Cornflower Witch

Chapter 97: Joining forces to kill
"Someone found the 'Blood Flower' the very next day. This assessment has produced some promising talents."

A mesmerizing voice came from the black carriage parked at the foot of the mountain, but unfortunately, only the black stork on the branch responded to her.

“However, those two big, dumb guys with two heads are not easy to deal with. I wonder if this child can survive. How about we make a bet?” She stretched her serpentine wrist out of the window, and the black stork immediately flew down and landed on her outstretched wrist.

"It's a pity you can't speak. It's really a bit boring for me to sit here and watch the show all by myself."

"Lead the way and take the carriage to Hyde's place."

Then the red-beaked black stork took flight, flapping its wings and flying in front of the carriage. It placed a claw on the mane, waking the black horse that had lowered its head and closed its eyes.

With its blood-red eyes open, the black horse snorted, shooing away the black stork on its head. Then it shook itself, started walking again, and followed the black stork.

……

In the forest, Hilti looked up at the enormous creature in front of her. This ogre had two strange heads and was about four meters tall, seemingly able to block out the sky behind it, giving people a powerful sense of oppression.

Race: Ogre (Alien)
Status: Healthy (Bloodlust)

talent:

Mighty [Excellent]: Ogres are born with exceptional strength. Their tall stature and physique bring them power far exceeding that of other life forms of the same level.

Fate Card: [Two-Headed Ogre] (Tier 2 - Blood Law)
'Among ogres, there are mutated individuals; roughly one in fifty ogres has two heads, two hearts, and shares two powers, making them formidable and difficult to deal with among their peers.'
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Effect: [Mighty Body Lv.5], an innate talent that grants you immense strength and physique, making even an elephant a mere plaything in your hands.
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Effect: [Dual-Core Drive Lv.2], you have two hearts, two brains, and all low-level abilities are doubled. (Abilities not originally at Lv.3)
Ability Cards:
[Blood Devouring Technique Lv.4] (Blood Law): Can digest and devour flesh, scales, and bones, transforming them into its own 'Blood Law' elemental power. (Due to 'Dual-Core Drive', it progressed from Lv.3 to Lv.4)

【Red Tough Hide Lv.3】(Blood Law): A tough, thick outer hide that is difficult to pierce with spears and swords, resistant to high temperatures, and impervious to flames. (Due to 'Dual Core Drive', it has been upgraded from Lv.2 to Lv.3)

[Intimidation Aura Lv.4] (Blood Law): After slaughtering numerous creatures, you gain an aura that intimidates other life forms, causing them to lose all will to fight and dare not resist, and even shattering the hearts of weaker life forms. (Due to 'Dual-Core Drive', it has been upgraded from Lv.3 to Lv.4)

When the ogre appeared in front of Hilti, an invisible aura spread out, like a shockwave, shattering the insects in the mountain grass. Hilti also felt a slight pain in her chest.

A truly terrifying enemy. The girl came to this conclusion at first glance. If this was indeed the final, third target, then the difficulty was beyond imagination.

But now is not the time for idle thoughts, because the cannibal in front of us has begun to move.

He stepped forward with his left foot, swung his thick iron bar with his right hand, and smashed it down on the girl in front of him. The whistling sound of the bar cutting through the air was chilling, and the force of the wind lifted the hood of Hilti, revealing her overflowing black hair.

With her heels pushing off the ground, Hiltiya activated her breathing technique, leaping forward to avoid the falling iron bar, then escaping from the onrushing, large hand and rushing into the woods to the side.

Seeing that he had not caught the girl, the cannibal strode after her, the sound of tree branches breaking echoing along the way.

The mountain path was not easy to walk, and there were often very steep slopes. At this time, Hilti could leap up lightly, while the ogre could only struggle to push aside the branches and climb up the hillside with difficulty.

Unable to outrun Hilti, and seeing the girl about to escape his sight, the ogre roared angrily. The surging sound wave spread out, making the girl running ahead feel as if her heart was being squeezed by an iron hand.

She stumbled and nearly stepped into a crack in the rocks, but managed to regain her balance and take a few more steps forward, leaving the ogre's sight and entering the secluded forest.

It would be difficult to defeat this two-headed ogre head-on, so she had to think of another way.

……

As they entered the forest, the danger level began to rise, and many trainees felt unwell. Some found a spring and immediately retreated, not daring to go any further. Others were a little luckier and fought desperately to defeat a monster of the same 'Tier 1' level, then took the monster's head, put it together with the spring water bottle, and went back to report.

Under the shade of the trees, Karen moved forward with her longbow in hand, her footsteps silent as she scanned her surroundings. At that moment, she heard the faint sound of water coming from a distant ravine. Thinking that it might be the sweet spring the instructor had mentioned, Karen quickened her pace.

A few minutes later, in front of Sweetwater Spring, Komia and Karen embraced.

"Oh, Karen, you're here!" Komia hugged Karen's waist, so happy she wanted to cry.

"I've been so scared these past two days, afraid of encountering monsters I can't defeat. If it weren't for Dough with me, I would have gone home yesterday." She recounted the events of the past two days in fits and starts, explaining how she found the spring with the help of 'Dough'.

“I think there must be other people looking for the spring. We’ll run into our classmates and team up to go back.” Her idea was indeed good, but not every classmate she met was trustworthy. “Alright, I’m here now, everything should be fine.” Karen patted Komia, then looked around and noticed a white wolf cautiously hiding behind a tree not far behind Komia, peeking out, a little afraid of her.

"Is this wolf really that timid?" Karen wondered, then asked Komia.

“That’s just how it is, so don’t expect it to fight,” Komia said, summoning the wolf, stroking its head, and introducing it to Karen.

"But it's very obedient and can help us find a lot of things."

“In that case… it would be very helpful if we joined up with Tia and Mick.” Karen said thoughtfully.

“That’s right, I can have it help me find Tia and the others.” Komia jumped up excitedly.

So the two fetched some spring water and set off again.

……

In the afternoon, the sun sets.

Following Jero's fragmented description, Mick found the ogre's lair and discovered the blue-skinned ogre taking a nap.

"Is it that big?" Mick gripped his sword tightly and slowly approached, preparing to launch a sneak attack while the other was asleep.

However, he was only an adventurer by training and had not systematically learned assassin skills. Before he could get within five meters, the ogre spotted him by his scent and then struggled to his feet.

The opponent's massive body blocked the light of the setting sun, casting a long shadow over Mick.

The air seemed a little chilly. Facing the ogre who was more than a meter taller than him, Mick rushed forward, then leaped up and slashed down with his longsword.

The steel sword slammed into the thick wooden bar blocking the way, splitting a deep gash. Splinters of wood flew everywhere, and the force of the recoil made Mick's hand go numb.

Missing his first strike, Mick adjusted his position and charged forward again, swinging his longsword in a huge arc through the air before slashing diagonally down at the ogre's shoulder.

The sharp blade sliced ​​through the thick hide, tearing out dark red blood. The ogre roared in agony, its eyes bloodshot. It clutched its wound with one hand and swung its wooden club with all its might, striking Mick, who had no time to dodge.

Even with the longsword blocking, the immense force still sent Mick flying. The broken end of the wooden stick struck Mick on the head, making him dizzy and almost causing him to kneel on the ground. Then, a trickle of warm blood flowed down his forehead.

He was injured, but not seriously.

Seeing that the wooden stick in its hand was broken, the ogre first grabbed a stone at its feet and hurled it at Mick. The hard and heavy stone hit Mick's back like a millstone, causing him to feel a tightness in his chest and spit out a mouthful of blood.

Shortly afterward, the ogre strode closer, its eyes still gleaming with bloodlust and excitement despite the long gashs on its body. It reached out and grabbed Mick's shoulder.

Those thick, grayish-blue fingers were wrinkled, with thick grime and bloodstains under their nails, and they smelled foul. When they gripped Mick's shoulder, they were like iron clamps, causing Mick pain.

He gritted his teeth, tore open the straps around his chest, then removed the leather shoulder armor from his shoulders, broke free, and staggered towards the mountains.

The ogre then gave chase. Mick, injured, couldn't run fast, and the two were about the same speed, so they continued along the hillside.

This situation only ended when an arrow shot out of the forest and struck the ogre in the eye.

Komia and Karen stood on the hillside. One of them opened her eyes wide, filled with swirling gray mist, to distract the ogre, while the other kept drawing her bow and shooting arrows, hitting the ogre's eyes, throat, and knees, until it was exhausted and slowly collapsed on the hillside.

The three then joined forces and, through their combined efforts, killed the first-tier ogre monster.

At this time, there were still three 'Tier 1' ogres and one 'Tier 2' ogres in the mountains.

(End of this chapter)