Praise the Orc! Chapter 184:
Chapter 184 – The Last Fire (2)
“I didn’t know that ‘Slayer Maker’ would come here . ” Rastad, the old dwarf guarding the last forge, laughed while stroking his long beard . “Is Solardo of the Golden Anvil Clan doing well?”
“He is hitting the iron like before . ”
“Solardo allowed you to come here?”
“……”
Zakiro smiled, “That’s right . I came on my own . ”
“I see . Any young blacksmith will come here at least once . And the Slayer Maker is qualified enough . ”
“You’re overpraising me . ”
“I’ve seen the Wizard Slayer that you created . ”
Kang! Kang!
Rastad looked at the place where the sound came from . In one corner, a dwarf was hammering on iron . The heated piece of iron was struck by the hammer and slowly changed shaped . Then the hammering sped up .
“It is a quick and fast sword . ”
“A big weapon isn’t needed to kill a magician . ”
“That’s right . It was excellent . Who is using the sword now?”
“I don’t know . ”
“You truly resemble Solardo . ” Rastad smiled bitterly . “Wizard Slayer is now in the hands of a lunatic who hates magicians . Numerous innocent magicians have died at his hand . ”
“Is that so?” Zakiro shrugged . “It has nothing to do with me . ”
“You truly are Solardo’s clan member . ” Rastad laughed out loud . “Yes, Slayer Maker . What monster will you make at the last forge here? This time, will it be an ogre slayer?”
“I already created that . ”
“Huh, I see . It is a weapon against ogres, but the owner will surely suffer . ”
Zakiro shrugged at Rastad’s words . He’d met the orc warrior who used Ogre Slayer and seen him kill an ogre easily . The greatsword was too big, but when it entered the orc’s hands, it felt like it had been made for him .
Zakiro smiled, “Since you’ve completed Ogre Slayer, is it now a dragon slayer?”
“Dragon Slayer…”
Dragons were an invisible and forgotten species . At one time, they flew over mountains and valleys regularly, but now people never saw them . Some said that they were all dead, while others said they were hidden somewhere . However, one thing was certain, which was that the dragons wouldn’t regain their former glory .
“My sword would lose if I make such a thing . ”
“Indeed, it is impossible to use a sword to fight against a dragon . Then what about a second version of Ogre Slayer? There is trouble with ogres in this area . ”
“I’m not sure . ” Zakiro’s face darkened . “I will think about it . ”
He had left the Golden Anvil Clan because of this .
Zakiro surpassed the level of young craftsmen . At a young age, he had already become a top blacksmith, and his Slayer series were masterpieces which everyone wanted . Many warriors and knights had asked him to make weapons for them .
However, now, he didn’t have a blueprint for the next piece . He didn’t have an image which made him want to work the metal enthusiastically . In the old days, the true face hidden in the iron had been visible . But there was nothing now . He had broken several attempts and beat the iron only to melt it again . So, his slump had become prolonged .
“You are young . ” Rastad tapped his shoulder . “Don’t be in a rush . Stay and think slowly . You can stay in the blacksmith’s quarters . ”
“Thank you . ”
“This is the last forge, a place where you can beat iron as long as the sun shines . Hahaha . I guess I should look at that person . ”
Rastad approached the blacksmith who was hammering the iron . The blacksmith was a dwarf younger than Zakiro . He didn’t have the skills, but he had a passion for hammering iron . Zakiro watched them for a while before leaving the last forge .
The dwarf who was the sun god’s priest saw him and bowed . Zakiro greeted him politely as well .
***
By the time he left the temple of the sun god, it was dark . Geherad was quiet . There were occasional raucous sounds from the pubs, but most of the buildings had turned off their lights . It was a land of the temple of the sun **** . They slept early and looked forward to the sunrise, rather than staying up at night .
At that moment…
Chaeng!
Zakiro heard a noise . He turned around . As a blacksmith, it was a sound which was impossible for him not to know . It was the sound of weapons hitting each other . A battle was occurring somewhere, and the sound of the metal was strangely familiar .
He had heard that sound many times over the past few days . It was the sound of Ogre Slayer smashing monsters . Crockta was fighting .
Zakiro started running . The sound was coming from a corner of Geherad, where people rarely went . It was dark, but he ran using the light of the moon and the sound . As Zakiro approached, iron flashed in the darkness .
“……!”
A group of people was surrounding Crockta and a man . The two of them were exchanging blows . Zakiro moved closer and saw Tiyo and Anor, who spotted him and waved .
He stood next to them . “What is this…?”
“Strange guys picked a fight with us dot . ” Tiyo explained, “They said we would be punished according to a divine message… Strange guys dot . ”
“……!”
Zakiro knew about the divine message . All the gods wanted Crockta and the orcs to die . These people were probably fanatical followers of the gods . To them, the commands of the gods were absolute .
Indeed, the group of hooded men holding weapons was watching Crockta and the man fight, as if it was a sacred ceremony .
“Great dot . Being able to fight against Crockta…” Tiyo muttered .
However, Zakiro couldn’t tell . His vision had adapted to the darkness to some extent, but their swords were moving too quickly for him to see . Every time a light flashed, someone received damage and stepped back .
Crockta, the person who conquered the north and obstructed the empire… He had killed the crazy chieftain in the north and defeated the empire’s genius, Adandator . However, a nameless fanatic was matching him in the fight .
The two chose to catch their breath for a moment . Crockta stared at the man, and suspicions about the opponent filled his eyes . It was an expression which showed the fight wasn’t going according to his will .
Zakiro followed Crockta’s gaze towards the opponent . The hood was torn, so the opponent’s face was revealed . It was a middle-aged man . He looked at Crockta with a calm expression .
Then he declared, “You can’t resist the power of the gods . Accept your fate, Crockta . ”
It was at this moment that Zakiro realized something . There was a faint light coming from the man’s sword . Magic swords were able to exert such power . However, Zakiro saw that it wasn’t a magic sword .
God’s soldier…
Crockta’s opponent wasn’t a warrior who was good at the sword . However, he had the power of a **** itself . A god’s power was coming down to the man through that sword . It wasn’t the god’s full power as there were constraints about using divine power against mortals . However, this was enough to aim at Crockta’s neck .
The man wielded his sword again . A light flashed .
Kaaang!
Crockta blocked the sword with Ogre Slayer . Then he stepped back .
“Ugh . ”
“In the name of the gods!”
Kakang!
Zakiro could see it . Crockta’s sword, Ogre Slayer, was shaking . Zakiro was a blacksmith, a master who heard the voice of the iron and the sword . Just like how a warrior saw the paths through the opponent’s gap in order to kill them, Zakiro had an eye for seeing through metals and weapons .
In his eyes, Ogre Slayer looked like a boxer who barely blocked the punch .
It had won many fights but hadn’t healed properly, causing the wounds to accumulate . Its broken bones set wrong, and its wounds filled with pus . A punch to the head caused damage which would make the hands shake .
However, nevertheless, Ogre Slayer still looked straight at the opponent . This was a fight, and the opponent was still in the ring . A fighter who wouldn’t collapse when weak… That was Ogre Slayer . And Zakiro was the father who had made Ogre Slayer .
“Bul’tar──────!”
Crockta’s roar shook Geherad…
And Crockta’s speed increased .
The man stepped back from Crockta’s power . An unknown swordsmanship was being used with Zakiro’s sword as Ogre Slayer implemented an unknown power . The man’s sword bounced off, and Ogre Slayer aimed towards the gap .
However, it was blocked . This was the god’s power . Opportunities were equally given to both sides . The enemy’s attack flew when Crockta’s blow was deflected towards the ground . The sword had a white haze around it .
Then Crockta raised Ogre Slayer .
Kaaaang!
At that moment, Zakiro thought that Ogre Slayer would break . However, it managed to hold on . Crockta blocked the attack and kicked the man’s elbow . The sword was momentarily lowered . Then Crockta turned and swung his greatsword at the man .
It seemed like this fight was over . However, the man’s sword swung around in the air, as if a thread was tied to it . Then it moved into a position to stop Crockta’s sword . The man grabbed his sword and inserted strength into his legs .
Kwaaaaang!
Once again, the two swords collided . The man was pushed back . It was a power struggle . The dim light from the man’s sword enlarged to cover his body, and his eyes shone white . The god’s power was encroaching on his body .
His sword became faster . It aimed at Crockta from every direction . Thanks to the gods, the man’s attacks were swift and powerful .
“……!”
However, Crockta’s Ogre Slayer defended against all attacks . It endured, and the reaction was marvelous . Crockta was really one with the sword .
“Is that really my sword…?” Zakiro muttered .
It was beautiful swordsmanship . However, it wasn’t beautiful due to smooth movements or gentle curves… But because the sword and owner were one . All types of movements were completed with the big greatsword . Zakiro couldn’t tell if Crockta was leading the sword, or if the sword was leading him . The sword was connected to Crockta, and they moved as one .
Then Crockta hit his opponent’s abdomen .
“Cough!”
Crockta immediately swung the greatsword at his opponent .
Kakang!
The enemy’s sword flew through the air . It rolled across the ground and stopped at Zakiro’s feet . The dim light faded, and it became dark . The **** left . Zakiro picked up the sword . It wasn’t a bad sword, but it wasn’t superb craftsmanship . It was just a fairly decent sword .
He raised his head and looked at Crockta and the man . Crockta’s greatsword was pointed at the man’s neck . The man slowly opened his eyes . He saw Crockta and the sword pointed at his neck . He didn’t know what to do .
“Tell me about the divine message . ” Crockta demanded .
The man mumbled something .
Zakiro felt something strange while watching the scene . The man wasn’t a great warrior… He was just a fanatic . His sword wasn’t exceptional… It was just a decent sword . He was like a grain of sword compared to Crockta, a orc with a proper sword .
However, when the man used the power of the gods, he could fight against the ‘Northern Conqueror . ’ This was the power of the gods . Crockta won now, but he would eventually fall . All the gods wanted his death .
What if this power was used on a stronger person with a better sword?
Crockta and Ogre Slayer… The beautiful dance of the two would end soon . It was inevitable . After all, it wasn’t an ogre they were facing . The gods… No matter how good Ogre Slayer was, it couldn’t kill a **** . However…
“I want to keep watching . ”
As long as the sun still blazed, the last forge wouldn’t turn off . Likewise, Zakiro hoped that the beautiful combination of Crockta and Ogre Slayer wouldn’t end . The sword he made was more than a sword, and the harmony with its owner was a miracle he wanted to last forever .
Zakiro wanted to do it .
“This is also destiny . ”
A warrior had to fight . For a warrior to survive, he must kill without dying… And in order to kill, he needed a weapon that could kill .