Return of the Woodcutter

From its seat, Krugan sighed, for it knew the fight was over. The Khül has already descended from the sky, gracing the orcs of its presence. 

Who was Khül? According to their legends, it was the incarnation of one of their dead ancestors, the strongest orc that has ever lived. 

Once in a while, when the two suns overlapped, it would once more walk amongst them for a short period of time, sharing its wisdom and strength with the orc kin. 

The Grand Duels had two purposes. Firstly, it commemorated the glorious war between humans and orcs that, apparently, happened long ago. Secondly, it prepared the Khül's arrival. Orcs must show themselves worthy and honorable of the Khül's wisdom by challenging humans to a death battle. 

The Khül itself would join in if they failed to kill the humans. By doing so, it would teach the orcs how to fight better, at least that's what they all believed. 

But Krugan knew it thirsted for blood and a good fight, something it lacked as a spirit wherever it came from.

The Khül would always take possession of the current Khan's body, because other orcs were deemed too weak to hold its power. 

And that for a reason. 

Krugan doubted it could exert half the strength it originally had had alive when borrowing the Khan's body. Even then, the body would temporarily mutate, just like now. 

In the middle of the arena, the Khül suddenly stopped walking, its body bulged progressively, becoming bulkier.

It tensed up, lengthening, reaching three meters tall. 

The Khan's armor barely fit the Khül. Too uncomfortable, the imposing orc gripped the breastplate, crushed it, then hurled it aside and did the same with other pieces impeding his movements. 

It looked upward, took a deep breath, tasting freedom once more. The Khül enjoyed the taste of blood in its mouth, the pain from its injuries. 

"Free, at last," The Khül said. "Even if it's just an illusory world, it's good to walk amongst the living once more."

While the Khül enjoyed its freedom and finished its metamorphosis, in the wooden fortifications, Aito leaned on a wall, hissing, catching his breath. Repeatedly using his active skill Pneuma to restore his stamina and health. 

Thanks to the recovery beads Ogoro had given him and his skill, Aito could feel his insides healing. Any internal bleeding stopped, but the lungs were still perforated.

Each breath taken was excruciating, akin to twisting a dagger already lodged in him.

"Got a plan, Aito?" Ogoro asked. 

"Not really… just help me… my lungs…," Aito said, pointing at his ribs. Ogoro nodded, understanding what he meant. How could he not? It was so glaring.

Grabbing Sheyla's dagger, he coated it with Durability and pierced Aito's rib cage, creating a small access point.

Ogoro's healing string entered the wound. 

Thanks to his enhanced sense of touch, he rapidly found the bone fragment piercing the lungs, and pulled to put it back to where it belonged. 

He made sure to sew the broken piece on the rib cage correctly, then closed the wound. It was quick and took barely a minute. An emergency surgical operation. 

Not optimal, but it'd do for now. 

"Thanks, doc" Aito said, breathing more comfortably now. "Now run." 

"What do you mean by 'run'!?" Sheyla asked, before anyone else could say anything. "Why!?" 

"That thing is beyond any of you," Aito replied, pointing at the Khül. "You can't fight it." 

"So you want us to run while you fight it on your own, again?" Sheyla asked, clenching her fists. "Like you did in the goblin den and during the Lunar Eclipse? You want to fight alone, AGAIN!? Aren't we a team!? Shouldn't a team help each other out!?" 

'What's gotten into her?' He thought, watching Sheyla going all hysterical on him. Aito said, "You don't understand. It's faster and stronger than before. I can stand a chance against it IF you run. Remember that Unique Skill I talked about? It's our only chance. But as long as you three are around me, I won't be able to use it. So please, for all of our sake, run." 

"I…," Sheyla said, searching for an objection, something to make him change his mind. "But where do you want us to run!? Every exit is barred! We won't leave you alone again!" 

He felt her body touching his. Her delicate curves and warm skin. That woman, who had kicked his ass before, now appeared so frail and weak. It didn't suit her usual demeanor. 

"Not again… please. Let me stay…," she begged him. "Don't play the hero again...." 

'Why?' He thought, placing his hand on her shoulders. Somehow, her touch was heartwarming. He could feel her heart beating strongly, her heat transferring to his body like a medicine, curing his ailments. 

His anxiety, pain, and anger at his own powerlessness vanished, only to be replaced by bliss. Time seemed to stop for some reason as a slight smile grew on his face. 

He did not understand her reaction, nor why he felt this way. Did it matter? Who cared? Aito felt blessed at that moment.

Blessed to have someone care about him so much. Although he didn't expect Sheyla to care for him this way, it's been a while since he felt the warmth of another human being's hug. 

For that, he was grateful.

When was the last time a human hugged him so tightly? Not counting human or monkey Jack, the last time had been with his father. 

Warm tears run down his eyes, blurring his vision as he remembered a foregone notion.

Ogoro and George looked sideways, slightly embarrassed to see such a strong man crying.

It sure was an unusual sight, yet Aito welcomed it nonetheless. He didn't mind people seeing him this way.

At that moment, Aito was glad he had met the siblings.

"I'll come back," he whispered in Sheyla's ear, only for her to hear. "I promise."

She looked at his abyssal dark eyes, "You lie—"

Aito punched her in the solar plexus, then hit Sheyla on the back of her head, hard enough for her to lose consciousness, but soft enough to prevent any lasting damage. 

"Thank you," he whispered to Sheyla, catching her body. "Ogoro, take your sister and flee." 

Ogoro grabbed Sheyla hesitantly, thinking Aito had gone a bit overboard by knocking her out. "Did you really have to do that?" 

"Do you really have to ask why?" 

"Right…," Ogoro said.

"Even if you're asking us to run, boss," George said, "There is nowhere to go. All paths are blocked." 

"If there is no path, make one." Aito took out a boom ball and gave it to him. 

"I... alright. Anything I can do for you before we leave, boss?" George asked. 

"Give me your breastplate and make sure those two get to the sixth floor safely," Aito replied, drawing a double-headed ax from an inventory bag.

The weapon he had stolen from Big Bad Red's corpse a while ago. 

***

Apart from Aito's teammates, challengers all around stared at the ridiculously strong being outside the wooden fortress. 

The Khül stood still, arms stretched. It looked like it was appreciating the scorching heat and grey light. 

"W, w, what's that thing?" Sam asked. His hands trembled, the grip on his sword loosened, threatening to let go of his weapon. 

"I don't know, but it sure looks big," Roisin said, "and… incredibly dangerous." 

Elizabeth immediately closed off the broken wall and entrance with her wood magic. 

"That won't stop it," Aito declared, wearing George's armor, a mighty ax on his shoulder. "Run if you want to live." 

He stepped out of the fortress while his teammates fled. 

Sam and Elizabeth gawked at their fellow challengers running away, at a loss as to what to do next. Sam was the first to move, promptly following Aito's team, Roisin on his toes. 

Marta, the only survivor from Lucius's team, slapped Elizabeth awake, inciting her to follow her. She grabbed Lucius, then followed the rest in a moment of conformism. 

The Khül saw the puny humans running away from him, but it mattered not.

It had been observing the fights through the Khan's eyes and knew who the worthiest foe was. The others could wait. 

It wouldn't be too late to catch them after it was done dealing with the man coming at him.