74. It Will Surely Happen.
The hunters, chased relentlessly by the orcs, were fleeing at full speed.
"If I'd known it'd come to this, I never would've learned Sprint."
He'd taken out a loan to master it, hearing that fast feet were a dealer's lifeline. But now he was the first to face the orcs.
And not just any orcs—hundreds of them, with him playing the role of bait to provoke the horde.
What rotten luck.
There weren't many orcs right on their tails, but if one grabbed his nape, he'd have to deal with the rest pouring in behind.
The hunters ran until their breaths burned like they'd swallowed knives.
"Uwak!"
"Hey, snap out of it! That's the minefield!"
"Damn it, they don't even go off half the time anyway."
Boom!
An explosion rocked behind them, followed by the orcs' screams.
"About one in twenty hits the jackpot."
Gunpowder weapons were useless in the mana-saturated air, but buried mines diluted the mana concentration, giving them a low chance to detonate.
Boom!
"Another one?"
"...Maybe one in ten."
The lead runner flinched at the second blast, twisting mid-stride and tumbling to the ground. He sprang up with hunter agility but lost his bearings momentarily. Orcs behind, mines ahead—the panic made him forget where he'd planted them.
Where was it again?
The hunter behind shoved his back and yelled.
"Markers up ahead!"
Small stakes they'd driven into the ground, visible only to those who knew what to look for.
Tiny enough to miss at a glance, but painted yellow at the top, they stood out to hunters' sharp eyes.
"Quit panicking and follow!"
A hunter from the second row smoothly took the lead, zigzagging along the marked path. The rest fell in without hesitation.
The last in line kept watch on the rear, maintaining distance to lure the orcs without letting them close. He glanced back often to check the gap.
The explosions had clearly slowed the orcs' pursuit.
Lucky break. They got a taste and calmed down. If things got dicey, the raid leader said he'd detonate a few... Ugh, just thinking about it is nightmare fuel. No way I wanna sprint through a minefield going off.
That was the impression of Jang Deok-gu, the raid leader. The type to hit the trigger regardless of who was in the blast zone.
"Rendezvous point's just ahead! Hang in there!"
The orcs stuck to the narrow path without veering off, shoulders bumping as they pursued. Some sniffed the ground obsessively, just as the leader had predicted—using their sense of smell to detect mines.
With two lucky detonations already, they moved even more cautiously. Their slowed pace gave the hunters breathing room, though it was still no safe zone.
Frustrated at the humans always slipping away—or perhaps growing accustomed to dodging mines—the orcs picked up speed.
"Lead! Ramp it up! A squad leader's tight on our tail!"
"Damn it! We got swept up in the hype and jumped into the raid... but this is too much! What are we, monster bait?!"
"Once this raid's over, I'm quitting for sure. I'm done. Outta here... Hey, not that way! Left turn!"
They finally reached the target spot.
A wide clearing free of mines, cleverly concealed by trees and brush from outside view.
The pursuing orcs poured in one after another. At least twenty by quick count.
Party 1 immediately formed up defensively. No tank meant no frontliner—they spread into a line, spacing out to avoid hindering each other's dodges. A makeshift formation to share the burden of the orcs' attacks.
The enraged orcs charged without order. The hunters deflected the furious assaults, backpedaling constantly. The orcs grew angrier at their nimble foes, pressing harder.
"Gotcha now."
As a hunter leaped back to create distance, a shadow dropped into the orcs' rear.
The bellowing orcs clamped their jaws shut and whipped around. Instinct—they sensed something vicious had arrived.
Three squad leaders. Figures a force this size won't have a company commander tagging along on pulling alone. Might as well thin out the troublesome ones now.
The hunters cheered as Jang Deok-gu clicked his tongue in mild regret and drew his sword.
"Raid leader!"
"Wipe these bastards out!"
"Orcs, you're done for."
As cheers heralded the reversal, Jang Deok-gu tossed out a single line.
"Everyone's fired up. Good. Catch these, then lure the main force."
Silence fell as even the hunters shut their mouths.
What? We're barely hanging on now—hundreds more?
Color drained from their faces.
"Screw this! I'm really quitting~!"
* * *
Jang Deok-gu harried the orcs relentlessly, hit-and-run style.
The power gap made direct confrontation pointless, but threading the narrow safe paths amid minefields kept even aggressive orcs at bay.
A few impatient ones strayed from the path, only for Jang Deok-gu to lure them onto mana stone mines and blow them sky-high. Mistaking it for random detonations, the rest held back.
They must've eaten plenty of mines in Cheorwon. They won't chase if they smell them.
Kang Moo-hyuk's plan was working. Without the mines, he'd never get close—worried about encirclement, the orcs would've forced ranged responses at best.
The issue: sheer numbers meant even this had limits.
Jang Deok-gu ground his teeth. Things weren't easy.
"We've collapsed the Sanjeong 2nd Bridge and mined along the streambed. But I can't guarantee they'll follow upstream without veering off."
"Fingers crossed."
"That won't get half of them."
"Hoo! Still options left—don't count us out."
"Leader set the board this big—hunters handle the rest. Time for field expertise."
"Mine originally. Forgot? I trained her from her teens. Her style's all from me."
"Expect great things. Classic tank fundamentals."
* * *
Yeom Soo-hyung felt dazed throughout the fight.
Drunk. Or half-asleep.
His enlarged body felt possessed, not his own.
The more power he drew, the deeper his consciousness sank.
Still good. Can hold stage 1.
Three-meter giant. His controllable limit for peak performance. He could push to stage 2 with effort, but memories fragmented there.
Just don't hit stage 3. But deep into 2, it slips over unaware. End at 1. No more... Too many sacrifices already. Yeah, 1. Stage 1. Stage 1. Stage 1... Stage 2 max. Yeah, 2. 2. 2...
"Team Leader Yeom!"
Clang!
"Auuugh—"
The head-splitting impact snapped him awake. Nearly devoured in the dream. He'd held stage 1 before, but rust after so long cost control.
Chills ran down his spine.
What if Pyo Beom-hee's backup had been a second late?
Weakened? Or stronger?
Unclear if mental fatigue or trait enhancement.
As Yeom floundered, Pyo Beom-hee—now perched on his shoulder—hoisted the sheathed sword high, aiming for his head. He shook his head frantically.
"Auwurgh."
"Oh? With it now? Sheesh, everyone around me needs a smack to wake up."
"Uuuugh."
"Feeling wronged? Then don't zone out. One more time, and it's blade-plus-mana to the skull. Eheh, orc squad leader to the side. Stomp!"
Thud!
The nearby orc, caught under the massive foot, was crushed without a scream.
"Stay sharp. Hunt orcs."
Pyo leaped down. Charging orcs lunged, but her poison-laced blade flashed—skin blackened, they writhed on the ground, foaming. She finished the fallen with throat stabs, seeking fresh prey.
Tch! No instakills? Orc vitality's insane. Poison resistance off the charts.
She craved stronger venom but couldn't risk it in the melee.
Poison mist didn't discriminate friend from foe. She could direct it somewhat, but wind or humidity scattered it wildly—perfect hunt plans mandatory beforehand.
Direct strikes were fine, though.
Real issue: saving reserves for the giant's rampage.
Pyo prepped for Yeom's stage 2 or 3 berserk. No repeat of past horrors. She'd honed poisons, crafting Yeom-specific combos.
Giant traits demanded massive toxin and mana to breach resistances.
"Hope it doesn't come to that eek, danger danger. We've killed plenty, but endless. Numbers too low. Skills lacking."
Per Kang Moo-hyuk's orders, hold till the main orc force arrived.
Satisfied with early momentum, Pyo issued new orders.
"Party tanks up front! Frontline behind Raid Leader Yeom! Hold mode! Wall up, line control tight! Anyone breaks, I kill first!"
* * *
As fierce battles raged on both flanks, footsteps echoed in the supposedly empty guild HQ.
In Kang Moo-hyuk's office, someone else gripped the receiver.
"Yes, Chairman."
"Misunderstanding. I serve Taeseong Group, not just Director Tae Su-man."
"Taeseong is you, Chairman. I serve Tae Jin-seong."
"I know what you want. I'll deliver."
"Destroy Joo Se-ah's nest. Hatchlings seek the mother without one, right?"
A chill raced up Jo Choong-hyeon's spine. "A few" meant more than one or two.
No ethics for ends. Lives as numbers.
This is Tae Jin-seong. Blood-and-tears sobriquet fits—utterly pitiless.
Shaken by the casual ruthlessness, he steadied himself.
"Heard from Director Tae Su-man. Leader's surprisingly frank with him—even your talks. Earned some trust, but makes enemies too."
"Too slow. Trust Kang Moo-hyuk? Give time, who knows what he'll unleash. Neither of you seem the type to trust people in business..."
Silence crossed the line. Jo waited anxiously.
Gamble. My guild footing's slipping. Director Tae leans more to Leader now. I was watching him—now reversed. This'll end in a quiet boot.
Orc fiasco cornered him further. Post-crisis, Kang would take his head—he was sure.
Hoarse breaths rasped, then voice returned.
"Yes. Perfect window."
"Sabotage Kang Moo-hyuk's plan. Iron Will crumbles."
Jo clenched his fist.
Success!
Hiding elation, he replied evenly.
"As you wish, Chairman. It will surely happen."