Odin had used the powers of illusion on the remaining orc rider and the orc champion. He made the former believe that he was chasing Odin while the orc champion believed the fleeing orc rider was Odin.

It was much more complicated than his previous uses of deception, but since this time he only focused on a single task he barely managed to pull it off.

‘Even though I can't use any illusion related abilities now, just the seven-dipper formation is enough to finish them off’ thought Odin as he looked at the orc caravan

There were four carts and about thirty-forty orcs but none of them were fighters.

‘Never thought it'd be this easy’

Odin wielded the axe in one hand while the array spun around him like a sickle of the death reaper.

There were no surprises in the fight. It would be more accurate to call it butchering instead of a fight.

The orcs were merely merchants and not warriors. Their battle powers were on the same level as those of an average adult human.

They screamed and fought miserably for their lives, all to no avail. Their blood died the land crimson as their heads and dismembered body parts flew in the air.

Unknown to Odin, he was getting used to killing and fighting. The boy who cried after his first kill and had emphasized with the orcs pain was no more.

Time was a very cruel thing. It had only been a month since his first fight but Odin had already become a seasoned warrior, at least in terms of temperament.

Due to the trauma he suffered as a kid and due to the lack of information, he became mentally damaged. However, ominira and the vast knowledge that came with it made Odin's mind into a blank paper once again.

He interacted with his surroundings and found the answers that he sought. He was like a kid getting to know the world for the first time.

He had the curiosity of the child, their energy to learn and their desire to explore. Despite that, he lacked something that a normal child would have.

He didn't have the innocence of a child nor did he have anyone to tell him what his right and wrong.

All he had was Ominira and the knowledge that came through it. He was subconsciously building his personality, his ideals, his values and most importantly, his will that will make him the man known as ODIN.

Things went smoothly and Odin destroyed the orcs carts.

[Quest: The Destroyer part 2]

[Destroy orc constructs: 5/5]

‘I've completed the mission but the fight is far from over,’ thought Odin as he sensed something.

As if to not distract him, ominira also didn't give any other message. Odin took a deep breath and sat on the wolf once again. He looked at the far horizon and there he saw him.

The orc champion was rushing at him with bloody fog surrounding both him and his ride.

‘What the-!’ cold sweat dropped down on his back as Odin looked at the information that ominira gave him.

[Level 20 Ironfang Orc Champion (Berserk!)]

[Level 12 wolf leader (Berserk!)]

Faced with the deaths of their subordinates and the humiliation that Odin caused, they wanted nothing more than to rip Odin to shreds at all costs.

Odin sensed that there was now a fundamental difference in them compared to before. They were strong previously, but that was just physical strength.

‘They feel different now, and it’s not just their physical appearance,’ thought Odin as he observed the approaching pair with sharp eyes.

Both the orc champion and the wolf leader carried with them a red-colored fog. It looked like bloody vapor and coupled with their now completely red eyes, it gave off a menacing aura. When they strode ahead it felt like everything in their surroundings, including the land, the air, and the sound itself was moving towards him

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

‘It's almost as if the entire world was crashing against me!’

Odin felt like he was a boat that stood in the path of a tsunami. No matter what he did he had no choice but to be swept away.

‘No…I just have to find an anchor in that case,’ thought Odin and he felt like a fog had been lifted from his mind.

His right eye flashed in the purple hew but unlike the previous times, there was movement in his left eye as well.

His left eye which held no power before, now flashed with a blue light. It was similar yet different from the one in his right eye.

‘It feels like world resonance, but it seems different on a fundamental level. Maybe it's related to the next realm,’ thought Odin as he too charged at the orc champion

He realized that the reason why his power was focused on his left eye was because of his habit.

‘I believe it's because I'm using ominira frequently, but what if I spread this flow of energy all around him?’

Odin tried to move the energy but he felt a resistance against it. It was so close to him yet he couldn't use it.

‘This feeling is similar… could it really be world essence?’

Odin was joyful and frustrated at the same time. He was glad that he was on the verge of being able to use world essence, that too with just about a month of practice but…

‘Damn! If even that freaking wolf can use world essence then why can't I?’

Odin was confused but he didn't have time to think further. The orc champion hurled the axe at him with fierce momentum.

All Odin could perceive was a blur of green light and the axe was at his neck already, clashing with his sword formation

‘Phew…That was close’

Adrenaline rushed through his veins as Odin parried blow after blow coming from both the orc champion and the wolf.

Odin danced on the stage of life and death as the clashing of metal and howls of the wolf acted as an orchestra.

Odin felt time passing by at a very low speed, as if the entire world had plunged into slow motion.

‘I can feel it, just a bit more and I'll break through,’ thought Odin as He gulped the sour blood down his throat.

Rrraaahhhhhh

Infuriated by the fact that a puny human could fight against him, the orc champion became even more berserk

Awwwoooollll

Not the one to be left behind by its owner, the wolf leader too fought with fervor. It bit and slashed without a care for its life.

Huff.. Huff.. faced with the unrelenting onslaught, Odin barely managed to hold on. He gasped for breath while his head felt like it was filled with lead.

His eyes became dizzy and he could no longer keep blood from flowing out from his orifices.

His nose and ears bled but still, he held on.

The orc champion looked at the human in front of him who was bleeding everywhere. Despite having an upper hand in combat so far, he didn't feel relieved at all.

As he looked at Odin's eyes, for the first time in this battle the orc felt genuine fear.

Grrrrr!

The wolf leader also sensed something with its beastly instincts and its fur stood on end.

Both of them increased their aggression without a care for their wounds after looking at Odin’s eyes.

At this point, Odin wasn't aware of his surroundings at all. All he could think about was how to block the trajectory of the axe and how to avoid the jaws of the wolf.

Slowly and subtly, a purple surge of energy surged again from his right eye.

It mixed with the preexisting energy that was flowing in his body and just like that, both the powers that lay dormant in Odin merged in a union.

[Mission: World Essence]

[Understand what ‘essence’ is and sense it with your perception]

[Recommended Level: 10]

[Congratulations! You have completed the mission “World Essence”]

[Note: You cannot receive the rewards and follow up missions in current state.]

‘I can feel it now, the very essence of the world itself’

He wasn't used to the new power, but like a dry sponge absorbing water, he copied the usage of world essence by fighting against the orc champion

‘In terms of adaptability, the wolf leader’s application of world essence is much better’

Although it was lacking in efficiency, it was much easier to understand than the method used by the orc champion.

Odin copied the wolf and in just a couple of breadths, a thin, thread-like blue energy formed in his heart.

It wasn't in the metaphysical form like before, it was a physical substance. The world essence formed in his heart and just like his blood, it passed through every part of his body.

Odin felt himself being cleaned with this essence. Each and every cell of his body was being purified and it gave him a sublime sense of satisfaction.

He wanted to relish in this sensation, but neither the orc champion nor the wolf leader were in the mood to allow that.

By now Odin was no longer at a disadvantage in this confrontation. He was evenly matched with them despite the two vs one situation.

‘It’s thanks to the eye of Veritas’

Just when the faint traces of the blue-colored world essence emerged, his right eye was also showing the signs of awakening.

‘But I can't control it like the world essence.’

It wasn't a big deal at this moment as even without Odin doing anything, the purple motes of energy still spread in his body.

It was still metaphysical unlike the world essence that had manifested physically. Despite that, the power contained within it was just as potent as the world essence.

As much as he wanted to ponder deeply about this, he was in no condition to do that as he was past the limits of his physical and mental exhaustion.

‘I should finish the fight or else I might faint at the critical moment,’ thought Odin as he channeled all the power he had into the seven-dipper formation to deal the final blow.

The orc and wolf were also on the brink of death. From the start of this battle they had used berserk skill which was taxing on their vitality.

Not to mention they had to deal with the small but continuous wounds inflicted by Odin throughout the skill’s duration. As a consequence of that, they now had had severe blood loss.

*Rrraaaahhhh*

*Awwwoooo*

The orc champion and his ride screamed simultaneously, and Odin felt his control over the world essence weaken.