Interlude 1

Red....

That’s all I can see right now.

400 Orcs....

That’s how many he kills.

10 minutes...

That’s how long he took to massacre us. I can’t shake this feeling that if he is serious, it won’t even take a minute to do it.

I have heard many stories from other warriors, boasting about the war they’ve fought, the battle they’ve survived and the enemies they’ve slain, but it seems all of that means so little in front of him.

It was like a dream... A nightmare.

It was just an hour ago when the chief came back to the village ordering all the warriors to get ready for battle.

The fact that we need to mobilize all the warriors like this is usually to counter the human battalion that never seems to end.

It seems like the human is trying to meet the Lake guardian in the forest, rumored to give a blessing, that can increase their affinity in water magic.

Indeed, there is a Lake guardian at the lake in the forest. I’ve met one. We’ve met one. To be exact, all the monsters in the forest have met the guardian.

The guardian is said to be at the top of the food pyramid. You must be wondering how an Orc like me can know all this difficult stuff, you must thank my friend the King of the Forest. He taught me many things and not to be exaggerating but I’m the third smartest creature in this forest after the guardian and the King.

Back to the story, we have pledged loyalty to the guardian, but the rule in the wilderness is different. We only pledge loyalty to someone we acknowledge. The loyalty only stands if the one pledged to is stronger than the one pledging.

Unlike human who bends other people with money, we simply brought them to their knees by force.

So I don’t understand why some of the humans babbling about how we dare to attack them just because they are nobles.

In fact, what is a noble? 

Even the King seems vague on this matter. He just said

“If you see a human with the shiniest and luxurious wear. That’s most probably a noble.”

It seems like a half baked wisdom, but usually the nobles will just announce themselves with an arrogant attitude. So it was never hard to find them.

Still, noble or not, when we overrun their army, they can only fall and be made a plaything by the others. For a he-human they usually be split into two, but the she-human... Their ending is not that beautiful.

The previous Chief got his head smash by the King when he goes overboard with the mating. If I have a say in it, I don’t think what the Chief have done is mating.  

It seems that the new chief is a little bit better. 

“Don’t get your hopes high my friend. We’re a beast, we will naturally follow our instinct.”

What the King said. 

I agree to the King. The new Chief albeit his power and better nature, still think with his d*ck. That’s what I conclude when I heard what the Chief spoke towards the intruder.

“I do this to gain the trust of the guardian before I break her, in many ways?” (Warchief)

Stupid.....

The new chief is stupid.

Didn’t he sees at what happen when other overconfident monster challenge the guardian? 

With his lust bursting out in the open like that, I don’t think that the guardian will let him go in one piece.

In a worst possibility she can wipe out our entire village.

I cannot allow that to happen. 

Rather than let the guardian kill him and punish us for his misconduct, its better if I stop him 

I’m not boasting, but I have my own share of battle and achievement. I was one of the chief candidate back then before I step down. I don’t like commanding others, what I like is to lose myself in rage on the battlefield.

I’ll get rid of him after we’ve deal with the intruder.

Talking about the intruder, It seems like it was just a dwa-... Boy?

At first I thought he was a dwarf, but when I saw the thin sword he’s carrying I scratch the thought. No dwarf will use such puny sword, they always boast about their strength and carried a two handed weapon..

What is this boy doing in the middle of this forest. What’s more is most intruder doesn’t get this far. They can’t even get past one fifth of the forest. 

From what the King told me Torgan forest is famous for its wild and high rank monster. So there is less excavating and exploring, but that also means the forest is an untouched treasure. So the human who enters and perish alongside it never dwindle, caused by their own greed and selfishness 

The fact that this boy, if it can be called a boy, have reached here sent shivers to my spine.

It seems that he understand the Orc’s language seeing as he is conversing with the chief and he replies back in a human language, Not many that knows the human language, not even the chief is fluent in it, but it seems like the sarcasm didn’t miss from his ears. 

Getting angry, I can see the immatureness of the chief who swing his mace just by being provoked by this kid.

Speaking of the kid, how strong can one be to venture out this far into the forest alone. I was quite skeptical if he’s alone, but I have confirmed it that nobody is nearby. 

Orcs even though inferior to the wolf, have a keen smelling sense, but I didn’t smell anything in the vicinity except for us Orcs...

Wait....

I try sniffing the air again. Not satisfied with the result, I move a little bit closer towards the intruder.

*Snif*Snif*

None...

There is no smell..

The boy doesn’t have a smell.

“We can tell much about a human by their smell”

I remembered the King told me such.

He told me many things such as about a human that reeks of sweat.

A human that reeks of blood

A human that reeks of this so called ‘perfume’

He even taught me how to distinguish lies and many other human personalities such as greed and lust just by their smell

One day, I asked him with the intention to joke.

“What if there is no smell?”

The King just stood there staring at me in the eyes and said

“Then... Run, as fast as you can”

I didn’t comprehend what the King meant at that time. I didn’t know that I will encounter such existence, so I didn’t take seriously about the warning from the King.

My heart started to beat faster, against this unknown variable I rather not be on their bad side without reason, but there as I thought that, the chief who couldn’t take the insult any longer smashed his mace down towards the boy.

The distance from me and the boy is too far for me to stop the attack. I can only wait and see as the mace swings towards the boy.

We’re dead aren’t we?

That’s what I thought when I see him block the attack and cut the head of the chief with ease.

This is not human, no way a human can kill hundreds of us in a mere minute. Almost half of our number has fallen.

“Hero”

The word came as if natural to my mouth. An embodiment of power and fear for us monster and demon. An existence that cannot be comprehended by normal beings. 

After that it was all hazy as I enter my rage mode and attack following my instinct. What I remember is being thrown towards the tree and watching the Orcs blow up. I close my eyes, waiting for my time to end, but it didn’t come.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Red....

That’s what all I can see right now.

400 Orcs....

That’s how many he kills.

10 minutes...

That’s how long he took to massacre us.

As fast as the forest had been painted red, it disappears as fast too.

A black hole just appears out of nowhere and suck all the blood and body parts in. Even the blood splattered on my body was sucked off

What magic is the boy using?

I cannot feel the activation of magic or the gathering of mana. It just happens instantaneously. 

He didn’t even chant.

Didn’t chant?!

The only other person who I know can do that is the guardian.

The King said that it is because, one can only use chant-less magic after they have mastered and understand their own magic.

“Run, as fast as you can”

The King’s advice resound in my head.

I must get out of here! 

I thought to myself, but as if the gods are mocking at me, the bushes at my side make a sound when I’m trying to stand up.

The boy notices me and started walking towards me. I can feel my blood draining from my face. Under this supreme power I can only resign my fate in his hand. 

Is this my end?

The thought spinning around my mind a few times before I faced the boy who is now standing in front of me.

He just stood there as if sizing me, and I didn’t dare to avert my gaze.

His black pupil looks crystal clear as if looking at the night star, but somehow it looks empty.

There is no rage, disgust, killing intent, desire nor light. In fact, I cannot sense any emotion either.

It’s as if he is a monster that only knows how to kill, and he knows and admit it himself.

We locked gazes for quite some time, until he starts the conversation.

“So....”

*Shudder*

Just a single word, and my mind go haywire.

The clear and dignified voice came out from his mouth, deciding my verdict to be, clearly shaken my soul.

“Tell me why you are here again?”

The question that came out from his mouth.

“I.... I... “

My head is in confusion, fear and helplessness doesn’t help to ease my speech and I only end up stuttering. 

“Let me change my question. Who send you here?”

The boy is not offended by my action and only take it as a natural thing to feel fear about him.

I collected myself and told myself to be calm.

“We... we- were sent here by the lake guardian”

Despite my attempt to remain collected, I still fail to control my fear. This is making me feel disappointed in myself.

The boy just stands there after I answer his question.  

“Are you disappointed in yourself?”

The boy asks.

“Your attack did not connect, your weapon rendered useless, your formation is broken”

I can only grip my hand as the boy condemning me. I don’t dare to refute as what he said is the truth. 

“Aren’t you disappointed in yourself”

The boy whisper to my ears. 

I do not know since when he got so close, but I can see a smirk forming from his mouth.

When being condemned this much, even I, will lose it. 

*Boom*

I slam my fist onto the ground. The crater of the impact stop near the boy’s feet. 

“How can I not be disappointed with myself!”

*Boom*

“400 orcs fall by your hand. My brothers that take oath to look after each other, being kill in front of me, but what disappointed me the most is how you take me for a fool, yet you did not kill me I rather be the one to die than the one left to live.”

*Boooomm*Crakkkkk*

The next feeling I have is flying away from the boy and broken some of the trees in the way until I fall down. 

*cough*cough*

Blood came out from my mouth. Some of my ribs broke and puncture my lung. I can only laugh at my fate. I was the one asking for death, now I’m nearing it.

“So, you are disappointed to be played with. Then what can you do?”

I cannot answer his question. In fact, my abilities to think is clouded by the pain.

“Will dying help you from the humiliation?”

I see.... He is trying to help me to stand up on my own.

“Then what do you suppose I do?”

A smirk forming in the corner of his mouth again

“Rise up! As of now, you will be known as Ryoku. Stand up strongly like the meaning of your name.”

Light...

An explosion of light happens as I feel a surge of mana entering me.

The light is so bright, but my eyes didn’t hurt from it. The mana that have entered circulating inside me. It destroys and reform every inch my body.

I have never felt pain as much as this nor will I want to feel it again.

I can feel my body structure changing, as if going through an evolution.

I almost fainted because of the pain, but endure it until the light envelopes me.

...

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.................

.......................

*Kick*Kick*

I can feel someone kicking my feet.

“Oii, wake up”

A voice waking me up. A clear voice with a hint of annoyance asking me to wake up.

If possible I would love to spend some more time to rest as I can feel sharp pain from all over my body.

“Well, it seems like you died. As a passerby I should dismembered the body parts and feed the wolves nearby.”

I sprang up into action. No pain can stop me from getting up, but what does passerby have to do with a dead orc body and why do you even need to dismember me and feed it to the wolf I cannot stop myself from retorting in my head.

“As a prideful warrior of the orc such things will not kill me”

I said while enduring the pain.

“Oh you really got up. Don’t you know you shouldn’t move much after going through that?”

I’m going to kill him

The first thing that came to my mind.

The boy is now resting on top of the fallen tree while holding his laughter. If my gaze can kill him, I’m sure he’s already dead by now.

“You f*cking demon, $%^T&*^&%% %$%^^&%^#$ %$#$^%^&”

I keep cursing him, but every time I open my mouth, or even the simplest movement will hurt me. 

“Does it hurt?”

This cheeky bastard, I’ll real-

I thought he is just messing with me, but seeing his serious expression I stop.

“Does it hurt you to be named by me? Someone who kills your friends, allies and chief.”

I forgot, despite all of that I was just given a name, Ryoku. What an extravagant name.

Will I live up to my name?

I look at myself, I have a black elastic skin. Even though its soft to the touch, I know normal weapon can’t hurt me anymore. My nails and hair are silver in colour, my height is lower as my point of view is lower. Anything other than that needs to wait as I can’t move freely for now, but what changes the most is my strength.

I can the feel raw power raging inside of me waiting to be unleashed. I have always been craving for power, but why does when I attain it, I feel empty. 

Now what?

What does my strength stand for?

What should I even do with this strength?  

Will I become one of those beings that brings chaos?

I was in a state of panic when I heard a laugh.

“Hahahahaha.... There’s no need for you to feel the burden of your power yet. Your existence cannot compare to those of higher beings yet, but remember, In the future, some will despise you, while some will admire you, some will hunt you, while some will recruit you. You will choose your own destiny and walk through the path you choose. If you’re afraid of making the wrong choice then don’t be. There’s no such thing as wrong or right choice, there’s only the choice you choose, or the choices forced on you.”

This dem- *cough*cough* I mean boy, even though looks young, but have knowledge and power surpassing those that I know. 

What or who are you?

The question that has been playing through my mind. I have a feeling even if asked, the boy will skillfully dodges the question.

“Catch”

He said while throwing something to me. The pain has subsided a little bit, so I can at least move my hand to catch the thing thrown out.

After catching it clumsily, I examine the thing, which shockingly is my axe that I use to attack him just now.

......

...........

...............

........................

There’s something fishy here. All the other weapon the generals used is either bounce off far away or shattered by his skill, and here we are, my weapon as if knowing his owner will not die.

“I feel like I just got cheated by a demon who ask me to sign a contract with him”

I said to him.

“What are you talking about, there’s no such thing”

The boy smiles radiantly. 

Lying

Lyiiiiingg

Lyiiiiiiinnngggggg

He is making the face of a liers. He purposely does that to get to me, I knew itttttt This chibi demon. I will definitely smack you good one day.

“... By the way, who is or what is the Lake guardian?”

He changes the topic just for his convenience. Calm down Ryoku, you have a name now, act dignified, dignified.

“The lake guardian is actually an U*****” (Avoiding spoiler) 

His mouth forms a smirk, and believe me, anybody seeing this can know that this chibi demon is planning something. 

I don’t know what he’s planning, but it’s best to avoid the lake for this week.

Things got awkwardly quiet as the boy gets lost in thought. The seriousness of his face kept me from making sound to give him a piece of mind.

“I have a confession to make”

The boy said his hand slowly creeping to his hood and open it. Black, lustrous hair came out from the hood. With a face that can be said handsome, I don’t really know human standard, but I guess it’s nice to see.... I’m STRAIGHTTTT I shout in my mind.

“You ask me, why I did not kill you.”

I gulped, I’m actually afraid to know the reason why he didn’t kill me. 

“Its not that I did not kill you.... I failed to kill you. My control over the magic lost before I hit you and reconnect after throwing you away.”

I fall into silence. 

“When I tried to kill you after that, I have already lost my mood. You remind me of someone. An acquaintance, one that I deeply regret not helping. Maybe me helping you is just a way to a-”

*Boom*

“You talk too much. I care less as to why you’re helping me, but I’m grateful for that. I will always be in your debt. My life is yours.”

*crack*crack*

Sound of cracking hand echoed through the vicinity

“Maybe I should take that life of your now ehh.”

A body raise from the rubble after being kicked quite hard. His eyes like a predator searching for his prey but it cannot be found anywhere.  

“COME BACK AND FIGHT, YOU F*CKER!!! WHERE ARE YOUR PRIDE NOWWWWW!. ”

...

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I can only laugh hearing his shout. I will repay what you did for me one day, but there’s no pride in dying....

Hahahaha, even in the end he teaches me something new. I will wait for the day you come for me my master.

Maybe at that time you will talk to me starting from at least your name. Hahahaha