After the previous rain of arrows, only fifty odd Orcs remained, but this number nearly got cut in half as those weaker beasts exploded into flaming bits from the tyrannical fire array. Those that could still fight are few in numbers.

Those that survived groan with intense pain, the wave of fire pressed against them, trying to force them back. But instead of backing down, the stronger Orcs pressed their charge, and with their mighty bodies, they somehow managed to shatter the flaming shockwave. These beasts enraged by the pain rushed forward savagely, led by nine Entry D ranked Orcs.

The Starlight array may have heavily wounded them, but Kairos' teams are not much better in condition. It is an incredibly potent offensive stratagem, working in the same theory as a runic set. Runes are of nature's laws which call upon the true name of the elements to control it as one wishes.

The team have fulfilled the two criteria needed to activate a Rune by using their formation and Ki to replicate an inscription of fire, and power it by a union of their Ki. Fortunately, the array that Kairos has created is perfectly in tune with the element's true name, and therefore they did not explode into the sky when they activated such a powerful array using their bodies.

Depending on how much the medium could endure and the type of rune, the power unleashed could be as powerful as a volcano or as little as a candle that is why everyone craves for a higher grade of weapon. Therefore, even if it is the same type of runes inscribed on Kairos’ Swallow, this amount of power they called forth using one’s body is incomparably stronger than an activation from a single weapon. One can only imagine the potency of the Starfire array formed by so many of them, even if it is only at 35% power.

After activating the array, many of the guys slumped weakly onto the forest ground. Having expended most of their Ki for this activation, they are in no condition for direct combat.

While their hearts have not given into despair, their bodies drained of energy are unable to react to the D rank Orcs that are almost upon them.

Those D rank Orcs, Orc captains, stand half a head taller than their kin. Their skin glowed in emerald green, and their faces more hideous than the peons and the grunts, but their eyes shone with intelligence.

With a great wave of its arm, one of the Orc captains attacked the group with its oversized stone club. Seeing the fearsome blow aimed at their helpless teammates, those that could still move, threw themselves forward to block the attack.

If those that can move do not receive the blow, then they cannot imagine how many will die in this place.

Alan, Jim, Tommy, Edward and the four captains also ran forward desperately to help, but the other Orc Captains immediately engaged them.

The battle quickly turned into eight students against nine Orcs captains.

The height difference and how, extremely slowly, both groups are fighting while hindered by their wounds would make it a comedic scene if not for the grisly injuries that the students have from head to toe.

From the crystal ball in the instructors' room, the instructors looked horrified at the clash between men and beasts.

The short and round Head of Logistics instructor grip the arm of his chair furiously as he and even his close friends, the Head of Student Affairs instructor and the Disciplinarian Head instructor glared lividly at the Head of Events instructor.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The three are adamant to stop this exercise ever since Alucard’s group fell into danger, but without the Head of Events instructor's permission, they are unable to do so nor can they bypass her decisions. By protocol, they have to submit their request to the higher ups first in order to do anything.

Reduced to helplessly watch the things unfold at the training ground through the crystal ball, they can only wait for the instructions of the higher ups.

Despite the pain made by the Starfire array, those Orc captains are still D ranked beasts with tremendous physical strength. Fortunately, they are not agile by nature and further slowed down by their burns, the eight that fought them are somehow still surviving, even though they are at least two whole ranks lower. They come to realise that by focusing on dodging they would not be in serious danger, at least until their stamina runs thin.

With a disgusted snort, the last and strongest the ten D ranked Orcs walked into battle. At Peak D rank, it is the least affected by the Starfire.

As the only one at the Orc War Chief level, it felt ashamed seeing the way its troops are fighting and decided to kill the humans personally. Its instincts cried out to him that Kairos is a dangerous adversary, so naturally, its first target is to kill the severely wounded Kairos, despite the human boy sitting helplessly on the ground.

"If we hold them back for another thirty seconds, and we will have a chance!" Kairos yelled mustering as much energy as he could in his weakened state.

Although he wants to stand up and fight alongside his brothers, he had held position at the heart of the formation during the Starfire array activation, and he was the one who supplied the array with the most amount of energy out of everyone. Unable to fight due to his injuries, and being the only one who could control the powerful energies of the Starfire array, Kairos had to assume such a dangerous role. It is no surprise that afterwards he was more drained than everyone else and could barely move now.

Kairos' life force is now dangerously low from how much strength he had used. His internal Ki has become disrupted from the exhaustion, and even his life force has stopped recovering naturally.

Seeing the imposing Orc War Chief approach their leader, the group desperately dragged themselves over to attempt blocking the most powerful war beast. But, at this crucial moment, Alucard's team attacked, unleashing multiple powerful long range attacks at it.

With a handful of inscription talismans in each of their hands, Alucard and his team invoked Ki attacks formed of several elements and fired them into the Orcs swarm.

As those talismans treasures of a rather high level, are equipped with targeting control. Colourful elemental attacks flew in curved lines past Kairos' teams and homed in on their targets.

Before when his team were desperately surrounded by enemies, Alucard could not use these items. Activating a talisman may be fast only requiring a practitioner to fill up the yellowed paper with Ki, but when the combat is intense, it is hardly plausible to find time to use more than one or two. Against an entire group of Orcs, using such a small amount is ineffective, and will only waste their limited stock.

With Kairos’ teams grabbing all the attention of the Orcs, Alucard gained the lapse he needed to unleash all of his attack talismans. He ignored their costliness and activated everything they could at one go. It could be called an attack powered by money.

Each of the Orc Captains were hit with an elemental Ki and got blown back immediately, but for the more dangerous Orc War Chief, they fired a bombardment of elemental Ki strikes. The purple aura covering it glowed fiercely as one after another attack landed on it.

The first few blasts were block cut down by the massive jagged-edge stone sword it held, but it was unable to keep up with the amount of attacks sent its way that rained down and exploded into colourful energy spheres before dissipating.

The might of the explosions shook the ground with every flash of light.

Scorching flames, screeching lightning, and razor blades of wind came one after another and did not allow the Orc War Chief a moment to breathe.

All the students near by stumbled backwards from the powerful shock waves. When the upheaval ends, everyone silently waited the cloud of dust shrouding the area to settle.

The other Orcs too stood motionlessly at this scene, as if holding their breath to see the result before making a decision for their next action.

A white and sharp tip of a sword broke the stillness, appearing from within the cloud at the top corner, followed by a massive stroke that diagonally sliced apart the cloud of dust. Along with it, a sonic boom exploded outwards from the power of the strike, revealing the Orc War Chief standing mightily in the centre, unscathed from the Ki bombardment.

It had shrugged off the attacks without much difficulty but now glared at Alucard with hatred.

The Orc War Chief roared a command, shaking down the leaves from the cypress trees around them with only its voice, and the Orc Captains renewed their attacks at once. Holding a large stone shield and club in each hand, the nine D ranked Orcs followed their war chief into battle.

Then the leader of these Orcs pushed itself forth with a bent leg to strike, however instead of Alucard and team who attacked it, it trusted its instincts and continued to aim for Kairos who is sitting motionlessly.

If this human child is not dead, its heart could not stop thrumming.

Those nearby acted immediately. They rushed fearlessly to block the attack, but just by getting closer, they found themselves blown away by the force of the wind.

At this perilous moment, a powerful aura burst forth from each of Kairos friends. Alan, Jim, Edward, Tommy, and Kairos. They are brothers by name and not by blood, but their bond is no lesser than a family. 

No matter what powerful beast dares to bare its fangs at their brother, they will not retreat.