Praise the Orc! Chapter 27:
Chapter 27 – Goodbye Orcrox (2)
Candles shone in the darkness . Tashaquil closed his eyes as he mumbled and recited an old language . The fires of the candles shook in accordance with his whispers .
Ian was sitting in front of Tashaquil and listening to his voice . His mind was elevated, as if he were hypnotized . The spirit floated in the air beyond the constraints of the body .
“Artani mokaw dom de quakwa bul’tar misaterioak… De’sar quak kisame ilxone qfwfq…”
A bizarre echo shook Ian . Ian’s spirit sank down into the depths as it followed Tashaquil’s voice .
At some point, Ian became surrounded by darkness . In the darkness, two lights turned towards Ian .
Ian looked around . There were no candles, no Tashaquil, nothing . There were only two eyes staring at him in the darkness . Ian faced it . The moment that their eyes met, Ian felt like his soul was being sucked in, and formed a fist to resist it . He felt many minds converging endlessly .
Ian gritted his teeth . At that moment, many lights appeared at once . Two, four, eight, sixteen pairs of eyes . Then dozens and hundreds of eyes gazed at Ian . Their outlines were revealed .
Ian’s eyes widened . It was the faces of the warriors . Ian spotted Leyteno holding a greatsword . He also saw Gloin with an axe . The great warriors from the Hall of Fame, and many other orc warriors were watching Ian .
He then looked at the person closest to him .
Lenox . Lenox whispered to Ian . Ian focused on listening to him . However, Lenox’s voice was inaudible . Ian shook his head . Lenox smiled and spoke again . Ian still had no idea .
Lenox nodded . Then Ian extended a fist . It was a rough hand covered with the wounds of battle . Ian’s fist bumped into Lenox’s heavy fist .
At that moment, the world turned dark again .
……
Ian opened his eyes . He was in front of Tashaquil .
Tashaquil whispered, “Young orc, what are you seeking?”
Ian’s head became blank . Only one word surfaced and filled his head . It was engraved into his mind .
Honor .
“What do you want to achieve?”
Honor .
“Why do you walk the path of a warrior?”
Tashaquil looked at Ian, his two eyes staring deeply into Ian’s soul . Ian couldn’t move his body, he couldn’t even part his lips . One word appeared in his head, and it was his only answer .
Honor .
His face and body became numb . Heat slammed into Ian . Ian’s face distorted, but he endured the pain . He stared at Tashaquil without bending his waist .
Honor .
Tashaquil whispered,
“Then look into yourself . I am the hawk of the north, the blue guardian of the sunrise . The pale blue standard bearer who guides the shamans, Tashaquil . Warrior, who is beginning your long journey . What is your name?”
Ian tried to answer with his name . But his mouth didn’t seem to move . Instead, a strange sound echoed through his mind . It was a word he had heard for the first time .
Tashaquil stared into Ian’s eyes . He smiled like he knew everything .
All the lights went out .
“Remember that name . ”
Tashaquil rose from his position . It was a ceremony that seemed to be over in an instant, but also felt like it took a long time . Ian couldn’t guess how much time had passed . His whole body soaked with sweat .
Tashaquil walked up to a window . That cloth that blocked the sun was removed . Sunlight entered Ian’s eyes .
The ceremony to become a warrior was over . Ian was now a warrior .
Tashaquil gave something to Ian . It was a mirror . Ian looked at himself in the mirror .
His appearance differed from before . The tattoos symbolizing an orc warrior ran from his face down to his body . He could feel an unknown power running through the tattoos towards the inside of his body .
Tashaquil spoke, “Young warrior . ”
He was in deep sorrow after the death of Lenox, but his eyes were still clear . Lenox might be the one who trained the warriors, but Tashaquil always conducted the ceremony that turned them into warriors . He was the guide who revealed the way .
“What is your name?”
At that point, a nostalgic voice came to mind .
‘Become a warrior! Then you will receive a new name! So I won’t remember your name!’
Ian replied .
“My name is…”
Lenox’s voice rang in his ears .
‘Become a warrior!’
***
The remains of the orc warriors were collected from the dungeon . Surprisingly, Hoyt survived .
Hoyt had been found bloodied among the bodies of the other orc warriors . The orcs thought he was dead . But when they lifted his body to move it, they found that he was faintly breathing . He had collapsed and his mind still wasn’t recovered . Even though he was alive, he was unconscious, and wouldn’t be able to move for a while . According to the shamans, he wouldn’t wake up for a while .
The funeral for the warriors was solemnly held . Orcs from around the continent gathered as a last tribute to Lenox . Well known orcs, those who lived in seclusion, and other legendary orcs appeared .
The hunter Zankus, who shot down the sun, was the first to arrive . He was followed by the mountain smasher Kumarak, the abyss shaman Wallachwi, Anya the mad slaughterer and many other strong orcs . Those who came to express their condolences continued without end .
The funeral hymns echoed around Orcrox . Lenox’s steel helmet was left at the training grounds where he always yelled . He would watch over the warriors there forever .
[Status Window]
‘Person Pursuing the Pinnacle’ Ian, Orc Warrior
Level: 16
Achievement Points: 2420
Assimilation: 70%1
Abilities:
Orc Warrior’s Strength (Special)
Orc Warrior’s Recovery (Special)
Leyteno’s Greatsword Technique (Rare)
Indomitable Fighting Spirit (Rare)
Mind’s Eye (Special)
Tattoos of Honor (Rare)
There were a lot of changes .
As soon as Ian escaped through the dungeon’s emergency exit, he found the body of the lich . The soldiers left in the rear had killed the lich . Their blades turned towards Ian .
However, Ian exerted an incredible power and killed them . He couldn’t remember what happened but he had ended up covered in blood . He recalled seeing the message windows flash faintly as the assimilation rate rose .
By the time he recovered his spirit, he was a **** mess in front of Orcrox Fortress . His skills proficiency, level and achievement points had risen significantly .
First, all his basic abilities had risen and Orc’s Greatsword Technique had gone up two stages to become the rare grade Leyteno’s Greatsword Technique . In addition, tattoos were engraved after the warrior’s ceremony was over and the rare grade ability, Tattoos of Honor, was acquired . The exact abilities of this skill were still unknown .
Now Ian felt strong enough to be called a warrior .
Ian had to leave Orcrox Fortress . His first goal was to find Thawing Balhae Clan and the traitor Grom . The human magician had called him Hyunchul . They were now Ian’s target .
However, he was still lacking strength . He would leave Orcrox, build up his power, and pay them back .
“I will get revenge on the human earl,” Anya the mad slaughterer said .
She was a berserk orc . Anja had a group of orc warriors who only followed her . All of them were bloodthirsty killers like her .
The mountain smasher Kumarak agreed . “I will help . ”
“I don’t need an over-sized idiot like you . ”
“I’m not an idiot, Anya! Grrung!”
They didn’t know much about those who were cursed by the stars . So when Ian said that he would punish the traitor Grom, they doubted Ian’s power .
“I wonder if a new warrior can do it . ”
Tashaquil shook his head at the hunter Zankus’ question . “He received Lenox’s teachings and watched his last moments . He is qualified . ”
“Hmm…”
“I will guarantee it . ”
“I understand . But…” Zankus smiled as he looked at Ian . “I will hunt you down if you play stupid games . I can’t trust a person who ran away alone . ”
“Zankus . ”
Tashaquil barked but Ian nodded quietly .
“I understand . ”
Everybody dealt with sorrow in their own way . All of them were orcs who had large or small debts to Lenox .
It was determined that Hoyt would be the instructor after Lenox . After he recovered, he would take Lenox’s place . That is, if Hoyt didn’t refuse the position .
After the others left, Tashaquil and Ian were left alone .
“Where will you go now?”
“I will first stop at Anail . ”
He had to meet Thompson in Anail . He had received a letter stating that the Golden Anvil clan had completed the greatsword . Ian was going to visit Anail first to recover it .
In addition, there was someone else he had to see . Derek . Ian hated him, but decided to borrow his strength for the more important mission . He needed the help of an NPC who had power .
“I will track those guys until the end . ”
“Good luck . ”
Tashaquil waved his staff . An unknown blessing filled Ian .
[Tashaquil has granted you an unknown power . ]
[The unidentified power will settle within your body . ]
“This…?”
“One day it will help you . ”
Tashaquil smiled .
“When will you leave?”
Ian looked at the sky . The sun hadn’t fallen yet . It was time to leave before Lenox’s funeral was over .
“I’m going to leave now . ”
“So fast . ”
“It is like Lenox always said . ” Ian recalled his face . “I can enjoy my life, or swing my weapon now . ”
A bittersweet smile spread over Tashaquil’s face .
“I will depart now . ”
“Then I wish you luck . ”
Ian and Tashaquil bumped fists .
He crossed the interior of Orcrox Fortress . It was in Orcrox Fortress where many things had happened . The exit of the fortress could be seen .
When he first connected to Elder Lord, he never expected all this to happen . He just lightly enjoyed the game .
But he met Lenox here . Grant and Hoyt as well . He met Antuak, and then Tashaquil . Ian grew even further through his relationship with them . They had great spirits that were worthy of respect .
As soon as Ian left Orcrox Fortress, familiar faces welcomed him .
“Hey, are you alive?”
“I am alive . ”
The guards of Orcrox Fortress . They were the orcs whom he had first met . They still guarded Orcrox Fortress like stone statues .
“You are finally a warrior . ”
“Yes . ”
“It feels like it was just a while ago that you acted like a newbie here . ”
“Now you look like a warrior . Kulkulkulkul!”
They burst out laughing . Ian also laughed . They glanced at each other before saying to Ian,
“Well . Now it is time to ask you . ”
They extended their fists side by side .
“Young warrior leaving Orcrox . ”
“Yes . ”
“What is your name?”
The guards had never once asked for Ian’s name . Lenox was also the same . He finally realized the reason why . At that time, Ian had no name . But now that he was a warrior, Ian had a name that he could tell them .
“My name is…”
He took a deep breath before replying .
“Crockta . ”
They nodded . It was a farewell .
Crockta bumped fists with them .