40 The Duel against the Ogre
[ A/N: EXCUSE ME! I AM BACK!!!!! ]
It was an opportunity for him to put his skills to the test and prove himself in the face of danger. And with Magnus by his side, his fears subsided; there was no need to worry about their safety. Magnus was far stronger than both him and Ellie.
Magnus unsheathed his glaive and, in an instant, disappeared from sight.
Then, a deafening boom reverberated from Auric's right side, and there stood Magnus. Several surrounding ogres were sent flying through the air, as if they were mere rag dolls.
Each time Magnus swung his glaive, thunderous booms echoed, accompanied by the splatter of blood. Auric watched in awe, captivated by the mesmerizing display of skill.
"How beautiful..." Wait... what? Did I just portray that one-sided slaughter as beautiful? I must be going crazy, Auric thought to himself, reevaluating his own reaction.
Little did Auric know that a spark of battle fervor was beginning to awaken within him. A new side of his personality was emerging, forged through the trials and tribulations he had endured.
After a brief moment, Magnus approached him, with a grotesque battlefield strewn with gore and entrails behind him. And there, trotting behind Magnus, was an ogre, battered and defeated. It appeared that Magnus had captured it, but why? Perhaps for research?
"Young master, have a fight with this," Magnus commanded, pushing the already beaten-up ogre to the ground.
"ꝏꝗꝙꝏ ꝜꝑꝗꝘ Ꝕꝗꝛ ꝚꝏꝜ ꝗꝙꝔ ꝘꝚꝜꝙ ꝔꝓꝜꝘ," Magnus spoke words that made Auric's skin crawl.
Suddenly, the ogre rose to its feet, revitalized, and fixed its gaze upon Auric with a bloodlust in its eyes.
Confused and shocked, Auric looked to Magnus for answers.
"Just have a fight with it. I want to test your capabilities. What weapon do you desire?" Magnus inquired.
Awkwardly nodding, Auric replied, "I want a sword."
Magnus tossed a sword toward Auric, who caught it. However, he had no idea how to wield a sword with enough proficiency to defeat a monster much stronger than himself. In the modern world, firearms were familiar to almost everyone, while cold weapons like swords were relics of the past, understood only by a select few. Auric had some knowledge of knives from his time in the army, but he doubted he could harm the ogre with such a small weapon. Besides, the ogre's size made it difficult to strike at vital points like its neck or head.
"I informed the ogre that if it kills you, it will be set free. So do your best. Otherwise... well, you may die," Magnus remarked with a wide grin.
Auric stared back at Magnus, wide-eyed, but feeling a mix of apprehension and determination.
Under his breath, Auric cursed as he attempted to calm his racing mind.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Ellie desperately tried to protest, her voice filled with worry, as she yelled for Auric to refrain from engaging in a fight with the ogre. Auric, however, simply turned his gaze towards Ellie, offering a reassuring smile that seemed to convey a silent message, urging her not to fret.
Yet, even Auric couldn't maintain his calm composure entirely. The monkeys they had encountered before were vastly different from this monstrous creature, showcasing a clear disparity in power. The Simian Swarmers they had encountered were ranked as D, while this ogre stood at a lower C rank.
The ogre, possessed some formidable attributes:
[ Name: Ogre
Rank: C
Health: 957 / 3000
Mana: N/A
Strength: 90
Agility: 30
Intelligence: 31
Endurance: 96
Skills:
Crushing Blow - Delivers powerful and devastating strikes, inflicting significant damage.
Ground Pound - Slams fists or weapon into the ground, creating shockwaves to knock down or stagger opponents.
Raging Roar - Releases a disorienting roar that can stun or confuse enemies temporarily.
Resilient Endurance - Possesses exceptional endurance, enabling the Ogre to withstand substantial damage.
Frenzied Charge - Engages in a heightened state of aggression, charging at targets with unstoppable force.
Ground Slam - Performs a ground slam attack, generating shockwaves to affect a wider area and potentially stagger or knock down multiple opponents.
Intimidating Presence - Exudes an aura of intimidation, lowering opponents' morale and potentially reducing their effectiveness in combat.
Description:
The C-Rank Ogre is an enormous creature, boasting immense strength and endurance. Standing over ten feet tall, its muscular frame is covered in tough, earth-toned hide. Although lacking in agility, it compensates with unwavering resilience, relying on instinct and overpowering force during battles.
With bone-crushing blows like the Crushing Blow and ground-shaking attacks such as the Ground Pound, the Ogre overpowers its opponents. The disorienting Raging Roar briefly confuses and stuns foes, creating opportunities for further aggression. While slower movements make it vulnerable to well-timed strikes, defeating the C-Rank Ogre demands careful planning, agility, and precision to overcome its raw power and imposing stature. ]
Even with those injuries, the outcome of the battle had already been determined. The vast disparity in strength made it clear that victory would ultimately be beyond Auric's grasp.
The gap in power was substantial.
'But I have to do it. I must, if I ever hope to become strong' Auric mustered the newfound determination within him, and his previously anxious eyes grew calm.
He brandished his sword, pointing its tip directly at the ogre. Magnus, observing Auric's resolute stance, nodded in acknowledgment... 'He will make a fine warrior'.
The entire vicinity fell into a profound silence, where not even the faintest sound reached Auric's ears. He focused intently on his breathing and the formidable opponent before him.
However, the ogre was far from still. It suddenly lunged forward, swinging its club with tremendous force, aiming directly at Auric.
***
{ A/N: this is the battle field }
Auric's heart raced as he faced the towering C-Rank Ogre. The odds were stacked against him, but he refused to succumb to fear. With a deep breath, he steadied his trembling hands and brandished his sword, ready to face the daunting challenge ahead.
The Ogre, despite its injuries, still possessed an intimidating strength that dwarfed Auric's own. It lunged forward with a primal roar, its massive club swinging through the air with bone-crushing force. Auric's reflexes kicked in, and he managed to dodge the initial onslaught, narrowly evading the deadly blow.
Realizing his disadvantage in pure physical strength, Auric relied on his magic to gain an edge. Shadows enveloped him as he invoked the elusive technique of Shadow Sneak. He merged with the darkness, attempting to confuse the Ogre with his elusive movements. However, the creature's sharp senses kept track of his presence, and its furious gaze remained fixed on him.
Fear gripped Auric's heart as the Ogre closed the distance once again. Desperate to create an opening, he unleashed Dark Orb, conjuring a sphere of concentrated darkness. The spell struck the Ogre's armored chest, but the creature barely flinched. Its sheer resilience and endurance made it a relentless adversary, shrugging off the magical assault with a primal rage burning in its eyes.
The Ogre's massive fists swung towards Auric with thunderous impact. He tried his best to parry the blows with his sword, but each clash sent shockwaves of pain through his body. The relentless onslaught of the Ogre pushed Auric to his limits, his strength waning with each passing moment.
Desperate for a chance to turn the tide, Auric summoned all his magical energy to unleash a devastating spell. With a strained voice, he invoked Shadow Bind, weaving ethereal tendrils around the Ogre's limbs. The creature's movements slowed momentarily, offering Auric a fleeting respite. Seizing the opportunity, he mustered the last remnants of his strength and launched a flurry of strikes, hoping to find a weakness in the Ogre's defenses.
But the Ogre's ferocity knew no bounds. It broke free from the shadows' grasp with a mighty roar, shaking the ground beneath Auric's feet. The young warrior's body ached from the exertion, bruises forming across his body as a testament to the uneven struggle he faced.
In a last-ditch effort to survive, Auric unleashed Shock and Static Charge, enveloping himself in a crackling electrical field. The lightning danced across his body, warding off some of the Ogre's blows, but it wasn't enough to completely repel the relentless assault. The Ogre's sheer strength overwhelmed Auric's defenses, pushing him to the brink of exhaustion.
With sweat pouring down his brow and blood staining his armor, Auric knew he had to make a desperate move. He channeled the last vestiges of his magical reserves and activated Lightning Steps, his body becoming a blur of movement. He darted around the Ogre, evading its strikes by a hair's breadth, but it seemed invincible.
In a final act of defiance, Auric conjured a Lightning Shield, a shimmering barrier of crackling energy that surrounded him. It provided temporary respite from the Ogre's onslaught, but its strength began to waver under the relentless barrage.
Bruised, battered, and teetering on the edge of collapse, Auric knew he had reached his limit. His body screamed in protest as he faced the indomitable might of the Ogre. In a moment of desperation, he mustered every ounce of his remaining strength and delivered a final, desperate blow, his sword striking true.
{ A/N :
Hooray! My exams are finally over! Although... I don't have high expectations, let's put the past behind us and move forward.
I want to apologize sincerely for disappearing for over two weeks. It was a complete ghosting on my part, and I am truly sorry for leaving you all hanging for 16 days. But fear not! I'm determined to make it up to you with some absolutely amazing chapters. Well, at least I hope they'll be amazing.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who continued to support me during my absence. Your unwavering encouragement means the world to me. And don't you worry, from now on, I'll be delivering chapters regularly, no more disappearing acts! ( I hope so )
Thank you all for your understanding and ongoing support.
Warm regards,
[ Shiroi ]
P.S. Embrace the new era! Gather your powerstone gifts and golden tickets, as we rise through the ranks and make our mark together! Let the adventure begin!
}
