic energy kept pouring into Nergui. By the brief moment Jerik reached him, Nergui and his rhino had doubled in size.
Black veins bulging everywhere, his half-melted form evoked disgust more than intimidation.
"Jerik!!!!"
A twisted voice erupted from the deformed vocal cords, as his axe and rhino lunged at Jerik simultaneously.
Monstrously warped flesh, black mana and demonic energy clashing atop it in repulsive force.
Threatening even to Jerik.
Hmph, let's see if my aura can withstand it.
Crunch.
"Sinners to hell!"
Jerik met the assault head-on, channeling his confidence and fury into his aura.
And as expected...
BOOOOM!
Silver aura rent the black haze amid thunderous roar.
"Hmph, it's over."
Nergui's face twisted. As Jerik swung to bisect the fallen orc...
Krraa-boom-boom!
Nergui countered with a waterfall of demonic energy, nullifying the destructive aura with sheer volume. An absurd scene.
"Damn it!"
"Just you... if I kill just you!!!"
Silver aura flashed repeatedly through scattering black mist and dust.
"Kuhahaha! Is that all, Jerik?!"
As time passed, the ever-larger, more hideous Nergui mocked him from the settling dust.
The source of the demonic cascade pouring from the sky like a waterfall: the filthy, horrific energy's origin.
"Ha... "
Absurdly, a red whirlwind raging from the rear.
* * *
"Grrr."
The moment Tiny sensed threat, Wolrang was naturally summoned.
A tricky spot, but far better than the worst-case he'd anticipated. Facing "only" a thousand orc warriors, not hundreds of thousands.
In his past life, his explosive attribute excelled in short bursts or duels but lagged in endurance compared to peers.
No such weakness now.
Though his realm was still nascent, he could handle any number of lesser foes.
BOOOM!
"Kyaaak!"
BOOOM!
"No grudges!"
Thud!
Proving his confidence, most frenzied orc warriors crumpled in sprays of blood upon reaching him.
"Kyaaooo!"
Splat. Crack.
Many shattered under Wolrang's fangs and paws.
Harharin's remaining warriors lacked elites anyway. Even commanders were mere Experts—feeble(?) for battle-race orcs.
Under Nergui's spell, they'd lost reason too.
The sorcery or black magic boosted strength and speed, but lost wits made them easier prey.
Blood mists bloomed in the air. Sunset mana within vibrated ambient mana in patterns.
"Eat this!"
Whoosh!
Sunset waves erupted from the warhammer's tip slamming down.
Tiny-style battle art, Form 2: Storm Swing.
Krraa-boom-boom!
Sunset vortexes sucked in blood and flesh, devastating the field. Vivid crimson wind—bloodstorm incarnate.
But Tiny frowned immediately after.
Not from overexertion overload; that was routine now.
Huh, this?
Krraa-boom!
From his massacre site, fallen warriors' blood and flesh turned to dark crimson energy surging forward.
Thus, Jerik's dominating strikes were blocked; Nergui and rhino grotesquely mutating, endlessly growing.
Killing more only empowered Jerik's foe.
But he couldn't stop fighting.
Thud!
"Graaak!"
Crushing another orc's skull, Tiny bit his lip.
Clear this fast as possible.
Right then.
Thud. BOOOM!
Stamp, Wolrang's fangs and claws sprayed more blood.
The slaughter continued.
"Go!!"
The third blood vortex ravaged dozens, hundreds of meters.
"Uh... uhh..."
"Kuhhh."
"Fd... fdsdy..."
Mindless orcs instinctively hesitated, repulsed from approaching Tiny.
Overwhelming might had etched fear into their primal instincts.
"...This'll do."
Hundreds remained, but no threat now.
Hummm.
Overloaded Nian Ti creaked, but finishing them posed no issue.
Facing a thousand-plus battle orcs and winning? A feat indeed.
But the achiever's gaze turned forward—to Nergui's monstrous transformation and Jerik's duel.
Watching Nergui use amplified demonic energy to counter and push Jerik.
He couldn't just watch.
"Wolrang!"
"Woof!"
Mounting the summoned wolf, Tiny leaped over the now-reemboldened hundreds.
Whoosh!
Wolrang accelerated mid-air steps.
Faster, faster.
Krraa-boom!
Sunset comet streaking the sky, they slammed the monster's upper body amid demonic shroud.
BOOOOM!
A bit more, just a bit!
Jerik clenched his jaw, swinging relentlessly at the enveloping darkness.
Foe blocking destructive aura with raw demonic volume—fuel from tribesmen's blood and flesh, stoking his rage.
Worse, Tiny's unexpected slaughter had aided Nergui.
But it wouldn't last.
Clashes revealed it clearly.
"You mad bastard! This all from burning your lifespan?!"
BOOOM! Thud! Boom!
Discarding honor, selling soul, sacrificing kin and life. What for? Beyond comprehension.
If he flees, he'll self-destruct. But...
Warrior pride rejected optimal tactics. No retreat against such depravity.
Then, finally.
BOOOOM!
External tremor cracked Nergui's form. The shrouding darkness faded.
Through the gap: Nergui, still hideous but shrunken somewhat.
"It's over!"
Demonic haze parted; Jerik's axe, silver aura blazing, hurtled toward his old comrade's head.