Chapter 4

Orc Hunt II

The orc walked through the open road with complete confidence .

It lorded over its surroundings while it wielded a boorish club .

It had great confidence as it knew that it was a predator .

But alas, who could blame it? Confidence breeds personality . And that also allows it to avoid unwanted trouble .

However, today, that isn’t the case .

Because that Orc is headed towards the trap that we prepared last night .

Lying hidden amongst the thicket, I eagerly awaited its demise .

“Guu . . ”

But just right before it stepped over the trap, that orc that looked like it didn’t have the slightest bit of brain in it, suddenly stopped .

Its nose twitching, the orc was wary of its surroundings as cold sweat permeated the orc .

At the back of my head, I couldn’t help but hope that the orc would quickly move .

“Guoruoo!”

The orc roared .

Just when I thought we may have been discovered, I heard a scream bellow next to me .

“Ga, ga, gaa!”

One of the goblins beside me was panicked after hearing the orc’s cry . In its panic, it exited the thickets .

Immediately, without even having the time to worry, the orc’s sight moved towards the panicked goblin .

“Gugaa!”

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue as I jumped out .

“Stay… there . ”

I ordered my other subordinates that, as I swung the chipped blade of my long sword against the orc .

Its skin was so frighteningly tough, that as soon as my sword came into contact with it, my fingers became numb .

It was as if I had just swung against a giant tree .

And just as I had expected, the orc wasn’t the slightest bit hurt from my attack .

Irritated, the orc roared in anger as it turned its eyes towards me .

At the same moment, I felt my guts begin to quiver . And as if my body was greatly burdened, my arms and my legs became heavy .

The stare of that orc was such that it felt like I was underwater . I wasn’t even able to breathe .

What is this!?

Slowly, it brandished its club .

In response to that, my body couldn’t help but move slowly .

“I’m going to die,” that feeling made itself visible through my skin .

Barely able to jump in time, a ferocious wind blew along with that club as it swung pass my eyes .

“Nu, aaa!”

To that, I let out a cry from the pits of my stomach that sounded like a desperate attempt to rid myself of fear .

I confirmed my grip .

I sharpened my eyes, and I clenched my teeth .

As the sweeping club came at me, I jumped back and I dodged it .

Then confirming the trap’s position, I moved towards it .

As I dragged my heavy body towards it, I dodged the orc’s fiendish club at me countless times . Just one hit, and even my brain would be crushed, but gradually, I managed to close in on the trap’s position .

Only three more steps left . But at that moment, as I tried to step back, I tripped over a stone .

That pain made me let out a cry .

“Guu”

As my posture broke, I momentarily lost my focus on that orc .

––– Not good!

I looked at the orc at the same time I tried to fix my posture . But it was already too late .

The orc’s club was already right before my eyes .

With nothing left to lose, I jumped behind . I should have raised my sword to receive the blow, but I was already within the orc’s range .

As a sharp blow hit me, my left shoulder was crippled .

“Guruu”

The gap between species is truly big .

“Guruuuaaa!”

The orc let out a piercing howl as it raised its club once more .

Unable to move my legs, all I could do was to stare at that club .

Am I ––– .

Am I going to be killed by that?

By something like that!?

No .

––– Absolutely not!

“Guuu… ruaaa!”

As the club tried to claim my life, a howl erupted from within me, denying its claim .

“Guu…!?”

Then it stopped . That club that should have taken my life stopped right before my eyes . And the orc let out a surprised voice .

As the fear of that club’s overwhelming pressure caused me to permeate with cold sweat, I looked at the corner of my eyes . Then my eyes opened wide .

At the same time, the orc turned its head to look behind it .

“Gugugigi!”

What stood there was a goblin stabbing the orc with a spear made out of cut bamboo .

It was the panicked one from before .

“Guaaaa!”

The enraged howl of the orc echoed .

The orc turned to face my subordinate, seemingly having already considered me, who had already fallen to my knees, powerless .

Yet though they were only facing each other, the goblin was already shaking .

Stand! Stand damn it!

“Gu, gu, ――”

The moment the orc swung its club against my subordinate .

“Guuruaaa!”

My attack aimed at its shoulder managed to make it in time .

As I felt its skin’s toughness, dark-red blood sprayed out .

The arm that was hit flew into the air, and it fell into the ground . Then the orc moved its gaze towards me .

Shrieking in anger, it rushed towards me .

Maddened by rage, bloodlust gushed forth, and drool was scattered all over . That appearance made the orc look like a true crazed demon .

As the orc rushed towards me with a scream that could no longer be put into words, I thought,

── Good, good! Come here just like that!

Then I jumped back three steps to dodge .

As soon as that crazed orc stepped right in front of me, the ground collapsed .

The ground collapsed because of the orc’s weight, and it sunk deep into it, where countless spears and swords pierced through its legs and loins .

Again, it let out a shriek .

However, this time, it was out of agony .

With only its upper body poking out of the collapsed hole, the orc sent me a killing glare . It was more enraged than it was in pain as its hands bore into the ground, trying to dig itself out .

─── I win!

I approached the orc, and with my sword, I hit its defenseless head .

Dark-red spinal fluid gushed forth, and the howl of victory bellowed .

“Guruaaa!”

I let out a cry as I waved my bloodstained sword .

And once more, that sensation of being eaten from within attacked me, and dominated me .

Enduring the urge to cry out, I pierced the sword into the ground and I braced myself .

“Ah …”

As that hoarse voice leaked out, I felt the sensation of evolution (level up) end .

After it had completely left, I took a look at my arm .

My hands that should’ve had three fingers, now number four . And the thickness of my arms had also increased another size; coupled with an abnormal muscle mass . Moreover, the pain that should be there after having my shoulder crushed was missing .

But amongst the changes of my body, the one that stood out the most was my skin’s color . That previously red skin had completely changed to bluish black .

Having confirmed my body’s changes, I took a look around me . There I saw that the goblin from a while ago had also evolved, and was now a goblin rare, kneeling at my feet .

“My king . ”

The goblins that were lying in wait in the thickets also rushed out and kneeled .

“King!”

As I looked over them without the slightest semblance of joy, the seeds of ambition began to sprout from within .