Early next morning, Buhara left the village of Goruk-Tor alone to travel to the neighboring village whose water source had been contaminated.

As per his research, the snake that was poisoning the nearby villages waters was a tier3 beast that wasn’t that powerful if it were fighting on land, however, since it was within water and most orcs could not fight well within water, the snake proved to be a bigger challenge than it really was.

In his heart, Buhara only had the best intentions for both his village and that of his neighbors, however, as he was on his way to the neighboring village, he spotted a dozen or so orcs from the neighboring village making their way towards Goruk-Tor, with weapons in hand.

“The patrolling sentinels of the Goruk-Tor village change shifts during dawn. If we attack then, we can take them by surprise….”

“If we can injure or kill Chief Ohara, then the village will fall. He is the only respectable fighter amongst their ranks”

“We must take over the Goruk-Tor’s water supply…. My grandmother has not had water to drink for the past 2 days”

The group of 12 orcs discussed their intentions to attack Goruk-Tor, and Buhara having overheard their conversation, could no longer stay quiet in good conscience.

“You puny orcs dare lay your eyes upon Goruk-Tor! Buhara will make you pay!” Declared Buhara, as his sudden arrival made the enemy orc group panic.

For a moment they drew their arms and prepared to fight off any ambush, before realizing that their opponent was only a single orc.

“Aren’t you Buhara? The chief’s son who was chosen to be a climber? What are you doing here?” asked one of the enemy Orcs, as just like back on Earth, once an Orc was chosen to be a climber they were given a higher status than the commoners, since they helped fend off the monster wave that erupted every four years.

It was a taboo to kill climbers, which was why once an orc was chosen as a climber they were no longer officially considered a part of any particular clan.

“Buhara was on his way to your village to challenge the mighty snake in your waters.

Buhara is a battle mage and has the confidence to best the snake.

However, he has now come across you lot who are planning to kill Buhara’s father” said Buhara, as his words caused the enemy Orcs to panic.

Fundamentally, Orcs were a kind-hearted race.

Although they fought a lot internally, they mostly fought without malice or bad intentions, as even today, although the Orcs planned on killing Chief Ohara, their intention behind it was to only secure the water source of Goruk-Tor village for their own.

“You will kill the snake for us? Is that even possible?” one of the enemy Orcs inquired, as Buhara nodded his head and brought out his staff-ax weapon.

“Buhara is a part of the Champion Of Gemini’s party! He is now a mighty orc, Buhara can kill any snake!” Claimed Buhara, as his words impressed the opposing group of Orcs.

“If Buhara can help us kill the snake, then our village will be indebted to Buhara…..” said one of the enemy Orcs, as his group nodded at his words.

Soon a consensus was reached that instead of attacking Goruk-Tor village, the group of Orcs would instead escort Buhara to theirs, so that Buhara could fight against the snake.

*********

Once the group reached the Tramak-Tor village, they quickly escorted Buhara to their contaminated lake, where the poisonous snake had made its new home.

As Buhara approached the edge of the contaminated lake, the air grew thick with the stench of decay. The water, once a pristine source of life for the Tramak-Tor village, was now a murky, toxic green, bubbling ominously as if the lake itself was alive.

The villagers, who had gathered around in hopes of witnessing the demise of the snake, whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and anticipation.

“Buhara will end this,” he declared, gripping his staff-ax tightly. His voice was firm, exuding the confidence of a battle mage who had faced countless dangers alongside the Champion of Gemini. Despite the daunting task ahead, he felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, knowing that both villages depended on his success.

With a deep breath, Buhara began chanting an incantation. The ground beneath his feet rumbled softly, resonating with the power he summoned. A faint, protective glow enveloped his body, a shield against the unknown dangers lurking beneath the water’s surface. As the incantation ended, Buhara took a step forward and waded into the water, the once-clear lake now a vile sludge that clung to his legs.

The moment his foot touched the water, the lake came alive with movement. Ripples surged outward, and a low, menacing hiss echoed across the surface. The snake had sensed his presence. Buhara could see the faint silhouette of the creature slithering just beneath the surface, its scales shimmering with a sickly green hue that matched the water it had tainted.

“Show yourself, beast!” Buhara bellowed, raising his staff-ax high above his head. The weapon began to glow with a fiery aura, crackling with the energy of both magic and raw orcish strength.

In response, the snake surged out of the water, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it rose to its full height. The creature was enormous, easily spanning the width of the lake, with eyes that gleamed like twin emeralds filled with malice. Its fangs, dripping with venom, glistened in the dull light, promising a swift and painful death to anyone who dared challenge it.

The battle began with a flash. The snake struck first, darting forward with blinding speed, its jaws snapping toward Buhara. But Buhara was ready. With a swift motion, he swung his staff-ax, meeting the snake’s attack head-on. The two forces collided with a deafening crash, sending shockwaves through the water and knocking the nearest orcs off their feet.

Buhara grunted as the force of the blow sent him skidding backward, his feet digging into the sludge to steady himself. The snake recoiled, hissing in fury, before diving back into the water. It circled Buhara with predatory grace, its eyes never leaving him, searching for an opening.

“Come at Buhara, snake! Buhara will crush you!” he roared, his muscles tensing in anticipation. He knew he had to keep the battle on the surface, where he had the advantage. If the snake dragged him into the depths, it would be over.

The snake lunged again, this time from the side, attempting to coil around Buhara and squeeze the life out of him. But Buhara was quicker. He spun on his heel, bringing his staff-ax down in a powerful arc. The weapon struck the snake’s side, slicing through its scales and drawing a spurt of dark blood.

The beast screamed in pain, its body thrashing wildly, creating waves that threatened to pull Buhara under. But he stood firm, channeling his magic through his weapon. Flames erupted from the blade, searing the snake’s wound and forcing it to release its grip.

Realizing that brute strength alone wouldn’t defeat the beast, Buhara decided to use a different tactic. He began chanting once more, this time summoning the power of the earth. The ground beneath the lake trembled, and suddenly, thick roots burst through the water, wrapping themselves around the snake’s body.

The creature struggled against the magical bindings, hissing and snapping its jaws in desperation.

“Buhara will not let you escape!” he shouted, tightening his grip on the staff-ax. With the snake immobilized, he charged forward, his weapon blazing with fiery energy. He aimed for the creature’s head, intending to deliver a decisive blow.

But the snake, sensing its imminent demise, let out a final, desperate hiss. It unleashed a torrent of venom from its fangs, aiming directly at Buhara. The venom splashed across his protective barrier, sizzling as it tried to eat through the magic.

Undeterred, Buhara roared and brought his staff-ax down with all his might. The weapon cleaved through the snake’s skull, splitting it in two. The beast’s body convulsed violently before it finally went still, its lifeless form sinking beneath the water.

Panting heavily, Buhara stood over the corpse, his chest heaving with exertion. The lake, once again still, began to clear as the snake’s influence faded. The villagers, who had watched the battle with bated breath, erupted into cheers, their voices filled with relief and gratitude.

“Buhara has done it!” one of the orcs shouted, and soon the rest joined in, chanting Buhara’s name.

“Buhara… has kept his promise,” he muttered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips as he walked out of the water, victorious.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep