Chapter 144 – Sun Powered.

The Warchief stepped forward with heavy, menacing footsteps, his massive greataxe slung over one shoulder as if it weighed nothing. His tusks gleamed under the moonlight, and his red-painted armor still bore streaks of blood from the last battlefield. The other three orcs fanned out beside him, in an attempt to form a loose semi-circle around Rusty. Each one held a different weapon: a flail, a hammer, and a blade. Rusty took a step back and looked at the classification of the Orcs that were before him.

‘This isn’t good… three D ranks and one C rank…’

Rusty stood before a group of four enemies, all of them holding higher ranks than he did. Three Orc Warriors and one Orc Warchief. Any one of them alone could likely defeat him with ease. He had been so focused on wiping out the lesser orc encampment that he forgot to use his life detection skill to check for reinforcements. It was a costly mistake, and now he had to deal with the consequences. As much as he wanted to test his mettle against the Orc Warriors, there was no chance he could win against the towering Orc Warchief.

“Rusty, we need to run!”

“For once, I agree with the hero, we must escape!”

Both of his guides called out to him as he slowly backed away. The monsters ahead had clearly recognized him as a serious threat. Their weapons were drawn, yet they still continued scanning the rest of the encampment, probably confused about the damage one living armor had caused.

“I know! Gleam, do that thing we talked about!”

“ ( •̀ – •́ ) ”

In a flash, Gleam sprang from Rusty’s chest compartment, slipping through the neck opening as if it were second nature. Her silvery, ant-like form shimmered under the dim torchlight, instantly drawing the attention of the orcs. They gripped their weapons more tightly, expecting an attack. But she wasn’t there to fight, she was there to blind.

Without warning, a brilliant beam of light burst from her antennae, radiating outward like a miniature sun. The sudden flash was intense, forcing the Orcs to cry out in pain and recoil. They screamed together, caught completely off guard. While Rusty had once hoped to use this tactic for a surprise assault, he knew he had no chance of winning now. Without hesitation, he turned, grabbed his helmet, and sprinted away. Gleam leapt onto his back, clinging tightly for the ride.

Rusty barreled through the undergrowth, crashing through branches and brush like a silent thunderstorm. Behind him, the blinded orcs shouted, cursing in orcish roars as they stumbled after him, eyes watering and vision seared by Gleam’s light spell. The forest stretched out endlessly, seemingly the perfect place to lose his pursuers, except for one looming problem. The night was almost over.

‘Should I hide? Or will that Orc find me anyway?’

He still had his shadow melding skill. As long as darkness remained, he could probably use it to hide. But once his mana ran out, they would hunt him down again. He didn’t know how skilled these orcs were at tracking, but the Warchief was clearly no ordinary enemy. Worse still, he could call for reinforcements. If that happened, Rusty wouldn’t stand a chance.

‘I tried that once before. There aren’t any clouds. If I find a clearing, it might work… but still…’

Concealment wasn’t his only option. He had another skill that could help him escape—one with more risk, but also more promise. The problem was, he couldn’t use it while Gleam was with him, not even if she retreated back inside his body. Still, it gave him a chance. If he could get the Orcs to keep chasing him, Gleam could slip away to safety, and he could meet up with her later.

“Aburdon, is there a clearing nearby with no trees?”

“A clearing? I believe there’s one toward the north side, but it’ll probably take some time to reach.”

“That’s good enough. Gleam… we need to split up here.”

“( • ᴖ • )”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’m going to use the shiny.”

“You want to do that? But you can’t really control it.”

“If you have a better idea, say it now.”

Alexander questioned Rusty’s plan, his voice clearly doubtful. But silence followed. Neither of his guides had a better suggestion. They likely knew that hiding wouldn’t work, not with daylight fast approaching. After several more minutes of running, Rusty finally came to a halt beneath a towering tree. He waited as Gleam climbed up its trunk and spoke up to her once she was on top.