Free Web NovelChapter 40: I saw a....
Ren watched the time trickle by on the system. The first wave was coming, and he would have to face it. He had to ensure that no life was lost in this battle on his side.
"I wish I could save the lives of the orcs that attack as well, but I can’t save them all."
He looked at the clearing. There was no work going on today. Everyone who was not fighting was either inside a house or the cave. He ensured that every little one or older monster was nowhere near the fight.
"Alright then, I should speak to the orc before it starts."
Ren walked back into the cave to where the orc was. He saw the bone from the meat lying on the floor.
"Seems you ate," Ren said, then stood in front of him.
"The first wave of your master’s attack will be coming our way in a few hours, and the war between me and the Calamity Orc will officially start.
Before I go off, I wanted to do something that I’m sure he has not done for you," Ren said, then bent low. He looked at the orc right in the eye.
"I’ll give you a name."
The orc lifted his head, his eyes wide with shock.
"A, a name?" He could not hold back his shock.
"Yes, a name. Now, I know that you have not chosen to follow me yet, but I’m willing to take a risk on you, and even as I leave here, I have a feeling that you will be able to make the right decision.
If you stand with me, you stand a good chance to break free.
That aside, I name you, Ragna."
The words left his mouth, and so did a huge chunk of mana that rushed right into Ragna. Ragna could feel it, the new strength coursing through his veins and pushing him close to a powerful evolution.
Ren got to his feet. "This might trigger an evolution. If it does, I’m really eager to see what you turn out to be, warrior."
With that, he left the cave and transformed into his dragon form, his massive size blotting the sky as he flew up over his army below.
RAWRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
His thunderous roar caused the entire forest to tremble. Birds all around flew in every direction, small critters ran away, and every being that heard it rushed as far as they could to ensure they did not get caught in whatever was happening.
The roar signified the start of the war. The wolves and lizardmen started the march. The lizardmen that evolved wings took to the air, not as high as Ren though. He was currently releasing an aura that scared even them. It was not his fault, though, just the normal state of his dragon form.
Ren used his Dragon Vision to see ahead as they moved, and his gaze locked onto the incoming army.
’This is the first wave? There are at least a total of three hundred monsters headed our way. I’ll have to support as much as I can, but I still have to keep my mana safe. The Calamity Orc might have stronger soldiers, and he himself will be an issue to handle.
So then, I’ll only use mana that I can recover very fast, which means no over-the-top attacks that would drain me.’
[...::]
At that same time, a party of adventurers were deep in the forest. A party of five: three men and two ladies. One swordsman, a large tank with a massive shield, and an assassin who used daggers.
There was one female mage with a staff and a female healer dressed in priest-like robes. If Ren had seen them, he would have for sure said they were generic and cliché.
RAWRRRRRRRRR!
They heard the roar as it tore through the sky, sending shivers down their spines. Each of them gripped whatever was in their hands with all their strength, cold sweat dripping down their faces.
"Wh, what was that?" the mage asked, her eyes darting around eagerly as if trying to find what was there.
"What sort of monster makes that kind of roar?" the tank asked.
"I do not think we can face whatever that is. We should retreat," the assassin suggested.
"Come on, guys, we can’t just run. I know that sounded scary, but it’s probably not headed our way, so we can probably keep moving," the swordsman said. He brimmed with positive energy, the type you had when you had the character of a hero.
"That roar, I’ve heard something similar, and it was only when one of the forest lords woke up. That could be a Forest Lord," the healer said.
"A Forest Lord? We are going to die if we stay here," the mage said. She was not having any of it, obviously.
"Forest Lord?" the swordsman said. He gritted his teeth and then leaped onto a branch of a tree.
"Leon, what are you doing?" the tank yelled, but Leon had already gone up. He climbed the tree fast, moving like a trained climber.
In only a few seconds, he made it to the top of the tree.
"Where did the roar come from?" He looked around, eagerly trying to find something. But even after a few minutes, he could not find anything.
"Leon, get down and let’s leave," the tank bellowed.
Leon looked down for a few seconds. He gritted his teeth.
"Fine."
But before he could come down, he spotted something in his peripheral vision, and when he turned to look at it, his eyes widened so much that they were like golf balls.
He rushed down the tree faster than he had climbed, moving like something was chasing him. He made it down in record time and jumped to the ground.
"We have to go. Head back to town and inform the guild," he said in a panic.
"Huh? Tell them about what? What did you see?" the tank asked.
"I saw a....."
