Chapter 20 – The Path to Power

The Ring of Ferica – A New Mind Awakened

The moment Reyon slid the Ring of Ferica onto his finger, a sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced surged through him.

It was not overwhelming like a burst of raw mana, nor did it force itself into his body like an external force.

Instead, it was subtle—a presence forming around his mind.

For a second, he felt his thoughts sharpen, as if he had been thinking through a thick fog all his life, and only now had it lifted. His breathing slowed. His heartbeat steadied.

Then—

Mana symbols began to stack effortlessly in his mind.

Before, maintaining just two attack magic symbols in battle had put immense stress on his brain, requiring his full focus.

But now—

The process felt natural.

This is incredible…

The Ring of Ferica had fundamentally altered his cognitive abilities. It had enhanced his ability to process and apply magic formulas, allowing him to layer symbols without straining his mind.

Even as he felt the power flow through him, he remained cautious.

The letter had warned him—prolonged use of the ring would corrupt his thoughts.

I need to be careful… I can't rely on it too much.

Yet, if he was going to survive what lay ahead, he needed every advantage he could get.

The Path to Min Hee's Training – The Hunting Festival

Now that he had gained a new power, what he needed most was experience—a battle that would push him to his limits against an opponent as strong as a dragon.

And there was only one person who could provide that experience—his grandmother, Min Hee.

But to seek her training, he needed proof of his worthiness.

That proof would come from winning the Hunting Festival.

The Hunting Festival was the greatest competition among squads, where all teams would present their greatest hunt from the Middle Zone.

Reyon's main rivals were two names he could not ignore:

Ray Phoenix – His own half-brother, one of the most talented magicians of the Phoenix family.

Alice Vermillion – The princess of the Elise Empire, a genius who could already hunt A-rank monsters with her squad.

Both of them were far ahead in terms of power.

Ray and Alice's squads were strong enough to hunt a lower A-rank monster together.

If Reyon wanted to win, he had to hunt something even greater.

His target—

The Orc King.

The Orc King – The Ultimate Challenge

Unlike the Troll, which had clear weaknesses due to its regeneration, the Orc King was different.

It was a monster that relied purely on:

Unparalleled Strength

Inhuman Reflexes

Brutal Combat Instincts

While trolls belonged to the lower A-rank category, the Orc King stood at mid-A-rank—a beast capable of killing entire squads of experienced magicians.

To make matters worse, the Orc King wasn't alone.

He was surrounded by an entire tribe of 20 elite orcs, each of which was at B-rank—a level that required a full squad of 5th Circle Magicians to defeat.

Even worse—

Two Orc Generals stood by the Orc King's side.

Each of them was as powerful as a 6th Circle Magician, making them as strong as some of the strongest B-rank creatures in the Middle Zone.

Reyon knew—

If they tried to fight all of them at once, they would be slaughtered.

The Journey to the West – A Land of Monsters

For three days straight, Reyon and his squad traveled toward the Western Border of the Middle Zone, where the Orc King's territory lay.

The deeper they ventured, the more hostile the environment became.

The land was untamed, filled with massive forests, winding rivers, and mountainous terrain. Unlike the areas they had fought in before, this region belonged to stronger monsters—creatures that had survived countless battles.

During their journey, they encountered:

Razor Serpents – Giant snakes with scales tough enough to resist normal magic.

Bloodthirsty Apes – Aggressive beasts that attacked in coordinated groups.

A Rank Lesser Chimera – A fusion of multiple monsters, which they barely escaped from.

Despite these dangers, they fought and survived, growing stronger with each battle.

By the time they reached the Orc King's territory, their skills had been sharpened, their teamwork had solidified—

And they were ready.

The Orc King's Domain – A Fortress of Strength

Standing on a high ridge, Reyon and his squad overlooked the Orc King's stronghold.

It wasn't a simple gathering of orcs—it was a fortress.

The orcs had built stone walls reinforced with bones of their fallen enemies. Inside, large war tents stood, surrounding a massive central cave where the Orc King resided.

From their vantage point, Reyon counted:

20 B-rank Orcs patrolling the perimeter.

2 Orc Generals stationed near the cave entrance.

And deep inside, hidden from view—the Orc King himself.

Reyon narrowed his eyes.

Attacking head-on would be suicide.

They needed a strategy.

Reyon's Strategy – Divide and Conquer

Reyon gathered his squad and spoke in a calm, steady voice.

"Listen carefully. The Orc King is stronger than anything we've ever faced. If we fight recklessly, we'll be dead before we reach him."

His squad nodded.

"So here's the plan—"

Ambush and Eliminate the Perimeter Guards – Over the next seven days, they would silently take down the 20 B-rank Orcs, one by one. If even one of them sounded an alarm, the entire fortress would collapse on them.

Set Up Traps for the Orc Generals – Instead of fighting them directly, they would lure them into explosive traps, weakening them before engaging in combat.

Rest and Prepare for the Final Battle – After eliminating the weaker orcs, they would take a full day of rest before confronting the Orc King.

The Week of Stealth and Battle

For seven days, Reyon and his squad executed their plan with absolute precision.

Each night, under the cover of darkness, they eliminated small groups of orcs.

Using Vector Magic, Reyon silenced their movements, ensuring they were never detected.

Sylph, with her Light Magic, cast illusions to confuse their targets.

Their archer, Kain, eliminated enemies from a distance, ensuring no one raised the alarm.

By the seventh day, every B-rank Orc had been wiped out.

The only enemies left—

Were the two Orc Generals and their king.

The Final Night Before the Battle

Sitting around a dimly lit campfire, the squad rested.

The air was heavy with tension.

Tomorrow, they would face one of the strongest creatures in the Middle Zone.

Tomorrow, they would risk their lives in a battle they may not survive.

Reyon clenched his fists.

He had grown stronger—but was it enough?

As he stared into the fire, he knew—

The battle against the Orc King would not just be a test of strength.

It would be a test of everything he had become.