Chapter 7

007. The Second Trial (4)

Killing the orc sentry was surprisingly quick.

While my enhanced stats were certainly a factor, the orc sentry seemed to act as if it couldn't comprehend the situation.

Despite being the remaining forces, they fell into a ridiculous state of panic.

In their panic, they flailed about and died pointlessly.

However...

"You have absorbed the orc's command."

"Current number of commands held – 1/5"

"Proficiency increased by 7%."

"Huff, huff."

Even in a panic, an orc is still an orc, and I am still me.

I barely managed to block and dodge all the attacks before plunging my sword into the orc sentry's neck.

"Skill 'Rapid Regeneration' activated."

The small wounds that had formed during the process had already healed.

'Is this what Rapid Regeneration is...?'

The sword marks etched into my body as my stamina drained quickly disappeared.

'Until now, I didn't know...'

I finally understood the mechanism of Rapid Regeneration.

As the name suggests, Rapid Regeneration is a skill that heals minor wounds by consuming stamina.

Of course, it can't regenerate fatal injuries, so I can't have high expectations.

However...

'With this, I can fight again.'

I don't need to use healing potions or stamina potions.

At least for now, using them would be a waste.

I might consider using them if I get into a more desperate situation later, but for now, that's how it is.

I caught my breath and converted the command flowing into my body into stats.

"Using the command to permanently increase stats."

"Strength increased by 2."

"Agility increased by 3."

"Stamina increased by 4."

"Current number of commands held – 0/5"

Unlike the worker orc, absorbing the orc sentry's command also increased my stamina.

Thanks to this, the stamina consumed by Rapid Regeneration was replenished.

My body, which had felt heavy like a water-soaked sponge, became much lighter, and another fact became apparent.

'However, the increase in strength is smaller now.'

I could easily predict why this was happening.

I was gradually surpassing the minimum threshold of stats, and the rate of stat increase was starting to slow down.

However, I was quite pleased with this fact.

It meant that I was beginning to surpass human limits and become stronger.

"Huff, huff."

I panted heavily, gripping my sword and shield tightly as I looked around.

In that brief moment, the fire had spread, blocking the way out.

'Fortunately...'

The orc hunters who had gone outside wouldn't be able to return here.

If they did, it would take a lot of time or they would have to take a roundabout route.

Of course...

"That applies to me as well."

I realized that I had entered a one-way path with no way back.

Still, it was fortunate that I had absorbed about two orcs.

'Killing the orc sentry means I'm in a better situation than my original plan.'

I had worried about the sense of dissonance that would come with a sudden increase in stats...

But I didn't feel much of that dissonance.

'Maybe it's because my stats haven't increased that much yet?'

In any case, it wasn't a bad state.

If the dissonance had been too great, I might have died.

Just as I caught my breath and adjusted my stance...

"Chirp, chirp! Chirp!"

"Chirp, chirp? Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

The orcs remaining inside the stockade entrance poured out, shouting.

The fire had spread beyond the stockade, affecting them.

At the center of the group, an old orc was being guarded.

'That must be the orc chieftain.'

The orcs seemed to have realized the danger, as they were holding bows or crude stone knives.

'Of course, they couldn't have remained unaware after such a fierce battle.'

If they had, I would have felt uneasy.

However...

'I'm grateful that they all came out.'

The number of enemies was only about five.

Among them, only one had been involved in combat-related tasks.

Apart from the orc sentry, the others, though holding bows or knives, weren't particularly threatening.

Therefore...

Swish!

I took advantage of the chaos and moved swiftly.

I was confident.

With my stats increased to this level...

I was confident that I could turn the tide of this situation.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

At that moment, an orc in front of me drew its bow and aimed at me.

Whizz!

It was fast.

The orc seemed to have experience with bows, as the arrow flew straight toward my head.

Even with my increased stats, it was difficult to dodge.

But the shield I had bought with points wasn't just for show.

Clang!

"Chirp, chirp, chirp?"

I raised the shield slightly, and the arrow bounced off harmlessly.

The orc with the bow was surprised, but I wasn't.

I immediately thrust my sword at the orc's throat, and its head was severed helplessly.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

The orcs beside it immediately reacted, thrusting their swords and spears, but it was futile.

Their attacks were obvious, straightforward, and clumsy.

Both aimed for the same spot, the heart, which was easy to block.

Neither of them showed any coordination.

I took a step back and adjusted the position of my shield.

Most of the worker orcs had no combat experience and relied solely on their physical abilities.

Thud!

On the other hand, I had been training in martial arts for seven years, even if I had just barely removed my beginner's tag.

So blocking their attacks wasn't that difficult.

"Chirp, chirp!"

The orcs were startled when their attacks were deflected.

Those without combat experience often don't know what to do in such situations.

And that was no different for the orcs.

Squish!

As the spear and sword were deflected by my shield, I swung my sword.

The orc's skin, left vulnerable by the weapon's recoil, was sliced open in a straight red line.

Splat!

The orc's intestines spilled out like fish guts as its belly was torn open.

However, I didn't feel any particular emotion.

Or rather, this wasn't the time to feel such emotions.

The orc with the spear was finished, but the one with the sword was still alive.

In a life-or-death battle, emotions are a luxury.

'Remain calm, remain calm.'

I didn't need to push harder and took a step back.

I wiped the blood from my cheek and charged at the remaining orcs.

I pretended to retreat and then launched a surprise attack.

The orcs, unskilled in combat, couldn't respond properly.

Only then did the orc sentry, who had been guarding the chieftain, abandon its post...

But it was too late for that to make a difference.

Squish!

As I slashed the worker orc's neck, the orc sentry, who had approached unnoticed, let out a roar of anger.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

The orc sentry's roar and the murderous intent in its eyes seemed to say:

"Two strikes, one cut."

It raised its greatsword as if to split my body in half, shield and all.

Seeing the bulging muscles, I instinctively realized that the E-grade shield might break.

Of course, if it didn't break, it would just be pierced by the greatsword.

But with the shield in one hand, my left wrist might break.

Would I be able to fight properly if my left hand was crippled?

No, I wouldn't.

But I had no intention of giving up, so I gritted my teeth.

'If I can't block it, I'll let it slide...'

I tilted the shield at an angle to guide the greatsword's edge.

A technique I would have failed at with lower stats, but not now.

Screech!

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!?"

The sliding greatsword caused the orc sentry to stagger, and I thrust my sword into its abdomen.

Splat!

The leather armor was instantly pierced, and blood gushed out.

But I didn't stop there and pulled out my sword to strike again.

Swish!

The orc sentry, hit by the rapid follow-up attack, clutched its belly and stepped back.

"Chirp... chirp..."

Its knees hit the ground as it let out a broken cry.

Thud.

I struck it again with my sword, not letting my guard down.

Only then did the stubborn orc sentry collapse.

The only one left was the orc chieftain, the final goal of the second floor trial.

I panted heavily but focused on my next target.

Then...

"Chirp, chirp, chirp! Chirp, chirp!"

The chieftain, terrified by the death of the orc sentry, clutched its staff and muttered.

And as it finished speaking, something happened.

Whoosh!

A massive fireball appeared in front of the orc chieftain and burned fiercely.

Only then did I realize what the orc chieftain had done.

'No wonder the orc sentry didn't move faster...'

To protect the orc chieftain, the core of the group.

In other words, it used the orcs I had faced earlier as a shield to complete the incantation.

A formation that could provide firepower as long as the mage was alive.

Of course, they didn't expect to be wiped out like this.

But...

Thanks to that formation, I was now in a life-or-death situation.

I knew that the most experienced orc hunter would become the chieftain, but this was an unexpected and unusual case.

'What, an orc mage?'

Still, what I had to do didn't change.

Boom!

I immediately extended my shield toward the incoming fireball and crouched.

To minimize the area of my body exposed to the fire.

However, this strategy wasn't very effective.

Boom!

The shock from the shield turned my vision red.

"Ugh...!"

My skin sizzled, and the smell of burning flesh rose sharply.

Still...

"Ugh...!"

I clung to my sanity, which was about to collapse, and maintained my stance.

I didn't know that being burned alive could be so painful.

I wanted to peel off the sizzling flesh with my own hands.

In the excruciating pain, I moved forward a little.

That was all I could do.

"Achievement 'Fire Resistant' unlocked."

"Skill 'Fire Resistance (F)' created."

Some message seemed to be playing, but I couldn't pay attention.

The burning pain all over my body was pushing me to the brink of unconsciousness.

But I knew one thing.

Sizzle.

"Ugh. Ugh, ugh."

I had withstood the orc chieftain's magic.

Lowering the shield that had protected my upper body, I glared at the orc chieftain.

The orc chieftain, seen through the half-broken shield, was staring at me in shock.

I spoke in a low voice, filled with malice.

"...You're finished."

My skin was boiling, and I felt like I was about to lose consciousness, but I managed to say those words clearly.

The orc chieftain, sensing the emotion beyond language, fell into a panic and stumbled backward.

"..."

Then the orc chieftain looked around and was horrified.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

It realized that the vast forest was engulfed in flames, leaving no escape.

The hope in the chieftain's eyes quickly faded.

I walked unsteadily to the orc chieftain and raised my sword.

The orc chieftain, holding its staff, trembled, unable to run.

It was consumed by fear.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp."

Crack!

The orc chieftain's final, helpless scream echoed as its head split open.

And a series of messages appeared.

"Congratulations, you have cleared the second floor of the Trial Tower."

Finally, the second floor trial was over.