Chapter 19 - Twilight of a Warrior

The picture of a frail old man standing by his campfire fighting against two three meter tall orcs was despairing.

Especially if that old man was someone you cared about.

Just as Kiel was running towards the camp, Thorgen saw him instead and yelled for him to run.

That momentary distraction was all it took.

The Orc hunter ran his spear through Thorgen's gut and pinned him against the tree behind. Thorgen spat blood as he groaned.

Not missing a beat, the other Orc Hunter seized the opportunity and slashed with his crude saber and cut off Thorgen's sword arm.

Thorgen screamed in pain as he clutched his bleeding stump with his left arm.

The sword and arm fell to the ground with a clang.

Kill wanted to cast "Instant Step" but it was still too far and too late.

Realizing his presence, the two hunters ignored the already wounded target, one of them pulled his spear out as Thorgen slumped on the floor and both of them started to walk towards Kiel.

As they got near, Kiel dodged the spear thrust from the first Orc Hunter. He then parried the saber from the other and ducked under its massive arms.

When he got below next to the Sword wielding Orc Hunter, he used his new "SwordMage Blade" and cut its hamstring.

As the Orc collapsed kneeling, Kiel leaped up and slash its head off with his sword.

"Orc Hunter Killed, 80 experience gained"

The other spear wielding Orc Hunter was caught with surprise due to the abrupt change.

Turning around, Kiel casted "Instant Step" and arrived behind the Orc.

He swung both his sword in a cross and cut off the head of the last Orc Hunter.

The head flew off in an arc before falling near the fire.

"Orc Hunter Killed, 80 experience gained"

Fast, efficient, ruthless and clean.

This is how a fight should be concluded.

After killing the two Orc Hunters, Kiel turned and ran towards Thorgen while holding back his tears.

He had seen too many deaths but this hit deep.

The trust and care he had towards this old man was a rare sentiment he ever had in his life.

Thorgen had spent every single effort to help Kiel become strong, the sincerity he showed despite knowing that Kiel's arrival meant his death….

Struck something deep in him.

He expanded all his mana and casted multiple basic heal.

While it could not completely heal Thorgen, it at least stopped the bleeding and would allow Thorgen to last till after the sunset.

Thorgen was looking at Kiel in awe.

Thorgen said:

"You should not have come. Orcs hunt in packs, more will come. Quickly go."

It was then that Kiel realized. Thorgen had intentionally sent him away. 

Thorgen had wanted to sacrifice himself to be bait to give Kiel a chance to escape.

Both of them had seen traces of Orcs, but Kiel had been ignoring it thinking that they were just coincidence and he still had time.

Now he had to pay for his folly. Kiel never felt so much pain in his heart, tears were streaming down his eyes.

Thorgen pretended not to see his tears and remarked:

"That was epic. I would not have been able to pull that off. You have surpassed me"

Kiel forced out a smile and replied:

"Now wait. Let me cook your squirrel"

Kiel then proceeded to pick up the squirrel he had dropped then dressed them, stuffed it with the wild berries and cooked the bunch over open fire. 

Soon the smell of the roasted squirrel meat stuffed with berries filled the small camp.

In no time the squirrel was cooked and he personally fed it to the old man.

Thorden was savoring the squirrel meat, savoring the taste of the glistening meat seasoned with some wild berries.

Kiel could see Thorgen was in a bliss taking a trip through memory lanes.

Kiel left him to his own reverie.

In no time Thorgen finished his last meal and washed it down with a big gulp of wine.

The time is approaching, as the sun is setting they both knew it was finally time for farewell.

As the sun was setting both Kiel and Thorgen were quiet both of them knew his time had come to an end.

At most they had 30 minutes left.

The shining glory of once the world's best swordsman will end as the sun sets in a nameless camp by the lake

Kiel was unwilling but he was unable to do anything.

He was weak.

He still could not change anything despite all his achievements so far. It was not enough.

Thorgen and Kiel both try to savor their last moments in the presence of each other.

A while later he heard a rustle, looking up, he saw a pack of Orcs approaching.

Before long the Orcs had the camp completely surrounded.

Looking around Kiel counted about 20 orcs

Thorgen was now very weak, he could barely rise from his position of leaning against a big rock.

He saw the approaching Orcs, and lamented:

"Silly boy now you know you won't be able to get away anymore"

"Hah, do you think they can stop me? Let me show you what a SwordMage is capable of."

"Mana Sword(C)", "Basic Mana Armor(C)", Power Boost(3) 

Then he called "Status"

######

Name: Kiel Sinclair

Age: 16

Level: 10

Class: Novice SwordMage

Health: 17/76

Mana: 18/63

Stamina: 33+5

Intellect: 42+5

Strength: 44+5

Agility: 44+5

Equipment: Inventory Ring, Hermit's Necklace(C)*, Standard Miao Dao(E), Novice SwordMage Blade(E)*, Leather Armour Set(N/A),

Skills: Extreme Regeneration(S), Instant Step(S), Extreme Mana Sense(S), Sword Casting(A), Spell Casting(B), Life Drain(B), Intermediate Swordsmanship(B), Intermediate Rune carving(B), Sixth Sense(C), Mana Sword(C), Basic Mana Armor(C), Basic Fire Blast(D), Basic Heal(D), Basic Electric Shock(D), Ambidextrous(D), Basic Water Bullet(D), Basic Vine Whip(D), Superior Balance(D), Basic Footwork(E), Steel skin(E), Fleet Footed(4), Wisdom(4), Health Recovery(3), Power Boost(5), Slash(6), Chop(5), Stab(5), Parry(5), Riposte(4).

Experience: 325/1200

Free Stat: 0

Assessment: Not so Fragile

######

Thorgen had about 5 minutes left.