Chapter 76

Ogre.

A monster known as the tyrant of forests and mountains, possessing not only formidable strength and agility but also exceptional intelligence.

Its ferocity is so notorious that it ranks among the most savage of all monsters, often turning the tables and killing the mages who attempted to tame it.

Naturally, Eden, which harnesses the power of monsters, also had a creature that inherited the characteristics of the ogre.

Bloodthirsty Demon.

The name, meaning a ghost mad with blood, suited the ferocious and insane ogre perfectly.

"...A Bloodthirsty Demon?"

Raon bit his lip. He could feel the blood trickling down his chin from his lips.

"Even if you are Zighart's protégé, to recognize this helmet at first glance, you must have exceptional eyesight."

The Bloodthirsty Demon chuckled and gripped the helmet he had been twirling.

"Moreover, I can't accurately predict your strength. Did you really slay the Green-Eyed Demon?"

"..."

Raon couldn't answer, and his hands trembled. The Bloodthirsty Demon's power was beyond his current capabilities, and even if everyone here combined their strength, they couldn't handle it.

"Why is a monster like you here...?"

"I was the one who gave the Green-Eyed Demon the mission. I never imagined it would be so easy."

The Bloodthirsty Demon chuckled and stood up. His massive size made him seem like a tower rising above the wooden palisade.

"That cloth. It's called Dark. It has a special function to conceal the aura inside. Lucky for you. If it weren't wrapped in that, this village would have been reduced to ashes from the start."

The Bloodthirsty Demon explained the cloth that wrapped the goblin king's mana stone in great detail.

"Well, thanks to that, it's my turn now."

He put on the ogre's helmet, which was as large as a pot lid.

It didn't fit, but when he channeled his aura, a strange resonance emerged from the helmet.

Squeak!

The sound of something moving inside was followed by the helmet shrinking to fit the Bloodthirsty Demon's head.

Rumble!

Green molten metal poured from the helmet, covering the Bloodthirsty Demon's body. Muscles as large as rocks began to form the armor of an ogre.

'There's no opening.'

Raon bit his lip. He wanted to attack, but he couldn't find any weakness in the Bloodthirsty Demon.

Boom!

A fierce light erupted from the empty eyes of the helmet, making it hard to breathe.

-Raon Zighart.

Just as he was barely holding on, Las surged from his bracelet, his voice heavy like lead.

-Be honest. You have two choices now.

'Choices?'

-You can either die at his hands or submit your body to me.

Las's voice was solemn, as if speaking only the truth.

-Those are the only choices you have.

* * *

Buren Zighart was inspecting the wooden palisade he had built with the trainees.

'Not bad.'

Following the methods taught by the instructors, the palisade was sturdy despite being built in a short time.

It seemed capable of withstanding attacks from orcs or goblins.

Most of the materials came from Dorian's bag. While it was helpful, he couldn't understand why he carried such things.

"Sir Buren, is it okay that Raon and the village chief have disappeared?"

Fang, who was right behind him, whispered to Buren.

"What about it?"

Buren turned and asked.

"Well, if that kid takes the treasure the village chief gave him..."

"It's meaningless."

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Don't you know? If it weren't for Raon, not only us but the entire village would have been drenched in blood. Whatever he receives or learns, we have no say. And..."

His sincere voice made the Fangs fall silent.

"We all carry the name Zighart. Internal competition to become stronger is one thing, but there's no need to fight or envy each other outside. You've realized that, haven't you?"

"Hmm, that's..."

"That's right."

The Fang trainees nodded.

'He's right.'

The trainees were deeply impressed by Raon after the battle with the Green-Eyed Demon. Honestly, they no longer felt envy or jealousy.

"The brats are finally coming to their senses."

"Marta?"

Buren looked up at the disdainful voice. Marta was swinging her legs on a tree beside the palisade.

"Why are you here?"

"To check if you built the palisade properly."

"So, how is it?"

"Not bad for a bunch of amateurs. At least your heads aren't completely empty."

"Go away now. We'll finish it up."

"I only take orders from one person."

Marta snorted and climbed down from the tree. As she approached Buren, a rustling sound came from the bushes.

"Who's there!"

"Come out!"

Buren and Marta crouched, and a silver-haired girl suddenly appeared from the bushes.

"Runan?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Berries."

Runan showed the basket she was holding, filled with ripe golden apples.

"Why are you picking them here?"

"For Raon."

"There are apples the villagers picked."

"These are fresher."

Runan answered softly with a blank look.

"Anyone who sees you would think you're already married."

Marta sneered coldly, but Runan just picked up her basket without reacting.

"I'm leaving."

Just as she was about to leave,

Boom!

An earth-shattering roar erupted from the outskirts of the village.

"What, what is it!"

"What's happening...?"

"That's..."

Buren, Runan, and Marta, who had crouched and covered their heads, opened their eyes wide.

"Raon."

"That's the direction Raon and the village chief went!"

Runan and Marta moved first.

"It's an emergency! Get your weapons and call the other trainees!"

"Yes!"

Buren gave orders while chasing after the two.

Rumble!

Just as everyone was about to run to where Raon was, another powerful aura erupted, reaching the center of the village.

Boom!

A blond boy, holding something, was thrown out from between collapsing buildings.

"Huh?"

"Ah!"

Runan and Marta gaped at the boy rolling on the ground.

"Raon?"

"R, Raon Zighart!"

It was Raon. He was biting his lip, more tense than when he faced the Green-Eyed Demon.

"Runan!"

Raon called Runan's name and threw something he was holding.

"Uh-huh."

Runan ran forward and caught what Raon threw. It was the village chief, unconscious and bleeding from the forehead.

"Runan. Marta. Don't come! Get out of here immediately!"

His expression was so urgent that it seemed he was about to suffocate.

"What are you...?"

Marta stopped approaching Raon and looked west.

Boom!

A fierce step, as if the earth itself was screaming, cut through the dust in the air.

A green giant, like a mountain turned into a human, approached. His muscles were as solid as rocks, and his yellow eyes glowed with madness.

"That's..."

"An ogre's armor..."

The aura of the man wearing the ogre's helmet and armor, known as the king of mountains and forests, froze Marta and Runan's thoughts.

"A, Bloodthirsty Demon..."

Marta's voice revealed the name of the man wearing the ogre's helmet.

The air grew even heavier with the name that smelled of blood.

"Cute kids, huh?"

"Ah..."

Madness seeped from the Bloodthirsty Demon's helmet. Marta and Runan's legs trembled as if they were about to collapse.

"Raon! What... Ah!"

Buren and the trainees, who had just arrived, froze in shock. The Bloodthirsty Demon's aura had stiffened their bodies.

"For someone who carries the name Zighart, you're slow."

"Ah..."

"Y-You..."

The Bloodthirsty Demon's eyes glowed yellow. The thick killing intent from the predator made the trainees clutch their chests and kneel.

"Snap out of it!"

Raon's clear voice pierced through the Bloodthirsty Demon's terror as the trainees were about to collapse.

Roar!

As Raon's focused aura spread, the dim eyes of the trainees regained their light.

"If you stay here like this, you'll all be wiped out! Buren! Give orders to the trainees to prepare the villagers, and Marta and Runan, fall back and prepare to counter!"

"Okay."

"Hmm..."

"Alright, I'll be back soon!"

Buren clenched his teeth and ran back, while Runan and Marta spread out to the sides, channeling their aura.

"Think of his punch as a death sentence. Don't face him head-on; assist me."

Raon spoke softly without taking his eyes off the Bloodthirsty Demon.

Runan and Marta nodded simultaneously.

"Remember what Instructor Rimer always said? You have to surpass your limits."

Raon continued, gritting his teeth.

"Now is the time. This is the moment to surpass both your mind and body."

"Surpass your limits?"

The Bloodthirsty Demon grinned and clenched his fist. Red aura surged, distorting the air.

"Will that be enough?"

* * *

Sizzle!

Raon rotated the ring of fire to release his tension and adjusted his grip on his sword.

'It was one blow.'

Even though he dodged the punch the Bloodthirsty Demon unleashed, his skin split open. The overwhelming power was endless.

'Even in my past life, it would be difficult...'

Unless it was an assassination. In a direct fight, he wasn't confident he could defeat this monster even with his past life's body.

It was a truly desperate situation, but he couldn't retreat. He had to find an opening and cut the monster's neck somehow.

'But...'

He couldn't see any.

It was as if a cliff without an end had turned into a human, showing no small openings.

"Seemed like you were about to attack, but you're not coming?"

The Bloodthirsty Demon chuckled, tilting his chin.

"If you don't come, I will!"

The monster stomped, crushing the earth. In an instant, his entire field of vision was filled with the Bloodthirsty Demon. The speed was unbelievable.

Whoosh!

The Bloodthirsty Demon, approaching at supersonic speed, extended his fist. Raon swung his sword at the rock-like fist aimed at his head.

Manga Gong Tenhua.

Heavenly Flame.

Flames cutting through the air poured from the sword toward the Bloodthirsty Demon's fist.

"Nice fire power!"

The Bloodthirsty Demon laughed and twisted his fist. Red aura surged, colliding directly with Heavenly Flame.

Boom!

The flame snake wrapped around the sword was suppressed by the Bloodthirsty Demon's aura.

"Ah!"

Raon's eyes distorted. The Bloodthirsty Demon's fist, which had nullified the Heavenly Flame, aimed straight for his heart.

"Roar!"

He roared and twisted his sword. The Bloodthirsty Demon's fist slid along the blade to the side.

Boom!

A terrifying sound of air being torn apart echoed as the buildings on the right collapsed.

"Ah!"

Raon took a deep breath and stepped back. Even though he deflected the attack, his shoulder ached as if it was about to dislocate.

'Really almost died.'

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

If he hadn't read the flow of the punch with the ring of fire, he would have burst like a tomato.

He glanced to the side.

Runan and Marta were biting their lips, unsure of what to do.

'Not yet.'

Raon conveyed his intention with his eyes. Now was the time to observe, not to move.

He had to endure the Bloodthirsty Demon's punch as much as possible and show them his movements before they joined.

Only then would there be a 10%, no, 1% chance.

Rumble!

Raon ignited the flames of Tenhua again. The flames that started from the tip of the sword enveloped the entire blade.

"Right. A flame that goes out with one punch is no fun!"

The Bloodthirsty Demon leaped like a bird and slammed his fist down.

Using the sixth form of the Flexible Sword Technique, he deflected the fist that fell like a meteor.

Crack!

The flames of Tenhua were again suppressed by the red aura the Bloodthirsty Demon emitted.

"Powerful flame aura. I can understand why the stupid Green-Eyed Demon fell to you. But it doesn't work on me. Do you know why?"

The Bloodthirsty Demon grinned menacingly and swung his fist.

"Of course."

Raon dodged the Bloodthirsty Demon's fist by a hair's breadth and struck with his sword.

"It's your characteristic."

"You know well. That's right. You can't cut me with flames."

The Bloodthirsty Demon chuckled and struck with his palm. He barely dodged, but the wind pressure made blood spurt from his cheek.

"To me, who inherited the ogre's power, a flame aura is meaningless!"

He was right.

Ogres are monsters strong against fire. They are beasts that can destroy a castle even after being hit by dozens of fire arrows.

However, Raon's weapon was not just the Manga Gong.

"Then I'll use something else."

"What?"

A cold blue aura surged in Raon's red eyes.

The cold of the arctic.

A sea of blue light filled the white blade he held.