NOVEL FROG Chapter 31: I’ve got a lot of good stuff anyway
*Clang*Clang*…Clang*..
The ogre swung the axes like a whirlwind and not a single arrow passed through his defense. On the other hand, he was also unable to close the distance with the goblin riders.
They were caught in a stalemate which neither party was happy about. The ogre had limited stamina, and the goblin riders were in the same spot as they too had a limited number of arrows.
“Will this work out?” Shi kun asked with furrowed brows as he observed the battle.
“Doesn’t matter. We’ll have to keep shooting either way. In the worst case scenario, it’ll atleast weaken the ogre,”
“While I agree with the sentiment, this is such a waste of resources, No?”
“When did you get here?” Ria looked back and a sense of relief washed over her. The one who spoke was the person they needed the most in this situation.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Of course not. You should be aware of this fight from the moment the first player died. I’m rather curious about what took you so long.”
“Maybe that answers the question,” Shi kun chimed into the conversation and pointed at Zyrus’s armor.
“Yup. By the way, How’s he?” Zyrus walked over and pointed at Jacob.
“We don’t have a healer, but there are some who worked in the medical field before. Long story short, he should wake up in a few hours.”
“That’s good to hear. Make sure to protect those people well,”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ria nodded while checking out his armor. It was the first time she was seeing a monster? Using a proper equipment. It was a scalemail armor that covered his torso and stretched down towards the sides of his legs. What intrigued her the most were the black runes engraved on the equipment.
“By the way, You guys can call me Zyrus from now on.”
“…”
“…”
“What’s there to be surprised about? From this fight, it's quite clear that you’ll survive in the sanctuary. And since we are going to spend a lot of time together, I don’t mind sharing some personal details.”
“I see.”
“You just wanted to be mysterious about it, didn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t deny it.”
“Your shamelessness never ceases to amaze me,”
“I’m quite thick scaled you see,”
“Umm.. shouldn’t you help them out?” Shi kun asked with a bit of hesitation. Although Zyrus had allowed them to talk formally, he still felt wary of his presence.
“The fight hasn’t even started yet.”
“What do you mean?”
*ROOOAR*
Zyrus didn’t have to explain as the ogre was kind enough to do that in his stead. Infuriated by the relentless assault, the ogre had decided to use his second skill.
Similar to the previous two ogres, blood vessels bulged out from its body.
“Come back,” Zyrus commanded the goblin riders as he saw the ogre transform. Since he was their original leader, he didn’t need the bugles or translation artifacts to convey his will.
*Awooo*
The wolves retreated like a tide on the full moon at Zyrus’s command. Contrary to how he acted on the outside, Zyrus was really pissed at this moment.
Unlike Ria and the others, he knew more about the sanctuary. The enemy's ability to launch an ambush and their lackluster performance in combat were quite contradictory.
On one hand, they had to be very clever to escape the detection of five scout teams, but on the other hand, they were stupid enough to be caught at a disadvantage due to a couple of skills.
The way they fought was simply too simpleminded and barbaric.
‘There must be someone else behind the ambush,’ Zyrus walked forward with cold eyes.
The ogre had used the skill called “Gigantify” which worked in a similar way to berserk. Both used lifeforce as a medium to enhance the user's physical traits.
Unlike berserk though, Gigantify provided more strength at a low cost. It was a matter of efficiency.
Zyrus had a rough guess about the person behind the ambush. And if he had guessed correctly, then that man should be watching the battle unfold as well.
As such, he had no plans to reveal his true strength. Before he went on the trip, it would’ve been difficult for him to win this fight without using his signature skills.
‘What a waste!’
It was quite ironic as he was joking about wasting goblin’s arrows just a while ago. Zyrus grumbled and he took out an object from his inventory. Everyone was surprised after seeing the ragged piece of paper in his hand.
[Scroll fragment (Rare)]
Scattered piece of a unique rank scroll that contains the Chain blade skill.
Effect: Restricts the target for 60 sec and inflicts “Bleed” debuff.
Note: “Bleed” will deal a fixed amount of damage depending upon the level difference between the caster and the imprisoned enemy. On the same level, the target will lose 0.75% HP/sec. The rate will be doubled for lower leveled opponents and halved for those with higher levels.
Durability: 3/3 (Will reduce by one upon usage)
After the tutorial, the equipment was graded for everyone to see. They were classified into Common, Rare, Unique, Epic, and Legendary.
Although the scroll was only a fragment of a unique item, that said item was a scroll that had the same value as an average epic-grade weapon.
It was indeed a waste to use it on an ogre.
‘Well, I’ve got a lot of good stuff anyway,’
After comforting himself, Zyrus used the scroll without hesitation. The ground below the ogre flashed with a red light.
Silver chain-blades surged out of the magic circle, coiling around the ogre like snakes.
*Hoowl*
Of course, that wasn’t all. Red blades made from mana bloomed all around the restricted ogre. It growled and cursed to get out, but it was to no avail.
‘And there goes my chance for a one-on-one duel’, Zyrus clicked his tongue as he lunged towards the ogre.
As much as he wanted to engage in a fair fight to access his strength, now wasn’t the time to do so.
*Thrust*
-357
The ogre slumped down in pain as Zyrus stabbed his eyeball out. This was the first time he had dealt the maximum amount of damage after the race change.
Before this fight, his enemies were unable to handle even a single critical hit on their weak spots. The bloodspine spear gave him 65 ATK, which was further boosted by the Basics of Sojutsu, totaling it to a whopping 85 ATK.
Combined with his monstrous 20 strength, it would deal 17 damage at the bare minimum.
*Slash*
-357
And there was no way that Zyrus would miss a weak spot on an immobilized enemy. The ten times damage multiplier coupled with the critical hits was depleting the ogre’s HP at a drastic rate.
*ROOar*
*Sweep*
-184,-100
Exp +1500
‘Phew.. I didn’t have the chance to use the weapon enhancement skill,’ Zyrus slouched down beside the dead ogre and swiped the non-existent sweat on his forehead.
[Level up!]
[+2 Strength]
[+1 Agility]
[+1 Mana]
“Welp looks like my race has piss-poor talent when it comes to mana.”
Zyrus muttered to himself and began to dismember the ogre’s corpse. It wasn’t his favorite pastime activity, but the ogre's heart was quite useful for his subordinate.
“Um.. This is rather unexpected,”
“It’s alright dear, you can say it’s disgusting.”
“How could I say such a thing to your majesty?”
“Your words don’t match your expression, Miss Ria.” Shi kun retorted instead of Zyrus.
“Since you guys have the time to blabber on, why don’t you bring him over?” Zyrus grinned as he pointed at Jacob.
“This may be rude, but please don’t smile while doing such things.” Ria replied and scurried off in a flash.
“She seems rather eager to depart, wouldn’t you say?” Zyrus spoke like a nobleman at a banquet.
“I wonder why, haha..” Shi kun laughed in nervousness as he watched Zyrus take out the ogre’s heart. Although he had seen his fair share of blood, this was too much even for him.
“Don’t be so nervous Mr. Shi kun, I don’t fancy human flesh.”
“O-Of Course,”
"But as one gets older, their preferences for food change as well, Wouldn't you agree?"
"..."
“Tch…You’re no fun”
‘Don’t joke around when you’re literally bathed in blood!’ Shi kun cursed inwardly as he made way for Ria and Jacob.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Call everyone over. It’s time to reward you for your hard-earned victory,” Zyrus spoke to Ria, but his golden eyes were fixed a hundred meters away.
He was coldly looking at the sparrow that was flying away.
‘The peeping tom has left huh..’
“Got it. By the way, was there something?”
“Sharp as always, but now’s not the time. Shi kun, lead the healthy players and loot the battlefield. Collect the orc’s tusks and ogre's hearts,”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zyrus nodded at the departing Ria and Shi kun while drawing a magic circle. He had made a mess out of the ogre's corpse for a reason.
Since he didn’t have any magical ingredients, he had to use a more ‘primitive’ way to draw a magic circle. By the time he was finished, everyone had arrived on the scene.
Zyrus laid the fainted Jacob on the octagonal formation. The blood from his wounds mixed with the circle below, but surprisingly, the magic circle remained intact.
“Can I come closer?”
“Yeah, It’s nothing secretive. I’m just implanting the ogre's heart into our Papier-mâché mage,”
“I see…”
Ria wanted to inquire further, but she knew that now wasn’t the time to quench her curiosity.
After a final check, Zyrus placed his hand on Jacob and chanted an arcane incantation.