Chapter 164 – Empire Strikes Back (3)
Crockta rode his horse. The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members followed him.
They saw a blazing fire in the distance. The imperial army had taken over a city. The battle had already ended. The only thing left behind was their traces. Espada was an area with a big cluster of cities where people gathered. This place had collapsed. There were numerous troops surrounding the city.
“……!”
"Crockta!"
He was noticed quickly because he ran aggressively. A scout blew the whistle first. The knights, who had been waiting, reversed their formation. They reacted to the sound of the whistle almost immediately. The information that Crockta appeared was quickly transmitted to the rear.
The troops moved like they were a single creature. At its heart was Rommel. He was able to see Rommel beyond the knights. He was a good looking elf, but wore heavy armor that typically didn't suit elves.
He waved his hand and the knights started the assault. They were the Blue Dragon Lancers beside him. The White Lion Knights and Blue Dragon Lancers were the pillars of the empire.
The knights raised their lances and started charging towards Crockta and the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members. Crockta pulled out his greatsword.
“Yare yare…is this the so-called 'lance charging'…?"
Gilgamesh muttered habitually. His voice sounded the same but it was shaking slightly.
Crockta shouted, “Everyone be prepared."
The Blue Dragon troops were rushing towards them like a locomotive. Crockta raised the pressure around his body. The lances were coming like waves. Even if he blocked the knights, there was an army behind them.
It was absurd when he thought about it. Only five people. Five people were facing an army.
"Stay alive." Crockta muttered.
He didn't worry about such things. He only thought about defeating the enemies that came towards him. Face an opponent, smash them down and repeat over and over again. It would be a line that allowed him to reach Rommel.
"Bul'tar──────!"
His battle cry rang out. At that moment, all of the soldiers here felt a chill at Crockta's presence. He really had come.
“Come!”
The attack from the Blue Dragon Lancers was imminent. Just before the collision, Crockta jumped from his horse. The horse, that lost its master, collided with a spear and fell down. Crockta was on the ground and wielded his greatsword. He faced multiple knights at the same time.
Crockta landed in an empty gap and wielded his greatsword at the lances and horses. He aimed at the horse. As the horse collapsed, the knight rolled over and was crushed by the steel armor. Like water hitting a stone, the knights split apart around Crockta. Blood splattered from the horses caught by Crockta.
“Come on, dance with me! Open the bloody banquet, my blades! Kukuk!"
Gilgamesh's voice was heard. Crockta's angle meant he couldn't see the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members. The knights focused on Crockta. Except for a group that dealt with the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members, the rest turned around and came back to Crockta.
The assault began again. They held up their lances and shouted.
"For His Majesty!"
"For!"
Crockta raised his greatsword. The enemies were nearing. The lance's charge was raised by the horse's acceleration and flew with tremendous power. It would pierce a body in one strike.
"Haat!"
The lances flew towards him. Crockta responded promptly and managed to survive. If he couldn't kill on the battlefield then he would die. Crockta dodged their attacks and broke the horses' legs. The horses with their legs broken fell to the ground and crushed the knights.
"This guy!" A knight appeared in unusual clothing. "Orc! Let me fight with you!"
It was a middle-aged man. It was the leader of the Blue Dragon Lancers. The knights opened the path for him once he appeared. His horse started running. The horse was different from the common ones. The size was much bigger and the skin underneath the armor was red. The ground shook every time the horse moved. Fast and furious.
The leader became one with the horse as he charged towards Crockta.
“Die! Empire's enemy!"
Crockta could feel him falling into the realm of the Pinnacle as he rode. The charge of the horse and the Pinnacle, this was the leader of a troop of knights. He leaned into the space and rushed towards Crockta.
Crockta also entered the world of the Pinnacle. However, the compressed force of the lance flying towards Crockta was so strong that it seemed hard for him to endure. Crockta gulped. He tried to avoid it but the horse's charging speed exceeded their expectations.
Indeed, this was the empire. Adandator wasn't the only powerhouse. Crockta surpassed the realm of the Pinnacle. The landscape changed again.
The Hero realm. The transcendent power of causality was demonstrated. Crockta's greatsword and the knight's lance crossed. Both bodies fell at the same time.
"Ugh!"
"Cough!"
He fell from the horse while Crockta flew backward. Crockta hurriedly got up. It wasn't one-sided but the lance had hit him.
“That Adandator bastard, there is another person beyond the Pinnacle…"
It was different from his words. This knight had touched the edges of the Hero realm, despite not recognizing it yet.
“Cough! Cough!""
The knight's side was split by the greatsword and he coughed blood onto the ground. Behind Crockta, the horse that lost its master was running amok. The knights gathered around their leader. He glared at Crockta as he was carried away.
Crockta grinned.
“Hoo, hoo." He restored his breathing. But this wasn't the end. It was starting now. The infantry troops were advancing towards Crockta. The knights continued to fill up their numbers.
"These boring guys." The knights set up their formation again and started running towards Crockta. Crockta placed the greatsword on his shoulder. "Of course, what else can I expect from the name Blue Dragon Lancers?"
The force was still sufficient. The moment they were going to assault from the front…
The knights moved to the side and passed Crockta.
“……!”
Crockta looked around. There were members of 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' who followed him. They were fighting the knights and not paying attention to this place.
"Scatter──────!"
Crockta shouted. They finally noticed the knights. However, the knights' assault was too fierce. The members were split into two groups. They avoided the attacks, but one member was eventually pieced by a lance.
"…Keok!"
The lance pierced the user's abdomen and he hung in the air. It was like the knight who killed the member was boasting of the spoils. The body hung high in the sky. Blood flowed down the lance. The sound of horseshoes subsided.
"Cou…gh…" He coughed up blood and soon turned into white particles.
"Hmm?" The knight muttered as he looked at the body. "What? Someone who is cursed by the stars?"
At that moment, a blade penetrated the knight's heart.
“……!”
A sword came out of nowhere and pierced the steel armor. The knight grabbed his chest and looked back. Gilgamesh was staring at him with many swords floating around him.
“The price of touching my companion…it is ruin. Lowlife."
"Kuk…"
The knight with the lance fell to the ground. Then the knights flew towards Gilgamesh. Some knights fell from their horses and attacked with swords. Their weapons became tangled together. Once the knights showed their strength, the fan club members were in crisis.
Crockta tried to save them but other knights blocked it. This was the advantage of numbers.
“Coming here without any fear. You will regret it. Orc."
The knights laughed. Crockta wielded his greatsword instead of answering. The body of the knight who just spoke flew through the air.
"Bul'tar──────!"
Crockta wildly attacked the knights. The panicked knights kept gathering. Every time Crockta swung his greatsword, dozens of knights died. Blood and flesh were scattered.
“Shit!”
However, the enemies kept on coming. It was foolish to deal with so many enemies in an open space.
"Kuaack!"
Crockta jumped over a knight. He broke through the encirclement and ran towards the other 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members. The three remaining members had united and were desperately resisting.
“Where are you running to…keok!"
A knight was hit by his greatsword. Then Crockta stole his horse. The horse resisted as a stranger boarded, but Crockta calmed it down by stroking its neck. Crockta rode his horse. He roared again as he headed towards the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members.
"Bul'tar──────!"
His roar rattled the eardrums of the knights. As they covered their ears, Crockta ran and called out to a member.
“Keep moving! A flat ground is a disadvantage!"
Gilgamesh nodded. He also stole a horse with Alex. They started running out of the knights' encirclement. The knights noticed and pursued fiercely.
“The enemy is too fast!" Alex shouted.
They were knights using lances. Their competency when handling a horse was naturally different. The knights clung tightly to them. Then the swords circling Gilgamesh turned and headed towards the knights. The knights were dumbfounded at the sudden interruption.
Crockta raised his thumb. Gilgamesh grinned. However, they were still at the center of the crisis. Crockta changed the direction of his horse. He avoided the imperial forces and moved inside a gap.
It was towards the inside of the city, where the sound of screaming and fighting could still be heard.
***
“……!”
He entered to see a gory sight. The ones who occupied the interior were mainly users, the Heaven and Earth Clan members and some knights. They didn't want to incorporate the residents into the empire like before.
They were slain immediately.
“How horrible.”
There was the sound of knights on horseback. Crockta directed his horse and entered the city completely.
"Crockta!"
"Crockta appeared!"
The Heaven and Earth Clan responded promptly, as if the information was already transmitted. They didn't rush towards Crockta but maintained their distance on the streets. The clan members gradually gathered. There was a lot of them.
Crockta's eyes quickly glanced around the surroundings. Most of the soldiers and residents had been killed, with only the elderly left. They were the first to lose their lives. There was the sound of fighting in the center, as if people were still resisting, but it didn't seem like it would last long.
“Wouldn’t it be better to retreat?”Alex asked.
"……"
Crockta shook his head.
At the same time, his momentum changed. He once again entered the Hero realm. His senses entered a different perspective.
The moment that Crockta confirmed the presence of troops around him, new infantrymen entered any gaps, directed by Rommel. At the same time, he realized the shaking of the members who entered with him.
“You can leave. It is too dangerous." Crockta told them. They shook their heads.
"It isn't dangerous. We received the curse of the stars. We won't die. But Crockta…"
“You can experience the Concrete method."
“……!”
Most of the people around them were the Heaven and Earth members. The clan members already identified that the enemies were users.
“No…that, no, it isn't…"
Alex's voice trailed off. Crockta had fought the Thawing Balhae clan. He already knew about users.
It was as he said. This was a battle involving the Heaven and Earth Clan. If there were any users who opposed them, the Heaven and Earth would thoroughly trample them using the Concrete method to prevent another attack.
The eyes of the Heaven and Earth seemed to be scanning the members' bodies.
"…So be it," Alex muttered with a grin.
Crockta responded in a grave tone, “I can't protect you anymore."
“It’s okay. I am determined."
Their companionship would probably end here. No matter how this battle progressed, they would probably die or experience the Concrete method here. That battle was overwhelmingly unfavorable. It would actually be fortunate if they died.
“Fight with honor.”
The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members laughed. They came here because they admired Crockta. That choice wasn't wrong. Crockta was just like they saw in the videos. No, he was more than that. He wasn't a hero, but had a very human nature, so his past actions seemed even greater.
They couldn't help laughing and crying in Crockta's presence.
"You must absolutely never die."
It was okay for the users to die. Even if they received the Concrete method, they could still live in reality. But Crockta, this great warrior, wouldn't be able to revive if he died.
He was an NPC. Everything would be over if he died. However, Crockta's eyes were unshaken. This was why they praised and honored Crockta. The era of heroes was over. But they met a true hero in Elder Lord.
Crockta told them, "Don't regret it."
They laughed.
My Q&A ended up being delayed to today at the normal time. If you are unsure when that is,
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.
Chapter 165 – Five Senses Landscape (1)
Inside the city, there were still those who were resisting.
“As long as we buy some time, reinforcements will come," said Gerd, the militia leader.
However, he wasn't convinced as he spoke. The enemies hadn't used their knights yet. The horsemen were circling the city to prevent any fugitives, with only those cursed by the stars entering the city. They were having fun as they slaughtered the residents of the city.
"Can't we build up a lot of experience here?"
“Yes, that is why we came here."
“I keep on receiving rewards for the achievements. Wow, this is rare grade."
“I barely get any rare grade rewards. Why can't I receive the Flying Heaven Sword Style?"
They chattered and laughed together.
Gerd bit his lip. The ones cursed by the stars were hateful. They were all around him.
"Endure. We can endure."
Of course, nobody believed those words. They were waiting for reinforcements but who would come? The empire had a great army. It was a war to win if they just hid behind walls. Entering the city to save them was nothing more than a waste of troops.
He repeated to himself, "Endure…"
But there was a disturbance in the distance. Gerd became tense. The knights might've entered.
“……!”
At that moment, he could see something flying over the building in front of him. It was the appearance of an enemy who had his body split apart. As soon as the red lump fell, it became white particles.
"W-What?"
It continued. Behind the outer walls of the building, a fountain of blood appeared in the air. There was the sound of screams and bones breaking as the bodies continued to burst. The blood, flesh and internal organs were stuck to the ground.
What the hell was going on at the smithy?
"Kyaaak!"
"Stop!"
"Monster!"
Once again, dozens of people flew through the air at the same time and fell down in the dust. Gerd and his companions flinched as they held their weapons. The fallen people twitched and died. Their bodies turned white.
"Who…?"
Step, step.
Footsteps could be heard. Gerd gulped and looked at the corner of the building. There was the shadow of a man of great size. The slaughterer's image was revealed. The first thing that stood out was the gigantic greatsword that reflected the sunlight. It was so big that he couldn't face it properly.
“……!”
An orc. He was burly and the battle scars were mixed together with the tattoos. Blood and flesh dripped down from his body.
The vicious eyes turned to Gerd. Gerd shook.
He knew who the orc was. The orc warrior widely known throughout the continent. The one who killed the crazy chieftain in the north. All gods had whispered his name. Northern Conqueror Crockta. He heard rumors that Crockta was going against the empire. But,
"God…"
Showing up on this battlefield was reckless. Gerd never imagined his appearance. He knew the orc species, but he always thought of heroes as people with shining smiles and a dignified appearance. They were knights who wore armor.
But he was mistaken. The orc called Crockta wasn't a knight. He was a monster. Knights were those who wore shining armor and rode on a white horse in fairy tales.
Crockta was a warrior who slaughtered his enemies with his greatsword, scattering the flesh and blood of those who got in his way. If he wasn't killed on the battlefield, he would wipe out all enemies. The eyes were filled with killing intent, making Gerd unable to face them at all.
But,
"Bul'tarrr──────!"
At Crockta's roar, the enemies didn't dare come closer and fell back.
Gerd formed a fist. Despite the horrible appearance, hope sprouted in his heart.
He had prayed for a long time. He prayed every day that he could continue to live as a free man, for the march of the imperial forces to slow down and to help them win this battle. He prayed for all the beautiful things in this world.
However, no one answered. It wasn't the benevolent goddess or a knight on a white horse who responded. It was a brutal orc warrior covered in the enemy's blood. A killer who beheaded the enemies directly.
Crockta, he came for them.
Gerd shouted, "Crockta has come! Gather your strength!"
***
The front lines became messy at Crockta's appearance. The enemies rarely came close to Crockta, giving the residents and militia time to reorganize the line of defense.
"Crockta!"
The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members were also present. They were very tired. In particular, Gilgamesh was barely holding onto his sword and couldn't exert any further strength.
“Meet over there."
"Yes."
“There are still people remaining."
Crockta approached Gerd's group. They were busy raising the defenses. They held spears carved out of wood and cautiously watched for enemies from behind the barricade.
"I am Crockta. I came to help."
Gerd responded to Crockta.
"Thank you. I've heard a lot of rumors about you."
“More troops will be coming soon."
Rommel was committed to the growth of the clan members. But that changed after Crockta's appearance. Soon the knights and regular soldiers would appear. Considering the gap between numbers and level, it was close to a hopeless battle.
“Wait for the reinforcements."
“Reinforcements…" Gerd was skeptical about the reinforcements. He shouted about reinforcements to raise morale, but he didn't think they would come.
"Believe in them." Crockta stated. It was an intense gaze. “They will come.”
It was hope that made people hold on, even if it was feeble. As long as there was hope, the possibilities could be doubled. A miracle could happen as long as it wasn't 0%.
“I understand." Gerd nodded.
Crockta scanned the area.
“It is tense."
They had just joined but there was no time for proper introductions. It was the last defense line and the children and elderly were behind it. All of them were now visible.
Crockta raised his greatsword. It was obviously the worst situation. He wanted to protect them, but it was a dangerous situation. However, if there was nothing to protect, there was no reason to fight.
It was an irony he always experienced.
Crockta opened his mouth. “I have been through many battles…"
The formation of the enemies was changing. They had now completely retreated. It meant that reinforcements for the enemies were coming soon. The sound of horseshoes neared.
“There have been many more dangerous fights. This is nothing. Kulkulkul."
It was his own method of cheering them on. Gerd and the militia members laughed slightly at Crockta's words.
“So let’s try our best."
“I understand."
New enemies appeared. Both the White Lion Knights and Blue Dragon Lancers appeared. The regular army followed behind them. The Heaven and Earth Clan were still here, surrounding the area in several layers, in order to block any retreat.
The number and quality of the other side were no match.
Crockta cracked his knuckles. As he mentioned, he had experienced more dangerous battlefields. But it was the first time he had to defend people against so many enemies. At the very least, he fought with his friends who had the ability to resist the enemy.
Even in the north, he had the dark elves who were good hunters and swordsmen. This place was different. They were at a disadvantage in terms of equipment and skills. Maybe everyone would die.
"Stay alive." He muttered.
Gilgamesh spoke from behind him, “Is there a 'stage' that finally suits me…? The curtain call will be the screams of the enemies. Kukuk…!"
His voice was dying but his personality was still constant. Crockta grinned. The enemies came to a stop.
"Knights, be prepared!"
The leader of the White Lion Knights in the rear cried out. It was the vice leader Betring, who had taken over for Adandator. It was an expression of intent to engage in close combat. They started walking on both feet.
The militia members readied their arrows. However, none of them hit. They were avoided or blocked using swords and shields. It was truly the empire's elite.
"For His Majesty!" Betring shouted in an excited voice that didn't fit his age.
“Assault, White Lions!"
The knights started the assault. Crockta broke through the knights running at the forefront and shouted, “Come at me, knight!"
Crockta's momentum pushed against the knights.
"You're better than expected, Orc!" It was Betring who didn't back down from Crockta's threat. He met Crockta's greatsword as the two swords hit each other.
"Now! Charge!"
As Betring shouted, the knights plunged towards Crockta's left and right. Crockta tried to stop them, but Betring's sword persistently pursued him. Crockta struck him in annoyance. Betring continued to mark Crockta. He wasn't trying to kill Crockta, and didn't even intend for this to be a confrontation. He just stuck to Crockta so that Crockta couldn't go anywhere else.
Crockta grit his teeth.
An expert. This was annoying.
"Aaack!"
The knights didn't hesitate. The residents died as the knights' swords pierced their hearts.
"It is shameful."
"Ho?" Betring asked nervously as he attacked Crockta.
“A knight should be ashamed of this behavior."
The ruined city. The dead or dying residents. The flag of the empire flying in the air.
"Shame…" Betring smiled bitterly. “Old people like me don't worry about things like that."
It was a familiar expression that he had seen in the north on Hammerchwi, a brave man who had been bent from many years of inertia while adrift in a world mixed with right and wrong.
“I understand," said Crockta before his figure disappeared. Then Crockta appeared right in front of Betring's nose with Ogre Slayer at his neck.
“……!”
An enormous pressure was aiming for his neck. He couldn't avoid or block it. Betring’s head became blank.
Kakang!
Just before Ogre Slayer reached Betring, the sword was blocked. It was from the spear of a Blue Dragon member.
"Don't overdo it."
“Thank you for your help. Bluno."
The two leaders of the empire's knights stood in front of Crockta. They gulped. Even if they joined together, they couldn't beat Crockta. They could only buy some time. The orc in front of him was a monster.
“Come all at once!"
At the same time, Crockta's greatsword aimed at both of them. Betring bounced back and rolled across the ground. Bluno avoided it then swung his spear. Crockta ducked and kicked Bluno's abdomen. Bluno collapsed.
The greatsword descended towards Betring. He blocked with his sword. The blade couldn't overcome the impact and was broken. Betring's face stiffened. Crockta raised his greatsword again. Betring rolled across the ground. It was ugly behavior for a knight, but it allowed him to barely survive.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Bluno attacked. It was a rapid stinging attack that made him one of the best knights. Crockta grabbed the spear.
"Crazy!"
Crockta started to break the spear. Bluno stumbled at the power placed on his spear. He gritted his teeth and tried to aim the spear again.
Crockta struck his shin with a fist.
"Cough!" Bluno flew back and crashed onto the ground. His shin was broken. He grabbed his leg and moaned. Betring looked at it and muttered. "Truly a monster…"
His face was completely frightened.
Crockta looked around. The knights were already slaughtering the residents. Crockta headed towards the knights, ignoring Betring and Bluno. However, it wasn't enough for him to block them alone.
Countless people were dying. The Heaven and Earth members were pushing to the front like hyenas.
"Come again!"
"Get those bastards!"
"Cheeky bastards!"
Their goal was the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members.
“The garbage who follow the orc!"
“Kukuk…weak dogs are barking?"
“What is he saying?"
In the middle of it, Crockta shook his head. The knights and residents, users and users, everything was mixed up and confusing. The debris of the destroyed buildings was scattered about.
'Now you see that the world is full of death.'
The system message seemed to be mocking him. Crockta jumped over a knight. Betring was chasing him from behind. Crockta wanted to go after the knights killing the residents. Betring's blade cut his thigh.
Crockta looked angrily at Betring, but he had already withdrawn. Meanwhile, residents were dying. Crockta gritted his teeth. The moment Betring retreated, weapons flew at Crockta from all sides.
Crockta roared and swung his greatsword. The knights flew back.
Puok!
"Ugh!"
An arrow struck Crockta's shoulder. It was difficult to respond because there were so many people. Crockta used the power of a Hero. It consumed a lot of stamina but it couldn't be helped. Crockta slaughtered the enemies with the power of causality. A fountain of blood.
Nevertheless, the number of teammates was decreasing.
"Gerd!"
There was no answer. He had died a long time ago.
“Shit!"
The corpses were accumulating. He couldn't save everyone. The consequences of death were overflowing in the city, and there was a limit to how much he could reverse.
“……!”
Suddenly, white particles were scattered. He looked back. The 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members were dying. Alex's eyes met his as he turned into white particles. He nodded with a pale face. That was the last action.
Their particles and those of the Heaven and Earth members, along with the dust, blurred his vision.
“Hell, this is a place that suits me! Come you, you dog-like bastards.”
Gilgamesh was the only one remaining and he had lost his concept. He could no longer manipulate the blades and wielded them directly. However, his weapons were quickly suppressed. Crockta tried to rescue him, but the knights kept blocking him. Several layers of infantry surrounded him.
“Dammit.” Crockta raised his greatsword. He was about to use strength to break through the encirclement.
“I've caught this bastard! Concrete method!"
“Tie him up! Rope!"
“Kukuk…oof…kuk…!"
Crockta ran in Gilgamesh's direction. A blade stuck in his back. Blood splattered but he ignored it and attacked those in front of him. He stepped on the enemies. Gilgamesh could be seen in the distance.
“Gilgamesh!”
Crockta broke through the enemies to try and save him, but he was blocked again. There was no end. He was surrounded by the enemy. There was even the bombardment from magicians. Fireballs flew at Crockta.
"Bul'tarrr──────!"
Crockta ignored it all and threw his greatsword.
“……!”
Ogre Slayer split apart Gilgamesh's body. Gilgamesh was split in half. With only his upper body left, he stared at Crockta. There was surprise in Gilgamesh's eyes before he laughed. Crockta chuckled slightly.
Soon, Crockta's body was hit by a fireball.
"Cough!"
Crockta rolled on the ground. The flames burned his body. Crockta gritted his teeth. Blades flew in succession. Crockta raised his body and knocked them down with his fists. The enemies were ripped to pieces.
Crockta straightened his waist and looked around.
“Kulkulkul…"
He laughed. Now Crockta was alone. The militia, the elderly people and the 'He's an Orc, yet still Praiseworthy' members…
They all died. He was left alone.
He knew.
"Kill!"
“He is alone!"
"Everyone charge!”
From the beginning, he had a feeling it would be like this. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to struggle.
Kaack! Kaack! Kaaack!
He looked up at the sky.
Crows were crying out above his head. Auspicious or a disaster. It was said that crows were birds who lead the souls of the dead to the afterlife. How did the landscape look like in their eyes? He wondered if the souls of the dead were filling this land in white.
My Q&A ended up being delayed to today at the normal time. If you are unsure when that is,
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.