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Chapter 84: Alive (2)

“Zzz...” Anor, on the other hand, was still sleeping.

Crockta shook him awake. Anor fumbled about as he stirred from his sleep. Then he stared at Crockta blankly.

“Anor, you need to evacuate,” said Crockta.

“Huh?” muttered Anor.

“The enemy has invaded the village.”

“Invaded?” questioned Anor.

“The wandering orcs from yesterday infiltrated here last night.”

The day before, Crockta had displayed his prowess to the wandering orcs, who trembled in fear after being overpowered by him. However, if those guys dared to try invading Nuridot again, then it was obvious that they were piggybacking on the chiefdom’s support to seize this place. They would use an even more violent method this time since they had already been defeated once. There wouldn’t be a conversation this time.

Crockta anticipated that it would be a struggle for life and death for both sides. He had to suppress a smile from forming on his lips. He was ready for war.

“Does Nuridot have an evacuation site for emergencies?” asked Crockta.

“They probably gather at the town hall in the center of the village...” said Anor.

“Then, go there,” ordered Crockta.

Anor, who was finally awake now, noticed that Crockta had his greatsword in hand. The rays of sunlight seeping through the window bounced off the blade and pierced Anor’s eyes.

“What about you, Crockta?” asked Anor.

Instead of replying, Crockta tapped on his greatsword several times.

“Ah...” muttered Anor, seemingly startled.

He had never once witnessed a massacre or scenes full of killing and dying.

Before the new militant chieftain ran rampant, the northern region had a balance of its own. There had been the occasional conflict among tribes, but their disputes felt like a distant story to the usual peace.

Yet, Anor had just seen the face of a man whose life was integrated with war. Crockta had said that he would slaughter his enemies with his greatsword with the same tone he’d used to say ‘Good morning.’

“Understood,” replied Anor.

Then Crockta and Tiyo bid farewell to Anor and left.

When Anor heard Crockta’s and Tiyo’s rapid footsteps outside, he stood up from his seat. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair and looked around him, realizing what he needed to do. There wasn’t a lot to pack.

“If someone acts like a dog to you, grit your teeth and act like a dog to them too.”

Crockta’s voice had been filled with certainty when he said those words last night, and today, he took off to put his beliefs into practice.

For every action that happens in the world, there was an equal and opposite reaction[1]. In other words, there was a corresponding action to every action. With this in mind, Anor braced himself for the enemies that would come at him. Would he be able to stand his ground like Crockta?

Anor took out his worn dagger from his drawer and gazed at it. He had never used it before, but he could need it today.

The memory of his mom’s face sadly saying these words popped up in his mind: “Son, you need to be a kind elf.”

Anor shook his head, trying to erase that image from his head.

‘Nuridot does not want the kind Anor, Mother.’

He gritted his teeth and clasped his dagger.

***

Crockta ran toward the sound of the trumpet, which rang out from the outskirts of Nuridot. The dark elves began shouting when they saw him and Tiyo.

“Orc and gnome! Over here!” the guard, who was observing what was going on in the distance from the watchtower, called out to them.

He gave them a report of the situation to them.

“The group of wandering orcs from yesterday are approaching us, and there are orcs riding on karuks following behind them. Their equipment and weapons are different from the wanderers’. They seem like...” the guard said and swallowed nervously before concluding with, “...they are from the chiefdom.”

Nadya, Nuridot’s leader, bit her fingernails anxiously. She also fidgeted and shuffled around restlessly.

Then she shouted, “Send a messenger through the back road to Spinora!”

“Huh?” muttered one of the dark elves.

“The chiefdom is here. Not just some nobodies waving around the chiefdom’s flag. Actual warriors have arrived.”

Nadya opened a weapon storage box that was on the wall and took out an old but firm longbow from it. Then she pulled on the bowstring to test the tension of the bow.

The militiamen understood what Nadya meant and tried to stop her, but she refused and proceeded to hang the quiver from her shoulder.

“The attack is on all dark elves, not just Nuridot. This is just the beginning,” said Nadya.

The dark elves’ faces stiffened. The chiefdom was expanding at an unprecedented rate, and at the center of it all was the bloodthirsty chieftain Calmahart. The dark elves were well aware of the rumors that the chieftain was trying to unite all of the species in the northern region under the chiefdom, but only a few of the dark elves had expected him to carry through with his plan. However, many finally woke up to the alarming truth after hearing what Nadya had just said. A great war could truly be beginning, and its grand opening could be happening today in Nuridot.

Crockta cut through the tension in the room and said cheerfully, “Let’s do a preemptive strike! Getting a head start on the enemy is the most important. I will flatten their noses.”

The sound of his voice lifted the mood in the room. The dark elves loosened up once they remembered that they had orc warrior Crockta with them. Crockta was a warrior who had overpowered the wandering orcs with just his presence, and there were even rumors circulating that Crockta had defeated the chiefdom orcs on Mount Luclan.

Crockta then stepped forward and demanded, “Open the gate.”

The dark elves’ eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

“I just said, let’s do a preemptive strike.” Crockta placed his greatsword on his shoulder. “I will delay their progress on my own, so use that time to strengthen your defenses.”

Nuridot’s militiamen looked at Nadya for her opinion.

She nodded and said, “Do as he says. He is much more experienced in warfare than us. He knows what he’s doing.”

Nadya had lived a long life, so she had seen many things that the other dark elves had not seen. She had heard stories about orcs with tattoos all over their bodies. Warrior tattoos were now a forgotten tradition of orcs in the northern region, but when Nadya was a child, the elders used to tell tales about tattooed orcs and how they were the real orc warriors. They had told her that she should show the tattooed orcs respect if she ever met them. The elders had also said that the tattooed orcs were strong, but their strength extended beyond physical strength. Nadya could perhaps witness that strength today.

She grasped Crockta’s hand and said, “Please. We’re depending on you.”

Instead of replying, Crockta grinned.

After that, Nuridot’s gates opened, and Crockta walked out. As he stretched, all of the tattoos on his body expanded and displayed their power. His Pinnacle-tier Tattoos of War, Honor, and Indomitable Will embodied everything a warrior needed—honor and indomitable will. Those two things were enough, and the place to prove them was the battlefield.

“Good,” muttered Crockta as he approached the invading army of orcs outside the gates.

The army marched toward him. Then, both sides halted and stood still. One of the wandering orcs whom Crockta had met yesterday stepped forward.

“Why are you getting in our way?” asked the wandering orc with a frown. “You are an orc, and we are also orcs. We’re the same species, so why should we fight? I will apologize for what happened yesterday. Join us.”

“...”

“Let’s show the world what orcs are capable of under the chieftain!” shouted the wandering orc.

Hearing that, the group of wandering orcs behind him cheered. However, the chiefdom’s warriors, who were a bit farther away, eyed Crockta warily.

“See? We are with the chiefdom’s warriors. Let’s conquer the north together. Let’s make the whole continent kneel under the orc chiefdom! Spread the name of orcs! Let’s show them the strength of orc warriors!” the wandering orc continued shouting.

Crockta grinned. As he had expected, the northerners didn’t know anything.

“Hey, you and the chiefdom guys,” Crockta called out.

He released an intimidating aura, and the expressions of the invading orcs suddenly changed.

“Listen,” said Crockta as he closed his eyes.

He was currently in the northern region, a place without any players and anyone who knew him. He was Crockta, not Jung Yi-An, and what he wanted was to be a true orc warrior who could do anything—the orc warrior Crockta who had touched the hearts of the gnomes, dark elves, and orcs at Mount Luclan with his philosophical musings.

Crockta wondered what great quotes he should recite today, but his worries didn’t last long. After all, it was time for battle, and there was no need for words. Even if he were to recite some quotes, these ignorant beings before him wouldn’t understand what the quotes meant. Just one word would be enough.

Crockta opened his eyes. “No, there’s no need to listen, just...”

With his greatsword resting on his right shoulder, he flicked his fingers in a beckoning gesture while smirking at the invading orcs’ scowling faces.

“Come,” Crockta said.

It was a clear provocation! The invading orcs were enraged.

“Kill hiiiiiim!” an invading orc shouted.

After Crockta’s provocation, the army of orcs charged at him. His greatsword slashed through the air and sent two heads flying, followed by a fountain of blood. Axes flew at Crockta from left and right, but he spun around and chopped his opponents’ hands off. Then he kicked them while they were screaming in pain. He used their staggering bodies as stepping stools and leaped into the air.

Crockta was aiming for the leader of the wandering orcs. High up in the air, Crockta thrust his greatsword down into the leader’s head and sliced his body in half with a clean cut. The halves of the leader’s body each fell to its respective side, and blood spilled out as the corpse’s insides were revealed. Nevertheless, Crockta didn’t mind and walked in between the two halves, soaking himself in the blood. He looked like the god Asura, with his cloak of blood.

After taking care of the leader of the wandering orcs, Crockta looked around him. Numerous orcs were watching him, but they were unable to approach him because they were too afraid.

Crockta grinned and remarked, “They’re just large in number.”

Then he turned around. After glancing at Nuridot in the distance, Crockta ran. He planned to make the enemies chase after him and lead them away from Nuridot before they came to their senses.

However, despite the invading orcs’ large numbers being their only strength, outnumbering an opponent was a huge advantage!

“There’s so many of theeeeeem!” shouted Crockta.

His preemptive strike had succeeded, but he hadn’t expected the enemy to outnumber him by such a great number. Crockta had to get out of here and retreat for now.

Seeing Crockta run, the invading orcs came to their senses.

The great warrior Urok leading the chiefdom’s army shouted, “You idiots! Follow my command! Everyone, run toward Nuridot! You must catch him no matter what!” ordered Urok.

Urok had been impressed by Crockta’s prowess during the battle earlier. He could tell that Crockta wasn’t just an ordinary orc.

The chieftain and the chiefdom’s warriors had underestimated Crockta, but Urok had known that he needed to keep a close eye on Crockta. After all, Crockta was someone who had defeated the great warrior Hammerchwi. Hammerchwi was old, but he was still an experienced and strong warrior. Yet, he had returned injured and without being able to put up much of a fight against Crockta.

Now, it was clear that Crockta was indeed strong, which came as a relief to Urok.

“Haha, I was right all along.”

Urok had prepared for the worst-case scenario with Crockta’s powers in mind.

***

“Hey, even the halfie is here.”

As soon as Anor entered the town hall, he heard Nakai’s voice. Even during an emergency, Nakai was still bullying others with his gang.

“What a good opportunity. No one would know it was me even if I stabbed you by mistake right now,” said Nakai.

Nakai and his gang snickered, but Anor ignored them.

The village leaders inside the town hall were explaining to everyone about the current situation and how to use weapons to protect themselves. They informed everyone that if the situation became urgent, the villagers had to head to the outskirts of the village and protect the gates from the invading orcs.

“Like this?”

A dark elf from Nakai’s gang who had been practicing with a rapier thrust it at Anor. Anor panicked and recoiled in fear, but the rapier stopped in front of his eyes.

Nakai and his gang burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha, look at him all scared.”

“He really is an elf. His ears perked up when he was surprised.”

The village elders warned them about the severity of the situation, but Nakai and his gang continued to snicker. They seemed to think that the war wouldn’t affect them. Anor hoped for the same as well, but a part of him also wanted it to take a turn for the worse because he wanted to see them cry and beg for their lives. Nevertheless, he tried to shake off such negative thoughts and focused on preparing for battle.

“Is this how you do it?” asked Anor.

He approached an elderly man, a former member of the dark elf militia, who was teaching the villagers how to use a sword. The elderly man was in the midst of showing another dark elf how to hold a sword, but he turned around at Anor’s question.

“Let’s see...” he began.

However, the elderly man’s expression suddenly changed when he saw Anor’s face.

“Figure it out on your own. Tsk,” he said and looked away as if Anor was a bother.

Anor sighed and wondered, ‘How should I respond in these situations, Crockta?’

He shook his head in dismay while toying with his dagger when he suddenly heard a scream.

“Ahhhhhhh! Ugh...”

The cry gradually stopped, and silence fell over the town hall. It was obvious that the screaming dark elf hadn’t stopped screaming of their own accord and that someone had crushed their vocal cords. This was something that should not have happened.

Then Anor heard the sound of heavy footsteps outside. There were several different sets, and the weight of the footsteps sounded different from that of dark elves. Additionally, the footsteps were accompanied by the clanking of weapons.

The mysterious visitors knocked on the town hall. The dark elves gulped. Loud thuds continued from the outside. Then the visitors kicked at the door of the town hall, causing it to shake. They continued kicking it, damaging the door until it broke into pieces. The trespassers turned out to be orcs carrying the chiefdom’s flag.

They looked at the dark elves all gathered in one place and smirked. “What is this? A buffet?”

1. Newton’s third law of motion. ?