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Sorry this chapter didn't drop yesterday. Something came up last minute, so I couldn't get it out on time. Been busy these past few weeks, and honestly, trying to write while juggling everything has been tough.
But to make up for it…
I made this chapter extra long.
Over 4,100 words.
So yeah..enjoy.
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The massive wooden walls of the village loomed before him, with thick smoke curling up into the air. Keeping his quick pace, Kuro channeled chakra into the soles of his feet, feeling the familiar tingling sensation as the energy flowed downward and bonded with whatever surface he touched. His sandals made contact with the rough wooden logs, and he found himself running vertically up the wall as gravity ceased to exist.
Reaching the top of the wall, he gathered his strength and launched himself into the air with a powerful leap, his body arcing high over the burning village. The wind rushed past his face as he soared through the smoke-filled air, and for a brief moment, he hung suspended above the destruction he had caused.
The scene that greeted him as he descended was one of pure chaos and devastation. The explosion had torn through the village, leaving nothing but hell in its wake. Some orcs were running frantically through the streets, their faces filled with terror as they fled from the spreading flames that burnt through everything in their path. The one's that had been caught in the initial blast and were now rolling desperately on the ground, their clothing and skin on fire as they tried to extinguish the fires that clung to them.
Scattered throughout the devastation were orcs who had fallen to their knees beside the remains of their loved ones, some of which their bodies were blown apart beyond recognition, while some were burned so badly that they were little more than charred husks.
Kuro landed over the wall and just for a moment, he stood perfectly still, taking in the full scope of the tragedy around him. The smell of burning flesh and wood filled his nostrils, and the heat from the fires made sweat bead on his forehead. But his expression remained cold and emotionless, his time in war having long taught him to compartmentalize his feelings when a mission demanded it.
Without a shred of remorse flickering across his face, he started to get to work. The first orc he encountered was an elderly female who was cradling what remained of a small child, her body shaking with sobs. Kuro dashed to her from behind, and raised his dagger high above his head. Bringing it down to her neck, her cries were cut short forever as it ripped through her flesh like butter.
He then quickly moved on to a young male orc who was trying to drag an injured companion to safety, but sadly for him he never saw the blade that sliced across his throat. An elderly orc who had been calling out for his missing family members collapsed as Kuro's dagger found the space between his ribs. And he just continued slaughtering every orc in sight with a cold efficiency, the product of years of in wars and on missions that had taught him to view targets as obstacles to be eliminated rather than living beings with hopes and dreams.
Kuro was now drenched in blood, with his dagger being absolutely bathed in it as he moved from one victim to the next.
From the far end of the village, a group of armored orc warriors came charging through the flames and smoke, their weapons raised high and their faces twisted with rage as they saw what had happened to their precious village and people.
"RAGRGGGHHHHHGGHH!!!" Their battle cries rose above the crackling of the flames as they charged toward him. The lead warrior wielded a massive double-bladed axe that looked capable of cleaving a thick log in two, while others brandished swords, maces, and spears.
Kuro turned to face them, his blood-stained dagger still dripping in his hand, and for the first time since the explosion, a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Finally, he had something to take out his anger...
As the armored orc closed the distance between them, kuro quickly assessed the situation. And he saw that there were seven orcs in total, all heavily armed and moving with the coordinates of seasoned fighters..despite having the intelligence of a child they worked together perfectly. He would need to be strategic about this, if he wanted to come out winning
As they drew even closer, finishing formulating his plan he began weaving his hands through a series of intricate handsings.
"Clone Jutsu!" he whispered under his breath, feeling the sudden surge of chakra flowing out from his body.
[ACTIVATING BASIC CLONE JUTSU] Lv.15
In an instant, two identical copies of himself materialized on either side of him, each one perfectly mimicking his stance. The clones moved with fluid synchronization, drawing their own daggers as they spread out to flank the approaching warriors. To the orcs, it would appear as if they were now facing three equally dangerous opponents instead of one.
The lead orc warrior, a massive brute with tusks that jutted out from his lower jaw like curved bone daggers, stopped for just a moment as he took in the sight of the multiplied enemies. His companions behind him also showed signs of confusion, their formation becoming slightly less organized as they tried to process this witch craft.
Kuro used that moment of confusion and launched himself forward with explosive speed, his real body moving like a blur of shadow. His left clone peeled off to engage the three orcs on the right flank, while his right clone darted toward the two warriors on the left. The remaining two orcs, including their leader, found themselves facing the original Kuro as he closed the distance between them.
[TITLE: ONE MAN ARMY – "I WILL NOT FALTER" IS ACTIVATING...]
The first orc he reached was a lean warrior wielding a curved scimitar that whistled through the air as he swung it in a wide arc. Kuro ducked beneath the blade with ease, feeling the wind from the swing ruffle his hair. As he rose from his crouch, he drove his dagger upward in a vicious thrust, the blade finding the gap between the orc's chest plate and shoulder guard. The warrior's eyes widened in shock as steel pierced flesh, and he stumbled backward with a gurgling gasp.
But there was no time to savor the kill as the massive leader was already on him, his enormous double-bladed axe descending in a devastating overhead strike that would have split Kuro in half had it connected. Kuro threw himself to the side, rolling across the ash-covered ground as the axe blade bit into the earth where he had been standing just moments before.
Meanwhile, his clones were performing their intended function perfectly, as they were serving as distractions while staying just out of reach of their attackers. The left clone moved around the three frustrated orcs, weaving between their swinging weapons with fluid movements that made them appear almost ghost-like..which they were. Each time a sword or mace came sweeping toward the clone, it would bend and twist away at the last possible moment, causing the orcs to stumble and curse as their attacks found nothing but empty air.
The right clone was equally as quick, leading two spear-wielding warriors on a merry chase through the burning debris. It would dart behind fallen logs and leap over chunks of rubble, always staying just far enough ahead to keep the orcs focused on the pursuit while never allowing them to get close enough to make contact. The warriors roared in frustration as they chased what seemed like shadows given form, their heavy armor weighing them down as they tried to match the clone's speed.
Kuro regained his footing just as another orc armed with a spiked mace, came charging at him from the side. The warrior's weapon whistled through the air in a horizontal sweep aimed at Kuro's stomach. Rather than backing away, Kuro stepped forward into the attack, dropping low and sweeping his leg in a wide arc that caught the orc's ankles. The barbarian crashed to the ground hard, his mace skittering away across the floor.
Before the fallen orc could recover, Kuro pounced on him and drove his dagger down repeatedly to its face. The orc's struggles grew weaker with each blow until finally, his body went limp beneath Kuro.
The massive leader roared in fury as he watched his comrade die, his tusks gleaming with saliva as he hefted his axe for another attack. But Kuro was already moving, leaping backward to create distance between himself and the towering warrior. As he landed, he began weaving another series of hand signs.
As his fingers finished through the sequence he felt the familiar sensation of wind chakra gathering around his dagger.
"Vacuum Blade Jutsu!"
[ACTIVATING VACUUM BLADE JUTSU] Lv.8
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[ NOTICE]
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[-400 CP CONSUMED]
CAUTION! You have poured far more chakra than necessary for the jutsu!
➤ Vacuum Blade Jutsu Power Boosted by 40%
➤ +70% Power Bonus due to Wind Affinity Skill
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Total Boost: 120% Increase in Power!
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In a swift diagonal motion, he slashed his dagger through the air in front of him. The compressed wind separated from the blade and formed into a crescent-shaped projectile. The vacuum blade shot forward with incredible speed, whistling through the smoke-filled air.
The lead orc warrior had no time to react as the wind blade struck him in the chest with devastating force, the compressed air cutting through his armor as if it were made of paper. His eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at the gaping wound that had appeared across his torso, with gallons of his blood pouring out like a waterfall.
He took one stumbling step forward, his massive axe dropping from nerveless fingers, before collapsing to his knees and then pitching forward onto his face.
Kuro knew he couldn't take on all seven armored orcs at once, so his strategy was working perfectly. While his clones kept the majority of the orcs distracted and scattered, he focused on eliminating the ones he could handle in smaller numbers.
The orc with a chipped notched sword was the closest to him, still turning around to locate the real Kuro when Kuro appeared behind him. The orc started to pivot, his sword beginning to come up in a defensive position, but he was far too slow.
Kuro's dagger sliced across the warrior's throat in one fluid motion, opening up a wide gash that sent blood spraying across the ash-covered ground. The orc's eyes widened in shock as he dropped his sword and clutched at his neck, but the wound was already too deep. He collapsed to his knees, then fell forward onto his face, his life ebbing away in the flickering firelight.
But even as that orc died, Kuro was already moving toward his next target. One of the orcs who had been chasing his left clone had broken away from the group, frustrated by the endless chase. This warrior wielded a heavy war hammer, and he was charging toward Kuro with murderous intent written across his scarred face.
Kuro met the charge head-on, but at the last moment, he dropped into a low slide that carried him beneath the orc's swinging hammer. As he slid past, he drove his dagger upward in a vicious thrust that pierced through the warrior's leather armor and into his stomach. The orc let out a howl of pain and stumbled, his hammer falling from nerveless fingers as he clutched at the wound.
Before the injured orc could recover, Kuro sprang to his feet and spun around, bringing his dagger in a wide arc that opened the warrior's throat. The orc gurgled once, blood frothing from his mouth, before collapsing beside his fallen weapon.
Meanwhile, the clones continued their task of distracting the orcs. The left clone was still leading its three orcs through the burning debris. The right clone had the remaining three orcs spread out in a wide circle, each one trying to predict where the clone would go next.
But one of the orcs chasing the right clone was growing impatient. He let out a roar of frustration and made a desperate lunge with his spear, the weapon impaling through the clone's torso. The clone immediately dissipated in a mirage, leaving the orc staring in bewilderment at the empty space where his 'food' had been just moments before.
The sudden disappearance of the clone sent the three orcs into momentary confusion, but it also drew their attention back to the real Kuro. As they turned to see Kuro standing over the bodies of their dead comrades, his dagger dripping with fresh blood, and their faces twisted with rage and pure hatred for him.
Two more orcs made contact with the remaining clone almost simultaneously, one with a sword thrust and another with a mace strike. The clone vanished in another mirage, leaving the final three orcs from that group scattered and disoriented.
Now Kuro faced the remaining four orcs, all of whom were converging on his position with the intent of ripping him to pieces. But they were no longer an organized unit, the clone strategy had broken their formation and scattered them across from each other, leaving them open just like how he had planned.
The first to reach him was a younger orc with twin curved daggers. Kuro parried the first strike with his own blade, then caught the orc's wrist as he tried to bring his second dagger around. With a swift, brutal motion, Kuro twisted the orc's arm until he heard the satisfying crack of breaking bone. The orc screamed in pain and dropped one of his daggers, but Kuro was already moving in for the kill. He drove his knee up into the orc's ribs, feeling them give way under the impact, then followed through with a thrust to the heart that ended the orc's suffering.
A spear-wielding orc came at him next, the weapon's point aimed directly at Kuro's chest. But Kuro was ready for him. He sidestepped the thrust with relative ease, grabbed the spear shaft with his free hand, and used the orc's own momentum against him. With a swift, brutal motion, he yanked the warrior forward while simultaneously driving his dagger up under the orc's jaw.
The blade pierced through flesh and bone, coming out the top of the orc's skull in a spray of dark blood. The warrior's eyes rolled back as his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground like a barbie doll.
Two orcs remained, both advancing more cautiously now that they had seen their companions being killed off. One carried a massive two-handed sword, while the other wielded a spiked flail that he swung in menacing circles above his head. They approached from different angles, trying to flank Kuro and prevent him from focusing on just one opponent.
Kuro assessed the situation quickly. The flail-wielder was the more immediate threat, his weapon's reach and unpredictable arc made him dangerous in close combat. Kuro feinted toward the swordsman, then suddenly pivoted and launched himself at the orc with the flail.
The orc tried to bring his weapon around in a crushing blow, but Kuro was already inside his guard. He grabbed the chain of the flail with his left hand, stopping its deadly arc, then drove his dagger deep into the orc's chest with his right. The orc's eyes widened in shock as the dagger sunk in his heart, and he collapsed backward, pulling Kuro down with him.
The final orc, seeing his last companion fall, let out a roar of desperation and charged at Kuro with his massive sword raised high above his head. But Kuro rolled away from the falling flail-wielder and came up in a crouch, his dagger held ready.
The orc's sword came down in a devastating overhead strike that would have cleaved Kuro in two, but he threw himself to the side at the last possible moment. The blade bit deep into the ground where he had been crouching, and for a split second, it was stuck fast in the hard-packed earth.
Kuro seized that moment of vulnerability without hesitation. He lunged forward, bringing his leg back as he used his left foot to spin off the ground and drive his right leg in a devastating kick that caught the orc square in the jaw. The impact sent the orc staggering backward, his grip on his sword loosening as stars exploded behind his eyes.
Before the orc could recover, Kuro was on him like a hawk, never allowing him to get too far away. He drove his dagger between the orc's ribs, finding the gap in his armor and piercing straight through to his heart. The orc's mouth opened in a silent scream as his life drained from him, and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Kuro stood alone among the bodies of the dead orcs, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to breathe properly. As he surveyed the carnage around him he walked to one of the dead orcs and wiped his dagger clean on the orc's cloak.
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[ NOTICE!]
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[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[BASIC CLONE JUTSU HAS LEVELED UP]
[BASIC KUNAI TECHNIQUES SKILL HAS LEVELED UP TWICE.]
[BASIC KUNAI TECHNIQUES SKILL HAS EVOLVED INTO INTERMEDIATE DAGGER TECHNIQUES.]
[WIND AFFINITY SKILL HAS LEVELED UP ONCE.]
[BARBARIAN HELMET 1x] - Uncommon
[CURVED BONED DAGGER 1x] - Uncommon
[LEATHER POUCH 3x]
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As Kuro watched the systematic rewards flash across his vision, he let out a long, weary breath that seemed to carry the weight of everything he had endured over the past few days, which was something he found himself doing this more and more lately. Everything was starting to feel like a..."drag"
He was beginning to understand why Shikamaru always seemed so tired and unmotivated, always complaining about how troublesome everything was. Right now, all Kuro wanted was to find a quiet place somewhere far away from all this bullshit he was going through and just rest for a while. Maybe lie down under a tree and watch the clouds drift by without having to worry about quests or the inevitable war in the future.
The past two days had been nothing but an endless cycle of killing. His hands were stained with more blood than he cared to count, and his mind felt foggy from hours and hours of just killing.
But despite how much he longed for a break, he knew he couldn't afford to stop now. Not when he was so close to something that could change everything for him.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried to focus on the numbers that appeared before him. "I've managed to level up a total of ten times from all this, and that puts my current level at 34." He paused for a moment, running the calculations through his tired mind. "That means I'm only six more levels away from reaching level forty, and that's when I'll finally be able to do the job change quest."
He had been researching and planning for this moment for weeks now, studying every piece of information he could remember to meet all the requirements for Shadow monarch, it would give him power beyond anything he had ever imagined...it'll make him practically invincible. Which is something he'll need if he's going up against the likes of ten tails Madara or kaguya...
"Hopefully I'll be able to unlock Shadow Monarch," he continued. "I already have a plan worked out in my head for how I can meet all the requirements, but I'll just have to wait and see if everything actually works out the way I'm hoping it will."
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[ NOTICE!]
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[ONE OBJECTIVE MET]
➤ KILL ALL ORCS
[350/ 350]
[REMAINING OBJECTIVE]
➤ KILL THE CHIEF ORC
[0/ 1]
Clear all objectives to move to the next floor...
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Kuro slowly tilted his head to the side a bit. "Alright, that's good progress," he said quietly to himself, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction despite his overall exhaustion. "I've managed to complete the first objective, which means the only thing left now is the chief." He paused for a moment, his dark eyes scanning the burning village around him as he considered what still lay ahead. "Now I just need to find where he is...But before I go charging in, I should probably take a look at my current stats and see how much stronger I've gotten from all this."
Kuro raised his right hand in front of his face and made a quick swiping gesture through the air. Almost immediately, a translucent blue screen materialized in front of him, floating in the air.
━─━─━─≪◈ STATS ◈≫─━─━─━
[NAME] ➤ Kuroshin Kagemura
[AGE] ➤ 13
[LEVEL] ➤ 34
◇───INFO───◇
[JOB] ➤NONE
[TITLES] ➤ Courage Of The Weak...
[HP] ➤ 1002.7/1533
[CP]➤ 4200/4600 ( HIGH-GENIN)
[FATIGUE] ➤ 57
[AVAILABLE ABILITY POINTS: 34 ]...
◇───STATS───◇
[STRENGTH] ➤ 64
[AGILITY] ➤ 71
[SENSE] ➤ 62.5
[HEALTH] ➤ 62.5
[INTELLIGENCE] ➤ 63
◇───SKILLS───◇
[BASIC TAIJUTSU TECHNIQUES] ➤ Lv.16 (PASSIVE.) [Basic Melee attacks inflicted on an opponent is increased by 38%. ]
[BASIC SHURIKENJUTSU TECHNIQUES]Lv.14 (Passive) [When throwing small concealed weapons, damage inflicted is increased by 34%.]
[WIND AFFINITY] ➤ Lv.8 (PASSIVE.) [Whenever a Wind Style jutsu is used, its power is increased by 80%.]
[INTERMEDIATE DAGGER TECHNIQUES]Lv.21 (PASSIVE) [Basic Daggers attacks inflicted on an oponent are increased by 58%.]
[EXOSKELETON] Lv.1 (ACTIVE) [Forms an invisible layer of armor around the user's entire body, reducing all incoming damage by 14%.]
◇───JUTSU'S───◇
[TRANSFORMATION JUTSU] ➤ Lv.13
[BASIC CLONE JUTSU]➤ Lv.16
[SUBSTITUTION JUTSU] ➤ Lv.13
[VACUUM BLADE JUTSU] ➤ Lv.8
[GALE PALM JUTSU] ➤ Lv.10
[GREAT FIREBALL JUTSU] ➤ Lv.2
[HIDING IN THE MIST JUTSU] ➤ Lv.3
━─━─━─━─≪◆≫─━─━─━─━
Kuro's shoulders lifted in a casual shrug. "Good," he murmured with genuine satisfaction, his voice carrying the relief of someone who had just confirmed their hard work was paying off. "All my stats are sitting above 60 now, which is definitely solid progress for where I need to be."
But as his gaze continued down the screen, something caught his attention that made him pause and lean forward slightly. "My basic Kunai technique has evolved into intermediate dagger techniques," he said slowly, as a thoughtful frown creased his forehead. "Is it because I've been using daggers so much more than kunai's lately that it evolved?"
Then the full implications of what he was seeing hit him like a bolt of lightning, and his eyes widened slightly. "But wait a minute, skills can actually evolve into something completely different?"
He hadn't been expecting something like this at all, but it opened up possibilities he had never even considered before. The idea that his abilities could grow and change based on how he used them was interesting to say the least. "That's definitely something I'll need to experiment with later," he decided.
For now, though, he was satisfied with his progress. In a world where the difference between victory and defeat could come down to a battle of speed or strength, he was grateful for every advantage he could get.
"Now, where is the chief bos—"
The words died in his throat as the world around him suddenly shifted in a way that made his survival instincts scream warnings at him. The air, which had been warm and thick with smoke from the burning village, began to grow cold with an unnatural chill that seemed to seep into his bones like ice water.
Every hair on his body stood up as if he had been struck by lightning, the tiny follicles responding to some primal danger. The sensation was like having thousands of sharp needles pressing against his skin all at once.
Then, as suddenly as a candle being blown out, the fires began to die down and shrink back on themselves. A faint cold breeze swept through the area, and a cold tingling feeling began at the base of his skull and ran down his spine like a trail of ice, spreading through his body until every bone and muscle in his body was screaming the same message... run, run, now...
"Are you the one who did this..." A deep voice came up from behind Kuro, filled with nothing but hatred and resentment. Kuro slowly turned with a wryly smile on his face, ignoring the question Kuro's eye's landed on the dark red text box hovering over the 12 feet darker green skin orc.
[BARBARIAN CHIEF ORC]
He had tusks that protruded from its mouth, and it was completely bare chested with intricate purple tattoos running all over him. His hair flowed down to his chest like wild mane and his muscles and biceps were that of tree trunks and mere flick of finger could snap a log. And in his hands was a giant scimitar about half the size of Kuro.
Kuro's smile disappeared into a flat line as his eyes narrowed into thin slits. "Probably..." he said, his grip around his dagger tightening.
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