Everyone is Young Except for Me

I saw the waves of blood and frowned. It was a huge amount of blood that was more than I had expected. Was this all of Mudur’s blood? It was ridiculous. It was amazing that it formed a lake without the red blood drying but it was even more amazing that there was such a large space in the cave. Why was there such a space?

“Chwik. You look like you’re panicking. This is where Mudur, the primordial orc, died. Due to his tremendous vitality, he didn’t die easily from the spider’s venom. After his death, his bones were barely recovered from the river of blood. Our ancestors made the orcram with it.”

I see. I knew why this was called Mudur’s tomb. Mudur had died here. Looking at the enormous amount of blood in front of me, I could see how much he had struggled to hold onto his life. It was a disastrous death for the emperor, the first emperor to unite the power of the orcs. I opened my mouth, “I heard from Gorba. Didn’t Mudur die at the hands of his children?”

“Chwik. You know this. That’s right. I often wonder what it would’ve been like if Leica, the coalition of orcs, hadn’t been formed. If this was the case, we wouldn’t be scattered as we are now and we wouldn’t have such hard lives.”

“...This is if Mudur was still here.” In fact, Mudur was a great man. No matter how bad his personality, he was clearly a man who achieved great feats. “Your story is long. Didn’t you want to study me?”

“Chwik. Dip your finger into that river.”

I stepped toward the river of blood according to his words. Drain followed by my side and said, “Buroder, there is something wrong with this atmosphere...”

“What’s the big deal? It is virtual reality. I won’t die.”

Then I dipped my index finger in straight away.

[Spider venom has seeped into your body.]

[You have resisted.]

[You have resisted.]

[You have resisted.]

Indeed, it was nothing special. Then Sven’s voice was heard from behind me. “Chwik. Nothing happened?”

“Yes, spider venom doesn’t work on me.”

“Ohh! Excellent. Most orcs were paralyzed and fell down just touching it... then try using your ankles this time!”

I entered the river while feeling the texture of blood. I could see what it meant by ‘blood is thicker than water.’ Rather than thick, it was gross.

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is gulping.]

Why was he showing me this information? I was nervous. The message was the same even when I walked into the blood up to my ankles. It was just the message of resistance. Sven was clearly excited as he let out exclamations of admiration.

“Ohh, you are blessed by Mudur! Ohhh!”

I shouted, “Hey! I’m choking on the smell of blood! Hurry and do that spell or something!”

“Chwiiik!”

Sven snorted heavily and started to mumble something. Then a chain of darkness stretched out from his hand and tied me up. I was forced to panic at the sudden attack. “W-What is this?”

“Chwiiik. I finally found the blood sacrifice. Kulalala~!”

Blood sacrifice?

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is frowning at the ominous feeling.]

“Buroder!” Drain ran to Sven to save me but he wasn’t enough. I saw Drain chained up like me and gritted my teeth.

Sven gave an ugly smile. “Stay still. I’ll kill you slowly. Gruruk. Mudur’s resurrection will be first.”

“Shet, release me! I can’t release this!”

I looked at Sven and asked, “Mudur’s resurrection? What the hell are you up to?”

“Know the honor. For Mudur’s resurrection, only a body that is resistant to spider venom is suitable. Well, it is a human body but it is stronger than the warriors of my frost orc clan. Thus, it is perfect for Mudur’s body. It is a body that can be reconstructed again. Kuhahaha!”

Sven laughed in a despicable manner and my face unknowingly twisted. He beckoned and the blood around him shook. The spiraling blood spread around me. I watched it swirl and felt fear swallowing me up.

[The resurrection of Mudur is beginning!]

[Your body will be sacrificed.]

[If you don’t escape in time, Mudur will use your body to resurrect and your character will be deleted.]

[The time limit is 10 minutes.]

“Dammit...”

I looked at the turned hourglass and my heart sank. No, how could there be a situation like this?

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is panicking.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ says he told you not to come here.]

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is sweating at the unexpected development.]

“Damn. I know. Hey, is there any way?”

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is telling you to try using Solar.]

I quickly summoned Solar. I pointed to Sven and ordered Solar to attack. Then Solar shot forward at a fast speed. There was just one problem.

“Chwik. It is ridiculous. Death Blizzard!”

The blue blizzard fired from his hands flooded Solar. Solar had the fire attribute so it was weak to the opposing water and ice attributes. In addition, this was the North Pole. The environment itself was unfavorable for Solar.

“Ack! Too cold! It is hard to get close!”

Shit, if only Solar’s level was a bit higher. Solar was currently level 98. If it had been over level 200 then it could easily melt this guy away. By that time, Solar’s new abilities would’ve appeared. In any case, the problem was that it was impossible now.

“Master! I’m sorry! It’s too cold!”

I gritted my teeth. It had only been a month since Sujeong was kidnapped by those Fire Dragons. No, this might be even more dangerous than that time.

Sven made another gesture and this time four pillars rose around me. It was also composed of blood and the time remaining was around seven minutes. “Gruruk. Be a gentle offering for Mudur. Welcome Mudur, who will soon be born as a bloody orc!”

“Kuoock, bloody orc?”

These words struck something in my memory. Bloody orc.

One day, Alexus visited the coalition of orcs, Leica, and spoke to Mudur only once. It was before Atlan was built and it was the scene of the execution of an orc shaman. Alexus had asked Mudur why he was executing the shaman and Mudur had said, ‘He used a taboo spell that turned his people into bloody orcs.’ The words that followed were this:

‘The bloody orcs not only yearn for the blood of their people but also the blood of other races. Nothing more or less. I believe that orcs can be strong without forbidden powers.’

Weren’t they really crazy words? Yet at the same time, it was thrilling. Mudur had said these words due to his confidence. In fact, Alexus was shocked to hear the words and trained himself even more. He dreamed that he would one day become a king who wouldn’t lose to Mudur.

"Kuuack! Damn you! Don’t you know that Mudur hated the bloody orcs!”

“Chwiiik. Nonsense! Mudur will be resurrected as a bloody orc, overturning the world once more and unifying the orcs! Kulalala!”

This guy completely didn’t make sense. Four pillars of blood narrowed the distance toward me. Eventually, I was swallowed up by them.

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is telling you to wake up!]

I could see the message even as my spirit faded away. Shit, I would’ve come with the others if I knew this...

This wouldn’t have happened if Kim Sujeong and Gyeonso Dragon were with me. Camille would’ve used Firefly Concerto on me and Raitra’s Blue Lightning would’ve made me stronger. Yes, if only they were here.

“Kuock!”

The flesh of my entire body was torn, revealing the blood vessels. In the meantime, I felt new blood being transfused. Under the insane pressure of the blood, I seized my spirit that was drifting away.

[Your body has started to receive Mudur’s blood transfusion.]

[Spider venom has seeped into your body.]

[You have resisted.]

[If you don’t escape in time, your character will be deleted and Bloody Orc Mudur will be resurrected!]

[Bloody Orc Mudur will turn the world into blood.]

[The time remaining is 5 minutes.]

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 20%]

Da...mmit...

I felt like I was intoxicated by the taste of blood. I could see Drain shouting at me but I couldn’t hear anything.

[Your body is being reconstructed into a bloody orc.]

Shit, I would become a bloody orc...

Mido had said that she liked that we could play games together... I couldn’t do it anymore...

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is shouting at you to wake up!]

Prometheus’ words were the only things that I could catch as my mind was dimming. I was once again distracted before losing my mind due to the exploding blood pressure. Another message came in through my fading consciousness.

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 40%]

This was the end. Really...? Was my adventure, my dream, going to end here?

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is looking at you.]

I looked at the message that now seemed distant and smiled lightly. Still, I had some pretty fun adventures.

It was said that when a person died, their life passed by like a kaleidoscope. The thing that came to my mind now was memories of Prometheus, who had always been friends with me.

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ is upset.]

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 45%]

Toward the person who was in agony, I felt compelled to leave some final words. Maybe I wouldn’t be able to meet him anymore. If my character was deleted then we couldn’t meet anymore.

‘Thank you, Prometheus.’ 

I couldn’t hear my words, only a murmuring sound. However, that was enough. Prometheus would’ve known what I was talking about. My communication with him wasn’t just through the messages.

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 47%]

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 48%]

[Progress of becoming a bloody orc: 49%]

I closed my eyes as I saw the progress head toward halfway. Then as it reached 50%...

[The first apostle, ‘Prometheus,’ has started ‘Descent.’]