The path of the Soul Emperor

Chapter 17

Wind spells and fire spells rained down on the small village, which formed a circular area about 100 meters wide. Jack, Stella, and Lisa faced off against the (C) rank orcs, while Alex watched from a tree, observing the chaos from a distance.

The reason Alex hadn't attacked yet was simple: the strongest orc hadn't moved from his house.

Alex hated the confidence radiating from that orc—the certainty that when he finally did decide to act, it would be game over.

This relaxed attitude only reinforced Alex's belief in the orc's power.

He held his sword, watching the chaotic battle unfolding in the village below with a calm yet calculating gaze, before sighing.

Waiting for the perfect moment was no longer an option; it had already been five minutes since the fight began.

Sofia and Mia couldn't sustain their mana indefinitely, and Stella was beginning to lose ground to an orc whose skills exceeded hers.

Jack and Lisa were holding their own, gaining an advantage, but Alex knew it was time to play his part.

From a house made of animal skins, a huge orc, standing over two meters tall, emerged with a massive greatsword resting on his shoulder.

"Seems they're having trouble with those little fools," he muttered, stepping out and surveying the battlefield.

At that moment, Alex appeared.

His face was obscured by a strange, evil spirit-like mask, and his silver hair caught the orc's attention.

Dressed in a combat outfit that allowed fluid movement, all in black and white, Alex walked toward the orc leader.

His every step echoed through the village, punctuated by the background of explosions, fire, and screams.

The orc leader glanced at Alex, sensing no real threat—but a small, buried fear crept up inside him.

Dismissing the feeling, he fixed his gaze on the sword at Alex's side and asked, "So, are you the leader of this group?"

[Soul Emperor activated.]

Alex stopped and unsheathed his sword, silver aura surrounding him. "Your sword looks sharp. Show me what you can do with it."

The orc leader smirked. "Well, it seems I was right about you."

His senses no longer dismissed Alex as weak; instead, he felt a growing sense of danger.

[Lv70] The Orc Leader - Rank C+

Alex couldn't explain it, but he felt a surge of excitement.

He knew he could end this with a Soul Spear, but where was the thrill in that?

He had trained for two weeks, and now, finally, a life-and-death situation awaited him.

In the blink of an eye, both fighters vanished and reappeared at the center, their swords clashing with a metallic ring.

TING TING TING TING

Alex's swordplay was precise and skillful, and the orc leader's grin only grew wider.

The ground shook, cracks spread, and a massive explosion burst from their final clash as they both flew back.

Sliding along the ground, Alex stopped himself with his feet, but before he could even lift his head, the orc leader's greatsword came slashing down.

Quickly and skillfully, Alex pushed his sword upward, deflecting the blow to the side as it hit the ground, and then jumped back.

But the orc leader gave him no breathing room, charging at him with surprising speed.

[Arcane Mana Skin activated]

With his power doubled, Alex managed to block the orc leader's attack just in time.

Their clashes intensified, their movements accelerating to nearly 40 meters per second.

This level of speed was new for Alex, and his smile only grew as the orc leader unleashed a crescent-shaped energy attack that forced Alex back.

Alex responded with his own Moon Arc, and the attacks canceled each other out.

In that split-second distraction, the orc leader appeared behind him, his greatsword poised to sever Alex's head.

[Wind Veil activated]

A wind barrier sprang up, blocking the blow and sending Alex flying, crashing through trees until he came to a stop.

He realized they had somehow moved the fight into the forest.

Unharmed, Alex deactivated the Wind Veil; its restrictions made it impossible for him to move or breathe freely.

Seeing the orc leader charging forward again, Alex's body began to crackle with electricity, intense lightning covering his weapon.

"Yes, yes, this is what I want! Give me more!" he shouted, his excitement growing.

The orc leader, equally thrilled, sensed Alex's excitement and muttered, "First form: Beunjov."

With a speed of 60 meters per second, far faster than before, the orc leader charged. Alex could barely react, and he questioned if this was still truly C+ rank.

Barely dodging the attack, Alex was struck by a lightning-infused Moon Arc, sending him hurtling through more trees.

Planting his feet firmly, he used his arcane mana to redirect the attack, but not without a deep wound to his abdomen.

He coughed up blood as his mask slipped off, revealing a wide smile.

As the wound began to close, his muscles knitting together to stop the bleeding, his minor healing skills kicked in, visibly repairing the injury.

"You're still alive," the orc leader remarked, arriving with a wide grin.

"Why stop the fun now?" Alex replied, his smile unwavering.

"Hahaha! Now that's the spirit!"

{Author's Note}

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