Chapter 53: Flames of Kalvain: The Duel of Destiny

The orcs showed no hesitation in sacrificing themselves.

Those on the brink of death willingly gave their lives for their comrades.

Even in their dying moments, their eyes, though losing their light, held no regret for their impending demise.

Amidst the chaos where even a brief moment of mourning was impossible, I hurled a Chain Lightning toward the city’s main gate.

Crack-boom!

The blue lightning streaked across, striking the red orcs in its path and creating a chain reaction that opened a blocked passage.

This time, around ten orcs fell, and through the path I carved, the gray leader of the orcs burst forward.

His subordinates followed closely, and the gray warriors began slicing through the smallest gaps in the enemy’s defenses, paving the way for a massive opening.

“Haaah!”

I joined their charge, unleashing the blue lightning surging from my hands.

Alongside Nightmare, I rushed toward the enemy.

With most of my mana exhausted, the light that radiated from my sword was no longer the starlight but the searing flames of Kalvain.

Fwoosh!

The gray leader’s reckless disregard for his own safety served one purpose—to secure an escape route for the non-combatants trapped inside the city.

He fought desperately to open a path, allowing the female and young orcs to flee.

Of course, that was only true if his plan went as intended.

The wicked warlock leading the red orcs cast his mana toward the fleeing non-combatants.

A purple mist mixed with black enveloped the female orcs, and a horrifying scene unfolded.

Their flesh melted away, exposing white bones, and crimson blood dripping onto the ground seemed almost alive as it flowed toward the warlock.

“Tukahaaa!!!”

The gray leader, witnessing the nightmare before his eyes, let out a despairing roar.

His fury seemed enough to slaughter every orc blocking his way, but harsh reality didn’t allow it.

Red orc warriors surged from all directions, endlessly obstructing his path.

I was no exception to the dire situation.

Though the orcs avoided approaching recklessly, wary of my magic, dozens of them surrounded me, applying constant pressure.

Each time a long spear or halberd darted toward me, Nightmare moved swiftly to fend them off.

Fwoosh!!

I swung the fiercely blazing flames.

Kalvain’s mana, unrestrained and savage, scorched everything in its path to ashes.

Just then, the gray orc leader let out a thunderous shout, and miraculously, all fighting ceased.

“Makutus!!!”

It felt as if time had stopped. Confused, I looked around, unsure of what was happening.

The gray leader, his bloodshot eyes locked on the red orc holding a grimoire, glared with pure hatred.

For a long moment, the two orcs exchanged glares.

Then, as if reaching an unspoken agreement, they both began to move.

The surrounding orcs parted to make way, naturally creating a one-on-one confrontation.

At last, I understood what was happening.

The ‘Makutus,’ a ceremonial duel described in the orc culture guide I had read, was unfolding before my very eyes.

The gray leader discarded his armor and pointed his longsword at the red warlock.

Provoked, the warlock also removed the robe covering his body.

The gray orc’s bare body was marred with scars, while the warlock’s was adorned with eerie tattoos.

The two starkly contrasting figures faced off, and the duel began.

The battle was fierce.

The massive longsword clashed with the sinister mana, unleashing soundless screams.

At first glance, the gray leader seemed to have the upper hand.

However, as time passed, it became evident that he was tiring at a much faster rate.

The light in his enraged eyes began to fade, and his once-muscular body started to shrink.

With every exchange, it became increasingly apparent that the warlock was draining the leader’s life force.

The fight continued in an eerie silence, devoid of any cheering.

Though the gray leader’s sword lost its edge and power, he refused to give up.

When the faint light from his longsword finally disappeared, the gray leader collapsed to his knees, falling to the ground.

Huff, huff—

Even from a distance, his labored breathing filled the battlefield.

As a faint breeze stirred the dark crimson dust, the victorious warlock stomped on the defeated leader’s head, crushing it underfoot.

Crunch!

And with that, it was over.

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.

The gray orcs wore somber expressions but remained silent.

The warlock scanned the surroundings with a satisfied grin before smashing the gray leader’s head entirely.

Squish!

The warlock, drunk on the thrill of victory, spread his arms wide, exposing himself defenselessly.

“Makura! Hukemak!”

He shouted in a language I couldn’t understand, turning his gaze everywhere as if to ask for new challengers.

My heart pounded fiercely.

With all my starlight mana depleted, the feral mana of Kalvain began to engulf me.

The searing fragments of Kalvain’s mana desired the destruction of the world.

Viewing anything that stood in its way as insignificant and considering itself as the ultimate power, it exuded an aura of sheer arrogance.

I stepped down from Nightmare’s back and took a step forward.

The sound of my footsteps was light, but the aura spreading in all directions was oppressively heavy.

This was the only way for me to survive.

If I continued fighting as I was, my only fate would be to be swept away and killed by the wave of red orcs.

Even if Nightmare, the noble steed, served as my legs, it wouldn’t be enough.

At that moment, a red-skinned shaman orc turned its gaze toward me.

Our eyes met in midair, and a smile crept across the shaman orc’s face.

“Kalse!”

I now understood that the word the shaman orc spat out meant “human.”

Gripping my sword tighter, I stepped forward again.

Before the spear blade, extended far forward, could reach my cheek, the red orc warriors opened a path for me.

Left alone, Nightmare stood still, exhaling rough breaths as if trying to catch its breath.

It seemed to understand my intent and quietly stayed in place.

“Kalse, toka seh.”

I couldn’t grasp the meaning of those words.

I simply pointed my sword at the red orc shaman, much like how I’d aimed at the gray orc leaders who had met their demise by my blade.

Perhaps my actions annoyed him because the shaman furrowed his brow and let out a harsh roar.

“Kalse!!!”

Ominous mana surged, responding to the shaman orc’s emotions.

It approached as though to engulf me, but Kalvain’s mana, which burned to defy change, stood in its way.

The flame devoured all the encroaching wicked mana.

At that moment, faint sounds began emanating from the gray orcs.

It was the sound of rhythmic stomping, resonating through the ground.

What started as faint footsteps quickly spread in all directions, and soon, every surviving gray orc joined in, stomping their feet.

“Kalse!”

The orcs chanted, repeating the word for “human.”

Then, new words reached my ears for the first time.

“Mohlabani! Mohlabani!”

As the chant continued, the shaman orc’s face twisted in frustration.

He unleashed furious curses at the gray orcs, but they remained steadfast.

Even those who had fallen victim to his magic and whose flesh was melting off their bodies joined the chant, stomping their feet.

Their skin peeled away, exposing white bones beneath, but they didn’t stop.

The chant began to reach even the red orcs.

Ultimately, the orcs’ united will found its target.

The shaman orc scowled deeply and raised his staff, wrapped in ominous mana.

As the two warriors prepared for battle, the orcs’ traditional Makutus began.

There was no signal; they simply hurled themselves into a struggle to claim each other’s lives.

Swinging a flame-engulfed sword, I etched stars in the air.

Seven flaming stars blazed as they flew toward the shaman orc, but he evaded my attack with a relaxed movement.

The next moment, the shaman orc counterattacked.

Even the slightest touch of his ominous mana was lethal.

Kalvain’s mana shielded me to some extent, but it couldn’t block attacks from all angles.

When my thigh brushed against it, the ogre leather covering it turned black.

When it grazed my shoulder, that area of leather also turned black.

As a chill wind swept through, the blackened parts crumbled into dust.

I steadied my breath and swung my sword repeatedly.

As I completed the seven movements to create seven flaming stars, I immediately moved into the next set of motions.

This time, the sword unleashed a flame-enshrouded moon.

Although the sword, losing its composure, lacked light, it carried fire in its stead.

Whoosh!

A continuous exchange of attacks ensued.

The red orc shaman didn’t rely solely on his magic.

As if to assert his orcish nature, he didn’t hesitate to engage in close combat, driving his fists into my body.

Each blow was heavy, as if I were being struck by an iron club.

But I couldn’t waver.

If I let my guard down, it would be the end.

Driving my exhausted body forward, I kept fighting.

As time passed, my body temperature began to rise.

Kalvain’s mana, beyond my control, was rampaging wildly.

The fiercely spinning flames spread throughout my body, dyeing my skin a reddish hue.

“Hoo…!”

As I swung my sword, my exhaled breath carried a scorching heat.

At that moment, an ominous light emanated from the shaman orc’s grimoire.

His eyes glinted with mockery as the light radiated outward.

Crack!

A sinister noise suddenly echoed.

Then, an eerie sensation wrapped around my ankle.

Frowning, I hastily glanced down and saw white bones filling my vision.

Bony hands, which had emerged from the ground, gripped my ankle tightly.

But their movements didn’t stop there.

The bones, growing like plants, began to entangle my body.

The rapidly sprouting bones were incredibly sturdy, resisting all my struggles.

“Kalse!!!”

As if anticipating my demise, the shaman orc prepared his final attack.

He raised his charred arm high, gathering ominous mana.

This was the end.

I couldn’t swing my sword to disrupt his attack, nor could I flee from this spot.

I launched magic missiles imbued with Kalvain’s mana, but the red orc shaman’s mana barrier blocked them all.

They say you see your life flash before your eyes in your final moments.

Before me, strange memories began to surface.

It was as though I were flipping through the pages of a book at high speed, countless memories flooding past me.

Amid this torrent of recollections, I recognized the intrusion of a stranger’s memory—memories of flying freely through the vast sky and burning everything in the world.

These memories revealed a way to escape my dire situation.

Once I realized it, the mana raging within my body surged toward a single point.

Even though I felt as though the intense heat might cook me alive, I waited for the mana to condense fully.

As the shaman orc completed his preparations, so did I.

When the heat enveloping my body focused to a single point, I instinctively opened my mouth wide.

At that moment, the flames of destruction that once scorched the world reappeared.

Roar!

The blazing inferno erupted from my mouth, incinerating everything in its path.

Unable to withstand the heat, everything began to melt away.

The shaman orc’s upper body was obliterated in an instant, and the grimoire he held vanished without leaving even a trace of ash.

The swirling flames continued their rampage, engulfing the clouds in the sky.