Chapter 45: [Day 16] – “The Mark” (1/2)

∼ Day 16 ∼

”Mia, what happened to Gurok's- uhm, the orc's body?” - Me

”He's outside the hut. We were unsure if you wanted the body to experiment with like you did the others. So we simply decided to wait until you would wake.” - Mia

”Alright then, bring him in.” - Me

Going out, Mia quickly came back in with two hoblins carrying the gaunt form of Gurok's body.

His skin had turned a sickly dark-purple, and his skeletal remains of bone and skin were stinking of rot and decay.

It would seem that whatever magic had done this had sped up the process of which the corpse decays. Crouching down, I spend some time investigating the corpse.

As soon as I split open his chest, I find something very unusual. First of all, I found the place where one of the rend spells went off. It had started from under his left lung and penetrated all the way through his heart to his clavicle.

Due to the size and damage done by this rend compared to the other spot in his abominable area where another rend had taken place, I could easily register it as being the final killing blow which I had performed just before passing out.

But the particularly ”unusual” thing I found in the wound, was something that was around the heart itself.

Clutched around his mauled heart was what looked to be a bug or creature of some sort. The bug was dark-purple, and looked like a leech that had long dark tendrils covering and piercing the heart.

But it didn't seem like a single entity, it had seemingly melded with the heart itself, even going as far as tainting it in the same sickly dark-purple hue.

I sensed no life from the small creature as it apparently had also been torn apart by my spell. There was one instinct thing that I could faintly feel from it. It was the exact same feeling that had been radiating from Gurok's aura when he seemingly went rampant.

It was obvious now that this creature was the perpetrator in the magic that had amalgamated Gurok's body and brought him that unnatural power and might.

I spend some more time inspecting Gurok's body. It doesn't take long before I manage to form an idea to what occurred within his body when the magic had taken hold.

This bug must be some creature of magic that can consume flesh and tissue to convert it into pure magical power. Although very powerful, it has quite the drawback.

After activating the magic, it had rendered Gurok effectively braindead. Also, after the magic would wear out, there's no possible way for such a decayed body to sustain life.

This magic is essentially a suicide buffer.

I truly wonder who or what could've possibly done this to the orc. But after seeing that Gurok had already been acquainted with magic, I don't doubt that he was someone under the control of a very powerful individual.

Getting back up, I can only look at his body in disappointment. Its a shame that I had lost the opportunity to drink his blood. After the magic had taken hold and for the during I've been unconscious, the blood had all rotted away or simply gone bad

Ordering Mia to find someone to get rid of the body, I walk out of the hut. Although I had already offered Bob the corpse to mend his body, not even he wanted to eat something that vile and decayed.

”M-master!” - Darkan

Right outside the hut stood Darkan. He was obviously happy to see that I was alive and awake as he scuttled over to me.

Seeing Bob's form also emerge from inside the hut, Darkan immediately bowed in respect towards us both.

”Master, Chief. You've come at a perfect time, the orcs are starting to get restless.” - Darkan

”Oh? So they're still here?” - Me

”Yes, master. We're unsure as to why. They claim that will only speak to you...” - Darkan

Nodding, I make him guide us over to where they apparently were staying.

Outside the tribe walls, the warband of hobgoblins and the two orcs that Gurok had brought with him had set up camp.

Upon seeing the figures of me, Bob, and Darkan, the two orcs approached us.

One was a man, and the other a female. Although one of them was a female, she wasn't any smaller than the man. She herself was sporting some hulking and taught muscles, even rivaling the man.

Before the distance was close between us, I appraise them both.

Appraisal - Orc

[Appraisal - Orc]

Name: ”???”

Race: Orc

Sex: Male

Rank: F+

Level: 11/35

Health: 192/192

Stamina: 71/71

Mana: 0/0

[Attributes]

STR - 28

VIT - 20

AGI - 20

DEX - 15

INT - 12

CHR - 4

WILL - ???

MAG - 0.5

[Trait, Titles, and Skills].

Skills - ???

Traits - ???

Titles - ???

[Resistances]

Phy. Resistance - 8

Mag. Resistance - 2

Men. Resistance - ???

Appraisal - Orc

[Appraisal - Orc]

Name: ”???”

Race: Orc

Sex: Female

Rank: F+