NOVPUBVanessa swallowed nervously and cautiously asked,
“Are you certain that the monster appears in that area?”
“Yes, it definitely shows up there. And that’s exactly what I’ll use to bring the tension back. If we don’t handle it now, things will only get more dangerous as we go,” Ghislain replied confidently.
“But... wouldn’t it be better to issue a warning?”
“That would defeat the purpose. No matter how much I tell them to stay alert, words alone won’t have the same effect. They need to experience it for themselves.”
Ghislain’s philosophy was clear: nothing drives a lesson home like firsthand experience. A surprise encounter would jolt the troops out of their complacency and refocus their minds.
By his standards, this monster was the perfect candidate to reintroduce that tension.
Vanessa understood his reasoning but couldn’t shake her lingering doubts.
“But... didn’t you say this part of the forest is uncharted territory for you as well? How do you know all this?”
“I’ll explain later. Just trust me—you’ll see for yourself soon enough,” Ghislain said with a dry smile, dodging the question.
It wasn’t easy for him to explain how he knew this information. His extensive knowledge, attributed to mysterious sources, had already cemented his reputation as a man of inexplicable foresight. Adding another piece of unexplained knowledge wouldn’t change much.
Vanessa, choosing to trust him, nodded and walked back to the mages to relay his instructions. Despite her curiosity as a mage, she reasoned that if Ghislain wasn’t sharing something, he had his reasons. He had always told her what she needed to know.
Vanessa’s expression remained uneasy as she briefed the mages.
At this point, the expedition was essentially breaking new ground. The path ended, giving way to dense trees and shadowed terrain.
The air felt heavier, the light dimmer, as the team moved deeper into the forest.
Ghislain raised his voice, issuing orders:
“From here on, proceed cautiously. Increase vigilance. Knights and soldiers will take the lead, while the workers stay behind and focus on constructing watchtowers.”
Securing a territory wasn’t just about claiming land; it required the ability to defend it. Ghislain ensured that proper fortifications were built in each newly claimed section.
Now, however, they were entering a monster’s domain—one Ghislain remembered vividly.
This area is home to a monster we know well. It tolerates no disturbances within its territory and is often called the king of the forest. While it’s undeniably powerful, we’re familiar with it, and our vanguard should be able to handle it without issue once it appears.
Boom! Boom!
Felling trees and expanding their territory wasn’t a quiet endeavor. With thousands of people working simultaneously, it was inevitable that they would stir the forest’s true resident.
“KRAAAAAH!”
A bone-rattling roar echoed through the forest, sending a chill down the spines of the workers and soldiers alike.
This was nothing like the cries of the monsters they had faced earlier. The raw intensity of the sound made everyone freeze, their instincts screaming at them to stop what they were doing.
“Prepare for battle! Pull back slightly and form ranks! Knights to the front!” Ghislain’s voice rang out, clear and commanding.
The soldiers quickly snapped into formation, retreating to create space while knights moved forward.
In the distance, the source of the roar was crashing through the trees, the sound growing louder with each step.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground seemed to tremble with each heavy footfall.
CRASH!
“KRAAAAAAH!”
When the creature finally came into view, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
“An ogre?”
The monster standing before them was unmistakable—an ogre, one of the most feared creatures in existence. Known for its raw strength, an ogre could easily take on hundreds of soldiers and dozens of knights. It was a beast worthy of its title as “king of the forest.”
The soldiers stared in stunned silence.
“That thing’s massive!”
“What do these monsters eat to grow like that?”
“Why are all the creatures in this forest like this?”
But this wasn’t just any ogre—it was enormous, larger than the typical kind by a full head. It looked almost like the fabled Twin-Headed Ogre, renowned for its extraordinary power.
In the world of monsters, size often correlated directly with strength. By that measure, this ogre was undoubtedly more formidable than its smaller kin.
Even seasoned hunters who had seen ogres before in the Shadow Mountains were taken aback.
“Damn, that’s a big one. It’ll fetch a nice price, though.”
“The bigger it is, the better the quality of its parts.”
“Heh, this could be fun.”
Despite the ogre’s fearsome reputation, no one seemed particularly scared. After all, they had come this far with little trouble, and they weren’t about to let one monster change that.
Ogres might be able to take on hundreds of soldiers, but here they had over 4,000 troops, including 400 knights and 300 hunters. Numbers alone made this a lopsided fight.
Among them was someone who had earned a specific nickname related to ogres.
“Hah, looks like it’s my turn again,” Kaor said, a cocky grin on his face as he stepped forward.
Kaor was no stranger to ogres, having taken down a Twin-Headed Ogre single-handedly before. This one seemed no different. If anything, he relished the challenge.
Wielding his sword confidently, he turned to the crowd.
“I’ll handle this alone. Nobody interfere. Just sit back and watch the show.”
Kaor was known as the Ogre Slayer, a title he carried proudly. Facing an ogre was his specialty, and he wouldn’t let anyone take this moment from him.
“Wow! It’s the Ogre Slayer Kaor!”
“Show us what you’ve got!”
“He won’t lose to a single ogre!”
The crowd cheered, clearly in high spirits. To them, this wasn’t a battle—it was entertainment.
Even the knights were unbothered. While they couldn’t take down an ogre alone, they trusted that Kaor, Belinda, Gillian, Vanessa, and even Ghislain could handle it.
The relaxed mood reflected how far the group had let their guard down. For most, this was merely another spectacle to enjoy.
Only the mages maintained tense expressions, their eyes fixed on the ogre.
Ghislain called out to Kaor.
“You really want to handle it alone?”
“Of course! I’m the Ogre Slayer, after all. Most of these guys have never seen me take one down by myself,” Kaor boasted, rolling his shoulders as he stepped closer.
At first, the ogre only growled, glaring at the group. It seemed oddly hesitant for such a notoriously aggressive creature, known to charge recklessly regardless of the odds.
“See that? It’s scared. It must have caught the scent of its kin’s blood on me,” Kaor laughed, but his expression quickly hardened. Something was off.
At that moment, Belinda and Gillian’s expressions also shifted subtly.
Boom! Boom!
Another ogre crashed through the trees, joining the first.
“...Two of them,” Kaor muttered, his voice losing a bit of its bravado.
Two ogres were already pushing Kaor to his limits. A bead of sweat trickled down his back. Retreating wasn’t an option, not with so many people watching.
Knights and hunters looked on with interest, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
“Wow, two of them!”
“Take them both down, Kaor!”
“You’ve got this!”
Bolstered by the crowd’s enthusiasm, Kaor shouted confidently,
“Fine! I’ll show you my hidden strength today!”
While the challenge seemed daunting, Kaor figured he could always retreat if things got too dangerous. If worse came to worst, the lord or someone else would step in. After all, with so many skilled fighters present, two ogres wouldn’t be a problem.
But as Kaor prepared to charge, another ogre burst into view.
Boom!
“Three?”
This was beyond him now. Taking on three ogres alone was suicidal, especially with beasts of this size. A single misstep could spell death.
Unfortunately, the nightmare wasn’t over.
Boom! Boom!
“Five?”
Kaor took a step back, his bravado wavering. Behind him, Belinda and Gillian tightened their grips on their weapons.
Rumble!
The earth itself seemed to shake as guttural roars filled the air. More creatures were approaching, their furious cries echoing through the forest.
Ogres are typically solitary creatures, each fiercely guarding their own territory. Even in the Forest of Beasts, we assumed this behavior would hold true. But our assumptions were wrong. The creatures here defy conventional understanding.
“KROOOOOH!”
One after another, ogres emerged from the shadows.
Nine. Ten. Fifteen.
With each new arrival, the atmosphere grew heavier. Soldiers and workers, who had been cheering moments ago, now stared in stunned silence. Knights drew their weapons, lowering their stances in preparation for battle.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
When the cacophony finally ceased, twenty ogres stood before them.
Twenty ogres were more than enough to raze an entire small territory to the ground.
The Forest of Beasts proved once again why it was a place of unmatched danger. The creatures within, even those known for their solitary nature, had adapted to survive by forming groups.
Some soldiers and workers struggled to grasp the gravity of the situation.
“There aren’t as many of them as the Giant Mantises, right?”
“We’ve taken care of everything so far. We can handle this too, right?”
“...I don’t think so this time.”
The knights’ tense expressions finally began to register with the others. The unease spread quickly.
The realization struck like a hammer blow—these were no ordinary monsters. This was the king of the forest, and its presence demanded respect.
“Can we even kill them?”
“We can... but not without a lot of casualties...”
“Damn it, get your head together!”
The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, fear etched on their faces. If it were just them, half—or more—would surely die in a direct confrontation.
Even compared to monsters outside the forest, these creatures were on another level entirely.
The workers, sensing the change in mood, retreated in a panic, bumping into one another as they scrambled back.
In their place, mages and elves stepped forward. The mages prepared their spells while the elves drew their bows, their expressions grim.
“Prepare for battle! Form up!”
The commanders barked orders, rallying the soldiers into defensive formations. These were veteran soldiers who had fought alongside Ghislain in countless battles. Even without explicit orders, they knew how to react.
Shields were raised, and the soldiers braced themselves. Yet, despite their discipline, the tension in the air was palpable.
The ogres, wielding massive tree trunks as makeshift clubs, loomed over them. A single swing from those weapons could decimate dozens of men in an instant.
Amid the rising tension, Ghislain finally spoke, his voice calm yet cutting through the fear.
“This is the Forest of Beasts. You never know when or where monsters like this will appear. Ogres, in groups of twenty or more, are just the beginning. This forest is teeming with creatures more grotesque and deadly than you can imagine.”
“...”
“Do not grow complacent. Do not lower your guard. A single mistake in this place will cost you your life.”
His words cut deep, silencing the crowd.
These soldiers, who had followed Ghislain through countless campaigns and earned the title of the North’s strongest, had let pride and overconfidence creep in. They had grown to believe in the overwhelming power of their numbers and the invincibility of their leaders.
Ghislain’s reminder was a stark wake-up call.
“So this is the Forest of Beasts...”
“We were insane to act so casually in a place like this. Ogres in the outskirts, not even the center...”
“When the lord said he nearly died here, he wasn’t exaggerating.”
For the first time, the reality of the Forest of Beasts truly sank in.
Even the hunters, who had faced ogres before, swallowed hard. Ogres occasionally appeared in the Shadow Mountains, but seeing a group this large was unprecedented.
“Why are they gathering like this? It’s not even a monster wave...”
“This place is like one perpetual monster wave.”
“Now it makes sense why everything felt too easy until now.”
Kaor, who had been ready to fight, froze. His confidence evaporated as he watched the ogres approach.
The first ogre, which had initially seemed hesitant, now stepped forward with a cruel glint in its eyes.
Kaor glanced back awkwardly, wearing a strained smile.
“Help.”
He knew when to swallow his pride. It wasn’t about bravery or arrogance anymore—it was about survival.
There was no way he could take on all these monsters alone. Charging in would be nothing short of suicide.
Ghislain, hearing Kaor’s plea, smirked and stepped forward, gripping his massive sword.
“All right. I’ll help.”
