'Zultan!!'
I couldn't help but shiver in place. As it was said during the game's release, the NPCs were as real as any other real people. So the amount of trauma and happiness they could bring was no lesser than humans. In fact, it was even greater since they were residents of this fantasy world instead of the plain earth.
And one of the biggest examples of this to Shura was Zultan, prince of the southern tribe's orcs. Not only was he fearsome in height and body, but he was also just as brutal in personality. Wickedness was his second nature, and he liked harassing people till they begged for mercy or to be killed.
'H-he's really here. No wonder there were rumours even in a small town like Azler. How the heck did the king even allow him to enter the Malta forest. So close to the human territory and not just any territory but the royal capital! Has he gone senile?'
I couldn't help but want to curse the damned king. To let such a plague come so near to the capital city was nothing but suicide.
Although much of it was due to my own personal resentment, there was also a big truth backing it up. Zultan was a crazy monster. Not in the literal sense, but more in the human sense, that just made it scarier.
He was an orc with higher intelligence and strength than most of the other orcs.
I suddenly got a flashback of the last time I was caught by him. It was horrific. He caught me when I had gone out to hunt some monsters in level 90s as I had stopped gaining experience from lower level monsters.
I had entered the southern forest of the Crisedia kingdom for the first and last time back then. It was for a quest that was to kill a few orcs in level 90s to gain two whole levels.
Gaining two levels was a big thing for me back then. As leveling up becomes as hard as seeing a bald man with hair after 80 levels.
I happily accepted the quest. That was around the time when I had left the guild I was formerly from and had decided to never ever join a guild again. Since it was hard to level up alone, quests that gave level rewards were my sole solace.
Back then, Zultan, that sadistic bastard, had caught me after I had only killed just one orc. I never expected an orc to be above level 100. As level hundred was a big cap. After breaking through level hundred, one's powers can't be compared to a player even on level 99. That one level changed the whole structure of stats and increased the amount of offence, defence, HP, Mana, etc., one had.
And Zultan was level 126 back then. It was very unexpected. Instead of killing me straight out, he took out my nails, pulled out my hair, snatched out my teeth, and laughed like a maniac while doing all that. He ensured that I didn't die from these injuries and just suffered pain.
I wasn't the only player caught by him. He would catch and torture players just like that. And since he was a rare NPC, he had some sort of skill where logging out wasn't an option to run from danger.
Not only him but many NPCs or events would also make you unable to log out unless you are dead. And not being able to log out when you most needed it was utter torture. Although there was a forced log-out button for emergencies, it came with big penalties, which nobody wanted to go through.
'It's time to retreat. You held out well, soldiers. But I can't risk my life to an enemy like that when I know, I have no chances of survival.'
I gave a short prayer in my head for the players currently caught by Zultan and his gang of Orcs. Most of these were girls, and there were one or two boys who were looking at everything with bloodied and beat-up bodies, their eyes crying from pain.
'Wait, that other guy got one of his eyes taken out. RIP.'
The scene in front of me was nothing short of gore, which was one reason why children below the age of sixteen weren't allowed in the game. The same went for people with conditions that made it hard for them to bear gore/violence scenes.
There was no way to cheat the game's biological sensors, so only people above 16 years of age could play it, and only people above 21 years of age were allowed to access the adult contents of the game.
After I was done offering my payers of peace to the deceased— soon to be deceased, I sneakily turned around.
"Fight me, you damned monsters! How dare you harass innocent people!"
As soon as I turned around, I saw a guy with red hair and a blindingly shiny face (Just for me) shouting from right in front of me. He wore decent armour, and his polished silver sword was pointed at the Orcs having fun torturing the people.
'Man, just a moment ago, there was no one in the jungle, and now, there are so many people. Some are already dying, and someone is clearly ready to replace them. At least let me through fucker! I don't wanna get caught with you.'
I couldn't help but curse the redhead loudly inside my head. Why did he want to drag me with him if he was so eager to die?
"Lord, two moles are trying to sneak on us!"
One of the orcs shouted as everyone's attention shifted at the redhead and eventually at me.
"You guys look so handsome today, and it's such wonderful weather. H-haha. I am not with this guy, I am no messiah of justice. Okay, I'll take my leave."
I said with my hands above my head as I turned around to leave peacefully.
"Brother, how can you turn your back in front of people in need. Show your sword and march forward! We will cleanse these evil beings from existence!"
A shiver ran down my spine as I cringed hard. This redhead was next level…
Even I like to play the eighth-grader sometimes but to this extent… He almost seems like a righteous cultivator from an eastern-fantasy novel.
"Turn around, you maggot."
The orc behind me shouted, with his crude sword pointing at my back.
"Hehe… Why are you trying to drag me with you, bro? Don't make a scene and tell them I am not with you."
I said in a low voice, trying to convey my message and get out unscathed. Of course, if the orcs saw my face, then I was dead for sure.
"What are you saying, brother? Haven't you come to gallantly save your brothers and sisters in their time of distress? Don't jest and come with me. Let us reignite the fire of life in their eyes and let these orcs taste the dirt of defeat."
Multiple jolts of shiver danced throughout my body. I can't deal with a person who has no common sense!
Just when I had used [Camouflage] to sneak away, the redhead's sword scraped my hand, cancelling my skill. Then, Zultan's voice roared out from behind me.
"That bastard is trying to sneak away, can't you see it, Gomchul? Fucking keep an eye on your preys."
The orc behind me, namely Gomchul, became indignant after getting shouted at by his prince. Then, running to me, he held me by my shoulder and threw me towards Zultan.
"This was the sneakier one, and the other one is dumb."
Gomchul said as he was about to go and take care of the redhead. Then, he suddenly turned around and looked at my face.
'Fuck, no.'
"Sir Lord, doesn't his face look a bit familiar?"
Gomchul said as he tried to search my face in his rusty library for a head. Zultan, who heard it, finally looked at my face, his complexion getting darker and redder with every second as soon as he saw my face. He threw the large jug of beer that he had in his hands as he roared.
"It's this son of a banshee! The fucking guy who broke my precious teeth, rendering me unable for the throne!! If anyone dares to touch him, I will skin them alive! This guy is my prey, MINE!"
Zultan kicked the ground as he stood up from the boulder he was sitting in. Then, taking his large, pointy club in his hand, he roared all over my face, his stinky breath hitting my nostrils.
In my head, I immediately brought up the system screen. I had been saving up the stat points accumulated from the continuous level-ups, and during the fight with the bandit leader, I had completely forgotten about it.
This was an enemy that I absolutely couldn't face. The level gap was….
'What's his level now?'
Since he was level 126 back then, a lot of game time had passed since then. What type of level did he have now?
[Orc Prince -Zultan]
[Level - 141]
[HP - 1,30,153/1,30,153]
'I should stop looking at my enemies' levels.'
Since it had come to this, I had to give it my best, too, just to survive.
[ Name: Shura
Level: 34 (7,784,193/39,680,000)
Jobs: Night Alchemist
Class: Dulwak's Heir
*The probability of dealing additional damage while hitting a weak spot has increased.
*All blade-type items can be equipped with some penalty if level requirements aren't met.
*Magic and Physical power can be used simultaneously.
*Grants a special job (Night Alchemist)
Titles - (Legend)
*Resistance from all types of status conditions.
*NPCs will easily recognize you.
*A rebirth after every death.
Health: 2553/2533. Mana: 863/863.
Physical Attack: 1802
Magic Attack: 574
Physical Defence: 317
Magic Defence: 260
Stats
Strength: 132
Intelligence: 70
Vitality: 85
Agility: 117
Dexterity: 34
Special Stats
Luck: 11
Perseverance: 3
Sharpness: 4
Sensitivity: 2
Dignity: 2
Undying: 1
Insight: 2
Heroic: 1
Divinity: 1
Remaining Stat Points: 0]
Well, the stats were looking good. But only for someone less than level 100.
Zultan's thorny club hit my face before I could respond, making a complete mess out of my face in just one stroke.
A painful feeling struck my face as I tried to adjust my dislocated jaw.
[You've suffered 1789 damage.]
[A critical strike has been dealt!]
[You have been stunned for 2 seconds!]
[Status conditions don't work on a legend. You have successfully resisted the 'Stun' effect.]
...
//DreamNote//
Bonus chapter is being prepared, please vote with power stones :)