The Orc Chief's anger finally surfaced. A mocking smile spread across his face as he raised his staff high into the air. Suddenly, a massive magic circle appeared beneath Auren's feet.

  Auren's eyes widened in shock.

  An explosion erupted.

  He threw himself sideways, barely escaping the blast, yet the shockwave pierced deep into his body. He staggered, placing a hand over his mouth before coughing up dark blood onto the ground.

  Smaller magic circles materialized on both sides of him, unleashing an endless barrage of flaming strikes. He dodged one, but another slammed into his shoulder, while a third grazed his side. He kept moving, avoiding some attacks while enduring others, his body rapidly approaching its limit.

  The Orc Chief laughed.

  Dark portals opened around the camp.

  "Now… you will witness true terror."

  Orcs began pouring out weaker ones rushing forward in madness, while larger Orcs emerged behind them with slow, heavy steps.

  Blood ran into one of Auren's eyes, forcing it shut. His body was riddled with injuries.

  What the chief did not realize…

  was that Auren advanced with every battle,

  with every brush against death,

  with every kill.

  Auren forced himself to stand, pressing his palm against his face.

  Then… he laughed.

  A broken, almost insane laugh.

  "Terror…? What exactly is your definition of terror?"

  The Orc Chief paused. Never before had he seen someone laugh in the face of death like this.

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  Then he laughed as well.

  "You've proven yourself to be one of my finest toys."

  Auren said nothing.

  The camp was now surrounded by hundreds of Orcs as the portals sealed shut.

  He lowered his head slightly and spoke in a quiet voice.

  "Arcanum…"

  Then

  "Ignis."

  The fiery domain erupted.

  Hell descended.

  The air burned, the sky turned crimson, and sparks of fire filled the atmosphere. The weaker Orcs froze in confusion as the world around them transformed.

  The first charging Orc halted in bewilderment

  Then flames swallowed him without warning.

  Short screams echoed.

  One after another.

  The weaker Orcs burned to death within seconds, while even the larger Orcs began to suffer despite their strength.

  Auren stood in the center of the inferno like a man witnessing the end of the world.

  His body was shattered… yet he felt no pain.

  The chief spoke, genuine shock in his voice this time.

  "Moments ago… you weren't this strong. What in hell is happening?!"

  He failed to realize that by summoning his army…

  he had sentenced himself to death.

  And for the first time in years…

  the Orc Chief felt fear.

  [System Notification]

  [Level Up]

  [Level Up]

  [Level: 28]

  [Ignis Compatibility: 20%]

  New Skills Acquired:

  [Flame Mantle : increases physical strength and speed]

  [Theater of the Dead : summons skeletal remains of enemies slain within Ignis]

  Auren looked at the screen and smiled tiredly.

  "Theater of the Dead… huh. That sounds fitting."

  He raised his gaze toward the chief.

  "In the end, you'll die by the hands of your own army. How ironic."

  "Ignis."

  "Theater of the Dead."

  The earth trembled.

  Skeletons rose by the dozens then hundreds attacking the larger Orcs. Already weakened by the flames, they fell one after another beneath the endless tide of bones.

  But the chief did not flee.

  He slammed his staff down violently, forming a massive magic circle in an attempt to break the domain. Energy collided with the flames, releasing a shockwave powerful enough to force Auren a step backward.

  For a moment…

  the battle seemed evenly matched.

  The chief's eyes widened.

  "No… this is impossible…"

  Yet the flames did not fade.

  They grew fiercer.

  Auren smiled.

  Fear was now clearly visible on the chief's face.

  "Ignis… Flame Mantle."

  Fire wrapped around Auren's body like a living cloak.

  He vanished.

  In the next instant

  he stood directly before the chief.

  In a low voice, he said,

  "In the end… you became my toys."

  He summoned his dagger.

  A slow.

  Deliberate motion.

  The blade moved toward the carotid artery.

  The chief tried to raise his staff

  but his body refused to respond.

  He fell.

  [System Notification]

  [Level Up]

  [Level Up]

  [Level Up]

  [Level : 30]

  [Loot Obtained: Orc Chief]

  Auren deactivated Ignis.

  The flames slowly faded.

  The forest that once stood there had become a barren land of ash.

  No trees.

  No sounds.

  Only the silence that follows an ending.

  Before he could even look at the chief's corpse…

  Auren collapsed into his own blood.