Chapter Nineteen: Strange Behavior

“Trying to wear us down? Let’s see who can outlast whom.” The orcs’ intentions were no secret. Faced with their war of attrition, Zhou Tian simply exchanged for the necessary items and felt no fear at all.

No sooner had he summoned the Healing Ward than Zhou Tian planted it right beside himself. The moment the ward was set, the faces of the orcs changed abruptly.

“A Healing Ward? Impossible! How could he possess the abilities of a shaman?” Zhou Tian’s action struck the orcs like a thunderbolt. Healing Wards existed in this world, but only the shamans of the orc tribe could create them. Now, witnessing this serpent wielding the sacred skill reserved for their tribe’s most revered shamans, the orcs were utterly shaken.

Yet once the shock wore off, frenzy overtook them. Fools are rare in this world; seeing the serpent use shamanic powers, the orcs immediately understood the implications.

Orcs were among the continent’s mightiest races. In individual combat, they surpass both humans and elves. But in grand battles, their destructive power falls short of what humans and elves can muster. It’s certain that what allowed the orcs to hold their own against these rivals was the unique abilities of their shamans and prophets. Should their shamanic secrets ever be revealed to other races, and their advantage lost, the orcs’ dominance over the continent would be cast into doubt.

“We must kill it!” In an instant, the same thought flashed through every orc’s mind. Without hesitation, they all charged toward Zhou Tian’s position.

Zhou Tian couldn’t help but feel anxious as he realized the orcs had suddenly gone mad and targeted him. He’d managed to withstand their attacks so long mostly due to his venom’s deterrent effect. If the orcs really threw caution to the wind and pressed their assault, Zhou Tian wouldn’t last much longer.

Luckily, as the orcs recognized the threat Zhou Tian posed to their race, the elves simultaneously realized his value. The orcs wanted him eliminated quickly, but the elves became determined to keep him safe at all costs.

Shamans may lack the destructive power of mages, but their support abilities are unmatched. If the elves mastered shamanic abilities to complement their prowess with bows and magic, their strength would eclipse even the humans and they would become true rulers of the continent.

No race is devoid of ambition. Though elves love peace and are gentle by nature, that doesn’t mean they lack desire. So, upon discovering Zhou Tian’s capabilities, while the orcs attacked him with all their might, the elves threw themselves into protecting him, heedless of danger.

With both sides exerting themselves, and given their comparable strengths, Zhou Tian faced greater attacks but not any insurmountable peril.

A roar echoed from the rear as chaos erupted; at the same time, Mu Zhan and the few orcs at the front, who had remained motionless, finally joined the fray.

Clearly, the rear-guard orcs had a slight advantage, but victory would still take some time—time they sorely lacked, being deep behind enemy lines. Previously, they might have been patient, but now, after witnessing Zhou Tian’s power, the orcs desperate to eliminate this “menace” could no longer wait idly by.

Exchanging glances, the orcs who had been facing off against Mu Zhan suddenly surged forward and attacked.

Mu Zhan, having anticipated such moves, was not caught off guard. However, despite his preparations, the sheer numbers of the orcs proved overwhelming. After fending off several attacks, he failed to block a blow and suffered a deep wound across his back.

But the orcs gained little from injuring Mu Zhan. Shortly after he was struck, he retaliated, inflicting wounds in turn.

Ordinarily, with their numerical advantage, the orcs could afford to trade wounds, knowing that even if injured more severely than Mu Zhan, they would ultimately prevail.

Now, however, thanks to Zhou Tian, the orcs who should have had the upper hand found themselves at a disadvantage. Normally, when one of their own was wounded, the others could maintain their fighting strength and overpower an injured foe. But because Zhou Tian had summoned a Healing Ward, Mu Zhan’s wounds gradually healed as time passed. Given enough time, the injuries inflicted by the orcs would disappear, and the tide of battle would turn sharply against them.

The orcs were not unfamiliar with such rapid recovery; in battles with other races, their own could heal similarly. While their restoration wasn’t as immediate as what human priests could provide, in terms of sustained healing, no race matched the orcs’ shamans.

But now, that healing power appeared not on their side, but on their enemy. The orcs cast Zhou Tian hateful glances, realizing the threat he posed to their race, and their resolve to kill him grew even stronger.

“Attack together! Don’t give him time to heal!” Having benefited from Healing Wards themselves, the orcs knew well both their strengths and vulnerabilities.

Seeing Mu Zhan’s wounds rapidly healing, the orcs’ first thought was not fear, but to intensify their assault, denying him any chance to recover.

With the orcs attacking in force, Mu Zhan truly struggled to hold his ground. Though stronger than any individual orc, their numbers overwhelmed him. He could deflect one or two attacks, but when they came in threes, fours, or even dozens, inevitably some got through. Each time he failed to defend, another wound appeared, and before long, his injuries progressed from light to grave.

When Mu Zhan’s wounds reached a critical point, his composure faltered. Though a battle-loving treant, Mu Zhan was not reckless; he valued his life. Realizing he could not withstand his foes, anxiety overtook him.

Suddenly, after repelling several orcs in a burst of strength, Mu Zhan shouted to the sky, “Hurry up and act! If I die, your young ones will have no hope of survival!”

His reaction was unusual. But as he cried out, the elves—his allies—strangely wore annoyed expressions, as though Mu Zhan shouldn’t be calling for help, no matter how dire his situation.

And the orcs’ expressions were odd as well. One might expect them to panic upon learning their ambush target had reinforcements, yet they seemed to have not heard Mu Zhan’s words at all, continuing the battle as calmly as before.