The seconds stretched, each one an eternity.
The barrier, relentlessly battered, showed ominous cracks.
"Come on, Sylvana!" I silently pleaded.
"Believe in me! I can defeat these creatures and save your people!"
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air from the distant temple, a shriek of elven terror.
My gaze fell upon the dwindling magical barrier; a grim smile touched my lips as Sylvana, obeying my command, relinquished her hold.
Even from afar, I felt Sylvana's unwavering faith, unperturbed by the elves' mounting fury.
Then, a relentless tide of orcish footsteps, like an army of ants, surged towards me, their homicidal intent suffocating the very air.
But my spell was swifter.
In a fraction of a second, the fully empowered, magically amplified Frost Bite erupted.
A glacial hurricane swept the battlefield, instantly transforming the orcish horde into a frozen tableau.
The ground itself became a sheet of ice, silencing their brutal roars and death-dealing advances.
Hell itself seemed to have transformed into an icy palace in the blink of an eye. Even the elves' screams ceased, replaced by stunned astonishment as they witnessed their mortal enemies petrified.
"The orcs! They're frozen solid!"
"What…what sorcery was that?! Did…did a human mage do this?!"
Let them marvel at their leisure.
My attention remained fixed on the frozen fiends.
The quest remained incomplete; strongly indicated there surviving orcs undoubtedly lurked.
As I circled the scene, a chilling gaze, filled with furious resolve, pierced my senses.
From the east, a half-frozen orc, a behemoth among his kin, glared with lethal intent.
His imposing stature and unwavering stare identified him: Vorgruth, the orcish warlord.
"Sorcerer…curse-bearer…Zeta's puppet!" Vorgruth bellowed, his defiance undeterred despite his frozen limbs.
Remarkably, internal heat melted his icy prison.
He lumbered forward, his axe a promise of swift, brutal death.
Despite his immense size, he launched himself at me with surprising agility, his frozen leg a hindrance.
I anticipated his lunge, unleashing the prepped Divine Thunder.
A blinding flash, and celestial fury descended, shattering the frozen orcs into jagged shards of ice that spread across the slick expanse.
The shattering of the orcish ice statue unleashed a deafening sonic boom, a near-crippling bombardment.
Yet amidst the frigid air and earth-shattering roar, one remained: Vorgruth.
His left leg, a mangled stump, was his only support as he knelt, half his body charred, his right foot paralyzed.
But this implacable brute, this cursed orc, refused to give up.
One of his crimson eye glared, a single beacon of furious intent, as Vorgruth dragged himself toward me, his murderous purpose undiminished.
"The fight is far from over, curse-bearer!" he roared, his voice a rasping defiance.
"I am Vorgruth, and even this ravaged body will crush you! My clan's pride is at stake!"
My heart hammered a frantic rhythm.
Vorgruth, despite his grievous wounds, was no foe to underestimate.
I prepared a triple-threat spell sequence.
First, Magical Magnification amplified my next attack.
Then, I unleashed Raging Tempest, its almost-invisible wind blades slicing through anything in their path.
Vorgruth, halfway to me, shrieked in agony as the wind blades, tripled in power, cleaved his hands.
He collapsed, a tapestry of wounds, yet his relentless spirit refused to break.
He used his teeth – his teeth! – to pull himself forward.
"I still possess strength! I still have… resolve! None… shall defeat me!" His voice was a death rattle, a testament to his indomitable will.
His unwavering determination sent a tremor through me, a potent cocktail of fear and grudging admiration.
Beneath the orcish savagery, I perceived a stoic dignity, a fierce commitment to purpose – a truth revealed in Vorgruth's harrowing tenacity.
Raising my Dragon Scepter, I summoned the last sequence of my triple-threat spell sequence, ten glacial spears from the heavens.
They impaled Vorgruth, pinning him to the ground, his body awash in blood.
Even as his life ebbed, a desperate lunge brought one sharp tooth dangerously close to me – deflected only by my fiery magical barrier.
His gaping maw, a final, desperate attempt to seize my life, haunted me.
Never had I witnessed such a brutal weaponization of natural anatomy.
Despite the dimming fire in his crimson eye, Vorgruth's breath grew shallow.
I paid him the ultimate tribute: respect.
The ferocity of my spell was no match for the unconquerable spirit of Vorgruth.
"Vorgruth," I said, inclining my head in profound admiration, "you have earned my deepest respect. Though our destinies may diverge, your unwavering resolve will forever inspire me to surpass my limits."
His final words, a ragged whisper, echoed the weight of his sacrifice: "Curse-bearer... reclaim... the orcish spirit... as Zeta did... before..."
I nodded, the cryptic message still shrouded in mystery.
Time slowed, marked only by Vorgruth's weakening breaths and the crimson tide flowing from his grievous wounds.
His life force diminish, his heart a fading drumbeat until silence finally claimed him.
The chill wind carried a mournful dirge between us, a stark testament to his valiant struggle.
With solemn reverence, I gently closed his eyes, granting him the eternal peace he had so richly deserved.
A system notification, crisp and clear, then announced my triumph, illuminating the significance of the fallen warrior's legacy.
> You get 300.000 Monster Diamond!
> You get Orc Blood Vial (x5)!
> You get the Soul of Berserker!
Ah, such a good reward!
Speaking of my monster diamond, I had lot of monster diamond that exceeding my expectations, which I might can used it for buying a house or another car in human realm later on; another option is to buy a useful item from Magician Gear Shop later.
If I remember correctly I can but a special item that can save me from near death, which I know it's necessary, but I still need time to consider it due to its expensive price.
As I see the Orc Blood Vial, its quite a bold item that will give me booster of extreme physical energy, but at the same time will hold my spell used until the effect of this vial stopped.
It's a pretty weird item for me, a full-pledged sorcerer, to utilize such item.
Maybe I just put it in the System's inventory anyway.
Regarding the Soul of Berserker item, it only explain I can activate a unique skill if I can collet five of these items.
I believe I can utilize it later after next several venture on various of dungeons in the future.
"Alstair…!"
I stopped checking the system as I can hear the sound of woman running toward me; it's Sylvana.
I look Sylvana coming with a joyous smile and relief face.
"Y-you really did it! You managed to defeat Vorgruth clan alone with your spell! You are truly remarkable sorcerer, Alstair! As a leader of Lythandor clan, You earned my full respect and appreciation!", Sylvana bowed then kneeled at me.
Behind her, those elves who're initially hate me now turn off all of his hate since they no longer had any reason to not trusting me.
Followed by their leader, those elves kneeled with respect to me.
Faeral who initially almost killed me also put a kneel and respect to me, no longer had any hate, only embarassing feeling since all of his judgment is false.
Well, since they acknowledge me and accept their judgment is mistake, I must take what I had right for it.
"Rise, Sylvana. I had fulfilled my promise, now it's time for you to proven it to me just as you promised.", I said it firmly.
Sylvana's face suddenly blushed in red.
She avoiding my gaze, with her body shaking not in regular way, if I observe.
"Y-yes… of course… I… but… emm… do you reallly want it right away? C-can't we do it after we had a night rest while cleaning all of these mess?", she begged, which I surprisingly barely heard.
I can feel Sylvana's change's her character, become soft out of nowhere.
Is she become like this due to her promise to give me a special acces to upper floor?
I mean, what's wrong with that?
Well, whatever it is, I just want to make sure my way to the upper floor of Abandoned Tower Dungeon is available for my main mission: to get holy water in this dungeon.
"H-how about this night, Alstair? In my room?", Sylvana speaked half whispered with red blushing face.
"Sure, if you want to.", I answered casually.
Sylvana smiled.
I really don't understand the reason, but there's a weird tension that come from her rapid breath when she whispered her intention.
Maybe it will be a special night between me and her?
Just maybe.
***