Chapter 115: The Trial of Unity [5]
The first orcs reached the top of the mountain.
Their enormous bodies climbed the final part of the slope and, one after another, they began surrounding the hunters.
They were huge creatures covered in green skin, with muscles that looked like they were about to burst through their own armor. Some carried axes, others enormous clubs, and several had shields made of bone and metal.
A roar shook the mountain.
Liam felt a chill run down his spine.
A message appeared before his eyes.
[Danger]
Liam tightened his grip on his pistol.
"Attack!"
Emily was the first to charge.
"Let’s go!"
Her body disappeared in a flash of electricity and appeared in front of one of the orcs.
CRACK!
Her fist slammed into the monster’s chest.
The orc barely moved.
Emily’s eyes widened.
"What?!"
The orc raised its club.
Emily ducked just in time, and the weapon passed over her head.
Carol came in from the side.
Her arms were already covered in metal.
"Now!"
BAM!
A powerful blow struck the orc directly in the jaw.
The monster growled but remained standing.
The other hunters also began attacking.
Some tried to push the orcs toward the edge of the mountain.
It was a good strategy, but the monsters were simply too heavy.
Every time one of them got close to the cliff, it dug its feet into the ground and managed to regain its balance.
◇◆◇
Liam fired.
BANG!
A bullet struck one of the orcs in the shoulder.
The creature roared and turned toward him.
Liam stepped back and looked at the hunters nearby.
"What can you do?!"
A young man raised his hand.
"Me!"
Liam pointed at him.
"Tell me!"
"I can concentrate air in a small space and make it explode."
Liam blinked.
"Can you create an air explosion?"
"Yes!"
"Then why aren’t you using it to push them back?"
The young man swallowed.
"Because... I don’t know if it’ll work. Those monsters are too heavy."
Liam looked at the orc that Emily and Carol had just hit several times.
"Then we’ll have to find out."
The young man looked paralyzed.
Chuck appeared beside him.
"Come on, kid."
The young man looked at him.
"What?"
"Do it. I’ll cover you."
"But..."
"What?"
The young man lowered his gaze.
"I’m scared."
Chuck watched him for a few seconds.
Then he raised a hand.
The young man immediately closed his eyes.
"Don’t hit me!"
Chuck burst out laughing.
"Hit you?"
He lowered his hand and placed it on the young man’s shoulder.
"I’m going to give you something much better."
He pulled out his gum.
The young man opened one eye.
"What’s that?"
"My secret."
Chuck offered him a piece.
"Chewing this helps me concentrate and overcome my fears."
The young man stared at the gum.
"Really?"
"Of course."
The young man took it and put it in his mouth.
Chuck smiled.
"Now focus."
The young man slowly nodded.
"Okay."
"And don’t be afraid."
Chuck pointed toward the orcs.
"If the number twelve hunter in the rankings has your back, you’ve got nothing to worry about."
The young man looked at Chuck, and something changed in his expression.
"Thank you."
Liam watched the scene while reloading his pistol.
’Is this Chuck?’
He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
The same man who normally made fun of everything was trying to reassure a frightened hunter.
Liam smiled.
Then he heard a voice.
"How touching."
Robert Hanks.
He was standing beside Jordan, still trapped between his arms.
Robert was smiling.
"Maybe we should..."
Jordan covered his mouth again.
"Shut up."
"Mmph!"
"You’ve talked enough, you annoying bastard."
Liam almost laughed.
"Lydia."
His wife was nearby.
"We need to distract them."
"Understood, darling."
Liam prepared himself.
Then Lydia extended her hands, and a strange vibration traveled through her body.
Small insects began emerging from her palms.
Mosquitoes.
Hundreds of them.
[Mosquito Horde.]
An entire cloud rose in front of her.
Liam’s eyes widened.
He remembered perfectly the sub-boss from whom Lydia had obtained that ability.
The image of the giant plant vomiting mosquitoes flashed through his mind.
’I’d definitely rather have this than watch my wife vomit mosquitoes.’
The cloud flew directly toward the orcs.
The insects completely ignored the hunters and began biting the monsters.
The orcs started swatting at their own bodies.
One desperately swung its axe.
Another began crushing mosquitoes with both hands.
Their formation broke apart.
Emily smiled.
"Now!"
She disappeared, and a yellow flash crossed the battlefield.
CRACK!
Her fist struck an orc directly in the chest.
Electricity coursed through its entire body, and the monster dropped to its knees.
Carol appeared in front of another.
Her metallic arms gleamed beneath the artificial light of the simulation.
BAM!
A metallic slap struck the orc’s jaw, knocking it completely out of alignment.
The monster lost its balance.
Carol smiled.
"One down."
The young man with the gum took a deep breath and looked at his hands.
"I can do this."
He extended both palms, and the air began compressing.
A small distortion appeared in front of his hands.
Then a sphere formed.
"Now!"
The young man ran toward one of the orcs.
The creature raised its axe, and the young man aimed the sphere.
"Get out of here!"
BOOM!
The air explosion struck the orc head-on.
The creature was sent flying, its feet leaving the ground.
The orc fell over the edge of the mountain.
"It worked!"
The young man’s eyes widened in surprise.
Liam smiled.
"Great job! Keep it up!"
Another orc appeared behind him and raised its axe.
"Look out!"
The young man turned, but it was too late.
WHOOSH!
A knife pierced the orc’s head, and the creature fell.
The young man looked behind him.
Chuck gave him a thumbs-up.
"Nice job!"
The young man smiled.
Liam seized the opportunity.
"Keep it up! The plan is working!"
The situation was changing.
The hunters had stopped trying to simply survive.
Now they were working together.
◇◆◇
Liam looked around and noticed another hunter raising her hand.
A woman in a yellow suit.
"I can help too!"
Liam approached her.
"What can you do?"
"I can generate a very slippery liquid."
The woman pointed toward the ground.
"I think I could make them fall."
Liam smiled.
"That’s useful."
He pointed toward the orcs.
"Go to the front. We’ll cover you."
The woman smiled.
"Got it!"
She started running, but one of the orcs spotted her.
"GRRRAAAH!"
The creature charged toward her.
"No!"
The monster caught her before she could use her ability.
The woman screamed.
"Let me go!"
She tried to hit it, but it didn’t work.
The orc opened its mouth.
The woman watched its teeth approaching her face.
"Help!"
BANG!
The orc stopped, and one of its eyes exploded.
The woman fell to the ground, and the monster roared.
Liam had his pistol aimed directly at its head.
Smoke drifted from the barrel.
"I’ll handle this one."
The woman quickly moved away.
The orc slowly turned toward Liam.
Its single eye stared at him.
Then it roared.
Liam kept his weapon raised.
The monster lifted its enormous axe.
"Come."
The orc began walking toward him.
Every step made the ground tremble.
Liam took a deep breath.
’One at a time.’
Behind him, he heard Emily shout.
"Liam!"
Liam didn’t turn around.
"I’m fine!"
The orc raised its axe.
Liam took a step backward.
The creature roared and swung.
Liam moved to the side, and the axe slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Dirt and rocks flew through the air.
Liam rolled.
He immediately got back up and aimed.
BANG!
The bullet struck the monster’s chest.
The creature barely moved.
"Great."
Liam began backing away.
’This thing is way too tough.’
The orc charged again.
Liam fired once more.
BANG!
This time, the bullet struck its knee.
The monster partially collapsed.
Liam took the opportunity to run, but the orc managed to get back up.
"You’re still standing?!"
Then a green mass passed beside Liam.
Lydia.
Her body stretched out and wrapped around one of the orc’s legs.
The monster lost its balance.
Liam smiled.
"Thanks, darling!"
The system chat appeared before his eyes.
[Lydia: You’re welcome.]
The orc fell, and Liam aimed again.
But before he could fire, he heard a much louder roar.
The other hunters also froze.
More creatures began appearing from the other side of the mountain.
Liam lowered his weapon slightly.
’No way.’
More orcs were climbing up.
Emily appeared beside him.
"How many are there?"
Liam stared at the edge of the mountain.
"I don’t know."
Chuck arrived, chewing his gum.
"Well..."
Jordan appeared behind him with another bag of chips while still holding Robert Hanks.
"Looks like there’s still some work to do."
Liam smiled and looked at his team.
Then he looked at the rest of the hunters and Robert Hanks.
’Maybe we’re going to need his help...’
The orcs roared.