“Rank 1 spear-path killer move, [Luminous Wallbreak Thrust]!” Li Xiaobai’s body shone in white light tinged with a hint of gold, he has become a literal lightbulb. All the light that he accumulates rapidly coalesces on the edge of his spear. With a thrusting motion, he releases the light which is already in a critical state. The result was a linear cannon-like light attack, sweeping through the greenskins in a cone-shaped area.
Originally, the attack should be concentrated and its path linear. However, the [Greenskin Mental Network] seemed to have 'remembered' how to defend from the attack. Each late-stage rank 1 hob in the general direction of the attack served like magnets, attracting a portion of the light beam so that it was scattered around multiple targets. The cone-shaped area of effect was the result of it.
The greenskins might be unable to use martial arts like humans did, but they did not lack methods to best them.
In any case, Li Xiaobai knew his attack would be diffused by the greenskins but he still activated it. Despite being scattered into multiple targets, it still shredded weaker greenskins in its path, clearing a portion of the battlefield.
Li Xiaobai is a cultivator of the same archetype as Sakuya, a Warmage. As a dual cultivator of spear-path martial artist and light-path mage, he could wield both powers with ease. The ‘killer move’ he unleashes was a combination of his spear-path martial arts and light-path magic spell, with the spear art as the core of the move.
Capitalizing the opening he just made, he jumped upwards. “Rank 1 light-path killer move, [Monumental Light Path]!” Li Xiaobai’s figure turned into a white beam of light, its linear trajectory aiming towards a location just barely out of Sakuya’s [Napalm Artillery Strike]’s area of effect. Unlike Sakuya’s Monumental Fire Path, Li Xiaobai could actually reach a fraction of percentage of the speed of light, it was actually the fastest amongst all movement speed in rank 1.
The man jumped towards the greenskin horde to assist Kenji. “Kenji, I need your help to distract the Ork leading this horde. You’re the only one strong enough to delay and bait them out in the open.” He briefed the man while paving a way for him with his spear. Despite having control upon the situation, there was a hint of urgency behind his voice. After all, greenskins battle tactics rely on exhausting their opponent’s combat resources. His team have depleted a chunk of their resources in this defensive siege, therefore it is imperative to assassinate the ork as soon as possible.
“Understood. Rank 1 strength-path martial art, [Beastial Charge]!” An image of a metallic beast appeared behind him. This was one of his famous Beast Strength methods, which was a type of martial arts that mimicked the signature strength of beasts. The beast apparition behind him was the source of his strength, a rhinoceros-like beast native to the Land of Sand and Fire: Armored Steel Rhino.
Kenji turned from a human into an armored train, the greenskins that blocked his path were pulverized into broken flesh and gore. Despite the relatively slower speed than his original charge, his mass seemed to inflate due to artificial gravity manipulation, which was one of the abilities of the beast he mimicked by his martial art. It grants him higher momentum despite having less speed.
Leaving a trail of pulverized gore behind him, Kenji advances towards a certain direction in the battlefield. He strayed from Twin Helix’s initial vector of joining the mud-rock fortress. Under Li Xiaobai’s guidance and assistance, he went deeper into the greenskins formation. Hundreds of greenskins of various strength and sizes were unable to block his unstoppable charge. He was a literal tank in human form, it’ll take some time before the nanoms in his system are depleted, thus he is able to charge without worry.
With Kenji and Li Xiaobai diverting much of the greenskins’ attention, Sumire’s kobolds and Katyusha’s Chronophagous Cavalry paved a path to the mud-rock fortress. Kurogane and Shirogane took the role of defending the middle and the back portion of Twin Helix’s formation after the kobolds and the ice golems broke through the wall of greenskins. Their assistance allows Twin Helix’s carriages that contain the non-combatants and the weak apprentices to enter the fortress through the greenskin grinder which was a hole left purposely open by Li Xiaobai’s team.
“What’s the situation?” Sumire took a step out from one of the carriages the moment she arrived. The mud-rock fortress’ interior was surprisingly bright thanks to Li Xiaobai’s minor spells. There are various lines that seem to wrap around the walls, they are focusing lights from the outside world into a spherical object, which was held by a 2.25 meter-tall power armor on an elevated ground.
The interior is also clean of greenskins corpses since they were quickly taken into dimensional storages. She couldn’t see the noncombatants being protected by Li Xiaobai’s team as the earthen fortress contained multiple layers of defense, and this location is only the first layer.
Li Xiaobai’s team members immediately went to receive her. “Reporting! Captain Li Xiaobai opted for a defensive approach to deal with the greenskins. We have been waiting for your arrival for over two hours.” Amongst the people who greeted her, the man who reported the situation was a head taller than the average Hartina Kingdom’s people, around 185-190 cm tall. His skin color has a fairer subtone instead of the yellowish-pink that the people from the Land of Autumn Rain have. Mordred instantly recognized the gray outfit that he wore, it was highly familiar with the Waffen SS outfit of Holy Terra.
From that alone, it was obvious that he, much like Katyusha, was not only a foreigner from a different country, but also from a different continent. However, his most eye-catching feature is his right hand which was a mechanical prosthetic and his left eye which was also a fake eye. There are lines and metallic objects on his body that seem to indicate his mechanical body modification isn’t limited to the eye and arm, but it is well hidden for obvious reasons.
“You’re Li Xiaobai’s Techpriest, Klauss Ludwig, aren’t you?” Sumire inspected the man, somewhat familiar with him. “Why didn’t you snipe the Ork?”
“Herr-Kapitän does not permit me…” Klauss replied, expressing difficulties in his face. “I cannot get a clean shot on that Ork. He had always hidden himself at the most opportune moment. If my snipe was to fail, it’ll be harder to do it the next time an opportunity presents itself. For now, Herr-Kapitän has ordered me to accumulate lights.” He pointed towards the mechanical construct which was holding the orb.
“Then, tell me what you know about this Ork.” Sumire inquired once more after understanding Li Xiaobai’s plight.
“It’s a variant called Ingeniouz Ork. The damn greenskin has the intelligence of a strategist and is capable of using faith-path methods. You must’ve experience the antimagic field outside, it was the Ingeniouz Ork’s method.” Klauss briefly elaborates.
“I see.” Sumire quickly understood why Radiant Desolation, Li Xiaobai’s team, was forced to enter a defensive siege. A greenskin horde is not too much of a problem as long as they do not reach critical mass. The problem appears when they do: when a certain amount of greenskins gather in one location, the radiation of each greenskins nurture each of every single one of them, supporting the birth of an Ork.
For the greenskins, quantity is quality.
Orks are inherently rank 1 lifeforms, they are simply the next phase of the greenskins lifecycle after hobgoblins. However, much like the difference between a rank 1 goblin and a rank 1 hobgoblin is contrast like day and night, a rank 1 Ork is far more dangerous than tens of hobs. Humans could accumulate cultivation foundations, consumables, martial arts, spells, artifacts and whatnot to increase their martial prowess, but greenskins evolved to achieve the same.
In other words, any Ork within a greenskin horde can be considered an elite unit-equivalent within a human army.
“So that’s why Li Xiaobai wanted Kenji’s strength to bait him out. Does he plan you to snipe him when the chance presents itself?”
“Das ist richtig. Kapitän Li Xiaobai’s lights will fuel my Brightlance Weaponry. I will use my divine blessing to amplify it. As long as Kapitän Li Xiaobai and Kenji manage to stop the Ork from moving, I’ll be able to assassinate it from afar.” He then signaled to his team member, a woman with dark brown skin, slender build, and curvaceous figure to come over. Her mage apparel was different compared to the kimono-based robe of Hartina Kingdom’s people. “Our strategist Dhara Natya will brief you about Li Xiaobai’s strategy.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
It’s obvious to everyone present that Dhara Natya is also a foreigner. “Pleased to meet you, Violet Sumire of Twin Helix, I’ve heard of your accomplishments far and wide. Your reputation precedes you.” When she moved, her long, curly, dark brown hair waved.
“Cut the crap.” Sumire cut her off. She’s not familiar with Dhara Natya as she should be a new member of Radiant Desolation, but there’s no time for pleasantries. With every passing moment the greenskins outside are shaving off Sumire’s kobold out of their crucial combat resources: stamina. “Get on with it.”
Fighting greenskins is a perilous situation. The tide of war could turn for the worse at any possible moment. One second Sumire’s army is easily slaughtering the greenskins, the next, she might find out that her army has exhausted themselves in the process. This is a situation that every experienced Hunters wanted to avoid, and is the motivation behind Li Xiaobai and Sumire’s sense of urgency.
“Understood!” Dhara nodded as she didn't mind Sumire’s rude words. “This fortress has a diameter of 100 meters, it is the product of my spell, supported by 4 other members of Radiant Desolation as well as our captain. As of now, captain Li Xiaobai is trying to bait out the Ork without caring about the resource expenditure. Naturally, the Ingeniouz Ork must've known that we are baiting him, but he’ll definitely jumped to the pitfall that we’ve prepared.”
Sumire nodded in understanding. “Is it because of Kenji's presence?”
“That’s right.”
The greenskins is a combat race. All their racial traits revolve around survival and combat. With a ‘strong’ bait like Kenji to fuel their insatiable hunger for battle, even if the Ork knows he is being pushed into a pitfall, he will be happy to jump. Unlike the ‘weak’ Radiant Desolation members whose military might relies on strategy, artifacts or spells, Kenji is a brute whose strength is off the charts. In a sense, the presence of a strong enemy like Kenji is the ‘nutrition’ that allowed the greenskin to evolve. Therefore, the Ork can’t resist his blood boiling when they see Kenji who has been slaughtering his kin through brute force.
“I thought so.” There’s no need for Sumire to think deeply, she understands greenskin’s nature rather comprehensively. “Then, there’s no need for me to strategize since your captain has already laid out the foundation. My request is that you allow some of the gretchens of goblins to pass through the mud-rock fortress. I want my recruits to get used to killing.”
“Understood.” Dhara quickly activates a minor earth-path method, allowing a portion of the fortress to change shape.
The hole that Katyusha, Shirogane, Kurogane, and Sakuya defended slowly expanded. With a cue from Sumire, they retreated inside, allowing the greenskin to flood like a tidal wave. Naturally, higher rank greenskins such as hobs or goblins which are too strong for the apprentice to fight are slaughtered by the official Hunters, while the weaker greenskins are being left aside for the apprentices to kill.
The new status-quo proceeded for fifteen minutes before Radiant Desolation team members received a telepathic message from their captain.
“Sumire, I have to go now.” Klauss, who’s watching the apprentice killing the greenskins above an elevated ground with the other members, reported.
“Hmmn.” With a nod from Sumire who oversees the entire situation, Klauss instantly activates one of the mods inside his body, [Sandevistan]. His entire body blurred as he gained insane speed acceleration. He instantly disappeared from Sumire’s side as he dived towards the power armor that held the orb. Before making contact with the back of the armor, it opened up, allowing him to seamlessly pilot it without delay.
As the lifeless armor churned to life, it put the orb which has been accumulating light into its chest. Mechanical contraptions parted ways to receive the orb like it was originally designed that way. Lines upon lines that wrapped the armor like electronic circuits which were previously unseen suddenly brightened a few tones with gold-white hue, the color of Li Xiaobai’s light. Glistening white-gold particles are produced by the opening of Klauss’ armor.
“Dhara!” He signaled.
“Understood!” The earth-path mage manipulates the earthen fortress, producing a hole and catapulting the power armor-clad Klauss into the skies of Morgen World. Yet, the moment it left the dome fortress, Klauss’ activated the optical camouflage of the armor, allowing it to hide from plain sight.
“What a showoff.” Down below, Sakuya, who has been taking care of the apprentices, saw how Klauss took off and whispered under her breath.
….
The sickening sound of bone breaking, flesh tearing, and skull exploding resounded in the background. In the fight between the Ork and Kenji, it was obvious that Kenji would win ten out of ten fights, but unfortunately, greenskins are considered as transformation-path lifeforms.
Although they do not ‘transform’ significantly in terms of shape or size like true shapeshifters, their genes are definitely adaptive.
“Fuck…” Kenji cursed as his right hand bent on the opposite side. The nanoms are rapidly repairing his muscle and tendons, so it will take some time before he could fight, but his foe wasn’t doing any better.
The Ork has its skull twisted three hundred sixty degrees, and its chest penetrated by a spear of light. Any other humanoid would’ve been deader than dead, but the ork simply straightened his skull back to where it was before clenching the spear of light, breaking it into motes. "Humie, youz iz propa strong, me 'ave a bit o' respect fer ya.” The ork spat blood, but his wounds are visibly healing even without healing methods being activated. The muscle and tendons broken from the previous exchange are quickly reconstructed even stronger than before.
“Can you stand up?” Li Xiaobai stood guard between Kenji and the ork, his body protected by light-path Mage Armor. The flashy nature of light-path made him look like a celestial knight draped in heavenly armor. Though, there are chinks and cracks in his defenses if one were to focus close enough.
Kenji scanned the rocky ground which was filled with greenskin corpses. He is looking for anything that can be used to gain advantage. In a state of combat, he has completely regained higher brain function but that doesn’t mean he became smarter. Since there’s literally nothing that could break this fragile balance, he decided to go risk it instead of prolonging the battle. “I’ll try to break his spine, you have to get ready. [Power Overwhelming]!”
Boom! His acceleration breaks the sound barrier, but the ork is no pushover.
“[Green iz da Strongest]!” The ork chanted a warcry as he accepted Kenji’s punch with his own. Both of their hands broke as they could not handle the raw, unadulterated brute force. Kenji was luckier since his hand merely bent on the opposite side, not exploding like the Ork’s, but their battle hasn't ended yet. With a twist of his waist, Kenji used his other hand to punch the greenskin’s stomach.
Apparently, the ork also has the same thought. He also twisted his waist to attack Kenji. Fortunately for the man, Li Xiaobai’s support arrived in the form of a light spear that went for the ork’s skull.
Contrary to Li Xiaobai’s expectation, the ork simply ignored his attack, allowing it to pierce his eye. When Kenji and the ork traded punches, his waist exploded. The force behind the attack is simply too strong that the shockwave did not allow Li Xiaobai who darted around the battlefield to capitalize the opening Kenji had created. The spearman was thrown away to the edge of the battlefield, his light-path Mage Armor broke into motes of lights, unable to deter the residual force.
Coughing blood, Li Xiaobai scanned the Ork and Kenji. ‘Fuck… if I got hit directly, I wouldn’t even have an intact corpse… Heck, not even Klauss’ power armor can withstand one hit from that.’ What he saw in his vision is a grim reminder of greenskins nature as a transformation-path lifeform.
Kenji’s attack was primitive, but the power behind it was no joke. His punch was able to pulverize the ork’s intestine, splattering its content to the outside world while breaking the spine, but that was what was supposed to happen. In reality, this ork’s rib cage was different compared to other greenskin. It doesn’t only have more segments than usual, but it is also a solid cage of interlocking plates that completely protects not only lungs and heart, but also all other organs.
The shockwave that sent Li Xiaobai flying was produced by Kenji’s attack being defended by the ork’s rib cage. Of course, it would be a lie if that attack couldn’t wound the ork at all. He was discombobulated as if Kenji had used another martial art.
Kenji grinned, barely suppressing a cough as he spoke under his breath, "Only the captain can withstand my [Flesh Tearing Bone Breaking Fist]." Despite his hand trembling from the exertion, Kenji watched as black, silvery nanoms worked feverishly to repair the gruesome wound on his body. The biomaterial net they formed knit together his torn flesh with precision, putting back his intestine where it belongs, but it was no match for the Ork's innate regenerative ability.
Kenji's low murmur served as a cue to Li Xiaobai to send a telepathic message to Klauss, who was cloaked in optical camouflage. Without delay, a bright golden-white beam of light cut through the air, striking the Ork's body from an unusual angle. In a swift motion, the laser decapitated the brute, ending its life in an instant.
“Phew!” Li Xiaobai weaved a sigh of relief after confirming the ork’s death. “Did you know that this fucking ork has precognition due to [Green iz Proppa Seers]? If not for you, we might not be able to kill it!”
Kenji slowly stood up, seeing the greenskins army turning disarray. “Spare me the idle chatter. We still have things to do, you can take a nap later.” He lunged at the closest greenskin group despite having one of his arms twisting in a weird angle and the wounds on his stomach had yet to completely heal.
“You’re goddamn right.” Li Xiaobai wiped the blood out of his mouth and followed suit. Any greenskin that they kill can be turned into nutrient potions. Therefore, it is no different than moneybags.