Chapter 13: Libra Kingdom Arc - Chapter 12: Let The Battle Begin!
Precisely like the Intel said, our targets were indeed at the center of the forest. The deepest parts where they nested was to be described as nothing but horrific and unappetizing.
I was appalled by the scene that met my eyes. The orcs had human livestock, human meat and human playthings in their settlement that were most likely the adventurers that went missing. It was nauseating, it made me want to cut off their testicles out of the rage that was piling within me uncontrollably. As a human myself, I can't accept it as normal even if in this world. Moreover, it's my first time seeing such a thing in the flesh in my entire life.
Not like I could even hurt them at this distance anyway. I was merely having One share her senses with me.
I am in the Adventurer's Campsite where majority of my subordinates are currently asleep. Time is at 12am and we will move at 2am, I'm satisfied with what I saw, I didn't want to watch any more. I don't want to be unnecessarily worried and rush there in a hurry to save all those people. But...
My personal grudges aside, I should work out while waiting for 2am.
I triggered the 2nd and 3rd Stages Of Mana Usage and began refining my magic core while performing mediocre push ups to simultaneously train my body and magic power.
Since I felt that it was too hot in this outfit while training, I took them off. It's okay, noone was watching anyway.
...
After unequipping my armor, what was left was my chest binded with strap clothings to cover my pair of you-know-what.
"Hm... Maybe I should work out on my abs next time."
I don't get tired so working out is a really efficient way of training my body's power, speed, flexibility and muscular endurance.
I proceeded in my push ups all the while increasing my magic output. Doing this process was not at all boring, because I had to keep the mana flow in check and observe for anyone watching me. An hour and a half has passed not anything bothered my time, until atleast I heard a man speak in front of me in a cold and dignified voice that was faintly familiar. I didn't even hear anything approach me.
"Are you the one called Seven Clavery?"
I didn't halt my push ups but I clearly knew it was the Guild Master. The presence he always emitted was afterall the nearest. Why did I not stop doing push ups? Well, I'm almost naked so I don't even want to reveal my developed chest if I stand up.
"Yes I am, how can I help you, Guild Master?"
"Earlier you defended against my attack with something, didn't you? But that thing disappeared in an instant and I was not able to appraise what it was. What exactly was it?"
His voice was quiet but also threatening. I don't know the difference of power between us but I should atleast act nice.
"It was a sword my father gave me before he passed away."
Going by my background story, I made another excuse. He pondered for a while but believed that story nevertheless. I thought for a moment that he'd be much sharper with how he looks.
"Hm... I see. So that's how it is. Your rank is not suitable for you as it is unbefitting of your power. I will quickly raise your rank up to C Rank after this."
"Wait— seriously?!"
"Ofcourse it will not be instant. You will be taking your time. It would leave a bad taste on your fellow rankers' mouths if you were the same rank as them but far more talented."
I agreed to his remark and agreed to those terms as well. So is that all he wanted to say? I can't reject the fact I'm feeling hyper knowing that I'm not weak though.
"Is that all you had to say, sir?"
"Nothing more. I was simply interested in your strength and I did not have much to do anyway. Might as well use my time for something even if it's trivial. And yes, prepare yourself for battle, warrior. It is less than half an hour before our fight."
He wore an inscrutable expression when he finally left. His footsteps were truly silent, but his aura, I could feel it withdrawing away from me. The aura he gives off is so effective that it's giving me a harder time to breath than usual.
▪️▫️▪️▫️▪️
Finally.
After our short interaction, the guild master woke everyone up one by one and the others woke their teammates, and their teammates woke up the other parties. This went on for several minutes until everyone was all awake. Ofcourse I postponed my training and wore clothes again because I knew this would happen.
Lines were formed and squeezed in a circle. The voice of the guildmaster who was at our front, boomed like a drill sergeant.
"...Party leaders! Lead your teams to your positions the moment we arrive to the rendezvous and proceed as planned! I cannot shout like this in enemy territory so do your part on your own! Do you understand?"
"Yes sir!"
The compliance of everyone coincided with one another at his command.
Now I'm wondering if I joined the bootcamp or the Adventurer's Guild. But atleast, having subordinates that care about others actually feel nice.
"Then let's start! Light and Wind Mages! Dispel the multilayered concealment barriers and replenish your mana for battle!"
I can't see the barriers so it didn't really bother me, it's probably because it's transparent. After the barriers were removed, we went by foot heading to the direction of the enemy. Our party leaders were directing us.
As we got closer to the place, our teams began to split apart and surround the enemies until our party was the only one left with the guild master who seemed to be going solo.
The orc headquarters which I saw with One's eyes emerged from the thickets. I and my team stealthily crept closer with silent steps. We were ordered to keep a minimum distance of 90 meters from the enemy and commence the attack after the Guild Master conjures a spell. Luckily, the shrubs were keeping everyone away from being compromised.
For a moment, I felt magic power near me just fluctuate but it disappeared instantly just as I realized various blue rings were encircling the Guild Master's forearms.
When he wielded his right arm which held the magic formula, more than a hundred swords made of ice appeared in a fan-shaped manner and headed towards a group of drinking orcs with a wave of his hand.
The icicle swords pierced the flesh and bones of the first 20 victims of this battle, signaling the start of a fierce war. The orcs were immediately alerted by this and stopped all their useless indulgences to pick up their weapons.
The adventurers jumped out of their hiding spots to charge towards the battle field with battle cries to intimidate the enemy, all the while arrows flew in all directions either enchanted with fire or wind attributes. The orcs didn't seem to have archers with them so they were at a great disadvantage in a fight where the archers started out at a long distance.
I watched as the monsters were being ruthlessly slaughtered by adventurers. Some had trouble but they won in the end, I can even guess we won't receive any casualties after this—
*BOOM!*
I spoke too soon.
"What are you guys doing?! Let's go!"
Arlet commanded almost instantly after there occured an explosion at the front lines that knocked some adventurers airborne.
We followed her indisputably while ignoring the ruckus that's being done from all corners. The lingering smell of blood and metal are getting to my throat that it made me feel intensely nauseous. Seriously, I haven't even killed a chicken in my entire life!
I just passed through a roasted human's leg on an iron rod and it almost made me sick if I didn't avert my eyes quickly enough.
Despite being in a bloody situation, the expression on Aria and everyone's faces were serious. As expected of professionals. I could have atleast expected Aria to be anxious with how shy she was earlier. But she was even shooting at the orcs with the Wind Soar spell that acted as a blade of wind. It effectively supported adventurers occupied in combat.
Sigh. Expectations versus Reality.
We finally reached the place where the prisoners are held captive. The people there looked overjoyed after seeing us.
"Adventurers! Please let us out!"
"Please, I beg of you to break the iron bars..!"
"We're going to live!"
Listening to the girl who shouted from inside a cell, I called out Bane Of True Evil and slashed the iron bars to make an entrance.
"Aria, take the people from this cell and escort them to the safezone!" Ordered Arlet.
"Understood." Responded Aria.
And she went off with the captives under her protection. The offensive role adventurers in battle also helped in their escape by protecting the people from danger.
"Seven-chan, go free everyone. There are two left, Durian will take the second round while me and Percy will escort the third batch. Ledge, you stay here and attend to anyone wounded, protect Ledge after doing your first task, Seven-chan."
We carried out Arlet's instructions and they all disappeared with the exception of Ledge currently performing some kind of magic spell.
"High Heal!"
He held both his arms towards a bleeding adventurer like he was pushing something invisible then a faint green light enveloped that person with all his wounds gone.
That guy as an adventurer was quick to adapt and eventually won without being surprised about the sudden heal. I didn't know what happened after that.
*OINK!*
The loud sound of a pig came from behind me. When I turned, I saw an orc was holding a machete raising his weapon to strike Ledge who had his eyes closed while chanting.
"Owh come on, are you going to pick on a mage while he's casting? You're quite simple aren't you?"
I said to it coolly before just summoning Bane Of True Evil because it's target just changed from Ledge to me. The orc dropped it's mighty machete on my head which I parried with the sword's fuller.
"Thanks, Seven!" Said Ledge who just finished casting and healed an ally.
I wonder what the distance for that heal is.
I played with the orc a little by parrying his attacks again and again. His attacks are fast and devastating, I have to admit. Each blow he did was sure to have caused some disturbance in the air. I noticed it was slightly panting and it's ugly pink face was sweating. Unlike this guy, I can't get tired.
Ah! Maybe I can use this guy to train my physical body by sparring with it. Ofcourse I won't fight seriously.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The battle at the center of the Scritz Forest wasn't showing any signs of stopping. The orcs had tremendous numbers and their reinforcements from another land had just came to join the battle, making everyone exhausted from this long term battle. I've defeated a total of 10 orcs by killing them when they get exhausted at fighting me. Dawn was already shining upon us. The casualties we've received were tremendous...
A total of 3 adventurers had died.
I felt bitter and blamed myself after hearing that from the informant. Words whispered into my mind.
'If I didn't play and instead of fought seriously, I could have saved them.'
I tried to forget about it and move on, brooding over this problem won't bring them back to life. There are also people fighting even now.
I activated the body enhancing magic and my body surged with power immediately. With a burst of speed that left dust flying over an orc's face, I began slaughtering it's kind like a frenzied murderer while aiming at their necks from each leap. Not a single second was wasted, attacking and evading at the same time, I severed the head of 10 enemies in the battlefield within seconds.
The screams of the orcs that tried to run away from me was answered with a slash to the back and the decapitation of their heads.
With swift movements and concise swordsmanship that I taught myself, I was able to hold them on my own. I'm definitely not letting this mission have more casualties than it already has.
At a distance I was hearing a gusty and aggressive battle. I had no enemies for now so I came to see who it was so I could help them if they needed any.
The sight of the Guild Master and the biggest orc I've ever seen came. They were both battling it out with the Guild Master utilizing various magic spells and the giant orc swinging it's two swords that looked like the Kissaki-Moroha-Zukuri swords in japan. Basically a double edged katana. The enemy's armor was that of leather and was already pretty chipped apart. But it's skin showed no signs of being damaged despite all the continuous attacks of the most powerful magic caster in our side.
Despite his appearance and classification, the Guild Master showed no lack of martial efficiency to avoid the constant attacks all the while attacking.
Before he gets himself in a pinch, I'll join.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone