Though it took a saint's amount of restraint, he withheld, waiting until the girl finally got up and left the terrible abode. He withdrew some distance away from the hollow tree, waiting on the path as the woman made her way back.
As she drew within sight, Elsa looked at him with a pale face and eyes glossed with shock, "Noah…?"
"Mind telling me what's going on?" Noah calmly questioned.
"What? Nothing's going on…I was just–I thought I saw a fox," Elsa explained, glancing around without looking at his eyes even once, pointing in a random direction in the forest.
"Tell me the truth, Elsa."
He spoke gently, keeping his eyes locked on hers as she struggled to return his gaze. Eventually, wordless pressure cracked the poor girl as the rain couldn't conceal her tears.
"I don't know what to do…" Elsa wept, staring down as she clutched her chest. "That monster–it's horrible…Disgusting, vile–just evil!"
"I know," he said, bringing the distressed woman into his arms as he stroked her hair, watching the dark bowels of the forest behind them. "I'll handle it."
"Wait, what? You can't–" Elsa rejected, looking up at him.
"Give me some credit, will ya? I've got a knack for monster hunting," Noah assured.
While he did his best to convince the distressed villager with a brave smile, it hardly seemed like Elsa could believe him. It wasn't as though he could blame her, recalling the monstrous appearance of the orc in comparison to himself.
"Listen, go back to the village and go to Gervin's. My companions are there," Noah instructed, lightly grabbing the girl's shoulders to make sure she was listening through her panic.
"Wait, wait–you're not really planning on fighting that thing by yourself, are you?" Elsa nervously asked with a trembling lip.
As the question came, the ground around them rumbled as branches snapped. From all directions, the forest critters scampered–birds evacuated trees, rabbits fled, and even bugs flew off.
"I knew I smelled another human in my domain," the inhuman voice boomed through the trees, carried with utter malevolence. "A tribute so soon, Little Elsa? You're a diligent one!"
Emerging through the shadows of the forest, the hulking figure dressed in tattered leather exhaled a steamy breath. The overwhelming presence cemented himself with the unveiling of a curved blade, with a length and width greater than that of the man's body.
[Identification] [C-Rank Close-Quarters Combat Skill]
["Divine-Favored Orc"] [Designated Level: Appx. 6]
"I–" Elsa attempted to speak, though was silenced by the paralyzing fear in the air.
He didn't waste a moment pushing the trembling girl behind him, setting her on the path as he readied his axe, "Go, Elsa! I've got this!"
"What do you "got" exactly, little man?" The towering orc taunted with a snort.
Accompanying the savage creature's taunt was the descent of the massive, bloodstained sword. It was brought down with such force that the air hissed, forcing him to intercept with his axe.
[Strengthen+] [C-Rank Strength Skill]
[Enhance] [B-Rank Close-Quarters Combat Skill]
The natural use of the skills magnified the strength in his arms, causing his muscles to swell with supernatural vigor, guiding his axe upward. Against the overwhelming slab of steel wielded by the orc, their blades clashed with a thunderous boom and a dance of sparks.
"Grrhhh?!—"
Both weapons rejected one another, leaving the mud at their feet parting like unruly waves.
"Not just some village meat, are you?" The orc discerned, exhaling with a disgruntled huff, rolling his shoulders. "You're a warrior."
"I'm just a passing traveler."
Dismissing his response, the towering monster emitted a malignant aura from his pores, causing the air to flex around his body, "I am Redrum! I have the blessing of the God of Orcish Combat, Vanunalu!"
The proclamation came with such showmanship as the orc stamped his feet into the mud, holding his arms out. With each word, the vile glow around its body flexed, shimmering with purified bloodlust.
For Noah, he was a tad bit confused, taken aback by the theatrics of the savage.
[Intimidation] [ B+ Rank Strength Skill]
In return, he flexed his own personal aura, pushing out the manifestation of his own strength and intent to slay the savage giant. The clash of their natural air made every living creature nearby flee, even the ants buried in the soil.
"Are you attempting to frighten me? Maybe you'd scare off a little goblin, but your presence–it only excites me; entices my hunger," Redrum claimed with a lick of his lips.
"I could say the same to you," Noah returned with a calm look. "You're not scaring anybody with that gnarly underbite. You should go see a dentist–"
The insult was immediately met with another swing of the gargantuan blade, though he saw it coming from a mile away. He intercepted it, deflecting the heavy strike as he immediately flipped his axe around, squeezing the handle.
As the motion set in, the air flexed around the blade of his weapon, and at the same moment, the orc's nose twitched.
[Mega-Chop] [A-Rank Axe-Wielding Skill]
The wind pressure roared from the motion made with his arm, expelling from the axe with destructive force. It swept across the neighboring trees, sending the slumbering leaves into an uproar. Through the bark, the force swept, yet–it evaded.
Like an acrobat, the hulking savage spun into the air as the cutting force passed right beneath.
'You're kidding me, right? How's a guy like that, moving like…that?' He questioned.
The orc landed perfectly with the elegance of a ballet, untouched by the slicing wind. Not a moment was wasted by the blessed savage, who rushed towards the lone human with his beady eyes locked onto him.
Noah slid back, avoiding a wild swipe of the lengthy blade as it cut across tall grass. Even though he avoided the sharp edge, he found the other hand of the orc pointed at him, with a single index finger extended.
"Furonus."
From the calm invocation expelled from the berserker's lips, purple embers gathered into a violet flame in front of the outstretched finger. It fired off into a swelling fireball, aimed right at him.
[Mega-Chop]
Before the heat could reach him, he swung his axe, casting the roaring wind outward. The sphere of bright-purple fire exploded upon contact with the slicing force, casting embers in all directions.
While the flames were expelled, through the smoke, the giant figure emerged swiftly. An ear-to-ear grin was plastered on the orc's face as it rushed him down with heavy, yet frantic steps.
"You're made of sturdy stuff, human!" Redrum expelled, pivoting off the mud as he spun with a whirlwind that carried the tremendous length of his blade in a rotation.
By pure reflex, he ducked down just as a fearsome wind passed over. He felt it tug past his head, hissing with boundless malice. As he blinked, the surrounding bark was bisected, momentarily pausing the rain in its descent around them.
'He replicated my Mega-Chop with pure strength. I understood it'd be a different story from that wolverine, but this guy is on a different level,' he observed with a steady exhale.
As trees fell in a destructive orchestra, joyous laughter expelled from the orc's chest, who eagerly relished in the dance of death, "A fine warrior like you–yes you'll suffice! If I eat you, I'll return to my prime!"
"So, you're an old man?--" Noah responded, staying on the move, swinging his axe.
[Soul Rend]
The eviscerating light cleaved across the mud, only to be intercepted by the laughing orc's blade with a flawless deflection.
"I was once one of the greatest warriors in the army of Kil'Havix! The battlefield was my home! Together, we orcs under the Great Kil'Havix conquered many cities, many villages until–" Redrum relived, relishing in his own memories before his expression contorted with a salivating rage. "That Saint…She ruined everything–swept through our whole damn army!"
While the orc reminisced, Noah took the opportunity to ease his breathing and calmly survey the situation, feeling that the savage was nothing more than a ticking time-bomb; unpredictable and volatile. As soon as the orc's eyes were averted, just for a moment, he swept his axe while rushing forward.
[Soul Rend]
As quickly as the light was born, it was dismissed by a swipe of the orc's blade, who enthusiastically laughed, "That trick again? Don't count on it!"
Across the massive sword wielded by the monster, a nefarious, crimson air shrouded it as it was swiped in the man's direction.
"This is what a real strike looks like!" Redrum gloated.
Noah raised his axe to block the bloody wind, though it howled forth with greater force than anticipated. The malicious mana parted into a dozen slashes, lacerating the forest along with the young man in its path.
Across the wooden handle, against the steel edge, cutting into his shoulder, abdomen, and even his cheek; the magical strike broke through his guard easily.
"Nrrgh!?" He gritted his teeth, sliding back.
The clothes on his body were left in tatters as blood dripped from his body for the very first time since restarting.
[EXP: +250] [6,000/10,500]
["Close-Quarters Combat" Proficiency Up +5] [35/999]
["Grit" Proficiency Up +20] [20/999]
[Skill(s) Acquired: "Minor Shield" | "Lesser Regeneration"]
As he exhaled, glancing down at the bloodied lacerations left on his body, he felt the new abilities integrating. All the while he took in the situation, the tyrannical monster laughed, resting his blade on his blocky shoulders.
"You wanted to play the hero so eagerly, but look where it's gotten you! Did you believe I was some low-rank orc, some bottom-feeder?" Redrum questioned with a snort. "After that Saint wounded me, I lost most of my strength. Since then, I've been carefully biding my time in this forest, healing and regaining my strength–thanks to the tributes of this village."
While the orb rambled, the lone man used the spare moments to let his body recuperate.
[Lesser Regeneration] [C-Rank Grit Skill]
Fortunately, the cuts on his body were surface level, allowing for even the minor healing factor to take the edge off.
"When I'm done with you, I'll be making my way into the village," Redrum claimed, his fingers twitching with anticipation. "--To dance beneath red rain again; a gift to the acts of war."