The war drums were still echoing when the first orc charged.
There was no time to breathe. No time to think.
Only battle.
Kaito stepped forward and shouted,
“Now!”
Serena lifted her staff high.
Mana erupted around her like a blizzard.
“Heavenly Ice Spikes!”
The forest floor detonated.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of reinforced ice spikes erupted upward in violent succession. Each spike stretched nearly two meters long, thick as tree trunks.
The charging orcs had no time to react.
Crack. Crunch. Tear.
Legs were pierced. Arms skewered. Armor shattered like glass. Blood froze mid-air as the freezing magic spread instantly through wounds.
The battlefield turned into a frozen forest of spears.
Roars of pain filled the air.
But the front line still moved.
“Renna!” Kaito shouted.
Flames exploded around the sword mage.
Her eyes burned gold.
“Dragon Execution!”
A colossal dragon of fire erupted behind her, roaring with ancient fury. Its massive form coiled in blazing light before Renna thrust her blade forward.
“Go!”
The fire dragon surged across the battlefield.
It devoured everything in its path.
The front line of orcs vanished beneath the inferno. Firestorms rolled across the forest floor, igniting trees and armor alike.
Heat distorted the air. Smoke filled the sky.
Kaito dashed forward into the burning chaos.
“Frost Nova!”
A shockwave of freezing magic exploded outward.
Flames died instantly.
Fire turned to crystal.
Every burning orc froze solid mid-motion.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The battlefield became a sculpture garden of frozen monsters.
Renna stepped forward.
Calm. Silent.
Terrifying.
She walked directly into the center of the frozen army.
“Hellfire Moon Dance.”
She drew her sword.
One elegant slash.
Just one.
A perfect arc of flame cut the air.
Nothing happened.
For one heartbeat.
Then—
Lines of fire ignited everywhere around her.
Invisible cuts became blazing scars.
The frozen orcs split apart into dozens of pieces.
Silence fell.
But three remained.
Broken. Injured. Still moving.
Serena raised her staff slowly.
Her voice was soft.
“Celestial Ice Lance.”
Twenty massive Lance of ice formed behind her like divine statues.
Each held a glowing lance.
She pointed forward.
They fired.
The lances moved faster than sight.
Piercing armor. Bone. Flesh.
The orcs didn’t scream.
They froze instantly.
Cracks spread across their bodies.
Shatter.
The battlefield fell silent.
Steam rose from melting frost.
Ash drifted through the air like snow.
Kaito exhaled deeply.
“…We survived.”
Renna wiped sweat from her brow. “That was too many.”
Serena nodded. “This forest isn’t safe anymore.”
Kaito began storing bodies into his item box.
“We’re done for today. If another group appears, we’re finished.”
Renna sheathed her sword slowly. “Agreed. Even my strongest slashes couldn’t finish some instantly…”
Serena looked toward the distant trees.
“We should warn the guild. Merchants must stop traveling this route.”
Kaito nodded.
“Let’s head ba—”
A roar shook the entire forest.
All three froze.
Heavy footsteps followed.
Slow.
Massive.
Terrifying.
From the smoke emerged a gigantic silhouette.
Four and a half meters tall.
Muscles like boulders.
A two-meter axe dragged across the ground.
Behind him…
An army of orcs marched forward.
Kaito whispered the words none of them wanted to say.
“…Orc General.”
His grip tightened.
“Retreat.”
Renna shook her head.
“If we run, they follow us to town.”
Serena’s voice trembled. “There are too many…”
Kaito closed his eyes.
Then opened them.
Determined.
“…Then we gamble.”
Renna inhaled slowly.
“I have a skill. If I use it… I will collapse.”
Kaito stepped beside her.
“If it can end this battle, I’ll protect you.”
Renna nodded.
“Stay behind me.”
Serena slammed her staff into the ground.
“Frost Dominion!”
Blizzard winds erupted.
Kaito thrust his hand forward.
“Titan Mountain Spike!”
The battlefield exploded.
Two-meter earth spikes erupted beneath the charging army, trapping legs and locking movement.
Freezing winds swept across the field, encasing bodies in frost.
Only their heads remained free.
The Orc General roared in fury.
Renna stepped forward alone.
She planted her sword into the ground.
The forest went silent.
Then the air began to distort.
Heat rose violently.
Red cracks spread across the earth.
All fire mana in the battlefield was being pulled into her blade.
Kaito whispered in awe,
“…What is this…”
Renna closed her eyes.
“Solar Cataclysm — Crimson Dominion.”
She spun.
One full circular slash.
A ring of compressed solar flame erupted outward.
The shockwave erased everything in its path.
The Orc General was struck at chest level.
The blade energy passed through him—
—and every orc behind him.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then fire erupted from inside their bodies.
The entire army split apart as internal flames detonated outward.
When the fire faded—
Nothing remained.
Only a burning circular trench carved into the forest.
Renna smiled faintly and Then collapsed.
Kaito dashed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
“You did it… you really did it…”
Minutes passed.
Smoke drifted upward.
The forest burned quietly.
Then—
Heavy footsteps.
From the flames…
A silhouette walked forward out of the smoke storm and come toward.
The Orc General is still Alive.
Serena’s voice broke.
“…Impossible.”
Kaito tightened his grip on Renna.
“We retreat. Now.”
The Orc General roared.
And charged.
To be continued…
