Kingdom’s Bloodline

s body in shock.

”Motherf*cker… What dad said was right.

”What ’s the use of shooting accurately? ”

Palka said each of his words with great effort.
He swayed, and in the end, collapsed weakly to the ground.

”If the target doesn ’t die from the shot, I still lose. ”

”Palka! ” Louisa ’s sad and shrill scream rose into the air.
”Motherf*cking mixed breed! ”

Thales looked into the distance in disbelief.

Under the moonlight, an orc who had its lips painted white coldly put down a frighteningly huge and heavy black bow, then started dealing with its injury—three gleaming long arrows.

But the mercenaries had no time to avenge their companion ’s death.
Another group of orcs surrounded them from afar.

Thales raised his shield with all his might and quickly rushed behind the shocked and angry Louisa to fend off an attack for her.
But the force of impact from the orc made him lose balance.

’It won ’t do.

’We ’re not on the same level as them at all when it comes to military power.

’If this continues… ’

He was about to turn and call Halgen, but…

”Watch out! ” Thales screamed in shock!

Just when Halgen sent an orc who wanted to pounce on him back with his claw hammer and panted, another orc suddenly appeared behind him!

*Clang!*

A familiar spiked mace crashed into Halgen ’s weapon and knocked him on the ground.

Thales wanted to rush over to help him, but the orc beside him attacked him again.

The orc who struck Halgen down had familiar blue paint on his face.
It lifted the dizzy Halgen and glared at Thales fiercely.
Burning in its eyes was a hatred that even those who were not its race could recognize.
”Freuca! ”

In the next second, in his terror, Thales saw the blue-faced orc extend an arm and seize Halgen ’s head.

As if it was grabbing a chick, it rammed Halgen ’s head to its steel chest plate with an enraged howl!

Due to its great strength, a strange sound that would send shivers down someone ’s spine shot up when Halgen ’s skull crashed into steel.

*Crack!*

Thales shuddered.

”No! Halgen! ” Dean ’s roars traveled out from behind the blue-faced orc. 

Just like that, the Alumbian, Halgen, who wanted to have his little sister marry Thales, had his head—previously still perfect and undamaged—change shape just like that.
Red and white substances gushed out of his head.

He fell limp to the ground and did not move.

” ’Orcs… when they crush your skulls, they can do so effortlessly, as effortlessly as we crack eggs… ’ ”

These words echoed in Thales ’ head again, causing him to be incredibly horrified.

”Sokka! Freuca! ” The blue-faced orc roared furiously at Thales and flung its sticky left hand before it struck its chest plate, covered in brains and blood.
Then, it walked over. 

But it turned around while it was halfway to Thales.

”Mixed breed! ” Dean pounced on it while he roared.
His battle axe collided against the spiked mace.
”I ’m your enemy, you f*cker! ”

Thales shook his head and chased away the fear in his mind.

But the fight had yet to end.
The stench of blood still remained as swords and blades flashed.

The orcs ’ murderous shouts had yet to diminish, but the screams of pain and fear from the merchant group had grown fewer.

”Behind you! ” As he roared, the Northlander, Kant pounced on Dean even though he himself was covered in wounds.
He pushed him away and helped the bald man block an axe attack aimed at his back.

As dozens of orcs pursued them, Old Hammer and Quick Rope rushed over while panting and gasping.
They broke out of the encirclement and met up with the others.
They took over Thales and Louisa ’s places in the front row, who had gradually become drained of strength. 

Louisa, who had been surrounded all this while, finally got a chance to catch her breath.
She asked, ”How are the other people in the merchant group and the others? ”

”Schubert ’s dead. ” Old Hammer turned around and avoided a heavy blow.
He gave a simple report of his comrade ’s death.

Quick Rope continued with his words with a quiver in his voice.
”He acted as our rearguard. ”

Louisa stomped the ground with her foot, feeling pain in her heart, but there was no longer any time for her to mourn for her comrades.

”The merchant group is gone, ” the dishevelled Mickey rushed forward from behind her and spoke swiftly, ”I ’ll search for horses.
If we don ’t break out of this encirclement soon, we ’ll die here! ”

Old Hammer swung his weapon desperately for a while, forcing four enemies coming at him from a direction several steps backwards.

”Damn it! ” Louisa gasped in pain.
”Dean! ”

”I know! ” During the fight, Dean ’s voice changed slightly, but he seemed to still be thinking.

”Archers, armors, weapons, ferocious beasts ambushed us suddenly at the same time.
They had organized military tactics and formations… and this scale of attack… these gray mixed breeds! ” 

The bald mercenary gritted his teeth and shouted loudly, ”They aren ’t exiles! They ’re brave men from their tribes, proper warriors from some big tribe in the desert! ”

Thales was momentarily taken aback.

’Big tribe? An orc ’s… tribe? ’

At that moment, a strange sound traveled into the air.

*Hiss!*

”Careful! ” Dean roared angrily.
He threw a feint, moved past the incredibly enraged blue-faced orc, and shouted at Kant, ”Lizard soldiers! ”

Thales felt his skin crawl.
A nonhuman figure with four of its limbs on the ground squirmed about while letting out a strange cry and charged forth swiftly from the sand!

In the next moment, a huge grayish-yellow lizard the size of a normal adult man leaped up from the ground to stand in front of Kant.
Its scales could be seen clearly on its body.

It charged into the mercenaries ’ formation, bit down on Kant ’s arm, and flung him in a circle, causing the Northlander to cry out in pain.

Thales gritted his teeth and moved forward, thrusting his weapon into the strange beast ’s body, but it was deflected by its scales.

Kant swung his left arm while enduring his pain, attempting to shake off the lizard soldier ’s bite.

But this was his final act of effort.

Another orc seized the opportunity.
Its heavy Han blade [1] drew a sharp, piercing whistle in the air and slashed across the left portion of Kant ’s chest.

Under the attack of the crudely made weapon, a very distinct gap even appeared on the Northlander ’s left armpit.

*Splash—*

Blood gushed into the air, dyeing Thales red while he was beside Kant. 

”Aaahhh!! ” Old Hammer swung his hammer in anger and sadness, knocking back the owner of the Han blade.

”No! ” Dean roared fiercely.
He kicked up the bonfire, and the burning firewood landed on the lizard soldier.

Quick Rope screamed shrilly, grabbing all the firewood on the ground and throwing it at the monster of the desert.

Eventually, the lizard soldier could not withstand the flames.
It let go of Kant ’s arm and retreated into darkness.

But with half his body cut open, Kant only had the strength left to tremble.
He fell into a lump on the ground and soon stopped moving.

”Ah! ” Louisa ’s tears streamed down her face.
She grabbed her longsword and pounced on her enemies again.

The lizard soldier ’s charge was disastrous.
Dante ’s Greatsword had their formation disturbed.

Quite a number of beasts broke into their formation using that advantage.
Without the aid of their flank, all the people sank into a difficult state where they were one against many.
Thales alone found out he had to face off two orcs at the same time. 

In the face of their incredible strength, he was practically in a hopeless situation.
He had never stopped using the Sin of Hell ’s River, and with the Northland Military Sword Style, he avoided their attacks at the nick of time and also deflected their attacks.
Only then did he barely manage to block that terrifying power.

The battle situation was swiftly going against their favor.

The prince attacked and defended himself under the threat of a axe and greatsword.
His shield moaned, as if it was about to shatter in the next moment.

*Thud!* A loud bang shot up.
Quick Rope flew several meters away before he fell to the ground, completely unconscious.

’Oh no. ’

Thales bit down on his dry and chapped lips.
The hope in his heart was chipped away bit by bit.

The sounds of battle grew dimmer.

The merchant group had completely fallen silent.
The only people still fighting among Dante ’s Greatsword were Dean, Louisa, and Old Hammer.

Mickey, who went to look for horses, had long since disappeared into the enemy crowd.

”Persevere! ” Louisa ’s voice penetrated through the encirclement and traveled into his ears.
It sounded as if the situation was very bad, but she was still doing her best to motivate them.
”Believe in Mickey! He ’s a Barren Bone man, a beloved child of the desert! ”

’Persevere? Believe? ’

Thales took a step back and avoided another fatal sword slash in a very disheveled manner.

’Believe in what? ’

He breathed in pain.
The sword and shield in his hands had started trembling due to being struck multiple times.

Through the use of the senses granted to him by the Sin of Hell ’s River, the teenager could sense that the orcs around him had increased in number.
Most of them had weapons in their hands, and they were waiting beyond the encirclement quietly.
Perhaps when there was an empty spot, they would immediately rush forth to replace their comrade, and perhaps they were also waiting for their comrades ’ victory in a bout of arrogance.

As he stared at the increasing number of enemies all around him, Thales began to believe that his luck had perhaps ended.

He knew that his opponents were too strong, be it in terms of their numbers or their power.
Thales and the others practically had no chance.

He could only fight based on the instinct of never giving up, honed over the years he lived.

The Sin of Hell ’s River seemed to have reached its limit.

*Bang!* Not too far away, the sound of something being dealt a heavy blow shot up.
Old Hammer fell to the ground in pain.

’Damn it. ’

Thales sighed in his heart, then tumbled on the ground laboriously, only to find that he had rolled himself to an orc ’s feet.

His heart froze.

’It ’s it.
That blue-faced orc. ’

It lowered its head, and its face was as ferocious as ever.

In the next second, the spiked mace came charging to the ground!

*Bang!*

Thales threw his shield away.
While dragging his hurting and sore body, he avoided that attack in an incredibly pathetic manner.

Golden sand flew into the air, blinding eyes.

Thales persevered, even though he could no longer keep his mind in focus.

He knew that to humans, one attack from these orcs could take their lives.

As for using the Sin of Hell ’s River to increase the chances of survival?

Come on now.
Under this sort of intense battles, Black Sword ’s talk about not dying even though he was about to die would not happen.

There would also be no chance where he could bleed and he could activate his mystic power.

Once he was hit, he would immediately know whether the ferryman in Hell ’s River was just a legend. 

Thales struggled up in great difficulty, but before he could gain his footing, a machete struck his sword.

*Clang!*

Under the powerful blow and since he was not steady on his feet, Thales did not manage to withstand the blow.
His longsword fell off is hand and landed on the ground again.

His weapon crashed on the sand and let out a muffled sound. 

’It ’s over. ’

Thales trembled and could only feel a sharp pain in his arm.

’Compared to the spars against Jines and Wya, and even the fights against Nicholas and Monty… battles of this degree… ’

He flipped over in great difficulty, and could only see that blue-faced orc in armor approaching him.

It revealed ferocious fangs against the prince, then slowly lifted its spiked mace.

”Freuca, ” the orc said coldly.

’Damn it. ’

Thales felt his consciousness fade a little.

’Freuca… what exactly does it mean? Did I ever learn it during my classes in Dragon Clouds City? ’

Dean and Louisa ’s furious shouts still echoed in his ears.

Thales panted with great difficulty and touched the area around him, trying to find anything that could allow himself to draw blood.

But he failed.

In the next second, the spiked mace fell swiftly!

Thales closed his eyes.

’Little Rascal, remember to learn orc language properly, okay? Or else, you won ’t even know why you died… ’

At that moment.

*Thud!*

There came the sound of steel crashing against each other.

As sand flew and chaotic gusts of wind blew, Thales felt cold sweat break on his skin!

He opened his eyes swiftly.

The enemy ’s weapon missed.
It landed just one inch beside his head. 

Thales ’ heart had yet to calm down.
He stared at the scene before him in a daze.

An incredibly thick, shark iron fork was stuck between the spikes of the spiked mace.
It was the one that knocked off the mace ’s trajectory.

And that iron fork was connected to an even thicker, palmless wrist.
The fork had been forged straight into bone. 

The blue-faced orc who had been prevented from killing looked incredibly displeased.
It turned towards the owner of the iron fork—the owner of the arm whose hand had been sliced off cleanly.

”Nazair! ”

The orc roared madly.
Even the blue paint on its face contorted.

It was incredibly agitated while it pointed at the fallen Thales.
”Sel, freuca! ”

But the owner of the iron fork simply shook its head slowly.
The right arm, connected with the iron fork, still held off the spiked mace and did not let loose of its strength even in the slightest bit. 

The owner said an unfamiliar word with a deep voice.

”Solnoir. ”

Thales watched their exchange with a dumbfounded expression.

”Solnoir. ” The owner of the iron-fork arm repeated calmly.
”Solnoir, saattsel. ”

The blue-faced orc seemed very angry.
Its breathing grew more ragged, and its gray skin rippled slightly.

But the owner of the iron fork seemed to be of extraordinary status.
A few seconds later, the blue-faced orc roared and reluctantly put away his weapon.
It threw Thales a fierce glare, and its narrow eyes were filled with hatred.

Thales laid on the ground, stiff.
He only felt that he was about to lose control over his overused body.

The blue-faced orc raised his head and roared to the others around it.
”Naq! Kandarl! ”

In the next moment, as if they had received an order, all the orcs put down their weapons, regardless of whether they were previously engaged in a fight, and they took a step backwards.

Even that lizard soldier was bound using ropes by two orcs and restrained.

The orcs spread out, revealing Louisa, who was panting harshly while leaning against her sword and surrounded, and also Dean, whom Louisa supported.

They also revealed the owner of the iron fork.

Thales could see it clearly now.

This was another orc, and a special orc to boot.

The armored blue-faced orc could already be considered to be big, but this orc was even larger than the former.
It was practically the height of two adult men, but this was not its greatest characteristic.

It was its skin. 

The orc ’s skin was pure black, and was much darker than its companions around it.

There were a pile of thick, snow-white pelts on its shoulders, and it looked like it came from some creature.
Hidden under the pelt was black metal armor.
Clearly, its status was incredibly high.

There were three parallel, ferocious looking scars on its forehead.
They stretched to its nose bridge, and they looked like claw marks.
Its lips were faint gray, and it had more fur on its head.

Thales frowned.

’Its… the leader? ’

But the remaining mercenaries cried out in surprise.

In the next second, the pure black orc leader curled its black lips and raised its thick left arm.
Its hand held onto a human hostage ’s neck tightly, and he simply allowed him to struggle in vain while he was in its grip.

”No, no. ” Louisa ’s voice quivered slightly due to her tears.
”No. ”

Dean sighed.
”Mickey. ”

While he had his throat seized, Mickey shuddered.
His eyes were unfocused, and his hands held on to the unique orc ’s huge arm limply.
He could not fight back at all.

Thales shook his head in despair.

’It ’s over. ’

The orc let out a sound similar to laughter.
It threw the weakened Mickey on the ground, then lifted its cut wrist and directed the iron fork at the remaining mercenaries.

In the next moment, the pure black orc spoke slowly.

And it caused Thales and the two mercenaries to turn pale with fright, because what came out of the orc ’s lips was the common language of the Western Peninsula, spoken fluently and with the accent of those in the desert.

”Humans. ” The orc ’s deep voice seemed to even make sand tremble.
”You fought bravely.
You took away the souls of four of our brave men from our tribe.
You also won our respect. ” 

Louisa widened her eyes in shock.
As for Dean, he frowned.

There were dozens of orcs around them.
When they stood together, they formed a dense, black layer.
They held weapons in their hands while they stared at the mercenaries with killing intent rolling off them, but they kept silent and held their breaths.
No one made a sound.

”Hence, with our pride as members of Shattered Stone Tribe, as long as you surrender to us, your comrades, including this solnoir… ” It kicked Thales, who was beside its feet, and said in a solemn and stern manner, ”Will be able to continue living. ”

Thales moved slightly.

He remembered now.

The pure black orc had used one word: Solnoir.

In his classes in Dragon Clouds City, he learned that the glacial orcs had a similar word, but the pitch and suffix was quite different: Solnar.

The meaning was… a young cub.

Translator ’s Note:

1.
Han blade: A weapon from China, the ancestor of all Chinese swords used for war.