Chapter 80 – Willful Negligence (2)
Orcheim and Dejame were being attacked at the same time.
The warriors of the Great Clan, as well as those integrated from the lower tribes, ran in the Luklan Mountains. The momentum of their march as they carried hammers and axes was really fierce! But their breakthrough was interrupted by an orc running out of Orcheim.
“Aaaagh!”
One of the orcs tried to attack, but his body was cut in half.
The opponent kicked his head as the orc's lower body twitched on the ground. His head had been cut off. Wearing a red headband, full body tattoos, and a greatsword, the enemy was a strange orc warrior.
It was Crockta. Now every one of his gestures was deadly.
[Status Window]
‘One who Reached the North' Crockta, Orc Warrior.
Level: 57
Achievement Points: 245400
Assimilation: 85%
Abilities:
Peerless Mountain Seizing Strength (Pinnacle)
Regeneration Authority (Pinnacle)
Leyteno's Heart Swordsmanship (Pinnacle)
Extreme Fighting Spirit (Pinnacle)
Heart and Soul Penetration (Pinnacle)
Tattoos of War, Honour and Fighting Spirit (Pinnacle)
Army Crushing Roar of Madness (Pinnacle)
Creatures Butcher (Essence)
All of his already existing skills had reached the Pinnacle rating. After defeating the behemoth and opening the north, the system had rewarded him by raising all his Essence skills. He also got a new skill called 'Creatures Butcher'.
This gave Crockta a new perspective when fighting. The ranks of Essence and Pinnacle wasn't just a one-stage upgrade difference. It was a bigger growth than all the previous upgrades.
“Feel free to come."
Crockta was confident that he wouldn't lose to anyone here. He avoided a flying axe and cut down the enemy. He had completely grasped all the movements of the enemy and used acrobatics to avoid the enemy's attacks as he cut one neck after another. Heads flew through the air.
Someone shouted, "Who are you?"
Crockta just laughed. He was happy to oblige if they wanted to hear it.
Crockta wielded his greatsword and shouted, "My name!"
The Pinnacle ranked skill, Army Crushing Roar of Madness!
"Crocktaaaaaaaa──────!"
The earth shook like there was a bombardment. The blood of the enemies flowed. Crockta shot forward like a lightning bolt after his battle shout.
"Crocktaaaaaaaaaaaaa──────!"
He cried out his name as he smashed the head of another orc. The skull fragments and blood flew into the air. The orcs that had been advancing towards Orcheim froze on the spot.
They instinctively realized. The orc standing in front of them. He was a powerhouse who could decide victory or defeat in this battle on his own.
A one-man army.
"He is like the great chieftain…", muttered the commanding orc.
Then he shook his head. It couldn't be. There was only one great chieftain. In order to shake off the ominous thought, he shouted at the warriors following him, “I am Akbahal, a warrior who has received the title from the great chieftain!"
Then he lifted his axe.
"Follow me! Kill that cheeky orc! For the great chieftain!"
The morale of the warriors rose as they lifted their weapons.
"Kuweeeh!"
“Great chieftain!"
“To the Great Clan!"
The orcs ran towards Crockta. Their spears and swords aimed at Crockta. The crossbows of the gnomes in the rear also aimed to turn the orc into a beehive. Crockta swung his greatsword and blocked them all at once.
“Die!”
His defense broke and Akbahal and the orcs aimed at Crockta. Dozens of weapons were locked on Crockta.
Kakang!
The greatsword blocked it. The fight between the orcs and Crockta continued. The orcs' eyes widened as they felt themselves being pushed back, despite the numerical advantage. Whenever Crockta took a step, they had to step back.
Peerless Mountain Seizing Strength! Crockta swung his weapon with great strength. He aimed for all the orcs at once. The bizarre giant greatsword, Ogre Slayer fell over their heads.
Puok!
Puok!
Flesh and bone fragments flew in the air. The warrior Akbahal hastily threw himself back. It was ridiculous. Akbahal clenched his teeth and rose to his feet. The orc called Crockta was walking towards him. His eyes saw the weapon and his vision dimmed.
Akbahal's head flew in the air.
"Oh my god!"
A terrifying monster that killed Akbahal with one blow! The morale of the soldiers plummeted after Akbahal's death. Every time Crockta moved, another orc soldier died. The orcs kept falling back.
Suddenly, Crockta stopped moving forward. The clan warriors sighed with relief and used the chance to catch their breaths.
Crockta laughed. The battle wasn't over because he stopped. Behind Crockta, the warriors of Orcheim ran out. Their morale had risen to the sky after witnessing Crockta's force.
"Waahhhh──────!"
The battle cries of Orcheim's warriors rang through the Luklan Mountains. Crockta watched as they broke through the helpless Great Clan warriors.
Orcheim was completed. Next was Dejame.
Crockta started running. His physical abilities far exceeded his previous left after gaining Peerless Mountain Seizing Strength and Regeneration Authority. His muscles were filled with a tremendous strength, and it felt like he was flying. His stamina wasn't exhausted.
In an instant, he reached a ridge. The dark elf village Dejame was below him. Numerous orcs surrounded the village. There was a battle between the invading orcs and the dark elves trying to stop them.
Arrows rained down on the invaders but the defenses were gradually being shaken by the orcs' offensive.
Crockta took a deep breath. Air was condensed inside his body. Crockta gave strength to his abdomen. His diaphragm became as hard as steel. His roar rattled the Luklan Mountains.
"Bul'tarrrrrrrrrr──────!"
His roar halted the orcs and dark elves. The battlefield fell into a moment of panic. Crockta smiled and leaned towards Dejame. His thighs swelled like they were going to burst. His body soon burst out.
Every time he pushed against the ground, the landscape passed by in a flash.
It was a tree. It was a rock. Tree. Rock. Tree. Tree. Tree.
And the enemy. Ogre Slayer split the enemy's flesh asunder, causing a fountain of blood to erupt with every flash of its blade.
"Uhweeeh!"
“W-What is going on?" The orcs still didn't understand the situation as they yelled. Crockta was kind enough to explain it to them.
"I am the warrior Crockta! You who have invaded the Luklan Mountains!'
Two orcs blocked his way. Ogre Slayer slaughtered the two orcs because they could use their weapons. Limbs flew into the air.
“All of you will die!"
Dejame was surprised by the sudden emergence of an orc warrior. The commander of Dejame grasped the situation and ordered his soldiers to shoot.
“I'm the reinforcements from Orcheim, so don't shoot!"
The dark elves couldn't believe their eyes. “There's only one person for reinforcement?"
“No matter how the orcs…!"
But the situation was reversed due to one orc crushing the enemies. The orcs surrounding Dejame started to slowly thin out as if they were swallowed by a beast. Dejame's commander, Janaru watched from the highest spot and gulped.
"It is a sight that is hard to believe…"
The orcs who climbed the barrier and the ones who resisted were all killed by the greatsword. Everywhere he passed, a terrible fountain of blood would spurt out.
After Crockta joined the fight, the dark elves regained their numerical advantage. Now the dark elf warriors rushed out of the barriers to wipe out the rest. They used rapiers and arrows to remove the orcs.
"Hoo. Hoo."
Crockta took deep breaths. There were dead bodies all around him.
He looked up at the sky. Memories of the wars he experienced were superimposed over it. He had been tired of the cruel battlefield, but now he was once again standing over it.
"If you don't kill, you will die."
There was the corpse of a dark elf at his feet. The eyes were blank as he was already dead. Crockta closed the elf's eyes. He always asked himself the same question. Still, there was no answer.
'Is this the right thing?'
He didn't know.
‘Is it fair?'
He didn't know.
However, he could only do what he believed.
“I-I, I received the title of warrior from the great chieftain."
"Is that right?"
“If you kill me, you will surely be slain by the Great Clan and its chief. If you let me go then I will…"
Crockta raised his head. He saw an orc looking at him. The hand in his armor was shaking. His eyes were distorted by fear. Crockta started laughing. It was a pitiful sight for an orc warrior to be begging for his life, instead of maintaining the pride of the great chieftain.
“You will surely become the target of the great chieftain if you kill me."
"I see."
"That's right. So…"
Ogre Slayer cut off his words. The head of the last Great Clan warrior flew in the air.
"Then it can’t be helped."
***
Another victim was thrown into the Colosseum. There were five orcs, four dark elves, and two humans. One gnome. The majority of them were carrying weapons, but there was no fighting spirit in their eyes.
He looked up. His men were pushing down several more orcs and dark elves. They rolled on the dirt ground before rising to their feet.
But their eyes were still frightened. They grabbed their weapons and slowly moved backward. Was it still insufficient?
He threw away his axe. Now he was bare-handed.
"Win your freedom."
There was hope in a few eyes. He laughed. His prey found a ray of hope and raised their weapons towards him. It made no difference if he tore them apart with his bare hands or with a weapon. The prey exchanged glances with each other. They arranged themselves in a battle formation. The orcs were in front, the dark elves in the rare and the humans and gnome between them.
How pitiful. Such things were useless in the face of an overwhelming power difference.
Then the prey rushed at him.
"Waaaah!”
“Kuaaaak!”
The orcs gave a battle cry.
He smiled and stomped his foot. The earth shook from the tremendous power. The orcs stopped like their feet were tangled together.
He roared. “Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"
It was a terrible scream, a roar that seemed to tear at the ears and souls of those who heard it. Within a short time, he was moving forward. The difference in weight became clearer. The orcs looked up at him blankly.
He looked down at them and laughed. Then he swung his fists. They tried to resist, but his fists smashed their weapons and crushed their skulls. Bits of brain and red blood were scattered on the ground of the Colosseum. He stepped on the dead bodies and moved forward.
Now the prey were fearful again. Their eyes were panic stricken. It was a desperate reminded that their lives were no longer theirs. It was a mix of helplessness and violence.
It was his favorite sight.
The dark elves fired their arrows. He waved his arm with annoyance and the arrows fell after hitting his forearms.
He grabbed the head of an orc in the front and lifted him up. The orc desperately swung the axe but it got stuck on his hard skin. He gave strength to his hands. The orc turned red then blue as blood gradually rose.
The orc's skull exploded.
"Boring," he muttered.
Now there was only fear in the prey's eyes. They chose complete despair over helplessness and violence. Their willpower disappeared.
He charged. The prey thrashed in horror. Neither arrows or axes harmed him. He crushed the orcs in turn. Tearing off their limbs and piercing their bellies. He grinned at those who were waiting for their turn.
Within 20 minutes, all the people close to him had been turned into gory corpses. It was a cruel image where internal organs and limbs were mixed together, making it impossible to know which part belonged to who.
At that moment, his subordinate approached. "Did you have enough fun?"
"It is insufficient."
He had an overwhelming body that was twice the size of regular orcs. He was the great chieftain, leader of the Great Clan who ruled over the northern orcs, Calmahart.
“The war has yet to come." His subordinate returned the axe to him.
He continued, "It will be opening soon. All the orcs are gathered under the banner of the Great Clan and the Luklan Mountains will soon be dealt with."
"Hammerchwi has returned."
“That…” Calmahart glanced over. His subordinate was nervous. "Hammerchwi and all the warriors have returned injured."
"……"
“According to Hammerchwi, he met an orc from the continent…"
Calmahart took his axe. "The continent?"
"Yes."
“From below the border?"
"Yes."
“Kukuk…" Calmahart laughed. "How interesting. Where is Hammerchwi now?"
“He is being treated by a shaman."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
The subordinate followed Calmahart. He was a large orc but he looked like a small child standing next to the great chieftain.
The subordinate asked, “What should we do with the rest of the slaves?"
Calmahart stopped.
At the back of the Colosseum, there were some slaves waiting for their turn. They had been gathered to sate Calmahart's thirst for blood. Like those who were killed earlier, they were originally destined to face Calmahart in the Colosseum.
Their gazes turned towards Calmahart. Fear mixed with hope in their eyes.
“My excitement has cooled down."
"Then…"
“Release them."
“I understand."
The faces of the slaves brightened. And at that moment.
Calmahart threw his axe. The axe tore through the air towards them. The axe split apart the orcs and gnomes standing in a line. The line of orcs, dark elves and humans were literally cut in half.
A feast of blood occurred.
Calmahart added, "If they survived."
He turned around.
“…Hiccup!”
The gnome standing at the far end was pale as he stared at his severed hair.
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: Next Patreon goal has been reached!! Thank you for the support. There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.
Chapter 81 – Stranger (1)
The orcs invading the Luklan Mountains retreated. Most of them died or returned with terrible injuries. Crockta's name was stamped into the northern orcs. Now he was obviously an enemy of the Great Clan.
“Golito."
A gnome with a long beard stood in front of Gorit. It was Golito, the leader of Altanas.
Golit of Orcheim, Janaru the leader of Dejame, Crockta and Tiyo were gathered in Altanas. The disarmed gnomes lowered their heads but Golito glared sharply at Gorit.
"Gorit." Golito puffed up his chest. “There is nothing more to say. Dispose of me."
“Are you sorry towards the many who have died because of your actions?"
"That would be a lie. I don't regret it."
The orcs and dark elves surrounding Golito cursed at him. Due to Golito's decision, the Luklan Mountains had been covered with blood. However, Golito still maintained his dignity.
"Once the border opens, the gnomes will clearly be in a crisis. It is fate so I was just trying to do what I could for us gnomes."
"Due to your anxiety, the blood of numerous people were shed."
“My anxiety? Can't you see it? The destruction of our world in the war is right in front of us!"
“That is a leap!"
"No! You underestimate the situation! No matter what the situation over the border is, the crazy chieftain has already decided on a war. Soon the dark elves and you orcs will fall into slavery. When the time comes, Orcheim can just be incorporated into the Great Clan. But us?"
He looked at Janaru, the leader of the dark elves. "It is the same for you too! You are just foolish elves!"
“Shut up."
“Don’t turn away from this. The world is already on the verge of war. Janaru, you should think about this if you really care about Dejame. Whether it is fighting against your fellow people or selling them to the great chieftain, you should plan your future! Why don't you understand this?"
Golito argued with wild eyes.
“As long as the Great Clan has decided on war, the gnomes will be destroyed! This world is about the survival of the fittest! All I did was try to live! I will never regret my decision! Who can blame me? Then blame me!"
There was silence at Golito's strong sincerity. No one could blame him.
At that moment. Someone struck Golito.
"Cough!"
The person was Tiyo. “Stupid bastard!”
Golito touched his cheek where he was hit and raised his head. The culprit was a gnome he hadn't seen before.
"Who are you?
"My name is Tiyo! I am a rational gnome who was the captain of Quantes Gnomes Garrison and I can't stand such stupid words dot."
"Quantes?"
"That's right dot." Tiyo raised General to his shoulder and cried out. “I have come over the border from the continent with Crockta dot!"
Golito's eyes widened at the declaration. There was a commotion in the surroundings.
“But where I come from doesn't matter dot. I just wanted to tell you that you are someone who has lost the cool judgment of a gnome. You are a stupid gnome dot!"
“What?”
“Anxiety based on fear will just proliferate. That is why us gnomes always look objectively. But you are a stupid gnome who lost your composure due to fear! No, you are just a stupid person dot!" Tiyo declared. He was more confident than he had ever been.
“B-Bullshit!"
"Think about it! If, as you say, the great chieftain has turned to madness, do you think his peace with you will last forever?!"
“Surviving the catastrophe in front of us is more important than the distant future! Survival is a priority!"
“That is why you are stupid dot! Gnomes who only think about one thing is a gnome who has lost their reasoning to fear!" Tiyo was speaking to the other gnomes as well as Golito. The gnomes avoided the intensity in his eyes. “Guys like you are under the illusion that you are doing something important! You become confident after feeling like you've made a big decision, but that is just a delusion dot! Poor man, you are really poor dot!"
Golito's eyes distorted at Tiyo's words. “If so, what should I do? We gnomes…!"
“Your reasoning dot!" Tiyo shouted. “Don’t ask me, ask your sense of reason!"
“I am rational…!"
“You are asking the fear that is eroding your heart. Listen to the answer from your reasoning, not your fear dot!"
Tiyo brought up the essence of magic engineering. “Then I'll ask you again Golito! The answer! Is it selling your old friends, making other species into slaves and cowardly joining hands with the crazy orc who knows nothing but war?! And!"
Tiyo shouted towards all the gnomes in Altanas. “Resisting evil deeds to the end, isn't that the reason why we follow 'ein guter Wille'?"
"……!"
Golito's eyes widened. This gnome, he was shouting in the ancient gnome language that was no longer remembered. Everybody knew it but they ignored the old stories.
“How is it Golito? What do you grey brain cells say?"
Golito couldn't open his mouth. He also knew it. But he had been afraid of the destruction that would come, afraid of the death of his own people. He just wanted to stop the destruction of the gnomes living in Altanas.
Golito dropped his head. Then someone responded on behalf of Golito.
“You are an outsider so you can speak easily." Tiyo turned his head. It was Golito's daughter, Yona.
As Tiyo stared at her, Yona also faced him. The gazes of the two met.
Yona laughed. Tiyo looked embarrassed by her sudden laugh.
“And you can speak correctly because you are an outsider."
Golito looked at his daughter. "Yona."
“Father, I respect your will. You made the decision for our people. But the gnomes of Altanas and I aren't so weak. We can fight."
"……"
Yona looked back at the gathered gnomes. “If we bow down to the Great Clan, we will be the same as them. Father, you always told me. No, you said this to all gnomes, not just me."
"Yona…"
“Rather than being full pigs, let's be hungry gnomes."
The gnomes of Altanas nodded. It was an old saying passed down to the gnomes.
Crockta made a strange expression as he watched the gnomes. As he listened to the conversation between Tiyo and the gnomes, familiar words rang in his ears. There were words and sentences that he read in philosophical books during his breaks in the army.
Was this really a game that reflected the tastes of the makers, or was Elder Lord connected to a real world? He didn't know.
As Crockta thought this, Golito was lamenting.
“I see…"
"Yes."
“Yona you, and everyone else's will…"
Golito looked around at the gnomes. They nodded. The gnomes respected Golito but they also questioned his decision.
Golito sighed. "I'll acknowledge my misjudgment."
Gorit tied Golito up and spoke. “You are in custody. For the crime of betraying your neighbors in the Luklan Mountains…"
The gnomes were nervous. Gorit exchanged glances with the dark elf Janaru. Gorit declared.
“There were be no hostile actions under the agreement that a new leader sits down with us and joins forces with Orcheim and Dejame to protect our home from the Great Clan."
"……!"
The gnomes were shocked by the exceptional concession. The tied up Golito looked between Gorit and Janaru. Gorit just laughed. “Don't be too surprised. As our gnome friend from the continent said, I made the decision using my reasoning."
"…I see."
“But there were many sacrifices. So you will need to apologize and prepare reparations for them, as well as make efforts to reclaim those sold as slaves."
"I accept."
It was an amicable ending. As Crockta watched, he suddenly recalled a sentence from a philosopher. He was somehow captured by the idea of the great sight that would occur if he spoke those words now.
'I will. I won't.'
He hesitated over whether he should say it or not.
“As an outsider watching this, I suddenly had a thought." Crockta was filled with a burning desire and opened his mouth. Everyone's gazes focused on Crockta.
“As I think about it, there are two things that fill my heart with every increasing admiration and awe.
"……?"
“One is the stars shining in the sky above me and the other… Crockta paused and everyone focused on him. “It is the moral law within us that tells us the way to walk." (TL: Paraphrased from philosopher Immanuel Kant, in Critique of Practical Reason)
An outright imitation! Crockta opened his eyes and looked around.
"……!"
The people in the surroundings were looking at him with awe. Tiyo's mouth fell open.
“I-I thought you were just an orc good at fighting but…"
“Such an intellectual sentence…"
“Unbelievable…coming from an orc…!"
“What a wonderful verse that contrasts nature with the human nature…!"
Crockta closed his eyes. Then he smiled widely.
***
Crockta and Tiyo prepared to leave Orcheim.
They had experienced the orc's Holy Land and ended the dispute in the Luklan Mountains. Now it was time to leave. Gorit, Caburak and many orcs saw them off.
“Crockta, thank you and sorry for giving you more baggage. Good luck."
Caburak said.
Crockta was now heading towards the Temple of the Fallen God. However, it was in the territory of the dark elves.
Crockta had made an enemy of the great chieftain. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't deal with all of the Great Clan alone. So Crockta would head to the Temple of the Fallen Gods and also try to persuade the dark elves, one of the two peoples in the northeast to oppose the Great Clan.
Gorit held Crockta's shoulder and nodded.
“The dark elves aren't easy because they are closed off. Our Luklan Alliance will keep sending messengers so you don't have to bear all of the burden. Good luck."
Orcheim, Dejame, and Altanas had joined together in one alliance.
Crockta nodded. The warriors of Orcheim who fought with Crockta wished him good luck and extended their fists. Crockta bumped fists with numerous warriors.
"I will surely return dot." Tiyo's voice was heard. Crockta turned to see Tiyo talking to Yona.
“Bah. Whether you return or not…"
“If you don't give a definitive answer then I will just return home. I am a straightforward man dot. If I am in your heart then tell me now."
Tiyo said without hesitation. Crockta felt admiration towards him.
Tiyo was a real man.
At his mighty request, Yona avoided his gaze and replied in a small voice.
"…Stop by when everything is finished."
Tiyo laughed. “I understand dot. Wait for me."
There was another piece of good news.
Tiyo received a clue on his father's whereabouts. Tiyo asked the gnomes of Altanas while giving his name and description. Yona and the other gnomes told him about his father. It was said that he carried mysterious goods and drifted around the north.
The last time they saw him was a few years ago when he was heading towards the area of the dark elves to the north.
Thus, Crockta and Tiyo left the Luklan Mountains.
“It feels like everything is in the north dot."
The Temple of the Fallen God.
The Great Clan's war.
Tiyo's father.
All the answers were there.
“How about it Crockta? Are you confident about the future?"
"Of course!"
Crockta grinned.
There were no users in the north. However, this was the place where Crockta had felt the freest. Everything meshed together like cogwheels without any discomfort. Every single person that he met here was living their own lives.
Crockta liked this world. Maybe the users barging into Elder Lord had created debris.
“What is that animal dot?" Tiyo asked.
Just before they completely left the Luklan Mountains, they saw the creature tanding in the middle of the forest.
It looked like a lizard but it had wings. He thought it was a dragon but it didn't have the majesty of one. However, the body was big and the eyes wild. Flames were emerging from between its snout.
“Isn't that a drake?"
"Drake!"
It was a powerful flying monster inferior to a dragon, but much stronger than a wyvern. The drake started to come towards them, emitting threatening flames.
Crockta and Tiyo exchanged glances.
“Are you confident ,Tiyo?"
"Of course dot."
They laughed, raising their weapons and rushing towards the drake. It was a world where he didn't know when something unexpected would happen! Crockta felt a burning sensation in his chest as he jumped.
“Events without notice are welcome!"
The drake shot its flames towards Crockta. However, his greatsword split the flames apart. The drake's terrible face came closer. As Ogre Slayer was descending towards the drake's head,
“What are you doing to Third Dragonnnnn!" shouted someone from behind them.
The moment that Crockta hesitated. The drake slammed its forehead into Crockta. Crockta flew through the air and landed on the ground. His ribs were aching. He could taste blood in his mouth.
“Kuheok! A-Are you okay? Third Dragon! Why did you do that?"
Crockta sat on the ground and laughed.
Look, he really didn't know when something would happen.
Praise the Orc:
Current schedule: Next Patreon goal has been reached!! Thank you for the support. There will now be 14 chapters a week, meaning two chapters every day.