nChapter 44 – **OKE (1)

nHigashi didn’t let Crockta think for any longer, charging over straight away. Crockta defended while his head was busily brainstorming.

nThink. He had to think.

nHe staggered as he was hit by the shield again. Higashi struck with not only his sword, but with his shield as well. Crockta concentrated on thinking as he avoided Higashi’s attacks.

nHow would he win this war?

nHe swung his greatsword, which bounced off the shield. The attack was filled with momentum, but Higashi’s shield didn’t move. Rather, Crockta was kicked and rolled across the ground.

nHe scanned the battlefield as he struggled to get up. Blackmore and Jeremy were being simultaneously pressured by several users. In the first place, this was a war caused by the clan for their own purposes. Their numbers would gradually increase.

nIn the other clans, there might be really strong users like Higashi. Crockta’s power alone was insufficient to protect Chesswood.

nCrockta once again squinted at Laney. Even if he lost the battle, he had to win the war.

nCrockta’s mindset had already returned to the Raven of the past as he focused on the most efficient method of winning. If his chances of victory were slim to none, he should struggle to get the most out of the situation. In order to do that, he would crawl on the ground to make it possible.

nAnyway, he couldn’t win this battle. The number of users kept increasing, and even Jeremy was now trying to escape from the battle. Blackmore was also gradually becoming conscious of the rear. They would soon have to retreat.

nCrockta closed his eyes as he heard the screams of the villagers.

n“What? Are you giving up?” Higashi asked.

nCrockta laughed instead of answering.

n‘Yes, look at me, Higashi. Take a look at me, Laney.

nIf there is to be a fight, then I’ll give you a hard time. Look at me.’

n

n***

nLaney rapidly gained fame after uploading the fight between the orc and the user hunters. Now her Youvids channel had tens of thousands of people visiting a day.

nThe reason she did this was insignificant.

nShe didn’t like bad people and she also got money. She was able to earn money from upsetting the villains. That’s all it was. Laney wanted to distort the faces of those using dirty tricks while trying to avoid the eyes of others.

nIt worked better than she thought, and she was now a famous Youvidser.

nReports from other people also increased. There was a piece of information that caught her eyes.

nThe famous Thawing Balhae and other big clans were gathering in one area. Furthermore, they started to control the access of other users. Those who didn’t belong to the clans were forced out by their threats.

nThe name of the area was Chesswood.

nIt was well known that clans would slaughter weak NPCs for their own benefit. There was a lot of talk about this in the Elder Lord community, but it was the first time in Elder Lord that they tried to rule an area and exclude others on such a large scale.

nLaney’s senses tingled. She wanted to reveal disgusting actions.

nShe hated the big clans. They used their size to nurture rankers and raise the clan. If the former rankers enjoyed the fantasy life of Elder Lord, the newest rankers were just mechanical users fostered to make money.

nIt stunk. She went to learn what was happening in Chesswood. Her class was the hidden piece called Shadow Assassin, and it was a character that specialized in hiding in the shadows. No one noticed her.

nWhen she first arrived, nothing had happened. It was an ordinary village. The special point was that all of the villagers loved singing and didn’t know how to fight. It was a village where the residents welcomed travelers and lived without locking their doors.

nBut Laney had accused users and she knew how dangerous this could be. The clans would erase the Chesswood area in order to raise the level of the clan members. The users entered Chesswood disguised as travelers, dividing sections of Chesswood among themselves.

nBut Laney was distressed. Could she really file a complaint about this? The clans were gathering and killing NPCs, disturbing the balance of Elder Lord. But was this really something that people would consider a crime? Would they respect NPCs who weren’t users?

nShe didn’t know. So she just continued shooting mechanically. Her idea was to watch until the end.

nThen the full-scale attack of the clans began. Laney was able to find a black bandana that she had seen somewhere before.

n“Bul’tar──────!”

n“……!”

nHe had changed, but it was the same bandana. An old bandana with the mark of the Blacksmith Company on it. He was bigger, and there were tattoos all over his body, but he was the same orc.

nHe appeared and started to fight for the villagers. The battle turned against the users in an instant. He was like an incarnation of the battlefield as he ruthlessly swung his greatsword and cut down the users. There was a fountain of blood every time he moved his greatsword.

nHowever, it was only for a while. Within a few minutes, the Yamato Clan’s vice-leader, ranker Higashi appeared. He and the other high level users had joined to help the clan members. He was the main force of the Yamato clan.

nThe orc and Higashi fought. At first, the orc fought enthusiastically, but was eventually pushed back by the difference in power. Higashi effortlessly suppressed the orc.

nAfter Higashi appeared, the situation changed again. The residents resisting the users were broken, and the men helping along with the orc gradually retreated. But the orc wielded his greatsword till the very end.

n“Ugh!”

nHigashi’s one-handed sword sliced the orc’s thigh. The orc fell to his knees.

n“Why don’t you run like your colleagues?”

n“……”

nThe orc didn’t answer. He raised his body using his greatsword. The two people clashed again.

nThe orc’s greatsword reached Higashi’s neck, but Higashi blocked it with his shield. The greatsword was deflected, revealing the orc’s abdomen that Higashi’s sword instantly sliced apart. Blood gushed out.

nThe orc grabbed his abdomen.

n“I’ll give you an opportunity. If you run away now, then I won’t chase you.” Higashi twirled his one-handed sword as he walked up to the orc. “Orc, why do you need to die for the humans over there?”

nHigashi shrugged. Now the battle was over, and the only thing left was the massacre. The villagers couldn’t resist and were becoming the users’ experience. In addition, those with weapons kept joining the battle.

n“Yes, even your allies ran away.”

nLaney filmed all of this. She wondered what the orc would answer.

nBut he never opened his mouth and continued the meaningless fight.

nThe orc rushed back. There were wounds all over his body. He was bloody. He tried to resist Higashi, but his body didn’t listen.

n“Now this is just disgusting, you bastard!” Higashi cried out.

nDuring the fight, the orc slashed at one of Higashi’s arms. It wasn’t a big wound, but Higashi’s face distorted. He swung his sword with a fierce momentum and hit the orc, who flew through the air.

nIt was towards Laney’s location. She hurriedly moved her body. The orc hit the wall where she had been standing by and rolled to the floor. Blood stained the wall. The orc crouched on the ground and used the greatsword to raise his body up. It seemed like it was harder for him to stand.

nLaney felt an unknown emotion. What caused the orc to keep standing up?

nShe recalled the voice of the orc in the past video that she shot.

n‘Where are the people who know honor?’

nHigashi approached and said, “I definitely gave you a chance to get away. You have chosen death, you stupid orc.”

nHis sword raised itself high in the sky to deal the final blow. The blade glinted in the sun.

nThe silent orc finally opened his mouth.

n“You, is that right?”

n“What?”

nThe orc raised his gaze. It was an intense gaze.

n“You.”

nThe orc straightened and raised his greatsword. He yet again took a step towards Higashi. The orc asked, “You, can you just turn around and run away as you see people being slaughtered for no reason?”

n“……!”

nLaney felt like she had been hit with a hammer on the head at those words.

nHigashi’s face distorted. “What are you saying now, you bastard!”

n“You don’t understand.” The orc grinned through his bloody face. “It is you who is stupid, not me.”

n“Hah.”

nHigashi grinned and looked at the sky and angrily wielded his sword. “This bastard!”

nThe orc blocked with his greatsword. Then the shield slammed into his torso. He rolled on the ground together with the shield. But the orc couldn’t get on his feet again. Higashi walked towards him with a face that was red with anger.

nHe intended to really finish this. But Higashi was forced to stop moving.

nAt that moment. A woman suddenly appeared beside the orc. A masked woman wearing black clothes that clung to her body appeared.

nLaney, it was her.

nHigashi was unable to move because he was wary of the unknown strength he felt from her.

n“Who?”

nLaney didn’t answer. Instead, she spoke to the orc. “Hey.”

nThe eyes of the fallen orc turned towards her. “…You?”

n“There is no need to know who I am.”

nThe orc stood up again. However, it seemed like it was difficult to raise his body due to the accumulated damage to his body. In the end, the orc stretched out on the ground. Laney raised her palm in a gesture for Higashi not to approach and asked the orc again.

n“Why are you fighting? It is a dog’s death.”

nLaney couldn’t understand it. The orc, Crockta laughed. Crockta squeezed out all the power in his body and got up again.

n

nIt wouldn’t be unusual for your broken body to die right away.

nNevertheless, you keep getting back up.

nI pay homage to your spirit.

n

nIndomitable Fighting Spirit (Rare) has been upgraded to Combative Spirit (Essence).

n“Only humans worry about such calculations.”

nCrockta raised his greatsword and gestured to Laney to move. Laney turned sideways.

nThis was the last one. Higashi was in front of them. Just before he charged forward, Crockta whispered to Laney.

n“A warrior doesn’t yield to injustice.”

nThat was one of the laws of a warrior that he heard from Lenox, an oath that he had sworn to uphold.

nLaney didn’t answer. It was no longer necessary to talk. Crockta glared at Higashi. It was time to end this. Crockta squeezed out his remaining strength to deliver a battle cry.

n“An honorable death is better than a craven life──────!”

nHis roar shook the area.

nCrockta ran forward. Higashi, who had paused at Laney’s appearance, also got ready for the final clash. The two rushed at the same time.

nAt that moment, Laney reached out and hit the back of Crockta’s neck.

n“……!”

nNeat work! Crockta collapsed. Laney grabbed Crockta’s huge body.

n“What?”

nHigashi hesitated. He felt like Laney was a tough opponent and had been wary since she appeared. Laney just sighed. She cast a Shadow Assassin skill.

n

nShadow Escape (Essence) has been used.

nIt can’t be used for another 168 hours.

n

nLaney and Crockta’s bodies started blurring. They were like a shadow as they became translucent and disappeared, completely gone from the previous scene. Laney’s body appeared far away from Dandelion Village.

n“Aigoo, aigoo. Ah, why did I do that? What’s going on?”

nLaney grabbed her head. It was an impulsive behavior.

nAs she was groaning, Crockta was snuck a peek at Laney from the ground, smiling with satisfaction.

nThat’s right.

nHe actually wasn’t knocked out! Laney was strong, but that wasn’t enough to make an orc faint. He just pretended to be stunned. He didn’t know that she had such a miraculous skill, but he was able to achieve the result that he wanted.

nHad she filmed it?

nCrockta smiled before hurriedly closing his eyes and pretending to be stunned as Laney glanced over him. Laney’s lamenting continued. A man had to resort to trickery to grab her heart!

nIf he asked for help, then Laney would’ve ignored him. Instead, he showed the tragic image of a warrior who was about to die. Even if she didn’t help, Crockta would lose nothing. He was a user. He could live again. He didn’t care about death.

nIn the first place, what he was trying to save wasn’t his own life.

nHe wanted Laney’s help with Chesswood’s plight.

nIn order to win the war, he needed to use everything in his favor.

n