Savage Ascension: Starting with God-Tier Plunder Ability-Chapter 55: As Bait

On the mountain where two arrows had been shot, Rowan was taking cover at the best spot. He had a rock on his right and a tree supporting him in front. To his left was a steeply descending path, so if he put his body against the rock diagonally, he was completely invisible.

If the orc moved to the steep area, there was no way Rowan wouldn’t know, so the orcs couldn’t come from Rowan’s left.

From Rowan’s perspective, the left low ground was virtually a safe zone.

’What I have now...’

A round shield with cold iron crudely fitted and hammered into the wood like welding looked like a leather shield on the outside.

The shortsword couldn’t be called sharp—the edge wasn’t honed to a fine point. It was moderately sharpened. Because if the blade was too sharp, it would crack and break easily. But it could cleanly cut off wrists with enough force and make forearms dangle.

He had three throwing daggers that could definitely inflict wounds on armored opponents at 15 paces. Usually you should carry five, but since there was no occasion to use them while traveling, he’d given away two to Black Mountain Village people to leave at their homes in the previous village.

On his belt were leather pouches of various sizes and uses, including one with white powder that stopped bleeding and reduced pain, and various external medicines made from ground herbs.

He’d been backstabbed so often by visitors from outside that he had no choice but to be thoroughly prepared. That was one reason for many leather pouches on his belt, and there were two more leather pouches in his chest pocket just in case.

Among them, the important one was the poison pouch. Rowan didn’t have amazing talent with poison, nor had he learned techniques from a skilled alchemist with poison.

What Rowan had through repeated experimentation while catching rat bastards and earning daily wages through village communal resources was his nauseating aged poison mushroom toxin.

’Made after the battle with Sendabil.’

Created to effectively weaken opponents with superior physiques. Of course, it wasn’t intentional. Because he had no knowledge of poison to begin with. Among the concoctions he’d roughly made, he decided to use in actual combat what had excellent immediate effect.

Most important was toxin from bumpy twin mushrooms—medicinal herbs eaten for constipation or indigestion. He’d pounded nine types of poison plants that made rats sick when eaten and placed them in a lung-fat-treated leather pouch.

As it aged, there was a bit of residue, and it became liquid. When smeared on a sword, the liquid mixed with residue stuck well to the blade.

Touching it with bare hands would have paralyzing effects, so he had to use it while wearing gloves.

Its effects were retching, inability to concentrate due to nausea, and blood from wounds not coagulating well. Of course, the anti-coagulation effect was very short, about 5 minutes.

This meant causing death was impossible, but because the immediate effect was very strong, he could gain even a slight advantage when fighting, and because it was deep green with a slightly black tint, opponents could instantly tell it was a poisoned sword, making enemies defensive too.

’Useful when dealing with guys with strong destructive power.’

The bigger the build, the more they tended to fear poison-smeared swords. As soon as he saw the arrow half-embedded in the tree, Rowan generously smeared his shortsword with nauseating aged poison mushroom toxin made through his crude poison-making.

In truth, considering the effects, it was mostly bluffing. The important thing was making opponents fear his shortsword. Also, since it had some real effect, if he ran his mouth a bit, it was enough to create variables.

Yuval, at the rear some distance from Rowan, was calming his startled heart. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

’Two orcs?’

Wandering orcs and old orcs—orcs who’d left the tribe never traveled in pairs. That was no different from formula. Orcs had high pride, and their hostility toward outcasts was beyond imagination, so orcs who couldn’t adapt were cast out.

Not one orc would follow a loser, and orcs met outside had too much pride to stay together. Different from human values and thinking.

Rather, there were many wandering orcs who wanted to die so they killed people with clubs in villages or towns, drank alcohol like crazy, then got their throats slit while sleeping.

Not all orcs were like that, but an orc’s condition after leaving orc society was that poor. Above all, two orcs hiding and living in mountains? That was impossible.

’They might even be orc warriors.’

Yuval had clearly heard the sound of the arrow embedded in the nearby tree. He’d already realized they’d shot into a hollow tree.

’Rowan, did that bastard get scared? He’s not moving at all!’

Time was on the orcs’ side. Orcs were racially superior physically, and there were two opponents. Because they were hiding, their position was better than the humans’.

Rowan, having finished preparations, put one finger on the rock and wiggled it. No different from a signal. Upon receiving that signal, Yuval turned his head and made hand signals.

Pointing at his own throat with his finger, he formed it into an eagle’s head and poked repeatedly.

An eagle meant the strong. It striking his own throat meant death or great crisis. And that eagle head made with his hand turned toward Rowan.

Meaning to use Rowan as bait. If Rowan moved, the orcs would move too. Then they could know what kind of orcs they were.

’They won’t move as I wish, but they’ll at least respond.’

Rowan didn’t trust the mercenaries. Because they had said with body language that this battle with the orc was fairly dangerous. Still, the reason they came here was because mercenary life meant living with danger.

If the Skull Mercenary Group had operated while excluding all risk factors, they wouldn’t have chosen the profession of bounty hunter.

Big risk brings big money. Eight silver coins was a substantial sum—enough to buy a decent horse and equipment, or feed a family for half a year. Usually one silver coin’s market price varied by region, but it could purchase a month’s provisions, quality boots, or a well-made weapon.