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.]

"What...!"

"Is this what happened to Claude sunbae...?"

"Wasn't this skill only usable by Unknown!?"

"We've been tricked! The skeletons' daggers were coated with poison!"

It was a truly unexpected strike! Moreover, what was truly frightening was that Kai hadn't used this method from the start.

Terrifying...!

Was only poisoning sunbae a calculated move from the start?

That made us use up all our potions on him.

And he even gave us hope that we could survive by just defeating the Orc Sorcerer....

If all eight had been poisoned from the start, would they have even fought the Orc Sorcerer?

"Not a chance."

Kai was certain. There was no way that would happen. They would have chosen to run away, even if it meant that some of them would die.

Kai lacked both the confidence and the skill to chase down and kill all of them. And nor did he have any intention of forgiving them.

I don’t forgive those who mess with me first.

He repaid kindness twofold and revenge whenever it came to mind!

Kai, with his unique logic, slowly approached the Black Bee guild members.

The Black Bee guild members, whose health was a mess from fighting the Orc Sorcerer, hesitantly stepped backward.

"R-retreat while casting!"

"Even if we die, a concentrated attack might at least take him down..."

"We can take him with us!"

Dozens of spells launched by the seven Wizards flew toward Kai.

The dark sky was embroidered with vibrant colors!

At a glance, it was beautiful, but being hit by them wouldn't leave one admiring the beauty.

However, Kai, facing those skills, didn't blink an eye.

Supernova.

The air around him heated up instantly, warming Kai's cooled body once again. Then, the next moment, Kai moved as lightly as a breeze.

Boom! Boom!

Pzzzt!

A terrifying succession of magic skills caused the ground to explode, to be scorched, and even caused ice to surge up.

Yet, Kai skillfully dodged all the areas of effect and approached them.

"What the hell!?"

"H-he dodged all of that?"

"That's impossible!"

Their faces were pale with shock. Even though they saw it, it was still hard for them to believe—no. It was even harder for them to accept

because

they had seen it.

Kai faced them and said briefly, "It's not, though."

His sheath cried as he drew his sword.

Shiing!

Swoosh! Whoosh!

His sword tore through the Black Bee guild members like the sharp fangs of a beast!

As Wizards, they didn't have a lot of health to begin with, and they had lost quite a bit from the battle. As a result, the members fell one by one to Kai, who even used Supernova.

Stab!

"Kugh...."

After defeating the last member, Kai glanced down. The remaining duration for Supernova showing on his screen was thirty-two seconds.

After acquiring the title of Saint of Glendale and gaining 30 points in Benevolence stats, the duration to which he could use Supernova had slightly increased.

But it's still not enough! There's no time to hesitate!

Kai launched off the ground and dashed like a gust of wind.

[Courageous Knight effect activated.]

[All stats temporarily increased by 10.]

The surrounding landscape seemed to stretch out like slime, and in the next moment, Kai's sword struck the neck of the Orc Sorcerer.

The Orc Sorcerer, startled by Kai's speed, slammed its staff onto the ground.

Thump, thump, thump!

Each time the staff and the ground collided, loud roars echoed through the sky.

Boom, boom!

Fwoosh!

Lightning magic pressed on Kai, and the surrounding temperature rose several degrees due to flame magic engulfing the area.

Triple Doping Set!

Kai continuously wielded his sword with his right hand while, with his left, he took out and consumed the Triple Doping Set from his inventory.

[Increases resistance to all status effects for 5 minutes.]

[Increases Speed for 5 minutes.]

[Increases physical and magical attack power for 5 minutes.]

A desperate emotion seeped out from Kai's eyes along with surging power.

I can’t back away now, even if I die!

Once the duration of Supernova ended, he wouldn't be able to dodge the Orc Sorcerer’s skills and get this close again. It was a do-or-die situation right here!

[You’ve received 2,175 damage.]

[You’ve received 4,781 damage.]

[You have been afflicted by Frostbite. Movement slows down.]

[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.