Chapter 44 – Fighting The Orc Leader

Comets of condensed starlight descended upon the orc leader. As they began exploding within a five-meter radius, torching corpses and hammering into the bound giant, Maximus shouted, “Everyone, back away further. You might get struck by the heat!” He grabbed the wounded Maria and leapt backward using his enhanced legs.

“Can you still fight?” He asked as he cast Focused Treatment on her arm.

“I can. Let’s finish that bastard.” She said coldly.

Maximus nodded and tossed a seed into his mouth while shapeshifting his arms into those of a bear. Solar energy enveloped them, making the claws glow as if they were burning. He activated Barkskin and steadied himself.

“This is the best I can do right now. My spirit will take a while to recover.” He explained, looking far more like a frontline fighter now.

“You look cool… Just don’t get hit.” She replied, her cold expression breaking for a brief moment into a faint smile.

Her arm recovered enough to grip a shortsword, and she ignited her Lunar form again before leaping back into the fray, weaving between the falling comets.

Maximus followed, his eyes shifting into those of an eagle to sharpen his senses. It was the first time he had layered so many transformations at once, and luckily, the skill didn’t seem to limit how many he could maintain simultaneously, but the clashing natures of three beings slowly clawed at his mind.

The orc leader screamed as the comets shattered his bindings and set him ablaze. His body burned with silver and violet flames as he roared, wildly swinging his greatsword in desperate fury.

Maximus and Maria avoided the frenzied strikes and counterattacked. She vaulted over the burning orc and unleashed a skill that carved a deep X-shaped wound across his back, while Maximus cast Thorn Whip to disrupt his swings momentarily and slammed his blazing bear claw into the orc’s right arm.

Thud! The raw strength of the strike hit like a boulder against an iron mountain, making the orc chuckle as he retaliated with a brutal kick that sent Maximus flying.

He slid several meters across the ground, his clawed feet digging deep into the dirt to stop himself, while Vesper fired a concentrated beam of blood mana into the orc’s side to cover for him just as the monster lunged forward.

“Thanks, Vesper!” Maximus shouted.

I certainly am lousy at bare-handed combat… and my spirit is still recovering, and the starlight will need time to wear him down. He frowned and shifted into Cat Form. Thankfully, it only costs 50 Spirit.

“Silex, with me! Embi, support Maria! Vesper, have your wolves strike between the comet drops!” Maximus ordered as he roared, boosting all his allies’ speed by 10% before vanishing into invisibility.

Silex roared and charged the orc, who had barely recovered from another comet strike, bringing his blade crashing down onto Silex’s back, only for the liquid azure shell to absorb the blow and rebound it before shattering into mana.

Maria, now strengthened by Embi’s blessing, dashed forward and began tearing into the orc’s body, which had started losing its metallic sheen as the flames softened it. The iron-like skin is weakening. Good. She pushed harder, moving faster, dancing around him with deadly precision.

“Aaaarghhh!” The orc roared and suddenly grabbed Maria’s injured arm mid-swing.

He smirked as he caught her and clenched. CRACK. The bone shattered as Maria screamed, and before she could recover, he slammed his head into hers, driving her into the ground.

Before he could finish her, the wolves swarmed him, biting, tearing, clawing, Spectral Wolves among them, moving as if part of the blood-soaked pack.

As they dragged him down, Silex lunged in and clamped his jaws onto the orc’s leg, locking down with brutal force and ripping madly, attempting to roll but unsuccessfully.

The orc thrashed violently, trying to shake them off, but more wolves piled onto him, dragging him down until he finally roared, his voice booming like a war drum, as crimson rune-like tattoos ignited across his dark skin.

A violent surge of black mana exploded outward, blasting everyone back. The runes pulsed as he began swinging his weapon wildly, slamming it into the ground and sending shards of rock and razor-sharp mana flying in every direction.

Sprout reacted instantly, wrapping Silex in vines and pulling him out of harm’s way while dodging the raining debris and lingering fire.

As the final comet fell and Franko fired a lightning-infused shot into the orc’s back, paralyzing him for a brief moment, Maximus, still invisible, struck.

He lunged forward, slashing deep with his claws before sinking his saber teeth into the orc’s throat and tearing violently.

The orc’s eyes went wide as he clutched at the gushing wound, collapsing to the ground. Maximus spat out the torn flesh and continued slashing relentlessly until the system finally confirmed the orc’s death.

Multiple Skills Leveled Up. Check Skills status.

You have defeated [Greenstone Orc Berserker Lv. 29]

You have defeated [Greenstone Orc Rider Lv. 25] x 25

You have defeated [Greenstone Orc Lv. 23] x 22

You have defeated [Greenstone Orc Lv. 22] x 19

Tamed beast Silex leveled up. Level 28 reached.

Class leveled up: [Druid Lv. 28 > Lv. 30]

Alert: You have reached the maximum level for the First Plane. All additional experience will now be converted into Talent Points only.

Alert: There will be no more increases in Health/Mana/Spirit and other multipliers through leveling for the time being.

Note: Going forward, experience gain within the First Plane can only be gained from enemies of the 28 – 30 level range.

Alert: Due to reaching the maximum level, Druid Skill Store access is disabled until departure from the First Plane.

Good luck.

Talent Points gained: +6

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Battle Tokens earned: 5800

As it died, the orc’s body crumbled in a burst of mana, leaving behind a Skill Stone, an egg-sized green core, and the massive weapon. Maximus shifted back into his human form and stored everything away before casting Rejuvenation again on Maria, whom the other fighters were helping to stand.

Maximus took out half a bottle of his potion and approached her. He gently moved the others aside before pressing it into her hands and making sure she drank. “Drink up; it will help with the healing. Here, take it with you; use it for a few days until you recover fully.” He said warmly. She was the only human he currently trusted on the First Plane… well, aside from Pete and Sarah, whom he hadn’t seen in what felt like ages.

“Thanks… I failed there.” She sighed quietly.

“It happens, but you lived. That means you can grow from this and be ready for the next time.” Maximus reassured her.