Chapter 32: Smacking People with a Staff
Despite the fact that the Orcs only sent two Wolf Cavalry to deal with them, Airael did not want to leave them all to Axi to handle alone.
Just like before, she wanted these disdainful Orcs to know the price they would pay for their arrogance.
The reason for this sudden proposal was that Airael was worried Axi might take them out by himself.
If that happened, she wouldn’t get to teach those Orcs a lesson.
So, the best plan was for each of them to take on one.
She figured Axi was probably thinking something similar.
“Don’t hold me back!”
In response to Airael’s suggestion, Axi merely shot back with one line, fixing his gaze tightly on one Orc Wolf Cavalry while leaving the other for Airael.
Seeing this, Airael smiled slightly and said, “Don’t worry, these guys won’t be a problem for me.”
Then she turned her attention to the other Orc Wolf Cavalry.
The two Orcs had no idea that Airael and Axi had already decided their fates.
They were still thinking about easily taking out the two foolish humans ahead and bringing them back as an extra reward for their efforts.
Little did they know how powerful their opponents really were.
They were simply on a different level.
As they closed the distance to about fifty meters, Airael cast her prepared spell at her target.
Meteor Fire Arrows!
Dozens of fire arrows shot rapidly toward the Orc Wolf Cavalry in front.
Airael didn’t intend to end their lives with this spell.
The goal was simply to restrict their movement.
The Orc Wolf Cavalry’s pupils constricted.
Now he finally realized he was up against a tough opponent.
However, it was already too late for him to take it seriously.
As he tried to maneuver his Riding Wolf to dodge the incoming fire arrows, he swung his axe, attempting to intercept the flames that couldn’t be avoided.
Some fire arrows were indeed blocked by the axe, but blocking didn’t mean the Orc wouldn’t be injured.
The fire arrows exploded upon being intercepted, showering flames onto the Orc Wolf Cavalry, making him scream in pain.
But this also stirred up the Orc’s bloodlust.
Now he was very close to the human Mage.
If he could just reach her, then he could easily slaughter her.
The other Orc Wolf Cavalry was currently too preoccupied to care about his companion’s thoughts.
As he closed the distance, he felt tremendous pressure from Axi, who was locking onto him directly.
Axi felt like a beast ready to pounce, even more ferocious than the Orcs themselves.
That feeling even made him consider fleeing.
But to run away like that would be too embarrassing.
The Orc Wolf Cavalry steeled himself.
He reassured himself that this was all an illusion, that the human was weak, and all he had to do was charge in and take her head with a single slice of his axe.
However, the reality was that as he passed Axi, before he could even bring his axe down at him, Axi swiftly cut his neck with a single stroke of his sword.
The Orc Wolf Cavalry fell off his Riding Wolf, which hastily fled from the danger radiating from Axi.
Even though it was a tamed wolf, it still retained its cunning instincts.
Moreover, now that its master was dead, it had no reason to fight an unbeatable opponent.
Axi didn’t bother with the fleeing wolf or the remaining Orc Wolf Cavalry.
After disposing of his target, he continued to gallop forward, charging towards the main body of Orcs.
His mount no longer feared these Orcs and wolves.
It had figured out that these Orcs and wolves were just a bunch of posers, utterly helpless against its master.
The Orc rushing toward Airael had no idea his companion had just been killed by Axi; his burning gaze was fixed on Airael.
As a “Human Mage,” Airael showed no sign of retreating but rather moved closer to the incoming Wolf Cavalry.
To the Orcs, this was a huge insult.
A human Mage wanted to engage him in close combat?
If he didn’t teach this human a lesson, his reputation would be ruined.
“Roar——!”
The Orc Wolf Cavalry bellowed, raising his axe high as if he were about to cleave Airael in two.
In response, Airael scoffed.
In the moment they were about to collide, she raised her staff and brought it down hard onto the Orc’s head.
Her staff, over a meter long, was clearly much longer than the Orc’s axe, which was barely a meter.
Moreover, the Orc didn’t expect Airael to pull off such a stunt.
Is a human Mage really using their staff to smack people?
Aren’t human Mages supposed to treasure their staffs like precious artifacts?
Normally they’d be afraid of even bumping it, treating it like a priceless item. How could she use it to smash someone now?
Not to mention smacking something as hard as a head directly.
For a moment, a flurry of thoughts raced through the Orc’s not-so-bright head.
Mainly, he found it utterly unbelievable.
After all, not only human Mages, but Mages of other races also tended to cling dearly to their staffs; how could Airael use hers so casually?
Yet, Airael couldn’t care less about that.
In fact, what she wanted was the surprise and the release of frustration.
Watching the Orc Wolf Cavalry take a blow to the head from her staff made Airael even happier.
She then passed by the Orc Wolf Cavalry, her staff now stained with the Orc’s blood.
She came out unscathed, while the Orc Wolf Cavalry, like his companion, fell off his Riding Wolf, a large dent marked on his forehead.
Clearly, Airael had struck with considerable force.
At that moment, Axi turned back to glance at the loud Orc, feeling a chill run down his forehead.
That was far too violent!
But then again, that seemed to fit the savage monkey theme perfectly.
Recalling the impression Airael had left on him last night, Axi couldn’t help but nod to himself.
He then turned back, focusing intently on what lay ahead.
After seeing that scene, he realized he really didn’t have to worry about Airael too much.
He had to admit Airael had the ability to handle those Orc Wolf Cavalry.
Feeling much relieved after venting out his frustration by killing his target, Airael noticed Axi pulling his gaze back and couldn’t help but let her mouth curve into a smile again, indicating her inner happiness.
See? I really am capable!
Although her close-range blow had been highly effective, Airael wasn’t planning on continuing to engage the Orc Wolf Cavalry in melee.
She called herself a Battle Mage, but her main job was still as a Mage, so it was naturally easier to solve the enemies with magic.
Airael slowed down, preparing to unleash a new round of spells.
Having easily taken out two of their companions, the Orcs would surely be taking them more seriously now.
While Axi could break through the front line of Orcs himself, it would still be better to have a powerful spell clear the way.
Just as Airael had expected.
After two companions were rapidly sacrificed, the Orcs realized their enemies were not to be trifled with.
They discarded their goods and launched a counter-offensive against the charging Axi.
Every Orc was radiating a murderous aura, filled with bloodlust.
Although Axi had shown considerable strength, the Orcs felt confident thanks to their numerical superiority and weren’t too afraid.
As the tightly packed Orc squad was about to crash into Axi, a dazzling lightning sphere shot across in front of Axi towards the Orcs.
“Boom——!”
The lightning sphere exploded with brilliant light, causing Axi to instinctively lower his head and shield his eyes with his hands.
His mount hastily stopped, though inertia propelled them forward for a short distance.
Once the bright light faded, Axi reopened his eyes to see what lay ahead.
The Orc squad had also halted.
However, their formation had become disorganized, and several Orcs were directly killed in the explosion.
Axi immediately seized the opportunity, driving his mount toward the Orcs.
The Orcs didn’t flee but charged back at Axi.
Yet, their formation was too scattered now, leaving a huge opening for Axi.
This gap would certainly make the upcoming battle much easier for him.
Watching Axi charge into the Orcs and begin to wreak havoc, Airael didn’t stop casting her magic.
To avoid accidentally harming Axi, she refrained from casting widespread, indiscriminate attack spells and instead focused on more targeted magic.
Single-mindedly targeting those Orc Wolf Cavalry.
“Kill that Mage!”
Airael’s follow-up magical attacks made the Orcs realize their enemy wasn’t just Axi alone.
Upon receiving the order, three Orc Wolf Cavalry immediately abandoned their fight with Axi, charging toward Airael from the front and both sides.
The remaining Orcs, though unable to defeat Axi, could at least hold him back and keep him from supporting Airael.
