Chapter 34: Airael’s Performance
This time, they pulled five comrades to deal with Airael.
However, this redeployment didn’t really matter; the pressure on Axi significantly decreased as well.
Confirming that he could comfortably handle the remaining foes, Axi exploded into action.
This explosion had been building up since the battle began.
The result? Massive losses for the Orcs!
Axi dashed toward an Orc, slashing through his throat with a single stroke of his sword. He then deftly dodged an axe swung at him by another Orc from a different direction. With a swift kick, he sent an advancing Orc flying with a brutal kick to the family jewels.
The sound that erupted was akin to a pig being slaughtered!
Nearby Orcs, hearing their unfortunate comrade’s cries, couldn’t help but flinch in horror.
Even though he resorted to a dirty trick, Axi showed no sign of shame.
He might generally be a decent guy who follows the rules, but in combat, he understood the importance of trickery.
Besides, those Orcs had already pulled plenty of dirty tricks on him; he had just managed to dodge them all.
After taking the brutal kick, the Orc clutched his groin, howling in pain—a temporary loss of combat effectiveness.
Axi ignored him and launched himself at the other Orcs.
Caught off guard by Axi’s sudden counterattack, the Orcs were helpless to fend off his strikes.
One by one, they fell before him!
At this moment, their attempts to surround Axi turned into a joke.
Since just a moment ago, any Orc near Axi either met their demise or, like the one who got kicked, lost the will to fight due to similar reasons—none of them were a threat to Axi anymore.
Meanwhile, Airael faced little pressure.
With her current melee capabilities, while she might not have been able to handle the onslaught of multiple Orcs, as a Mage, she had plenty of tricks up her sleeve to force these Orcs into one-on-one combat, or simply make it impossible for them to reach her!
For instance, the Earth Wall Technique she just used.
She could use it to block the Orcs or create a protective barrier around herself.
In the end, towering Earth Walls encased Airael, providing her with unmatched security.
The sturdy walls, coupled with their smooth surfaces, made it impossible for the Orcs to break through or climb over them.
Inside the walls, Airael couldn’t see what was happening outside, but from the sounds, she could tell how desperate the Orcs were.
That’s the incredible power of magic!
Magic isn’t static.
The users of magic can modify their spells based on their abilities.
For example, her Earth Wall Technique had been enhanced; not only was it sturdier, but the surface was also incredibly smooth—it was utterly impossible to scale!
But within, it wasn’t that difficult.
Airael had specifically left herself a set of steps.
Then, Airael jumped off her horse, and with nimble movements, hopped up onto the Earth Wall, looking down at the Orcs from above.
The moment the Orcs spotted Airael perched on the wall, one of them immediately readied a heavy spear to throw at her.
But Airael had already noticed him, and as he hurled the spear, she deftly rolled backward, twisting in mid-air and landing gracefully on her feet using the steps she had created.
Although she emerged unscathed, Airael’s heart raced in fright.
If she had hesitated just a moment longer, she might have ended up injured, if not worse!
And judging by the spear’s ferocity, it would definitely have hurt.
But soon, a smile broke across her face.
Because the Orcs missed her!
Plus, from her earlier observation, she clearly knew where the Orcs were positioned.
“The wall is coming down!”
Airael mounted her horse and laughed.
As the Golden Magic Circle appeared beneath her, the surrounding Earth Walls came crashing down!
Seeing the walls topple, the Orcs hurriedly scrambled to escape.
Just as the walls crashed to the ground, two Wolf Cavalry Orcs who couldn’t get out in time were trapped beneath the rubble, their fates unknown.
The three escaping Orcs turned back, trembling as they witnessed the cloud of dust erupting behind them.
They had narrowly avoided being caught in the disaster!
“It’s not over yet!”
Just as the Orc Wolf Cavalry breathed a sigh of relief, Airael burst forth from the dust cloud on her horse.
The Orcs she targeted didn’t even have time to process the sudden voice before Airael charged out and knocked one off his wolf!
Then, she sprinted toward the other Orcs.
As the dust settled, Airael had already taken care of all her enemies.
Not far away, Axi had also wrapped up his own fight.
Airael slowly approached Axi, who was now looking over the “goods” left behind by the Orcs.
Their earlier battle had disturbed the pack animals carrying the cargo.
The items lay scattered across the ground in a disheveled mess, a gruesome sight.
Particularly certain images made it too much for any human to bear.
Axi couldn’t help but shut his eyes.
Sure, every human must eventually die, but these souls had perished for humanity! And to end up as food for these Orcs? They probably wouldn’t find peace even in death!
Airael, riding closer, followed Axi’s gaze to the fallen mercenaries.
Then she looked back at Axi, intuitively grasping his feelings, and said, “Let’s find a place to bury them.”
Axi opened his eyes and shook his head, “Just burying them won’t work; those Orcs’ Riding Wolves can still scent them.”
Though Axi didn’t voice his next thought, Airael understood.
The Orcs wouldn’t hesitate to dig up human graves for food.
And that would make it even harder for these deceased to find peace!
Thinking about it, Airael boldly declared, “Then let’s cremate them instead!”
“Agreed!”
Axi nodded in approval.
They began busily gathering the human corpses together, and Airael unleashed a Fireball Technique to incinerate their remains.
Standing by, Airael and Axi watched the scene unfold, their hearts heavy.
Such is war!
Whether between humans or against other races, once conflict erupts, death is inevitable.
Today it’s them; tomorrow, it might be ourselves.
Who can predict any of this?
