chapter 236
Although Kailra’s mana was still a concern, there was no need to cling to short-term battles like before.
This situation gave Kailra’s movements some leeway.
However, the red ogre didn’t seem to like that, furrowing its brow.
Despite time not being on its side, it didn’t appear to be particularly anxious.
“…I thought it would be easy.”
With those words, a massive energy burst out of the red ogre’s body.
The strange energy that had only been in its hands began to spread, and its eyes turned red.
Whoa!
The legs that were crippled suddenly recovered, and he got up.
That was not the end.
“Kkueee… So it’s come to this state.”
His height and build had become slightly larger than before.
“…Giantification… Is this real…?”
“What’s with that noise?”
I showed skepticism at Rithild’s words.
“…I only heard it as a rumor. The main battlefield collapsed because of that. It was just a rumor, and we were too busy running away to figure it out properly.”
In other words, it was a technology that was likely developed relatively recently.
It was possible that the power of the Ogre had caused the collapse.
“…What’s the effect?”
“I don’t know. I only heard it as a rumor. But if we really collapsed because of that…then…”
At the very least, it would mean having immense resistance and a stronger physical body.
Kaila was in danger.
“This… Why is this…?”
At that moment, I heard Artina muttering to herself.
When I looked at her, I saw her desperately trying to suppress the Dragon’s Fang.
Suddenly, I remembered the situation when she had rushed to the priests according to my orders.
I hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but back then, a dagger had fallen from her waist.
Coincidentally, Rithild, who was standing nearby, seemed to remember what I had said earlier and approached her.
“Can I check it out?”
Artina immediately handed the dagger over to him.
Then, it seemed to calm down for a moment before starting to tremble again.
“Something’s…”.
Rithild narrowed his eyes, and Artina opened her mouth.
“…It’s not certain, but…every time the Ogre uses its power, the reaction becomes stronger.”
At Artina’s words, Rithild’s eyes widened.
“…I shouldn’t be holding onto it.”
“Do you have any idea?”
“You also heard it, but the power of the Giant and the power of the Dragon are in conflict with each other. They drive each other crazy.”
And the Dragon’s Fang was an item created from the Dragon’s body.
If its power wasn’t enormous, it wouldn’t go crazy, but if it reacted like this, it was possible.
Rithild seemed to think so.
Artina, who had received the Dragon’s Fang, narrowed her eyes.
Kwaang!
As I turned my head to the sound coming from outside, I saw Death Knight flying away in a miserable state.
Kaila was also struggling to maintain his posture.
At the same time…
Huaaak!
A powerful light burst out from Artina’s dagger.
The light was so intense that it even caught the attention of those around us, including Tinus’s gaze, and it seemed to have the power to make the red ogre look this way.
“…What?”
When I came to my senses, I found myself in a strange place with a few others.
It was me, Artina, Rithild, and Tinus.
———!
A faint sound came from afar, and suddenly, a massive dragon appeared before our eyes.
“Who are you…?”
As Tinus muttered, everything seemed to be an illusion, and we returned to the battlefield.
In that instant, my eyes met Rithild’s.
Rithild’s pupils were shaking violently.
“Do Inha. Just now….”
“We have to go.”
At that moment, Artina muttered.
“Inha, I think I have to go.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you hear it just now?”
“What?”
“———Kill it, just now….”
“Send it away.”
“Tinus?”
I didn’t know when he had approached, but Tinus was standing beside us.
“It’ll be okay.”
The black veil was mysterious, but it was still maintaining its shape even though he was here.
However, it seemed like it wouldn’t last long if it kept shaking.
“Artina.”
“Yes.”
“Go. With that dagger. Trust it and use it to its fullest potential.”
“Yes.”
“My dragon ancestors will help you.”
Artina’s gaze turned to me, and I nodded.
In an instant, Artina rushed towards the red ogre.
Her speed increased rapidly, and soon she was moving at an incredible pace that was impossible for her usual self.
A faint shadow appeared behind her back.
“…As expected….”
“Yes. It seems to have almost lost its intelligence and dragon’s wisdom, but it’s definitely a dragon’s spirit.”
“It still remains, doesn’t it….”
“I once touched it, and it fully awakened after entering this forest and sensing the giants.”
Tinus said that it seemed to have lost its wisdom and was only left with the mission to kill the giants.
“There’s no time to talk long. Let’s just maintain this for now. I’ll ask you to hurry as much as possible.”
“…I’ll do my best.”
I was doing my best, and I was aware of my surroundings, but realistically, it was impossible to do better than this.
Tinus also knew, but the situation was such that it seemed like he was saying it.
Meanwhile, Artina had somehow escaped from the black veil.
“Artina…? Why are you here?!”
It was Kayla’s voice.
“What is this… a dragon?!”
A voice like a red ogre’s scream echoed.
Artina leaped towards that guy.
◈ Black Star
The sudden appearance of Artina caught the red ogre off guard.
“How can a human have the energy of a dragon?!”
Kayla quickly regained her composure, reacting to the red ogre’s response.
Through the ogre’s reaction and the unusual energy emanating from Artina’s body, Kayla seemed to have realized that Artina was a great help in the current situation.
Glancing at me, Kayla confirmed that there was no immediate danger and quickly recovered her strength with the help of Nodan.
While Kayla was recovering from her injuries, Artina was pushing the red ogre back.
“What is… how can this be?!”
The ogre’s face was now filled with unprecedented shock.
Even with its giant form, the ogre was being overwhelmed by Artina, who was not even a master.
“…That thing…”
“It seems to be absorbing the red ogre’s power.”
Ritheid sensed something was off, and I soon realized the situation.
The dragon behind Artina seemed to be absorbing the ogre’s power whenever it clashed with the red ogre.
And at the same time, Artina’s presence was continuously growing.
“…It’s getting faster and faster.”
“The ogre is being pushed back more and more.”
It wasn’t just speed.
Every time they clashed, the ogre was being pushed back a little more.
The ogre was weakening, and Artina was growing stronger.
The red ogre seemed to have realized it couldn’t continue like this and let out a roar, revealing its true nature.
“Krrraaah!”
The ogre let out a bizarre scream and refused to back down, facing Artina head-on.
Artina changed her approach as the ogre’s attitude changed.
Kwaang!
She switched from a reckless, all-out offensive to a quick-hitting style.
‘Good thinking. She didn’t lose her cool.’
If she had continued with her reckless behavior, she would have had to engage in a fierce battle or a head-on confrontation with the red ogre, which would have been unfavorable for Artina.
Although she was weakening the ogre’s power and strengthening her own, the red ogre still had the upper hand.
She had taken advantage of the ogre’s confusion and surprise to gain temporary control, but even Kayla couldn’t completely overwhelm the ogre, so it was unlikely that Artina could do so.
“Size, strength, energy… Although we’re receiving sudden help from the dragon…”
Everything was lacking.
That’s why our current actions were the right choice.
“It felt like something was chasing us, and I was anxious…”
Looking at how calmly we’re carrying out the battle, it didn’t seem like a big problem for now.
But we’ll have to have a proper conversation after the battle is over.
Even after changing our tactics, Artina was still doing well.
No, she was even getting stronger, and her body was adapting to the situation at an incredible speed.
Seeing this, the Red Ogre looked a bit anxious.
It was attacking nervously, and later on, it seemed like it was trying to minimize contact with Artina and take her down.
As far as I knew, Artina wouldn’t be unaware of this.
“You flea-like bastard!”
The Red Ogre’s insults finally started pouring out.
And…
“Kuaak!”
Kyra, who had recovered her strength, struck the Red Ogre’s back with a powerful blow.
The Red Ogre, which had managed to avoid critical hits until now, took the hit.
The sudden appearance of the dragon’s energy, and the human who could control that power.
As I watched that human grow stronger, it felt like my vision was narrowing.
And that was a huge opportunity for Artina.
With the Red Ogre opening up its defenses, the current Artina wouldn’t miss the chance.
Swhoosh.
Artina swiftly closed in and struck the Red Ogre’s body from all directions.
In an instant, she unleashed dozens of sword strikes, and the Red Ogre couldn’t defend itself properly.
In a flash, Artina’s presence surged, and the Red Ogre’s strength greatly decreased.
Its giant form began to dissipate.
“…Kuaak!”
The Red Ogre struggled fiercely one last time.
Although its giant form dissipated, its original size and strength didn’t disappear, so Kyra and Artina immediately retreated.
Then, the Red Ogre swiftly jumped into the black star’s domain.
“Stop!”
Tinus urgently shouted to Kyra and Artina, who were about to chase after it.