Chapter 40

╔══════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══════╗

╚══════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══════╝

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

Several hours ago.

Cree… … .

In a dark eerie clearing surrounded by trees. A group of orcs were devouring something.

The orcs had their own feast, ripping off the meat of beasts. In the middle of the group was an orc with a head one bigger than the others.

Unlike other orcs, this big guy with considerable armament was not only large in size, but also a monster with extraordinary momentum.

Then, a creature he had never seen before came into his eyes.

A strange-looking beast that walked on two feet like them.

He was puzzled, but his doubts didn’t last long. The fact that it would be feasted upon wouldn’t change.

Kooloog!

He gave orders to his men. To grab that weird-looking beast right away.

Each of his men stood up from their meal and grabbed their weapons. Unlike his own, their weapons were crude, made of stones and wood.

Still, there was no shortage of them to hit the bait.

The chief orc raised the corners of his mouth as he watched his men rushing wildly into the trees.

It was shortly after that a wild bright light unfurled.

Whooosh!

A spear fired from the strange beast’s hand turned into lightning and struck them.

Koolook!

As if one was suddenly hit by a flashlight, the leader orc recoiled his head from the momentary distant sight.

When he opened his eyes, his subordinates had collapsed.

“This should be the last one in this forest.”

The chief orc was greatly surprised by the voice he heard right in front of him.

He was terrified and swung his glaive, but such a clumsy blow just won’t work.

Do-joon spun the retrieved spear once, and stabbed into the neck of the head.

[Poison (Low)]

A purple light slightly reflected on the tip of the spear. It was a skill copied from the hunting poison pouch the other day.

Although the poison evaporates when the spear turns into lightning, it can be used without problems when stabbing directly as such.

Grrrrrrrr…..

With a gaping hole in its neck and poison circulating through its body.

The chief orc staggered before falling down like the rest of his men.

“Whew.”

Do-joon took a deep breath and sat down on a nearby tree stump. He pulled out something.

It was a map depicting the Orc labyrinth.

‘There was no boss in this forest either.’

The place was so wide that he couldn’t just walk around recklessly. While Do-joon was hunting, he also drew a map of the orc labyrinth.

There were many difficulties because it was a grassland area without any significant landmarks. He just clumsily drew based on the trees and rocks that stood out.

‘Next, I’ll go to the rocky mountain over there.’

It was the largest mountain near this forest. Infact, the tallest he has ever seen here.

The next target was there.

‘First, let’s take some items.’

Do-joon got up after patting off his butt and went around examining the dead orcs.

There was still nothing new for the ordinary orcs. So, Do-joon looked at the information window for the Named Orc.

‘Huh?’

And, there was something he saw for the first time.

Do-joon picked up the item.

【Orc Centurion Boots (Set)】

– Additional defense 12

– Agility -1 Lv

【Middle Orc Kingdom Centurion Set】

– Centurion’s Boots

– Centurion’s Helmet

– Centurion’s Breastplate

— “These pigs. So foolish. They need to put them all together to activate the effect.” ―

[Set option]

– Destruction +5Lv

– Vitality +5 Lv

– Damage increases by 10% to the Orc race.

‘A set?’

There has never been anything like this on the market.

However, intuitively, he could see what item it was. It was an item that would activate the set option when he wore all the boots, helmet, and breastplate together.

‘Hold on.’

Do-joon acted reflexively first. He tried using the copy skill.

The result was.

[You can copy one of the options of “Orc Centurion’s Boots (Set)” to “Kim Do-joon”.]

[Copyable options]

He was very satisfied.

There were five options. Obviously, there were options that had to match the set, along with the general options.

And what he chose was decided.

‘Number 5.’

[Copied successfully.]

[Additional option]

– Damage increases by 10% to the Orc race.

Unlike the options that can be replaced by any number of items, this option appeared to be unique to only this item.

It was a honey option that added a whopping 10% more damage. Although it is said to be limited to the Orc race, Orcs were one of the most common monsters seen in dungeons.

It would probably show considerable efficiency.

‘Where are the other two?’

Do-joon searched the dead body of the head orc. However, the helmet and breastplate items were not on the corpse.

Apparently, the other orcs in this labyrinth seemed to possess them.

‘Now I have more reasons to explore.’

He only thought it was just a simple item collecting dungeon, but there was an option to use it like this.

Do-joon smiled and headed to the rocky mountain he had aimed for.

And under the rocky mountain that he arrived at.

Do-joon discovered a pile of orc corpses, one on top of the other.

* * *

‘What is this?’

Do-joon became curious in front of the pile of corpses.

The dead bodies of Orcs themselves were not uncommon since he saw a lot of fighting among themselves.

However, the number of corpses was higher than ever.

‘Kuruk, Karak!’

At that time, he heard the cries of orcs from the top of the mountain.

Do-joon hid himself in the shadow of a rock and looked up. There, he saw an orc dragging a corpse and throwing it down the mountain.

Thuuud!

And the dead body fell on the pile of dead bodies that Do-joon observed. One could only guess why such a pile was formed.

‘Something must be up there.’

For some reason, an orc appeared at the top of the mountain, and it seems that dead orcs were being dumped here.

Do-joon scanned the dead bodies once and when he confirmed that there were no items, he began to scale the rocky mountain.

An hour of climbing with caution, he couldn’t know when he would be caught by the Orcs.

Once there, He witnessed an interesting sight.

“Kurre!”

“Kuruk! Ka!”

Two orcs were competing one-on-one on a rock reminiscent of a gigantic stage.

While dozens of orcs beside it were roaring and stamping their weapons on the ground.

It was a ceremony to elect the great master of the Orc tribe.

‘What is this?’

Of course, Do-joon didn’t know that. However, after observing for some time, he was able to figure out what was going on.

‘What are they doing?’

However, even after grasping it, the mystery did not go away. What the hell was this duel for?….

It was strange for the winner to continue to fight constantly in the first place. No matter how strong he was, if he continued to duel with other challengers, wouldn’t he get tired and lose at some point?

However, there was no break or anything like that, and only the fight continued.

However, Do-joon’s question was soon resolved.

“Creek… … . Kuraak! Kuraak!”

There was one who looked several heads larger than the others. Countless scars marked it’s face as well as on the whole body.

An orc that appeared even more like a monster even when being surrounded by other orcs.

【Orc Warrior Urth】

As the guy brutally ripped his opponent apart and roared, the other fighters could be seen withering away.

Thus, no more challengers came up.

‘It was for picking a guy like that.’

A ceremony to select a warrior who could terrify everyone.

Urth, who roared with a thick vein standing on his neck, swung the spear he held and overwhelmed the other Orcs.

While Do-joon watched.

― Let go of me, you little bast*rd! How dare a piglet touch this body of mine!!

Question marks appeared on his face from the voice coming from somewhere.

It was coming from the side where the orcs were gathered. However, Do-joon had never heard of an orc that spoke.

Could it be that someone was hiding there?

With that thought, he looked between them until his eyes were dry, but there was no one who looked like a human being.

― Jeez! What the hell! Where are all the other fellas and why do I only see Orcs?

Even in the midst of that, he could hear that voice continuously. Do-joon’s hearing traced through the source of this voice.

And soon, he realized that it was coming out of the spear that Urth was holding.

Do-joon exhaled a short breath.

‘Nonsense.’

A talking spear?

It was ridiculous. It was even more bizarre than a talking orc.

Rather, it would have been more credible that Urth the Orc spoke.

However,

【Hymn of Ushas, Cursed Demon Spear】

Rank

– Unique

Classification

– Weapon

Effect

– Legend has it that at the time of its birth, it pierced the continent, separating the land from the water. It is only a simple legend, but for the Ushas Empire, its symbolism was great. However, with the fall of the empire, it was cursed and fell into obscurity.

– Indestructible

– Sealed ego

As the information window showed, it seemed that it was right for the spear to speak.

* * *

Urth looked at the orcs below his feet.

He smirked.

Look at those faces overwhelmed by their own spirit! All of them were warriors, but they were still newbies. They were only kids who were afraid to even make eye contact with him, let alone a challenge.

Then someone approached.

“Cree?”

Who was he? First of all, he was not of the same kind. He was too small and dwarfed to be of their kind.

Urth didn’t know who he was. But he knew one thing.

The thing that came straight his way with a spear in his hand. He was most likely here to challenge him.

Keureukleuk!

He started to laugh. It was still better than the rest of his kin, who couldn’t even budge, so what would he do?

With that thin body, almost the size of his thigh, he could wield a spear properly anywhere!

He can’t help it though. When a challenger appears, it is the fate of a great warrior to fight.

From this moment, Urth thought of only one thing.

He would bless his victory by soaking himself in the blood of that tiny fellow.

Urth swung the spear.

Meanwhile,

― What are you? You are human! right? Hahaha! Nice to meet you, nice to meet you! It’s been a while since I saw a person again!

Do-joon’s expression as he saw the flying spear was subtly distorted.

As if the subway was approaching and the sound was getting louder and louder, the spear flooded and the old man’s voice became louder and louder. Like a stereo.

‘I’ll kill him first.’

Of course, he had a lot of questions to be concerned about.

But for now, the first thing to do was to get rid of the monster named Urth.

Claaannk!

Do-joon lifted the thunderbolt and blocked the spear. At that moment, the spear vibrated and his hands rumbled.

The corners of Urth’s lips twitched at the fact that his attack was blocked. However, the second attack immediately flew in.

In a short blink of an eye, numerous combinations of attacks came and went. Dodging, stabbing, blocking, and clogging.

Do-joon’s concentration gradually increased in a subtle balance of power that would otherwise be broken.

However.

― Ew, that’s not how you pierce it. Tsk tsk tsk.

Whenever the combination of moves goes back and forth a couple of times.

― Oh man, this is frustrating. You should have aimed and stabbed the thigh there! What are you doing stupidly?

Do-joon’s eyebrows twitched at the sound of the tips and teachings from the side.

― Yes. That’s right. There. There. You managed to hit him with that skill. Let’s knock this down quickly. There’s a lot I want to ask.

Is this what it feels like to hear lessons at Tapgol Park?

(T/N: Tapgol Park is in Seoul, South Korea. This park was once a site of Wongaksa, a Buddhist Temple.)

He couldn’t do that even if he didn’t care. Wasn’t it the sound from the opponent’s weapon in the middle of a fight?

Still, Do-joon endured it.

Soon.

Swooosh!

With his axe that he took out by surprise, he chopped off Urth’s wrist and succeeded in snatching the noisy spear.

― That’s right! Yes, yes. Just do what I say!

And at the same time, Do-joon exploded.

“Shut up, old man.”

― What, what! Shut up? Oh my, people in the neighborhood! This young man grabbed this old man, and caught him!

Whoo… … . Do-joon sighed.

Urth, glared at him as if he was going to kill him, rushed at him. The Named Orcs under the podium waited for the outcome of the battle with their eyes wide open.

And the spear, that was the purpose, was in his hand.

Do-joon, after confirming that he had everything.

“Return.”

He used the return skill.

Looking at his opponent, who had disappeared in an instant, Urth poured out the anger that he had no way of reaching Do-joon.