Ch.176Chapter 176: Orc King (7)

# Chapter 176: Orc King (7)

Grrrrrrrrrr—!

In Valt’s grip, Gauwell’s Fang thrashed violently like a living beast.

The artifact’s immense power and strong will to return to its master, transmitted through the bracelet and magic gauntlet, threatened to twist Valt’s arm.

‘This is a bit challenging. But… I must neutralize this spear here and now!’

If he could just seal this spear, he could turn the tide of battle in their favor.

He couldn’t allow it to return to the Death Knight’s hands.

Yet Gauwell’s Fang stubbornly resisted, gradually slipping from Valt’s grasp.

His strength, which had never felt insufficient before, was now precariously inadequate.

Valt reluctantly decided to use his last resort.

The power of the system—the status window—which he had been ignoring for some time.

Even after the vampire incident, he had accumulated rewards by clearing various quests, but Valt had tried not to rely on the system.

However, with the lives of his comrades and countless soldiers at stake, there was no reason to hesitate.

《Name: Valt Lv. 35

Stats: Strength 420, Agility 175, Intelligence 50, Spirit 72, Will 175, Mana 70

Traits: Barbarian, Mixed Blood, Magnificent Barbarian Attitude, Won’t Harm You, Magic Anyway, Friend of Strong Spirits, Soul Contractor, Master of Strength.

Skills: Smash, Battle Cry, Throw, Physical Magic, Spirit Arts, Blood Magic, Aura-Mana Fusion.

Remaining Stat Points: 155.》

‘I’ve accumulated quite a bit.’

Valt invested 50 points into strength as a precaution.

[Investing 50 points into Strength.] [Strength becomes 470!]

Instantly, each muscle cell surged with vitality that felt ready to burst.

Valt gripped Gauwell’s Fang again with all his might, subduing the frantically struggling spear.

Crack!

The spear’s violent resistance noticeably subsided.

Not because it had calmed down, but because it was overwhelmed by Valt’s superior physical force.

‘Good, I’ve subdued it for now… but how should I handle this? It’s an artifact, so I can’t destroy it…’

Just as Valt was pondering this dilemma, a familiar and welcome notification sound rang in his mind.

【Ding!

Sudden Quest: The Confused Gauwell’s Fang.

Description: Gauwell’s Fang is very confused right now! A being with greater strength than the Orc King who wielded it has appeared.

This ancient artifact, which submits to superior power, now wishes to test you to see if you’re worthy of becoming its new master.

Quest Completion Condition: Gain Gauwell’s Fang’s acknowledgment! Prove your overwhelming strength to the artifact and completely subjugate its will!

Reward: Success – Acquire ownership of Gauwell’s Fang, +20 remaining stat points.

Failure – Gauwell’s Fang rejects you, and its ownership is permanently bound to the Orc race.】

A satisfied smile spread across Valt’s face.

An opportunity to obtain this incredible artifact.

While the Lupedium Bracelet provided powerful defense, having a retrievable long-range attack weapon would be like giving Valt wings.

‘If even a pebble becomes a Stone Bullet, then throwing this…’

Valt felt thrilled just imagining it.

“Alright, let’s give it a try!”

Valt slowly began investing stat points into strength.

10, 20, 30….

‘Oh? Look at you! Let’s see if you can withstand this!’

Without hesitation, Valt invested all his remaining stat points into strength.

His strength, which rose to 575 at once, made his muscles twitch again.

Urrrrrgh—!

The Blood-Gold Magic Gauntlet stretched taut as if about to burst, and golden light erupted from his eyes.

“GRAAAAAAAH!!”

He squeezed Gauwell’s Fang with enough force to uproot a mountain.

At that moment,

Screeeeech—!

With a metallic friction sound like a scream, Gauwell’s Fang’s resistance completely ceased.

【Ding! Quest Complete! Receiving reward!

+20 Remaining Stat Points acquired! (Total remaining stats: 20)

Reward: You have acquired ownership of ‘Gauwell’s Fang’!

Amazing! Strength really does prevail!

You’ve subjugated the ancient artifact Gauwell’s Fang with overwhelming brute force that surpasses the Orc King!

Gauwell’s Fang acknowledges your strength and will accept you as its new master.

As long as you exist with strength that transcends orcs, this artifact will gladly become your power!】

The spear that had been thrashing violently became inexplicably calm.

Valt smiled with satisfaction as he felt the connection with the artifact.

“Hmm… finally behaving now. Yes, I am your new master from now on.”

When Valt firmly gripped Gauwell’s Fang, the spear resonated faintly as if responding to its master’s will.

Valt decided to shorten the artifact’s name to “Gawel.”

While Valt was completely subduing the artifact, another change was occurring on the battlefield.

“Prince Valt has sealed that cursed weapon! Now’s our chance! Everyone, reform the Seventeen Stars Formation!”

It was Delphon Haines’ shout.

The knights who regained their senses from his call responded immediately. King Zerdin, while focusing on recovery, approved Delphon’s command with a nod.

Woooong—!

This formation, created in the Holy Nation of Ayeirn to vanquish demons, was originally a “holy spear” to destroy evil beings, while simultaneously serving as a “shield” to protect allies within its sacred domain from demonic energy and bolster their strength.

Once again, seventeen pillars of sacred light rose up, and a light barrier more solid and brilliant than before spread around the Death Knight.

Inside the formation, warm and holy energy filled the air, purifying the remnants of demonic energy clinging to the knights’ bodies and minds while boosting their fighting spirit.

[Grrrrrr…!]

The power of the Seventeen Stars Formation deployed by the Eastern elite knights, who had completely regained their will to fight, was stronger than before.

Will.

It sometimes created inexplicable miracles.

The intense purifying energy of the Seventeen Stars Formation, now switched to offense, was something even the Death Knight couldn’t ignore.

The creature hastily gathered demonic energy to create a crude black greatsword.

But within the sacred barrier, the power of demonic energy was significantly reduced, and the hastily created demonic sword was no match for Gauwell’s Fang.

“Kill it! Execute that demon’s puppet!”

Led by Delphon, over twenty Masters and numerous Expert knights all switched to offense at once.

The Seventeen Stars Formation transformed from a defensive “shield” to an offensive “spear,” adding sacred power to the knights’ auras.

Slash! Clang! Chang!

Glowing aura swords and spears began to pierce and cut through the Death Knight’s demonic armor.

[Gaaah!]

The Death Knight swung its demonic sword wildly in rage.

The bestial movements and cunning typical of orcs had disappeared, leaving only destructive power dependent on demonic energy.

It tried to push back the knights with a powerful demonic storm, but under the protection of the Seventeen Stars Formation, the knights persisted tenaciously and continued their coordinated attack.

Purification magic and support magic from the mages poured down, suppressing the Death Knight’s regenerative abilities.

“Our attacks are working! It’s nothing special! Keep pressing on!” “Show the power of the East!”

Wounds on the Death Knight’s body continued to multiply.

The rate of destruction was becoming faster than its regeneration.

At that moment, Valt let out another battle cry toward the Death Knight.

“GRAAAAAAAH!! MAKE WAY!!”

At Valt’s shout, the knights who had been fiercely attacking parted to the left and right, creating a path to the Death Knight.

Valt pulled back his right arm holding his new weapon, ‘Gawel,’ like a bow.

The Blood-Gold Magic Gauntlet stretched taut, about to explode with his overflowing strength and mana.

“Go say farewell to your former master, Gawel!”

Valt’s upper body drew a great arc as he hurled Gawel, imbued with immense strength, mana, and the will of its new master!

Whoooosh—!

Speed and destructive power of a different dimension.

Transformed from blood-red to Valt’s signature golden flash, Gawel flew toward the Death Knight’s chest like a blazing meteor.

[Grrrk…?!]

The Death Knight, distracted by defending against the coordinated attack, only then sensed the familiar yet strange destructive energy flying toward it.

But it was too late.

BOOOOOOOM—!!!

Gawel hit the Death Knight’s chest precisely, causing a massive explosion and shockwave that seemed to devour the world.

The impact was so tremendous that even the Seventeen Stars Formation’s barrier shook violently.

It was such a powerful strike that even the knights who were quite close to the Death Knight would have been affected had it not been for the Seventeen Stars Formation and the Masters’ protection.

Zerdin, who was recovering, and Delphon, who felt the power directly beside him, had their jaws drop at the sight of that single blow.

“Is, is that really the power a 5th Circle mage can produce?!”