Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Kaede froze at the Ogre's response, her fingers tightening around her shield. "What? Eleven days?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She had been so certain that she and Acer could make the journey, but now it seemed impossible. Her mind raced, scrambling for an alternative.

The ogre, noticing her reaction, raised an eyebrow. "You're serious, aren't you?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "You're really trying to meet Veldora?"

Kaede looked up, her resolve faltering under the weight of her plan falling apart. "Yes," she admitted softly. "I thought… I thought if I could find the Storm Dragon, I could fight him. And eat him."

The Ogre's expression shifted from disbelief to outright shock. He stared at her for a moment, his crimson eyes wide, before breaking into a deep, booming laugh. "Fight the Storm Dragon? You?" He clutched his stomach, shaking his head as the laughter subsided. "You can't even take me down, and you think you can handle Veldora?"

Kaede's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she didn't back down. "I've eaten a dragon before," she said defensively, crossing her arms.

The ogre stopped laughing, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied her. "You ate a dragon?" His tone was skeptical but not dismissive. "Alright, I'll bite—how?"

Kaede hesitated, realizing how ridiculous her explanation would sound to someone who didn't understand her unique situation. "It's complicated," she said finally. "But let's just say one of my skills allows me to absorb the magicules of what I consume. I thought if I could beat Veldora, I could absorb his power and... Not die."

The ogre froze. "Die... What are you talking about?"

Kaede sighed. Knowing his story, she felt she could at least tell him hers. So she explained her predicament, and her plan.

The ogre let out a low whistle, leaning back against the tree trunk. "That's a bold plan, I'll give you that," he said, his tone tinged with respect. "But let me tell you something, girl—Veldora isn't just any dragon. He's a true dragon, a force of nature. Even if you had a hundred years to prepare, you'd still get crushed."

Kaede's shoulders slumped, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had pinned her hopes on this plan, only for it to crumble before her eyes. 'I guess, hibernation it is. I'm not a damn bear.'

"But," The ogre said, his voice softening, "if your skill works the way you think it does, why not try it on other monsters? There are plenty of powerful creatures in this forest. You should be able to get the magicules you need."

Kaede blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Other monsters?" she repeated. "Aren't you offended by that?"

"Why would I be offended? You want to compare someone like me to those lesser creatures? The Ogres are a superior race, even to you humans. Besides, if you're going to help me save my people, we can't have you dying." The ogre smiled, drawing his sword. "So for now, I'll be your sword, and you the shield. If it's magicules you need, then it's magicules you'll get." He declared.

Kaede studied the ogre's face, his crimson eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and determination. His sudden shift in demeanor caught her off guard. Moments ago, he had laughed at her idea, and now he was offering his sword to help her? She wasn't sure what to make of it.

"You're… willing to help me?" she asked cautiously, gripping her shield tighter.

The ogre smirked. "I might think you're reckless, but I respect boldness. And besides," his tone turned serious, "you've agreed to help me save my people. I'd be a dishonorable fool not to return the favor."

Kaede hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright," she said. "But I'll pull my weight. I don't want you thinking I'm just some burden."

"I know better," the ogre replied with a sly grin.

Kaede's lips twitched into the faintest smile, though she quickly suppressed it. "Can we start now? I only have until dawn, before I have to go back. Until I get some of my strength back, this will have to stay a secret." she muttered.

"Fine by me," the ogre said, standing up and slinging his sword over his shoulder. "All the better," he said, striding past her. "Some of the strongest creatures are nocturnal. If you're serious about this, we'll make use of every moment we have."

Kaede exchanged a glance with Acer, who hummed softly, his orbs flickering in what she took as agreement. She sighed, adjusting her shield. "Alright," she said, following after the ogre.

"Don't worry," he called over his shoulder, "you'll be earning those magicules soon enough."

---

The forest was alive with sounds that Kaede hadn't noticed before: the rustling of leaves, the occasional low growl in the distance, and the eerie hum of nocturnal insects. The deeper they went, the darker and more oppressive the air felt, as though the forest itself was watching them.

Kaede kept close to the ogre, her shield at the ready. "So," she said after a while, "No one in your clan had a name?"

The ogre glanced back at her, his expression unreadable for a moment before he chuckled. "Monsters are generally not named when they're born" he said. "But you can call me ogre."

"Ogre, huh?" Kaede repeated, testing the name. "I'd give you a name, but based on what happened last time, I'd rather not tempt fate"

"Of course," he said, though there was a subtle rumble in his voice. "There's a den of barghests not far from here. Nasty creatures, but full of magicules. Perfect for your little experiment."

Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Barghests? They had that too in NWO. Aren't those... giant wolf things?"

The ogre grinned. "Giant wolflike monsters," he corrected. "Faster, meaner, and deadlier than your average wolf monster. Just like normal wolves they hunt in packs, so we'll need to be quick and careful."

"Great," Kaede muttered under her breath. "I haven't eaten wolf before."

Shifu laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. "Don't worry, my lady," he said, his tone teasing. "I'll make sure you get your meal. And not get eaten instead. Probably."

Kaede smiled. "Comforting."

They walked in silence for a while longer, the tension in the air thickening as the sounds of the forest grew louder. Kaede's grip on her shield tightened, her senses on high alert. Her magicules had gotten low enough, that Artificia couldn't pilot the drone anymore.

Finally, the ogre held up a hand, signaling her to stop. He crouched low, his crimson eyes scanning the shadows ahead. "We're close," he whispered. "You see that clearing up ahead? That's their den."

Kaede squinted, trying to make out what he was seeing. In the faint moonlight, she could just make out the edges of a large hollow surrounded by dense foliage.

"How many do you think there are?" she whispered back.

His expression darkened. "At least six," he said. "Maybe more. They'll smell us before we get too close, so we'll have to act fast."

Kaede nodded. "Alright. What's the plan?"

Shifu grinned, his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight. "Simple," he said. "You hold the line, and I'll do the cutting."

Kaede rolled her eyes. "Of course. Shield duty."

"Don't underestimate it," The ogre said, his tone turning serious. "If you can keep them off me long enough, I'll make quick work of them. Just focus on keeping us alive, and we'll both walk out of here."

Kaede took a deep breath. "Alright," she said. "Let's do this."

Shifu nodded, his sword gleaming as he drew it. "Stay close," he said. "And try not to scream. They like that."

Kaede shot him a glare, but before she could respond, he was already moving, his massive form disappearing into the shadows ahead.

With a final breath, Kaede followed, her shield raised and her determination burning brighter than her exhaustion.

The clearing loomed ahead, and Kaede's heart pounded against her chest as she spotted the shapes lurking in the shadows. The barghests were larger than she'd imagined, their black fur bristling and their skeletal faces illuminated by an eerie blue flame. Their glowing red eyes burned with malice, and their low growls sent shivers down her spine.

The ogre crouched, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied their movements. "Tch... Flaming Barghests, looks like seven of them," he muttered. "Watch out for their flaming breaths. We'll draw them out one at a time. Barghests are pack hunters, but they're greedy. If we play this right, we can take them down without getting overwhelmed."

Kaede nodded, though her hands trembled slightly on her shield. Back in the game, Maple was an infallible character that never knew pain. In this world Howe, She had already felt pain, back during the first raid and she wasn't sure if she would escape pain once again. The Barghest looked like they revelled in it.

"Alright," The ogre said, his voice low but firm. "Get ready. I'll provoke them. As soon as one charges, you block it. I'll strike from behind. Understand?"

"Got it," Kaede whispered, shifting into a defensive stance.

The ogre smirked, his confidence oddly reassuring. Without another word, he stepped into the clearing, his massive sword resting casually on his shoulder. "Come on, you filthy mutts!" he bellowed, his voice carrying through the night. "Let's see if you're as tough as you look!"

The barghests' growls grew louder, and one of them stepped forward, its skeletal jaws snapping as it lunged at him. Shaking off her doubts, Kaede's instincts kicked in, and she darted forward, planting herself between the ogre and the beast.

The barghest collided with her shield, the impact barely moving her body. She watched, relieved as the monster clawed at the metal.

"Hold steady!" the ogre shouted, and in the next instant, his sword swung down in a clean arc. The barghest let out a strangled yelp as it fell to the ground, its body crumpling in a heap of black fur and blue flames.

Kaede stepped back, her breathing slightly heavy as she stared at the lifeless creature. "One down," she muttered, trying to steady her nerves.

"Good work," The ogre said, nodding approvingly. "But don't relax just yet. The others won't wait long."

As if on cue, two more barghests lunged from the shadows, their glowing eyes locked on the pair. Kaede raised her shield again, bracing for impact.

This time, the barghests split their attention—one went for her, while the other circled toward the ogre. Kaede barely had time to react as the first beast lunged, its claws raking against her shield. She shoved it back quite handily, but it turned out that was also a feint, with the Barghest originally headed for the ogre turning and pouncing on her.

Kaede froze up, waiting for the agonizing pain.

*Chomp*

"Huh?" Kaede slowly unfroze, watching as the Barghest bit down on her forearm... Futilely, barely even nicking her skin. "Oh yeah! I forgot."

The Barghest were quite vicious monsters, each of them a C(-)Rank but when in a pack, they became a B(-)Rank threat. However, a single Barghest was still two ranks weaker than your average ogre, which meant.

*Chomp* *Chomp* *Thwoom*

Now on fire, though, completely unfazed, Kaede lifted her arm, lifting the snarling Barghest with it. "Not so tough now are you?" She poked the wolf with her shield, playing with the deadly monster.

*Stab*

Someone, however, took an offence to the monster biting on her mother's arm. A massive vine piercing through the Barghest's skull.

"Aww." Kaede whined, before turning to Acer. "Good one, Acer!" Acer beamed, her sharp teeth visible for all to see. Kaede sweatdropped. 'I totally forgot she was there. Bad Kaede, you're a bad mom. What are moms supposed to do anyway?'

"Kaede!" The ogre voice cut through the chaos. "Keep it occupied! I'll handle the other one!"

"I'm done!" she flinched, sweat dropping as she kicked the beast's corpse.

"Not bad," He called, his voice laced with approval. He stood over the corpse of the second barghest, his sword slick with dark ichor. "You're tougher than you look."

Kaede managed a smile. "Thanks, I guess."

But before they could regroup, the remaining barghests emerged from the shadows, their growls turning into a deafening chorus.

"Looks like they're done waiting," The ogre said grimly, tightening his grip on his sword.

Kaede raised her shield once more, her resolve hardening now that she had a little confidence boost. "Good,"

---

The clearing was eerily silent after the final barghest fell. Kaede stood amidst the fading corpses, her arm still slick with the faint saliva from the one that had tried to bite her earlier. She frowned, flexing her fingers and studying her unmarred skin. The realization that the barghests hadn't been able to harm her was very reassuring.

"Well," The ogre said, wiping his blade on the grass, his tone light with amusement. "Looks like you didn't need me as much as I thought."

Kaede shot him a look, her lips twitching in a small smirk. "You're the one who did most of the heavy lifting," she said, gesturing to the remains of the monsters he'd cut down.

She crouched beside one of the corpses, her fingers hovering over its skeletal face. In that moment she felt like she could see wisps of magicules rising from its body, a reminder of what she needed to do next.

"I'll handle this part," she said softly, more to herself than to the ogre.

He crossed his arms, watching her intently as she activated her skill.

"Devour."

Immediately, the corpse dissolved into a swirling mass of purple and black energy, the magicules coalescing and streaming toward her outstretched hands.

Kaede's eyes fluttered shut as she absorbed the power, she could feel... something, move within her, it wasn't much, practically miniscule but it was there.

<>

When the first corpse was gone, she stood, her eyes glowing faintly with residual magicules. Without a word, she moved to the next body, repeating the process.

The ogre leaned against a tree, his crimson gaze following her movements. "You know," he said after a while, "That... is horrifying to watch."

Kaede glanced at him, wiping a hand across her brow. "Is that a problem?" she asked, her tone wary.

He shook his head, his expression thoughtful. "Not at all."

Kaede didn't respond immediately, focusing on the third corpse. The influx of magicules was starting to feel... More... Substantial?

By the time she finished the last barghest, she felt... different. As if taking a deep breath. 'Artificia?' she asked.

Barghest Template has been acquired.

Species specific skills [Supreme sense of smell, Bone armour, Intimidation] has been acquired.>

Kaede stood up and stretched her arms. "We're gonna need a lot more monsters." She turned to the ogre.