Chapter 78. Hold On a Moment

They were facing a horde of orcs. And they were much stronger than the ones he’d encountered in the Middle Orc Kingdom, but Kim Do-Joon remained unfazed.

[Additional Effect]

- 30% increased damage against Orcs

After all, he had an effect that boosted his damage against orcs for a solid 30%, giving him a massive advantage against them. He surveyed the battlefield while heading to the front lines.

Thunk!

An orc fell, skewered by his spear. The nearby female Hunter he’d just saved bowed her head in gratitude.

“T-Thank you,” she said.

The woman, Ryu Ja-Young, looked up at Kim Do-Joon’s face and gasped in surprise. She had never seen this man before.

“I’m here as backup from outside,” Kim Do-Joon explained.

“Oh,” Ryu Ja-Young muttered.

It dawned on her that the light shining in the sky wasn’t from Shin Yoo-Sung. As her expression brightened with relief, Kim Do-Joon began running again.

All around him, the battle raged and some Hunters, like Ryu Ja-Young, seemed to be in serious danger. Kim Do-Joon went around to help them, but his focus remained on reaching the front lines.

—

Tsk, tsk.

They all look so helpless.

Karlish remarked, clicking his tongue at the sight of the struggling Hunters. Kim Do-Joon didn’t know these people well, but he still defended them.

They’re probably just exhausted. Most of them are A-rank or B-rank Hunters.

— Well, they certainly look tired.

Karlish replied, though that wasn’t quite what he meant. Despite their flashy appearances, these Hunters lacked real substance. Instead of mastering their skills, they were controlled by them.

It made sense, though. Hunters were people who, one day, suddenly found themselves with skills. Many of the ones here had Awakened with powerful abilities from the start. Reaching A-rank was almost impossible with mediocre skills, after all.

As such, they couldn’t help but rely on their abilities. They were nothing like Kim Do-Joon, who’d painstakingly trained and increased his stats with a copy-paste skill.

I see them.

—

Hmm?

Spotting the group at the very front, Kim Do-Joon spoke to Karlish. Among them was a familiar face—Oh Tae-Jin, along with a few other Hunters.

However, there was a problem.

— Oh, they’re surrounded.

They were fighting the orcs that cornered them.

They must’ve tried to break through and ended up getting encircled.

Kim Do-Joon speculated. He recalled Shin Yoo-Sung’s earlier words that Oh Tae-Jin was leading the charge. It was clear what had happened. A frontal assault was a risky strategy—they had to either succeed in taking out the leader, or break through the enemy lines.

At the same time, they risked getting surrounded if they failed, which was exactly what had happened to Oh Tae-Jin. The same risk applied to Kim Do-Joon as well.

— What are you going to do?

“Of course, I’m going,” Kim Do-Joon answered without a moment’s hesitation.

He had no time for second thoughts. If he didn’t intend to get involved, he wouldn’t have come this far in the first place.

There are two paths.

Kim Do-Joon analyzed the routes that’d take him to the orc shaman, his primary target. The first option was to join up with Oh Tae-Jin and the others, and then make another push toward the shaman. The second option was to ignore them entirely and charge straight at his target.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Kim Do-Joon twisted the direction of his spear. He chose the direct route. He bypassed Oh Tae-Jin’s group altogether, aiming straight for the shaman.

— Are you sure about this?

If I stop to help them, it’ll only give the shaman more time to prepare. They don’t seem to be in immediate danger, so I think it’s fine.

Saying this to Karlish, Kim Do-Joon glanced over at Oh Tae-Jin’s group.

Despite being surrounded, they were holding their ground well, especially Oh Tae-Jin. His massive claymore cut through orcs like they were made of paper, each swing bringing down multiple enemies.

Satisfied that they could manage on their own, Kim Do-Joon turned his attention back to his own target.

And besides...

— And besides?

Karlish asked Kim Do-Joon. From the tip of his spear, a powerful wind began to swirl, wrapping Kim Do-Joon entirely. The wind was so intense that the approaching orc was thrown back by the sheer force of it.

The next moment, he hurled his spear to the shaman in the distance.

I can’t afford to let anyone slow me down.

When Kim Do-Joon said this, Karlish burst into a genuine and hearty laughter.

— Hah! I knew I trained you well!

Ignoring Karlish’s laughter, Kim Do-Joon launched himself forward.

With the Sky Thunder, the wind exploded from beneath his feet, propelling his body like a cannonball.

“

Grrrr...

”

A group of orcs rushed to block Kim Do-Joon’s path, but they were all blown away.

Boom!

Even the orcs with three tattoos, who had made an impressive entrance, couldn’t withstand a single strike from Kim Do-Joon’s spear. As he sped through the battlefield, he passed by Oh Tae-Jin’s group.

“...!”

For a split second, Kim Do-Joon and Oh Tae-Jin’s eyes met. Oh Tae-Jin’s eyes widened as he watched him effortlessly cut through the orcs.

“...!”

The Hunters nearby were just as stunned, with their faces showing a mixture of confusion and awe.

“Who... Who is that?”

“He’s not part of our team, is he?”

The Hunters murmured in disbelief, unable to recognize the newcomer.

Oh Tae-Jin furrowed his eyebrows. He knew exactly who Kim Do-Joon was.

That’s Kim Do-Joon... But why is he here...?

However, that wasn’t the real question. More importantly he wanted to ask “how?”

Oh Tae-Jin’s face was a mask of confusion and frustration. He and four other A-rank Hunters couldn’t do what Kim Do-Joon was now doing on his own. Even as a team, they couldn’t press on into the enemy territory like Kim Do-Joon did.

Crunch—

Oh Tae-Jin gritted his teeth subconsciously.

"Guild Master! W-What should we do?"

An A-rank Hunter from the Karma Guild, who had accompanied Oh Tae-Jin, urgently asked him.

Oh Tae-Jin snapped back to reality and looked around at his comrades. Isolated deep within enemy territory, they were exhausted, yet they fought on. But now, amidst their fatigue, there was a glimmer of hope—a light shining through the darkness.

The reason was obvious.

But... the sentiment can wait.

Oh Tae-Jin calmed his emotions, looking at his comrades’ conditions. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

“The situation has changed! Retreat is no longer an option! We need to support that Hunter who just passed us! This is our last chance, so let’s make it count!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

The guild members responded with renewed vigor. Originally, they intended to fall back to regroup with their main forces. But now, they altered their course, moving forward to follow in Kim Do-Joon’s wake.

Kim Do-Joon glanced over his shoulder. He could see Oh Tae-Jin handling the orcs that were swarming behind him. Though the distance between them had grown, their efforts had significantly reduced the number of orcs converging on him.

— Not bad.

Indeed.

Kim Do-Joon replied to Karlish with a slight smile, before turning his attention back to the front. He was almost there. Up ahead, he could see the shaman, seated in an ornate palanquin adorned with feathers.

The shaman, clearly flustered by Kim Do-Joon’s approach, frantically waved his staff.

Boom!

The ground trembled as a massive orc blocked Kim Do-Joon's path. The orc was marked with four tattoos—two on his right arm, one on his left arm, and one on his leg.

“

Grrrr

...” The orc growled, curling his lips into a sneer, as if to acknowledge Kim Do-Joon’s audacity in advancing so deep into enemy lines.

However, it was a sneer of mockery. With a smirk, the orc swung his massive ax. His bulging arm muscles were as thick as a grown man’s waist. It was obvious that taking a direct hit from that ax would shatter all his bones.

However, Kim Do-Joon merely tapped the ax with the tip of his spear. In an instant, the spearhead met the ax blade. The orc's eyes widened in surprise.

The orc tried to continue his swing, but a storm of mana erupted from Kim Do-Joon’s spear, engulfing the orc.

Babababam—!

A storm of unleashed mana surged from the spear and crashed into the orc. It ripped through its body with brutal force, slamming the orc into the ground. The shaman, startled by the sudden onslaught, jumped up in alarm.

The other orcs nearby twitched with tension. Contorting their faces, they readied their weapons and began to advance toward Kim Do-Joon. Each of them bore four tattoos, marking them as formidable opponents.

The first orc to reach him snarled and lunged, trying to grab Kim Do-Joon with a massive hand. Before it could touch him, Kim Do-Joon leaped lightly onto the orc's shoulder. Then, he used the Sky Thunder, releasing a burst of compressed air with pinpoint accuracy.

Crack!

The orc's shoulder dislocated with a sickening crunch, sending Kim Do-Joon hurtling toward the shaman.

"

K-Kraaagh! Keeragh!

" the shaman screeched in panic. He frantically conjured a ball of fire to defend himself.

Swoosh—!

It was futile. Enveloped in wind, Kim Do-Joon tore through the hastily formed flames like nothing.

Thud!

“

Keaaukk—!

”

The tip of Kim Do-Joon's spear pierced through the shaman's thigh. Soon, the battlefield fell silent. The orcs froze in place as they watched Kim Do-Joon with a mix of fear and awe.

“

Keck! Kerek!

” the shaman choked out, squirming in Kim Do-Joon’s grip.

Despite his struggle, the shaman was far weaker physically than the other orcs. Holding the shaman as if it was a hostage, Kim Do-Joon coldly surveyed the orcs around him. As they stood there, uncertain of what to do next, a soft thud broke the silence. The shaman had dropped its staff to the ground.

“

Grrk

.”

Just then, something small tumbled out of the staff. It was a tiny dwarf, no bigger than a finger, wearing a red, triangular hat. The tip of the hat flickered with a tiny flame, like a matchstick.

The dwarf glanced around nervously until its eyes met Kim Do-Joon’s.

“

Hic!

” the dwarf let out a startled hiccup, caught off guard by his unflinching gaze.

Pretending it didn’t see anything, the dwarf slowly tried to sneak away.

“Is this the one?” Kim Do-Joon muttered, narrowing his eyes.

There was no way Kim Do-Joon would let it escape. In an instant, a black thorn, resembling a branch, shot out and ensnared the dwarf in the red hat.

***

The death of the shaman had a dramatic effect on the morale of the orcs. Their fighting spirit visibly crumbled. Afterward, they retreated, dragging the shaman’s lifeless body far behind them.

Back at the base camp, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter. Siwelin was busy providing treatment to the wounded Hunters. Besides, her presence brought smiles to their faces.

"Thank you so much," one of the Hunters said, grateful for the healing.

Once despairing at their seemingly inevitable defeat, the Hunters were now jubilant for two reasons: First, they had won. Second, and perhaps more notably, was the fact that it was Siwelin, not their usual gruff leader, tending to their wounds.

“Man, after being treated by our gloomy leader, getting healed by such a beautiful woman feels... different,” one of the Hunters remarked, grinning.

Even in the dim and dreary forest, Siwelin's beauty stood out, catching everyone's attention.

“What was that?” Shin Yoo-Sung, the leader, appeared out of nowhere and smacked the Hunter on the back of his head.

“Sorry for being gloomy, you little punk. And just so you know, don’t even think about trying anything funny with her, got it?”

“Ow, come on, stop hitting me! And wasn’t it you who tried flirting first?” the Hunter replied, rubbing his head.

“What? When did I—” Shin Yoo-Sung stuttered, caught off guard by the accusation.

“Oh, don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about. We all saw you asking her to join Mir earlier, and how she completely ignored you.”

Shin Yoo-Sung's lips jutted out in a pout, wondering when they even saw that. That was true, though. During a conversation, he’d casually suggested that Siwelin join their guild, Mir. However, she had dismissed the offer without a second thought, but that wasn’t all.

― By the way, what’s your relationship with a girl named So-Eun? I only ask because I made a similar offer to her father once, suggesting that his daughter might benefit from joining Mir’s training program.

― ...

As soon as Shin Yoo-Sung had mentioned this, Siwelin’s cheerful expression vanished. Her previously bright smile instantly faded into a cold, hard stare.

“Thank you!” one of the Hunters said.

“...”

Siwelin waved cheerfully at the Hunters she was treating. But when she glanced at Shin Yoo-Sung, her expression instantly became stern and unwelcoming.

Did I do something wrong?

Shin Yoo-Sung wondered, crossing his arms and contemplating what could have caused it. Unbeknownst to him, thanks to a tip-off from Kim Do-Joon, Siwelin now viewed him as nothing more than a sleazy opportunist with an unhealthy interest in Kim So-Eun.

Despite his frustration, Shin Yoo-Sung continued helping with the healing efforts. Meanwhile, in a tent behind them, a more discreet conversation was taking place.

“This little guy popped out of the shaman’s staff,” Kim Do-Joon said, showing the small figure to Elena.

In fact, there were three individuals present in the tent—Do-Joon, Elena, and the tiny, furious dwarf in a red hat, currently bound by black thorns.

“

Arrgh!

Let me go! Let me go, or I’ll burn everything down!” the dwarf threatened, struggling against its restraints.

Elena glanced at the creature and calmly stated, “It’s a spirit.”

There was no need for further questioning. As an elf, Elena could instantly tell whether it was a spirit or not at a glance.

The little dwarf spirit said haughtily and snapped, “

Hmph!

If it isn’t one of them elves! Ignoring us, disrespecting us, and now kidnapping us? Oh, the king will be so thrilled when he hears about this!”

Elena, looking slightly uneasy, turned to Kim Do-Joon and explained, “It’s a Fire Spirit. And judging by how it talks, it’s quite a high-ranking one.”

“High-ranking? This little thing?” Kim Do-Joon asked skeptically.

“Size doesn’t matter to spirits,” Elena replied.

“

Hmm

,” Kim Do-Joon nodded, considering her words.

Elena, however, was feeling a growing sense of anxiety. Her people, the Dark Elves, desperately needed the help of the Flame Lord. In particular, they had to acquire the fire necessary to burn the World Tree. Hence why she had agreed to assist Kim Do-Joon in the first place.

However, capturing a Fire Spirit like this wasn’t part of the plan.

“We should release it,” Elena urged. “We’re the ones asking for help. Also, no king would look kindly on someone who imprisons their subjects.”

“Yeah, exactly! I don’t know what you’re planning, but you’d better let me go, and maybe I’ll just singe your hair a little!” the dwarf spirit chimed in, trying to sound menacing, but ended up sounding more annoyed instead.

Kim Do-Joon scratched his arm, clearly not thrilled with the idea. “It’s saying that, but...”

Elena remained firm. “Trust me, it’s better to make friends with spirits. History is full of stories where oppressing and enslaving them leads to disaster.”

“Oh, really?”

Kim Do-Joon sighed but nodded. It made sense—after all, they were here to seek help, and imprisoning one of the Flame Lord’s spirits probably was not the best way to start. However, he wasn’t willing to let go of a valuable lead so easily.

“Then, wait here for a moment,” Kim Do-Joon said suddenly.

“Huh?” Elena blinked in surprise.

“What do you mean, wait? Just let me go already!” the spirit demanded, growing more impatient.

Ignoring it, Kim Do-Joon slipped out of the tent. He headed to a secluded spot where no one could see him. There, he opened his inventory and retrieved eleven blades.

A short while later, the spirit grumbled, but its tone had noticeably softened.

“

Hmph

! If you release me now, I’ll only burn a few strands of your hair!”

It kept glancing nervously at Kim Do-Joon out of the corner of its eye, clearly aware of the change in the situation.

The shift in the spirit’s attitude was apparent in both its words and demeanor. It seemed that the spirit had been convinced—or perhaps intimidated—into reconsidering its stance.

“What kind of spell did you use?” Elena mumbled in disbelief looking at Kim Do-Joon, unable to comprehend the spirit’s sudden change in behavior.

[Additional Effect]

- Spirit Affinity Level 14

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

“Wow, the effect is pretty impressive, huh?” Kim Do-Joon muttered, scratching his cheek, surprised at how well his strategy had worked.