Novel Full Chapter 122: Starting The Orc Trial of Strength, Abyssal Slash
Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Starting The Orc Trial of Strength, Abyssal Slash
Now that he possessed [Supreme Strength Enhancement (S-Level)], Leon could physically feel the difference in his body.
It was not subtle. The moment the evolution completed, a surge of raw power flowed through his muscles, settling deep inside his arms and shoulders.
Every small movement felt lighter and heavier at the same time.
Lighter because his control had improved. Heavier because the strength behind each motion had multiplied.
If he were to fight Ghorak again in that moment, even without Emilia’s Strength Buff supporting him, he knew without a doubt that he would be able to match the orc lord head on.
He quickly opened his status panel and looked directly at the number he cared about most.
[Strength: 10,493 (+2,150 + 25,286)]
“Damn…”
He stared at it for several seconds.
The base value alone had already crossed ten thousand.
With equipment bonuses and the new two hundred percent increase from the S-Level sub-talent, the total value had skyrocketed to a ridiculous number.
It was no exaggeration to say that within his [Lower Domain], there was likely no one who could match him physically anymore.
Leon closed the panel slowly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
“And that means…” he muttered to himself.
He turned toward Emilia, who was currently checking her own panels and distributing her new points from leveling up.
“I’ll use the [Orc Lord Orb] now,” Leon said calmly.
Emilia looked up, curiosity in her eyes.
He briefly explained what the orb did, how it initiated the [Orc Trial of Strength], and how the reward depended entirely on performance.
Her eyes widened slightly as she listened.
“So it is basically a strength based ranking system created for native orcs,” she said thoughtfully.
“Exactly,” Leon replied. “And only the one who defeated Ghorak can enter.”
Emilia smiled faintly. “I am guessing I cannot go in with you.”
“Yeah,” Leon nodded. “It is single use. Only the one who defeated Ghorak is allowed to attempt the trial.”
“It’s fine,” she said with sparkling eyes. “Just make sure to get the best reward.”
“I will.”
Leon had no intention of wasting time.
The faster he completed this trial, the faster they could move forward toward the [Farlands] and the next stage of their growth.
He pulled the [Orc Lord Orb] out of his [Storage Space].
The orb glowed with a deep green hue, and within it a faint skull shaped silhouette floated ominously.
Before activating it, however, Leon paused and looked at Emilia.
“I just remembered something,” he said. “We never checked the [Elven Stronghold] for the ones who betrayed you.”
Emilia’s expression shifted slightly. Because unlike Leon, she had remembered that clearly.
“…Right,” she said quietly. “It is fine for now.”
Leon studied her face for a moment before nodding.
He only brought it up because, although those elves had not personally harmed him, they had attempted to kill Emilia.
In his previous life, they had succeeded.
Still, fate had twisted in an unexpected way. Without that betrayal, he and Emilia might never have met.
And she might not have awakened her potential the way she did.
Regardless, that was something for later. Right now, the trial mattered more.
Leon poured his mana into the orb.
It began glowing intensely, vibrating in his hand as a system panel appeared before him.
Ding.
[You are initiating the “Orc Trial of Strength.”]
[Warning: Human players are not recommended to participate due to their inferior physical strength.]
[Do note that death inside the trial is permanent.]
Leon let out a low chuckle.
“Fair warning,” he muttered.
For most players, that warning would be terrifying. For him, it was almost insulting.
[Do you still wish to proceed?]
[Yes] [Bring It]
Without hesitation, Leon selected [Bring It].
The orb shattered instantly, exploding into green fragments of light. His body began dissolving into particles as space twisted around him.
Fwoosh!
A few seconds later, Leon opened his eyes.
Ding.
[You have entered the “Orc Trial of Strength.”]
[This space is used by native orcs of the “Lower Domain” to test their physical power and grant rewards accordingly.]
[Other races (including orc players) may participate if they possess the orb.]
[This trial consists of two parts.]
[First Trial: Strength Measurement.]
Leon stood inside a stone chamber built from ancient gray blocks. The air felt heavy and still.
At the center of the room stood a massive crystal, towering above him like a pillar of translucent stone.
A new panel appeared.
[Strength Measurement: Physically attack the crystal with your maximum power. Your score will determine the difficulty of the second trial.]
Leon immediately understood.
The first part was simply a ranking system. Based on the output of his physical attack, he would receive a corresponding second trial.
If he wanted the best reward, he needed the highest possible score.
He glanced at the crystal and a grin slowly spread across his face.
“It says any kind of physical attack,” he murmured. “That means physical skills should count.”
His strongest physical skill was clearly [Shadow Slash]. It was currently Level 2.
Upgrading it to Level 3 required fifteen Skill Stones.
Leon checked his inventory.
[Skill Stones x25]
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
If he used fifteen stones here, he would delay upgrading [Celestial Hand], which he also wanted to evolve soon.
However, if he failed to get the best reward in this trial, the loss would be far greater.
After all, he could only attempt this trial once.
The decision did not take long. Leon pulled out fifteen [Skill Stones] and shattered them in his hand.
Ding.
[Which skill do you wish to upgrade?]
“Shadow Slash.”
Ding.
[Congratulations, you have upgraded “Shadow Slash (Legendary Lv.2)” to “Abyssal Slash (Legendary Lv.3).”]
“Name changed?” Leon raised an eyebrow.
He opened the skill description.
[Abyssal Slash (Legendary Lv.3): Blend into the shadows for up to 60 seconds, then strike with a powerful darkness infused attack. The abyss calls out, seeking your enemy’s head.]
The main difference was the duration increase from forty five seconds to sixty, along with the enhanced thematic effect.
Still, the power boost was what truly mattered.
Afterward, Leon allocated his eight hundred free attribute points entirely into [Strength].
The moment he confirmed the distribution, another wave of power flooded through his body.
His muscles tightened subtly. Now it was time.
Leon focused on the crystal.
Abyssal Slash!
His body vanished into the shadows instantly, blending seamlessly into the dim corners of the chamber.
For several seconds, the room remained silent.
Then, Leon emerged.
His body burst out of the darkness mid swing, the [Orc Lord Machete] cutting through the air with devastating force.
His S-Level [Supreme Strength Enhancement], his upgraded skill, and his accumulated bonuses all converged into a single attack.
SLASH!
The blade connected with the crystal. But instead of merely vibrating or cracking, it exploded.
The entire crystal shattered into countless fragments, blasting outward in a shockwave of light.
Leon blinked. He had expected a high score.
He had not expected complete destruction.
Ding!
[Crystal destroyed.]
[Strength output exceeds measurable range.]
[“Celestial” will now proceed to the hardest possible second trial.]
“…Damn.”
The chamber dissolved around him. Space twisted again.
When Leon opened his eyes, he found himself in another stone chamber that looked almost identical to the previous one.
The difference was obvious. There was no crystal in the center.
Instead, standing there motionless, was a massive golem.
It was easily over four meters tall, built from dense black stone with glowing red lines running through its body like veins of magma.
A panel appeared.
[Hardest Trial of Strength: Golem of Power.]
[Almost no orc has ever defeated this entity, you may surrender at any time.]
[Using anything other than physical attacks will result in immediate disqualification.]
Leon read the panel silently and dismissed it without hesitation.
He tightened his grip on the machete and stared at the towering golem.
The golem’s eyes ignited with crimson light as it slowly began to move.
Leon exhaled once, steady and calm. Then he stepped forward, ready to engage.