'What the heck does it mean "the orcs are becoming one"?' Lith hated when things went beyond his comprehension . Sadly, it happened most of the time he was forced to risk his life .
'Are they writing "doing a threesome" off their bucket list, merging into a three headed creature, or what?'
'Gross times two!' Solus replied . 'I mean their cores are resonating, just like we do sometim… Wait, I stand corrected! Only one core is actually getting stronger, the other two stabilized already . It's easier if I show you . '
Solus shared her recent memories, allowing Lith to see that the three orcs were even weaker than the ones he had killed earlier . Two had an orange core and only one orc had a yellow core .
'Clearly the orcs coming from the front are just a diversion . ' Lith thought .
'This explains why they are still so far . They were expecting their companions to strike from behind . By now the orcs have realized something went wrong and are changing their tactic accordingly . '
He could see with Solus's mana vision that after the orcs' cores started resonating, one of the orange cores had been promoted to yellow and was quickly advancing toward becoming green .
'Why boost an orange core when they have a yellow one available?' Lith pondered .
'The female they are overdosing with mana is even the weakest among the three . '
It took just a second for Lith and Solus to understand the meaning of such an action . Orcs were a utilitarian race . Each member of the tribe was but a tool to an end for its leaders .
The cadets didn't stand idly, not giving the orcs a second of respite . As soon as their enemies disappeared inside the trench, the cadets used their wands to unleash a hail of ice spikes to smoke them out .
Lith could see with Life Vision that the life force of the orcs was dropping fast . They had to act soon, before they became corpses . Lith took his earth wand from the dimensional ring, ready to counter whatever the suicidal orc had in mind .
The creature jumped out of the trench covered in blood, yet at the same time, the deep green aura enveloping her body made the orc appear majestic and dangerous .
"Take it down!" Nhilo ordered .
The cadets obeyed their Corporal . They focused their aim on the standing orc, who darted forward like a bullet . She was now almost too fast for them to see . The female orc danced around the obstacles set in her course with the grace of a ballerina and the speed of a cheetah .
"Switch to lightning! Ice it's too slow . "
So far, Sergeant Tepper was proud of Nhilo's performance .
'These kids sure have rotten luck . Facing a tribe with a shaman can be a real hassle even for veterans . If it was a big tribe, that is . According to our scouts, there are only twenty orcs .
'Three are already dead and if the unit doesn't screw up, the tribe will soon be down to fourteen members . The cadets might be able to wipe the tribe out . It would do wonders for their careers . '
Tepper looked briefly at Lith .
'How did he manage to kill three orcs that fast and without a scratch?' He thought while hearing Commander Berion's voice echoing in his head over and over .
'Does he get the job done?'
The cadets needed but a moment to switch their wands . Yet as soon as the hail stopped, the orc was able to move unimpeded . She leaped forward, to cross all the trenches at once and reach her targets .
It was a simple but effective plan . Also, it was exactly what Lith had been expecting the whole time .
'What a moron! Once you leave the ground, you can't change direction or speed anymore . ' Lith thought while erecting a stone wall in front of the female orc, who crashed into it with enough strength to broke her nose, jaw, and skull at once .
'Don't let your guard down!' Solus warned him . 'Her core is still in overload . It's going to blow up any second!'
'Who do you take me for?' Lith scoffed . 'I never let my guard down until the monster is dead . '
He kept waving his wand, creating three more walls that trapped the still confused orc, leaving her only one predictable way out .
"Fire in the hole!" Nhilo ordered and the unit executed .
The four walls created by Lith formed an enormous chimney . All the cadets threw a Fire Roots, the Alchemic equivalent of a concussion grenade, into its hole . None of the Fire Roots missed the target .
The resulting explosion made the stone walls crumble, burying the orc under a ton of rubble . After an orange light departed from under the rocks, the two remaining orcs came out of their hiding spot and kneeled with their faces on the ground .
"Good job, Corporal . " Tepper nodded . "Now kill the last orcs and finish the job . "
A long moment of silence followed the order . The orcs were monsters who had tried to kill them until a second ago, but they were now surrendering . The unit's hesitation only lasted that long before they unleashed a barrage of spells that butchered the helpless creatures .
Blood, guts, and excrements flew everywhere .
"Killing them from a distance was the right move, but the next time only use lightning bolts for the finishing touch . Ice magic always makes a mess . " Tepper said . Lith was about to collect the corpses when the Sergeant stopped him .
"Nice move trapping the enemy like that, Cadet Lith . How did you know the orc was going to blow itself up?"
"I didn't . " Lith lied . "I just wanted to stop her movements . "
"A good call anyway . " Tepper nodded . "Change of plans, Cadets . What you have just seen is proof that the tribe has a shaman . An orc shaman is more than a simple mage . With the right tools, it can greatly enhance the strength of the whole tribe .
The effects of their magic are only temporary, just like our potions . Yet even a single shaman can turn a small tribe in a force to be reckoned with . Each orc becomes stronger, faster, and can use chore magic with enough power to make it deadly .
Also, as you got this close to experiencing it on your skin, they can turn their weakest members into powerful bombs . Since we don't have mages on our side…" Tepper stared at Lith during the last phrase .
"…you have the right to ask considering the mission successfully completed . Killing a shaman is way beyond the purpose of the field test . One or more of you could get killed if you face them without a good plan .
On the other hand, you can also decide to continue the mission . Make your choice . "
While the unit discussed the matter at hand, Lith stored the two corpses away .
"We want to continue the mission, Sir . " Nhilo said . For the first time since the unit had been formed, they were happy having Lith by their side . Him single-handedly killing half the enemies had been a key factor in their decision .
Tepper nodded, giving them new wands to replace their used ones .
"In such a case, you'll need my help . I'll take care of the shaman, but you still have to deal with thirteen more orcs on your own . "
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