Unrestrained, the scarecrow charged. Floating inches off the ground, it tolled whenever it went. Scattering the hordes of panicked Orcs. Nearby, scraping his knees, an Orc child stumbled. Taking this chance, the scarecrow neared, swinging its metal slab of an arm downwards.
The Orc child cowered, rooted to the spot. Tears leaking, it ducked down, holding his hand above his head. Shutting his eyes at his final moments. Or so he thought.
"Orahhhh!" At the moment of impact, an ear-splitting screech resounded through the open air.
"Don't touch my subjects!" A guttural voice growled, his hulking figure appearing right beside the scarecrow. Roughly humanoid, he had pale, lifeless grey skin. Two tusks protruding from his lower lip, black tattoos marking his face. An Orc. Well, to be more specific, the Orc King. With all its might, the Orc King bashed his giant war hammer into the scarecrow's body.
"Orc King! Thank you." Tear stained, the Orc child squeezed out his heartfelt gratitude.
"Get away, child Aro. Don't worry. It's the duty of a king to protect his subjects after all."
Instantly, the child brightened up, nodding swiftly, he ran away.
"That bell-shaped scarecrow is actually a bell?" From the distance, the skeleton questioned.
The other Orc warriors got on their feet. Brandishing their weapon of choice, they dived into the fray.
"Warrior Fre, head of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Warrior Gro, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Warrior Rey, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Warrior Tri, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Warrior Pur, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Warrior Ful, member 2 of squad 1, entering the battle!"
"Very well, show me what you are made of." Cro roared.
The seven Orcs, dashed in and out, taking turns smashing their weapons into the scarecrow in quick successions. Pulling out at just the right moment to escape from the scarecrow's reach. Executing perfectly timed, coordinated complex attack patterns.
"Woah, they're strong..." The skeleton muttered.
"Hmph, hmph! Of course! Who do you think they are?" Thrusting her small chest out, with her nose high in the air, an Orc child exclaimed.
"Eh... You are his daughter right? The Orc king's daughter... What's your name again?"
"It's Rui!" She hissed. "How can you even forget the name of a beauty like me?" She posed.
"A cheeky brat." The skeleton mumbled.
"A cheeky brat right?" Popping out of nowhere, Hebi nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, totally a cheeky brat." The skeleton affirmed.
"Enough! How many times are you going to repeat that? Tch!"
"What's actually going on? I woke up just to allll this chaos?" Hebi asked.
"I don't get it either. The bell-shaped scarecrow just started rampaging. I didn't even know that it was actually a bell until it started tolling noisily every time it shakes.
"Yeah, they act as an alarm." With a prideful look on her face, Rui began explaining.
"You know how next to this place is the Arashi Valley, right? That place has lots of wyverns. They are our pesky, pest of neighbours. Occasionally, coming here to ravage our field and attack us. They normally target a lone Orc. We placed that scarecrow so that the wyvern would attack it first. Then when it picks it up with its mighty talons, the bell would toll. Alerting us to any danger. So, that scarecrow acts as an alarm bell."
"Rui! There you are!" Another Orc ran, panting with each step he took. "You," He exhaled. "You know you can't be here, come let's go underground."
Sighing, Rui snorted. "No way! I'm not going down there. I'm going to watch. Papa's strong after all, unlike you. He will never lose! Unlike you."
"Ughh." Fer, her attendant grunted. Wordlessly, the skeleton patted him on the back. Trying to encourage him. However it seemed to bring the opposite effect.
"What? I know you think I'm pathetic as well." He sniffed. "Pathetic, weak, useless..."
"Come now, no one said that." The skeleton felt compelled to comfort the bullied attendant.
"I said that," Rui exclaimed with a triumphant look.
"You're not helping! And why do you look so proud of it?" Hebi retorted, also sympathizing with the poor attendant.
"But being a bell does not explain how it's able to move right?" The skeleton cleared his throat, changing the subject.
"Yeah, I never saw it come to life before. Did it get cursed or something?" Fer knitted his eyebrows together. "Hmm..."
-Curse... The skeleton wondered. Where have I heard that recently? Ahhh! Didn't Cro mention something about how I got some skill to scare others? That's probably [Innate Passive Skill: Death Aura]. The scarecrow never moved before. Isn't it reasonable to think before I come here? Curse, he mentioned how the scarecrow can be cursed... Am I the cause?
[Innate Passive Skill: Restless Spirits] The message popped up at the corner of the skeleton's vision.
-This is the one? What does it do?! Huh? It's suddenly in my head? The ability to stir up wandering, restless spirits with a deep attachment or vengeance to the material world.
In the distance, Cro swung down his hammer over his head.
CLANGGG!!! The metal clashed reverberated on impact. However, the scarecrow had not a single scratch, much less a dent.
-It is my fault after all. Come to think of it, didn't the skill Spirit Vision activate when I first saw the scarecrow...? I should have paid more attention. The skeleton gnashed its teeth.
"Arghh, my ears hurt!" Cro shouted over the din.
-Huh? Am I feeling guilty? What kind of person am I before I died? I chose to ignore Cro when he was getting beat up yesterday... Am I a kind person or a cruel one? Do I want to be kind or cruel? Am I really feeling guilt? Is this my own emotion?
Dong! Dong! Dong! Repeatedly, the tolls increased in volume, jarring the skeleton back into reality. The scarecrow stood still, its clapper rocking back and forth, completely out of control.
"Ahhhh!" The Orcs one by one fell to their knees. Collapsing, they writhed like a snake on the ground. Tears streamed down their faces as they yelled their agony out.
"What's wrong?" The skeleton shouted over the din. Sure, the bells were giving him a headache. But other than that, he felt nothing too extreme. Bewildered, Hebi was in a similar position.
Clutching his arm, Fer choked out. "It's... my limbs... They felt as if they're being torn out of their sockets. ARGhhh!"
Peering closer, the skeleton realised what it was immediately. Coupled with the scent, the skeleton became absolutely certain. There was no way it would get this wrong. After all, the moment it was born, it was surrounded by this kind of scent. This thing used to be littered all over the cottage's shelves. Used to fill the graveyard inches deep.
It was rotting flesh.
"But how?" It questioned. "The Orcs are very much still alive..."
"The bell. It must be the bell. It releases a curse of some kind when it tolls." Hebi concluded. "You must be safe probably because you're a type of undead. While my kind has the ability to resists curse and the like."
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"Then what I have to do becomes simple." The skeleton answered. -I don't know what kind of person am I in the past. I don't even know if this feeling is mine. But I want to help. Yeah, I want to help the Orcs. For now, that is good enough. For now, that is what I will do!
The skeleton stepped forward. It took small, uncertain steps before breaking out into long strides. Soon enough, the skeleton dashed, the soles of its bony feet scratching and kicking off against the gravelly earth.
"Hey, what are you planning to do?" The skeleton heard Hebi shouting behind it.
"What am I going to do? Heh, isn't it obvious? Getting them to owe me a favour obviously!" If the skeleton had lips and facial muscle, he surely would have smiled at this moment.
A devilish smile that surfaced when one's life is on the line.
Except in its case, it was already long dead. So it would be more like staking one's existence on the line.
Nevertheless, the skeleton dashed forward.
"Bone Rush!" The skeleton unleashed a flurry of bones upwards. Not pausing for a moment, the skeleton used the cover of the bones to duck into close range. Visible only for a fraction of a second before disappearing into a blind spot. Right in front of the base of the scarecrow.
"Bone smash!" Cerulean light gathered around its metacarpals, materialising to two long bone clubs on each hand.
The skeleton wedged the two bones into the mouth of the bell. Exerting its imaginary muscles, the skeleton pulled back. Succeeding to topple the scarecrow with ease. Since the first attack caused the scarecrow to lose balance. In addition, by approaching so suddenly, the scarecrow panicked and try to rush back, which sealed the deal.
With a hollow thud, the scarecrow toppled against the cold, hard earth.
Another message popped at the corner of the skeleton's vision.
[Created Active Skill: Bone topple]
"Bone Rush! Size input 5 meters!" -I don't get how I know I can control the size. It must be some sort of instinct? However, I do know that the scarecrow is roughly four meters in diameter. Which means five should be enough.
The skeleton waved its right arm diagonally downward to the left. Its left arm tracing the opposite path. Simultaneously, impossible-to-be-human's bones due to the size materialised, crisscrossing to form multiple X-es. Wedging the scarecrow against the ground and the bones
[Created Active Skill: Rib Cage] The message popped up.
-Now, only one last thing to do.
"Bone Rush!" Bones upon bones began filling the sideways-up scarecrow. Filling it up to the brim in mere moments. Jamming up the vibrating clapper, which ceased the curse-inducing noise.
"Th-thanks," Cro managed to croak out, blood spilling from the edges of his joints as the skin and flesh started to disintegrate.
"Why are you doing this?" Compelled, the skeleton asked.
"Hmm? Are you asking the scarecrow? No way it can talk~" Cro replied, with a grimaced smile on his face.
"... I wish for destruction." A guttural, disembodied voice floated. T
"NO way! It can talk?!" Cro shouted.
"This definitely happened before..." Hebi commented as he caught up.
"Why do you wish so?"
"Day in, day out, the Orcs lived their lives nonchalantly. Forgetting the past and living a joyful life they don't deserve. They themselves the only ones happy. But what about those who were sacrificed? Those who deserved a chance to be happy as well. You just forget about them? Act as if they don't exist? Disgusting. All your smiling faces disgust me! All of you should just die. I'll use my death to curse this world for letting me die. For not allowing me to achieve my meagre dream of hunting for lost relics. Yes, I represent all those who were unjustly sacrificed to that beast so that the rest could live."
"You, you couldn't be...? Rai? That's you right?"
"You know my name?"
"Yeah, I'm Cro, your friend, do you not remember?"
"I don't remember." The voice continued, cold as ice. The two holes acting as the eyes scowled, turning into slanted crescent moons. "But if you truly are my friend then even worse. How could you have abandoned your friend to that beast? Do you know how it feels to be torn off from limb to limb? The excruciating pain that makes you wish you were dead but you can't die. Our only salvation was to be eaten from the head first. In which our death would be instantaneous. Do you know how that feels? This scarecrow is similar to us. That is probably why we feel an affinity to it. Then yesterday, we felt a shock to our consciousness. It was as if being awoken from a very long dream. But no matter, I will achieve our long-standing grudge."
-Ahh, my fault. Definitely my [Restless Spirits] ability's fault... The skeleton smacked his metacarpals against its skull.
A dark cloud passed through Cro's features. He balled his fist tight. "Sorry, I know how much I apologize, it would never be enough, but still I'm sorry. If only I was stronger back then. You might have forgotten me. But I, for a single moment of my life have never forgotten you."
"Nothing but pathetic, flimsy platitudes!" The scarecrow retorted. The bubbling fury exploded in his tone.
Gritting his teeth, Cro caressed his hammer. "You know, this hammer is the one we always dreamt of getting our hands on. The legendary one and only. After you died, I got it. It was tough, hellishly so. Nonetheless, I did it, I achieved our dream together."
"Hmph, don't give me your empty lip service. I hate hypocrisy the most in this world. You did it for no one but yourself. Only for your own self-interest. To lessen your own guilt! But the dead won't be appeased by your act. They will never find peace after dying in such a way!"
"Yeah, that may be so. Maybe it's all for my own self. Maybe the dead will never find true peace. The reason why I killed the beast tormenting us afterwards may be due to my guilty conscience. However, I know for sure that was not the whole reason. I know I also killed the beast to secure our future. Therefore, no matter what happens, I won't let anything destroy the future built upon the concrete of corpses. That is, after all, the duty of the king and also the duty of one who survived."
"Yap, yap, yap, yap all you want. But I'll destroy everything!" The scarecrow pushed its arms against the ground. Straining all its might into getting up. Into destroying the cage made of ribs.
Crack! Crack, crack! Pressure lines formed, instantly snaking its way around like a wildfire. White splinters cracking off. Not long after, the bones snapped. One by one, the cracked pieces fell unto the earth. Breaking the prison, the scarecrow got free.
Pounding itself using its arms, it roared. A sorrowful, livid roar tipped with vengeance. "You all shall know the pain of losing your limbs! You shall lie down there, powerless and helpless. As your flesh rot and skin flake off, blood will drain out slowly. Your fats shall melt and your mind ravaged by the agony. Lastly, after doing so well enduring the pain, your neck will melt!"
"None of you interfere..." Cro uttered in a controlled manner. His eyes burning with unshakeable conviction.
"Rai! I will put you to rest. You have suffered far enough! Come and get your well-deserved rest." Cro roared out loud, taunting the Rai with his fingers. The other hand, pulling the war hammer all the way back as he crouched, taking a fighting stance.
"Maybe, this will jolt your memories a bit," Cro smirked. As if he made a funny joke that only he could understand.
"RAGHHH!"The scarecrow flew, throwing his pulled-back fist forward at the very last second.
Cro took a deep breath, his chest swelling rapidly. Focusing his gaze forward, he peeled his eyeballs open, refusing to blink even once. The moment contact was about to be made, he exhaled, sidestepping. Using the momentum, he spun, connecting his evasion to his attack. Smashing the war hammer in an arc similar to his spin.
"Mjolnir! Thunder Strike!" Bang! From the clear skies, a lone lightning bolt dropped, striking the scarecrow where it stood.
The same instant, memories rushed through the scarecrow's consciousness.
"Once we grow up. Let's travel, see the ocean, climb the mountains, explore deep caverns. Let's just go everywhere and anywhere! The two of us are invincible! Even the Hammer of Mjolnir is easy prey for us!" A cheeky brat spread his hands wide, laughing gleefully.
-Who? Who is that laughing? Why can't I remember his face? A fog clouded over the face of the cheeky boy. As the scarecrow thought so, the scene faded away, replaced by another.
"It's almost that time again."
"Yes, we need to send someone yet again."
"Who is the best candidate?"
"What about that child, Rai? He's always been sickly. Unable to do as much as the others."
"Good, good, send him then."
"But wait, he is good friends with the Orc prince, Cro."
"Who cares, the prince is nothing but a brat who spends his time dreaming."
"...What is your verdict, Orc king?"
"Do it. Send Rai."
-Ah, this again. This memory when I overheard the elder's council. I can't disappear yet. Not until I wipe those fools off this planet.
Through raw willpower, the Scarecrow shook his consciousness back to reality. Regaining control of the scarecrow, Rai headbutted its metallic head against Cro's.
"Ughh!" Staggering backwards, Cro jumped back. This time, pushed on the defensive. It took everything that he had to stay conscious, much less protect himself. As a result, he got battered black and blue.
"The moment I was born with the mark of the Orc King, I had responsibilities foisted upon me. I really hated that back then. All I wanted was to do whatever I wanted. That's why... That's why!" Cro swung his hammer again. But this time, the scarecrow jumped backwards.
"That's why the moments I spent with you were so precious, so liberating. I had fun talking about our dreams. Whenever I was with you, I felt free. You talked to me as not some royal blood but as an equal. As a friend. To me, you are really precious!" Cro roared as he pounded again and again against the earth as he missed his target. Repeatly thunder ascended from the heavens, striking the earth. Steam erupted from Cro as he fell unto one knee.
"After you were sacrificed, I left the Orc tribe. From birth, I was given the Blessing of the Regenerate. Making use of that, I became a one-time treasure hunter. I managed to get my hands on the item of our dream. Do you smell it? The smell of singed flesh?" Sizzling, the steam subsided, bleaching the air with a hazy white, carrying the faint smell of singed flesh.
"Apparently to borrow the strength of the mythical hammer, a torturous current of 100 000 volts will flow through your body. Every time I wield this hammer, this unbearable amount of pain courses through me. However, I endured it. Thinking that this is incomparable to the pain you feel as you were unjustly sacrificed. As a result, other wounds also heal much more slowly. Wielding this hammer, I managed to put down the beast who had tormented us so, eternally. Then I became king. The first thing I did was to abolish the stupid sacrificial tradition."
"I know you have suffered. But please don't take your descendants down with you. Please watch over us as we swear to never repeat the same mistake ever again!" Cro ducked as an unbalanced punch sailed over his head.
It seemed like Cro managed to unnerve Rai. Shake his very conviction. It was no surprise considering that his belief that no one cares for the sacrificed was overturned so much. There was someone who cared about them deeply.
"Rest in peace!" Due to missing the scarecrow rushed too far in, losing its balance.
Allowing Cro to land a solid strike right to the neck of the scarecrow.
"Mjolnir! Roar with all your might!" A flash of light exploded as a lightning arced through the air. Striking right at the location of the impact of the hammer.
"Once we grow up. Let's travel, see the ocean, climb the mountains, explore deep caverns. Let's just go everywhere and anywhere! The two of us are invincible! Even the Hammer of Mjolnir is easy prey for us! The invincible team of Cro and Rai!" A cheeky brat spread his hands wide, laughing gleefully.
-Ah, the fog cleared... I see it was you all along, Cro. The scarecrow thought, smiling.
"Thank you, my friend..." A whisper floated in the winds. "And goodbye."
"Yeah, goodbye," Cro replied. Tar-black clouds gathering. Rumbling, a torrential downpour cleansed the earth. As if the heavens themselves were crying.