"Assemble! A large creature is approaching!"
The kobold warriors hurriedly gathered around their chieftain, raising their shields and bracing their spears.
"Warrior! Climb that tree and take a look!"
"Yes!"
The kobold warrior who had received the order set down his longsword and shield. His sharp claws gripped the rough bark of a nearby tree as he swiftly climbed up and stood on a branch, peering into the distance.
Through the gaps between the trees, he caught a glimpse of the distant scene: a massive figure flashing past, a log slung over its shoulder. Remembering a terrifying creature that roamed the forest, his pupils contracted.
"Chieftain! An Ogre! It's an Ogre! The Ogre has brought the Goblins back!"
"An Ogre?!"
Clark sensed that something was wrong.
Ogres were exactly as their name implied—terrifying demons that ate people.
Ogres were powerful humanoid creatures. They were not very intelligent, but they were immensely strong. Adult Ogres generally stood over 3.5 meters tall, taller than a single-story building, while exceptional individuals could reach a staggering five meters.
Strength sufficient to topple houses, thick skin tougher than old cowhide, layers of fat, and a frenzied will to fight until death—everything about them inspired despair.
Clark swallowed. In the past, he would have immediately led his people back into the mine tunnels the Ogre could not enter, but now...
"Master, what should we do?"
In the distant dragon's lair, Jose frowned. When faced with a powerful enemy, the kobold chieftain's shortcomings were immediately exposed.
His ability to withstand pressure was weak. He could fight well when things went smoothly, but the moment he encountered trouble, he wanted to retreat.
Still, avoiding powerful enemies was a creature's survival instinct. Jose could not demand that all his followers be fearless warriors.
As he thought this, a figure surfaced in the Red Dragon's mind—Hasa Bloodclaw.
The comparison only made Hasa Bloodclaw's excellence stand out even more.
"What are you panicking for?! You are my follower! Do you not even have the courage to fight an Ogre?!"
Clark's body trembled as he came to his senses.
That's right!
Though Ogres were powerful and could crush most Initial Stage professionals with their natural physical gifts, they had not surpassed the Initial Stage. As an Initial Stage Warrior whose Dragon Vein had been strengthened through the follower contract, his combat ability was no worse than an Ogre's.
Blind reliance on past experience could get one killed!
Clark inwardly berated himself. He understood that his earlier display had lowered his standing in his master's eyes, and his regret deepened.
Now, only by taking the Ogre's head and proving himself could he restore his image in his master's eyes.
With that thought, Clark made up his mind.
"Warriors! Prepare for battle! Let us take the Ogre's head and bring it back as an offering to our master!"
I don't like that gift at all ╮(﹀＿﹀)╭, Jose grumbled inwardly. An Ogre's head could not be eaten and was not worth any money. What would he want it for?
On the other side, under Clark's command, the kobold warriors began preparing for battle. They split into groups of three: two warriors wielded swords and shields, while one carried a spear. Breaking up into small units, they scattered through the woods.
"Hmm, they're not completely hopeless," Jose's frown eased slightly.
Against enemies like Goblins, who were small and lacked heavy weapons, forming a straight defensive line with shields could effectively reduce casualties.
But against an Ogre, that tactic would not work.
Ogres possessed immense strength. They used young trees as weapons, and when one of their clubs came down, even if the shield was sturdy enough, a kobold's slender arm could not withstand an impact strong enough to destroy a house. Thus, spreading out to avoid being slaughtered was the wiser choice.
Before long, the Ogre appeared in the kobold warriors' field of vision.
It was a hulking monster nearly four meters tall, carrying a log as thick as a utility pole over its shoulder. Every step made the ground thud, and it was obvious at a glance that it was not to be trifled with.
The scattered Goblins regained their courage and followed behind the Ogre. They barely reached its knees, making one worry that they might be stepped on and crushed to death.
"Just as I thought."
Seeing the Goblins following the Ogre, Jose understood the chain of events. He had seen a similar situation in Ergou's memories.
Wandering Ogres occasionally enslaved weak Goblin tribes and took the Goblins hunting. Their prey would be other monster tribes around the Goblin tribe. Whether enemy corpses or the corpses of their own people, all would become food for the Ogre.
However, tribes led by Ogres rarely lasted long. Ogres simply ate too much. Without enough food, the Goblins became their rations. In less than a month, the Goblins would usually either die or flee.
Ogres, kobolds, and Goblins were not species skilled at negotiation. The moment they met, they fought.
Roar!
The Ogre opened its mouth and roared. The sound seemed to form tangible shockwaves, shaking the leaves on the surrounding trees.
Then it took the log from its shoulder, gripping one end in one hand while dragging the other along the ground, and charged. Its massive body resembled a truck barreling forward, with the Goblins yelling wildly behind it.
"Charge!"
Clark Greyscale led the kobold warriors toward the charging enemy.
The Ogre had long strides and moved quickly, so the short-legged Goblins could not keep up. The two sides soon became separated, while the kobolds maintained the same pace.
Clark met the charging Ogre head-on, while the other kobold warriors acted according to plan, circling around the Ogre from both sides and charging toward the Goblins behind it.
"Your opponent is me!"
Seeing the Ogre about to turn and attack the clansmen circling past it, Clark threw a stone he had prepared beforehand. The stone struck the Ogre's head. It did not cause any real damage, but it was enough to enrage the dim-witted giant.
"Hanuer will drink every drop of your blood!" the Ogre roared furiously, raising the log—thick enough to serve as a house pillar—over its head with both hands before smashing it down at the small figure wielding a spear.
Clark nimbly dodged. The club whistled through the air and slammed into the ground with a bang, gouging out a long crater.
In the distant dragon's lair, Jose watched his follower battle the Ogre. The first-person perspective was quite thrilling: the thick log flew through the air, and the powerful wind stirred the fallen leaves on the ground.
Meanwhile, Clark darted left and right, dodging with agility. Even after being strengthened by the Dragon Vein, if he were struck by the Ogre's massive club, he would still be reduced to a puddle of flesh.
However, it was not so easy for the Ogre to hit a Dragonkin kobold.
The Dragon Vein transformation strengthened not only the kobold's body but also his reflexes. As a result, Clark occasionally found chances to counterattack, thrusting out his spear and making the Ogre howl in pain.
The follower rolled across the ground, and Jose's vision rolled with him. The disconnect between his body and the shared visual perspective made him feel slightly nauseated.
He shook his head and severed the visual connection.
"Phew... children fighting."
If he were standing in Clark's position...
Jose imagined an Ogre standing before him, raising its club as if to smash it down.
What would happen?
First, he would catch the Ogre's rolling-pin-like club with his bare hand. Then he would grab the Ogre in his hand, squeeze hard, and crush it like a soft tomato.
Still, though Ogres were not very intelligent, they were not stupid enough to wave clubs at a Red Dragon.
"Report the results to me after the battle. Also, there's no need to bring the Ogre's head back."
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