Free Web NovelChapter 219: _Pick Out A Champion
"Orcs that big? In a ’C-Rank’ dungeon?"
Every Hunter present shrank back as the orcs grew in their numbers. Well, all of them except Ambrose and Leon.
Ambrose specifically narrowed his eyes on the orcs. ’Run a scan...’
[Scanning...]
[Target Race: Orc.]
[Ranks: B-Ranks, plus the leader is an A-Rank.]
[Abilities: Brute strength, durability and human-like intelligence to match. The leader appears to be attuned to aether energy in an almost... mystical way.]
’Huh?’
[The leader might utilize what you humans would call magic.]
Ambrose’s eyes widened a bit with surprise.
Well, shit.
In other words, this team should realistically be doomed unless he decided to do something—which would reveal his secrets.
"This was never a C-Rank dungeon." Someone mumbled.
"It might’ve been," Captain Killian added. "But... it seems to have—"
"Evolved?" Leon and Ambrose interrupted in unison, both exchanging a glance right after. Then Leon continued. "I doubt we stand a chance against those things. Unless someone has a secret ultimate trump card they haven’t revealed yet."
Ambrose’s jaw ticked.
He didn’t know if he was imagining things but that sounded like a direct dare to him.
Suddenly, the leader of the orcs stepped forward, his gold-encrusted outfit clinking heavily with every step he took. He stamped his halberd once on the ground, bringing absolute silence from the army behind him.
[ALERT: Aether scan detected around host and other Hunters in his team.]
Ambrose could already feel it before the system’s warning. Aether energy pulsed across his body, from his limbs, to his chest and then up to his throat and head.
The others noticed a tingling sensation but barely acknowledged it.
Then—the unexpected happened.
"Humans." The leader of the orc spoke. It was English and although clear, there was still a guttural rumble behind it. "From the Earth domain."
The Hunters looked at one another with a mix of confusion, fear, and renewed alertness.
"He scanned us to understand our language," Ambrose murmured, more impressed than shocked.
Leon flicked an eye to him.
The orc leader immediately settled his eyes on the Guide. Ambrose didn’t wince, observing how he scanned him intently.
Once the orc was done, confusion flashed across his face. Why was this one different from the others?
But he didn’t let out his thoughts. "State your purpose for entering our domain."
Without thinking twice, most of the Hunters began speaking over each other, trying to explain themselves, plead their case and even beg to be released.
The orc leader remained unmoved. "I’d advise your leader to step forward and speak for you." His tone sent chills down their spines.
That shut everyone up as they turned their heads to Captain Killian.
The man hesitated for only a beat before sucking in a breath. He inched forward, each step more pressuring than the last.
"I’m the leader of this team."
"Then state your purpose."
"We were sent here on a mission," Killian continued, keeping his posture straight. "A Rift connecting your domain to ours was opened. And to close it, we had to come in here and... slaughter the beasts on the other side."
The orc leader arched a brow. "Slaughter... beasts?" He repeated. "What beasts?"
Ambrose could sense the agitation in his voice. Whatever the captain said next, better be as respectful as possible.
"Like the spider beasts outside this chamber," Killian said slowly. "We kept moving forward and noticed lots of them got killed already. So—"
"We killed them." The orc leader revealed casually. "Their cores have been a vital food source for generations."
Then the leader’s eyes flitted over the bodies of the Hunters from head to toe. "Now that you mention. You reek of their blood."
One of the orcs behind him uttered something in a language none of them could understand. The rest barked with what appeared to be agreement.
The orc leader stayed still, as though he was pondering.
’I don’t like how this looks.’ Ambrose thought to himself. ’At first I thought the leader being open to dialogue meant he’d let us go. But now...’
With a stamp of his halberd, the orc leader brought decorum to his army. "I’ve come to a decision." A pause. His dark red eyes glinted with a mischievous light. "The humans will have to fight for their freedom."
The other orcs roared with excitement, bumping their fists against their chests and brandishing their weapons.
The sight was enough to make a couple of Hunters mumble prayers.
Ambrose’s fingers subconsciously curled around the hilt of his frost dagger, while his other hand held the large backpack containing the team’s collected aether crystals.
Once again the orc leader struck the ground with his halberd. As the orcs calmed, he slowly raised a finger and pointed at the team.
"Pick out a champion, humans. Just one person to fight for you."
The female Hunter was horrified. "O–One of us against all of you?!"
"No." The orc leader’s tusks shook with amusement. "One of yours... against one of ours."
’I knew I should’ve reanimated those spider corpses on our way here.’ Ambrose groaned mentally. ’Killian might get slimed if he steps up for this. And I can’t possibly risk exposing myself on literally my first mission.’
If he had an army of corpses or even shadow phantoms at his disposal, they would’ve been able to at least buy them time.
But now—
"I’ll fight." Captain Killian forced out the words, pulling out his sword the next second.
That made the orc leader laugh genuinely, the sound shaking the throne room like thunder. "You?" He mused. "You’re the leader and the champion?"
"I am the strongest here. It’s only natural that I fight for them."
The orc leader’s eyes slid to Ambrose. This time he didn’t even try hiding that he was under his scrutiny. And at the same time, Ambrose didn’t flinch as the stare drew out longer.
Finally, the orc leader said one word: "Naive."
He backed up while the army made way for him. Everyone watched as he got to the huge black throne.
The moment he lowered himself onto the throne, he gestured lazily. "Uruk."
An orc with a large broadsword over his shoulder pounded his chest in response. He moved forward, towering over the group like a living mountain.
Captain Killian’s knees trembled but he quickly strengthened his stance, his grip on his sword tightening.
The orc leader saw this all the way from his throne and switched to the orc native tongue:
"Show our guests the way of the Mordak tribe."
"Gladly, my king," Uruk answered, dragging his broad sword along the ground.
The King stared blankly at Ambrose, his expression changing to something disturbingly close to respect.
"Interesting..."
