Orc Lord.

• Avarakneis Caves.

("Fantasy is just fantastic, isn't it? Here we were, trying to save some old guy who wandered into the most dangerous place around, and now we're outnumbered by a bunch of idiotic orcs. I mean, seriously, what are the odds? I'm so thrilled with the situation that I could strangle a butterfly. It's just great!")

As much as he tried to think positively, all his thoughts were soaked in pessimism.

"Die!"

One of the single-minded orcs shouted before charging toward the duo. But it was easily dispatched of by Archibald who smashed his right foot into the face of the orc, forcefully pushing it back.

In an unspecified period of time Archibald grabbed Velrossa by the arm and ran toward a more compact cluster of stalagmites.

"Okay Velrossa, I have a plan.."

"Great, how can I help?"

"Easy, do that thing you did before.."

"The illumination spell?"

"Uh yeah that, but this time make it like a flash-bang.."

"Flash... Bang...?" he said, visibly confused.

"Make it go boom.."

When Archibald used a less modern terminology it was much easier for Velrossa to understand. He nodded in agreement.

The idea was simple, the orb of light would disorient the orcs' vision.

"Okay on three... One... Two... Three..."

On the final count, Velrossa emerged from the compact cluster of stalagmites and performed the same spell as before but this time with a different endpoint.

"Luminah Te!"

He held his right wrist rigidly with his left hand. Before his open right palm materialized an orb of light which instantly exploded to abruptly disorient the sight of the orcs.

Having done that, he immediately rushed for the old man while a number of the orcs held their heads in their hands. Their grunts were as a result of their hazy sight.

"Pathethic!"

The only person not affected was Danzar. He'd built his sight to withstand even that, it could adjust to even something so bright.

"Then let me help make it less pathethic.."

This was Archibaldʼs chance to seal the deal, he removed his Velgrynd from its scabbard and positioned in symmetrical alignment with his body.

The magic sword belonging to him was named [Ver-Ather]. It had an intricately-designed metal blade with a dark gray edge. The handguard was large and decorated with red, resembling a pair of angel wings, with a spherical red jewel in the center, known as a manastone. The fuller adjacent to the guard featured a black, arrow-like ornamental design, and the blade was slightly wider.

"Insolent creature, you dare clash swords with me?!"

Danzar roared four meters away from Archibald. His large size made the young boy look more like an insignificant obstacle.

"Clash swords? No... I'll kill you!"

Archibald charged through the group of orcs with great speed and precision, reaching the leader in just seconds. His sword swiftly and cleanly severed the orcs in one straight and uninterrupted slash, demonstrating the cleaving strength of his weapon.

The orcs were so taken aback by the suddenness of the attack that they didn't even realize they were dead until Archibald and the Danzar's swords collided, creating a shower of sparks.

[Piercing Severance] :: A Thunder God Art which involves a blitz via a rectilinear slash that severs anything it traverses. (Jade ranked)

All nine orcs were dead.

"You arrogant turtle!"

Danzar exerted his weight onto his blade, overpowering Archibald and causing him to stumble. However, the young boy quickly regained his footing.

Their swords clashed with diagonal slashes from both sides, creating sparks and the sound of metal striking metal.

Danzar attempted a horizontal cut with his massive sword, but Archibald leaped over it and executed a 360 degree turn mid-air to gain momentum for a diagonal incision across Danzar's left shoulder.

Skillfully, the Orc Lord deflected the blade with his armored fist.

Archibald used Danzarʼs blade that was about completing its now useless attempt at a horizontal slash as a platform to throw a 360 degree rotation backwards. His feet rigidly touched the ground again.

'Impossible..'

Danzar could not believe a small child could match his striking power and brutal sword skill.

"I'll end it now!"

Archibald utilized the Black Moon Arts and executed the [Immaculate Three-step Blade Dance] technique against Danzar. A (Jade ranked) technique.

He began with a nearly vertical slash from his left shoulder, striking Danzar's right side. The sword then quickly returned to a high position and slashed vertically once more, this time hitting the target's left side.

Archibald then leapt up and delivered a final vertical slash at the centre of the target. However, due to Danzar's movement, Archibald was only able to sever his right arm, resulting in immediate gushing of blood.

The moment Danzarʼs right arm hit the ground its grip on the massive sword loosened.

The young swordsman used this chance to dart back where he fixed [Ver-Ather] back into its scabbard. Black Moon Arts could make anyone unmatched in dexterity, and for Archibald who could cut stone with a wooden sword, his hands would expectedly be lethal with an actual sword.

"Archibald I got him!"

Velrossa called to Archibald from eight meters away. On his back was the semiconscious Mr. Derte who was partially aware of his surroundings but confused.

"Velr--"

What made Archibald hang his words abruptly was not mere fortuitous observation. He noticed the problem because of his meticulous eye for detail but there was no way to close the gap.

Archibald and Velrossa were eight meters, and in-between them was Danzar who twisted and wrunged in pain of his arm cut off.

In a fraction of a second, Archibald and Danzar shared a look. Not just any look, one that announced the turning of the tides. Things had tilted in the Orc Lordʼs favor.

"Say goodbye to your comrade!"

With the speed and accuracy of a sniper Danzar darted for Velrossa. The target succumbed to fear which made his legs freeze. He was a child, getting used to having bloodlust directed at one wasn't a piece of cake.

("I can make it! I can close the gap, I just have too...")

In actuality there was nothing Archibald could do to stop it. Still and all this didn't stop him from attempting the impossible. He too dashed toward Velrossa to protect him from getting blitzed.

Whereas Danzar only had to traverse a three meter distance, Archibald had to cross almost three times farness.

"Watch him die!"

Archibald failed to get there first. It was of some relief that he got there just in time to catch Velrossa and the old man, but the former was in worse shape. Danzar almost completely hacked his chest.

Nevertheless, the bleeding was profuse. The blood that spilled out of his wound was a sight to behold.

"Velrossa!"

Archibald let out a sharp piercing cry. A cry so loud his vocal cords sounded like they were made of steel.

There wasn't even time for a final discourse, Velrossa didn't seem to be talking, he was barely even breathing.

"Humans are so feeble, all it took was that?!" Danzar laughed proudly.

Aside his laughter there was no other sound in the large room connected to the caves.

Archibaldʼs crying stopped, the warm feel of Velrossaʼs blood in his hands felt like a stark remind of the fragility of life.

"Unsheathed your sword! It's your turn red turtle!" said the Orc Lord.

Fruitless were his desperate attempts to whip his sword out of its scabbard which was attached to his waist. He stayed there on his knees motionless.

The old man was barely conscious and Velrossa most likely dead.

Archibald collapsed in anguish, he cried, screamed and laughed hysterically at his inability to succeed.

"You still haven't figured it out, have you?! You're just as useless as the day you died! Actually, scratch that, you're even worse now! You're a worthless piece of crap Haruto! Plain and simple! What have you accomplished?! Nothing! Absolutely nothing! It's like you're stuck in a perpetual state of incompetence! You unmotivated bastard! Look what you've done!"

He showered insults on himself. He blamed himself for Velrossaʼs death, because while other people's life were at stake he found it as a source of amusement for his otherwise boring life.

"I'm sorry Sakura... I still can't do anything... No matter how much I try I'm still a gaming, food consuming, masturbating little bastard!"

His voice sounded more and more constrained by the second, like someone was choking him.

On the other hand, Danzar felt exasperated. He wanted to protect his pride by fighting and killing Archibald in a fair battle, but the boy didn't seem to respond, so he best kill him now.

"Goodbye red turtle!"

The massive blade made descent for Archibald. Ready to cut him down.