Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C24

Please support the translation by reading the translation and commenting on otakutl official site.

Thank you.

Everyone from

Chapter 24: Expansion, Part 5

After a brief moment of chaos, the cave dwellers swiftly restored order, as was their nature.

’s racing heart finally began to settle. In , countless rumors about surface-dwellers circulated underground—some depicting their greed, others glorifying the might of human empires through tales and legends.

This witch doctor from Yhaggoroth had once been deeply influenced by such stories, believing the surface world to be a perilous and barren expanse. But his impressions quickly shifted after encountering ’s humans. To Tagib, their armies were weak, disorganized, and utterly lacking in discipline. His tribe, though small even by Yhaggoroth standards, had effortlessly crushed ’s so-called “mighty forces.”

At first, the cave dweller chieftain harbored suspicions, convinced that the humans must have set a trap for them. Even when Grudin’s envoys approached secretly, he doubted whether the noble outside the forest was deceiving him. Yet, over time, Tagib dismissed these fears as baseless. The legendary empire with the , described in Yhaggoroth’s tales, seemed now nothing more than a storybook scare tactic meant to frighten children.

Greed, however, matched the humans’ reputation perfectly.

As the initial shock wore off, a sense of inflated pride replaced his earlier caution. He grew brazen, expanding his dominion within the forest, seizing all four lumber mills, and even entertaining ambitions of conquering Grudin’s entire territory.

Though sheer numbers eventually tempered those plans, it did little to alter Tagib’s view of humanity’s frailty.

The mercenaries’ capture of one lumber mill, in his eyes, was merely due to the unexpected effectiveness of their wizard. But with him taking charge personally, he would teach them a lesson they wouldn’t soon forget.

These cowardly, greedy humans needed bloodshed and force to learn their place. Tagib seethed inwardly, already dismissing them as inferior beings—savages or natives unworthy of respect.

Yet, the two humans who dared charge into his vast army genuinely startled him. Reports from retreating warriors, conveyed through low-frequency shrieks, informed him that these two were formidable—possessing power akin to slave masters.

In Yhaggoroth, the title "" signified strength equivalent to mid-to-lower on the surface—like wielding double-edged axes or dwelling in opulent halls. Both occupied the fourth tier among the Underworld’s hierarchy, commanding reverence not only from him but from all cave dwellers.

But before him stood neither horned gladiators nor gold dwarves—just two humans, whom he had once deemed weaklings.

So humans could harbor strength too.

“Still, they are reckless,” Tagib thought dismissively. “Barbarians lack tactical sophistication. Warfare has evolved into an art form underground, and though I’ve barely scratched its surface, it is enough to mock these primitives.”

He raised his banner high, signaling his kin to surround the intruders. Even if they were “slave masters,” no individual could withstand the overwhelming tide of his army.

---

When the cave dwellers initially panicked, ’s advance proceeded smoothly.

Looking up, he spotted the unmistakable amidst the surging crowd—a symbol of the cave dweller chieftain, merely a hundred meters away.

However, as the fleeing cave dwellers encountered reinforcements, order quickly returned. Towering warriors, their bodies covered in purplish-red tumors, mercilessly lashed out at their panicked comrades with spears, snapping them back to attention.

Driven forward again, the cave dwellers resumed their assault.

Brandon found himself facing waves of conventional Yhaggoroth soldiers. They prodded tentatively with poorly aimed spear thrusts—hardly effective attacks. With ease, Brandon deflected their crude weapons, slicing through the ranks. Five frost-covered corpses later, the line crumbled once more.

Pressing onward, Brandon advanced further, only to see another wave mobilizing behind the retreating front. Given time to regroup, these creatures regained composure.

The cave dwellers had adapted.

“My lord,” called out, indicating the encircling foes closing in.

Brandon didn’t need to look; he knew what was happening.

A sea of enemies pressed in from all sides, yet the pair realized they’d only penetrated fifteen meters into the formation. Resistance mounted as several cave dwellers charged fiercely, their powerful hind legs propelling them like cavalry, spears brimming with force.

Such attacks were vastly different from earlier skirmishes.

After deflecting two or three strikes, Brandon felt a headache brewing. He noticed the ram-headed banner shifting northward—or perhaps northeast—in the chaos, its direction indistinct.

For a fleeting moment, Brandon longed for his original plan: charging atop his silver steed from above. Yet, he momentarily forgot the dangers of aerial assaults—cave dweller witch doctors often wielded spells capable of grounding attackers.

Thoughts aside, both Brandon and Cinnabar showed no mercy. Arcs of electricity and icy shards surged forth, obliterating the third wave of encirclement.

They paused briefly, catching their breath.

Brandon estimated eliminating at least forty foes, absorbing seven to eight hundred XP per kill thanks to sharing exclusively with Cinnabar. Had fatigue not set in, the results would have been spectacular.

Cinnabar’s cheeks flushed, sweat beading on her forehead. Though her Absolute Strength surpassed Brandon’s by ten percent, years of outnumbered battles in games honed his stamina conservation tactics. His calm demeanor earned a flicker of admiration from the red-haired girl.

Truly worthy of being called a lord.

She mused.

Meanwhile, Brandon focused intently on faint vibrations—low-frequency sounds akin to draconic dialects, beyond normal human hearing. Thanks to Amber Sword mechanics, where perception heightened auditory range exponentially, Brandon’s Perception (now at 20 Oz) allowed him to discern subtle cues.

He identified distinctive signals—warriors coordinating commands via unique methods, rallying lower-tier fighters.

Though unfamiliar with cave dweller language, Brandon grasped their intent. Disrupting these hidden “command nodes” would plunge the army into disarray—a familiar strategy for players.

Locking onto the source, he turned sharply, sensing three to five points deep behind enemy lines organizing a fourth encirclement.

“Cinnabar,” he called, pointing his sword, “create an opening there.”

Her amber eyes followed his gesture. Sure enough, cave dwellers amassed thickly, forming a dense phalanx. Their movements betrayed something crucial concealed within.

Without hesitation, Cinnabar unleashed a thunderous arc. Lightning pierced three outer defenders, branching outward like a fan. A deafening explosion sent dozens sprawling, some reduced to ash, others paralyzed.

Through the breach, Brandon glimpsed towering amidst the throng. Wings of lesser fighters converged, sealing the gap rapidly.

He activated Charge without hesitation, separating from Cinnabar for the first time. A streak of black shot past rows of cave dwellers, leaving them stunned. By the time they reacted, Brandon stood before six elite warriors.

Their crimson-skinned forms hesitated, attempting evasion, but Brandon unleashed a devastating wind slash. Strength Surge combined with tore through the air, creating a translucent ripple that decapitated the warriors instantly.

Halting, Brandon surveyed the remnants. Leaderless, the cave dwellers scattered in retreat.

Please vote for this novel at

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-amber-sword/

If you would like to support this translation, you may choose any one of the options below.