Chapter 319: We Need to Build Tension (3)
Belinda, Gillian, and the knights followed Ghislain’s lead.
When the soldiers and elves tried to follow, Ghislain waved them off.
“Soldiers, stay back. Engaging with ogres won’t end well for you. Vanessa, prepare as I have instructed, and knights, form up.”
Powerful monsters like ogres were best dealt with by a small, elite group. A clumsy assault would only lead to heavy casualties.
Of course, an ordinary commander might have used the soldiers as shields, sacrificing them to reduce the ogres’ strength. Losing soldiers was often seen as preferable to losing knights.
But sacrificing soldiers to exhaust the enemy was not Ghislain’s way. Besides, he had already given Vanessa specific instructions on how to prepare.
He had also hinted at the plan to Belinda and Gillian excluding Kaor.
“Grrr…”
The ogres didn’t move rashly either. The sheer number of humans made them wary.
But ogres, as monsters, never tolerated intrusions into their territory. Gripping their massive wooden clubs tightly, they crouched low.
Ghislain crouched in response and spoke.
“Vanessa, begin.”
“Kuooooh!”
At the same time, the ogres leapt forward. Their tremendous power was evident in their incredible leaps. However, just as the monsters rose into the air, Ghislain shouted.
“Close your eyes!”
Fenris’s knights, trained to react instantly to Ghislain’s commands, obeyed immediately. Behind them, Vanessa’s voice rang out.
“Flash Bomb.”
Flash!
A blinding burst of light exploded before the ogres’ eyes.
“Kyaaaak!”
Other mages followed suit, casting the same spell as Vanessa.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Dozens of flashes blinded the ogres, robbing them of their vision. Disoriented, the ogres stumbled and crashed to the ground instead of landing properly.
Although higher-circle magic that could directly blind them existed, Ghislain had chosen to use flash bombs for a reason. Ogres were inherently resistant to magic.
A direct spell might last longer, but there was a chance it wouldn’t work on some. Instead, he opted to overwhelm their senses with bright light, ensuring they were blinded, even if briefly.
“Graaaah!”
Despite their excellent reflexes, the ogres struggled to rise but still couldn’t see properly.
The lead ogre, driven by instinct, swung its massive club blindly.
Given their enormous size and the sheer scale of their clubs, the attack covered a wide area. As a result, the ogre next to it was struck hard.
Boom!
“Kueeek?”
The struck ogre was stunned, both in pain and confusion. It had barely avoided being knocked unconscious.
Unable to see who had attacked, the ogre reacted instinctively, lashing out in the direction of the strike.
Blindness didn’t matter. All it needed to do was strike where it had been hit.
This behavior was common among monsters. The stronger they were, the more pronounced this instinctive reaction became.
Boom!
“Graaaah!”
Blinded and tangled with one another, the ogres swung their clubs wildly, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Kuaaaak!”
The force of an ogre’s club was powerful enough to shatter a massive tree in a single blow. Even with their tough bodies, the ogres couldn’t ignore such attacks. Each hit drew agonized screams.
Believing their enemy’s attack to be relentless, the ogres swung their clubs even harder, thrashing about in a frenzy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blood flowed from cracked skulls and broken arms, and more ogres succumbed to their injuries. The greater the pain, the greater their rage.
“Graaaah!”
Screaming in pain, the ogres blinked furiously. The effects of the flashes were fading, and their vision began to return.
Though the blindness had been brief, the damage inflicted during that time was significant. Realizing they had been attacking each other, the ogres howled at one another in a comical display of anger.
“Graaah!”
“Kuoooh!”
For a while, they screeched and blamed one another. Eventually, the ogres stopped their squabble and turned back to face their true enemies.
“Kuuk?”
At that moment, a lone human leapt high into the air above their heads, wielding a greatsword.
Ghislain, having activated his Third Core, launched himself with tremendous force. His sword struck the leading ogre squarely on the head.
Crack!
“Graaaah!”
Even with a sword embedded in its skull, the ogre didn’t die immediately. Its durability, honed in the Forest of Beasts, was extraordinary.
Whirr!
As soon as the sword lodged into its head, the ogre swung its club in retaliation. Ghislain quickly retreated and shouted.
“Attack!”
The knights sprang into action. They had trained for scenarios just like this combat formations specifically designed for fighting monsters.
Ghislain, an exceptional hunter, had trained the knights himself in monster-fighting techniques whenever there was time.
The knights quickly formed squads, placing those with large shields at the front as they charged toward the ogres.
“Graaaah!”
The ogres, already injured from their earlier brawl, still struck with terrifying force. The lead knight faced an incoming attack head-on.
“Shield.”
Ziiing!
The mages cast their spells, enveloping the frontline knights in magical barriers. Shield bearers surged forward to intercept the ogres’ attacks.
Boom!
“Uwaaah!”
Despite the magical protection, a knight with a shield was effortlessly sent flying by a single strike. The ogres’ immense power was undeniable.
Although they couldn’t fully block the attack, their defense created a brief opening, which was enough.
“Fireball.”
Fwoosh!
Dozens of fireballs hurtled toward the ogres’ faces.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Graaaah!”
The ogres momentarily faltered as the fireballs struck them, but the mages didn’t expect the spell to do much damage. The real purpose was to blind the monsters again.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Disoriented, the ogres’ massive bodies were then pierced by dozens of swords. No matter how tough their skin was, they couldn’t easily withstand attacks imbued with the knights’ explosive mana.
The knights, knowing failure meant death, struck with every ounce of strength they had.
“Graaaah!”
The ogres’ screams echoed through the battlefield as the knights capitalized on the momentary advantage.
“Close in!”
“Sever their tendons!”
“Disable their weapons!”
Knights swarmed the ogres’ arms and legs, clinging to their massive forms and driving their blades in relentlessly.
The ogres with broken arms or fractured ribs were unable to fight back effectively. The healthier ones were left to Ghislain, Belinda, and Gillian.
Swish!
Belinda’s daggers flew with precision, targeting the ogres’ vulnerable spots eyes, ears, and mouths. Meanwhile, Gillian repeatedly swung his axe into the neck of an ogre that knights were clinging to.
The sheer brutality of their combat made it hard to tell who the real ogres were.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Graaaah!”
The ogres couldn’t hold out. Their earlier injuries from fighting each other had already weakened them significantly.
With the knights clinging to them, even shaking them off proved difficult.
Amidst the chaos, Kaor dubbed the “Ogre Slayer” stood frozen, watching in stunned silence.
Ghislain, not yet done, struck another blow to the skull of an ogre that had barely survived.
Crunch!
As if signaling the end, the remaining ogres began to fall.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dozens of ogres collapsed, unable to put up any meaningful resistance. The so-called “Kings of the Forest” had met pitiful ends.
Their bodies were mangled from relentless attacks, leaving even the soldiers speechless. The seamless execution of the battle plan made it seem as if they had rehearsed it in advance.
Kaor, clearly bewildered, stammered as he asked Ghislain.
“Wh-what’s going on? Did you know there would be this many?”
It dawned on him that, despite the sudden appearance of the ogres, Ghislain had not rushed to issue commands. Instead, he had calmly observed, unlike in previous battles.
Even Belinda and Gillian had maintained remarkable composure compared to before.
Ghislain planted his greatsword into the ground and answered.
“Yes, I knew the ogres would show up. I informed the mages beforehand and had them prepare for the fight.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“To keep the tension alive. Everyone was getting too complacent.”
At that, Kaor and the soldiers fell silent. They couldn’t deny it they had indeed let their guard down after the relatively easy march so far.
Ghislain surveyed the group and spoke to them all.
“Did you all enjoy the show?”
“……”
The soldiers lowered their heads in embarrassment. Once again, they had done nothing. They had laughed and joked, taking the Forest of Beasts too lightly.
Had their lord not prepared in advance, the ogres would have ambushed them, and many would have died.
Ghislain’s voice dropped to a stern tone as he continued.
“The monsters in the area we’re headed for will be far more dangerous and difficult to handle than these. This time, we managed because we prepared. Next time, even preparation may not be enough. Never let your guard down.”
The soldiers took deep breaths and straightened their backs, tension visibly returning to their postures.
Their lord was right. Without prior preparation, the sudden appearance of such a large number of ogres could have led to devastating losses.
Had the ogres initiated a chaotic ambush, the outcome would have been horrific.
‘But… how did Lord Ghislain know?’
‘Did he discover it by chance during a previous visit?’
‘Our lord truly knows everything.’
Such incidents, repeating one after another, gradually caused the people to feel not just awe but something akin to faith in Ghislain.
It wasn’t merely his extraordinary knowledge. His combat skills inspired a belief that no enemy could ever defeat him.
Still, the soldiers didn’t let themselves grow complacent, thinking they could relax and rely solely on Ghislain. They steeled themselves instead.
“One mistake could mean death.”
“Even the lord can’t save everyone.”
“Stay sharp and stay focused.”
The sudden appearance of the ogres had instilled a newfound tension among the group. This was true not only for the soldiers but also for the mages and elves.
The elves, in particular, were on edge. Being highly attuned to the energy of nature, they sensed something profoundly wrong with the Forest of Beasts far more clearly than the others.
“This is strange… It doesn’t feel like a forest.”
“The monsters here are abnormally large. No matter how strong the energy of a place is, this isn’t normal.”
“Does a place like this truly exist in this world?”
In a typical forest filled with abundant and vibrant energy, elves usually felt at peace, comfortable, and secure. This was true regardless of the presence of monsters, as the natural energy itself provided solace.
But this forest was different. It exuded a foreign and ominous aura that grew stronger the deeper they ventured.
It was as if this place didn’t belong to the world they knew.
To the elves, who valued harmony and balance above all else, this place felt unsettling and disturbingly out of sync.
Ascon, his face twisted in a scowl, muttered under his breath.
“This place reeks of cursed energy… It’s a damn cursed place…”
No one paid much attention to him. Ascon was known for cursing habitually, not just occasionally but as a daily routine.
Lumina, however, was different. Ghislain always listened carefully to what she had to say.
“Lord, are you really planning to keep going further?” she asked.
“Why? Is there a problem?” Ghislain replied.
“Well… there’s something strange about this place.”
“Strange? How?”
“The energy flowing through this forest is unsettling… deeply ominous and… sinister.”
At her words, Ghislain smirked faintly. The Forest of Beasts was already infamous for being a foreboding place. Tales of death surrounded it, so its reputation was far from favorable.
“This place is a little unusual,” he admitted. “The monsters here are bizarre, too. But rare resources are found in places like these. That’s why we need to press on.”
“No, it’s not that kind of strange,” Lumina insisted. “This forest… it’s not normal. The life forms here feel… artificial. Like they’re not naturally occurring.”
“What do you mean?” Ghislain asked, intrigued.
Lumina struggled to articulate her thoughts, her words becoming increasingly incoherent.
Ever since awakening her gift for communion, she had been able to hear faint whispers of nature. Among the elves of Fenris’s domain, she was the one most attuned to the voice of nature.
“They’re whispering to me,” she said.
Ghislain tilted his head, puzzled. He heard nothing.
“Whispering? Who’s whispering? What are they saying?”
“The forest,” Lumina replied. “It’s speaking to me.”
“The forest? Talking to you?” Ghislain raised an eyebrow. “What is it saying?”
“It’s asking me to become one with it,” Lumina murmured.
Since entering the forest, Lumina had been hearing peculiar whispers.
At first, she couldn’t discern them clearly amidst the noisy chatter of the group and the faint energy of the forest near the edge. The energy weakened further as people felled trees and disturbed the land, eroding the natural vitality of the area.
But the deeper they ventured, the stronger the energy became, and the whispers grew clearer.
The forest was persistently calling out to her.
It wanted her to become one with her.