CHAPTER 34: MARCH OF MONSTERS

["Deathbringer Orc"] [Level: 24]

’An orc—? That level—’ He thought.

His focus was needed elsewhere as he pulled his sword away, stepping back as he found the towering brute spinning around. To his surprise, it launched a nimble kick aimed for his head.

He leaned back, watching the gray foot pass over with a clap of wind pushed past his hair. Straightening himself out, he watched Phoenix rush in with fire engulfing his sword.

"Watch out!" Leon warned. "This one is different!"

Even though the warning came, the fiery man closed in with unhindered intensity, swinging his flaming sword in wild swings.

Each slash left a trail of fire in the air, though the orc maneuvered past the strikes masterfully. For a barbaric monster, it ducked down, weaving through the fiery slashes like a refined expert.

"What the—?!" Phoenix grunted, pulling back momentarily as he flipped his blazing sword around.

Leon positioned himself behind the orc, leaving it open to both sides of attack. It glanced back, seeming to take note of his presence as it turned to the side, giving them both equal attention.

"Hey, Boss—this guy is kind of freaking me out here...Orcs don’t usually fight like this!" Phoenix called out.

"Just stay wary! Don’t get comfortable around this one!" Leon shouted past the orc.

Unlike other fiends he’d faced, the barbaric monster that stood between them had a calm look in its eyes. It didn’t snarl or roar, silently standing in the quiet road with its axe ready to be swung at the first that approached.

"Greater Haste. Greater Strengthening," he quietly invoked, dashing across the cobblestone.

Just as he moved in, the orc responded, mumbling an unintelligible language. From the monster’s chants, a nefarious, black energy engulfed its axe.

’It enchanted its weapon?’ He thought.

Just as he got within striking range, the gray-skinned orc slammed its foot down, shattering the stone it stepped on. The tremor of force threw his footing off, bringing him under the trail of the down-swinging axe. He slipped back quickly, witnessing the nebulous weapon slam into the road.

THWOOM.

"Ghh!?"

A dark shock wave emitted with a hum of silence following. Chunks of stone flew in every direction, forcing him to deflect a high-speed slab as he found the orc on the move again.

’It’s focusing me over Phoenix. Hate to say it, but it definitely knows I’m a bigger threat,’ he thought.

As the axe was swung with the intent to decapitate him, he ducked beneath it. He retaliated with a quick flick of his sword, aimed for the orc’s belly.

It slipped back, bending its spine to avoid the sharp edge, flipping back on its hands like an acrobat.

Like a sailing fireball, the crimson adventurer swept in just as the orc landed on its head. Phoenix swept his flaming blade for its back, only for the savage to push off the ground, flipping over the man entirely.

"Look out!" Leon shouted while on the move.

There was still a dozen meters between himself and his companion in that split-second.

Phoenix spun around anxiously just as the orc landed behind him, "Shit!—Crimson Burst!"

The flaming sword was swung, unleashing a burst of popping embers that ignited against the orc. While it seemed like hardly more than glorified firecrackers, it stunned the brute long enough for Leon to close in.

He pivoted off his right foot, lunging towards the left of the orc. The cobblestone beneath his boot cracked as he pushed off with all of his strength.

Bringing his arms over his head, he infused rich mana into his blade, bringing it down towards the orc’s neck. It raised its axe, though a moment too late—its arm was lopped off.

"Grh!—" The orc grunted, showing only a hint of pain.

Even as its weapon-wielding arm was amputated, the fight didn’t leave the warrior. It spun around, gritting its teeth as it threw a wild haymaker towards his face.

Leon readied himself to counter, flipping his blade around—

"Hyraaah!"

—Phoenix intercepted the orc’s strike, bashing his shoulder against the savage. At that moment, as the monster lost balance, Leon dashed in alongside his companion as they thrusted their swords in unison.

Both blades pierced the orc; Phoenix’s penetrated its chest, while his impaled its neck.

"Haaah!"

"Ghhh!"

Together, they pushed forward before the orc’s resistance fell to zero. They stopped, catching their breath as both blades were withdrawn from the monster’s body, letting it collapse on the quiet road.

[EXP: +10,000] [40000/50000]

"Fffuuuah...it’s over," Phoenix sighed dramatically.

"Yeah," Leon said, feeling similar relief as he looked over. "Are you good? It didn’t get you anywhere?"

"All good, Boss," Phoenix said, patting himself on the chest.

"That one was definitely tough. For a second, thought it was a Field Boss," Leon remarked, looking at the axe left on the road.

"Field Boss?"

"Nothing. Ignore that," Leon brushed off. "At least we know the situation is more than expected. If monsters like this are going to be plentiful, we’ll need all the preparation we can get."

Heading back down the road to return to the mansion, the two men retraced the steps of the quiet path. Somehow, the trees seemed even more silent, as if afraid to make noise.

Walking behind his companion, he swiped his hand, conjuring a projection of the mansion in his view. From what he could see, it was completely safe, thankfully.

Dismissing the projection, he stopped just as he noticed the man in front of him had as well.

"Err, Boss...We’ve got a small problem."

Leon lifted his head, looking at the road at what blocked their path. This time, it wasn’t an orc, yet something larger, more bestial. It resembled a lion, only multiple times larger than any he was familiar with, presenting a silver mane that flowed elegantly.

In place of a tail was the head of an emerald serpent, and on its back were grand wings as if born of an eagle.

["Platinum Chimera"] [Level: 20]

"The Eclipse really is getting close, isn’t it?" Leon said, readying himself for combat.

Phoenix nodded with a gulp, "A Chimera around here...That’s definitely not normal."

As the adventurer beside him reached for his sword, Leon stopped him, restraining himself from doing the same.

"Huh? What is it, Boss?" Phoenix asked.

"Hold on," Leon said, looking towards the beast that stood its ground. "Let’s not go for the kill here. I’m going to try something different."

"Different?! Boss, no disrespect, I don’t think there’s anything but going for a kill against a Chimera!" Phoenix hurriedly said.

"Just stand back then, I’ll handle this," Leon said with a confident smile, taking careful strides towards the cautious beast.

While Phoenix initially protested the idea, it seemed he placed some trust in whatever plan was in the nobleman’s mind. Leon marched towards the gargantuan lion-hybrid with slow, methodical breaths.

’If we’re going to make it through the Nebula Eclipse, bolstering our forces is mandatory,’ he thought.

As he got within a few meters of the colossal lion, he held his hand out right as it took a malicious step towards him:

["Subjugation"]

Invoking from his will, vibrant bindings manifested around the beast’s body, holding it in place. It resisted, growling as it gnashed its teeth.

’C’mon–’ He urged, keeping his hand held forward.

The ethereal strands were felt like a sixth sense, making him well aware of the beast’s strength as it fought the system’s skill. He focused entirely, straining himself before the Chimera lashed out, slamming its claws against the cobblestone with stone-shattering strength.

All at once, the bindings were broken as it emerged untamed, unleashing a roar. From its jaws, the emission of its anger was felt as a mighty wind pushed against his body.

Phoenix shouted from the near distance, "Hey, Boss–whatever you’re doing, I’d be careful!"

[Subjugation Failed.]

’Yeah, I got that,’ Leon thought, shielding himself from the beast’s breath with one arm.