CHAPTER 48: 48: I’M UNKILLABLE

"Humans. You dare intrude on my home and kill my people? I will make sure to reap you both to shred!" The orc chief bellowed, his deep, guttural voice echoing across the desolate remains of the orc town like a death sentence. He was a giant among orcs—twice the size of his kin, with a build so dense and muscular it looked like his skin had been cast in stone. Thick green veins throbbed visibly across his arms, and his eyes glowed a furious crimson, framed by jagged black tattoos that ran like cracks across his forehead. He sat casually atop a grotesque throne fashioned from skulls—orc skulls, mostly, though the disturbing presence of human ones added a chilling message: no one was safe in his domain.

"Stop talking or I might just pummel you to the ground. Your breath stinks," Aaron said, pinching his nose with exaggerated disgust.

He took a deliberate step forward, eyes never leaving the orc chief. "How do you even learn to speak before learning to brush? That’s just rude and stupid."

"You... I will make sure you suffer the most before your death!" The orc chief’s voice trembled with rage as he rose from his throne, hefting a battle axe large enough to crush boulders. His aura surged, thick with bloodlust.

"No brainer, but I’m basically unkillable, dimwit. Can we just cut loose of the chit-chat stage and fight already? Your stinking breath is ruining the conversation." Aaron’s tone was scathing, and his mockery all too effective.

Alice, standing just behind him, blinked in disbelief. Honestly, she couldn’t decide whether to applaud Aaron’s confidence or punch him for poking a bear this dangerous. If she could, she would have awarded him the title of "Most Annoying Opponent To Ever Walk The Earth."

"Don’t give me that stare, Alice. His breath really does stink," Aaron said, half-apologetically.

Despite his sarcastic demeanor, there was truth in his words. Aaron’s heightened senses picked up the rancid odor of rot and bile from the orc chief’s mouth. It clung to the air like a curse.

"I will not condone your insolence anymore, human!" the orc chief roared. Without warning, he lunged forward, battle axe raised high, ready to split Aaron in two.

"Should I deal with him, or do you want to?" Aaron asked Alice nonchalantly, not even acknowledging the several-ton weapon descending toward him.

"Go for it, Aaron. Let me see a bit of that hidden strength," Alice said with a teasing smile.

Aaron smirked. "If I do, will you go on a date with me?"

"Depends on the date setting."

"Good thing you’re not the gloomy ice princess I thought you were." Aaron stepped forward and casually raised a hand, catching the full weight of the orc chief’s axe.

There was a beat of silence. Then—

"That look on your face. Never knew orcs could be surprised." Aaron chuckled, feeding off the disbelief in the orc chief’s wide, bloodshot eyes.

In truth, Aaron had already lifted the internal limiter on his strength. The moment the orc chief leapt from his throne, Aaron had accessed his true power—no more hiding.

"You arrogant human!" the orc chief spat, his fury boiling over. His eyes turned pitch black, pulsing with energy from the Abyss.

"What is that—?"

BOOM!

Aaron was suddenly a blur, sent flying like a ragdoll, crashing through several abandoned houses before his body came to a stop amidst the rubble.

"Ouch. That hurts," Aaron muttered, rising and brushing debris off his shoulder. His body was fully intact, not a single bone broken. As expected.

With a flash, he appeared back in front of the orc chief, unharmed. "What was that just now? Did you inject something? Some kinda rage steroid? You powered up fast. Almost scared me."

---

Orc Chief (Tainted by the Abyss)

Agility: S++

Strength: SS-

Vitality: S+

Stamina: SS+

Mana: S-

Tainted by the energy of the Abyss. The orc chief has received exponential boosts in all attributes. Gains power relative to rage but loses lifespan in exchange.

---

Aaron’s eyes narrowed. "Will you look at that. Seems like the Abyss is already interfering with our world. Great."

He closed the distance in a heartbeat and drove a fist into the orc chief’s gut, sending the hulking beast flying through the air and into a stone wall.

"Consider that payback," he said calmly.

"Aaarghhh!!! I swear I’ll kill you!" the orc chief bellowed, his arms now wreathed in shadowy Abyssal energy.

Aaron clicked his tongue. "Oops. Made him angry. Oh well, I’ll win either way."

The orc chief charged again. Blows were exchanged in a storm of fists, claws, and claws. Shockwaves cracked the ground beneath them.

"You know something I’ve always wanted to try?" Aaron grinned mid-fight.

"A low blow."

His knee rocketed upward—direct hit.

"Urghhh!!!" The orc chief collapsed, groaning in agony and clutching the area between his legs.

"Low blows are so underestimated. Especially with guys like you who clearly have bigger dungs," Aaron smirked, kneeling beside the writhing orc.

Honour? That was for noble knights and ancient vampires. He was just 18.

Aaron dug his hand into the orc chief’s thick chest, fingers piercing flesh and bone, until he found what he was looking for—

The orc’s heart.

With a swift motion, he ripped it out.

"How’d I do?" he asked Alice, holding up the still-pulsing heart with a gentlemanly bow.

Alice raised a brow. "Not too shabby with the low blow. I might try it next time."

"Come now. It wouldn’t suit your elegant ice princess image. It would totally—"

"Aaron!!"

Her voice was panicked.

Abyssal energy exploded behind Aaron.

Alice fired a barrage of ice spikes, pushing the creature back. But it was too late.

Aaron looked down. His torso... was gone.

One half of his body lay on the ground, twitching beside the other.

Alice scrambled toward him, eyes wide. "Aaron! Aaron, stay with me!"

Aaron looked at her, stunned by the emotion in her voice. "Alice Frost... are you crying for me?"

"Don’t talk! You’re dying. I’ll freeze your body to stop the bleeding—we’ll get a healer—just hold on!"

But Aaron smiled.

"Thanks, Alice. Really. But I’ve got some payback to deliver. That bastard doesn’t know what’s about to hit him."

Before her eyes, his two severed halves knit together. Flesh regrew. Bones fused. Within moments, Aaron stood whole again.

Alice was stunned. Regrowing limbs? Sure. But an entire half of his body?

"How... how?"

"What can I say? I just don’t die easy," Aaron replied, his crimson eyes glowing like blood-forged gems.

---

[Host is advised to use Excalibur. You won’t be able to kill him through natural means.]

"Oh great. Knew I’d have to use it eventually," Aaron muttered. "But not yet. Let me vent some steam first."

He walked toward the orc chief, each step slow and heavy with intent.

His eyes locked on the barely moving monster.

"Stay put," he whispered.

His eyes flared.

And with that, Aaron cast Mind Compulsion.