Chapter 16. Magic of the Forest

As Ivan swung his sword, the orc warrior’s body was pushed back. He threw his hatchet through the gap.
Psyuk!
An axe is lodged in the chest of another guy who was about to attack a soldier from a few steps away, and blood is splattered.
The soldier didn’t know anything, and only then realized he was about to die when, in front of his eyes, a sudden splash of orc blood splattered onto his body.
Around that time, Ivan was running to the other side, beheading the orc warrior who was attacking again.
Blood, wounds, death.
In an instant, six warriors fell to the ground, and the orcs lost their composure and began to get excited.
“Woo! Woo! Woo!”
With a strange sound, the orc warriors began to flock toward Ivan.
The burden on others had eased, but a few had already stopped breathing. Many people were struck by a surprise attack.
It’s a pity. But Ivan could not save everyone.
‘Should I have a proper wide-area skill? I wish there was something like an attack or a buff skill.’
Ivan muttered inwardly, but steadily swung his sword. Surrounded by several orc warriors, he laid them down on the ground one by one under intense pressure.
Kevin, who realized that Ivan was moving freely despite the thick fog and noise, shouted.
“Ivan! The totems of the shaman must be destroyed first!”
That was correct. But even Kevin felt absurd as he shouted that.
He has to find a hidden totem while dealing with a few orc warriors alone? Is that possible?
Of course, Ivan could.
Chichik, Chijik!
While dealing with the orc warriors, lightning was shot from Ivan’s sword and flew to somewhere. The totem was burnt and fell to the floor.
Just like that, three with lightning, one with an axe, two by kicking.
After breaking a few totems around, the fog started to fade significantly. Once visibility was secured, Kevin quickly checked the condition of the troops first.
Of the thirty men in the unit, only fifteen were still standing. About half of the people were lying on the ground.
“Damn, the damage is too much.”
Kevin, who had been muttering like that, was startled. It was because around Ivan, who was wiping off the blood on his sword, about twice as many Orc warriors were lying on the ground.
The orc warriors who attacked them were not stupid.
Talented warriors selected by Greenskin. Each of them was a formidable force.
If the number of the enemy is equal, we had to be prepared for annihilation, he couldn’t help but be surprised that Ivan almost solved it alone.
“No, you mean you were dealing with all of them alone?”
Kevin asked in surprise, but Ivan didn’t answer. Instead, he stared at something and spit out a word.
“We need to gather up the troops and get out of here. There will be more.”
As the spell broke and the fog began to dissipate, the remaining orc warriors began to retreat at once.
The warlike orc warriors couldn’t just retreat and leave the corpses of his comrades behind.
It wasn’t that they just ran away because they were afraid of death or because the circumstances were unfavorable. Because they weren’t that kind of guy.
Orcs were a race that considered it an honor to die fighting the strong. They believed that he could achieve eternal glory by the side of the great Orc God, Tarkan, if they died fighting so earnestly.
‘Come to think of it, it’s the same with Orcs and Norse people turning their eyes to battle. Orc God Tarkan, maybe Odin or Thor are playing two jobs.’
Even though he was thinking such absurd thoughts, Ivan did not let go of his vigilant. Apparently, the movement of the Orcs was very difficult.
‘There’s something. The named hasn’t come out yet.’
Orc warriors were strong, but their team work was not very good. If they moved together, it means listening to someone’s instructions in real time.
But the named hasn’t appeared yet? Even when orcs are aggresive race? How am I supposed to interpret this?
Ivan’s mind began to spin.
“…The Named is not a warrior. The named is a shaman.”
Then it must have been that a terrible spell would soon be poured out.
He had to move quickly.
“The bodies…”
“You won’t have time to take them. I know. But we don’t have time.”
Kevin’s gaze continued to turn backwards while urging the surviving troops to move. The fact that the bodies had to be left alone in the woods seemed terribly painful.
It was a familiar thing to the mercenaries, but not to Kevin. He is a knight and commander. He seemed to feel deeply ashamed by the current situation.
In the meantime, the ranger who survived the attack was looking for a way, but it did not go as expected. He just lost his sense of direction while wandering around the shaman circle, and there was something strange about the forest.
“It’s not the usual forest. What they’ve done has completely changed the terrain in the forest.”
“Are we lost?”
“You can get directions. If you go this way, we’ll be able to get out of the woods. But the terrain has changed so much that I can’t be sure it’s a safe route.”
“Damn, we don’t have time”
Then, suddenly, I heard a knock on the floor.
Tak! Tak! Tak
It was a low, clear sound, but it was clearly strange. Because the sound, which was not too loud, was clearly audible to the ears of all members of the unit.
Ivan frowned and muttered.
“Shit, it’s too late.”
At the same time as the shout, the main force exploded from all sides. It was powerful enough to shrink even soldiers with dull feelings.
Kiiiiiiiieeeeek!
There was a strange noise, like the howling of a forest, and the ground began to rumble. It swayed so violently from side to side that it was difficult to keep the center of gravity.
“What? Earthquake?”
Ivan replied to the bewildered soldiers.
“It’s not an earthquake, it’s magic. The forest is moving.”
“What nonsense is that…”
A mercenary who had a ridiculous expression on Ivan’s words, froze.
It’s not a joke, the surrounding forest was creeping. The trees began to lift their roots.
Tuk! To-do-dud!
Paak!
The tree spirits, whose eyes were awakened by magic, raised their body one by one. The action was sluggish and slow, but seeing the big trees come to life was terrifying.
“Damn, this is why they are using totems in the forest, they feed them with energy”
bang!
“Heup!”
A tree spirit, who woke up, struck down a thick arm.
Kevin took the attack with his shield like a knight, but his expression wasn’t very good. It looks really heavy.
[Shield Charge!]
thud!
Kevin, who thought he couldn’t just block it, took a more aggressive approach. When he hit it with his shield, the large tree spirit staggered and fell backwards.
Cheng!
“Ugh! How am I supposed to deal with this?”
A soldier swung his sword at the fallen tree spirit, frowned and stepped back. Truly, the body made of wood was very hard. Most attack will not work properly.
“An attack that does not use magic power will be useless.”
“Then what should I do…”
“Get out of the woods, I’ll open the way for you.”
“What? How could that be…”
Having said that, Kevin bit his mouth.
He had just confirmed that he had just slaughtered thirty orc warriors alone.
It doesn’t make sense, but maybe he thought it was possible.
The tree spirits were very intimidating, but they didn’t move very fast, so if someone pulled an aggro, they would be able to escape. But it’s hard to turn off that aggro.
“Then what about you? You didn’t think of sacrificing yourself, right? It hasn’t been a day since we met.”
Heroic Sacrifice.
The knight, Kevin, seems to be thinking of something like that, but it was far from Ivan’ inclination. He is doing it because he can.
“The shaman’s main power is not going to be infinite. I will stop them in moderation and pull myself out.”
“Shit! Then I’ll stay too!”
At that, Ivan shook his head.
“What are they going to do if the commander stays here? Lead the soldiers.”
“But I can’t just leave you here…”
“It’s annoying. I’m comfortable being alone.”
Kevin clenched his teeth at those words, but he couldn’t resist. The difference between Ivan and Kevin’s skills was obvious, and he understood that he could be a burden himself.
“…Please come alive.”
“Of course. Tell the headquarter to prepare a bonus or incentive. That’s the best compliment for a mercenary.”
“I’ll definitely do that. If the top management doesn’t accept it, I’ll give it even if I steal.”
Uselessly enthusiastic. He just want him to get out of here quickly.
Ivan nodded his head, trying to hide his grim expression.
“I will open the way.”
Guoooooh.
Chichik, Chijik!
Ivan held his position low, concentrated his strength on his lower body, and bounced forward at once. Truly a lightning-like movement.
[Thunder step!]
A blue lightning bolt exploded, and Ivan jumped up to the tree spirit’s eye level.
Boo-woong-
The tree spirit tried to attack Ivan, but he could not catch him with such a slow movement. Ivan, who swung his body in the air to escape, slashed his sword.
[Thunder Dragon Slash!]
Chi chi chiik, bang!
The tree spirit split apart like a tree struck by lightning. The flesh burns black and smoke rises up and down.
-Whoooooooooa!
The tree spirit uttered a painful scream. A voice that did not go through the vocal cords was sprayed everywhere in the form of a mental wave. It was calling other tree spirits to this place.
“Don’t hesitate, run forward! Run out the forest without looking back!”
After shouting like that, Ivan shook his head as he watched the moving troops move.
Anyway, he was not used to team work, perhaps because he was a stranger. Even in this situation, he felt comfortable being alone.
That way he can freely use the things he has hidden.
Whoa!
Instead of the sword he was holding, a spear appeared.
The lost warrior’s spear.
It was a spear that was used by a warrior from Nord, and the grade was unique, it was a growth-type item whose performance increased according to the strength of the owner.
Woong-
The spear trembles and breathes a faint vitality throughout the body. Although it was still sealed, it was much better than an ordinary iron sword made by a local blacksmith.
After all, this why items were the best. Although it was terribly difficult to find a proper weapon.
If I had the fully-enhanced, myth-level equipment set I had when it was still a game, I would have gone around in the past.
Whik! Whew!
A strong wind began to blow around Ivan’s body. A violent and destructive storm appeared, cutting down branches and breaking stones that had been rolling nearby.
Damn God of Asgard, a damn heroic achievement.
Ivan shouted as he looked up at the sky while swearing like that.
“I will prove my valor with this!”
Save colleagues in danger and remain alone to deal with the enemy to buy time for retreat.
What could be more valiant than this? It was indeed a scenario the heavenly gods would like.
Hahahahaha!
The sound of a storm-like wind whirling around Ivan sounded like laughter. Maybe someone with a bad personality was looking at him and really smiling.
“Damn Odin, I dedicate this battle to you!”
I’ll gladly accept it, Ivan heard the hallucination.
No, maybe that’s not what he meant, but so what?
If you said you will offer it, you’ll have to take it quietly.
It was a really arrogant idea for a warrior who served the god, but the god of war, who was crazy about blood and death, valiant battles and miserable fate, was glad to give strength to him.
An intense power rose from the depths of Ivan’s body. And as if waiting for it, the tree spirits rushed at him.
Whooosh!
bang!