Chapter 947: Captured Alive
The Spellcaster Alchemical Golems stood in the rear, lined up in formation. Waves of spells surged forth, like a torrent of magical energy, instantly tearing through the ranks of Monster Alchemical Golems.
Once a breach was opened in the Monster Alchemical Golem horde, the gathered Bladewalker Alchemical Golems transformed into a river of blades. Gleaming sword-lights flashed as they plunged into the enemy ranks like a ruthless, piercing sword.
The charging Bladewalker Alchemical Golems, moving at high speed, were simply unstoppable by these mostly low-level—barely level ten or twenty—alchemical constructs.
With a single charge, over three hundred Monster Alchemical Golems were reduced to piles of spare parts. At this pace, a few more charges would destroy half the enemy's frontline.
The Gray Orcs kept roaring in fury, but there was little they could do. If they relaxed their suppression of the Mage Legion, it wouldn’t take long for the mages to break through. With their frail bodies, Gray Orcs could never withstand the onslaught for long—no matter how powerful their spellcasting, their weakness was fatal.
Their spellcasting was unlike that of humans, and different from the Dark Elves’ rune-based magic. In many ways, the Gray Orcs’ technique resembled that of Abyssal-blooded orcs.
Here, if they stopped suppressing the Alchemical Golem Army, their monster golems would be torn apart within ten minutes. By then, there wouldn’t even be a chance to escape.
The Alchemical Golem Army and Mage Legion pressed in from both flanks, leaving the Gray Orcs overwhelmed. Gradually, the suicidal charges of the Monster Alchemical Golems began to slow.
A massive wave of Monster Alchemical Golems began to retreat under tight control. The Gray Orcs, howling in frustration, seemed to realize they could not win this battle. Retreat was their only option.
As the horde of Monster Alchemical Golems began to contract, shifting from frenzied assault to defense, the rate at which the Alchemical Golem Army and Mage Legion dismantled them dropped sharply.
With skilled controllers at the helm, the alchemical golems no longer charged mindlessly. Their coordination grew more seamless, and nearly every Monster Alchemical Golem looked different, each with unique traits. Their teamwork now brought unpredictable changes—sometimes even outmatching the Bladewalker Alchemical Golems.
Leon hovered quietly in midair, watching without intervening. He didn’t order Anderson or Reina to act either. Only when he saw the Gray Orcs preparing to withdraw did Leon glance at Hubert.
"Hubert, go. Break their formation and capture a few Gray Orcs—don’t kill them."
Before Leon could finish, Hubert—already impatient—shot forward like a cannonball, vanishing in an instant. Wielding Slaughter, he charged into the Monster Alchemical Golem army like a rampaging tyrannosaurus, trailing a long plume of dust. With each thunderous step, the ground trembled and deep craters formed beneath his feet.
His terrifying strength brought with it incredible speed. In just a few seconds, Hubert was on the battlefield.
Hubert swung Slaughter, unleashing a surge of white shockwaves that swept across the field. For a moment, even space itself seemed to twist.
A series of deafening explosions followed, the white shockwave erupting into a powerful blast. Instantly, a dozen Monster Alchemical Golems in front of Hubert were sent flying, shattered into heaps of broken parts midair.
And that was just the beginning. In less than a second, Hubert gripped Slaughter and swept the warhammer across the field again.
From afar, Hubert looked like a cresting white wave, surging into the Monster Alchemical Golem army with unstoppable force. Wherever he passed, golems were torn from the ground and scattered as piles of spare parts.
His strength was more terrifying than a transformed dragon, making it impossible for low-level alchemical golems to even approach him. That monstrous body—capable of shrugging off a Sky Rank spell and bouncing back after just a couple of days—was untouchable. Even the highest Level-30 Alchemical Golems couldn’t break through Hubert’s thick hide, not even if he stood perfectly still.
To Hubert, these Monster Alchemical Golems—most of which couldn’t cast spells—were nothing more than a herd of harmless swine. Aside from their sheer numbers, they posed no real threat.
Hubert rampaged through the ranks, swinging Slaughter. In just three or four seconds, he broke through the center of the Monster Alchemical Golem army. Even the Level-30 Alchemical Golems were smashed to pieces with a single blow, utterly unable to stop him.
The Gray Orcs in the rear—still casting spells—turned pale. Seeing Hubert’s incomprehensible power, they didn’t hesitate to retreat.
What else could they do but run?
Even the Level-30 Kodo Beast Alchemical Golems, famed for their defense, were shattered into fragments with a single blow. The golems’ attacks couldn’t even scratch Hubert’s skin.
If this terrifying orc got close, their bodies—frailer than humans—would be obliterated in an instant.
The Gray Orcs desperately fled atop their alchemical golems, but the Alchemical Golem Army and Mage Legion were ready. While Hubert rampaged and drew away most of the Monster Alchemical Golems, the allied forces flanked around and blocked the Gray Orcs’ escape route.
Ten seconds later, Hubert—like a sword—had cut straight through the center of the enemy ranks. Slaughter, wrapped in crackling white lightning, swept toward the Gray Orcs.
A shockwave, as if warping space itself, swept across the battlefield. Gray Orcs riding alchemical golem mounts were knocked askew, several sent flying by the blast.
(Irrelevant system message skipped.)
Hubert charged in with a savage grin, tanking spells with Slaughter. He slapped a Gray Orc’s head with a dull thud—half the orc’s body vanished on impact…
Hubert stared at his own hands, momentarily stunned.
"Damn, so fragile. I only meant to knock him out—how am I supposed to explain this to Lord Merlin…"
Thinking fast, Hubert swung Slaughter at the ground, sending tremors rippling outward. The earth surged like a wave, dust billowing up and shrouding everything in a sandy haze for dozens of meters.
Any Gray Orcs caught in the blast—even those using defensive spells—were knocked unconscious. As for the one Hubert accidentally killed, he quickly dug a hole and buried the body…
Bursting from the dust cloud, Hubert tucked the unconscious Gray Orcs under his arms and grinned with satisfaction.
A few Gray Orcs captured; the rest had already fled under the protection of the Monster Alchemical Golems.
The Alchemical Golem Army and Mage Legion kept up the chase, but the distance was growing.
Only then did Leon and the others catch up.
Hubert dropped the unconscious Gray Orcs to the ground and gave Leon a sheepish grin.
"Lord Merlin, I only caught these few. It’s just—you told me not to kill them, so it’s not like I wasn’t trying…"
Leon ignored Hubert’s sly excuse. He spoke a few runes, sending them into the unconscious Gray Orcs. Instantly, the spellmarks on their skin blurred under a hazy veil.
This temporarily sealed their spellcasting abilities, but the effect would dissipate by the end of the day.
"William, send these Gray Orcs to Radiance Fortress. Just tell Lord Shaun they’re for him."
Two Labor Alchemical Golems came forward to carry the unconscious Gray Orcs toward the fortress.
This time, the attacking Gray Orcs brought thousands of Monster Alchemical Golems, but the highest among them was only Level-35; most were below Level-30.
If the goal were total annihilation, it wouldn’t have been this complicated. Those golems, mostly incapable of spellcasting, were mere cannon fodder—useful only in numbers, and little else.
Hubert alone was more than enough to deal with the cannon fodder golems. The Gray Orcs’ spellcasting was powerful, but with the Mage Legion and Alchemical Golem Army keeping them in check, Hubert could rampage through and massacre them. Their frail bodies were so weak he could crush three at once between his fingers; if he really cut loose, he could finish them all in ten minutes.
But that wasn’t Leon’s goal…
Capturing these Gray Orcs was Leon’s true objective.
For their race, alchemy is in their very bones—especially puppet alchemy, which they learn from the moment they open their eyes.
Even the Gray Orc warriors trained for combat know plenty about puppet alchemy. At worst, their skill surpasses that of ordinary alchemy apprentices.
The base at Radiance Fortress now needs a large number of alchemists—especially those skilled in puppet alchemy. Across the entire Blazeforge Realm, there’s no one more suitable than the Gray Orcs.
In fact, throughout Northend World, no other race is so deeply entwined with puppet alchemy as the Gray Orcs.
Every Gray Orc is a talent—a precious alchemist. There’s no way Leon would kill them.
Once delivered to Radiance Fortress, with Lord Shaun there, would any Gray Orc dare refuse to cooperate?
Heh…
That would be an insult to Lord Shaun’s intelligence and ability…
Leon followed the fleeing Gray Orcs all the way to their fortress.
From a distance, the Gray Orc fortress sat at the heart of a flat plain, perfectly positioned at the confluence of two rivers.
Leon watched as the fleeing Gray Orcs entered the fortress, lost in thought.