Chapter 277: New Mission
System Notification:
Ding!
Host power recovered!
| Three minutes have been extended to twenty-five minutes for the manifestation of your Radioactive Form. |
Volk's triumphant laughter boomed across the battlefield.
GURAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!
His massive fists pounded against his chest, the sound echoing like thunder as his warriors roared in celebration.
His hulking frame trembled with excitement as his power surged through his veins, his radioactive aura flickering like a storm.
Then— Ding!
Another system notification appeared before Volk, halting his laughter.
New Mission Alert!
Objective:
Conquer the Path of Absolute forest Domination!
Volk leaned closer, his glowing eyes scanning the details as the system unfurled the list of seven missions:
1. Eradicate the Forest Beasts of the Northernn Valley of Orcs.
Description:
Within the confines of this cursed forest, creatures of immense power have been stirred by Gerhardt's curse.
These beasts have been imbued with ancient magic and an unnatural bloodlust, driven to eliminate the Orc lord and his horde.
Your mission is to locate their dens, defeat their leaders, and reclaim dominance over the forest.
Be wary: some creatures are unlike anything you've faced before—masters of camouflage, aerial assault, and venomous attacks that can bypass even your radioactive resistance.
Their cunning knows no bounds, and their combined strength rivals even your enhanced form. Each victory will weaken the curse's hold on you, but failure will mean endless waves of predators hunting you down relentlessly.
2. Harvest the Core of the Ancient Tree of Souls
Description: Deep in the forest lies the Ancient Tree of Souls, an entity that serves as the heart of the forest's magical energy. This tree has awakened to your presence and sees you as a plague to be eradicated.
The tree's core contains a unique magical essence capable of unraveling parts of the curse. However, reaching the core will be no simple task. Its roots stretch across miles, summoning forest spirits, enchanted roots, and guardian treants that can regenerate endlessly.
Even worse, the tree's essence emits waves of energy capable of dispelling your radioactive form for brief intervals, leaving you vulnerable. Extracting the core will require immense strategy, speed, and resilience.
3. Subjugate the Rebel Orc Tribes
Description: Not all Orcs are loyal to Volk. Several splinter groups within the forest, sensing the curse's weakening of your control, have risen in rebellion.
These tribes are led by former chieftains who have tapped into the forest's magic to bolster their strength. They view you as a usurper and have allied themselves with the beasts of Northern forest of Orzaroth.
To solidify your dominance, you must eliminate their leaders or force them into submission through battle. Beware their guerrilla tactics, traps, and overwhelming numbers. Their leaders possess unique magical abilities bestowed upon them by the forest spirits.
Locate the Shard of Temporal Reversal
Description: Somewhere within Northern forest of Orzaroth lies the Shard of Temporal Reversal, a relic capable of turning back time for a limited duration.
This shard can potentially undo the curse, but it comes at a cost. Acquiring the shard requires traversing the Caverns of Endless Time, a labyrinth filled with illusions, temporal anomalies, and creatures that exist outside of time itself.
Each wrong step could trap you in an endless loop, forcing you to relive past failures indefinitely. Success will demand cunning, patience, and an unyielding will.
5. Build the Bloodforge of the Undying.
Description: To overcome the curse, you must construct the Bloodforge of the Undying, a legendary structure that amplifies your power and binds the forest's magic to your will.
To build this forge, you must collect rare materials scattered across the Northern forest of Orzaroth: volcanic ore from the Molten Crags, spectral essences from fallen spirits, and the blood of the cursed forest beasts.
Each material is heavily guarded, and the act of gathering them will draw the attention of the forest's defenders.
Time is of the essence; failure to complete the forge will leave you at the mercy of the curse.
6. Slay the Guardian Spirit of Northern forest of Orzaroth.
Description: At the heart of the curse lies the Guardian Spirit of Northern forest of Orzaroth, an ethereal being that embodies the forest's wrath.
This spirit cannot be harmed by conventional means and has the power to manipulate the environment against you. It can summon hurricanes, floods, and firestorms to decimate your forces.
To face the spirit, you must first weaken it by destroying its anchors—three ancient totems hidden deep within the forest.
Each totem is guarded by elite beasts and traps designed to break even the strongest warriors. Destroying the totems will weaken the spirit, allowing you to face it in its true form.
7. Conquer the Great Outpost Beyond the Forest.
Description: Beyond the forest lies the Great Outpost, a bastion of human resistance filled with skilled knights, elite magicians, and advanced weaponry.
This outpost serves as a rallying point for humans seeking to destroy you. To escape the forest and cement your power, you must conquer this outpost.
The outpost is fortified with walls enchanted to repel magic, ballistae capable of piercing Ogre flesh, and warriors trained to counter Orc tactics.
Victory will require strategy, overwhelming force, and the element of surprise. Once the outpost falls, the curse will lose its grip entirely, and your dominion will extend beyond the forest's boundaries.
Ding!
The notification faded as Volk's glowing eyes scanned the list. His laughter returned, louder and more menacing than ever, shaking the battlefield. He turned to his horde, their faces filled with awe and anticipation.
"Gather your strength!" Volk bellowed, his voice like thunder. "We have work to do. The forest will bow to me, and beyond it... the world!"
…
Volk's enormous frame strode through the forest, the ground trembling beneath his feet as his Orc and Ogre horde followed in his wake.
Yet, despite his triumphant demeanor and the radioactive power thrumming within him, his mind was far from settled.
The notification of the seven missions replayed in his thoughts like an incessant drumbeat. Each one seemed critical, each one promising untold rewards or catastrophic consequences.
He glanced at his warriors, their brutish faces filled with blind loyalty and bloodlust. For them, it was simple—kill, destroy, conquer. But for Volk, the decision wasn't so easy.
Stopping abruptly, he raised a hand, halting the march.
The horde quieted, watching him with anticipation.
Volk rubbed his chin, his glowing eyes narrowing as he pondered aloud, his deep voice resonating like distant thunder.
Volk paced back and forth, his massive claws tracing patterns in the dirt.
"The beasts of this cursed forest are a menace. Killing them would prove my dominance over this land. If I take this path, I'd gain control of the forest itself. Every predator would either fall to me or serve me.
Their pelts, bones, and magical cores could strengthen my army. My Ogres could wield their bones as weapons, and their blood could be used in rituals to enhance my shamans. And imagine… a forest that obeys my command instead of fighting against me!"
He growled, his eyes narrowing.
"But the risk… oh, the risk! These beasts aren't just animals—they're imbued with Gerhardt's curse. Some of them might be stronger than me, even in this form.
"They'll attack from the shadows, using the forest itself to trap and ambush me. I could lose my best warriors to them, and even if I win, my forces might be too depleted to handle the other challenges.
"Worse, what if the forest spirits retaliate? Killing these beasts could make the forest even angrier."
He stopped pacing and looked up at the towering canopy above him.
"The Tree of Souls… its core is the very heart of the forest's magic. If I claim it, I'll not only weaken the curse but also harness its power for myself. Imagine… a radioactive Orc with control over life itself!
"My power would grow beyond imagination. My enemies would kneel before me, unable to resist the magic flowing through their veins that I could control. And the forest would be mine, no longer a threat."
He grimaced, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.
"But that tree is ancient. Its roots spread for miles, and its guardians will stop at nothing to protect it. Spirits, treants, and who knows what other monstrosities will stand in my way. And the tree itself?
"It could unleash waves of energy that even I might not withstand. What if it traps me in one of its roots, draining my strength until I'm nothing but a husk? The reward is tempting, but the risk… it's enormous."
Volk clenched his fists, his radioactive aura flaring briefly.
"The rebel tribes are a thorn in my side. If I bring them to heel, I'll have more soldiers, more shamans, and more strength to crush my enemies.
Their numbers could swell my horde into an unstoppable force, and their magic, weak as it is, could still prove useful. Plus, breaking their leaders would send a message to anyone else who dares defy me."
He sighed, a rare moment of exasperation.
"But those rebels are cunning. They've aligned themselves with the forest beasts, using their knowledge of the terrain against me. They'll set traps, launch ambushes, and weaken my forces before I can even reach them.
"And even if I win, integrating them into my horde could cause dissent. Some of my loyal warriors might not trust them. What if they betray me again, right when I'm dealing with the other missions?"
He tilted his head, his glowing eyes flickering with interest.
"The Shard of Temporal Reversal… now that's something intriguing. With it, I could undo mistakes, retry battles, or even reverse the curse entirely.
"Its power could turn the tide of any situation in my favor. If I wield it, I could become invincible, always one step ahead of my enemies. Imagine rewinding time to crush my foes before they even know what hit them!"
His expression darkened.
"But the Caverns of Endless Time… I've heard the stories. Illusions that twist your mind, creatures that defy logic, and temporal traps that could leave me stuck in an eternal loop.
"What if I get lost there, reliving the same failure over and over? And what if the shard itself has a cost? Time magic is dangerous—it could backfire, erasing me or my horde from existence altogether."
Volk smirked, imagining the forge in his mind.
"The Bloodforge… a structure that amplifies my power and binds the forest's magic to my will. With it, I could overcome the curse entirely and become unstoppable.
"My radioactive form could last indefinitely, and my enemies would crumble before me. The materials needed to build it would strengthen my warriors along the way, and completing it would solidify my reign."
His smirk faded.
"But gathering those materials… volcanic ore, spectral essences, cursed blood… it'll take time and effort. Each material is guarded by creatures or forces that will drain my resources and manpower.
"And building the forge itself could attract the attention of every enemy in Orzaroth. What if they unite against me, seeing the forge as the ultimate threat?"
Volk's radioactive aura flared again, a glint of challenge in his eyes.
"The Guardian Spirit is the source of this curse. Killing it would break the curse completely, freeing me from its grip.
"It would prove my dominance over this cursed land, and no one would ever dare challenge me again. Its death would also send a message to the forest: Volk rules here now."
He snarled, baring his teeth.
"But that spirit is no ordinary foe. It can manipulate the very elements against me, summoning storms, earthquakes, and fire. It's not bound by the same rules as mortal beings.
"What if I can't harm it? What if its death triggers an even worse curse? And finding its totems… that's a task in itself. Each one will be a fortress of traps and defenders."
Volk turned his gaze toward the horizon, imagining the outpost in flames.
"The Great Outpost is a prize worth taking. Conquering it would give me control of this region, access to human resources, and the ability to expand my reign beyond the forest.
"Their knights, magicians, and weapons would become mine, adding to my unstoppable force."
His voice grew grim.
"But that outpost… it's fortified to the teeth. Walls enchanted to repel magic, ballistae that could pierce even an Ogre's hide, and soldiers trained to counter Orc tactics.
"A direct assault would cost me dearly, and if I fail, my reputation would suffer. What if the humans rally, bringing reinforcements from beyond? The forest would still be against me, and I'd be fighting a war on two fronts."
Volk sighed, his massive shoulders heaving as the weight of the decisions pressed down on him. He glanced at his horde, their eager faces looking to him for guidance.
"Which one… which one do I choose?" he muttered to himself, his voice low but filled with frustration. "Each path has its rewards, but the risks… they're all too great. Yet I must decide, for hesitation is death. But where to begin?"
As he resumed his march, his mind churned with possibilities, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each mission. For Volk, this was not just about survival—it was about forging his legacy as the most fearsome leader Orzaroth had ever seen.