Chapter 131

The orc room, as the name implied, was filled with orcs. At a glance, the distance of the archers from the entrance was the same as the length of the runway. Considering how strong orcs were, they should have no trouble reaching it with their arrows.

The orcs saw me as I burst into the room. However, I was faster than their bow hands, and they could not stop me as I crashed into their line. My swords thrust into the first orc in front of me, but I didn’t stop there. I broke through the wall, dug my heels into the dirt and stopped as I arrived in the center of the throng.

The first orc, who had been stabbed, now rolled lifelessly to the ground. I left the sword in the corpse as I commanded the blue magic energy in the room. I was forming ice bullets. I knew how to do it and what the results would look like through Jack of all Trades, Master of None.

“Icicle Bullet-Around Shot.”

I didn’t need anything with the length of arrows. I recreated that same bullet I had used to hunt forest wolves with Daniela that first time. I created countless bullets on every side. Thankfully, these small bullets did not require too much magic. They were smaller than the ice used for drinks. Still, the effects should be devastating with this number.

The magic had a name in the vein of the magic schools, and as the name suggested, it went in all directions. I knew what the result would look like. The ice bullets would shoot the orcs dead. They wouldn’t miss. It was impossible to escape so many bullets.

As expected, all the orcs within range now sunk to the ground. And it was just as the archers who had survived pointed their bows at me that the Adventurers, led by Virgil, came down the runway like a screaming avalanche. Virgil saw me standing in the center of the pile of corpses and he laughed with a twisted smile. So, beat your expectations, did I?

“Asagi has done it! Let’s go!”

The Adventurers roared in reply as they ran behind Virgil. The archers frantically pointed their arrows at the Adventurers once again. In any case, my objective was Mordred. His presence was large and Presence Detection caught it immediately. I swung around to see a dark orc who was much bigger than the others. He was holding a white sword and glaring at me with hatred.

“So you’re Mordred, I suppose? You’re going to have to die for attacking that village. Also, I’ll be wanting Arthur’s sword back!”

“BBRRGGRAAAOOOGH!!!”

Mordred thrust the sword forward as he shouted orders to the surrounding orcs. He must be one of the most advanced of his species. I could tell that he was moderately intelligent. No doubt he had also learned things from Arthur, as he was quick to make decisions.

The pale, ash-colored orcs that surrounded Mordred now rushed at me with their swords. They gave no regard to their fallen comrades as they trampled them in their charge.

“BBMOARGRGH!!”

“Hphh…woah!!”

I pulled out my sword from the corpse and blocked the first attacker’s sword with the Ashikirimaru, then I swung the Glampanzer and cut off his sword arm. The orc froze in shock before I plunged Ashikirimaru into his heart. After that, I continued to cut my way through the onrush of orcs as I made my way forward.

“BGORGH!”

“GMOGH!!”

Two orcs came swinging at the same time in an attempt to stop me. If I blocked it, I was sure that the orc behind them would attack me. If there was no point in blocking it, then I should dodge it. With Legs of the Forest Wolf, I accelerated in a flash, sliding through the swords of the two orcs and coming out the other end to slam my fist into the stomach of the orc who stood behind them. Then I swirled around and thrust my sword in their open backs. I pulled the blades out and the two crumpled to the ground. The orc who I had punched began to pull himself off the ground, and so I let loose a kick that was aided by silver and green wind. Immediately, the orc took the kind of damage only dozens of razers could have inflicted at once. He rolled on the ground in pain as I slid my blade into his neck. And I move forward.

“BMORGH!! BMORRGH!!”

Mordred howls. However, the remaining ash-colored orcs seemed to have realized they were no match for me, and they freeze in their tracks. They had already run from us before. It was actually impressive that they came again. However, they did not have the courage to attack for a third time.

Mordred’s teeth ground in frustration when his subordinates would not move as he ordered.

“Asagi.”

A voice came unexpectedly from my side. Daniela was walking up to me. Blood was splattered on her cheek.

“Daniela. What about the archers?”

“Virgil and the others are taking care of it. So is that one Mordred?”

“Yeah. And that’s probably Excalibur he’s holding there.”

I glanced behind me and saw the Adventurers fighting the orcs. But orcs with bows were not going to be the best with close quarters combat. Their numbers were falling rapidly. I was a little relieved as I turned away.

The huge, dark orc was still carrying the white sword that belonged to the white orc. He raised the sword now and swung down onto the head of the closest orc. Unsurprisingly, the orc’s head split open and he died.

“Bastard. He’s got quite a temper.”

“It is very sad. To kill your own subordinates.”

Human or monster, you were finished once you started to act like that.

You couldn’t survive on a battlefield if you couldn’t keep your calm.

Well, it was time for him to pay with his life. He had trampled over Arthur’s expectations and attacked and burned down a village. Only his death could make up for that.

Daniela and I stood side by side as we advanced towards Mordred. None of the other orcs would attack us now.

Mordred’s face flinched as he took a step back. Having no intention of allowing him to escape, we began to run. The distance was bridged in a flash. Panicked, Mordred swung the Excalibur down at us. I crossed the Glampanzer and Ashikirimaru in front of me to block it. Daniela took advantage of the moment and aimed for Mordred’s heart with her rapier, but he twisted his body and moved away. He was rather quick for someone his size.

Daniela struck at him again, but Mordred countered her attacks with surprising skill and quick feet. All the while I kept him in my vision. Perhaps being in this position had an effect on his nerves, because I didn’t see any inattentiveness in his eyes anymore. But it didn’t matter what state he was in. I would kill him. Just as Daniela altered a thrust into an upward swing, I moved in between them. His shocked face looked down at me. I would take his mobility first. I thrust my swords between his legs and swung outwards.

“BGUAGH!!”

There was a hoarse scream as the blue blood gushed from his inner thighs. He would not be so quick on his feet now.

Mordred burned with rage as he brought his sword down over my head, but I intercepted it with an Ice Shield I had generated. He continued to press down over it, but I had put so much power into it, that for now, the force on each side of the sword and shield seemed to be equal. Of course, that meant he was wide open.

“He’s open!”

Daniela’s stinging thrust pierced through Mordred’s face. Drops of blood dripped onto the clear, ice shield. Just as I felt the tension on the shield weaken, I pushed back and followed with a shield bash. Mordred reeled and then fell on his backside. Blood was dripping from his left eye. That was where Daniela’s sword had pierced. I stood next to her as she flung the blood off her sword.

“He’s pretty strong.”

“Aye. One of the strongest I have ever fought.”

We kept our swords ready as Mordred glared at us through his remaining right eye. Wounded monsters were sometimes the most dangerous.

Mordred used the Excalibur as a cane as he stood up. But then he thrust his empty left hand at us, instead of the right hand which gripped the sword. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what to do. And that turned out to be a lethal mistake. I should never have assumed that an orc was incapable of it.

“No!”

Daniela pushed me hard to the side. My vision shook from the impact. However, even through that blur, I could see something unbelievable. The left hand that Mordred had thrust out was enveloped by crimson magical energy. It turned into magic and then shot out towards us as a ball of fire.

“Tsk…!”

The heat burned my skin. But I was more worried about Daniela. She was still on the ground after pushing me away, and had been swallowed up by the fire.

“DANIELA!!”

The flames rose in a sudden blaze and then there was an explosion. I could do nothing as the force of it launched me into the air.

I flew with the wind until I was dropped over a pile of corpses. But the tragedy was far from over.

“Gggguh….!!”

A sharp pain ran through my left arm. The pain and the heat made me see colors and I felt dizzy. My forehead was covered in sweat as I looked down at my left arm. It was under my poncho. I pulled up my sleeve and saw that my upper arm had been pierced by the sword of an orc. The fabric was soaking up the blood rapidly. I had been so carried away in the slaughter. I never thought that I would let my guard down here, but I just couldn’t believe that an orc would use magic. It was an unguardedness that came from ignorance.

“Damn it…!”

Still, there was no time to lie around. I tried to get up without widening the wound, but the sensation of the blade sliding out of my arm sent a horrible pain through my body. I had very personal reasons for not wanting to be stabbed. It wasn’t just a matter of intense pain. My hand shook as Ashikirimaru fell from its grip.

“Da-Daniela…Daniela…!”

I put down the Glampanzer in order to put Ashikirmaru back into its sheath. Then I picked up the Glampanzer again and searched for Daniela. I couldn’t see the hated figure of Mordred. I didn’t even know where to look.

“Asagi! Daniela is safe!”

Virgil’s voice rang in my ears. I looked towards where the sound was coming from and saw Virgil holding an unconscious Daniela.

“I was somehow able to save her with my magic! You go and chase him!”

I nodded as Virgil pointed me in the direction that Mordred had gone. My legs felt so weak as they moved. When I arrived at the spot, there was a hole in the wall and a tunnel. The tunnel leading to the valley floor…

I looked down at my left hand. It was red with blood that dripped off the points of my fingers. I had to finish him before I lost consciousness from blood loss… That was the only thing on my mind as I went down the tunnel.