Awakening

My heart beat increasingly faster. I blinked rapidly and bit down hard on my lip. Cold sweat ran down my back, and my hands became drenched with sweat.

This time we were in real danger. If the goblins continued their search, we might be discovered.

The problem was whether we should stay still or go outside now and respond—we needed to make a choice.

Gulp-

The pros and cons of both options were clear.

If we continued to hold our breath and weren’t discovered, no problems would arise. But if we were detected, we might die without being able to respond at all.

On the other hand, if we went out to confront the enemy, we would have to fight no matter what. Without knowing how many enemies there were or where they were located.

Either way was dangerous. What choice should I make here? I turned my gaze to look at Inis and Isabella. They were waiting for my orders with tense faces.

As our eyes met, I was finally able to make up my mind.

‘We’re going out.’

I didn’t receive this divine power to hide and survive like this.

After making my decision, I thought briefly about how to deal with the enemy.

At least until we were discovered, we had the initiative. The most important thing in a preemptive strike was firepower. We needed to cause maximum damage and confusion.

I tapped my chest. Then I pointed upward. I wasn’t sure if my meaning was clearly conveyed, but both slaves nodded.

“Phew.”

I exhaled and closed my eyes.

The most powerful divine power I could use right now was the Flame Spear. I needed to maximize its firepower.

In my mind, I imagined intensely burning flames. Fiercely rising fire. I began to gradually shape it into a spear.

Magical power slowly moved and drew the shape. The image became increasingly clear, and when my mental image and magical power precisely overlapped and matched—

“Flame Spear.”

I uttered the incantation.

The spear of flame that existed in my imagination pierced through the wall of reality and revealed itself. As intense heat was felt, Inis and Isabella rushed out of the hole first.

“Kerururu!”

“Kuaaaaaaaaargh—!”

Dirt and dust flew around. I frowned as I manipulated the Flame Spear that hovered above.

Flare—!

The divine power circled around, emitting intense flames. It cut down all the orcs and goblins in the vicinity.

Boom boom boom boom boom—

Drum sounds came from not far away. Then the sound of horns was heard from a distant place. It seemed other units that had been searching the area were coming after receiving the news.

“Shit.”

This was turning out to be bigger than I thought. If all the orcs and goblins in the vicinity swarmed in, it would be a headache.

We couldn’t escape anyway.

I had to incinerate all the enemies with the Flame Spear I created. If not, there would be no way for us to get out alive.

Would my magical power run out first? Or would the orcs and goblins be depleted first?

‘Let’s find out.’

The Flame Spear, fueled by my will, burned even more fiercely.

Orcs and goblins ran across the plain. The numbers were visibly alarming. They were making intense crying sounds as they gathered in one place.

The forest had been completely reduced to ashes by the magical flames. Only the occasional trees and grass proved that this place had been a forest.

Flare—!

As I moved my hand, the Flame Spear rushed toward the enemies. The divine power flew, scattering intense flames.

“Keruruk!”

The goblins seemed overwhelmed just by the heat, sweating profusely and rolling their eyes around. When the orcs kicked them, one goblin rolled toward us. It seemed they intended to use it as bait.

Whizz—!

An arrow shot by Isabella pierced through the skull of the goblin that had just stood up.

Flare-

The flame spear incinerated all the orcs behind it. Ashes scattered, and only magic stones fell to the ground.

“Kegggggerk—!”

Dozens of goblin riders charged toward us. Orc riders followed behind them. The ones in front were sacrificial lambs, and the ones behind were the real threat.

“The ones who usually fight at the front are using tricks now. They must be desperate.”

“Indeed.”

We must have killed over 100 orcs and goblins by now. Even if we couldn’t collect all the magic stones, we would earn at least 3 gold if we took what we could.

Of course, that was assuming we got out alive. If we died here, all our efforts would have been in vain.

Flare—!

I moved the Flame Spear. The divine power flew toward the goblin riders. They tried to scatter to both sides, but expecting quick direction changes from boars was too much to ask.

“Keeeeeerk—!”

The flame spear penetrated right through the center of the group. Those hit by the attack were all reduced to ashes.

Squeeeeeal—!

The boars nearby couldn’t withstand the heat and ran wild. They collided with each other and fainted. The goblins sitting on them flew off and crashed into the ground.

“Awooooo—!”

Unlike the confused goblin riders, the orc riders had already left the scene. They were approaching in a large circle.

“Inis. Isabella. I’ll leave the front to you.”

“Yes!”

“Withdraw.”

I withdrew the Flame Spear.

Many orcs and goblins were still approaching, but it was no longer an impossible number to handle. And honestly, I didn’t have much magical power left.

“Phew.”

I wiped the sweat flowing down my forehead and spoke.

“Fire Arrow.”

A flame arrow appeared. When I pointed my finger at an orc rider, it immediately found its target and began to fly.

I uttered the spell multiple times, continuously creating arrows.

With each one I made, my head hurt more and more, and by the fifth one, I felt a headache like someone was hitting me with a hammer.

“Ngh…”

I bit down hard on my lip and widened my eyes. I watched the flying arrows. They were gradually escaping my control as the distance increased, but as long as the connection remained, it didn’t matter.

“Accelerate.”

As the orc riders began to approach, I immediately used acceleration consecutively. The five arrows emitted flames and rushed toward the enemy.

Flare—!

Five riders were shot down. But there were still five more left.

“Fire Arrow.”

I created arrows again. This time, my head started hurting by the third arrow, so I couldn’t make any more. It was a signal that my magical power was almost exhausted.

Flare—!

I shot the arrows up into the sky. The orc riders’ gazes turned upward and then back toward us. The corners of their mouths turned up, as if they thought I had finally lost my mind.

“Accelerate.”

The sun concealed the arrows. As they approached the orc riders, I lowered my finger.

Flare—!

The arrows, emitting flames as they fell, shot down the orc riders one by one.

Now only two remained.

I tried to move my magical power, but what remained in my body was just a thread-like amount. I couldn’t use any divine power with this.

“Cough, cough!”

The moment I tried to forcibly use magic, blood spurted out along with coughing.

“Master!”

Isabella, who was next to me, widened her eyes and supported my shoulder.

My vision swam. My head felt like it was about to split, and it felt like the sensation in my body was gradually fading. This was a phenomenon that came with the depletion of magical power.

“Master. Please stay still now. We’ll handle the rest.”

She carefully sat me down on the ground. Isabella got up and picked up her bow again.

Whizz—!

Isabella nocked an arrow, immediately drew it, and fired. She continuously shot arrows in succession, killing all the approaching goblins.

I raised my head to look at Inis. She was facing an orc with a longsword and shield.

Clang—!

Inis swung her shield toward the axe the orc was bringing down. Her arms shot up toward the sky. Her figure rushed forward and pierced the enemy’s neck.

Thud!

She passed by the creature kneeling on the ground and immediately faced the next orc. Just a few days ago, she couldn’t have shown such prowess. Her growth rate was truly incredible.

Was it thanks to Egun’s blessing? Or was it due to her talent? Probably both.

Whizz—!

While Inis was dealing with the orc, Isabella steadily reduced the number of goblins. Now there were no goblins left on the plain.

She immediately turned the direction of her bow. She had been glancing sideways all this time, apparently looking at the orc riders.

Whizz—!

The arrow left the string and flew in a straight line. The wolf moved its body as if the arrow was trivial, avoiding the attack.

“Tsk…”

Isabella clicked her tongue and drew the string again. But the wolf avoided every arrow she fired, and now both arrows and distance were running low.

Her pupils trembled. She bit her lip and breathed roughly. She rubbed her hands on her pants and nocked another arrow, but her shoulders were trembling slightly.

“Isabella.”

I called out to her, thinking the orc rider would reach us at this rate.

“Yes, Master.”

“I’ll support you. Just shoot your bow.”

“You’ll support me, Master?”

She expressed doubt. But now wasn’t the time for such conversation. Time was of the essence.

“Trust me and shoot.”

At my command, Isabella nodded and drew the string again.

“Phew…”

She exhaled deeply and released her hand. The moment the arrow left the bow, I gathered the remaining magical power and used divine power.

“Accelerate.”

Fire caught behind the arrow, and its speed increased even more. The attack, drawing a line of flame as it flew, hit the orc rider between the eyes.

Thud!

“Master. We did it! Just one more time…”

“Cough, cough!”

I vomited blood once more. It was the price for using all my remaining magical power. Her expression darkened, and she firmly closed her lips. Then she nodded.

“I’ll somehow manage the last one.”

“…I believe in you.”

Isabella said so and pulled the string.

An arrow on the bowstring.

The distance to the enemy was very close.

She carefully inhaled and exhaled repeatedly. As I watched that scene, I felt something stirring inside Isabella.

“Could it be…”

The moment I realized what it was, she released her hand, and the arrow began to fly toward the enemy.

Whoosh—!

The arrow flew in a straightforward line. The orc rider, as before, tried to avoid the attack by moving to the right, but this time it was different.

Whoosh—!

The arrow glowed with a red light and suddenly changed direction. It was a very strange and miraculous scene.

The orc’s eyes widened as if they would burst. It hastily moved its body, but its reaction was too late.

Crash—!

The tip of the arrow stuck right into one of its eyes. The orc fell to the ground, screaming.

Crack-!

The sound of its neck bone being shattered reached us here. That’s how close it was.

“Grrrrrrrr!”

The orc was dead, but the wolf was still alive. The wolf, having lost its master, bared its teeth and charged toward us.

“Kyaa!”

Isabella screamed but still blocked the path in front of me.

“Isabella!”

Just as the creature was about to pounce on her, a red light passed before my eyes. Black hair and a familiar back figure. It was Inis.

Bang—!

Her shield struck the wolf directly, and it yelped as it flew through the air and rolled on the ground.

Thud—!

Inis’s longsword, not slowing down, pierced the fallen wolf’s neck.

“Haa, haa, haa…”

And so, the orc and goblin offensive came to an end. We had survived.