Full-Time Psychic Martial Artist

Gomash walked to the opposite side of Lorne, a bitter smile appearing on his old face with three hideous scars.

Zaku and the old orc had some connection, as they both opposed summoning demons.

But the old orc's death was a foregone conclusion, and he would never place his hopes on the enemy's mercy.

So Lorne sighed and pounded his chest twice with his right axe-wielding hand, expressing his respect in the orcish way.

[Gormash, Orc, Level 11 Warrior (Gladiator Skill Level 7, Throwing Skill Level 4), Health 235/235.]

Gomash returned the gesture with the same salute, then his expression hardened, and he entered battle mode.

Lorne didn't waste any time, assuming a defensive stance combined with a shield-wielding stance.

"Mogo-Kshaka!" Chieftain Goragon roared, announcing the start of the gladiatorial combat.

The onlookers, including orcs, immediately roared in waves:

"Mogo-Kshaka!"

"Mogo-Kshaka!"

"Mogo-Kshaka!"...

The atmosphere suddenly became heated, as if the entire arena had been set ablaze.

Knowing he couldn't defeat Zagu, Gomash didn't hesitate to attack first.

He raised his battle axe high with both hands and brought it down fiercely on Lorne.

Lorne raised his shield to block, and at the moment the heavy axe struck, he slightly contracted from his arm to his entire body, dissipating the opponent's force while simultaneously accumulating his own power.

When one's own strength is fully accumulated, the opponent's strength is also fully released, leaving them powerless and briefly frozen in place.

Lorne seized this fleeting opening, instantly unleashing all his accumulated power, lunging forward, and swinging his shield with tremendous force!

Sizzle!

The shield slid against the axe blade, igniting a string of sparks, and swung away the old orc's arms holding the axe, leaving the opening wide open.

Lorne instantly switched between "offensive stance + gladiator stance" and unleashed a swift horizontal slash with his right-hand battle axe.

The axe blade traced an arc in the moonlight, slicing into the old orc's left waist with a hissing sound, followed by a muffled thud as it chopped bone, forcibly pushing the old orc a foot in the direction of the horizontal slash.

Lorne landed a hit, immediately raised his shield and retreated, switching back to a shield-defense stance.

Judging from the feel of that strike, even if I didn't sever the opponent's lumbar vertebrae, I should have caused serious injury.

But this was, after all, a world with magic and supernatural powers, so he dared not be careless and kept a watchful eye on his opponent.

Gomash had already realized the damage that attack had just caused him.

He looked down at his bleeding, entrails spilling out of his abdomen, and held on for a full three seconds before finally collapsing to the ground.

His lumbar spine had been severed by the blow, and he could no longer control his lower body. The reason he was able to hold on for three meters was entirely due to the muscle memory of his lower body that he had honed over decades.

At this point, Gomash was still mostly alive, but he was severely injured, bleeding, and incapacitated, making him practically dead.

The audience, which had been boiling just a second ago, fell silent instantly, and even the heavy breathing characteristic of orcs could not be heard.

With a single strike, just one strike, he killed the Blackblood Clan's Grandmaster-level gladiator.

—What immense power this is!

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

After a brief silence, a frenzied roar erupted, and all the orcs knew that the upcoming battle between Zaku and Gorgon's Mogo-Kshaka would be incredibly exciting.

Amidst the deafening shouts, Lorne lowered his hands, which were holding the shield and axe, and silently looked at the old orc lying on the ground.

There's no doubt that Gomash just let the game slide.

The reason is simple: he wants Zaku to challenge Gorgon in his best condition.

Gormash stared at the sky, muttering something, but his voice was drowned out by the frenzied roars of the orcs, and Lorne couldn't hear him at all.

Lorne quickly walked over, bent down and put his ear to the other's mouth, and only then did he hear the other's last words before dying.

He said, "By Mog'shaka...may Gorgon...and his demonic master...die."

Lorne smiled inexplicably, a smile as bitter as Gomash's before.

The smile was largely due to Zaku's remaining personality memories, with the remainder stemming from Lorne's pity for the weak.

Upon seeing Lorne's smile, Gormash also gave a bitter smile, and then said, "Give me... a... quick death."

Lorne nodded, picked up Gormash's two-handed axe, knelt on one knee on top of him, and beheaded him with a single stroke.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

The onlookers erupted in another frenzied roar.

Lorne frowned slightly, finding it noisy.

On the Bone Throne, Gorgon frowned slightly.

Although he could tell at a glance that Gomash was holding back and throwing his life away, Zaku's attack that cleaved him in half was undeniably powerful.

How did this guy suddenly become so powerful?

At this moment, Zagu stood up, looked over, and showed no fear in his eyes.

Goragon narrowed his eyes slightly, meeting Zagu's gaze.

The invisible gaze seemed to create arcs and sparks in the air, causing the air pressure and temperature in the arena to drop suddenly.

The excited orcs quickly fell silent, staring at the chieftain on the throne without daring to breathe.

"Very well, now you are qualified to challenge me."

As he spoke, Gorgon slowly rose from the Bone Throne.

He is about 4 meters tall. He is already imposing when he is sitting, and he looks down on everyone when he stands up.

"Gormash betrayed my trust. But, it doesn't matter."

Gorgon's voice was like a muffled thunderclap. As he spoke, he unfastened the fur clasp around his neck, took off the cloak made of earth bear skin, revealing his body as if cast in steel.

His dark brown, rough skin was covered with nearly a hundred grotesque scars, many of which were in potentially fatal locations.

[Gorgon, Orc, Level 21 Barbarian (Titan Path Level 7, Battle Scar Path Level 7, Bloodstained Path Level 7), Health 810/810]

Although their class level wasn't as high as Kovina's (level 24), the dangerous aura emanating from their three Master-level subclasses was far superior. Especially considering their ridiculously high health. It was impossible for Nelly to assassinate them.

Gorgon straightened up, clenched his right fist, and pounded his chest twice, neither too hard nor too softly, speaking in a deep Orcish voice:

"Gorgon, son of Gorguru, chieftain of the Blackblood clan, and great chieftain of the Orcish Horde, accept your challenge to Mog'kshakar, who will uphold the sacred honor of the Orcs."

hoo hoo hoo!

The onlookers, including beastmen, erupted in excitement once again.

Lorne took a deep breath and shouted, "Your Majesty, I request a glorious victory for Mogo-Kashaka!"

The orcs fell silent instantly, awaiting the chieftain's reply.

Gorgon narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a few seconds, and then nodded.

Roar! ...

The crowd erupted in cheers once again.

Soon, the sounds of horns and drums resounded throughout the entire orc camp.

Orcs who weren't on guard duty or patrolling dropped what they were doing and gathered towards the arena.

During this time, Gomash's body was carried away, and the audience moved back, making the diameter of the arena twice as large as before.

About 10 minutes later, the horns and drums stopped, and the arena was packed with orcs.

Gorgon began to stretch his muscles, his muscles writhing freely like living things, his bones crackling like muffled thunder, and his body visibly grew larger, reaching a height of 4.1 meters.

Having finished warming up, Gorgon stretched his neck, shook his body, and looked at Zaku, who was now only waist-high to him, and said:

"I'm all better, how about you?"

Lorne took a deep breath, raised his shield, and assumed a defensive stance combined with a shield warrior stance, saying, "I'm ready too."

"Then let's begin." After saying that, Gorgon roared and unleashed his berserk mode.

At the same time, the system battle reports began to break records at an alarming rate:

[Gorgon enters the "Savage Frenzy" state.]

[Gorgon has activated 'Berserk Toughness', Armor Rating +4.]

[Gorgon has activated "Tempered Fortitude," granting +7 to "Constitution Saving Throws."]

[Gorgon has activated "Tempered Reflexes," and his Dexterity saving throws have increased by 7.]

[Gorgon has activated "Veteran Instinct," granting +7 to "Perception Savings."]

[Gorgon has activated "Veteran Glory," granting him +7 Charisma Savage Throws.]

[Gorgon has activated Titan's Stance, Strength +29.]

[Gorgon has activated "Titan Fortitude," increasing "Armor Rating" by 10.]

[Gorgon activated Titan's Grip.]

He spread his arms and turned his palms back, and the two orcish giant axes that were leaning against the two sides of the giant bone throne flew into his hands automatically and were firmly grasped by him.