Chapter 21: Battle with the Orcs - Part 2
Hiding in a place overlooking the orc village.
The orcs skillfully hide their village among the forest trees and expand it underground.
It is very difficult to discover them, and by the time you notice, it is often already too late, and the village has grown significantly.
The village I discovered this time seems to have just begun construction, as most of the orcs are still on the surface.
Although I can't hear their voices, it is clear that they are generally excited.
They are probably eager to taste the kidnapped women as soon as possible. Judging from this situation, there seems to be some time until they realize that a squad is missing.
A telepathic message comes from Hulk and the others who are infiltrating the village. It's very convenient because there's no need to speak out loud.
"Master, there are about 50 women gathered here."
(50 people... More than I thought.)
The women are being confined in one of the underground cellars. They probably plan to move them once the underground part of the village is completed.
Even if we rescue them now, we won't be able to protect them against overwhelming numbers. There's no choice but to steadily reduce the enemy's numbers.
I'll have Hulk and the others continue with assassinations inside the village, while we crush the returning squad near the entrance of the village. By the time the sun sets, we will successfully reduce the total number of orcs to less than 200.
The interior of the village has become noisy. It seems that the assassinated bodies have been discovered. It's almost reaching the limit to reduce their numbers without being noticed.
Let's gather everyone temporarily and summon them again for a level update. Five High Orcs, one Orc, and one Horned Rabbit, totaling seven. Although the level is only up to 50, they are a small but elite group.
The remaining challenge is how to create a numerically advantageous situation against the monster called Orc General...
Fortunately, the enemy is unaware of our trump cards. We lure them into the forest with false reports of Shurtark discovering the enemy and keep beating them together. We repeat this many times. 170 remaining.
Summon them again, and everyone's level becomes 53.
"Master, the Orc General has started moving."
"They've come! They're faster than I thought. I wanted to shave off a bit more, but can't be helped."
I gather the summoned beasts and give instructions.
"I'll deal with the Orc General. You guys defeat the other orcs and help me level up. The longer it takes, the stronger I'll become."
Of course, in theory, that's how it should work, but I don't know if the enemy will allow me to buy time, and if it seems impossible to win, I'll be sorry, but I plan to stall with the summoned beasts and escape.
However, something was strange. The orcs were moving in a different direction.
There was a loud explosion, and the orcs were blown away.
(Magic? Is someone fighting?)
I hurried to the location of the explosion. As a precaution, Stark had sent the orcs to hunt in another area.
I don't know who the enemy is, but it would be troublesome if they were mistaken for enemies.
Amidst the tremendous surge of magical power, faint sounds like a song could be heard.
"I have memorized the language of spirits."
"I have memorized spirit magic (wind)."
The one fighting in the distance must be a spirit mage.
Before the orcs could even scream, they were sliced into pieces and died.
(Amazing... So this is spirit magic.)
However, in the next moment, a roar and pressure that shook the earth assaulted us.
"I have memorized intimidation."
[Intimidation: Dulls the movements of any target. Temporarily seals the movements of enemies below one's level.]
"I have memorized command."
[Command: Increases the abilities of subordinates by 50%.]
Suddenly, the movements of the spirit mage became sluggish, and the movements of the orcs improved.
Still, the spirit mage continued to defeat the orcs with magic, but the orc general threw a huge rock.
(Damn, I won't make it in time...)
I jumped in to assist the spirit mage.
***
(Finally caught up...)
When I returned to my hometown, it had already been destroyed by the orc army, and the surviving women had all been taken away by the orcs.
I immediately started tracking them and rescued my comrades from the orc settlement, but I couldn't find my twin sister. My sister, who was loved by the same spirit as me, fought to protect the village until the end and seems to have exhausted her strength.
According to those who were captured with us, my sister was taken away by the orc general.
As twin sisters blessed by the spirits, the orcs couldn't directly harm us, but since we didn't know what they would do, we had to help as soon as possible. I know that my sister is still alive.
Using the connection with my sister as a clue, I continued to chase the orcs and finally caught up. I will save you now, Sarah.
Fortunately, the orc settlement was strangely chaotic, and I was able to easily infiltrate. I summoned the spirit of the wind and used spirit magic.
The compressed mass of wind crushed the heads of the orcs along with the ground, and the sharp wind blades sliced through the orcs' necks. Orcs appeared one after another, but they were powerless against my spirit magic.
In this condition, I thought I could annihilate them just like this. But at that moment, I heard a roaring sound that felt like my eardrums were about to burst and my soul was trembling, and my movements became sluggish. Furthermore, the orc who had been fleeing suddenly gained strength and attacked.
But I can't be stopped by this level. I can't stop. I grit my teeth and unleash my magic. The orcs, who had been easily defeated with a single blow until just now, became faster, and gradually my attacks started to hit.
As I endure the pain and slice through the orcs, I realize that my vision is being obscured by my own spilled blood. I can't... I can't collapse yet.
Reflexively, I cast magic towards the sudden sound of the wind, but I couldn't stop the momentum of the flying rock, and my right arm, from the shoulder to the fingertips, was torn off. The intense pain almost made me lose consciousness, but when I caught sight of the orc general in my field of vision, I somehow managed to maintain consciousness. I can't fall in front of the one who destroyed the village and took away my sister. I can't.
Concentrating my magical power in my remaining left hand, I unleash a maximum-powered blast of wind. The blast blows off the orc general's right hand, but at the same time, a rock that was also unleashed blows off my left leg.
Continuing with the wind blade, I sever the orc general's left hand, but in one swift motion, the orc general's kicking foot breaks my remaining left hand as well.
The orc general looks down on me with a grotesquely twisted expression of anger. He probably doesn't intend to kill me. If he did, I would have been dead long ago. He intends to use me for something, just like my sister.
I'm sorry... Sara. I wanted to save you at least.
Pathetically, I was shedding tears. Even though crying wouldn't change anything. The frustration, sadness, and helplessness all mixed up inside me.
Suddenly, my body is lifted up, and I tense up. With whatever resistance I can muster, I glare at the orc general... or so I tried, but the orc general is not there. Instead, a man with black eyes and black hair is holding me.
"You did well, Sylphy... The orc general is dead. You're safe now."
That man, with a very gentle and warm voice, called out my name for some reason. As I recalled my deceased father, I lost consciousness.
Due to the protection of the spirits, the man should not have been able to touch me, yet I was so weakened that I didn't notice that fact.