Deep within the Kaizen Great Forest.
Kurap, the troll, set out for another day of hunting.
Lately, the area around Kurap’s nest had become barren of prey. It seemed like he had hunted too aggressively, leaving nothing behind.
He regretted not saving some for later, but it was unavoidable. After all, Kurap was a young troll who had just recently become independent from his troll parents, a year ago.
Growing trolls have insatiable appetites. So, he ate a lot, simply because he was a hungry young troll.
Today, he planned to venture a bit farther. Perhaps, he might even consider relocating his nest.
Kurap, being a troll with an insatiable appetite, couldn’t survive without food.
As he walked, Kurap sniffed the air. He detected the scent of a different species.
Sniff, what is this smell?
Ah, he remembered.
A slightly nutty and musky scent. This was undoubtedly the scent of orcs.
Slurp.
Thinking of orcs, saliva involuntarily dripped from his mouth, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
Orcs were truly delicious. Their unique, nutty flavor was exquisite.
Despite slightly smelly and tough meat, it posed no problem for a troll with powerful jaw strength and sturdy teeth.
On the contrary, the most tasteless was humans.
Humans lacked places to eat and had no taste whatsoever. Kurap truly despised humans.
But orcs, they were fantastic.
Orc meat!
Today, he would feast on orc meat!
“Kuaa!”
Kurap roared in excitement. He needed to quickly follow the scent. This smell was too delicious to resist.
Not long ago, he had missed an orc right before his eyes. Suddenly disappearing into thin air? It seemed like some unknown magic power he had only heard rumors about.
But today would be different.
Today Kurap, was a hungry troll!
A hungry troll was invincible.
Kurap tightly gripped his stone axe and bounded through the forest, making a thumping sound.
Crunch?
Then, he spotted the orc in front of him and smirked.
Crunch!
Wait, where did I see this orc before?
Ah, he remembered!
The orc he had missed a few days ago. It was definitely him, even though he seemed larger now.
“Crurur!”
Perfect timing.
Kurap howled, exposing his teeth.
“My Lord, That’s the troll from before.”
“Oh? You recognize it?”
“Yes. As an orc, I never forgets the face of an enemy.”
Honestly, Taehyung didn’t know what was what. How could he distinguish troll appearances?
All trolls looked the same to him. All trolls were big, and all trolls looked rough.
But Karim seemed to be able to tell.
Taehyung didn’t bother asking if he could win. Judging by Karim’s current state, even if he told him not to fight, he would likely still engage.
Well, if it got really dangerous, he could just summon him again.
There was at least a minimum safety measure, so Taehyung cheered him on.
“Alright. Fighting.”
“I will cut off that troll’s head and present it to you, my Lord.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
‘What would I do with that head?’
Hwong! Hwong!
Karim let out a strong breath, eyeing the charging troll with his axe raised.
Back when that stone axe was about to split his head, Karim’s trembling image was so shameful.
This was something for him as an Orc.
If he weren’t for his Lord, he would have died without a word.
But now it’s different. Karim was reborn as a High Orc. As the Manifestation of the Ancient Noble Lineage, he had to show himself as a role model.
“Then, I will cut the troll’s throat and offer it to My Lord!”
“You don’t have to.”
“Why not? I’ll do it!”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground trembled. Even though his heart was pounding, Karim maintained his composure, recalling the scene where his father fought trolls alone and won when he was a child.
‘My son, watch carefully. Trolls have strong regenerative abilities. You have to kill them in one blow. You have to cut off their heads at once, or they’ll recover. Watch closely, and do it like this.’
Kwaak!
Gripping the axe that his Lord graciously handed him, Karim stood firm, staring directly at the troll’s upper body approaching.
And with all his strength, he swung the axe at the troll’s neck.
Suck!
“Kruk?”
Tock.
The troll’s head dropped to the ground, rolling weakly. The troll’s expression seemed puzzled, as if wondering what had happened.
Bubble, bubble!
Blood boiled from the severed part of the troll’s neck. The typical insane regenerative ability of trolls was trying to activate, but it was meaningless because the head had been cut off.
“I, the son of the Blue Axe Tribe Chief, and now the favored High Orc, Karim!”
Karim raised the troll head high above the ground, shouting loudly.
“I, who single-handedly took down the troll and proudly became a warrior!”
Bang!
“Hahaha!”
Karim laughed heartily, pounding his chest.
And at that moment,
[Your summoned Karim discovers new possibilities!]
– Huh?
A message appeared to Taehyung, who had been watching.
*
Taehyung once again in a dilemma of choice.
[Choose the growth path for your summoned Karim!]
It was none other than a class advancement.
[High Orc Axe Warrior: Always at the forefront on any battlefield, sturdy combatant of the Orc race. They do not know retreat, and are those who turn fear into courage.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to strength and stamina-related attributes, and additionally, acquires the skill ‘Proficient Axe Mastery.’]
The first option was the High Orc Axe Warrior. It seemed like the most basic warrior class.
‘Not bad?’
Getting bonuses to strength and stamina was good, but the ‘Proficient Axe Mastery’ skill seemed more appealing.
From what Taehyung had learned through various communities, skills labeled as ‘proficient’ were considered quite powerful.
If Karim obtained this skill, he would undoubtedly become a seasoned warrior, showcasing veteran-level axe skills with the powerful physique of a High Orc.
‘Hmm. I heard typical warrior classes don’t reach this level.’
Perhaps because the race was Orc and not human, the warrior classes he had studied from the hunters’ community were a bit different.
If that was the case, this seemed more like a second-class advancement achievable through accumulated experience rather than a first-class.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s a High Orc and not just an Orc?’
Curious, but he decided to move on.
‘Let’s see the rest before deciding.’
And the second one.
[High Orc Wolf Cavalry: A class symbolizing the prime of the Orc race that once commanded the entire Afroxia continent a thousand years ago. Exclusive to High Orcs, these elite warriors adeptly handle the High Orc’s soul companion, the Wolf Fury. They ride on the Wolf Fury and swing a massive halberd like a toy.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to agility and strength-related attributes, and additionally acquires the skills ‘Empathy’ and ‘Wolf Affinity.’]
‘Wow, this looks good too.’
From observing the Wolf Fury over the past few days, it was an exceptionally skilled companion. Intelligent enough to understand human or Orc language, the Wolf Fury itself had formidable combat capabilities.
This seemed much better than the previous High Orc Warrior. For now, it entered Taehyung’s consideration list.
And the third one.
[High Orc Assassin: Orcs who leave bravery aside and choose to hide in the shadows. In the prime of the Orc race, the Shadow Clan, composed of Orc assassins, was infamous among the continent’s rulers.
Choosing this class grants massive bonuses to agility attributes but incurs slight penalties to strength and stamina. Additionally, acquires the skills ‘Shadow Concealment’ and ‘Dagger Proficiency.’]
‘High Orc Assassin, huh.’
It seemed like an odd combination.
A race known for its large stature, brute strength, and emphasis on honor, Orcs choosing stealth?
‘It doesn’t appeal to me.’
Although it seemed decent, Taehyung decided not to choose this one.
‘Not my style.’
Taehyung moved on to the fourth.
[High Orc Commander: The Leader of the battlefield commanding Orcs. They lead Orcs with innate charisma and exceptional leadership skills. A thousand years ago, High Orc Commanders were a headache for their enemy races, considered a top-tier threat with highest priority.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to mental attributes, and additionally acquires the skills ‘Charisma’ and ‘Battlefield Sanctuary.’]
‘A commander class… I’m not sure.’
It was a class he had never seen before. Despite his extensive theoretical knowledge gained from studying the system and hunters, this one was unfamiliar.
‘Such classes exist for our Earth’s hunters too.’
A unique class, like the top-ranked hunter who advanced to become a Vampire Lord, Juna Heon. It was said that he treated his vampire subordinates as a race.
Considering the power of a Vampire Lord, Taehyung thought that the High Orc Commander might have tremendous potential as well.
Taehyung browsed through the remaining options. High Orc Mage, High Orc Blacksmith. Two more choices were left among the six.
Out of all these options, he needed to make a decision.
Taehyung clenched his fist, deep in thought.
Honestly, except for the High Orc Mage and High Orc Blacksmith, the other four options looked good, making the decision difficult.
‘Don’t rush it. Look into the future. The future.’
He wasn’t just raising a game character; he was raising a summoned being to fight for him. It was a decision that determined his future.
Which option would illuminate Kim Taehyung’s path?
‘My choice is… this.’
[You have chosen High Orc Commander.]
[Karim awakens!]
At that moment,
Wha-ah!
Karim’s entire body began to be engulfed in light. The light gradually brightened until it became blindingly intense.
The enveloping light suddenly disappeared.
Humming!
A momentary static was filled with a blue energy.
The fundamental energy of the world, mana, surrounded Karim warmly.
Karim showed no special changes in appearance.
His eyes became deeper, and his gaze sharper. Despite being the only outward change, it drastically altered Karim’s impression.
If before he felt like a big child, now he exuded the aura of a proper adult befitting his size.
After all the changes were complete,
Finally, Karim opened his eyes.
[Karim has completed awakening as the rare class ‘High Orc Commander’!]
[Karim acquires the skill ‘Charisma.’]
[Karim acquires the skill ‘Battlefield Sanctuary.’]
[An anomaly has occurred! The skill ‘Charisma’ already exists!]
[The system selects an appropriate compensation.]
[The skill ‘Charisma’ evolves.]
[The skill ‘Dominance Instinct’ is created.]
Deep within the Kaizen Great Forest.
Kurap, the troll, set out for another day of hunting.
Lately, the area around Kurap’s nest had become barren of prey. It seemed like he had hunted too aggressively, leaving nothing behind.
He regretted not saving some for later, but it was unavoidable. After all, Kurap was a young troll who had just recently become independent from his troll parents, a year ago.
Growing trolls have insatiable appetites. So, he ate a lot, simply because he was a hungry young troll.
Today, he planned to venture a bit farther. Perhaps, he might even consider relocating his nest.
Kurap, being a troll with an insatiable appetite, couldn’t survive without food.
As he walked, Kurap sniffed the air. He detected the scent of a different species.
Sniff, what is this smell?
Ah, he remembered.
A slightly nutty and musky scent. This was undoubtedly the scent of orcs.
Slurp.
Thinking of orcs, saliva involuntarily dripped from his mouth, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
Orcs were truly delicious. Their unique, nutty flavor was exquisite.
Despite slightly smelly and tough meat, it posed no problem for a troll with powerful jaw strength and sturdy teeth.
On the contrary, the most tasteless was humans.
Humans lacked places to eat and had no taste whatsoever. Kurap truly despised humans.
But orcs, they were fantastic.
Orc meat!
Today, he would feast on orc meat!
“Kuaa!”
Kurap roared in excitement. He needed to quickly follow the scent. This smell was too delicious to resist.
Not long ago, he had missed an orc right before his eyes. Suddenly disappearing into thin air? It seemed like some unknown magic power he had only heard rumors about.
But today would be different.
Today Kurap, was a hungry troll!
A hungry troll was invincible.
Kurap tightly gripped his stone axe and bounded through the forest, making a thumping sound.
Crunch?
Then, he spotted the orc in front of him and smirked.
Crunch!
Wait, where did I see this orc before?
Ah, he remembered!
The orc he had missed a few days ago. It was definitely him, even though he seemed larger now.
“Crurur!”
Perfect timing.
Kurap howled, exposing his teeth.
“My Lord, That’s the troll from before.”
“Oh? You recognize it?”
“Yes. As an orc, I never forgets the face of an enemy.”
Honestly, Taehyung didn’t know what was what. How could he distinguish troll appearances?
All trolls looked the same to him. All trolls were big, and all trolls looked rough.
But Karim seemed to be able to tell.
Taehyung didn’t bother asking if he could win. Judging by Karim’s current state, even if he told him not to fight, he would likely still engage.
Well, if it got really dangerous, he could just summon him again.
There was at least a minimum safety measure, so Taehyung cheered him on.
“Alright. Fighting.”
“I will cut off that troll’s head and present it to you, my Lord.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
‘What would I do with that head?’
Hwong! Hwong!
Karim let out a strong breath, eyeing the charging troll with his axe raised.
Back when that stone axe was about to split his head, Karim’s trembling image was so shameful.
This was something for him as an Orc.
If he weren’t for his Lord, he would have died without a word.
But now it’s different. Karim was reborn as a High Orc. As the Manifestation of the Ancient Noble Lineage, he had to show himself as a role model.
“Then, I will cut the troll’s throat and offer it to My Lord!”
“You don’t have to.”
“Why not? I’ll do it!”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ground trembled. Even though his heart was pounding, Karim maintained his composure, recalling the scene where his father fought trolls alone and won when he was a child.
‘My son, watch carefully. Trolls have strong regenerative abilities. You have to kill them in one blow. You have to cut off their heads at once, or they’ll recover. Watch closely, and do it like this.’
Kwaak!
Gripping the axe that his Lord graciously handed him, Karim stood firm, staring directly at the troll’s upper body approaching.
And with all his strength, he swung the axe at the troll’s neck.
Suck!
“Kruk?”
Tock.
The troll’s head dropped to the ground, rolling weakly. The troll’s expression seemed puzzled, as if wondering what had happened.
Bubble, bubble!
Blood boiled from the severed part of the troll’s neck. The typical insane regenerative ability of trolls was trying to activate, but it was meaningless because the head had been cut off.
“I, the son of the Blue Axe Tribe Chief, and now the favored High Orc, Karim!”
Karim raised the troll head high above the ground, shouting loudly.
“I, who single-handedly took down the troll and proudly became a warrior!”
Bang!
“Hahaha!”
Karim laughed heartily, pounding his chest.
And at that moment,
[Your summoned Karim discovers new possibilities!]
– Huh?
A message appeared to Taehyung, who had been watching.
*
Taehyung once again in a dilemma of choice.
[Choose the growth path for your summoned Karim!]
It was none other than a class advancement.
[High Orc Axe Warrior: Always at the forefront on any battlefield, sturdy combatant of the Orc race. They do not know retreat, and are those who turn fear into courage.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to strength and stamina-related attributes, and additionally, acquires the skill ‘Proficient Axe Mastery.’]
The first option was the High Orc Axe Warrior. It seemed like the most basic warrior class.
‘Not bad?’
Getting bonuses to strength and stamina was good, but the ‘Proficient Axe Mastery’ skill seemed more appealing.
From what Taehyung had learned through various communities, skills labeled as ‘proficient’ were considered quite powerful.
If Karim obtained this skill, he would undoubtedly become a seasoned warrior, showcasing veteran-level axe skills with the powerful physique of a High Orc.
‘Hmm. I heard typical warrior classes don’t reach this level.’
Perhaps because the race was Orc and not human, the warrior classes he had studied from the hunters’ community were a bit different.
If that was the case, this seemed more like a second-class advancement achievable through accumulated experience rather than a first-class.
‘Maybe it’s because he’s a High Orc and not just an Orc?’
Curious, but he decided to move on.
‘Let’s see the rest before deciding.’
And the second one.
[High Orc Wolf Cavalry: A class symbolizing the prime of the Orc race that once commanded the entire Afroxia continent a thousand years ago. Exclusive to High Orcs, these elite warriors adeptly handle the High Orc’s soul companion, the Wolf Fury. They ride on the Wolf Fury and swing a massive halberd like a toy.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to agility and strength-related attributes, and additionally acquires the skills ‘Empathy’ and ‘Wolf Affinity.’]
‘Wow, this looks good too.’
From observing the Wolf Fury over the past few days, it was an exceptionally skilled companion. Intelligent enough to understand human or Orc language, the Wolf Fury itself had formidable combat capabilities.
This seemed much better than the previous High Orc Warrior. For now, it entered Taehyung’s consideration list.
And the third one.
[High Orc Assassin: Orcs who leave bravery aside and choose to hide in the shadows. In the prime of the Orc race, the Shadow Clan, composed of Orc assassins, was infamous among the continent’s rulers.
Choosing this class grants massive bonuses to agility attributes but incurs slight penalties to strength and stamina. Additionally, acquires the skills ‘Shadow Concealment’ and ‘Dagger Proficiency.’]
‘High Orc Assassin, huh.’
It seemed like an odd combination.
A race known for its large stature, brute strength, and emphasis on honor, Orcs choosing stealth?
‘It doesn’t appeal to me.’
Although it seemed decent, Taehyung decided not to choose this one.
‘Not my style.’
Taehyung moved on to the fourth.
[High Orc Commander: The Leader of the battlefield commanding Orcs. They lead Orcs with innate charisma and exceptional leadership skills. A thousand years ago, High Orc Commanders were a headache for their enemy races, considered a top-tier threat with highest priority.
Choosing this class grants bonuses to mental attributes, and additionally acquires the skills ‘Charisma’ and ‘Battlefield Sanctuary.’]
‘A commander class… I’m not sure.’
It was a class he had never seen before. Despite his extensive theoretical knowledge gained from studying the system and hunters, this one was unfamiliar.
‘Such classes exist for our Earth’s hunters too.’
A unique class, like the top-ranked hunter who advanced to become a Vampire Lord, Juna Heon. It was said that he treated his vampire subordinates as a race.
Considering the power of a Vampire Lord, Taehyung thought that the High Orc Commander might have tremendous potential as well.
Taehyung browsed through the remaining options. High Orc Mage, High Orc Blacksmith. Two more choices were left among the six.
Out of all these options, he needed to make a decision.
Taehyung clenched his fist, deep in thought.
Honestly, except for the High Orc Mage and High Orc Blacksmith, the other four options looked good, making the decision difficult.
‘Don’t rush it. Look into the future. The future.’
He wasn’t just raising a game character; he was raising a summoned being to fight for him. It was a decision that determined his future.
Which option would illuminate Kim Taehyung’s path?
‘My choice is… this.’
[You have chosen High Orc Commander.]
[Karim awakens!]
At that moment,
Wha-ah!
Karim’s entire body began to be engulfed in light. The light gradually brightened until it became blindingly intense.
The enveloping light suddenly disappeared.
Humming!
A momentary static was filled with a blue energy.
The fundamental energy of the world, mana, surrounded Karim warmly.
Karim showed no special changes in appearance.
His eyes became deeper, and his gaze sharper. Despite being the only outward change, it drastically altered Karim’s impression.
If before he felt like a big child, now he exuded the aura of a proper adult befitting his size.
After all the changes were complete,
Finally, Karim opened his eyes.
[Karim has completed awakening as the rare class ‘High Orc Commander’!]
[Karim acquires the skill ‘Charisma.’]
[Karim acquires the skill ‘Battlefield Sanctuary.’]
[An anomaly has occurred! The skill ‘Charisma’ already exists!]
[The system selects an appropriate compensation.]
[The skill ‘Charisma’ evolves.]
[The skill ‘Dominance Instinct’ is created.]
