Chapter 152 – Cataclysm (1)
Crockta got up and said, "Let's go."
Tiyo and Anor were waiting.
Gridori was a beautiful resort. However, they couldn't enjoy it properly as they weren't in the mood to enjoy a resort. As soon as they arrived in Gridori and prepared to sleep, they heard the news that the kingdom had attacked Alaste and devastated it.
They were angry about the defeat in the duel and destroyed everything. Then it became a territory of the empire. At the forefront were Adandator and those cursed by the stars, the Heaven and Earth Clan.
Alaste's knights fought to the end but were wiped out. Galadin, Vigo, they all died. Therefore, Crockta's group decided to leave Gridori.
“We must fight!”
There was a disturbance on the street. Crockta's group looked over and saw a man standing on top of a box, emphasizing his thoughts to the gathered people. Every time he yelled, people nodded.
"We have no king! He can't oppress us! Gridori is a free city! Fight against the kingdom, no, the empire!"
When he shouted, people applauded. However, those who didn't agree with him shook their heads.
"How are we going to fight the empire?" Someone yelled back.
The mood sank. It was like the person said. Everyone agreed. The empire's military power was overwhelming. The moment they declared their resistance, the empire would dispatch troops to destroy them.
Many cities had already been trampled and ruined by them, just like Alaste was. They didn't even follow the agreement.
“We must risk our lives to fight!” The man on the box yelled through clenched teeth. His voice was choked from all his emotions. He shouted with a red face. "This isn't freedom! Fight for it!"
"You fight alone!"
“The empire will conscript you for war…"
“Don't talk nonsense!"
His remarks were countered one by one. He shouted again but his remarks were gradually buried, with no one caring.
Gridori would belong to the empire. There was such an atmosphere. Everyone changed after the empire trampled Alaste. They didn't want to end up like Alaste. The empire's power was overwhelming.
It would be difficult to defeat their military power, even if several cities combined their forces. Making up the vanguard was the Heaven and Earth Clan, the ones cursed by the stars. They swung the weapons without fear of death. Monster soldiers who lived again after dying.
Rommel, their leader, was called the ghost of war. It was a fight without any chance of victory.
Crockta, Tiyo, and Anor smiled bitterly as they saw it. After Alaste was lost, they became aware of the true nature of the empire. However, they had yet to feel the actual empire. An evil existence that treated human beings as consumables, without caring about the gods watching.
Crockta's group left Gridori. Those who knew Crockta started to murmur, but the group ignored it. The users who grasped Crockta's activities followed them, but Crockta didn't respond. Several users followed Crockta's party. They only knew that Crockta was a named NPC. Crockta knew this and left them alone.
"Where are we going dot?"
"Um…"
They still didn't have a destination. They wanted to stop the empire, but how could they do it? They were already enemies of the empire. Entering the territory of the empire was risky and reckless. However, they didn't plan to leave the empire to its own pace.
Crockta thought for a moment before saying.
"It seems like the empire is aiming for the Espada area.
Espada was a plains area that stretched from the beginning of Alastair and several cities were built there. They were free cities who would never follow a king. In particular, they would never recognize the position of an emperor.
Numerous species suffered whenever a human emperor appeared. Those who remembered the past continued the tradition of thinking that a human emperor was the enemy.
“The Espada area. Let's go dot."
The Espada area wasn't far from Gridori.
An ambassador of the empire had already reached Gridori. They demanded thorough obedience from Gridori. Gridori would become a bigger city under the empire, but the citizens would become soldiers and be sent to war.
The emperor's laws were no different from the northern chieftain.
“Was the king originally like this?"
“He was originally a wise boy…people change."
Crockta thought that maybe a divine presence like the 'Tribulation' interfered with him.
***
The south was in an uproar due to the emperor. Crockta's party decided to go to the Espada area. As they moved away from Gridori, their followers signaled to each other.
“Crockta is leaving Gridori."
"What do we do?"
“Keep following. Determine the location first."
They were Crockta's fans who tracked his movements as soon as news of Crockta appearing in the south spread, members of 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy.' Now that Crockta was famous and due to his actions as an NPC, people started to track his movements like he was a celebrity.
People were looking forward to his adventures. On the fan club's forum, there were constant reports of Crockta's location. Fan club members from all over the world listened to news of him and posted it, allowing people to directly follow Crockta.
“Crockta was in a one-on-one duel with the empire and won…"
"I want to see it."
As the rumor spread that Crockta became Alaste's representative and had a duel with the empire, all the members of 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' were disappointed. No one knew that Crockta was involved in the battle due to the uproar from Yellow and the Heaven and Earth Clan's agreement. Crockta had been spotted nearby but nobody guessed that he would be at the center of the situation.
“But won't he continue to fight in the future?"
"Yes. Don't miss it from now on."
The empire had broken the agreement with Crockta and Alaste. Crockta would be burning with anger. He implemented justice all over the continent and went to the north alone to kill the great chieftain.
Now his sword was aimed at the southern emperor. It wasn't a drama. If this world was reality, Crockta was truly a hero. They followed Crockta because they wanted to see this. They saw that Crockta was heading to Espada and knew that he was going to challenge the emperor in earnest. It was exciting to imagine how Crockta would resist the empire.
“I don't like the Heaven and Earth Clan, so I hope that Crockta will implement justice."
“Indeed. That is a good idea."
The Heaven and Earth Clan had signed a memorandum with the Alaste Love users. However, they broke it. The memorandum was just a promise, so it had no effect. However, since they were all users, they had trust in each other. The Heaven and Earth Clan had betrayed that trust.
Then they said, 'It couldn't be helped since the emperor ordered the attack.'
However, the emperor also said, 'Those who are cursed by the stars were the ones who attacked.'
They laughed as they handed responsibility for Alaste over to each other. Everyone could see that they had plotted together. Now the Heaven and Earth Clan were the emperor's hounds. It was a tremendous achievement for users to be in that position, but they were turning that sword towards fellow users.
‘The Heaven and Earth Clan will receive any complaints. If you have the power then bring it on. We are the Heaven and Earth Clan.'
There was already a precedent where they defeated the large American dominated clan, Metatron. Metatron's leaders lost their achievements they had accumulated in Elder Lord and quit the game.
The Heaven and Earth had begun walking the path of destruction, using their strength.
“Let’s watch.”
"Yes. Believe in Crockta."
The moment that they were about to follow Crockta's path…
Someone suddenly appeared.
“Did Crockta go this way?"
The users looked around.
It was a woman who wore clothes that clung to her body. Her appearance was familiar, as if they had seen it many times. The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members thought for a moment as they looked at her.
She said, “I heard your conversation. You are members of He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy?"
"Yes."
“I’m also a member.”
"Are you perhaps a famous person? I think I saw you somewhere before…"
She smiled. “I'm famous because of Crockta."
Youvidser Laney. She was the one who got a chance to shoot Crockta's fight with the user hunters in the early days. The users were shocked to see the orc's wild fighting style and his talk about honor after killing the user hunters. Later, she had taken the video of Crockta's desperate fight against the clans in Chesswood, breaking the Youvids record.
The members of 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' greeted her after realizing her identity. Laney was their most famous member. She was the first person that people told about Crockta's location.
"Don't miss it this time. Crockta seems like he is going to fight properly against the emperor…"
"If you shot the video of his duel with one of the empire's knights, it would've been a huge jackpot. It’s too bad."
Laney shrugged, "It isn't too bad."
“……!”
The members' eyes shone at her words.
"Perhaps?"
“That's right."
Laney struck her chest and declared, “The duel scene, I filmed it."
"Wow!"
“I have been following Crockta since he returned from the north. It is a type of project. I knew Crockta would definitely do something nice."
Photographers said that they would wait all day for a great photo. But Laney didn't have to do that. There was always a wonderful scene when she followed Crockta. Crockta's very existence was a scoop.
"Show me!"
“Huhuhu, wait a bit."
Laney looked in the direction that Crockta had disappeared in and said, “I will be making a movie."
***
Crockta met with travelers and inhabitants of the south as he left Gridori. All of them were concerned about the emperor's invasion. They were also a group who decided to leave the south.
“We don't have an emperor. We will never follow the emperor." A middle-aged man said to Crockta. “It is the same for Crockta."
“Yes. Orcs have no king or emperor."
"There used to be an emperor in the past, but that position disappeared after the war was over. We know that if we follow such a person, we will lose our freedom and have to shed blood. The emperor is such an existence. Now an emperor has shown up again. He has failed to learn anything from the past.”
They were leaving the south and moving to the area of the elves.
Those who met the orc Crockta, who fought against the emperor's knight, spewed their resentment towards the emperor. Many regions had already become colonies of the empire and suffered from all kinds of tyranny. If their departure was a little late, their area would be incorporated into the empire and they wouldn't be able to leave.
“I don't know how the situation will end. I just want my family to be safe."
Behind him were his wife and children. The middle-aged man had convinced his friends and relatives and was moving towards the north.
Tiyo was playing with the bright children who didn't know anything.
“Crockta, are you going back home? Or are you going to fight against the emperor?"
"I will fight. I just don't know what to do yet."
"Great. There should be more warriors like you. Not the fakes who shake their tails towards the emperor. I am asking you to help the south. It is shameful that I am saying this when I am leaving."
“Everyone has their own path."
They walked down the road together. At that moment, the sound of horse hooves was heard and knights appeared, blocking the road in front of them. The residents were shaken. The mark of the empire.
“Where are you going?"
The middle-aged man talking with Crockta came forward. “We are leaving.”
“Leaving…uhh?" The knights discovered Crockta standing next to the middle-aged man. "Crockta?"
Crockta matched the description going around. The leader turned around and talked to the other knights before approaching Crockta.
“There is no need for us to fight. His Majesty is eager to meet you."
He made Alaste into a ruin and now he wanted to see Crockta.
Crockta's face became dark. Crockta replied, “I have no intention of doing that. Why did you stop them?"
"That…"
The knight looked at Crockta. If Crockta wanted to fight, they couldn't stop him.
The knight declared, “His Majesty has issued a decree that all inhabitants of the south can't leave the south without permission."
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.
Chapter 153 – Cataclysm (2)
Crockta laughed, "There is no need to hear any more. Leave.”
The knights immediately glanced at each other. They knew that they couldn't stop Crockta if he attacked them. Crockta had defeated Adandator. They couldn't beat him unless they dragged an army over.
"Crockta. I saw the duel." The knight with the highest status told Crockta. “I respect your skills. In that sense, I want to tell you…"
He looked at the residents. He understood the hearts of those who wanted to leave the south. But he couldn't go against the emperor's will.
“Don’t try to go against His Majesty. The best judgment is for Crockta to join the empire and be with us. His Majesty promises wealth and honor."
Crockta looked at him. The knight was serious.
Crockta smiled bitterly. People judged the world based on their own viewpoints. His concern was appreciated but he could never be together with the knight. One day, they would meet on the battlefield and kill those on the other side. But that time wasn't now.
Crockta felt a strange sense of sadness of irony about the world as he spoke.
“My honor is different from your honor."
It was turned down. The knight nodded. He looked at the residents and said, “Don't think that you will be safe afterwards just because you're currently with Crockta. The southern residents can't leave without His Majesty's permission."
"……"
The residents were agitated. They didn't think that the empire would take such direct control. The freedom to go anywhere they liked on the continent, the empire had cast the shade of oppression over it. It all began with the emperor's emergence.
"Damn emperor…"
The residents cursed as they watched the backs of the retreating knights. Then they expressed their thanks to Crockta.
"Thank you. It is all thanks to Crockta.
"No."
"Sigh. It is very concerning. I wonder if we can go north…"
Their first goal was the elf city called Riznari. It was a free city located a little away from Maillard where all types of species gathered. But based on the appearance of the knights, the empire had started to control all roads leading out of the south. It was questionable if they could reach their destination.
They started to exchange opinions among themselves.
“I would rather go to Espada…"
“I am the opposite. If we go to Espada, we will definitely have to fight the empire."
“If I had to choose one of them it is better to fight the emperor!"
“Maybe we should just go and see…"
“You just saw it. We will just get caught!"
Tiyo shook his head. “Crockta. Looking at the south… it might be better to leave this area first dot."
“Yes, but I don't want to do that."
"In order to fight the emperor, we must have troops. But you don't have that much power in the south dot."
It was possible to defeat the great chieftain in the north because they had the force called the dark elves. In order to get rid of the emperor, forces hostile to the emperor were needed. The emperor would reveal his ambition soon, so it might be wiser to wait for the clash with forces from the elves, gnomes, and orcs.
But Crockta didn't want to do that.
"I will go to Espada and think about it."
"Understood dot."
Once he figured out Espada's situation, he would be able to make a decision about any future actions.
“Maybe we can get some rest dot."
“The discussion is getting longer. The residents in the south were having a discussion after meeting the knights to decide whether they should go north or go to Espada with Crockta.
“I'll keep going. I won't be intimidated."
“Then are you planning to take on the knights?"
“I will go quietly. It can't be helped if I end up conscripted."
“Do you think they will be so accepting? I would rather fight in Espada than be conscripted by the empire."
"Hah, truly."
As they talked, Crockta's group took out tools from their bags and started cooking. It was lunch time. The residents sat down and prepared to eat. Among the residents, there were those who continued discussing the future while the rest ate lunch.
Crcokta chewed on beef jerky and looked at the distant horizon. If this was a normal trip, he would've sung a song. However, the emperor had emerged and shattered this. He couldn't rest easily until he removed those who destroyed Alaste.
“After fighting the emperor…" It was a similar story when he fought the great chieftain. Crockta looked up and spoke to Tiyo and Anor. "Let's go back to Gridori and enjoy some rest."
Tiyo grinned.
“The emperor after the great chieftain. I'm afraid that if we stop the emperor, a god will appear dot."
“If a god blocks us, we should get rid of the god."
"Kahahat."
The meal ended and Crockta's group rose. Then they looked at the residents.If their argument was prolonged, Crockta planned to leave for Espada first. But they seemed to have come to a conclusion.
"We will go to Espada."
“I wish you good luck."
The residents decided to split into two groups. There were those who would continue to Riznari, while the others would go to Espada. On the way to Riznari, there was a high probability of meeting the emperor's knights, but they couldn't think about fighting the emperor.
"It will be dangerous…"
“They won't kill us. At most, we will be punished before being conscripted by the emperor."
“I hope to see you again."
"Then…"
The group said farewell and split in two. They said, "Goodbye. I didn't know we would be breaking apart like this."
“Life is about choices. It would be good if I could know the future."
Crockta listened to their conversation and thought of a skill. If he used the 'Gray God’s Eyes', he could see the other person's lifespan. However, he was reluctant to use this skill. It was a great skill but knowing the lifespan of someone else gave off a feeling of taboo.
In particular, after finding out that Elder Lord was another dimension, he became more reluctant to use it. He didn't want to steal the intimate knowledge of another person's death. In addition, he didn't want to be forced to do something by this ability.
Just like the name, this skill was the domain of the gods. But at this moment, he felt like he had to confirm their remaining lifespan. If he used this, he could guess if they were killed by knights or if they would make it safely to another city.
Crockta hesitated before using the skill on the villagers in the distance. Then something emerged on top of their heads.
“……!”
Crockta felt dismayed. They would die in the near future. The same number was written above the heads of those continuing to the north. They would meet death on the same day.
“Stop.”
"Huh?"
“They…" Crockta turned his head. “……!”
The numbers showed once again. The numbers above their head were no different from those heading to the north.
Crockta dropped his gaze, unable to look at the fate of those heading to their deaths. There was a procession of ants at his feet. There was something faint around them as well. The inevitably overwhelming marks of death were stamped all over this world.
Death was equal, stamping the heads of both humans and ants. Not just humans and ants, but the land he stood on would be destroyed someday.
Crockta once again regretted using the Gray God’s Eyes. The power became stronger every time he used it. It was hard to breath when seeing the world of death through the Gray God’s Eyes.
“Crockta, why are you so slow dot?"
Tiyo approached him and asked. Crockta didn't want to see the mark of death above Tiyo's head. So he tried to stop the Gray God’s Eyes. At that moment,
[The Gray God’s Eyes was originally a passive skill.]
“……!”
A system message. No, it was a message from the 'Gray God'.
[Once you use it once, you will see them forever.]
Crockta shook his head. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
[But since it is a god's vision, I have changed the Gray God’s Eyes into a skill that you can activate and deactivate.]
[Now you see that the world is full of death.]
[They will meet death in the near future.]
[Do you want to save them?]
[What choice will you make?]
She asked Crockta.
Crockta opened his eyes.
***
The Heaven and Earth Clan operated on the logic of economic returns. The members of Heaven and Earth were full-time users making a living in Elder Lord. Therefore, they rushed to generate revenue. And they were successful in making money.
They launched a program called Heaven and Earth TV. There was an exclusive person filming the various wars and events of the Heaven and Earth Clan in the world of Elder Lord in real time. As Heaven and Earth TV became increasingly popular, it cooperated with broadcasters and became a national program.
The broadcast chat window was the battlefield. Those who liked the Heaven and Earth Clan praised their actions, anticipating more wars and massacres. They didn't blame them for violating the agreement between users.
–They have to maintain their influence. Betrayal is nothing. Become strong or self-destruct. That is Elder Lord.
There were others who questioned the Heaven and Earth Clan's excessive warfare, the gameplay that didn't care about other users and the arrogant attitude that mocked weak users.
–Thanks to them, people are quitting Elder Lord. How many villages are lost because of them? The contents and fun are disappearing, what are the publishers doing?
Despite such controversies, the Heaven and Earth Clan was proud of their greatness. People liked watching the best. The ratings were the best for the Heaven and Earth battles. In particular, Rommel's orchestrated tactical commands enthralled people.
Today, in the middle of a small Heaven and Earth battle. All of a sudden, system messages popped up.
[This is an entire server system message.]
[Thank you to all the users who love Elder Lord. Elder Lord has become more abundant thanks to your participation.]
–Eh, what?
BJ Heaven and Earth, the person dedicated to shooting the Heaven and Earth TV broadcast, murmured in confusion.
–It's been awhile since there was a server wide system message. How strange. Wait while I check this out. Is Elsaco finally acting?
Elsaco stood for Elder Saga Corporation. Elsaco was mocked as a company that didn't work due to its unique way of handling the game.
The viewers also focused on the message. BJ Heaven and Earth muttered,
–Achievement points event?
[Your hard work in Elder Lord is measured using achievement points. Thanks to all the users, the total sum of achievement points has exceeded the target value.]
–The target?
[Thus, there will be an achievement points event. Special rewards will be given whenever you earn achievement points. Each user will receive different rewards, so don't be disappointed if you get an unwanted reward and continue to build your achievements. There are some wonderful rewards.]
The battle scene was still visible on the screen. As BJ Heaven and Earth continued to dwell on the system messages, the members fighting turned them off and focused on the battle. Then the battle ended. BJ Heaven and Earth regained his spirit.
–Ah, the battle finished. Then…
[You have earned achievement points. Due to the achievement points event, you have learned a new skill!]
─Eh?
BJ Heaven and Earth was in charge of shooting, but as a member of the Heaven and Earth party, he also gained a share of the experience and achievement points. As soon as the battle ended, he received the achievement points, followed by the reward.
He confirmed the reward.
[Rare grade skill, Flying Heaven Sword Style (Rare) has been acquired.]
-…Uh?
BJ Heaven and Earth groaned. The Flying Heaven Sword Style was a well known sword skill.
[If you learn the Flying Heaven Sword Style and satisfy certain conditions, you can change to the hidden class 'Sword Emperor.']
The Flying Heaven Sword Style was the representative skill of the ranker with the hidden class 'Sword Emperor.' He revealed that he could become a Sword Emperor by acquiring the Flying Heaven Sword Style, but he didn't tell how he acquired the skill.
So it was a famous skill that no one else managed to obtain. Sword Emperor was a fraudulent class that everyone wanted. Along with Rommel's 'War Maestro', it was recognized as a hidden class that represented Elder Lord.
That Flying Heaven Sword Style had fallen into the hands of BJ Heaven and Earth.
–Uh…Uhh…
BJ Heaven and Earth's confused voice trailed away. He was dazed. In contrast to his silence, the chat window had become noisy. This was the start of Elder Lord's cataclysm.
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.