Subjugation Squad Leader Hans couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed.
‘What kind of weapon is an arrow?’
It’s a weapon that feels like it pierces the enemy.
It’s not the kind that sends an orc flying 4 meters when hit by an arrow.
‘How in the world…?’
Soon, Hans realized the reason: the bow that the stranger was holding.
For a first-timer in a subjugation squad, it looked remarkably fine.
And the orcs, realizing this stranger was no ordinary individual, moved.
“Chiiiiik!”
“Chiiiiik, kill that human first!”
The surrounding orcs all lunged at the stranger.
All five of them!
“Quick, help that stranger!”
“Damn orc brats!”
It was too late.
The squad was too mesmerized by the stranger’s extraordinary archery skills.
The stranger stood still, seemingly fearless.
‘Ah, are we losing a valuable talent?’
An orc’s hand-ax swung at the man’s side. Hans expected a deep gash and blood to spurt out.
But then.
Taaeng-
The orc’s blunt hand-ax couldn’t slice through the man’s side.
His shimmering armor protected him from the ax. The attacking orc suddenly received a massive shock and let out a fierce scream.
“Kheeeek!”
Hans blinked in astonishment.
He didn’t know, but the stranger’s armor, belonging to the Light Lord, was special.
(Damage Reflection)
Passive Skill
Mana Cost: None.
Description: When attacked, there is a 4% chance to activate, reflecting 100% of the damage back to the attacker.
Hans was utterly astounded.
Before he knew it, five orcs had surrounded the stranger.
The stranger’s terrified expression seemed visible.
Well, it’s not surprising for someone new to subjugation being surrounded by five orcs…
Ssss-
Hans realized the stranger was actually smiling.
“A lure!”
The stranger muttered, “Prime Swordsmanship Chapter 3. Rampage.”
[Rampage]
[Indiscriminate attacks on all enemies recognized within a 10m radius.]
[Upon activation, attack speed increases by 70%, physical attack power by 30%.]
He indiscriminately slashed one of the orcs.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwak!
An orc completely shattered into pieces.
The other four orcs, amidst their encirclement, spewed green blood from their bodies as the man swung his sword wildly like a dance.
“Chiiiiik!”
“Chii, Chiiiiik!”
More foolish orcs entered within the 10m radius.
They, too, spewed blood under his relentless rampage.
Hans’ mouth fell open.
He was a level 48 Subjugation Squad Leader.
Even to him, the stranger’s swordsmanship was exceptionally beyond common sense.
Of course.
It was a technique only the direct descendants of the Prime family could learn.
To the soldiers, who were dazed, the stranger shouted.
“Let’s all get out of here without a single injury!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
“Monster stranger!”
“What an amazing man!”
Hans was amazed.
What was the purpose of the stranger’s shout?
It was to boost the soldiers’ morale.
He read the moment and the eyes focused on him and smoothly navigated the situation.
Hans’s heart pounded as he looked at the stranger.
‘…Stronger than the soldiers.’
His soldiers were just for this subjugation.
They were much weaker than real soldiers.
But they were trained.
And this stranger was much stronger than them!
‘Maybe…’
Crack-
Hans clenched his fist tightly. There was something he desperately wanted to achieve.
He wanted to kill the orc warrior who had only relied on his solid armor and hit-and-run tactics.
How many subordinates had he lost to that creature!
At this moment, having a strong ally felt reassuring. Hans, mounted on his horse, raised his sword high.
“Today, we will definitely hunt down that orc warrior!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
***
[You have hunted an orc.]
[You have gained 79 experience points.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have achieved 28% contribution.]
Hyun-soo, who had hunted eight orcs with his rampage, received this notification.
‘The contribution gain is too low, isn’t it?’
He had heard that the average level of orcs was about 10.
But he only got about 3% per orc.
‘Can I really achieve 70%?’
It looked like a difficult challenge.
Hyun-soo skillfully accepted the soldiers’ gazes.
“Let’s all get out of here without a single injury!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
The soldiers cheered loudly.
[Soldiers’ morale is rising.]
[Their attack power increases by 3%, defense by 2%.]
[Hidden Piece. Leader of the Battlefield.]
[You have gained 10 Charisma.]
‘Oh?’
A Charisma stat.
This is a special stat known to be obtainable by users in the commander category.
Having it adds more persuasiveness when speaking to allies and can even exude a sense of authority when high enough.
Then, Hans, leading the charge, shouted.
“Today, we will definitely hunt down that orc warrior!”
Ding!
[You have hunted many orcs in a short time.]
[A new episode never seen before will soon begin.]
[Complete the new episode brilliantly to receive a special reward from Hans, the Subjugation Squad Leader.]
A new episode?
Hyun-soo had heard about it. This rare episode could be triggered either by exceptional performance within a predefined scenario or by a player’s unique actions.
Ding!
[Sudden Quest: Hunt the Orc Warrior]
Grade: S
Requirement: Triggered by the initiator of the new episode.
Reward: ???
Penalty for Failure: Reduced intimacy with Hans.
Objective: Assist Squad Leader Hans in hunting the Orc Warrior!
“Hunt the Orc Warrior?”
Hyun-soo recalled what he had learned about the orc subjugation settings from a soldier named Ben. During the orc raids, an Orc Warrior leading reinforcements would sometimes appear.
These Orc Warriors, clad in extremely tough armor and boasting high levels, had forced the subjugation squad into repeated retreats.
Hyun-soo looked around.
He noticed that the numerous orcs, nearly 70 in number, had been almost completely wiped out.
Then, in the distance, he saw an Orc Warrior charging towards them.
“It’s an Orc Warrior!”
“There, an Orc Warrior is coming for support!”
The soldiers clenched their weapons with a grave expression, and Hans, leading the squad, was no different.
[Boss Monster Appears!]
[Orc Warrior Lv.51]
[Whoever hunts the Orc Warrior will receive a reward!]
“Hey, rookie!”
Soldier Ben suddenly approached Hyun-soo.
“We’ll clear the way; you help Captain Hans take down that Orc Warrior!”
Ben looked at Hyun-soo with bloodshot eyes, and the soldiers around him wore expressions of determination, prepared for death.
Hyun-soo marveled at the high level of AI in the game Ares. They felt almost indistinguishable from real people, driven by a fierce anger over the comrades they had lost to the Orc Warrior and determined to hunt it down in this battle.
“Understood.”
Soon, the approaching Orc Warrior clashed with Squad Leader Hans.
Kwaaaang!
The Orc Warrior, towering at 2.3 meters, was clad in black plate armor, wielding a massive greatsword, and wearing a horned helmet that only showed its eyes and nose, which looked just as tough.
Hans, after clashing swords with the creature, was pushed back.
Before other orcs could attack Hans, the soldiers held them off.
The reinforcements led by the Orc Warrior numbered around 30.
Not too many, but the Orc Warrior was the real problem.
Kaaaaang!
The Orc Warrior was slow, but Hans was fast.
His sword strikes relentlessly attacked the Orc Warrior, but only managed to scratch the tough armor.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”
Hans’s face contorted with frustration.
The Orc Warrior’s armor, just as impenetrable now as it was before, seemed impervious to his attacks. The head must be the target then.
Ta-at!
Hans leapt up, striking at the creature’s helmet.
Kaaaaang!
But the helmet was as tough as the armor, if not tougher.
That’s when Hans saw the heavy greatsword swinging towards him, aimed to cleave him in two.
In that moment.
Taaeng!
A single arrow, shot from somewhere, deflected the greatsword.
“Grrr.”
Hans turned to see where it came from.
It was Hyun-soo, the stranger, who had fired the arrow.
Quickly, Hyun-soo shot another one.
Taaeng!
The arrow rebounded off the armor.
Hans had seen the destructive power of Hyun-soo’s bow before, launching an orc 4 meters away.
‘Is it not easy after all?’
Regrettably, even Hyun-soo’s arrows couldn’t penetrate the Orc Warrior’s thick and tough armor.
Then a notification reached Hyun-soo.
[A new story begins.]
[An additional Orc Warrior appears.]
“…!?”
Hyun-soo quickly spotted another Orc Warrior charging towards them.
Hans also saw it and his face hardened.
He looked around.
The soldiers were deeply embroiled with the orcs, making retreat difficult.
They had ventured too deep.
In that situation, if another Orc Warrior joined the fray, they were facing certain annihilation.
“Grrr…”
Hans gritted his teeth.
He had to breach that armor.
His strategy shifted.
He focused on relentlessly striking one spot.
Taaeng-!
Taaeng-!
Taaeng-!
He persistently targeted the Orc Warrior’s side.
The creature’s armor began to buckle slightly.
‘Just a bit more…’
Taaeng-!
Just a little more.
Taaeng-!
“Just a bit mooore!”
Another Orc Warrior was rapidly approaching.
But Hans, focusing his attack on one spot, was utterly exhausted.
Kwajiik-
Struck by the Orc Warrior’s fist, Hans was sent tumbling.
“Cough!”
Blood spurted from his mouth as he felt dazed.
“So, it can’t be pierced after all…”
Is this how they perish?
Hans chuckled bitterly.
His own arrogance might have led to the downfall of his allies.
Then.
“We can break through.”
A voice called out from afar.
It was Hyun-soo, the stranger.
Hans had seen him running off somewhere, thinking maybe he was fleeing in fear.
But in his hand, he held something unusual – a piece of bamboo and a mysterious arrow shaft.
“Just one minute. Hold on for just one minute!”
After saying that, the stranger, Hyun-soo, began swiftly crafting something with his dagger.
Hans was desperate, grasping at straws.
The newly arrived Orc Warrior had closed the distance to 500 meters.
There was only one thing left for him to do.
“Woahhhhh!”
He clashed with all his might against the Orc Warrior.
It was doubtful, though.
Could armor really be penetrated?
It seemed impossible.
What Hyun-soo was making looked like mere arrows.
Arrows couldn’t possibly pierce through armor.
They’re meant to embed in the target, not penetrate.
But now, that was the only hope they had.
Wham-
As he was kicked by the Orc Warrior and his shoulder struck by the beast’s greatsword, Hans struggled.
Kwajik-!
“Argh!”
Gritting his teeth, Hans, now unable to use one arm, dropped his sword.
Clang.
Ultimately, there was only one thing he could do.
He grasped the Orc Warrior’s throat with all his might.
“Please just diiiie!”
How many subordinates had he lost because of this creature?
How much anguish had he heard from the families of the fallen?
Was he now to lose his own life and those of his soldiers too?
But regardless of his rage, the Orc Warrior’s massive hand also grasped Hans’s throat.
The creature’s hand tightened, aiming to snap his neck.
Then.
“It’s done.”
The stranger’s voice echoed, followed by a harsh whistling sound.
Swhoooosh-!
An unusual arrow with a distinct trajectory and sound, unlike any ordinary arrow.
The moment that arrow struck the Orc Warrior’s horned helmet.
Kwajaaaak-
It pierced through the Orc Warrior’s head and went straight through.
Cliche Novel 