《Refining the Heavens》Chapter 24: Starfire formation (玄火星辰陣)
Advertisement
After the previous rain of arrows, only fifty odd Orcs remained, but this number nearly got cut in half as those weaker beasts exploded into flaming bits from the tyrannical fire array. Those that could still fight are few in numbers.
Those that survived groan with intense pain, the wave of fire pressed against them, trying to force them back. But instead of backing down, the stronger Orcs pressed their charge, and with their mighty bodies, they somehow managed to shatter the flaming shockwave. These beasts enraged by the pain rushed forward savagely, led by nine Entry D ranked Orcs.
The Starlight array may have heavily wounded them, but Kairos' teams are not much better in condition. It is an incredibly potent offensive stratagem, working in the same theory as a runic set. Runes are of nature's laws which call upon the true name of the elements to control it as one wishes.
The team have fulfilled the two criteria needed to activate a Rune by using their formation and Ki to replicate an inscription of fire, and power it by a union of their Ki. Fortunately, the array that Kairos has created is perfectly in tune with the element's true name, and therefore they did not explode into the sky when they activated such a powerful array using their bodies.
Depending on how much the medium could endure and the type of rune, the power unleashed could be as powerful as a volcano or as little as a candle that is why everyone craves for a higher grade of weapon. Therefore, even if it is the same type of runes inscribed on Kairos’ Swallow, this amount of power they called forth using one’s body is incomparably stronger than an activation from a single weapon. One can only imagine the potency of the Starfire array formed by so many of them, even if it is only at 35% power.
After activating the array, many of the guys slumped weakly onto the forest ground. Having expended most of their Ki for this activation, they are in no condition for direct combat.
While their hearts have not given into despair, their bodies drained of energy are unable to react to the D rank Orcs that are almost upon them.
Those D rank Orcs, Orc captains, stand half a head taller than their kin. Their skin glowed in emerald green, and their faces more hideous than the peons and the grunts, but their eyes shone with intelligence.
With a great wave of its arm, one of the Orc captains attacked the group with its oversized stone club. Seeing the fearsome blow aimed at their helpless teammates, those that could still move, threw themselves forward to block the attack.
Advertisement
If those that can move do not receive the blow, then they cannot imagine how many will die in this place.
Alan, Jim, Tommy, Edward and the four captains also ran forward desperately to help, but the other Orc Captains immediately engaged them.
The battle quickly turned into eight students against nine Orcs captains.
The height difference and how, extremely slowly, both groups are fighting while hindered by their wounds would make it a comedic scene if not for the grisly injuries that the students have from head to toe.
From the crystal ball in the instructors' room, the instructors looked horrified at the clash between men and beasts.
The short and round Head of Logistics instructor grip the arm of his chair furiously as he and even his close friends, the Head of Student Affairs instructor and the Disciplinarian Head instructor glared lividly at the Head of Events instructor.
The three are adamant to stop this exercise ever since Alucard’s group fell into danger, but without the Head of Events instructor's permission, they are unable to do so nor can they bypass her decisions. By protocol, they have to submit their request to the higher ups first in order to do anything.
Reduced to helplessly watch the things unfold at the training ground through the crystal ball, they can only wait for the instructions of the higher ups.
Despite the pain made by the Starfire array, those Orc captains are still D ranked beasts with tremendous physical strength. Fortunately, they are not agile by nature and further slowed down by their burns, the eight that fought them are somehow still surviving, even though they are at least two whole ranks lower. They come to realise that by focusing on dodging they would not be in serious danger, at least until their stamina runs thin.
With a disgusted snort, the last and strongest the ten D ranked Orcs walked into battle. At Peak D rank, it is the least affected by the Starfire.
As the only one at the Orc War Chief level, it felt ashamed seeing the way its troops are fighting and decided to kill the humans personally. Its instincts cried out to him that Kairos is a dangerous adversary, so naturally, its first target is to kill the severely wounded Kairos, despite the human boy sitting helplessly on the ground.
"If we hold them back for another thirty seconds, and we will have a chance!" Kairos yelled mustering as much energy as he could in his weakened state.
Advertisement
Although he wants to stand up and fight alongside his brothers, he had held position at the heart of the formation during the Starfire array activation, and he was the one who supplied the array with the most amount of energy out of everyone. Unable to fight due to his injuries, and being the only one who could control the powerful energies of the Starfire array, Kairos had to assume such a dangerous role. It is no surprise that afterwards he was more drained than everyone else and could barely move now.
Kairos' life force is now dangerously low from how much strength he had used. His internal Ki has become disrupted from the exhaustion, and even his life force has stopped recovering naturally.
Seeing the imposing Orc War Chief approach their leader, the group desperately dragged themselves over to attempt blocking the most powerful war beast. But, at this crucial moment, Alucard's team attacked, unleashing multiple powerful long range attacks at it.
With a handful of inscription talismans in each of their hands, Alucard and his team invoked Ki attacks formed of several elements and fired them into the Orcs swarm.
As those talismans treasures of a rather high level, are equipped with targeting control. Colourful elemental attacks flew in curved lines past Kairos' teams and homed in on their targets.
Before when his team were desperately surrounded by enemies, Alucard could not use these items. Activating a talisman may be fast only requiring a practitioner to fill up the yellowed paper with Ki, but when the combat is intense, it is hardly plausible to find time to use more than one or two. Against an entire group of Orcs, using such a small amount is ineffective, and will only waste their limited stock.
With Kairos’ teams grabbing all the attention of the Orcs, Alucard gained the lapse he needed to unleash all of his attack talismans. He ignored their costliness and activated everything they could at one go. It could be called an attack powered by money.
Each of the Orc Captains were hit with an elemental Ki and got blown back immediately, but for the more dangerous Orc War Chief, they fired a bombardment of elemental Ki strikes. The purple aura covering it glowed fiercely as one after another attack landed on it.
The first few blasts were block cut down by the massive jagged-edge stone sword it held, but it was unable to keep up with the amount of attacks sent its way that rained down and exploded into colourful energy spheres before dissipating.
The might of the explosions shook the ground with every flash of light.
Scorching flames, screeching lightning, and razor blades of wind came one after another and did not allow the Orc War Chief a moment to breathe.
All the students near by stumbled backwards from the powerful shock waves. When the upheaval ends, everyone silently waited the cloud of dust shrouding the area to settle.
The other Orcs too stood motionlessly at this scene, as if holding their breath to see the result before making a decision for their next action.
A white and sharp tip of a sword broke the stillness, appearing from within the cloud at the top corner, followed by a massive stroke that diagonally sliced apart the cloud of dust. Along with it, a sonic boom exploded outwards from the power of the strike, revealing the Orc War Chief standing mightily in the centre, unscathed from the Ki bombardment.
It had shrugged off the attacks without much difficulty but now glared at Alucard with hatred.
The Orc War Chief roared a command, shaking down the leaves from the cypress trees around them with only its voice, and the Orc Captains renewed their attacks at once. Holding a large stone shield and club in each hand, the nine D ranked Orcs followed their war chief into battle.
Then the leader of these Orcs pushed itself forth with a bent leg to strike, however instead of Alucard and team who attacked it, it trusted its instincts and continued to aim for Kairos who is sitting motionlessly.
If this human child is not dead, its heart could not stop thrumming.
Those nearby acted immediately. They rushed fearlessly to block the attack, but just by getting closer, they found themselves blown away by the force of the wind.
At this perilous moment, a powerful aura burst forth from each of Kairos friends. Alan, Jim, Edward, Tommy, and Kairos. They are brothers by name and not by blood, but their bond is no lesser than a family.
No matter what powerful beast dares to bare its fangs at their brother, they will not retreat.
Advertisement
- In Serial262 Chapters
As A Cardinal, I Don't Do Overtime
Morn transmigrates into a fantasy world where demons run rampant, vampire families stand tall in the darkness all year round, werewolves that are preparing for something in the darkness, and angels who occasionally descend into the human world.
8 1376 - In Serial1876 Chapters
Monster Integration
In the world where Humans and Monster's form a bond and fight together, the world where both Evolve together to get stronger. Walk with Micheal as he starts his adventures with his Silver Sparrow, overcomes countless obstacle and adversaries to fulfill his greatest Dreams. The initial and new chapters getting edited everyday. Release Rate: 14 Ch/Week+ The cover is not mine. I couldn't track down the original creator but if the creator is out there, message me if you want me to take it down or give credit
8 616 - In Serial71 Chapters
Re:The Worst System Leveling Turned Me Into A Zombie
Before I reached Lvl. 100, they called me Death God Hei. But when I broke the limit, the System punished me. It cursed me to become this monster. I woke up as a Lvl. 0 again. Dying only brings me back to a save point now. But I don't go back until I die twice. First I suffer as a human, then I hunger as a zombie. The worst part is...I still have to watch when that thing takes over my corpse. I call it the Gray. I can't do anything even when it's hunting down those I'm trying to save. Sometimes, I wonder. When I level, I swear I can hear a voice speaking to me. This thing...can it think? It's like Re:zero crossed with SAO, Solo Leveling, and Tokyo Ghoul Re:The Worst System is a dark, 1st person timeloop story where the main character is slowly driven insane by his ability to respawn at a save point. However, each time he levels, there's a possibility that the next time he dies, the zombie inside him will become too powerful for anyone to stop. So he has to level up a harem...ahem, others, to fight for him against the System. Oftentimes, Hei will get trapped in repeating death loops which are truly terrifying. You've been warned...please don't read if you're not willing to see the darkness all the way through. The light on the other side may be a long ways away...I'll be trying to post on Thurs/Sundays, but honestly, depending on how I'm feeling, chapters could come out at some wonky times. If you want to support the story, read ahead, or bribe me to write more, I'd appreciate you checking out my Patreon, but this story will be updated frequently for free anyways. Come chat about the story with other Hunters: https://discord.gg/BUhQ23qw Cover licensed under Creative Commons 2.0 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/35083407110/in/album-72157682306838123/
8 214 - In Serial18 Chapters
A Good Man
Book 1: A Good Man All are to be ordained. All ordained are to be registered. Those who stray from the path become obsolete. These are the tenants the grand Mercian Bureaucracy lives by. None can escape their destined path, lest they become obsolete. The obsolete are hunted down by the ordained assassins, supported by the Mercian government. Follow ordained assassin 2500116, Eli de Winter, as he performs his duties in the grand city of Victoria. Fifteen years ago Eli suddenly found himself in a world unlike his own. Within the maze of the many layered streets of the industrial city he was forced to make a new home, performing acts that would have seen him convicted on Earth. Gangsters, revolutionaries, kings and princes, all are playing a game with the highest stakes. The winds of change are blowing and everybody wants to be on the right side of history. While the powers that might be are making moves in the shadow there is only one question that haunts Eli's mind. Is he a good man, or is he obsolete?
8 216 - In Serial11 Chapters
Omniverse
After the Earth has been invaded by space invaders, the humanity is almost extinct. Now the Invaders are planning to for full destruction of the planet. Among the survivors a Boy named, H, purely driven by sadness and rage of losing his loved ones, tries to obstruct the plan of the Invaders. But as the invaders are a second degree space civilization from the vast omniverse, Will he succed? What secrets will he Find about these intruders and about omniverse ?
8 204 - In Serial72 Chapters
MAD Wendigo
Eternal youth, the eradication of disease. Researchers believed humanity could ascend to another level of existence with the help of a unique condition. Megalemic Autoimmune Diplioma. But, not long after the MAD-Pathogen was discovered, a mysterious new virus appeared in the general public and began taking lives. With those first deaths, the virus evolved and mutated the recently deceased. It made wendigos. MAD Wendigo chronicles the struggles of those trying to survive amidst the reanimated, man-eating creatures in a harsh changed world.
8 184

