Demon Training Camp

We left the tent and walked deeper into the camp, the mana around me started to change as we got deeper.

The mana was almost sinister, I felt pricks over my body as the mana attacked it.

'Shit even in my past life I wouldn't be able to stay here longer than a day. What kind of shit are they keeping here?!'

After some time, my body adapted to the mana and the prickling sensations went away. At the same time we arrived at a giant tent.

The tent was double Torc's height and a banner was posted by the curtains which read 'Command Center'.

As I entered behind Torc, he moved and stood to the side. I was about to follow when he stopped me and pointed to the front.

There a truly gigantic orc sat. He sat on the ground behind the table and yet was able to match my eye level, and as I met his eyes I could feel my blood boil within me.

'He's strong. Too strong. What is a monster of this level doing here?!'

"You've come." The giant orc didn't break eye contact.

"A new born of three days already landing a hit on a demon corp and then evolving and classing up immediately after. Tell me how did you land the hit on Torc."

"...I saw a chance and took it."

"Is that so? Kid. If that was all it took to land a hit on a demon corp then the world would've already fallen to those bastards.

Do you know where we are? Why you are here? Do you want to be here?"

"No. I don't know where we are and I don't know why I'm here. But. If here is a place I can become strong, stronger than a dragon and freer than a roc I want to be here."

I said with conviction and resolve, it was what I wanted.

The gigantic orc kept eye contact for a moment more and then gave a short laugh, "Hahaha, yes here you will become strong. But how strong you become depends on you. This place merely gives you the opportunity."

The gigantic orc than pulled a book from thin air and said, "Take this. Consider it a gift. I'll see you in the battlefield."

The book flew from his hands, I didn't even see him throw it but I managed to catch it with my chest.

It surprised me how heavy the book was. The hard cover was a dirty green like all orc things, it was thicker than my forearm and as large as my torso.

I couldn't do much but hug it close to my chest to hold it as I left with Torc from the tent.

"Let me introduce this place a little, later when you enter the communal tent you can find someone to bring you around." Torc began as they walked towards another large tent in the distance.

"This is the Demon Training Camp, and there is a Gate of Hell in the middle of the camp but don't worry we are on the outskirts of the camp. The gate is defended by us demon corps and our leader who you just met, the general.

The camp is divided into three, the berserkers, knights and shaman. Your time spent here will basically be training to become a demon corp, of course if you want to leave you can. You just have to sign an oath to never tell anyone about this place."

At that, they reached the communal tent and Torc left with a few final words, "Training starts tomorrow at first light, don't be late."

Entering the tent, there was no orcs present within. Bunk beds were everywhere and it took me a while to find some empty ones at the back.

There wasn't much to do so I opened the giant book to read. What was inside amazed me.

The book was split into many many evolutions of the orc race. It was extremely detailed, it explained requirements for evolutions, and more importantly their bodies.

The book contained exercise sets designed for each and every evolution contained. The objective was to help the orc familiarize themselves with every muscle in their body, not a single one was missed.

The exercise sought to train every muscle in the body, bringing awareness to them as well as teaching the orc how to best move their body.

Of course moving with maximum efficiency was impossible without extensive experience and knowledge. The book helped with knowledge, if I could completely understand my body all I would need is the experience to move without opening and waste.

'It's a far away dream but I'll make it my goal for now.'

The berserker orc was among the first few pages. The body was mediocre to say the least, in the grand scheme of things the berserker orc was the first step.

I flipped around the book as I looked at the possible evolutions I could take after.

There were berserker orcs that specialized in their weapons, Axe Berserker Orcs and what not had their mastery increased at evolution.

There were also magic based berserker orcs. Of course I didn't limit myself to the immediate evolution, and went down the various paths.

At some point I saw the race that the general could be.

'Titan orc or Gigant orc. Requirements, at least level 500, prior evolutions must have some focus on the body, Origin Blood of Giants or Titans.'

Titans and Giants were far relatives of Humans. The giants were tall and lanky while the Titans were tall and bulky.

Giants were pacifists while the Titans were a warrior race. The titans averaged at 10 meters while the giants at 12.

I moved on, and continued flipping through the pages looking for a goal.

Eventually I reached the end. A single page dedicated to an evolution, an oddity when the many evolutions before had at least three.

'Apex Orc. The requirements are unknown, all we have are stories of their accomplishments which shed light of their immense power. Not one has been discovered since the Great Fall.'

A few excerpts from extremely old stories were written.

'...he did not give the demi-god a moment of his notice, the demi-god dared not to anger our majesty.'

'...serpentine dragons danced in the sky as they raged and demanded something. His majesty did not replied not in tongue but blade, the dragons were cleaved, the clouds were cleaved and for a moment we saw the heavens.'

'...he returned bathed in purple devilish blood, in his hands was a still beating heart the size of a matured orc. The day marked the fall of a Devil God...'

I was amazed. I knew not the existence of Apexes, the strongest I had ever seen was the dragonewt which stood at the peak of Sainthood. The excerpts almost look insane to me, to ignore a demi-god? To cleave the sky and look into the heavens?

These were truly insane feats. It is my goal, it's now my goal. To be that strong, who could chain me down?! Who could bother me with needless politics?

Since the path to the apex is unknown then I shall be the one to rediscover it.

From the excerpts we can tell a few things. First, demi-gods are below an Apex. Second, even divine cloud treading dragons were like pigs to a butcher. Thirdly, an Apex could harm and kill a god.

The first can be dismissed. It gives no information other than the strength of an Apex.

The second could be a lead. An apex is one that is extremely rich in life, enough to rival that of a dragon. Killing a dragon meant absorbing their essence. It was and still is an insane feat.

The average absorption rate was roughly 0.1%. That is 0.1% of a lifetime of experience. It was nothing when killing something that lives 100 years, that would be a month of their life. But a dragon?!

A dragon had an immeasurable life span, they did not die. Dragon's died from starvation and many agree that dragons cannot die from old age.

Divine cloud treading dragons were extremely late evolutions and their lives usually went from a million years and up. That would mean that killing one would lead to absorbing memories equivalent to a thousand years.

The third feat was the most informational to me. It isn't widespread as the slaying of gods have been banned since the Great Fall and thousands of years has passed since such a feat was accomplished.

To kill a god. One of the requirements was to obtain Divinity. Without divinity it is impossible to even touch a god. However even I know nothing of attaining divinity, I can only guess that it is something to do with going beyond a mortal.

Still. This is enough for a long term goal. Firstly to be strong enough in conviction, resolve and live a life full to be able to handle killing a divine cloud treading dragon. Secondly is to attain divinity.

I then returned to the book, with my goals in mind. I read through the chapter for berserker orcs and left the tent with the book in my hand.

I found a quiet corner and started practicing the sets. I wasn't even able to finish half the set, yet I felt that I made a lot of progress.

I could feel muscles I never thought I had, and though I was far from being able to control them I knew that it was only a matter of practice.

My body ached and was sore as I made my way back to the tent, the sun was already past the horizon and the skies were darkening.

The tent radiated noise as the orcs inside talked loudly, unbothered I strolled in without a word and went to the bed I had taken.

The reaction of the orcs varied, some gave him a glance while others didn't care.

As I laid down and got ready to rest, a female orc came up to me.

"Hey you new here yeah?"

I couldn't be bothered to get up, my body still sore so I answered still laying on my bed.

"Yeah."

"What's your name? Mine is Cruach but you can call me Cru."

"Tima."

"So Tima, why are you sleeping here? Come join us!"

"...It's noisy."

"Haha, of course it's noisy we are berserkers!"

I didn't reply, I was plenty tired and wanted to sleep.

"Alright alright, see you tomorrow TIma."

Cru left and I finally got some peace, the noise was still there but it eventually became a droning noise I could ignore and after some time I fell asleep.