ClatterClatter.
The dwarves looked at their hands, now free of handcuffs. Magnus, spinning a key ring in one hand, smiled as they began cheering and hugging each other.
'If all else fails, at least I'll have a bunch more subordinates who will follow me. Though I still need to make sure they survive this hellhole.'
Shaking his head, he tossed the key chain to the last remaining dwarf.
It was the leader with the longest beard, who had asked him to unlock everyone else's shackles first. Catching the key chain, he looked at it momentarily as if he couldn't believe it, before inserting it into the handcuffs.
Click! Clatter.
He looked at his hands, now free, and at ide of emotions burst forth from his eyes. Tears and snot ran down his face as he tried to hug Magnus.
Dodging the dwarf and instead making him hug another one, he waited for them to calm down. While he waited for the cheering to stop, he gazed into the hallway, expecting more orcs to flock here.
His smile disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.
'Well, now all that's left is to kill whoever runs the show. They said the previous orcs were absorbed by the new batch, which had some horrible creature or something.'
He recalled the sensation of his skin crawling when he hears the roar, yet he was smiling.
'Ah...' he glanced at the dwarves, 'These idiots will die if they run in. Thorgim said he wanted to fight as well but they would just become casualties. Plus...'
Although he appreciated the dwarven leaders honesty, he had to refuse. Yet he smiled again, this time stretching from ear to ear.
'The XP is mine either way. I'll be there soon for another level up, and maybe there's a good skill in the shop.'
[Experience: 1892/4000]
'Since orcs give around 20 xp, and I can crush hundreds of normal orcs, this is the best! Let's not delay this anymore, time to level up!', he glanced at his waist.
Instead of being almost naked with a loincloth, he now had a belt with a mace strapped to it.
Closing the door behind him, he walked down the tunnel. The cheering behind grew fainter with each step, and soon he was once more in front of the warehouse where he had entered originally.
Going further along the path, his steps accelerated, and he began sprinting down the old corridor. With each step, he crossed multiple meters, and dust rose into the air.
He grabbed his mace.
More than 10 orcs entered his view, each one turning to face towards him.
He leapt into the air, aiming for the orc patrol.
Bang!
His knee struck the first orc, sending him flying backwards, causing more of them to be blown away.
Crack!
The orc closest to Magnus collapsed, it's head missing. The bloody mace once more flashed, sending another orc to its death.
An axe came from the side, aiming for Magnus head.
Bang!
His free hand stopped the axe blade, and blood began flowing down his hand. Before the first drop of blood hit the ground—
Swish!
BANG!
The axe wielding orc collapsed, it's entire head crushed. Dodging another blow—
'They can break my defense.'
An elbow strike, followed by another collapsed orc—
'So no bare handed blocking anymore. Instead, dodge and counter.'
Another orc collapsed, it's head dented.
More swings followed, and each time an orc collapsed to the ground. When the last orc fell silent, Magnus was covered in head to toe in or blood. Chuckling to himself, he kept running down the corridor.
Patrol team after patrol team of orcs were annihilated, a trail of carnage left where he had passed.
'100 dead orcs!'
More bodies hit the ground, piling up where he passed by.
-
Thirty minutes later, Magnus sat down, panting. Every inch of his skin was covered in blood, the hallway behind him drenched in blood.
[Name: Magnus (changeable)]
[Level: 12]
[Experience: 4331/8000]
[STR: 41] [SPD: 49] [INT: 11] [WIL: 47] [-] [-]
'130 orcs killed before the level up, then another 200 or so. This was... Exhausting.'
He exhaled deeply.
'But so worth it.'
Resting in the silence for another 5 minutes, his thoughts were interrupted.
Booooom!
A massive explosion came from outside, shaking the very castle walls he was on. Running to the window to see what was gin on, his pupils shrank.
Right now, he had left the underground, climbing a tower directly next to the cliff.
The gate house was now packed with cannons. Unlike earth's cannons, these were much larger in width, almost like mortars, with intricate orange lines flowing on the side. 30 dwarves were shuffling about, and before long—
BOOOM!
Orcs we're running towards the gate end Masse, furiously shouting.
BOOOOOM!!!
A fireball engulfed more than 20 orcs, turning them into mist, the shrapnel injuring another 30.
As the first cannon began reloading, a second one was adjusted it's aim.
BOOOOM!!!
Glancing at the orcs that were beginning to turn around and run, Magnus had a wry smile on his face.
'Well... They're more than a helpful bunch. Wait! MY EXPERIENCE POINTS!?'
Getting up, he began running towards the gatehouse.
'By now, I'm around 70% recovered. My wound almost closed as well, so I can't sit idly anymore! I need to grow stronger and finish this stupid system quest!'
As more and more cannon fire resounded, he occasionally saw the orcs scurrying around to retreat into the dwarven keep. Occasionally, a roar from the keep drowned out the sound of the cannons firing.
As the last living orc retreated into the keep, he arrived at the gatehouse. Seeing the 30 dwarves turn to look at him with a fierce expression, he got worried about a cannon being pointed at him.
Thor
"Ah, you're here! Where did you scurry to!" Thorgim yelled, happy at seeing Magnus.
"Cleaning out orcs. The walls should be completely safe from any orcs as of now."
"Good, good. Now then, you asked us to show you dwarven craftsmanship."
A ferocious smile formed on Thorgim's face, before he turned to look at the other dwarves.
"Are they ready!?"
"Yes!!!" all of the dwarves replied simultaneously.
Glancing at the 8 cannons, Magnus guessed what would be next.
"FIREEEE!" Thorgim's shout echoed in the fortress. Perfectly synced, the cannons emitted one singular earth shattering roar!
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The once proud dwarven keep was shelled, half of it exploding into gray mist. With another rumble, cracks began spreading across the once mighty fortress. With one final cracking sound, it began its collapse.
A cloud of dust, the sound of rolling stones, of orcs being crushed...
And another earth shattering roar coming from where the fortress once was. As the dust settled, the sound of rocks being moved echoed.
Gripping his weapon, Magnus excitement surged, seeing his opponent.
Tossing aside rocks the size of a car, an upper body the size of a bus greeted them. Covered in blood red fur, layered with thick steel armor on top, and claws as big as a human.
It emerged from the ground, standing upright.
An enormous ogre glared at them, before it began to charge.