[Mission objective: Eliminate at least half of the orc horde. (138/1000)]
[Mission objective: Kill Raz Gulag.]
[42 hours left]
The information given on the bracelet was clear. There were only less than two days left, and they only managed to kill 138 out of 2000 orcs. They were nowhere close to completing it.
Right now, the safest decision was to hide and stay quiet for the next 42 hours. The best course of action was just to wait so they can get the challenge reward from clearing one objective, [stay alive]
Considering Viktor took this challenge knowing there are only 8 members in his group, he still hopes the system takes that into account and gives him a good enough reward.
However, that was while he was before. Now that Viktor had just received a new boost of strength, he was eager to go out and test his power in a real fight.
Once again, he was in a dilemma.
As the golden rays of the morning sunlight started to seep into the hideout, Viktor told everyone to stay put as usual while he went out to check the situation.
First of all, before he could make a decision, he needed to really check what he was fighting against, in hopes that he could make a better decision with the information.
Right now, the Djinn serves as a fast moving ride with great radar, so Viktor believes that none of the enemies would be able to detect or catch him.
An hour passed before Viktor once again arrived at the hill overlooking the newly upgraded orc camp. Now that he was in the last stretch of the game, the camp seems to be bigger and the tents looked less crude compared to before. With wooden walls created all around it, manned by hundreds of orcs all around the camp, this palace could be considered a fortress instead.
Viktor spent hours just hiding there and watching the orcs' activity while counting their numbers. Luckily for him, the orc did not notice him, seemingly too preoccupied with building out their strength.
He counted there are around 500 uruk warriors, 1000 orcs, and 100 of a new, scarier-looking Uruk. They have a bigger body, and scars litter their skin from head to toe. Most of them have torn, battered bodies and massive curved fangs, and they command the other orcs and Uruk warriors with deep grunts and growls. As he stared at them, lines of information appeared in his mind.
[Uruk Berserker]
[Battle power 75]
The new uruk has a much higher battle power and wears heavy armor all over its body. The elaborate swords each of them carried are most likely tier 2 equipment.
The orcs all patrolled in hordes of 100 or more, so each group he spotted leaving the place looked massive. Meanwhile, 200 uruk and 300 orcs always stayed close to guard the fortress together. From the looks of it, the leader Raz Gulag most definitely be there.
[36 hours left]
While watching the situation, Viktor started to feel irritated. He had stayed here for a few hours, but he didn't even see the boss orc set out of the fortress even once. Considering his own tactic, the tower likely adjusted the orcs' programming in response.
No matter how he looked at it, this is an impossible situation, and hoping to accomplish any of the objectives would be foolish. He has neither time nor energy to kill all 900 of the orcs, and without going through the hordes, killing the boss would be all but impossible.
In the middle of his thinking, the Djinn spoke up.
<Giving up now, are you?>
"Well, can't you see for yourself how many orcs there are?" Viktor retorted.
<What are you even worried about? This is just a virtual space,?
"Well, I admit that I want a better reward, but although this is just virtual, I really rather not experience death… ergh…:"
<Hah! With that kind of thinking, how do you expect to become better?>
"We've been traveling together for so long, don't you get me by now? I don't want to pursue anything like greatness, I just want to stay alive, preferably rich!"
<....>
With that line of thought, and the fact that he still has 36 hours left in the virtual space, he made his decision. He might not be able to complete any of the other objectives, but he would try to gain as many benefits as possible from this challenge.
A plan was quickly formed in his mind, and Viktor walked deep into the forest to try something that had been bugging him.
After making sure he was safe, he took out the remaining 13 tier 2 weapons and started to experiment around with his skill. First, he took one sword out of the pile and cast.
[Metal Bending]
The tier 2 sword started to curl up, bend, and flatten like a piece of paper. Just as expected, his stage 5 metal core now allows him to bend tier 2 equipment.
He concentrated on the pile and lifted it up, before pressing his palms together. The tier 2 weapon started to merge into one piece of the metal block. Then, he used his second ability, [Metal Tempering]
[You have successfully tempered tier 2 material with outstanding quality]
[You have successfully tempered tier 2 material with outstandng quality]
[You have successfully tempered tier 2 material with outstanding quality]
He only managed to improve it to outstanding quality, but that alone was enough to increase the metal's strengths up by 30%.
Next, Viktor held the outstanding quality tier 2 metal block with both of his palms and used his fourth ability, [Metal Fusion].
Right as he decided to uses the spell, Viktor immediately could feel spirit energy flow from his spirit core into his arms, before the tier 2 metal turned into a silvery, liquid-like state. Then, the liquid started to flow into his palms.
The liquid slowly seeps in through his pores, and the moment after it is all gone, the metal immediately hardens, turning the surface of almost his entire body into metal.
A new metal suit has been created.
[You have completed a metal fusion.]
[Your body has been strengthened.]
[Viktor Romanov]
[Strength - 46 (71)]
[Agility - 86 (111)]
[Endurance - 50 (75)]
[Battle Power - 62(87)
One of the amazing things about this skill was, the higher quality the metal he used, the stronger the buff he received would be. Right now, after the upgrade to tier 2 metal, Viktor received 25 battle power, twice the battle power from the previous stage.
After the addition of the buff he received when he upgraded to peak stage earth realm, Viktor currently has 23 more points of battle power. It was a higher increase compared to what he got from using the divine skill.
"Alright, Djinn, let's attack the enemy fortress!" Viktor clenched his fist and said.
<Haha, are you kidding?>
"No, really, let's go!"
Viktor jumped up onto the blue furred warg towards the fortress. As soon as he could see the encampment, the echo of war drums could be heard all around the place.
Dum! Dum! Dum! Dum!
The wooden gate of the encampment was swung open, and right afterwards, 200 plus orcs plus 100 uruks poured out of the gate, followed by 100 orc riders.
Growl! Growl!
They each let out a battle cry before swinging their weapons and running towards Viktor, but he paid them no mind. Instead of charging right into the front gate, he rode around the fortress for a little while.
After a few minutes, the orc riders caught up to him, but there was still no sign of activity in the castle. It seems like the uruk berserker and the orc leader are not planning to go out of the fortress.
Right as he started to think about the next course of action, the Djinn said in his mind.
<Multiple orcs hordes have returned from their patrol.>
It seems the war drums also serve as some sort of long-range communication, considering they came back real fast.
At this moment, the field right outside the fortress was crawling with almost one thousand orcs. Yet, there was still no sign that the orc leader would come out.
<Let's fight!> The Djinn whistled and said enthusiastically.
However, Viktor rebuked him and said.
"Are you crazy? We're going to run!"
Viktor decided to ride away from the camp while ordering the Djinn to run as quickly as he could into the forest. After a while, only the orc riders were still chasing him.
He uses a simple battle tactic, a Hit and run tactic with it he started to kill them one by one, group by group, and if the situation got too much for him. Eventually, he always has his divine skill ready.
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Written by Avans, Published exclusively by W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l,
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