Returning to the cave entrance wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
“Ah, it’s so slippery!”
“Be careful not to slip!”
Right.
The slick, sloped cave floor that had been tricky to descend was even more difficult to climb.
To make matters worse…
Grooaar—!!
The crazed ogre made the ground tremble as if it was charging straight at us.
“E-Everyone, hold onto the rope tightly!”
Thankfully, we had tied ropes around our bodies, and holding onto them made things somewhat manageable.
“C-Can ogres mutate too?”
As we climbed, gripping the ropes, one of the knights who had been maintaining a dignified demeanor next to me until now asked with a surprised expression.
“Is this your first time investigating a highland area?”
“Yes, I’ve only handled mid-tier monsters in the central zone before…”
Ah, a rookie.
The threat level of mutated mid-tier monsters and high-tier monsters was worlds apart.
Even the orc champion I had struggled against in the past barely qualified as mid-high tier. That says enough.
“That one needs the main force to take it down.”
“Yes… It does seem so. The commander will have to step in.”
“…Do you think the commander could handle it?”
“Pardon? Um, I haven’t seen it up close, but I can’t imagine our commander losing.”
Such confidence.
Their commander is supposed to be that strong?
Well, I can’t imagine Lowell losing either.
That old man could probably tear a mutated ogre in half with his bare hands.
Maybe, if we join the main force, I’ll get to see an Aura Master in action.
But first…
Groooar—!!
Bang!! Bang!!
I need to survive.
The sound was getting closer, but not too quickly.
Judging by the irregular tremors, the ogre was struggling on the slippery terrain too.
Well, that’s only fair. It’s several times larger than us, so climbing should be harder for it.
“We’re almost there! The entrance is just ahead!”
Finally.
After running for what felt like ages, holding onto the ropes, I saw the cave entrance up ahead.
…The devil worshippers hadn’t pulled any tricks during our escape.
They must be too preoccupied themselves. Knowing there’s a main force behind us, they’re probably preparing to flee.
At last…
“Alright! Everyone, get out!”
We managed to exit the cave, leaving the ogre behind.
“Run toward the main force, quickly!”
“Yes!”
Without looking back, we sprinted toward the main force.
We needed to put as much distance as possible between us and that ogre before it emerged from the cave.
Mutated monsters are incredibly fast.
Once it got out of the cave, it would catch up to us in no time.
As we ran together toward the main force…
Groooaaaar!!!
The ogre’s roar echoed behind us, signaling that it had exited the cave.
Was it because it had three heads?
Even from this distance, its roar was deafening enough to rattle my brain.
“Hurry up.”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t help but worry that the ogre might veer off toward another direction.
Graaaar—!!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Listening to the sound, it was clear that it was pursuing us.
Of course, ogres have sharp senses.
Even at a distance, they wouldn’t lose track of their prey.
As the sound grew closer and closer, we pushed ourselves to reach the main force.
“What’s going on?!”
The ogre’s roaring must have drawn attention, as several knights from the main force came rushing toward us.
“Ogre! It’s a mutated ogre!”
As Aslan shouted to the knights rushing ahead, their faces turned pale with shock.
“A mutated ogre? Quickly, inform the commander!”
“Hurry back to the main force!”
These knights had likely faced high-tier mutated monsters before.
Even among high-tier monsters, ogres rank at the top in raw combat power.
Now that one had mutated, it was beyond their comprehension how powerful it might be.
It could easily be called the devil worshippers’ secret weapon.
But there was something odd about this situation…
Would they really use such a powerful monster in this way, knowing its strength?
No matter how strong it is, the knight order will eventually take it down.
“Be prepared for additional ambushes from the enemy.”
It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking this. A knight spoke up with the same concern.
“Yes, let’s split the unit into two.”
“We’ll focus on the ogre for now….”
Watching them run ahead and hold a strategy meeting among themselves, I decided not to intervene.
Anyway, we continued running toward the main force with the ogre at our heels.
Thud! Bang!
The forest terrain slowed us down compared to the ogre.
In truth, aura users like Locke, Aslan, and myself could have fled quickly, much like the knights who had already bolted toward the main force.
However, we couldn’t abandon the others, so we adjusted our pace.
As the ogre’s roars grew louder behind us, we pushed through the forest for what felt like ages.
Eventually, I spotted a clearing through the trees in the distance.
There, lined up in formation, stood knights clad in shining armor.
It was none other than the Royal Knights we had seen earlier at the highlands.
“We’re almost there!”
“Just a little further!”
With the ogre closing in, we picked up speed, dashing toward the clearing.
As soon as we emerged onto the plains…
“Draw swords!”
A commanding voice rang out from ahead.
Was it that man?
My gaze shifted to the center of the formation, where a striking man with long white hair stood.
It was none other than Arthur Clayton, commander of the Royal Knights.
…He looked younger than I expected for an Aura Master.
While I was briefly gauging him, we rushed across the plains, past the knight formation.
Groooaar—!!
Thud! Crash! Thud!
The ogre burst onto the plains behind us, smashing through trees like twigs.
“That’s the mutated ogre…!”
“How is it that big…?”
Now that I was safely behind the knights, I took a moment to properly take in its appearance.
I had seen an ogre in the Colosseum years ago, but this one was entirely different—befitting its mutation.
Its massive body towered over the surrounding trees, muscles bulging grotesquely.
Its cracked, gray-brown skin looked like solid rock.
While its legs were short for its size, its arms were disproportionately long, almost dragging on the ground.
And…
Groooar—!!!
Its three heads, twisted with rage, faced different directions, exuding a high-tier monster’s characteristic Fear aura. Even at a distance, the oppressive presence made my head spin.
But in the face of this mutated ogre, Arthur Clayton stepped forward and spoke calmly.
“Charge.”
At his command, I instinctively activated Track.
Immediately…
Boom—!!
The knights, who had been standing in a straight line, all simultaneously activated Fleet.
In the slowed perception of Fleet, a dozen knights tore through the space, rushing toward the ogre.
Their target was the ogre’s short, massive legs.
Thicker than ancient tree trunks and harder than stone, its gray-brown skin seemed impervious.
Yet the knights advanced without hesitation, each raising their longswords and swinging them with precision.
After that.
Boom—!!
Groooargh!!
With the knights simultaneously unleashing Rush, the ogre’s seemingly impenetrable legs were instantly shredded into tatters.
“Wow…”
“…What on earth.”
I heard the astonished voices of Aslan and Locke beside me.
Of course, I wasn’t any different from them.
…Is this the knight order’s method of hunting?
Even a high-tier mutated monster wouldn’t stand a chance against an attack like that.
As I marveled at the scene before me, Arthur Clayton moved.
He stepped forward, slightly delayed.
One calm step.
And then—
Boom!
As if tethered by an invisible line, his body traced a graceful arc as he leapt toward the ogre.
Then—
Groooargh…!
With its legs in shreds and unable to gather its wits, the ogre flailed helplessly.
Arthur Clayton landed right in front of it, readying his sword for a decisive strike.
But suddenly—
Whoosh—!
A blazing fireball hurtled through the air at an astonishing speed, streaking past Arthur Clayton’s side.
When did that appear…?
Boom—!!!
The fireball exploded on impact, and the leaping Arthur Clayton was blasted backward.
“Commander!”
“What is this!”
Several knights rushed forward, reacting to the unexpected attack.
…Was this the devil worshippers’ magic?
I had expected an ambush, but I hadn’t anticipated an attack of this scale.
Just as I was about to rush forward to prepare for any follow-up strikes—
“Everyone, hold your position.”
Fwoosh—!
The aftermath of the explosion cleared in an instant, revealing Arthur Clayton standing unharmed.
His silver armor bore only faint scorch marks, and he had no visible injuries. It seemed he had used Guard at the last moment.
However…
…This wasn’t the time to show such composure.
Groooar—!!!
The ogre had regained its senses.
Its face twisted in fury, the ogre forced its mangled legs to stabilize itself and swung one of its colossal fists directly at Arthur Clayton.
The speed of that punch was almost unimaginable for a creature of its size—so fast that even following it with the eyes was difficult.
In that moment, I thought there was no way he could avoid it.
But then—
“Bloom.”
With a calm, unshaken tone, Arthur Clayton lightly swung his sword.
What happened next was surreal.
The ogre’s massive fist never reached him.
Instead, it was as if a flower had bloomed in the air.
From the point of the fist to the elbow, the ogre’s arm was shredded apart, scattering in countless fragments as if it had been fed into a grinder.
Groooaaargh—!!!
The monstrous creature howled in agony, its enormous body faltering.
Watching the scene, I understood immediately.
This was no ordinary Aura technique or secret skill.
It was a unique art, one that only Aura Masters could wield—a power far beyond anything I had seen before.
