I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 912: Drahk’Mar (2)

The weapon trembled in his hand for a heartbeat. Then, a steely glint entered his eyes.

He pressed the axe against Grum'Thal's chest with a headshake. "This is not a weapon—it's the orc's history, your ancestral treasure, your memories. I can't take it."

Grum'Thal's jaw dropped beneath his wide eyes, and everyone gasped. "Are you sure? This is a weapon like no other. The chieftain of my village carried it, and the previous chieftain did before that. I only inherited it because I was the last orc. But you, you are—"

"Aren't you giving me more reasons to refuse?" Adam laughed. "You know I've inherited Leoric's legacy. Did you see me wield the Unbroken Blade of Orrivandrel?" Before Grum'Thal could ask, he continued. "I handed it over to his blood, as I should have. And I won't take the axe of your ancestors because I shouldn't. Your intention is enough."

He patted his warm chest before smirking confidently. "Watch me enchant a weapon better than all of yours with my own two hands. I hope I'll have the pleasure of showing it to you the next time we meet."

Ulgarath slammed his chest, thundering. "The great shaman was right, and I was blind. All I see is an orc born in a different body."

The other legendary warriors slammed their chests, repeating. "All I see is an orc born in a different body."

"To refuse these weapons... I've rarely seen such honor even among our people." Grum'Thal nodded slowly at his warriors. Yet, his shoulders slumped when he noticed the orange hue of the sky behind them. "Our time together comes to an end, but I'll anticipate our next meeting, then. Let us accompany you to the gates."

Everyone guided Adam and Bao across the broad streets. Each legendary warrior extended him invitations to their fortresses for his next visit, while Gora teased him one last time before he stepped out of the city.

Grum'Thal gave him an orcish hug at the gates, whispering that he had to remain safe from Haldris' schemes. Then, he emphasised that Adam had to find the legacy Lady Mortis left behind, reminding him that she taught Arcane Combat and Enforcement Theories when the college opened its doors.

Adam slapped the great shaman's back as if they were old buddies. "I'll search for it as soon as I can."

"I count on you. Her legacy can't fall into the wrong hands, especially into those of the children of the stars." Remembering how they raised Selene, Grum'Thal let out a heavy sigh. Then, he gazed down the gorge. "I sent Rakhan and Rokhan to warn Diane about your safe return. Don't tell her that we're cured. I need more time to prepare. One last thing, Adam, about Bao."

"Yes?" Adam tilted his head, while Bao waved her paws in front of her mouth in a gesture of silence.

Grum'Thal continued with a knowing wink. "Don't worry, little one. I'd like to share old ideas about your species. Listen, Adam. Bao is a native of this realm, yet Pandaroks are unique creatures. Look at her. Under a year, but as conscious as a human child. She should thrive on life force, but evolves by absorbing mana. If you want to help her break through her limitations, I'd advise to investigate her ancestry and the reason they became different from their peers."

Adam tucked his fingers around his chin. "Mhh. Since she's a native, the cultivators should have records of her species. Thank you for the clue, Grum'Thal. If there is nothing else, I'm afraid we'll part ways here. Take care of yourself, friend."

He waved his hand as he walked through the city gates. Bao tried to mimic him, but ended up choking a sad growl. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Before he could comfort her, tribal drumming made him snap back.

Warriors and shamans flanked Grum'Thal. They each had their chests puffed out and their hands cupped around their mouths. Their voices reverberated in unison. "Drahk'Mar, Adam."

Drahk'Mar, a word seldom used by the orcs, who considered thanking someone beneath them. What they wanted, they took it through worthiness or combat. Most used it only once in their lives, from what Adam could remember—on their deathbeds, right after their last battle. And yet, they all put their pride, their dislike of humans aside to thank him.

His shoulders trembled, and his chest tightened for a heartbeat. Then, his smile curved like a bloody knife. "You bastards! Don't call me a hero or you'll never see me again!"

With a snort, he rushed down the gorge.

The orcs roared in laughter at his outburst, then Ulgarath planted his fist on his hips. "My tribe will provide the stone for his statue."

Another warrior followed. "Let us bring two pieces of lunaciels for its eyes."

More legendary warriors eagerly offered materials to build the finest statue to honor Adam, offering to place it at the gates, the celebratory plaza, or beside the Split Tempest in the ceremonial grounds. Grum'Thal adopted the last proposal, hoping that every orc would remember that Adam had saved them not for rewards or power, but because his heart had refused to see them suffer. He was family. He was the friend who had cured them from a fifteen-thousand-year curse. He was one of the most heroic orcs.

"Don't forget to perch little Bao on his shoulder. I'll describe to you Lulu, his other partner." Grum'Thal's eyes curved into crescents as he watched Adam's back fade between rocks and shrubbery.

As the orcs discussed something that would have undoubtedly enraged him, Adam cut through the gorge. Though he avoided villages, he noticed from a distance that each orc now had a coppery skin that glinted beneath the sunset's light. The purification had reached them all, as Grum'Thal had hoped. A hope that never died.

Adam grinned all the way back to the boulder near Rakhan's village. With a wave of his palm, the ground spat out his buried uniform. He buttoned his shirt and slid his dark robes on before rushing to the mountainous region where Diane waited with the other students.

However, his lips twisted when he saw the second half of the gorge—villages turned into unsteady coal. Corpses left to rot for days, half devoured by scavengers, filled the air with a putrid stench.

Bao let out an outraged growl.

He didn't like it... the grim reality of their field trip. Even if the orcs were fine with it, he still didn't.

Yet, the state of a couple of villages made him sigh in relief. The gates stood untouched, as if one team among the students had understood that the elderly and disabled orcs aspired for one last grand battle before leaving this realm. The battlefields were clean of even a drop of blood. Not far, he noticed upturned ground, where someone had likely buried these old warriors.

He gave a solemn nod to thank whoever did it, then settled Bao inside his chest pocket before leaping on the mountain dominating the gorge.

Rakhan and Rohan were there, covered with their shamanic robes. But it was Diane who moved the moment he landed. She dragged him by the shoulder in front of the other students, her pursed lips made twice more menacing by her scarred left side.

"I hope you have a better explanation about your one-week disappearance than the troll-spittle these two creatures came up with."