[Year 11 month 5th]

Arkum was always thinking about why he was gifted with the ability to thrust with magical power. He thought that the god who bestowed it was worried about their passing and gave it in the heat of the moment.

But, is it really? Because it was chosen so perfectly. He was good at thrusting his spear, he didn't have access to the Awakened System at the moment but he could feel it.

That [Thrust] has raised another rank. He felt it change too, he felt a swirling feeling within his chest, exactly at his heart. The energies swirled and condensed.

As he was fighting the giant he dodged the unforeseen fist that was brought down on his previous position, it was fast, and only blurred colours could be seen.

The feeling in his chest condensed more and then stopped at a point. Then it spread out in a matter of seconds, his bloodstreams were filled with this very same energy.

He felt it fill his torso, legs, head and arms. With one precise look, he cocked back his spear, but this time it was not a simple thrust.

The giant brought down its arms, both of them. But Arkum wasn't worried, he felt the energy creep up his spear and somehow made it feel tougher.

He looked at the giant head-on. Raised his spear and…

—BOOM!

Rocks flew out like shrapnel threatening to pierce and shred anything in their way. If a normal man were to receive this force they would be splattered like a stepped-on cockroach.

But Arkum stood under the monster's arms. He stood tall with his spear blocking the arms like he was carrying something heavy. Spider web-like cracks were under him signifying its weight.

"Hup!"

He pushed the giant's arms away much to its surprise, and he dashed forward, swinging the spear towards the giant, its skin parting to a gash showing the damage he had incurred.

The Giant's skin seems thick but Arkum was shredding this protection like butter. Swing by swing, marks were showing on the Giant's thick skin.

Alas, when it was about to retreat, the Giant looked at Arkum one last time, his hands cocked back, his eyes glared at it like a hawk—

–Boom!

A giant hole was made in the Giant's chest, its flesh was torn and eviscerated, scattered throughout the forest floor. Arkum looked at his hand, where he held the spear. He saw how the energy that filled it went back inside him and then the spear shattered to dust.

"What…"

Arkum beheld this power for the first time, he never felt livelier than when he was in his twenties. He felt the power, the heat, in his chest just where his heart lies.

Just as Arkum was to bask in his newfound strength the silence was broken by the three hunters approaching him.

"Arkum! That was awesome!"

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Arkum scratched the back of his head at the praise that he received. The three young hunters looked at him with reverence he had never seen before. Naturally, the Orcs behind him showed an explicit form of awe.

"Are we ready to leave?"

This got them out of their well-immersed feelings and answered with seriousness.

"Yes! We discussed moving in small numbers but instead, we decided to go with all of them at once."

Garuk explained.

"Why?"

"It seems that the situation is urgent, a shaman with his summon detected multiple Scorn Giants across the mountain, if we don't hurry we will get caught up."

The situation seems to dawn upon Arkum who developed a serious face, it seems time is against them.

"Let's get moving."

"Uhm! Arkum!"

One of the hunters gathered his attention, "This is for you I believe." He handed over the spear.

When Arkum received the spear he was astonished, externally the spear didn't look any different from the other spears. He could see the energies faintly residing on the item.

"Who do I owe my thanks?"

Arkum politely spoke, and his question was answered by Ivy.

"He is the he—previous head of our clan."

Ivy spoke solemnly. Arkum seemed to notice this and didn't pursue it further. Instead, he looked at the amount of Orcs coming with them. There seem to be about… 300 of them, divided among the young, old and pregnant.

"This is going to be troublesome."

"Is it?" Garuk asked.

"I'll stay in the rear, that way the monsters trying to pursue me won't get near. What's the plan for the front and sides?"

"I'll be at the front, I trust you with our back."

Multiple Orcs agreed with Garuk's words. After witnessing Arkum solo a giant their respect for him was at an all-time high. The Orcs started the headcount to make sure none was missing, making sure valuables were along with them, once checked they started moving to the outskirts of the forest as soon as possible.

The Orcs marched forward guarded by the warriors, shamans and hunters. They moved forth to the forest a few hours away from their destination. The thread was not peaceful so far, especially when a large group was moving, it was like a herd for the picking.

The worst part was that after they started moving, a scout came back and informed them of bad news.

“Scorn Yllamites! And… and… They’re with Scourge mites!”

There are three dungeons within the Demon forest, while this is unknown to the people who live in it, their monsters are well known, for their notoriety as a danger to sapient life. The Scorn series of monsters are the most common, especially seen on the outskirts of the forest.

“The-the Scourge mites are coming!”

The ground started shaking with an intense rumbling that followed. The scourge mites are enormous and worse in the hundreds they’re the size of a huge dog and possibly one of the cruellest to its prey.

“Tsk! There's a lot of them.”

One stated in horror, all must’ve lost hope. However, there was one thing they didn't have that they have now, and that is Arkum. Before the Scourge Mites could even close in he already dashed towards their location to bring in the fight with his spear brandished, his spear could take out the silhouettes of the Scourge Mites.

Once Arkum was close enough he brought his spear forward with power enough to kill a Scorn giant ten times over, the wind pushed away in a shockwave as if a cannonball were fired towards the mites. To those watching it was surreal, the orcs watched as the mites disappeared so easily.

To those who were close was thrown about, the mites scrambling like deers in the headlights. It was a sight to behold but those watching knew they could not afford to stall, they started moving once again by the given time by Arkum.

“The mites are everywhere…” Arkum muttered.

The mites are very nimble, like grasshoppers with their specialized legs. Arkum was contemplating which next sequence of action he should take for the remaining scattered mites. He could take them on but he was only one.

In the end, he decided to strategize. He would keep his distance and strike the air whenever a mite would get close, deterring them by the massive shockwave he produces in one direction. He knew it wasn't so simple, this strategy would soon collapse but he knew that the orcs would be far before that happens.

Arkum kept on throwing air volleys even if the mites were far, their legs were so strong that they covered distances instantly. The other hunters weren't idle either, they saw what Arkum was doing and decided to help him, by making sure no mites got a single step closer to the Orcs.

“There's still a lot of them…”

They cannot force the Orcs to move faster, after all, the young, old and pregnant cannot be stressed enough. One mite eventually got closer, its strong leaps continuous and unbreakable. But not for the hunters, it's not a matter if they can stop it, it's a must.

The hunter, with the idea to use the momentum of the mite against it, pointed his spear and prepared to intercept the mite, it was a good idea. However, the mite is stronger than he realized. The spear penetrated the Mite’s chitin and it bled, however, it didn't die. It thrashed around violently.

“Agh!”

The hunter felt a bruise forming but he did not place his focus on the injury, but instead used his skill [Thrust] and plunged the spear deeper. But it turned out that it takes more than that to kill an insect. It continued thrashing, more violently.

The Hunter kept his wits and tried other methods to kill the mite, the best he did is when he managed to stab it in the head did it went limp. He was already panting hard when it was finished.

“La’el!”

The other hunters screamed, and the young hunter stood up and went back to the group, he looked around, just to see that the mites were already gone for good, but the blood that they spread surely wasn't a good thing. As it will attract monsters. And the worst part is the fight isn't over yet.

A huge 8-legged creature with whitish red skin and pale skinny legs was having a staredown with Arkum, a Scorn Yllamite...