Encounter ~ Benimaru & Ranga
Gabil continued the hopeless struggle.
Without ever tiring, without ever resting, the orcs constantly attacked.
They only needed to regain their formation and break through the encirclement, but doing so would mean abandoning the goblins who lack the necessary mobility.
Though he had refused to order a retreat, perhaps now he had no choice but to try to save even a few lives.
No chance of surrender either. Simply being killed and devoured.
Some goblins gave up and tried to escape, but such was not permitted by the orcs. Hunting down the escaping goblins, they killed and ate them.
The lizardmen fared not much better. The original eight thousand troops were now reduced to less than six thousand.
Yet Gabil kept encouraging his troops. While slowly trying to break through the orc encirclement…
Different from common orcs, these took command of the battle. Each wore full plate armor.
They, in turn, were commanded by a single orc. Carrying an aura of strength around him, he was clearly world above the common orcs.
Possessing the strength of an entire army, the Orc Army General. And following him are 2,500 orc knights.
A fourth of the Orc Lord’s true army had moved.
That power could decide the battle right there.
“At least, I want to be cut down by a warrior.” So he thought.
「Guwahahahaha! Cowardly general of swine! Do you have the courage to meet me alone in battle!!!」
He cried loudly.
Moreover, seems like his opponent’s armor was strengthened with magic.
If he accepts this request, Gabil could die like a warrior. If it went well, perhaps he could take out a single general. Such were his thoughts.
「Gugugu. Very well. I’ll be your opponent!」
Responding thus, the orc general jumps down from his horse.
Gabil could feel his concentration rising like it never had before.
「I am grateful!」
The rest was a silent duel.
Gabil readied the Magic Weapon: Water Vortex Spear.
「Come!」
The Orc General bellowed, and at the same time
「Die!!! Water Vortex Style, Tornado Crush!!!」
Gabil released an attack filled with all his might. Combining spear technique and magical energy, a certain kill technique.
It was filled with all the strength Gabil had. However,
「Kanrangue!!!」(Chaos Eater)
(TL Note: do you want me to translate skill names? Some of these may get strange…
Pointing his spear at Gabil, the Orc Lord devoured the vortex itself.
“It seeks to eat me!” Stumbling, falling Gabil realized. However, the aura would not let him escape…
「Guguguga! Pitiful lizard. Rolling in dirt suits you!」
Gabil was laughed at by the Orc General.
Picking up some dirt, he flung it at the orc. Call it cowardice, but Gabil desired the chance to cut him down!
Gabil felt the attack directed at him.
This far, huh…
Gabil thought, and closed his eyes.
Suddenly, a deafening roar.
That roar assaulted the orc general, preventing him from landing a finishing blow on Gabil.
Even amidst the battle, Gabil was confused. By now, the tide began to change.
Without any concern for Gabil’s thoughts, events developed rapidly before him.
Shion’s strike mowed down many orcs.
Benimaru was not surprised by the sudden slash that came from behind him.
Rather, he only muttered
「What the hell she doing… that idiot…」
Benimaru did not tremble, for better or worse, and the goblin wolf riders were also stoic.
Advancing at full speed, they crashed into the orc troops.
Brittle.
There was no need even for us to go out, the goblins could have managed this alone.
This wasn’t fun, so he thought.
「All troops stop!」
He ordered.
But the goblin riders, without a question, immediately stopped.
「Ranga, could you shadow step to the Lizardman named Gabil?」
Benimaru asked. Souei’s skill, and Ranga’s as well. Since it’s the same, it should be possible, right? He didn’t know, so inquired.
「It is possible.」
A simple response.
「Alright! You go on ahead and protect them. I’ll stroll over there!」
What a strange thing he had said! To stroll forward in the middle of a battlefield replete with orcs.
And rather than advancing quickly, he decides to walk there? What a bizarre thing to say… one would expect.
「Understood. And please, take your time getting there. I’m off ahead!」
With those words, Ranga leaps into a shadow.
Seeing his actions, the orcs were at a loss. Should they attack or not?
Well, among them
Gobuta: 「Hmm? Why’d we stop~su? Is running ahead bad~su?
No way, must we walk ahead~su? I hate walking~su!」
There was one goblin who had said that, but let’s ignore him.
「Okaaay. Yo, bastards. Yeah, you pigs over there, move. If you do, I’ll let you go!」
Finishing his stretches, Benimaru calls out to an orc in front of him.
But not a single orc moved.
「Don’t screw with us! How could you…」
「Then, die!」
Since they had no intention to retreat, Benimaru decided to step in himself.
Increasing the diameter of this ball to a meter, he shot it at the orcs.
The ever accelerating round chased them. It’s speed was around 600 kph–clearly beyond the orcs’ abilities.
However, the terror of the flame was not in this.
Rather than a ball, it was now a dome with a radius of 100 meters.
Well, it wasn’t actually that loud, but those that heard it could feel their blood freezing in their veins.
A skill that Benimaru had acquired. The black dome had disappeared, and left scorched earth behind it.
Who could even imagine that terrible heat!
Only a minute had passed since Benimaru shot the flare.
And flashing a wicked smile,
「Clear the way, swine!」
He declared again.
Though they were under the effect of the [Starving Ones], they should not have even recognized the emotion called fear.
For no matter how much they struggled, they could not escape.
They had no way to counter the skill, and even if they attempted to grow stronger by feeding, the corpses were burned to a crisp.
The panicking orcs began to disperse.
Seeing them act like this, Benimaru quietly walked ahead.
To him, the orcs ahead were naught but a hindrance.
Gabil was ready for death, but, strangely, he didn’t feel the blow other than the one that hit him in the side.
What he saw before him was a black wolf.
One that he had seen before… Right! The body double of the leader of the fang wolves!
「O, ooo! Body double-dono, have you come to offer assistance?」
He asked without thinking.
Flustered, he finally looked around.
And to Gabil,
「I am not a fang wolf, nor a body double.」
Reverberating from the depth of his stomach, Ranga said in a low voice.
They stared at each other.
He felt power oozing from the beast’s body.
Some great misfortune happened there. So the Orc General felt.
But being clueless to this all,
「What a revelation! Then, if you are not a fang wolf… would you be the leader of the black wolves?」
Gabil asked surprised.
Surprised that Gabil had not recognized him for who he is. Ranga declared with a sigh,
「Would you shut up for a minute. I am Ranga! The one who serves Rimuru-sama!!!」
And to the orc,
「Swine, if you retreat, I shall not chase; if you attack, I shall not forgive!」
Ranga barked.
Their general by their side, the effect of [Starving Ones] was strengthened.
「Guguguga! How insolent! A mere beast dares bare his fangs at me!!!」
The Orc General retorted.
The general commanded the orc soldiers to surround Ranga.
But Ranga only laughed.
How joyous he was! He could finally show his true abilities.
*Uoooooooooooooooooooon!!!*
Howling with all his strength, Ranga released his aura.
“Aim for this form!” Since he was told so, Ranga worked daily.
Power gushed forth from his body.
And, two horns appeared atop his head…
That appearance, was just like that of his lord. Thus Ranga evolved into Tempest Storm Wolf.
Ranga glanced at the Orc General.
Ranga felt the flow of power, and directed magical energy into his horns.
Go! He wanted to scream the order…
Many lightning pillars appeared, connecting the heavens and the earth.
It was a skill that Ranga acquired, [Death Storm]. A wider area skill than the [Black Lightning].
After the storm had passed, no orcs remained in the vicinity.
Ranga observed this situation.
As expected, a lot of energy was used to fuel this skill, but Ranga could still continue fighting.
Having confirmed mastery over this skill,
*Uooooooooooooooon!!!*
A roar of victory.
Looking down at his feet, he saw a fainted Gabil.
Perhaps now that stupid lizard would fix his misconceptions.
Thinking that, Ranga sat down.
Far away, he could see Benimaru slowly walking towards them.