Praise the Orc

PTO Extra Story (5)

Azi Dahaka. A monster named after a legendary dragon. An alias for the first dragon-class monster to appear.

“I thought it was dead but now Azi Dahaka is raising its body.”

Ian heard the news and bowed his head, touching his chin. He had a headache thinking about the humanoid monster that appeared next to Parthenon’s body and now Azi Dahaka was resurrected. The worry that he always had in the back of the mind was revived and his head was disturbed. It was one question.

‘Can humanity prevail in this war?’

It was this.

He didn’t know the power of all the monsters. He didn’t know where they came from or how many there were. Scientists came up with all sorts of ideas about these monsters. They were bio-weapons made from genetic engineering, a species from another world aiming for this planet, monsters made by the Nazis, world government conspiracy theories, a punishment from God, etc. As the debate worsened, one fact became clear.

Humans still didn’t know anything about the enemy.

There were 10 dragon-grade monsters who appeared. All but Azi Dahaka died from the hands of Ian. Humanity’s countermeasure was still only Ian. He wasn’t immortal. The hunters who awakened due to the days of Elder Road were continuing to grow, but they weren’t at the level to deal with dragon-grade monsters.

Would this war end? What kind of result waited at the end? This worry had continued to grow since his awakening.

“I see.”

After a long silence, Ian replied. He decided not to think too deeply. He couldn’t afford to feel fear now. No matter what the future held, he had to do his best in the current.

“Where is Azi Dahaka? Sydney?”

"It has left.”

"Really? What about the National Guard?”

“There is no damage. The National Guard knew they couldn’t cope so they all retreated. Azi Dahaka left Sydney and went to the desert. It is currently at Ayers Rock.”

“Ayers.”

Also known as Uluru, a rock that was called the belly button of the world. A picture of a huge dragon was sent to Ian. Azi Dahaka was sitting on the largest rock known to humanity. Ian stared at Azi Dahaka in the photo.

“The support?”

"The Australian government has promised to devote all its best. But based on Sydney, they can’t do much. In fact, there is no support.”

Ian always fought alone. The word ‘support’ didn’t match him. In return, he received a huge reward. But this wasn’t important to him. There was nothing he needed.

"I’ll ask for support.”

“Huh? Why...?”

Ian’s agent, Leonardo looked at him with a questioning expression. It was rare for Ian to ask for something first.

"Contact the US and ask them to prepare a nuclear bomb.”

“Ian...”

"It is good that it is already a desert.”

“Are you serious?”

"I just don’t feel good. Don’t worry. There won’t be any problems.”

"I understand.”

“I’ll leave as soon as possible. Thank you, Leonardo.”

“You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure.”

Leonardo winked. Then he turned off the video call.

“Sigh.”

Ian leaned back. He eliminated Egypt’s ‘Ramul’ and Libya’s ‘Parthenon.’ Now it was Azi Dahaka. It was unprecedented to deal with so many dragon-class monsters in a row like this.

“Will you be okay?”

His secretary asked. He continued to use his healing ability on Ian. Ian laughed.

"If I’m not okay?”

“You must be tired...”

"If I stop, people will die.”

His secretary fell silent. The man who gave off a good impression was actually carrying the fate of the world.

"I’m okay so let’s depart immediately.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Ian spread open his hands and relaxed. The next destination was Australia.

***

“I can’t reach him.”

“Really dot?”

"He must be busy. Neither the secretary or agent accepted my call. Did something happen?

"Leave it dot. Crockta has his own business dot.”

Tiyo’s party already paid no attention to Crockta’s whereabouts. They were having a happy time at Choi Hansung’s home.

“This... what is this dish? It is the first time I’ve tasted such delicious food!”

“It is called chicken.”

“Tashaquil. Try the soy sauce one here. It isn’t a joke!”

“Ohh! Today is the first time I thought it was good to join your adventure."

"Me too.”

“What dot? Didn’t you like it before?”

Tiyo’s party wasn’t able to eat proper food due to the hardships in the past. Choi Hansung ordered various delivery foods for them and gave them a big meal. They fell for the taste of this food. Chicken, pizza, Chinese cuisine, fish, meat and various midnight snacks were delivered to create a lavish feast.

“Human. What is this?”

“It is pizza.”

“Pizza... I like it.”

The double wielding swordsman, Driden was holding a pizza in both hands.

"What are you eating now dot?”

"Oh, it is ramen. It is delicious but it isn’t good for the body.”

“I’m curious. Can I taste it?”

“Yes.”

Choi Hansung handed over his ramen. Tiyo looked at it carefully and gulped down the soup. Then his eyes widened.

“This...!”

Tiyo’s reaction attracted everyone’s attention. Tiyo shouted, “This isn’t the demon’s food dot!”

“Demon? Really?”

“This! It is like that fellow Abaddon dot!”

“Really?”

“Hrmm.”

The group rushed like zombies at his words. Choi Hansung had to boil a few more packets of ramen for them. Then he heard the story about the spicy food that was similar to ramen in Elder Lord. They couldn’t eat it due to wandering around here and there.

"The taste of home... I have no regrets if I die.”

The taste of their home was ramen.

"I’m going to burst.”

"This amount if enough to make the middle full. Kulkul.”

As orcs could eat a lot of food, Tashaquil patted his belly and lay on the sofa. Anor lay his head on Tashaquil’s belly.

"By the way, Crockta is busy...”

Tiyo looked at Choi Hansung.

"We can’t go meet him dot?”

“I don’t know where he is and it is probably far away.”

"Far away dot?”

Tiyo laughed at his words.

"Rommel says he is far away dot.”

He looked at his party members. Everyone laughed.

"We have already crossed seas and continents. It is funny to say that he is far away.”

"How far is it? We crossed dimensions. At best, isn’t he on the same planet?”

"For us, this greenhouse-like planet is ridiculous dot. Kuahahahat!”

They giggled like it was absurd. Choi Hansung was upset. These guys from Elder Road dared ignore his blue planet?

This planet had beautiful four seasons and produced superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Pacquiao dominated the eight-class weight category and Eminem broke the record for album sales. Wasn’t English the most used language in the world?

Do you know Mariana Trench? Do you know Mount Everest?

Choi Hansung roughly manipulated the remote control. Tashaquil, who was staring at a girl group with his mouth gaping open, glared at Choi Hansung.

"I was watching that.”

His complexion darkened. The giant full HD screen he bought with the money of a hunter was now showing something more beautiful than a girl group. It was a lonely planet rotating in a vast universe. It was just a pale blue dot compared to the scale of the universe, but it was the sea of life.

All of us. The blue planet Earth. The majestic scenery looked down at them. All the known history and civilization was on this blue sphere. Choi Hansung was thrilled and whispered.

“That... is where we are.”

Tiyo replied.

“What bullshit is this dot?”

The rest protested.

"A bead dot?”

“It is a pretty but eerie image. The background is poor.”

"I’d like to look at what was on before...”

"..."

Choi Hansung tried hard to explain but it didn’t reach them. The frustrated Choi Hansung was eventually forced to show them a map of the world. Now they nodded.

“Ohh, a map dot. It is unbelievably detailed.”

“We are here. It is called South Korea.”

Tiyo said, “Eh? It is very small dot.”

“No! What are you saying? We have Park Jisung and Kim Yuna, as well as the most scientific writing system in the world..."

"Then where is Crockta dot?”

"Do you know... maybe he is here.”

Choi Hansung pointed to the area labelled Egypt. They couldn’t see how far it was because they didn’t have a sense of Earth’s size.

“It will take one day on a plane.”

"Such a small planet dot?”

“No...”

Choi Hansung explain that Earth was actually a very big and cool planet. But thanks to the cutting edge technology of an airplane, they were able to move in a short amount of time. There was a lot of suffering behind its history and could be traced back to the achievements of the Wright brothers.

However, Tiyo’s party stopped listening from the middle.

"Sigh... he really speaks a lot dot...”

“Shut his mouth.”

"I’m pretending to listen.”

“Kulkulkul.”

The attempt to tell them about the greatness of Earth’s civilization failed. Choi Hansung felt desperate. At that moment, his phone rang.

"Hello?"

Choi Hansung looked towards Tiyo’s party and raised an index finger to his lips.

"Really?"

Choi Hansung was also a world famous hunter. No, he was the best except for Ian. He was Rommel. Before Crockta’s appearance in Elder Road, he was the leader of the supreme Heaven and Earth clan. His information network was different. Choi Hansung’s face became serious. The information was shocking.

“Its body revived again?”

He asked the Korean government for information on Ian’s location and they informed him of an unexpected fact. Ian had defeated Ramul in Egypt, Parthenon in Libya and recaptured the city. But then Azi Dahaka started to move again. Ian headed straight there. He would dealing with dragon-class monsters in succession. Choi Hansung frowned.

"No, that doesn’t mean he will immediately... no, hah. Yes. I understand.”

Choi Hansung shook his head.

They said Ian was going on his own. The bottom line was that there was no solution unless Ian went. Choi Hansung felt his own helplessness every time a dragon-class monster appeared. If it weren’t for Ian, the human race would already be destroyed.

Humanity as a whole owed him a debt.

"Can’t it be killed by a nuclear weapon? What is the crisis over there?”

Choi Hansung asked.

"Where is Azi Dahaka? Yes, I will go. I’m not crazy. I’m going. I will go directly. What if Ian has a problem? This is three dragon-class monsters in a row!”

Choi Hansung shouted.

"In any case, it is all over if something happens to Ian. South Korea will be fine even without me. But it is over if we don’t have him. If there is a problem, contact the White Knight. That uncle is free. Me? I am originally a rude bastard. No, what is with my tone? Aren’t you twisting it? Shit! It is always me! Are you going to die without me? Why is South Korea relying on me alone? How long have I been doing this? Aish, really!”

The government official shouted but Choi Hansung just hung up.

He was a man of action.

“Humans are so stifling. Tsk.”

Choi Hansung shook his head. Tiyo looked at him and clapped.

"I have found out where Crockta is.”

“I heard it. You are a bigger man than I thought dot! Let’s go dot! Starting now!”

“Let’s go quickly. I don’t have a good feeling. We have to go and help. Ian will be having a hard time right now.”

"Huhu, we are finally dealing with some monsters. Interesting.”

"How are we going? Are we taking the car?”

"Don’t worry. The airplane...”

Choi Hansung paused.

"Buy planet tickets... then...”

Come to think of it, they didn’t have passports. Their identities were also unclear. How could he fly with them to Australia?

"Ah...”

Choi Hansung grabbed his head and muttered.

“That...”

He thought for a moment before sighing.

"Shi...”

Choi Hansung alternated looking between his phone and his shaking hands, before eventually opening his phone. He moved his hands and touched the call button. Before long, he started acting politely.

"Ah, I’m sorry. I had to take a minute... yes... it is because I am sometimes stressed from work... hahaha...I’m sorry. Not that different... I have a favor to ask... ah, yes... I’m sorry... I’m glad...."