Chapter 119: Morgan, the Lord-Level Ogre
“Ka Ka,” Angel gasped.
“Yes, your friend is in trouble. Don’t act rashly, premature exposure will only bring greater danger,” Molly said calmly, her young appearance belying her centuries of experience.
Angel trusted her judgment. “What should we do? We have to help her.”
“I understand, don’t worry.”
One more person, one more chance. To escape this maze-like forest, they needed a guide.
Molly, thinking clearly, temporarily set aside her racial prejudice, focusing on the present.
“Now is not the time for arguments, but don’t worry, Dryads are not as fragile as you think.”
“Yes, Ka Ka is strong,” Angel said, trying to sound confident.
“…I can’t afford to be pessimistic, tell me your plan.”
“Believe.”
Molly touched her chest, her eyes filled with conviction. “I see a spark within the Dryad, the power of a seed sprouting, breaking through the earth.”
Ka Ka gripped her spear, her slender waist twisting as she swung it with a whoosh.
The ogre’s combat instincts were sharp, its natural stupidity compensated by brute strength. It easily blocked the attack, its hand seizing the spear, its body unmoving, then its other hand, like a falling mountain, slammed towards the deer girl.
Ka Ka was forced to abandon her weapon, leaping forward, her powerful legs propelling her over the ogres, landing gracefully.
Angel’s heart leaped with Ka Ka, then relaxed seeing she was unharmed.
As expected of a Dryad, her half-deer, half-human form surprisingly graceful, even… beautiful?
Ah, what was she thinking?
Angel shook her head, pulling Little White from her collar. “Go, time to earn your keep. Molly is injured and can’t fly, only you can find Lena now, understand?”
Little White flapped her wings, seemingly understanding.
Angel gritted her teeth. “Find Lena, and you’ll have all the Red Dragon Fruit you can eat! After staying with me for so long, even an ungrateful brat should know how to repay kindness!”
“Awoo~”
Little White, finally understanding, circled Angel excitedly, wagging her tail.
Angel watched, exasperated, as Little White played around.
In just one round, Ka Ka was at a disadvantage.
The ogres were too strong, making Angel abandon any thoughts of rescue, she would only be a burden…
But she wouldn’t abandon Ka Ka. “Listen, find Lena, and give this to her…”
She took out the abyssal core, [Phytos], a King-level core, its unique properties making it incredibly valuable.
This was Lena’s gift, and now, Angel was returning it…
“If I die, I won’t owe her anything.”
She thought silently.
Tearing a piece of her skirt, she wrapped the core, then tied it to Little White’s claw, gently stroking the little dragon’s head.
“You have to find Lena, it all depends on you, Little White… Don’t let the ogres see you, go!”
“Human,” Molly looked at Angel, a golden glint in her eyes. “You seem prepared to die.”
“Yes, whether it’s life or death, I have to try. How can I know if I’ll fail if I don’t try?” Angel stood up, her pink hair swaying, her delicate face filled with determination.
This time, she wasn’t relying on Lena, but facing the danger herself, making her own choices.
Sister, you would support me, wouldn’t you?
Your sister is no longer the little girl you knew…
…
“Let’s do this.”
Gray hair, gray robe, gray eyes gleaming with destructive intent, Lena raised her hand, then slowly lowered it.
Boom—
A deafening crash, and the ogres fell to their knees, unable to withstand the pressure, unable to stand.
“Under the Dark Sky, you are but ants, and I, a god.”
Lena walked barefoot on her Domain, a smug smile on her face.
“Any of you speak, Shaman?”
“Human.”
A blue-skinned ogre Shaman spoke, its voice deep and rumbling, attracting Lena’s attention. “…Leave… settlement! Ogres… don’t welcome… intruders!”
Its speech was broken, but it could speak, its status among the ogres undeniable.
“Heh, if I’m an intruder, then what are you, occupying this forest?”
Lena chuckled, her eyes darkening. “You are the ones who should leave! Scum!!”
Her patience had run out. These ogres were all idiots, and the only one who could speak was also blind. Such a foolish race, exterminating them would be a service to the world.
Moreover, she had found numerous female remains in the settlement, their skulls piled into a tower, the clothes torn from their bodies hung like trophies, a banner of the ogres’ power…
A banner of shame, in Lena’s eyes…
Could Angel have already…?
Impossible!
Lena suppressed her murderous intent, asking in a low voice, “A girl with pink hair, have you seen her?”
“…”
“Then let me ask another question, is the miasma in the forest related to the ogres?”
“…”
The ogres exchanged confused glances, their limited intelligence unable to comprehend her words.
The ogre Shaman, understanding a bit of human language, thought Lena was provoking them, its eyes glowing red.
It chanted, its tusked mouth moving slowly…
The ogre Shaman’s exclusive skill: [Bloodlust].
Temporarily enhancing an ogre warrior’s physical abilities, maximizing their current rank’s potential.
“Roar!”
Power surged through the ogre warrior, breaking free from the [Dark Sky]’s suppression, its body radiating a violent, murderous aura.
But before it could reach Lena, a skeletal hand stopped it.
A flash of steel, a swift death.
The ogre’s ugly head flew through the air, its eyes still open in death.
“I believe you’re making a grave mistake.”
Lena stomped her foot, and more skeletal soldiers emerged from her Domain, their ranks and professions varied, but all skeletons, their numbers overwhelming, far surpassing the ogres’.
Lena entered Mana Surge, her magic power surging, an intoxicating feeling.
“Where is your chieftain? I don’t see him. A powerful enemy invades, and yet the great settlement has no leader, how strange.”
Lena was waiting for the big one.
This forest was problematic, the Banshees, the ogre settlement, all shrouded in mystery.
Including the paralyzing white miasma, causing hallucinations when inhaled, like a bad trip, distorting reality.
Angel, alone, was probably still trapped in her hallucinations, lost somewhere in the forest…
“My skeletal legions, obey my command.”
Lena raised her hand, and the skeletal warriors, dividing into two groups, one remaining, the other dispersing into the forest, hunting the Banshees.
“Since you don’t understand words, I’ll make you understand with violence. This is my specialty, one versus one, who agrees, who objects?”
Lena raised an eyebrow, looking at the kneeling ogres, explaining the rules of the game.
Just as she finished speaking, the ground trembled, the trees shaking violently, a deafening roar echoing from the depths of the forest, like an ancient beast, its power shaking the heavens.
The shockwave snapped branches, like a violent storm, the ground beneath Lena’s feet cracking, the ogres cowering in fear.
Oh…
That reaction, it must be him.
That big guy, wonderful…
Lena’s eyes lit up as she saw the giant ogre charging towards them, crashing through trees.
Yes, that familiar aura, that nostalgic challenge, the first Lord-level monster the hero’s party had faced, the one that had left a lasting impression on them—
Morgan, the Ogre!
…
Angel, protected by [Phytos], hadn’t succumbed to the hallucinations, but after giving the core to Little White, she started to feel unwell…
“Hey, don’t collapse here.”
Molly, supporting Angel, said anxiously, “Your friend is fighting for you…”
“I… I know, I’m fine.”
Angel’s lips were blue, as if she had been beaten.
The poison was clearly taking effect, but she pretended to be nonchalant.
“You don’t look fine at all, how long have you been enduring this…?”
Despite her harsh words, Molly’s heart softened, and she supported half of Angel’s weight.
“Don’t worry, your friend has lured the ogre patrol away. Those simple-minded creatures, I easily tricked them. All brawn, no brains, heh, a lowly race, natural selection will eventually wipe them out.”
Molly’s racism was unaffected by their situation. The miasma had thinned, but Angel’s condition hadn’t improved.
Humans, unlike bloodkin, were fragile without protection, Molly knew this.
And Angel was just a frail little Priest, not as strong as her, unable to consume eight bowls of blood plasma in one sitting.
“There was a disturbance southeast from here, I believe Lena is most likely there.”
“Then let’s go!” Angel’s vision blurred as she spoke, but she endured the dizziness, remaining silent. “…”
“Stubborn human, your body is failing, if you don’t stop, you’ll die,” Molly warned.
It was the first time she had said such words to a human. As a proud bloodkin, she had always looked down on other races, acknowledging a human, and showing concern, was something she had never done before.
How strange.
Molly, when not acting like a spoiled brat, was actually quite normal.
No tantrums, no arrogance, it seemed she had misjudged her, Angel thought.
Since someone was carrying her, she didn’t mind her heavy, unresponsive body.
Angel relaxed, leaning against Molly.
“Don’t treat me like a coat rack,” Molly said, annoyed.
“Just for a bit, I’ll lean on Ka Ka when she returns,” Angel retorted.
After walking in silence for a while, Molly led her to a clearing, the fresh air and floral scent clearing Angel’s head.
It was a patch of small white flowers, their pale yellow buds emitting a faint, intoxicating fragrance, like fermenting alcohol.
“Eat this,” Molly handed her some roots. “It will alleviate the poison, you should be able to last until we find Lena.”
“Your hand…”
Angel noticed Molly hiding her hands behind her back, and she understood, her voice filled with concern. “You dug these up with your burned hands? Aren’t you afraid of infection?!”
Molly shrugged. “If they rot, I’ll just cut them off, they’ll grow back.”
Such a simple and brutal solution, were all bloodkin like this?
Angel chewed the roots reluctantly, pinching her nose as she swallowed. Bitter at first, then sweet, with a slightly astringent aftertaste, medicine was always unpleasant…
But thanks to Molly, she wouldn’t die before seeing Lena.
“Um… thank you.” A slightly awkward expression of gratitude.
“You’re welcome, weak human, always causing trouble for others, perfectly highlighting the bloodkin’s superiority. I should be thanking you.” Molly actually seemed to enjoy it. She wouldn’t have helped anyone else, but Angel was the companion of the one who had humiliated her by the lake. This was a rare opportunity, accepting her enemy’s awkward apology, wasn’t this a form of revenge?
Ha!
Molly was quite pleased with her cleverness.
She was like a mini-Diana, but less childish, more mature.
And after Molly’s display of resourcefulness and leadership along the way, the contrast was so stark that Angel couldn’t quite process it.
“Perhaps it’s because she’s no longer in danger, her guard is down, so she’s back to her usual self.”
“You seem to be saying something unpleasant.”
“No… no, Ka Ka is back, look.” Angel quickly changed the subject, just as Ka Ka returned, her cheerful demeanor suggesting success.
“Angel—!”
The little deer girl hugged Angel tightly, her three-meter height easily engulfing Angel in her embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re okay!”
“Calm down, Ka Ka, we still have to find Lena, she might be in danger.”
“Right, I know the way!” Ka Ka nodded, her expression turning serious. “Follow me, the miasma has dispersed, the path is clear. Let’s go help Lena, there are many ogres nearby, it would be bad if she was captured!”
The kind deer girl was always worried about others.
Angel was touched by her friend’s concern. “Yes, I’m worried too, but she’s very strong, the ogres can’t hurt her so easily…”
Molly: “Are you done yet? If we don’t hurry, Lena will be a skeleton by the time we get there.”
Angel: “Thank you, Molly.”
Ka Ka: “Our relationship has improved so much tonight, how wonderful…”
Molly snapped, “Dryad, say that again! A lowly human will never be accepted by the bloodkin, never!!”
…
Dodging Morgan’s shockwave once more, Lena saw the massive ogre’s attack leave a deep crater in the ground, its power immense.
Admittedly, Lena wasn’t afraid of his strength.
But considering they were both rank six, a Lord-level monster with a chieftain’s aura, it was a bit troublesome.
Lena summoned a skeleton as a shield, then unleashed her skeletal army.
Morgan’s weapon was a giant oak club, his vital areas protected by wooden armor, his towering, five-meter frame shaking the ground with each step.
And this was just a Lord-level monster…
Lena’s eyes flashed with disdain.
In her past life, the hero’s party had been defeated by Morgan in their first encounter, only managing to slay him on their second attempt, after Lena had provided them with countless resources.
Who owed whom?
Lena felt a headache coming on, remembering the astronomical figure. If she hadn’t chosen the wrong path, she wouldn’t have ended up like this…
She watched as the ogre settlement was gradually swallowed by her sea of skeletons.
Morgan struggled against the high-ranking skeletons, even as a Lord-level monster, even at rank six, being constantly harassed was still annoying.
Even if they couldn’t injure him, she would destroy his settlement first, then deal with him slowly!
Lena decided to save Morgan for last.
Her Domain created skeletons as quickly as the ogres fell, absorbing their flesh and blood, creating new skeletal warriors… no, new ogre skeletal warriors.
A cruel smile spread across her lips.
Using ogres against ogres, a perfect match…
Under the cold moonlight, the graceful, gray-haired woman stood proudly in her gray domain, countless skeletons swarming the giant ogre, climbing onto his shoulders, their blades piercing his flesh, until Morgan finally collapsed, like a small mountain, buried beneath the endless tide of skeletons.
