Chapter 126: Escape from the open

The rhythmic hum of the helicopter's blades slicing through the air grew louder as the aircraft descended toward the city, casting ominous shadows across the debris-laden streets below.Inside, tension is so heavy in the copter.

The soldiers, clad in tactical gear, each with rifles secured to their chests, sat in silence, their gazes locked on the small windows where the ruins of the city sprawled out beneath them.

Yet, amidst the wreckage, something else caught their attention—moving figures.

A horde of orcs.

Sergeant Kim, the squad leader, was the first to speak, breaking the uneasy quiet with a sharp intake of breath. "There they are," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed in disbelief.

His fingers tapped restlessly against his rifle, the weight of the decision ahead pressing down on him.

Beside him, Corporal Han adjusted his helmet, voice tight with concern.

"Should we fire now? We could wipe them out before they even see us."

His hand hovered near the trigger of the mounted machine gun, the urge to act already pulsating through his veins.

The radio crackled, and Lin Seok's calm voice came through, cutting through the uncertainty like a knife. "No."

The soldiers exchanged confused glances.

Lin Seok's reputation preceded him.

He was one of the Pillars, an elite group of warriors, but this was different.

These weren't just ordinary enemies—they were orcs, massive, hulking creatures who had just destroyed half the city.

The decision to hold fire seemed counterintuitive, almost suicidal.

"Sir," Sergeant Kim began, his voice steady but laced with worry. "We've got a clear shot from up here. Are you sure you don't want us to—"

"Hold your fire," Lin Seok interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "They've already noticed us. Dropping warriors into that mess without thinking first could cost us more than we gain."

The soldiers exchanged uneasy looks, then reluctantly followed orders.

The preparation for an attack was painstakingly slow as they geared up, ensuring every clip was full, every grenade properly secured.

There was a certain ritual to it, a process that calmed their nerves even as their hearts raced faster.

Sergeant Kim ran a hand over his rifle, checking the sights for the third time, while others tightened their harnesses, their bodies tense with anticipation.

Meanwhile, Lin Seok peered through the front of the helicopter, his sharp eyes locking onto the orcs below.

He was calm—too calm for the situation, which unnerved some of the younger soldiers.

As the chopper dipped lower, the details of the orcs became clearer.

They weren't just mindless brutes. seaʀᴄh thё NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

No, these creatures moved with purpose, their hulking frames casting long shadows as they made their way toward the intact part of the city, avoiding the half they had already decimated.

Corporal Han, peering through a scope, frowned. "They're moving away from the destruction. Sir, they're heading toward the untouched part of the city."

Lin Seok's brow furrowed slightly, his mind racing as he processed the orcs' strategy. It wasn't just brute force that had gotten them this far.

They were being tactical. He leaned forward, studying their movement, and then it clicked.

"They're using the humans as shields," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His lips curled into a smile. "Smart."

Sergeant Kim glanced back, unsure if he had heard correctly. "Smart, sir?"

"They destroyed half the city," Lin Seok said, sitting back, his arms crossed over his chest. "But they've left the other half standing. There are still humans in those buildings, and those orcs know it. They're counting on us hesitating because of the civilians."

The helicopter rattled slightly as it adjusted its course, and the soldiers in the back, now fully prepped and ready, held onto their gear.

They were itching for a fight, but Lin Seok's words made them pause. The idea of using humans as shields sent a ripple of discomfort through the cabin.

Private Lee, his voice barely above a whisper, looked toward Sergeant Kim. "What if they're right? What if we can't fire without hitting civilians?"

Sergeant Kim's jaw tightened, his thoughts racing.

The orcs weren't mindless monsters—this was a calculated move.

They were forcing the soldiers into a moral dilemma: fire and risk civilian lives, or hold back and give the orcs an advantage. His mind churned with possibilities, the weight of every decision pressing down on him.

Lin Seok's gaze swept over his squad. He could see the hesitation, the uncertainty etched into their faces.

They were soldiers, trained to follow orders, but this situation was testing them in ways they hadn't anticipated. And Lin Seok couldn't blame them.

He chuckled softly, breaking the tension. "Do these orcs really think they've got the upper hand just because there are humans in the buildings?"

Sergeant Kim shot him a glance. "With all due respect, sir, they might."

Lin Seok waved a hand dismissively. "Let me handle them."

Corporal Han, glancing at Lin Seok's serene expression, frowned. "Sir, are you sure? These creatures—"

"They're underestimating us." Lin Seok's eyes flashed with confidence. "They think we won't attack because they've taken cover among the civilians. But they've forgotten one thing."

"And what's that?" Sergeant Kim asked, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

Lin Seok's grin widened as he checked the sword strapped to his side, its blade gleaming faintly even in the dim light of the helicopter.

"We're the Pillars."

The soldiers shifted uneasily, still unsure.

They knew the Pillars were powerful, beyond ordinary soldiers, but facing a horde of orcs that had already torn through a city seemed like a different kind of fight.

The helicopter trembled slightly as it neared the ground.

The sound of its rotors beating through the air grew louder, and the tension inside the cabin reached a boiling point.

Suddenly, the orcs below, as if sensing the impending arrival of the soldiers, raised their massive shields.

The glint of metal and roughhide reflected in the sunlight as the shields locked into place, creating a barrier between the orcs and the helicopters above.

Sergeant Kim swore under his breath. "They're preparing for an assault."

Corporal Han leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "They're smarter than we thought, sir. They're moving toward the buildings that are still intact."

From their elevated vantage point, the soldiers watched as the orcs made their way toward the remaining structures, their shields raised defensively.

In the distance, human civilians could be seen through the shattered windows of the buildings—people, huddled in fear, unaware that they were being used as leverage in a brutal game of survival.

Lin Seok's eyes gleamed with amusement. "They think we won't attack them because of the civilians."

He stood up from his seat, the low ceiling of the helicopter making him duck slightly as he approached the front of the cabin.

The soldiers watched him closely, their hands still gripping their weapons, uncertain of what was about to happen next.

Without warning, Lin Seok turned to the military personnel seated near the cockpit. "Drop us," he ordered, his voice steady and firm.

The personnel looked shocked, exchanging bewildered glances before one of them stammered, "Sir, are you sure? There are still civilians down there. If we drop—"

Lin Seok raised a hand, cutting him off. His expression was calm but resolute. "Trust me. We can handle it. The Pillars will deal with the orcs. The civilians won't be harmed."

The military personnel hesitated for only a moment before nodding.

They had no reason to doubt a Pillar, after all.

Lin Seok's confidence was contagious, and soon, the others in the helicopter began to feel it too.

As the helicopter prepared for the drop, Sergeant Kim leaned toward Corporal Han. "We're really doing this?"

Corporal Han shook his head with a bemused smile. "If Lin Seok says he can handle it, I'm not going to argue."

The aircraft descended lower, the city's broken landscape rising up to meet them.

Lin Seok stood at the ready, his eyes locked on the orc horde below, their shields still raised, unaware of what was about to hit them.

"Let's show them what the Pillars are made of," Lin Seok said, his voice low but brimming with anticipation.

And then, without another word, they dropped.