Chapter 4 : Zakir Joined the Fight

The ground outside the academy was a chaotic battlefield. Tension crackled through the air like electricity, making every breath feel heavy. The sky was clear, with the sun casting sharp shadows, but the atmosphere was as ominous as a storm brewing on the horizon. Students scattered in all directions, their faces pale with fear. Those who had reached a safe distance looked back anxiously, while others, determined to buy time for their friends, stayed behind to fight the monstrous Orc.

The initial moments of the battle had gone surprisingly well. No one had suffered serious injuries, and for a fleeting moment, hope flickered in their hearts. But that hope shattered when Jasim crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Mark was next; the sickening crack of his hand breaking echoed in the air before he too lost consciousness. The remaining five students were paralyzed with fear, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Despite their terror, they launched a coordinated attack, but the Orc dodged effortlessly. Their hearts sank as the Orc turned its attention to Sarah.

Sarah’s breath caught in her throat as the Orc lunged at her. Her friends, though desperate to help, instinctively backed away, realizing that any attempt to aid her at close range would be suicidal. Helplessness gnawed at them, each second feeling like an eternity. Just as the Orc’s clawed hand was about to strike, a blur of motion intercepted the attack.

Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as she realized she was unharmed. Her rescuer stood before her, having not only blocked the Orc’s attack but also driven his foot into the beast’s gut with such force that the creature staggered backward. The students’ hearts skipped a beat as they tried to comprehend what had just happened. Was it a professor who had come to their aid? But no, as they focused on their savior, it became clear that he was no professor. He was a student, like them, wearing the uniform of Class B.

"How can a student from Class B stop the attack from this Orc and also attack him with enough power to deal so much damage?" Mara thought, her mind racing. She was the archer of the group, a striking figure with red eyes and pink hair, her tall stature unusual for her age. She had always prided herself on her keen observational skills, but this left her utterly baffled.

Recognition dawned on Mara, and her eyes widened in astonishment. "Wait, I know you! Aren’t you Zakir from Class B?" she exclaimed.

Zakir’s lips curled into a confident smile. "Looks like I’m quite popular. Thanks for the attention," he replied with a wink.

"But how come you are this strong? I saw your power level during last month’s assessment by chance. You weren’t this strong, and your power level was only 170. It was impressive for someone who hasn’t awakened, but nowhere near enough to do what you just did," Mara said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Zakir’s expression grew serious. "We can discuss this later. Right now, we have an Orc to fight. I’ve managed to injure it, but I can’t handle it alone. I was lucky to catch it by surprise, but I doubt I’ll be able to do that again. I need support from all of you," he said, his tone resolute.

The group’s attention shifted back to the Orc, now struggling to rise from the ground. The atmosphere, though still fraught with danger, felt slightly less oppressive. Zakir’s unexpected arrival had breathed new life into their morale. Where there was despair, hope now flickered once more. Determination steeled their nerves as they prepared to launch another assault, this time with Zakir leading the charge.

The Orc got up from the ground, its attention now focused on Zakir, the one who had injured him. Its teeth gritted in frustration, and with a guttural roar, it charged at Zakir. Zakir braced himself, channeling his Ki to the point of impact, but he could feel his Ki reserves depleting with each use. He knew that every ounce of energy he expended had to count.

"I hope my Ki reserves last till the fight ends. My punches do a lot of damage, but they're not enough to kill it," Zakir thought, his eyes scanning the battlefield. His gaze landed on a sword lying on the ground—the one Mark had dropped. It had a black handle with three finger-sized circles etched into it, and it looked sturdy and reliable.

Zakir moved toward the sword, but the Orc attacked at that exact moment. Channeling Ki to his left arm, he managed to block the attack. However, the Orc did something unexpected; it stopped the punch midway and swung with its other arm toward Zakir's right side. Zakir quickly redirected his Ki, but the attack landed before he could fully prepare. He was launched several dozen meters away, his expression grim as he felt his ribs crack.

"ARRGHHH!" Zakir grimaced in agony, but the Orc gave him no time to recover, charging toward him again. Seeing this, Sarah and the others launched their attacks at the Orc, forcing it to back away slightly to avoid the onslaught. This brief respite allowed Zakir to compose himself.

"HEY! GUYS, STALL THIS BASTARD A LITTLE AND GET ME THAT SWORD!" Zakir yelled, pointing toward the weapon. Everyone's attention shifted to the sword. No one questioned why he wanted it, even though he wasn't a swordsman. The situation was dire, and they trusted that if he needed it, he could do something with it.

"Leave this to me. You guys distract the Orc with Zakir, and I'll get that sword to him," Natasha said, her expression serious. She was a beauty with black eyes and hair, standing at an average height of 5.4 feet. Her unique wind powers allowed her to launch air projectile attacks from a distance and increase her speed. She was known in the group for her agility.

Natasha dashed toward the sword, picking it up while the others and Zakir kept the Orc busy. She ran swiftly toward Zakir, yelling, "GIVE ME COVER!" The others launched their attacks at the Orc to stop it from moving, allowing Natasha to reach Zakir.

"Here you go," she said, handing Zakir the sword. "You better do something amazing with it now that you made me bring it to you," she added with a smile.

Zakir took the sword in his right hand, returning her smile. "Don't worry, I'll put it to good use," he replied, determination burning in his eyes as he prepared to face the Orc once more.

The Orc gritted its teeth and attacked again, but this time Zakir dodged by channeling Ki into his legs to increase his speed. He also infused Ki into his eyes, allowing him to react to the Red Orc's attacks in time and spot its weak points more easily. The Orc attacked again, but Zakir dodged once more, gripping the sword with both hands and slashing toward its weak leg, infusing Ki into the blade.

At first, Zakir doubted this would work, but to his delight, the sword was easily coated with Ki. However, maintaining the Ki coating required a significant amount of energy. As he slashed at the Orc's leg, the Ki coating dissipated, but just before impact, Zakir quickly infused the sword with Ki again. The blade cut through the Orc's leg like butter. Zakir retreated a few steps, watching as the Orc stood still on both legs. Everyone, including the Orc, was surprised, as it seemed the sword had passed through the leg without injuring it.

Natasha was about to say something, but before she could, the Orc took a couple of steps. On its third step, the leg detached, and the Orc dropped to the ground, losing its balance.

"GRRRR!" the Orc screamed in agony, clutching its severed leg. Its eyes burned with a murderous rage, as if it would drink the blood of the one responsible.

Seeing this, the others grew cheerful and launched their attacks on the Orc. Now that it was on the ground, it couldn't dodge their attacks. The Red Orc tried to move away, but it couldn't, and all four projectile attacks hit it simultaneously. The combined attacks amplified each other's power, resulting in a massive explosion.

Dust filled the air, obscuring the battlefield. As the dust settled, everyone could see the Red Orc, now even more bloodied from the combined attacks. Its missing leg and the arrow lodged in its eye made it a gruesome sight. Despite its injuries, the Orc stood up, glaring at the students with a murderous gaze.

"RRROAAARR!" the Orc let out a furious roar, its eyes turning completely red, devoid of pupils. Its body began to change, growing larger and more menacing.

"Oh shit, it's going berserk," Natasha said, a hint of worry in her expression.