"That one's size is a bit strange...?"
"I think that's the leader."
Isabelle and Oskar narrowed their eyes as they observed the approaching orc horde.
The orcs were scanning the surrounding bushes with wary eyes, using swords and spears to clear away the undergrowth.
They approached making all sorts of noise, as if stealth wasn't even a concern. Watching this scene, Isabelle furrowed her brow.
"Isn't it strange?"
"Pardon?"
"Those groups definitely used to move around stealthily, terrified of everything. Remember?"
"That's true."
"So what's making them so bold now?"
"Perhaps being with their leader has boosted their confidence?"
"Something feels off."
Isabelle positioned herself in the bushes, glaring at the approaching orcs.
Five in number. Except for one abnormally large individual, it was a manageable group.
Moreover, the large one was leaning on a long staff. A magic user? If so, that might actually be fortunate.
How skilled could an orc possibly be with magic? On our side, we have Elfihera, who is considered the greatest genius student in the entire history of St. Yansk University.
With her proper support, magical defense shouldn't be difficult. Fighting that hulking creature in close combat would be more concerning...
"Ugh?!"
The large orc was staring right at her.
The orc immediately pointed at the bush where she was hiding and shouted. The surrounding orcs gripped their weapons tightly and charged straight toward her hiding spot!
"We've been spotted! Oskar!"
"I'll handle the leader! I'll try to buy some time!"
All pre-planned tactics were abandoned. The strategy of Isabelle and Oskar drawing attention while Elfihera provided magical cover fire to create confusion, and Asidis setting traps for ambush advantage—none of that mattered anymore.
They had failed to lure them to the first trap. Those creatures were heading toward the campfire but changed direction right before reaching the area with traps.
As if they could see them!
"Elfihera!!"
Isabelle shouted as she rushed out. With the plan failed, victory now depended on the ambush from their two rear support members. Even she and Oskar couldn't confidently engage five orcs head-on in a test of strength.
-CLANG!!
Isabelle's first attack was blocked, crushing into the orc's shoulder plate. Despite the powerful strike that half-split its shoulder, the orc swung its spear as if unaffected.
-CLANG!
Barely twisting her body to avoid the spear, follow-up attacks immediately rained down. Four orcs were charging at her, while she had only two hands and a single sword.
"Eek!!"
-CLANG! KAKAKAK!!
A spear blade coming for her head—dodge.
An axe slashing toward her chest—deflect.
Two spear blades aiming for both thighs with staggered timing—one at a time.
With almost acrobatic movements, hearing her joints creak in protest, Isabelle barely managed to extract herself. And that was just one exchange.
'I should have cut its throat with the first strike!'
The opponent's reaction was too fast. But there was no time to think. The attacks from the four orcs were interlocking precisely, pursuing her.
"Elfi!! Essie!!"
Isabelle quickly pulled back while shouting. Should she use the "Domain of the Transcendent"? Not yet. Neural acceleration through magical power had a short duration and severe after-effects. It was due to her absolute lack of proficiency.
Considering the exhaustion after using neural acceleration, it wasn't a technique she could use in battle unless she could kill all the orcs within that brief window. Not yet, at least.
She needed to save it for a more decisive moment. For now, she had to conserve it.
"GRAAAAGH!!"
The orc standing directly in front of her stiffened and screamed. Though she couldn't see past the orc's massive frame, she realized Asidis had arrived.
"Elfi!!"
Asidis had stabbed her boomer (steel command baton: it hurts) like an awl into the orc's back. She used the gauntlet she'd taken from an orc as a hammer to drive the baton deep into its back.
Bang, bang! With two punches, the long baton penetrated about halfway through the orc's back. Driving a blunt steel rod through armor—there was no denying she was Einar's daughter.
And then.
"Get back!!"
To whom? No need to ask. This was the decisive moment.
Isabelle desperately deflected attacks from the three confused orcs and quickly jumped backward.
'This wasn't in the plan. What attack is she preparing? A trap?'
Her flowing hair suddenly stood on end. Her body hair bristled, and goosebumps crawled up her skin.
Static electricity crackled everywhere.
It was coming.
A massive wave of magical power surged like a tsunami.
Isabelle instinctively lay flat on the ground. To a place beyond the flow of magical power. Abandoning all defense, but desperately.
And immediately, a flash of light engulfed her vision.
Far away at the edge of the forest. Sitting on a branch of a giant tree.
Left eye tightly closed to focus.
Right hand rolled into a fist before the right eye—a dual spell of [Dark Vision] and [Far Sight].
Using this as a scope to magnify the target. Through the dark forest, foliage creating chaotic barriers, and behind them, aiming at the small 'steel command baton'.
Raising the left hand to load the spell.
Click. Magical power extending from the heart interlocks like gears once. The prepared spell is [Lightning Call].
A high-intensity attack spell, but taking it one step further, click. Interlocking the same gears again for a stacked spell. [Lightning Call].
And click. One more time. Forcing magical power through, binding gear to gear for another stacked spell.
A triple-stacked [Lightning Call].
Therefore.
"Grikenkos-style, Lightning Flow."
-KWAJIJIIJIJIJIK!!!
Not current, but a flash of lightning strikes. Using the steel command baton Asidis had driven in as a lightning rod.
Her hair stood on end from the numerous electrical discharges in the air. Static electricity crackled, and body hair touched by a streak of lightning turned to powder and scattered.
Even standing up was difficult. Her muscles spasmodically alternated between tension and relaxation from the powerful lightning aftereffects. The tremors made it hard to grip her sword.
"Just like an elf to do this right in front of allies!"
Isabelle laughed helplessly and shouted at the overly bold broken arrow. The four orcs that had been standing before her had collapsed in miserable states.
The orc that took a direct hit was shattered to pieces, while those caught in the aftershock were thoroughly cooked with burst skin. It was a horrific sight for teenagers, but fortunately, everyone here had been hardened by the past few days of "training retreat."
"Wait, four...?"
Isabelle frantically turned her head. Oskar! Where was Oskar?
"Kheuh..."
Somewhat distant from the blast site, the large leader orc was looking down at her while firmly gripping Oskar's head.
"Oskar!!"
"Kul...ack!!"
Oskar was painfully coughing up blood.
"Should I fire?"
"No."
Ivan briefly shook his head at his adjutant's question as he held up the scope.
"Commander. But right now..."
"Mikhail. Do you know why that creature isn't killing Oskar?"
"Sir...?"
"With just a twitch of its finger, Oskar would already be dead. Orcs aren't particularly patient creatures, and that one is especially enraged."
Ivan held out his pistol with his arm straight. After half a breath, he slightly turned his head to align the sights. His index finger slid along the trigger guard.
Click, the trigger moved slightly. Holding there, without firing, he waited.
And at that moment, he saw the orc at the end of his sights flinch.
"Because it can see the future."
"The future... sir?"
"Yes."
Every time the orc showed killing intent toward Oskar, Ivan raised his gun to aim at it. Each time, the orc had to shrink back and withdraw its hand.
Because it saw a future where it would certainly be killed. Through the power of the artifact, "The Demon King's Eye."
But he offered no further assistance. Experiencing the moment of death, yet without the risk of dying. How rare is a moment of struggle where one must exert 100% of their ability, projecting their skills to the limit?
It was a more effective training method than expected. Ivan decided to incorporate this training process into the regular training program of the counterintelligence command.
"Though it can't detect line-of-fire or use neural acceleration."
Ivan lowered his gun and continued.
"With the power of an artifact, it can do something similar."
Neural acceleration is ultimately the power to move the body faster, stronger, and more nimbly.
It's the minimum requirement to detect an opponent's movements and trajectories in advance, and to deliver counterattacks even slightly faster.
However, if one could see the future. Even just 5 seconds. No, even 1 second ahead to "foresee" the opponent's attack. The result would be combat performance no different from neural acceleration.
And a superhuman who has reached the level of using neural acceleration can only be matched by another superhuman. At least in close combat, it's almost absolute. Below a certain threshold, numbers become meaningless before a superhuman's combat abilities.
Therefore.
"To have any chance against that creature, one must be able to use neural acceleration, even at a basic level."
Ivan raised his gun again.
I'll give you enough opportunities, so fight with your life at stake and seize them.
This is the fastest way to master neural acceleration. It's a sense that awakens with survival instinct during life-or-death struggles, in moments of fighting against an absolute superior.
Those kids were already sufficiently trained. They had both the talent and magical power.
So what they lacked was only experience.
Providing that was his role as an excellent educator. Ivan humbly acknowledged his responsibility.
The Tumor of Mount Tai. Avatar of Rage, Giant King. The Seven Dragon General killed by Maximillian.
His forces destroyed a total of 2 kingdoms, 37 cities, and 129 villages. He was the vanguard of the Demon King's army and the first of the Seven Dragon Generals that humanity encountered.
The military forces under his command, known as the 2nd Dragon General, had no special abilities compared to other legions. Meaning they lacked "singularities" like bizarre magic or sorcery, special troop types and strategies, or grotesque tactics.
The reason their military achievements were overwhelming compared to other legions was for one reason only.
Pure struggle.
The legion led by the Avatar of Rage consisted of orcs, giants, and tauruses. Only rotation, only advance, only annihilation. They marched, crushed, killed, and advanced solely for that purpose.
Due to such outstanding military achievements, the Hero aimed his sword at Tumor immediately upon deployment. On the eastern front, in that battlefield alongside the knights of Tilles, Tumor was destroyed along with his legion.
Therefore, all orcs are survivors from that era. They are warriors once led by the Avatar of Rage. Even though they lost their fighting spirit after Tumor's death and fell into decline, their instincts and souls still carry memories of those brilliant days from over 10 years ago.
So now.
An orc warrior, terrified from isolation and torture, was slowly closing his eyes as he saw the "future" whispered by the artifact.
Realizing that no matter what choice he made, there was no way for him to survive.
Understanding that he was merely a training puppet.
Suffering from guilt for having pushed his brothers into a trap, leading to their annihilation.
-KRAAAAAAAA—!!
Soon, the wildness of old times awakened.