Noah's laughter echoed through the forest like a wild yet controlled roar, reverberating across the dead land and hollow trees. The orcs flinched instinctively at the sound, their bodies reacting before their minds caught up, a brief moment where instinct warned them of something deeply unnatural.
But that hesitation didn't last.
They were many.
The human was alone.
Confidence returned quickly as logic suppressed their instincts. No matter how dangerous he seemed, eight of them together should be more than enough to crush a single human. That belief spread silently among them, stabilizing their formation.
A nod passed between them.
Then—
The largest among them stepped forward.
His presence alone felt heavier than the rest, his massive frame towering slightly higher, muscles tighter, aura denser. Even the surrounding orcs shifted subtly, instinctively giving him space as if acknowledging his authority without words.
A smirk formed on his rough face as his fists clenched tightly.
He began walking toward Noah.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Each step pressed into the wet ground with weight, sending faint vibrations through the earth. Then his pace increased, his walk turning into a run, then into a full charge, his fist already drawn back with crushing force.
Noah's senses reacted instantly, the orc's movement forming clearly inside his mind as its speed registered.
'He's Fast...'
He lowered his stance, preparing to dodge the incoming blow, his focus sharpening entirely on the approaching threat.
The orc closed the distance in a blink.
Its fist shot forward.
Noah ducked—
But—
Impact.
A brutal force slammed into his right abdomen from the side, perfectly timed, completely unexpected. The hidden orc's punch connected cleanly, driving air from his lungs as blood surged violently into his throat.
"KHUK...Ughh"
Pain exploded through his body, sharp and overwhelming. His organs felt like they had shifted under the impact, his visionless perception momentarily shaking as the force nearly knocked him off balance completely.
But he moved.
Instinct took over.
He rolled across the wet ground, forcing distance between himself and the two orcs before they could follow up with another attack.
'Damn it! I thought they were proud warriors, like those Novels described? But looks like those are all just in Stories huh?'
He pushed himself up quickly, breathing uneven but controlled. Blood slipped from his mouth, yet beneath the pain, something else burned—his body was already repairing itself, the damaged flesh tightening, healing faster than natural limits allowed.
The pain faded.
Fast.
Too fast.
Noah steadied himself, turning his attention back toward the group as all eight orcs regrouped together, their presence tightening, more cautious now, more aware.
'So you aren't gonna play fair and square huh? well I guess this forest is ultimately for be killed or kill.'
His thoughts shifted rapidly, abandoning reaction and embracing strategy.
'What now? I can't kill all of them if they are together, wait...if they are together that is heh.'
His perception expanded behind him, mapping the terrain in detail—the trees, branches, bushes, elevation, even the subtle movement of distant creatures lurking within the forest.
Then—
A plan formed.
'Let's split you guys up first...Heh'
Without hesitation, Noah turned and ran.
But this time—
It wasn't escape.
It was control.
A grin spread across his face as his body moved fluidly, his breathing steady, his steps precise. His physique made him lighter, faster, more efficient—every movement refined beyond human limitation.
He leapt toward a nearby branch, his hand catching it effortlessly as he pulled himself upward with surprising ease. His body followed smoothly, landing on the branch as if it weighed nothing at all.
Below, the orcs chased relentlessly.
They reached the base of the tree just as Noah positioned himself above them.
Then—
He jumped.
His body dropped straight down, legs aligned perfectly as gravity and force combined into a crushing descent aimed directly at the orc beneath him.
Impact.
The ground cracked slightly as the orc was driven into it, its skull smashing violently against the earth. Blood burst outward from its head as its body collapsed instantly under the overwhelming force.
The remaining orcs staggered back.
Shock.
Confusion.
But Noah—
Was already moving.
He didn't pause.
He didn't look back.
He ran.
'Seven more to go...'
His pace remained steady as he moved through the forest, his senses tracking the chaotic surge of anger behind him. The orcs' rage burned wildly, disrupting their coordination, clouding their judgment.
Noah smirked faintly.
'Huhu...the more angry you are the more likely you are going to do a mistake.'
He dove into a cluster of bushes, emerged from the other side, then immediately shifted direction, circling silently and slipping back into the same bush without a sound.
Then—
He vanished.
The orcs charged through moments later, bursting out of the opposite side only to find nothing.
Confusion spread instantly.
They scanned.
Two paths.
A glance.
A nod.
They split.
Four in one direction.
Three in the other.
They didn't realize—
The prey was behind them.
The moment distance formed—
Noah attacked.
He burst from the bushes with explosive speed, targeting the middle orc among the group of three. His fist drove forward with all his strength, his entire body channeling power into a single, focused strike.
Impact.
"GUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
The scream tore through the forest, violent and deafening. The orc's body convulsed as the force shattered its internal structure, its organs collapsing under the sheer power of the blow.
The two beside it recoiled instantly.
Then—
Silence.
The orc dropped.
Dead.
Noah sensed it clearly, his awareness shifting toward his own fist as realization struck him.
'Whoa, Did my Punch just do that? I knew i got stronger but this...this is unbelievable, A Bulky orc like him was dead only in one punch?...Although it takes quite a bit of focus to put all my strength into it.'
But the moment didn't last.
The other group had arrived.
Four orcs rushed into the clearing, their eyes locking onto the corpse before snapping toward Noah—
Who was already running again.
Their rage erupted violently.
"ROAAAARRRRRR"
Noah's senses sharpened instantly.
Something changed.
The leader.
His aura surged violently, expanding outward like a crushing pressure that distorted the very flow of energy around him. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as his muscles tensed, his presence becoming overwhelmingly oppressive.
'What's Thi-!'
Too late.
He was already behind him.
Faster.
Unnaturally fast.
The orc leader's fist slammed into Noah's back with devastating force.
Everything shook.
His body was launched forward violently, blood bursting from his mouth as his breath was completely knocked out. His ribs felt like they had shattered under the impact.
He crashed into a towering tree face-first.
Wood cracked.
His body folded.
"KHUKKK...UGHHHHH"
Pain consumed everything.
His senses dulled.
Sound faded.
Thoughts blurred.
Yet—
The orc leader was already there again.
Relentless.
Cold.
Its massive hand clenched into a fist, its rage no longer wild—but focused, deadly.
It struck.
Noah's head slammed into the tree again, embedding partially into the trunk. The impact echoed dully as blood streamed down, his body hanging limply for a moment.
No scream came.
Only silence.
His consciousness flickered.
Fading.
Breaking.
Yet deep within—
Something refused to disappear.
A voice.
A will.
'Why? Why is this happening again? why me?...I...I don't want to die. i don't want to die!...I...I will kill you! I will kill you!'
That thought echoed endlessly.
Beating.
Burning.
Refusing to vanish.
And then—
Something answered.
Not the system.
Not the world.
But something older.
Something buried deep within his very existence.
Something—
Awakened.
[Host's dormant Talent 'Sword' has been Awakened]