Half-elf Ranger

In the early morning of the next day, the first rising sun shines on the vast land, bringing new hope to all things.

Thorne left the tower, and in the joyful sound of birdsong, passed through the flowers and plants with crystal dewdrops, and came to the log cabin in the upper city.

"Mr. Thorne, I'm really sorry for disturbing you." Saen, the orc chief of Horn Town, saw the half-elf ranger walking out of the woods, with a rough voice unique to the orc race, and greeted him respectfully.

He respects the half-elf ranger in front of him from the bottom of his heart. In the arena of Winter City, Thorne was the last straw he caught in despair. It was this life-saving straw that made them come from the north The orcs of the land wasteland have been given a new life.

When they finally reached the edge of Tranquil Forest after their long journey, it was the ranger who saved them from the hobgoblins.

And this is a generous person who doesn't expect anything in return. Living in Horn Town for more than three months has made him clear about the situation in the Emerald Field. He naturally understands that the most precious resource is the population.

However, this half-elf ranger from Waterfall Town did not selfishly choose to let them settle in Waterfall Town because of the grace of saving their lives, but instead arranged Horn Town which was more suitable for their survival.

Therefore, when he heard that Waterfall Town was besieged by Hobgoblins, he immediately led all the personnel who could participate in the battle to come to support.

"It's okay, I'm just going to go to the lower city." Thorne nodded, looking at the orc patriarch who was approaching, and the orc juggernaut standing straight like a sharp sword, smiled and asked: " What's the matter with Patriarch Sarn?"

Originally, he was practicing the nine-sword moves in the high tower, but unexpectedly received a message from the orc patriarch Saen using the soul crow, which made him a little doubtful about what the two of them were looking for him.

The basic occupation of Orc Patriarch Sarn is Soul Shaman, a magic spell caster that communicates with the spirit kingdom, so they can always summon various fully functional spirit animals or spirit guards from the spirit kingdom. When he saw the Soul Essence Crow, he immediately guessed its owner.

"Mr. Thorne, hello!" Not far away, Orc Sword Saint Kutaig noticed Thorne stopped, he hesitated for a moment, then walked up with his sword, and then touched his chest with his right hand and respectfully greeted him A gift.

"I said it a long time ago, don't be so polite, we are all modern people, and these otherworldly formalities can be avoided." Thorne looked at the respectful salute of the orc swordsman, and comforted with a calm expression.

For some reason, every time he saw the meticulous and serious expression of this swordsman, he could always think of the dragonborn paladin he met in the town of Twin Towers. He even maliciously wondered how the two would talk if they met.

"This is the belief and oath of being a Juggernaut." The Orc Juggernaut replied again, which did not surprise Thorne.

The Juggernaut profession is actually a little bit similar to the Paladin.

First of all, if you want to advance to the Juggernaut, your own alignment, whether evil, good or neutral, must be a lawful alignment or absolutely neutral.

Then there must be another oath of service to a lord or an ideal avatar, such as the Dragonborn Paladin's Holy Oath is the Oath of Devotion.

Likewise, when Juggernauts or Paladins break their oath or shift their alignment, their strength will stagnate until the atonement is successful.

Thorne glanced helplessly at the serious-looking Orc Juggernaut, and then turned his inquiring gaze to the Orc Patriarch San, who was wearing an animal skin robe.

The result of the battle between the Orc Sword Saint Kutaig and the Storm Lord Albert yesterday did not exceed his expectations. When Albert turned on his rage ability and chose to confront Kutaige head-on, it was doomed to fail.

If this grumpy guy takes advantage of the height of the sky and the ability to control thunder and lightning against it, sooner or later he will be able to exhaust the physical strength of the orc juggernaut, but if he does, he is not the storm lord of Talos.

"Let me tell you." Knowing that Kutaig's ability to express is not very good, Saen interrupted his words and explained to Thorne: "Actually, we came to you today mainly for Kutaig's sake. oath."

oath?

Thorne listened in a mess, subconsciously pointed to the orc swordsman, and guessed: "Is there something wrong with his oath?"

If the orc swordsman had a problem with the oath he made when he advanced, or was violated by himself, then if he did not complete his self-redemption, his strength would not be able to make an inch. But the question arises again, what does this have to do with him?

"Before that, I want to ask Mr. Thorne to discuss with me." San was about to explain, but was interrupted by Kutaig's serious and somewhat rough voice, and then he clenched his long sword and raised it. The head, like the eyes of a sharp sword, were all locked on Thorne.

"No problem." Although Thorne was a little puzzled, he did not reject the opponent's challenge.

When he was learning "Qi Raising Slash" in Horn Town, the two of them would often learn from each other.

Although the advantages of the Orc Juggernaut are obvious, the same shortcomings are also fatal. As long as he does not confront the opponent head-on, it is only a matter of time before defeating him.

After two months of painstaking cultivation at the waterfall, his qi energy has risen to a new height, his agility attribute has also broken through to extraordinary attributes, and his strength and physique have also been strengthened. Now he has the confidence to take over the fiercest orc swordsman. a blow.

"Mr. Thorne, offended!" The orc swordsman held a sword in one hand and touched his chest with one hand, and gave Thorne a respectful salute again, then walked to a relatively wide area and stood upright.

"Please advise!"

Thorne saluted like the Orc Juggernaut, then pulled out his long sword to slay the demons, stood on the other side, and quietly watched each other's every move.

Watching the Orc Juggernaut put on a defensive stance without any rash intentions, Thorne was not surprised.

Although he seems to be standing casually, at this time he has already launched the Steel Soul Sect's stance technique "Clear Body" to lock the opponent firmly. As long as the Orc Juggernaut reveals a little flaw, he will launch the most deadly attack. .

For the two of them, this is a battle of patience. Whoever reveals the flaws first will be the first to suffer the most deadly attack.

Having seen the swordsmanship of the wandering swordsman, he understood that, a real swordsman master, most of his swordsmanship is actually used to test or lure opponents.

Thorne stood silently on the spot with the sword in one hand, and his focused eyes were always locked on the Orc Juggernaut.

With the blessing of the "Clear Body", he could see the opponent's every move clearly, and he even felt an almost invisible energy of Qi rolling around the Orc Sword Saint.

This is the unique professional skill of Juggernauts, "Power Surge". In battle, they use their strong concentration to concentrate their own spirit and energy, so that the energy of Qi flows turbulently throughout their bodies.

When the Juggernaut launches an attack, these surging energies will bless the entire body of the Juggernaut, and together with the unique weapon in his hand, give the enemy the most fatal blow.

"Power Surge" and "Qi Lifting Slash" attack together, it is the most deadly weapon in the protective force field of the sword saints and wizards. Yesterday's Albert was defeated by this combo.

During the moment when the two held each other, Thorne, who had adjusted his body condition, was about to take the lead in attacking, but his eyes narrowed slightly and he took a deep breath.

The Orc Juggernaut, who noticed the slight change in Thorne, clenched the long sword in his hand again, and the energy tumbling around him was like a silent roaring wave.

——“Desert Wind Sect (Strike Skill): Flame Wing Charge!”

The moment Thorne's skill was activated, the flaming wings stretched out from behind him, and then he was completely enveloped by the flaming flames, and then turned into a dazzling fire, rushing high into the sky.

Seeing the figure like a small sun in the sky, the sharp eyes of the orc swordsman flashed two red lights, and a wild roar rolled out from his rough throat.

--"violent!"

His originally burly body was instantly raised a section, and the tumbling energy all over his body was like a raging raging wave, rushing past the cliffs.

- "Insight Strike!"

——“Desert Wind Sect (Enhanced Skill): Sword of Red Lotus!”

——“Qi Qi Slash!”

Thorne floated in mid-air with the help of flaming wings, without delaying time, he directly descended and launched the most violent blow for him.

Although the desert wind faction's strike skill "Flame Wing Charge" can make him have the ability to fly for a short time, the real effect of this fourth-level move is just like its name: charge!

"boom!"

Thorne, who was floating in the air, locked his gaze on the Orc Juggernaut who was waiting in battle, and his flame-burning wings spread violently, and a large piece of sparks scattered in the sky.

Immediately afterwards, his entire body was like a large dark red fireball, wrapped in scorching flames and incomparable momentum, and smashed down fiercely.

- "Powerful surging!"

——“Qi Qi Slash!”

The bloodshot eyes of the orc swordsman condensed, and the explosive muscles of the whole body exerted force at the same time, and the energy of qi surrounding the body all converged on the blade along the arm, and was cut out by him with all his strength.

"Boom!"

At the moment when the dazzling firelight collided with the burly body of the orc swordsman, a hot flame suddenly burst out in the sound of the sonorous and powerful blade.

Thorne's flaming demon slayer collided directly with the long sword of the orc juggernaut, and the raging flames exploded instantly.

And he immediately felt a surging energy coming from the blade, spread along the long sword to his arm, and finally spread to the whole body, so that he continuously retreated more than ten steps until he hit a big tree , which stabilized the body.

Feeling the burning taste in his back and the tingling pain in his arms that he could barely hold the sword, Thorne immediately sat cross-legged on the ground and began to use the energy of chi to adjust the chaotic aura in his body.

Not far away, the Orc Juggernaut was even worse. The clothes on the upper body were almost burned out by the raging flames, and there were burn marks everywhere on the bare chest, especially the arm holding the sword had become black.

Although he did not take a step back under Thorne's attack, the ground on which he was standing was centered on him, and a pit with a diameter of about 3 meters was blasted by the flames.

Immediately afterwards, the Orc Juggernaut shook his entire body and fell on his back.

Fortunately, the orc patriarch Saen, who was watching the battle, arrived in time, so he did not fall to the ground. Then Saen immediately took out the totem artifact and performed magical healing on him.

After resting for a while, Thorne, who felt that his arm had been rejuvenated, got up and walked towards the orc swordsman sitting cross-legged on the ground, and said, "You can tell me the purpose of your coming here."

"Mr. Thorne, you should know a little about the sword saint's oath." Seeing that Kutaig was no longer in serious trouble, Sanne got up and looked at Thorne and said.

"I know." Thorne nodded and looked at the orc swordsman: "Is there something wrong with his oath?"

"That's not it." Saen shook his head with a smile and said, "It's because Kutaig wants to change his oath."

"Change your oath?" Thorne unexpectedly glanced at the orc swordsman sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Every Juggernaut will make an oath to serve the lord or some kind of ideal for himself, but some Juggernaut will fulfill their original ideal ahead of time, or the lord they serve will die in the middle, causing them to lose their original goal.

Then in this case, the Sword Saint would have to make a new oath, otherwise his strength would not be able to improve.

"His ideal has been completed, or is the lord he served dead?" Thorne asked, turning his attention to the orc swordsman.

"It's not like that." At this time, the orc swordsman suddenly opened his bright eyes, then stood up with a little difficulty, looked at Thorne respectfully, and said, "When I was an advanced swordsman, I announced The oath is to protect our Frostwolf clan."

After finishing speaking, the orc swordsman glanced at Sarn again, and then said: "However, after we settled in Horn Town, I gradually felt that this oath could not support my belief at all and walk out a strong road of my own."

"Is it because the people who live in Horn Town can develop steadily without your protection?" Thorne was startled and said his thoughts:

"So you want to re-establish a more lofty and unreachable ideal. Only in this way, your belief in moving forward will gradually become firm in this unreachable ideal."

Juggernauts not only need to cultivate their swords, but also their hearts, and this 'heart' is the oath they made at the moment of becoming Juggernauts. It is this unreachable ideal that supports their beliefs. On the road of the strong, keep going.

Thorne could understand the emptiness that felt when the Orc Sword Saint Kutaig felt that the oath he had made was about to be completed, and it was this emptiness that caused his growth to slow down.

So he needs to set up a more lofty and unreachable ideal again, so that his heart that has gradually started to lose his way becomes firm again. To put it simply, it is to set a new goal for yourself, and then continue to strive for this unattainable goal for the rest of your life.

However, the only thing that puzzled him was why the two of them found him.

"That's right!" The orc swordsman nodded and said with a firm expression: "So after my careful consideration, I want Mr. Thorne to be the person I swore allegiance to, and to be the sharpest sword in Mr. Thorne's hands."

swear allegiance to me?

Thorne, who was a little puzzled, noticed Kutaig, who had a solemn expression, and cast his doubtful eyes on the Orc Patriarch.

"This is Kutaig's own choice, I can't be the master." Patriarch Sarn seemed to sense Thorne's gaze, and showed him a slightly helpless smile.

"I'm not a lord, and I'm not a king either. Your oath of allegiance to me doesn't seem to be very useful." Thorne frowned and pondered for a moment, then said: "I suggest that you can make a lofty oath for yourself. "

The reason why he refused was mainly because he was still a little self-aware. With his ability, he didn't think he had any special charm that could attract people to swear allegiance.

"Mr. Thorne, you don't know, the sword saint's oath and ideal cannot be established just by saying it, it's about... cause and effect." Seeing Thorne who was hesitant, Sanne patiently asked him explained:

"Kutaig made an oath to protect the Frostwolf clan, but in the arena of Winter City, our entire clan has fallen into a fatal crisis. When he could not fulfill his oath and his mood was about to collapse, It was you who rescued our ethnic group and guided us to Horn Town, where we can develop steadily.

Therefore, in Kutaig's philosophy, you are the benefactor who saves our entire clan, and he swears allegiance to you. In addition to establishing his own beliefs and repaying the kindness of saving the entire clan, he is also indirectly protecting our Frostwolf. clan. "

"..." Thorne didn't know how to answer, mainly because he was a person from the modern world. If it was an aboriginal inhabitant, he would gladly accept it, but this was his compatriot, which made him feel inexplicable. resistance and aversion.

Although he also hopes that the Orc Juggernaut can join his forces, he doesn't want to do it in such a way that makes him feel awkward, and the hurdle in his heart can't be overcome.

Thorne looked at the eyes of the two, pondered for a moment, and thought of a method that he thought was good, so he said to the two with a calm expression: "Actually, the reason why we can appear in this world is a group of deranged idealists. results under their control.

Therefore, as long as you listen to the ins and outs of the whole incident, I believe that you will announce a more ambitious ideal and goal for yourself. "

Then Thorne told all the information about the Insight, the God Killer, and the Church of the Patronus under the condition that the expressions of the two orcs changed again and again.

"I knew that this must be the result of someone's intention. So many compatriots in the northern wasteland died tragically. What's the use of this kind of apology?" The orc patriarch Saen sighed deeply and fell unconsciously to the ground.

"So what does Mr. Thorne plan to do in the future?" The Orc Swordsman's expression fluctuated, looking at Thorne, and said calmly.

"I can't guarantee what I can save, but the only thing I can do is: the bright heart will never be dark, and the sword in his hand will always remain sharp!" Thorne's firm eyes looked directly at the Orc Juggernaut, and his tone did not fluctuate. said.

"The bright heart will never be dark, and the sword in his hand will always remain sharp!" Kutaig, the orc swordsman, muttered to himself, his eyes suddenly brightened a little again, and then he said firmly: "I understand!"

"Patriarch Sarn, do you remember what we said when we parted in the arena of Winter City?" Thorne reminded aloud when he saw the expression of the orc patriarch's dumbfounded expression.

"Live!" Saen, the orc patriarch, clenched his fist into a fist and slammed it on the ground.

"Yes, live." Thorne looked at San, whose expression became firm again, and nodded with a smile.

"Mr. Thorne, I think I will live in the upper part of the waterfall town to practice in the future, is it okay?" Orc Sword Saint Kutaig glanced at the rushing waterfall and pleaded.

"Of course there is no problem." Thorne turned and looked up at the Orc Sword Saint, with a faint smile: "Congratulations, you have found your own beliefs and ideals of struggle, Orc Sword Saint Kutaig!"

After Thorne finished speaking, he ignored the two and walked directly towards the lower city.