Chapter 215
Just as humans are divided into different races, orcs were also made up of various tribes.
Each tribe differed in physique, skin color, and temperament.
The Steel Orc tribe, in particular, had dark skin and a brutish, simple-minded nature.
If their traits were to be summed up in a few words, it would be something like: “shut up and charge.”
Once they identified something as an enemy, their rule was to charge without hesitation and kill.
Even with the birth of the Orc Warchief, that tendency hadn’t changed.
Kangkara was a young great warrior of the Steel Orc tribe.
His physical abilities were among the best of his kind, and he was so full of vigor that he knew no fear.
Kangkara was leading his subordinates toward the Warchief when something caught his eye—a group of elves.
The moment Kangkara spotted the Desert Elf rangers, sparks flared in his eyes.
To orcs, elves were beings that paralyzed their reason.
If they encountered them even by chance, they had to kill them—creatures so hateful that if they let them pass, it would feel as though their hearts would burst.
Naturally, the moment Kangkara saw the elf rangers, he gave the order to attack.
“Kill the elves. Not a single one should be left alive.”
“Uwoooaargh!”
“Kill them!”
The Steel Orcs, stirred into a frenzy, chased after the elf rangers—completely unaware that it was a trap.
“Hurry, lure them to where the humans are.”
“Don’t let them go toward the village no matter what.”
The elf rangers ran at just the right speed to ensure the orcs could keep up.
Their destination was where the humans were.
Through prior scouting, they had already identified the humans’ route.
The question was whether they could successfully lure the orcs there.
Elf ranger Lafyuna clenched her teeth.
We have to succeed. Only by sacrificing our lives can we protect the village.
She had no attachment to her life.
From the moment she took on the mission of luring the orcs, she had never expected to return alive.
The other rangers had steeled themselves just the same.
It was a village that elves and dwarves had protected together for a hundred years.
They couldn’t allow it to be trampled by orcs now.
No matter the sacrifice, they had to defend it.
“Chiit! Stop!”
“You cowardly pointy-eared bastards! Fight us!”
The pursuing orcs shouted threats, but the elf rangers never stopped.
Fully adapted to the desert, the desert elves glided over the sand that swallowed ankles whole.
They carefully maintained their pace so the orcs wouldn’t fall behind.
The Steel Orcs chased like mad, unaware they were being lured.
After running for a long time, the elf rangers finally reached their destination.
In the distance, they saw human Awakeners.
It seemed the humans had noticed them, as they were already preparing for battle.
Too late.
Lafyuna sneered at the humans.
To be honest, she didn’t feel entirely guilt-free.
It wasn’t pleasant knowing innocent humans would die because of them.
But it had to be done.
Everything is for protecting the village.
Forcing down her wavering emotions, Lafyuna shouted,
“Let’s go! That place will be our grave!”
“Waaah!”
The elves drew their weapons and cried out.
They looked like vanguards leading an army of orcs.
“What the hell is that?”
“Are the elves controlling the orcs?”
Those who didn’t understand the situation mistook it for the elves leading the orcs to attack them.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Jang Yongbeom shouted as he drew his claymore.
“So elves and orcs have joined hands, huh?”
“I’ll freeze them all.”
“Heh… I’ll kill them all.”
As Aiden, Giselle, and Mountain took combat stances first, the other Awakeners also drew their weapons.
Though few in number, they were powerful enough to have accepted requests from Neo Seoul.
They were afraid of the countless elves and orcs—but they did not retreat.
They knew that trying to flee in the desert would only lead to a miserable death.
“You filthy pig bastards! I’ll kill every last one of you!”
“If we die once, we die twice—bring it on!”
Rumble!
The cloud of dust grew even more intense.
The elves and orcs were getting closer.
The orcs, who had only just noticed the humans, tilted their heads.
“Humans.”
“The elves have joined hands with humans.”
“Chiit! Kill them all!”
The appearance of humans only further excited the orcs, and their fighting spirit surged.
The great warrior Kangkara drew his massive blade and shouted,
“Steel Orcs! Kill them all and offer their heads to the Warchief!”
“Ooooo!”
“For the Warchief!”
At the mention of the Warchief, the orcs’ morale exploded.
“Kraaaah!”
“Come!”
Boom!
At last, the three races clashed in the middle of the desert.
The human Awakeners and the orcs fought fiercely.
Kangkara pointed his long blade at Jang Yongbeom and said,
“You are mine, human!”
“I’ve been waiting for this, you pig bastard!”
“Human dies.”
“Do you fight with words? I fight with this.”
Jang Yongbeom raised his massive claymore.
Kangkara lifted his own large sword in response.
“My blade is bigger, human!”
“You idiot! Does bigger mean stronger?”
“I will tear you apart and stuff you into my belly. Become my nourishment, human!”
“You filthy bastard…”
Jang Yongbeom unleashed his killing intent and attacked.
Swoosh!
The massive claymore tore through the air as it flew straight toward Kangkara’s neck.
But Kangkara blocked the attack with ease.
Clang!
A sharp metallic sound rang out as the claymore and the greatsword collided.
And so, the battle between human and orc began.
Elsewhere, fierce fighting was unfolding as well.
Zeon stood slightly apart from the battlefield, observing the clash between humans, orcs, and elves.
The elves attacked the humans like madmen.
If that were all, it would have seemed as though they truly were leading the orcs.
But every so often, the elves would strike at the orcs, provoking their ferocity.
They were acting as a kind of stimulant.
Zeon immediately saw through their intentions.
“Eloi!”
“Yes!”
“Can you subdue those elves?”
“It’s possible. Why?”
“We need to find out what they’re planning. Capture a few of them.”
“Got it!”
Eloi nodded without hesitation.
She had no sense of kinship toward the elves.
That was because she had been ostracized for being a half-elf.
The painful memories of her childhood remained as an indelible scar that still tormented her.
For her, attacking elves wasn’t a difficult choice.
“Take this!”
She drew out the Mad Nine-Tailed Fox and attacked Lafyuna.
Though she didn’t know her name or status, she could tell from the aura that Lafyuna was their leader.
Lafyuna swung her rapier and shouted,
“What are you?”
“None of your business.”
“An elf?”
“Half. You bitch.”
“Ghk! Why is a half-elf among humans?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“W-wait! We’re not enemies!”
Lafyuna barely blocked Eloi’s attack as she shouted.
She tried to persuade Eloi somehow, but it didn’t work.
To Eloi, elves were not her kin.
She was an outsider, caught somewhere between humans and elves.
To her, Zeon, Brielle, and Levin—her companions—mattered far more than any elves.
“Rainbow Spear!”
Shuuuuah!
The Mad Nine-Tailed Fox burst with rainbow-colored brilliance as it shot toward Lafyuna.
Lafyuna didn’t have the strength to block the attack.
Boom!
“Gah!”
With a loud explosion, Lafyuna was sent flying.
By the time she hit the ground, she had already lost consciousness.
Having dealt with Lafyuna in an instant, Eloi moved to subdue the other elves.
Crackle!
“Aaagh!”
“Kkya!”
Elsewhere, orcs struck by violet lightning convulsed violently.
They had been hit by Levin’s Purple Lightning.
Levin showed no restraint.
In a ghost-like state, he flew through the orcs, unleashing Purple Lightning.
It was so intense that even Brielle clicked her tongue.
“He’s really enjoying himself.”
But Brielle didn’t stay idle either.
She pulled out a small round object from inside her pointed hat and threw it at the orcs.
Boom!
The object exploded, releasing a cloud of silver smoke.
The orcs exposed to the smoke began acting strangely.
They suddenly started attacking their own kind.
“Chit! Die!”
“I’m an orc—your ally!”
“Don’t lie, human!”
Even though the targeted orc desperately protested, it was useless.
The orcs who inhaled the silver smoke attacked their comrades.
Zeon asked,
“What is that?”
“I made a hallucinogen using materials from the Iron Fortress warehouse.”
“A hallucinogen?”
“Yeah. To them, their allies look like enemies.”
“I see. Impressive.”
“Hehe.”
At Zeon’s praise, Brielle gave an awkward smile.
But she couldn’t completely hide her happiness.
Unlike Zeon, Levin, or Eloi, she didn’t possess overwhelming strength.
Even though she was a high elf, she was still just a fragile girl.
To avoid becoming a burden, she had to do something—anything.
One result was these hallucinogenic bombs.
Brielle threw more of them into the orc ranks.
As if by agreement, the orcs exposed to the gas turned on each other.
The effect lasted only about one minute.
After that, they regained their senses.
The duration wasn’t long, but it was enough to throw the orcs into chaos.
Just the fact that their comrades suddenly attacked them was enough to scatter their focus.
“Grrk! Why…?”
“I killed my ally… I…”
The orcs who came to their senses grew enraged.
“A mage!”
“That little mage cursed us!”
“We must kill the mage!”
The orcs realized that Brielle was the one responsible for their confusion.
They charged at her like mad.
But Brielle showed not a trace of fear.
Standing beside her was Zeon—
the strongest Sand Mage of the desert.
With him there, there was no reason to be afraid.
Rustle…
The sand began to move.
The writhing grains rose up and took on human forms.
Zeon had summoned Sand Soldiers.
“Go!”
The moment Zeon gave the command, dozens of Sand Soldiers rushed toward the orcs charging at Brielle.