Chapter 15: New pet's &The Undead Orc King
Lucian staggered back as the two massive Beast Emperor Brothers, once towering and terrifying, now transformed into glowing orbs of energy. Before he could even react, the orbs shot toward him, whizzing past him in an almost graceful motion, before entering his body with a sudden, forceful jolt.
His eyes widened In shock, and he instinctively placed his hand on his chest, feeling a surge of strange power.
"What… what just happened?" Lucian gasped, his voice hoarse, his body still aching from the previous fight. The golden and silver orbs that had once been the Emperor Brothers now pulsed inside his chest, their energy swirling within him like a storm.
Inside his mind, the system chimed in.
System Alert: Beast Emperor Brothers Successfully Integrated.
Explanation: The Beast Emperor Brothers, upon defeat, have bonded with you. They now reside within your soul space as powerful entities under your command. You have gained the ability to summon them at will.
Lucian blinked in disbelief. "Wait, so they're… inside me? Like… pets?"
System: "Correct. As per the quest, you have successfully subdued and captured the Beast Emperor Brothers. They now serve you, and their immense power is now available to you, albeit in a dormant form. You may summon them whenever you need their strength."
Lucian groaned, running his hand through his hair. "Great, so I have two giant beasts living inside me now. Just what I needed."
He staggered slightly, feeling the weight of the battle catch up to him. His body, while regenerating due to his previous divine abilities, still felt battered and exhausted.
System: "Recommendation: Rest is advised. You have one final opponent to face before you can leave the trial grounds. Prepare yourself, for this will be your most difficult challenge yet. Only then will you be granted the right to return home."
Lucian took a deep breath, glancing at the massive titan door behind him. "One more fight, huh? Alright, let's get this over with. But first, I need to heal."
He stumbled towards a nearby corner of the room, finding a relatively safe spot to rest. The weight of the trials had taken its toll, but now, with the Beast Emperor Brothers within him, he could feel the power of the two beasts stirring deep within his soul space, almost as if they were waiting for him to command them.
"Just a little bit of rest, then I'll take on whatever monster you throw at me next," Lucian muttered to himself, closing his eyes. "No more surprises… please."
He let the soothing, regenerative powers of his divine abilities slowly heal his wounds, though the exhaustion weighed heavily on him. He couldn't afford to drop his guard now—not when he knew the final challenge was just ahead.
As the minutes ticked by, Lucian took the opportunity to explore his new connection with the Beast Emperor Brothers. His mind briefly touched their essence, and their proud, intimidating presence filled his thoughts. He could sense their immense strength, but they remained passive, perhaps waiting for him to command them.
"Alright, guys, you stay put for now," Lucian muttered under his breath. "I'm not sure I'm ready to unleash you two just yet."
The silence of the room felt almost oppressive as he waited. It was as though the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next battle to unfold.
Lucian rubbed his neck as he approached yet another massive door. Its ornate carvings and ominous aura screamed "bad news." His instincts were screaming at him to turn back, but the system was silent—a clear indication he wasn't done yet.
He gulped audibly, the sound echoing comically in the vast corridor. "Yeah, because that's the kind of thing a mighty warrior does before facing potential doom," he muttered sarcastically. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on the colossal handles and pushed the door open.
The room inside was vast, lit with a sickly green glow. Shadows danced on the cracked stone walls as the air grew heavy, thick with dark energy. At the center of the throne room sat an enormous throne carved from jagged black stone. Upon it rested a monstrous figure—the Undead Orc King.
Lucian froze, his breath hitching as he took in the sight. The Orc King's decaying body was clad in jagged, rusted armor that seemed to pulse with unholy energy. His massive axe rested against the throne, a weapon so large it looked like it could cleave mountains. The green aura emanated from him, swirling like a poisonous mist. Even in slumber, the Undead Orc King exuded power and menace.
"Right," Lucian whispered, "because a literal undead king wasn't enough, they had to give him a throne room straight out of a horror movie."
The system finally chirped in.
System Alert: You have encountered the Peak A-Rank Monster: Undead Orc King.
Description: The ruler of the orc army and the warrior who imprisoned the Beast Emperor Brothers. Beware, his strength rivals that of gods, and his mastery over death magic and brute force is unmatched.
Lucian felt sweat bead on his forehead. "Cool, so no pressure."
The system continued.
Recommendation: Victory is achievable. Note, however, that the host may die multiple times before achieving success.
Lucian rolled his eyes. "Oh, great, just casually drop in that dying is on the table. Love the pep talk, System."
The Orc King's deep, guttural snore echoed throughout the room, sending shivers down Lucian's spine. For a moment, Lucian considered sneaking up and stabbing the monster in its sleep.
But the system immediately chimed in.
System Alert: Attempting to kill a sleeping opponent would violate the honor code of the King of Celestial Knight class. The host would forfeit all progress and start over.
Lucian sighed. "Of course. Because honor is more important than not dying. Thanks for that, System."
As if on cue, the Orc King stirred. His glowing green eyes snapped open, and his rotting face twisted into a gruesome grin. His voice was deep and guttural, filled with malice.
"So, Here comes a challenger to test my might it's been millennial since I fought my last battle was epic with the beast emperor brothers, please do entertain me ," the Orc King growled, his words dripping with disdain. "You look barely worth the effort. A mere insect seeking glory?"
Lucian took a shaky step back, gripping his sword tightly. "First of all, I'm not here for glory. Second, if we could just skip the whole fighting thing, I'd really appreciate it."
The Orc King laughed—a bone-chilling sound that made the very walls tremble. "Foolish mortal. There is no escape. Prove your strength or perish!"
Before Lucian could respond, the Orc King lunged forward with shocking speed for his size. The massive axe came down with the force of an earthquake. Lucian barely managed to roll out of the way, the impact sending shockwaves that cracked the floor.
"Okay, maybe I underestimated you a little," Lucian muttered, scrambling to his feet.
The Orc King didn't let up. He swung his axe in wide arcs, each blow coming dangerously close to slicing Lucian in two. Every time Lucian tried to counterattack, the Orc King parried effortlessly, his decaying body moving with unnatural precision.
"Alright, big guy, let's see how you like this!" Lucian shouted, activating Eyes of Truth to analyze his opponent.
Name: Undead Orc King
Rank: Peak A
Abilities:
Death Aura: Damages all living beings in proximity.
Orc King's Fury: Amplifies strength and speed.
Undying Will: Can resurrect upon defeat unless purified.
Summon Undead Army: Calls forth lesser undead to assist in battle.
Reaper's Cleave: A devastating, wide-range attack imbued with death magic.
Lucian groaned. "Seriously, what kind of cheat code is this guy running?"
The fight ended quickly. The Orc King unleashed Reaper's Cleave, sending a wave of death energy that obliterated everything in its path. Lucian managed to dodge most of it but was caught by the edge, the force sending him flying into a pillar.
System Alert: You have died. Respawning.
Lucian groaned as he reappeared outside the throne room. "Oh, fantastic. Let's try that again."
Lucian charged back into the throne room, determined not to make the same mistakes. This time, he kept his distance, using ranged attacks and exploiting the Orc King's slower recovery time after heavy swings.
For a moment, it seemed like he was gaining the upper hand. But then the Orc King activated Summon Undead Army, and dozens of skeletal warriors emerged from the ground.
Lucian threw up his hands in exasperation. "Oh, come on! That's just unfair!"
The undead swarmed him, and while he managed to take out a few, their sheer numbers overwhelmed him.
System Alert: You have died. Respawning.
Lucian groaned. "Third time's the charm, right?"
Lucian entered the room with a new strategy. This time, he focused on dodging and parrying, using his patience and quick reflexes to wear down the Orc King. He even managed to land a few solid hits, his sword glowing with divine energy.
But the Orc King wasn't about to go down easily. Activating Orc King's Fury, he became faster and stronger, forcing Lucian onto the defensive once again. Despite his best efforts, the Orc King's relentless assault proved too much.
System Alert: You have died. Respawning.
Lucian sat on the ground outside the throne room, breathing heavily. "Alright, you undead cheat code… let's finish this."
Lucian returned to the throne room, his determination burning brighter than ever. This time, he activated his divine skill: Patience of God, allowing him to endure the Orc King's attacks while studying his movements.
The fight was grueling, with Lucian dodging and countering every attack. As the battle raged on, he began to notice patterns in the Orc King's movements—a slight hesitation before his strongest attacks, a predictable rhythm to his swings.
Finally, when the moment was right, Lucian activated Wrath of God, unleashing a devastating wave of divine energy that engulfed the Orc King. The undead monster roared in pain as the holy power seared his decaying flesh.
When the light faded, the Orc King fell to his knees, his massive axe clattering to the ground. Lucian staggered forward, his body battered and broken, but victorious.
The system chimed In.
System Alert: Quest Complete. You have defeated the Undead Orc King. Rewards granted.
Lucian collapsed onto the ground, laughing weakly. "I'm never opening another giant door again."