The boar glared at the group, hot air snorting from its flared nostrils. Behind it, another creature emerged from the fog—also humanoid, but serpent-like, its movements smooth and deliberate.
Unlike the boar’s wild aggression, this one radiated calm—a cold, feminine stillness that somehow felt more dangerous. Its arms were crossed neatly over its chest, eyes gleaming like polished jade as it studied them.
The contrast was stark. The boar burned with chaos and rage, a beast born to destroy. The serpent, though silent, carried an eerie, calculating presence.
Everyone’s attention went first to the towering boar, its sheer pressure swallowing the battlefield. Yet, when Aria’s gaze flicked to the serpent, an uneasy chill ran through her. For reasons she couldn’t explain, the sense of danger she felt from that quiet one was even stronger.
But there was no time to think.
The boar let out a guttural roar and charged.
Each stomp shook the ground, rattling their bones, the air trembling with its weight. It barreled straight toward J and Nibo, who were standing at the front.
J exhaled sharply, glancing at the oncoming beast. "That looks like a fruit I definitely can’t catch. Nibo, I’ll leave this one to you."
Before anyone could process his words, he gave Nibo a light tap on the shoulder and vanished in the opposite direction.
Nibo blinked. "Ha! What—? Wait, you bastard!" He hesitated, torn between chasing J down or facing the charging monster.
The choice was made for him.
He turned, fists tightening, and his skin hardened to steel as the boar swung its massive arm. Nibo met it head-on, throwing his own punch.
And then—
"Arrghhhhhh!"
A thunderous shout ripped through the air.
A giant tree trunk came hurtling out of nowhere, slamming into the boar before its blow could land.
BOOM!
The ground erupted, dirt and debris flying as the massive creature was knocked several meters back.
Nibo froze, stunned, before turning toward the direction of the throw.
There stood Ryan, a wide grin stretched across his face.
"Y’all should leave some fun for me too," he said, cracking his neck. "You just ran off without me."
He stepped forward, gaze fixed on the dazed boar.
"I’ll handle that one," he said evenly. "You guys deal with the rest.."
The grin didn’t fade as he walked straight toward the beast, flexing his hands in anticipation.
"We’re not failing Akhil. We’ll survive—all of us," Ryan said, his voice steady as the tattoos on his arms began to glow faintly.
Then, in unison, every orc in the field received a system notification.
{You have been blessed with the Orc Champion Aura!}
{+20% to all stats}
Ryan chuckled, shaking his head. "He told me to be generous in battle. Hahaha."
If only Akhil knew this was part of Ryan’s ability.
The orcs exchanged shocked looks.
"And here I thought we were cooked," Aria said, exhaling in relief. "Guess the fun’s just starting."
BOOM!
Ryan launched himself off the ground, the impact cracking the soil beneath him. The beast—still reeling from the massive tree that had crushed it earlier—was struggling to rise.
Before it could, a dark shadow loomed over it.
Ryan’s punch came down with a gust of wind trailing behind it.
Bang!
The sound was deafening, like a small explosion. The beast’s head snapped back, and its huge frame was hurled across the field, tearing through dirt and rock.
It dug its claws into the ground, forcing itself upright again, smoke-like dust curling around its body as it released another hot, rumbling snort.
Then it charged.
Both figures collided mid-ground, their fists exploding against each other in a flurry of raw power. The shockwaves rippled through the air, shaking the trees nearby.
Aria watched the clash from a distance, her gaze shifting to the side. "At least he can handle that one," she muttered. "Now we can focus on the other—"
Her words cut off.
The serpent-like beast was gone.
Her eyes darted across the field, scanning frantically. It wasn’t in front of them anymore. It hadn’t retreated either. It was just... gone.
That uneasy pressure in her chest grew heavier.
’No... that’s not right.’
"A beast is here!"
The shout came from the direction of the settlement.
Aria’s heart sank as she turned.
There it was—the serpent-like beast—walking toward the settlement with an eerie calm, its movements graceful, almost human. Its long tongue flicked out, tasting the air as it hissed softly, eyes narrowing with twisted delight at the sight of the orcs.
"Fuck, I hate it when I’m right! J—the spear!" Aria yelled.
"Sorry! I’m a bit occupied here!" J shouted back, bracing his spear as another creature lunged at him. The clash rang out with a harsh metallic crack.
Aria cursed under her breath and bolted toward the settlement, her legs burning as she pushed every ounce of speed she could muster.
Swish!
Splat!
A young orc on the path ahead was sliced cleanly in half by the serpent’s scythe-like tail. Blood sprayed into the air like a burst of red mist.
"AHH!"
Panic erupted. Orcs ran screaming, diving into tents or stumbling over one another in blind terror. The quiet settlement turned to chaos in seconds.
The serpent beast moved fast—too fast—darting between huts and slicing down anyone in reach. Its tail carved through wood and flesh alike, leaving behind only blood and silence.
Aria’s stomach twisted. She could feel her pulse pounding in her ears.
The screams. The smell of iron. The helplessness in the orcs’ eyes.
Something inside her snapped.
Her aura flared.
The serpent’s tail came whipping toward another small orc who had tripped in the dirt, too slow to escape.
Swish!
Clank!
Aria’s blade intercepted it mid-swing, sparks flying as metal met scales.
She stood firm between the beast and the terrified child, her breathing harsh, her eyes glowing with unrestrained fury.
"You evil beast," she hissed.
In that instant, something inside her shifted—like a seal breaking.
{Title ’Harbinger of Justice’ is in effect!}