Chapter 672: Fierce Battle
George fixed his eyes on the orc in the distance, raised his pistol, and ordered as he pulled the trigger: "Kill that green-skin for me!"
"Bang!"
A bullet etched with explosive runes shot from the barrel and struck Giant Mountain's chest.
That bullet had come from the Empire's Department of Magic. Even someone of George's rank as commander was only allowed to receive three—each held the destructive power of a fifth-ring spell.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous explosion, the bullet detonated inside the orc's body, ripping through its thick flesh and tough skin, tearing open a massive hole in its chest.
Its heart pounded violently, lungs heaving, the stomach charred black, intestines spilling out—nearly all internal organs were now exposed to the air.
Any normal creature would have died or at least collapsed, barely clinging to life.
But Giant Mountain's vitality was absurdly strong. Its flesh writhed like worms, growing in strands, visibly knitting the wound shut.
The orc was drenched in blood, covered in wounds, still tangled in those electric nets.
"Waaaagh!"
At that moment, Giant Mountain stood atop a mound of orc corpses, eyes blood-red, roaring to the sky in a scene of utter carnage.
And as it roared, the dead green-skins beneath its feet began to twitch, transforming into tendrils of green mycelium that climbed from its heels up its body, merging into its flesh.
A powerful, violent pressure radiated outward—a force field formed from the collective will of the fallen green-skins!
Watching the orc's sudden transformation, George sensed danger. Words from the Starfallen came to mind: "This boss is entering phase two!"
"Bang! Bang bang!"
He fired wildly at the orc and shouted, "Full assault! Spare nothing—focus all fire on that damn green-skin!"
"Kill it!"
"That damn beast! For the Empire!"
Instantly, a dozen light and heavy machine guns locked onto the orc, muzzles flaring as bullets rained down like a storm.
But the bullets only tore at the skin and muscle before being healed by writhing flesh that quickly closed the wounds, growing new skin.
The bullets not only failed to kill, but were absorbed and fused into the orc's body, metal sheen beginning to gleam from its claws and fangs.
"Whoosh—"
Several rockets streaked in from different angles, trailing smoke and flame, but the force field was too strong. Half exploded midair; the rest only scorched its skin.
Grenades followed, tossed from trenches, exploding in showers of dirt and shrapnel, yet still couldn't truly harm the orc.
"Die, you damn green-skin! Give me back my brother!"
A heavy-shield ogre roared, stood up, and fired an armor-piercing shell powerful enough to break through rock straight at the orc's head.
The shell trailed thick smoke, hurtling toward the orc's skull at terrifying speed.
"Boom!"
With a deafening blast, the quenched steel warhead pierced Giant Mountain's forehead, the impact shattering its skull.
Then the shell exploded internally, producing a high-speed metal jet that blasted away half its brain, spraying gray matter everywhere.
"Yes! The military department's new toys are amazing!" The ogre cheered at the smoking stump of the orc's head, finally avenged.
"Long live the Empire!"
"These green-skin pests are weak as hell!"
"I'm gonna take that thing's claws and mount them on my wall!"
At once, the Imperial soldiers erupted in cheers, celebrating their joint kill of the orc leader. Even George exhaled in relief.
But something felt off. A cold unease crept into George's heart. He suddenly realized he'd forgotten something!
Wait! The orc leader was dead—but the chaotic, violent aura hadn't faded! It still pressed on every Imperial.
That meant—
George spun around to look at the orc with half a head blown off.
From the pile of corpses came squelching sounds. Dead orcs trembled, spewing thick spores from their mouths and noses.
The broken bodies fused and intertwined, forming twisted flesh masses and wriggling vine-like tendrils that surged toward Giant Mountain.
Then came the most horrifying sight: a new head grew from the stump, its slime-covered eyes staring at George, grinning with a twisted, feral smile.
"You... can't kill me."
"Damn it, it's not dead! Quick! Keep firing!" George shouted.
"Cassius above—what the hell is that?! This can't be real!"
"Disgusting monster! Destroy it!"
"Fuck it, I'll burn that thing to ashes!"
"Boom!"
"Rat-a-tat-tat—"
Gunfire and explosions surged as bullets, grenades, and shells poured in, flattening the ground under the orc by several feet.
Flamethrowers roared, spewing searing fire, drenching it in fuel, roasting its flesh to char.
But Giant Mountain's regeneration was monstrous.
With tens of thousands of corpses as raw material and its overwhelming orcish field, it was nearly immortal in this chaotic battlefield.
Now over six meters tall, muscles bulged, veins like tree roots coiled across its body, its claws and fangs gleamed with metallic light.
Fed by the fallen, forged by Imperial firepower, it had become a brutal war machine.
"Waaaagh!"
Another roar, and the orcish field surged.
Bullets and shells immediately lost their momentum midair, clattering harmlessly to the ground.
"Hahaha! Imperials! You can't kill me, and now I'm going to crush you all!"
George kept firing as he shouted, "Max voltage! Restrain it at all costs!"
The nets still clinging to the orc erupted with crackling arcs, scorching its skin again with blackened grid-like burns.
More metal spheres launched from the trenches, unfolding midair into a tightly woven web aimed at ensnaring the orc.
Years of war had taught the Empire how to deal with monsters like this. Now, those tactics were in full use.
Giant Mountain bared its fangs and sneered, "Imperials, you think this trash can hold me?"
Muscles bulged on its arms, veins popping, it tore at the tangled nets with impossible strength.
"Riiip—"
The web of spider silk snapped apart under its brute force!
Then, it swung its hammer, a steel semicircular blade ejecting from the head, cleanly slicing through incoming nets.
Giant Mountain stared at George, tilting its regrown head, voice simmering with rage: "Was it you who tried to kill me?"
The orcish pressure slammed forward.
Sweat beaded on George's brow, his heart raced, breath quickened, hands trembling.
But George knew: at a moment like this, he couldn't show fear.
One moment of hesitation and all he had—his rank, his power, his honor—would vanish.
He was the backbone of this army. If he faltered, panic would ripple through the ranks until total collapse.
Resolute, George stared the orc down, raised his pistol, and declared, "I gave the order.
Orcs, you're a threat to the Empire. Emperor Cassius himself decreed: not one of you shall survive!"
"Bang!"
He fired a burst round straight at the orc's head.
But Giant Mountain moved faster than expected, interposing its hammer and detonating the bullet midair.
It leapt high, shouting, "Perfect! I was thinking the same. All of you Imperials—die!"
So fast!
George was startled by its agility.
For a creature over six meters tall, it moved more like a seasoned human warrior.
Muscles tensed, dragon blood surged, George leapt back while firing midair, targeting the diving orc.
"Boom—"
The warhammer smashed into the ground, shaking the earth, raising debris and dust.
George dodged just in time and returned fire through the smoke.
"Bang!"
But the orc had uncanny battlefield instinct, tilting its head to evade the bullet.
"Boom!"
"Boom! Boom!"
Giant Mountain swung its warhammer in a storm of blows, carving craters into the earth. George narrowly dodged each strike.
"This monster's a tireless beast..." George dropped his empty pistol and drew his sword, parrying desperately.
Even grazing hits sent jolts through his arms, nearly disarming him.
"Commander George, I'll help you!" Several ogres charged with giant shields and axes.
"Hahaha! You again!"
Giant Mountain laughed, leapt high once more, and crashed down with unstoppable force.
"Boom!"
The shields shattered, pieces flying. The ogres were crushed into bloody pulps.
The orc resumed its pursuit of George, still its primary target.
It roared, "Weak! So weak! This is all the Empire can offer? Pathetic! Bring your Emperor—that big lizard! I want a real fight!"
"Shut up!"
George had always dreamed of climbing higher—but Emperor Cassius, his savior, the one who raised him from slave to noble, was sacred.
He would not tolerate this orc's blasphemy.
Hearing that, George's golden eyes flared with rage. Dragon blood boiled. A mighty roar burst from his throat.
"Roooar!"
"You filthy green-skinned scum! How dare you insult His Majesty! You die now!"
But in his rage, George failed to retreat. The orc could crush him at any second.
Giant Mountain's eyes lit up, delighted: "Hahaha! I see it now! You're panicking! That'll get you killed!"
"Whoosh—"
The warhammer roared down, flames bursting from its pipes, aimed straight at George.
The orc trembled with excitement, ready to splatter this arrogant officer, to scatter the soldiers like frightened sheep.
Then it would take that shiny medal from the officer's chest—looked quite pretty, it thought.
"Is this... the end?" George looked up at the descending orc.
Memories flashed through his mind: his days as a serf, the tension of exposing a spy, the thrill of commendation, the glory of victory...
Suddenly, a bulge rose on his back. Something within him stirred. Dragon blood surged, his heart pumped it through his veins. The feeling was familiar.
Before the descending hammer, a vision of the red dragon emperor appeared in his mind's eye—a being of supreme power, gazing down with golden eyes.
"Emperor Cassius..." George murmured, his eyes burning with fervor. All fear of death vanished.
"Die!" Giant Mountain roared.
"Rip—"
With a sharp crack, the bulge on George's back split open.
Two crimson-scaled dragon wings burst forth and flapped, launching George into the sky!