Chapter 482 - 481: The Orc’s Close Guard

Chapter 482: Chapter 481: The Orc’s Close Guard

Everyone knew legs couldn’t outrun Magic.

Seeing this, the Orcs held their shield wall steady, planning to weather the attack.

But Kase, who was already prepared with his Longbow, loosed an [Impact Shot] just as the Magic was unleashed. The Arrow struck the Wooden Shield at the center of the shield formation an instant sooner.

With a muffled THUD, the impact knocked the shield aside. Although it didn’t knock down the Orc behind it, the blow tore an opening in their solid shield wall.

A fireball and an Acidic Liquid Ball exploded right in the gap, splashing a mixture of bursting flames and deadly acid everywhere.

Billows of white steam instantly erupted with a SIZZLING sound.

The acrid white smoke filled the tent. Where the acid touched the ground, it began to dissolve at a visible rate. The Orc Close Guards were in a similarly wretched state, but even so, they didn’t let out a single cry of pain.

"Great shot, Kase."

Kase grumbled, "This arrow cost two Silver Coins. Damn right it was a good shot!"

"Colin, more Orcs are coming from outside!" Dorn shouted. "These guys must have had a way to communicate with their people!"

"Orelia and I can’t hold back this many of them!" Albert shouted, holding up his Shield. He looked completely out of his element, like an actor who had wandered onto the wrong set.

Colin glanced back and saw the Dire Wolf Knights from earlier charging down the small path outside the tent.

Just then, however, Colin noticed the Orc Chief through the white smoke inside the tent. He was using his Battle Axe to slash a hole in the tent wall, planning to escape through the opening he’d cut.

’Damn it. This Orc is surprisingly "resourceful."’

"Kase, Dorn, with me! Ale and Orelia, provide support when you see an opening! Mog and Albert, hold this position!" Colin shouted.

The next moment, the silver mist of [Misty Step] enveloped him, and in a flash, he appeared behind the Orc Chief.

The creature’s reactions were incredibly fast. He immediately swung his Axe in a backhanded slash.

Colin drew [Burning Blood] and barely blocked the horizontal slash, the tip of his sword not even fully clear of its sheath.

The Orc Chief pulled back his Axe and smashed a fist into Colin’s shoulder.

It felt like he’d been hit squarely by a warhammer. Colin staggered, nearly knocked to the ground.

The Orc Chief seized the opportunity to snatch up a Round Shield that was leaning against the tent.

Meanwhile, the Orc Shaman at the rear began Casting again.

Colin retaliated with [Counterspell].

The Magic Net around the Shaman instantly dispersed. Colin had strangled the uncast Magic in its cradle.

Immediately after, a flash of white light erupted in front of the Orc Shaman.

A waist-high figure teleported in front of the Orc—it was Dorn, who wielded Spiritual Energy. Kase, having entered a [Frenzy], also charged forward from the side.

At that moment, the Orc Close Guards, who had been dazed by the Magic, finally snapped out of it.

Their equipment was covered in scorch marks and acid burns. Though it looked like a total wreck, it was still barely functional.

These wounded Close Guards split up; three charged toward Kase, and two toward Dorn.

At the rear, the formation was just as Colin had ordered: Mog and Albert held the entrance, while Orelia and Ale were ready to provide support with their Magic.

Colin faced the Orc Chief before him.

The creature held an Axe in one hand and a Shield in the other, showing no intention of pressing the attack.

Colin swung his blade.

This time, he didn’t need any Spellcasting. The moment he swung, the blade erupted in violent Flame.

With a CLANG, [Burning Blood], empowered by [Emerald Flame Sword], bit into the edge of the Chief’s Shield. The residual Magic Energy swirled around the blade under Colin’s control, continuing to aid its Caster.

The Orc Chief didn’t counterattack. Instead, he swung his Axe and used the hook beneath the Axe Blade to catch Colin’s sword. Then, with both hands, he began to yank it back and forth, trying to wrench the weapon from his opponent’s grasp.

Colin gripped the hilt for dear life, getting flung back and forth like a rag doll.

And this was despite Colin standing nearly six feet tall and wearing a set of Half-plate Armor.

All that weight was like a child’s toy to the Orc Chief, a testament to the terrifying physical Power of these creatures.

While locked in a stalemate with Colin, the Orc Chief barked an order to the nearby Close Guard.

Out of the corner of his eye, Colin saw a red Magic Radiance flash across the Close Guards. The Orcs, already in a state of [Frenzy], grew even more robust, their charging Speed increasing at a visible rate.

The three Close Guards charged Kase from three different directions.

Kase swung his Giant Axe, smashing the Axe Blade into one of the Orc’s Shields. But the oaken Round Shield didn’t splinter. Instead, it trapped the Giant Axe, holding it fast.

The other two Orcs rushed in, boxing Kase in with their Shields and pressing them firmly against his body.

Wielding his Giant Axe, Kase was like a man thrown into a narrow alley; the cramped space made it impossible for him to even pull his arms free.

With their opponent trapped, the Close Guards began to strike, swinging their Axe Blades through the gaps between the Shields.

Bright red blood gushed from the gaps between the Shields. Kase was in a very bad spot.

The Orcs facing Dorn tried the same tactic, attempting to corner the Dwarf with the help of the staff-wielding Shaman. However, the Dwarf was quite nimble and a small target, so he wasn’t likely to be caught anytime soon.

Colin thrust his palm toward the Orc Chief and chanted a Spell. A blast of searing Flame from [Burning Hand] erupted from his hand, engulfing the Chief’s towering body.

Seeing that he couldn’t wrest the weapon away, the Chief simply lifted his opponent high into the air and slammed him violently to the ground.

Their positions reversed, the Axe Blade—still hooked on [Burning Blood]—was now pressed against Colin’s Chest Armor.

The Chief bore down with all his might. Colin heard the grinding of the Axe Blade against his Chest Armor and felt the air being slowly squeezed from his lungs.

’After this, I need to learn some single-target Magic. The Damage from these Range Magic spells is practically useless against such a powerful enemy!’

Colin started Casting again.

A silver mist enveloped him, teleporting him directly above his opponent.

His blade swung through the air in a fiery arc, smashing down on the Orc’s iron-plated pauldron and erupting in a brilliant spray of sparks.

The blade, enhanced by the [Emerald Flame Sword], sliced clean through the metal plate embedded in the Beast Hide and sank into the Orc Chief’s shoulder.

The Orc Chief spun around with an elbow strike.

Unable to dodge in time, Colin was sent crashing to the ground.

Just as his opponent was about to move in and finish him with an Axe, three golden Scorching Rays shot in from the side, making the Orc Chief stagger.

"ROAR!"

Several angry roars came from the side as a number of Orc Warriors crawled out of the gap the Orc Chief had just cut in the tent. Behind them followed huge, black-furred Dire Wolves.