While a good majority of the human players cowered in fear, Hazel and the rest of her group simply stood before the Orc leader and his army, barely fazed by his appearance or demeanor toward them.
While staring, Hazel used the opportunity to appraise the Orc with one of her Astral Eyes.
[Urlgan, Class: Champion, Level 24]
He was nearly the same level as Zoe. Though, that didn’t mean that the two players were of equal stranding. A player’s level wasn’t the only factor that needed to be considered when fighting. You also needed to pay attention to their skills and also equipment and weapons they wield in battle.
Despite Hazel only being level 23, she could very well take down an enemy that was a couple of levels higher than her because of her abilities and equipment. But the same could be said about her opponent. And it seemed that this Urlgan Orc was rocking some nice equipment right now.
Hazel could sense a faint magical trace from the various equipment on him from the fur mantle, his spiked bracers, the skull belt around his waist, and even the bloodied battleaxe that he hefted in his right hand. That axe concerned Hazel greatly because of the menacing aura being emitted from it. Getting a closer look with the help of her astral eyes, Hazel spotted symbols engraved in the blade. They pulsed a bright orange color as the blade itself sizzled, as if it was on it was burning.
Rank: Epic
A battleaxe that’s too hot to handle! By pouring mana into the weapon, the blade of the battle axe becomes hotter, to the point where it can easily melt objects and its opponents with ease.
Judging from the description...that battleaxe was bad news. While the effect was rather cliche, Hazel couldn’t deny that it was a powerful weapon to possess. Depending on the Orc Champion’s mana, in this case, his Intelligence and Wisdom stat, he could very well burn his enemy’s weapons upon making contact. That and also cut through his enemy in the process.
“My name is Urlgan!” The Orc leader announced to the human players with a booming voice that made everyone's body tremble. “As of now, this settlement is now ours! If you wish to continue living, then I suggest you follow my command. If not, then you can die where you stand!”
Urlgan’s soldiers got riled up after hearing the “die” part, clearly eager to slaughter their enemies and display their might before them. A chorus of roars and laughter erupted from his army, growing louder as they got more excited. From how roused his men were it was very obvious that they wanted to battle and fight.
Hearing this, Hazel couldn’t help but scoff. This bastard just returned from his Tutorial Dungeon, and the first thing he decided to do was try and claim the settlement as his? Could the System be urging him to do this?
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Considering that Hazel received a quest to stop these invaders, it would make sense for the invaders to get a quest where they were to conquer the settlement and make it part of his territory. In fact, she was certain that Urlgan had a quest that told him to conquer the settlement. And if she was right, it was possible that there might be even a sub-quest or bonus quest for him to turn the residents he’s invading into his subjects. Why else would this guy announce such a thing after everything he had done just now?
“I am waiting for your response, humans!” Urlgan snapped with an annoyed tone. “I do not wish to be-!”
A blue wave attack barreled toward the Urlgan, threatening to cut him in too. However, just when the wave got too close to the Orc Champion, a blue shield materialized and protected him. The blue wave clashed against the shield, sending a decently strong shockwave outward. Hazel and the others raised their arms and fought back against the wind created by the attack.
That attack didn’t appear to be from one of Urlgan’s weapons. No, that shield just now...came from a spell from a mage. Considering that the Orc Champion possessed, well, the Champion class, there was no way that he could’ve cast that spell. Which meant someone else within his little army protected him.
Hazel scanned the members of UIrgan’s forces, desperate to locate the culprit that was protecting him. Just then, her Astral Eye spotted a lone figure in the back of the group. He wore a brown cloak with runic symbols drawn into the fabric and wielded a rather menacing-looking staff with a deer skull mounted on the top.
While holding the staff, Hazel caught a glimpse of his arm wielding it. It was rather scrawny and feeble, even for a mage. It almost made her believe that the enemy was either old or malnourished. There was also the weird black tattoo drawn on it. Because the cloak was blocking most of the marking, Hazel couldn’t get a good look at it. But she did notice that the tattoo was emitting a magical energy. Which meant that it wasn’t an ordinary tattoo.
[Yatum, Class: Shaman, Level 23]
Hazel raised a brow curiously under her blindfold. A Shaman? That was a new class. Then again, so was the Champion that the Urlgan Orc possessed. From what she knew about Shamans, they were spiritualistic people who were connected with nature and the spirit world. They were a lot like Druids in a sense, but not completely.
Aside from that, Hazel knew that this guy shrouded in the brown cloak was the one that protected Urglan just now. And something told her that he wasn’t going to become a rather annoying opponent while they were facing his leader.
Meanwhile, the Orc champion stood in place with a scowl, his eyes directed at the culprit who attempted to attack him as he spoke; Zoe. The knight had her sword out after hurling an aura blade at her enemy, hoping to take him down in a single strike. Hazel could even see traces of the aura blade trail off her weapon like smoke.
Urlgan creased his brows in irritation and rage. “...Is that your answer, human?”
Zoe smiled while staring at the Orc Champion. She then stood up and confronted her enemy, standing tall and defiant like a rebel against her oppressors.
“I’m sorry,” She sneered softly with a calm tone. “Should I have done something else to tell you my answer? I believe what I’ve done has completely expressed my opinion on the matter, don’t you think?”
The Orc champion gnashed his teeth, revealing his yellow tusks as he intently glared at the Knight, deeming her as his prime opponent.
“If that is truly your answer, then I no longer see a point in continuing this worthless conversation!” He roared in anger before raising his hand. “Kill them! Slaughter every pathetic human here and leave none of them alive!”
Receiving their new orders, the Orc champions' warriors cheered and growled at their enemies. A split second later, the battle once again commenced as the monsters charged at Hazel and the rest of the human players.