Chapter 55: Tag of Death (6)

Chapter 55: Tag of Death (6)

[Courageous Soldier]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to one who defeats the Orc Lord in a duel.

Effect: +10 to all stats when fighting an enemy at a higher level than you.

"Yes!" Kai screamed, forgetting he was recording.

The title was truly worth getting that kind of reaction.

What kind of effect is this? I've never heard of anything like it!

Images and names of numerous monsters flashed through his mind.

My level is merely 65.

While Kai had made a lot of progress, he still had a long way to go so he found this title to be as sweet as rain in a drought; it was a catalyst for growth.

No need to look too far.

Turning his head, Kai looked at the Orc Sorcerer and the members of the Black Bee guild.

After momentarily watching the fight, he quickly started to recover his Stamina and health.

It looks like they need a seeker over there too.

***

"Potions! It doesn’t matter what, so just give me any potion!" Claude yelled desperately, pale-faced.

"Damn it! I’ve already given you so many! I don't have any left!"

"I already gave you everything I had."

"I can't even refill my health right now!"

"Just hold on a little longer! We've almost got the Orc Sorcerer, so we can go back to the village and treat you after."

"Anyway, why is this bastard's magic defense so high!?"

They had to be extremely talented in order to be scouted by the Black Bee guild, so it was highly unlikely for even an Orc Sorcerer to last forever when seven Wizards from the guild were working together.

And yet, even after over twenty minutes of battle, the Orc Sorcerer’s remaining health still had 7% left.

"Fuck, do you think I don’t know that! I’m asking for potions because I can’t hold on!"

Claude was the next-generation ranker who carried the Black Bee guild's expectations on his shoulders as the promising talent who showed the fastest growth rate in the guild's history. But right now, he was whining for more potions as he looked at his health bar.

[8%, 7%, 6%....]

His health dropped every second!

The look in his eyes changed. Previously it showed resignation as if he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness but now, it was full of rage and hatred.

Claude turned his head to look at Kai as he cursed, “How dare you trick us! The guild will get you back...”

He trailed off.

When did that bastard... kill the Orc Lord?

Only sparkling polygons remained where the Orc Lord had been!

At the same time, a chill ran down his spine, and his boiling blood cooled.

Then where's Unknown?

If he were in the same situation as Unknown, what would he have done next? To infer someone’s actions, one had to understand their characteristics.

Claude's mind raced.

He’s a hunter. There's no doubt about it.

He wasn’t just any hunter. He was a brutal and greedy hunter intending to devour the Black Bee guild, one of the world's top ten guilds.

Claude's worry ended the moment he realized this fact.

Then he shouted, veins bulging out of his neck, "Be careful!"

The moment he let out the warning, Claude realized it was already too late.

[You have died.]

His screen turned gray and the last thing it captured were skulls falling from the sky.

***

Kai was able to summon level 50 gnoll skeletons using the Staff of the Undead Gnoll Chieftain. Those Skeletons had saved Kai's life numerous times and had even turned impossible battles around.

But now that won’t work.

The reason he hadn’t summoned the gnoll skeletons when fighting against the Orc Lord was simple. They stood no chance anyway. A normal monster with a mere level of 50 couldn't stand against a level raid monster. Even with the powerful buffs from a Solaris Cleric, that fact wouldn't change.

They were one-shot kills even for the Wyrm Lizard, so there’s no need to even check.

Therefore, Kai refrained from summoning the gnoll skeletons, even though he wanted to. He thought it wouldn't work against the Orc Lord, and the same went for the Orc Sorcerer.

However, the orcs weren't the only ones he needed to take down here.

"Th-these are...."

"They’re the Skeletons from Unknown's video!"

"And there are even more of them than before!"

The gnoll skeletons were a trump card reserved for the Black Bee guild from the start.

Of course, the Black Bee guild, with an average level over 80, had no reason to be afraid of gnoll skeletons. The attack power and HP of a mere level 50 gnoll skeleton could easily be disregarded.

"Pff, just burn the skeletons and that's it!"

"Looking at them now, they're only level 50."

"Did he really think we're some forgettable trash guild?"

Of course, the eight gnoll skeletons that charged forward without worrying about defense were annoying. Although it wasn't painful, not even a tickle, it was annoying for the Black Bee guild members since they got hit at least once while they were facing the Orc Sorcerers.

Unknown should know something like this wouldn't work....

Why would he bother with such a useless act?

Is there some other trick up his sleeve?

Unknown's actions were utterly incomprehensible!

Indeed, they weren’t understandable, that was... until a brief message window popped up.

[You have been poisoned by Fermi's Venom. Vitality decreased by 1,000 every second until detoxified.]

[You’ve received 4,157 damage.]

[You have been afflicted by Burn. You receive 350 damage per second.]

[You’ve received 3,187 damage.]

With each hit, Kai's health bar rocked like a shipwreck!

Kai's mouth also moved quickly.

"Sunlight’s Warmth, Sunlight’s Warmth, Sunlight’s Warmth!”

Honestly, Kai didn't care how many times he got hit or how much damage he took.

As long as I don't die!

He could just recover more than the damage taken through healing skills!

"Hm?"

When the Orc Sorcerer saw that Kai showed no signs of falling after being hit by numerous magic spells, he was taken aback. The rate at which his opponent's health decreased was slower than his own health going down!

The moment he realized this, he wanted to retreat, but the fight had already become a tug-of-war. Retreating now meant getting severely hit and losing the battle.

Boom, boom! Fwoosh!

Slash, slash! Stab!

It wasn’t a battle of spear against shield, but spear against spear!

Neither side dodged or defended as attacks flew relentlessly toward each other.

"Huff! Die, human!"

"Heroes never die!"

Kai's eyes sparkled as he shouted boldly.

Now!

Even an Orc Sorcerer had cooldowns between skill uses.

After being hit by its magic tens of times, Kai memorized those cooldown times and dodged an incoming Ice Spear.

"Huh!? Y-you're not supposed to dodge that!"

The Orc Sorcerer was taken aback.

But Kai was someone who ignored any unspoken rules unless they were explicitly stated in a contract!

At the same time, his sword started to gain rotational force. It was a secret skill he had saved for this moment!

"Flood of Blades!"

Like a drill, his sword spun and pierced through the Orc Sorcerer's side, penetrating straight to the heart.

A mournful cry, like that of a pig being slaughtered, echoed through the orc village.

At that moment, Kai's face became pale.

[Holy Power is too low. Supernova skill has been canceled.]

[You have used all of your Holy Power. All abilities are weakened by 10% until Holy Power is restored to 30% or higher.]

I-I’m doomed.

It was the last strike he had thrown everything into when there was only one second left of Supernova. If this attack didn’t kill the Orc Sorcerer, he would be the one to suffer!

Then, another message window popped up in front of Kai who stood there, frozen.

Please... die, die, die!

Unfortunately, it wasn't a message announcing the death of the Orc Sorcerer.

[Night has fallen. All abilities of monsters increase by 30% while drop rates and XP increase by 20%.]

"Damn it! I'm really screwed now!" Kai sighed with a gloomy face.

It was said that unlucky people were unlucky in everything they did, and it seemed to be true!

He was as annoyed as being bitten by a mosquito, especially on the sole of the foot.

Meanwhile, the Orc Sorcerer slowly approached Kai.

"Huff...."

The Orc Sorcerer, panting heavily, narrowed the distance between itself and Kai.

"H-huh? Wait, you're getting too close."

Taken aback, Kai threw himself to the side to avoid the approaching Orc Sorcerer.

Thud!

Just then, the Orc Sorcerer just collapsed!

After taking a closer look, its HP had already dropped to 0%.

"Ph-phew...."

The tension in Kai’s body during the battle was released, and he collapsed. Even though he got covered in dirt and sand, he didn't mind it at that moment.

[+1,000 expedition points.]

[Eradicate the Orc Sorcerer quest completed. Visit Baron Arsen to receive your reward.]

[Night bonus applied.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

[+10 stat points.]

[Special title acquired: Orc Sorcerer Slayer.]

He caught the Orc Lord, the Orc Sorcerer, and even the Black Bee guild! The reward for catching three fish with one hook was anything but poor.

Dang, the timing for the night bonus was perfect too.

Night had fallen just before the Orc Sorcerer died. As a result, additional XP and drop rate bonuses were applied to the Orc Sorcerer that Kai killed. Thanks to this, he leveled up two times despite having minimal contribution!

Kai chuckled at this unbelievable luck as he noticed the rewards scattered on the ground.

"I'm exhausted, but I still have to check."

Kai wondered which one out of the Orc Lord, the Orc Sorcerer, and the Black Bee guild members dropped the best item.

In the face of this delightful wonder, Kai forgot his fatigue and sprang to his feet.