Ogres are huge, ugly and greedy creatures that prey on the weak and are accustomed to relying on violence to solve problems, with an average height of nearly 3 meters and a weight of about 200 kilograms.

The White Tower scholars believe that ogres are a branch of goblins, but unlike their weak cousins, these powerful humanoid monsters are inherently evil and brutal. They will eat any creature they caught, including their own kind.

Ogres are mostly social and the smallest group is a family consisting of 1-2 males and 2-5 females and a few cubs. The largest ethnic group is more than 100. Their solution to the problem is to use sticks, stones, and spears to directly smash things that stand in their way, and if they can't, they will adopt an evasive attitude of ignoring them.

Ogres are sturdy and powerful, but they are stupid enough to attack human villages, and most of the villages that have been breached have been created by ogres. Therefore, the human lord can ignore the goblins, kobolds, and even small groups of gnolls in his territory, but he will never let the ogres roam the territory.

Victor, Edwin, and Bruce were gathered around an oak table, all waiting for the scouts to come with the latest information.

A large black raven flew in through the window, flapped its wings and landed on the table, and screamed at Edwin, it was Victor's alchemy crow.

Edwin immediately put a handful of stones and a silver plate on the table, only to see the alchemy crow pick up a stone and throw it into the silver plate, making a "ding" sound, and then tilted his little head to look Edwin up and down, as if to see where the old scholar would take out its reward from his body.

"This is the third time that Black Feather has investigated, and judging from the results, there is indeed only one ogre it has found in the southwest corner of the territory so far. Edwin said after tossing a dried fruit to the Black Crow, who was waiting for a reward.

These days, Edwin has been training this clever alchemy crow and has given it the name Black Feather, and he is surprised to find that Black Feather has been trained to express numbers up to 20, so he draws a portrait of an ogre and tries to get Black Feather to detect the number of ogres.

"Master, I'm not questioning your conclusions, it's just that ogres usually haunt in groups... For the sake of the soldiers' safety, let's wait for more detailed information from the scouts. Bruce didn't believe that a crow could tell the difference between a crow and a flock, maybe the bird was a little clever, but I am afraid it was used to cheat and drink.

Victor knew that the results of the Black Feather Reconnaissance were credible, but he would never give any opinion on the matter.

Just then, Nelson hurried in with the letterhead.

"In the southwest corner, the ogre is on the side, the gnolls are unknown, this is the information from the scouts. Nelson noticed that all three people were staring at him, and directly stated the content of the intelligence.

"An ogre, that's great!" Victor breathed a sigh of relief, although he believed in the alchemy crow's reconnaissance ability, but with the scout's confirmation, this should be the most accurate result.

Edwin and Bruce looked at each other, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes, and Edwin hesitated and said to Victor, "It's good news that only one ogre is, but it can also be bad news. ”

"Ogres are brutal and aggressive monsters, and the most powerful males of them will fight each other for the leadership of their race, and such battles are usually fatal, and there will always be a loser who will fulfill the authority of the victor with his blood and life. But there are always exceptions, and occasionally a few losers escape from the group and become wandering ogres, and these wandering ogres are very powerful, and most of them have the ability to go berserk. Edwin said and glanced at Bruce, who knew he must have understood what he meant.

"The strength of the berserk ogre has surpassed that of ordinary knights, this innate ability allows them to ignore pain, the more serious the injury, the greater the strength and speed increase, ordinary elite soldiers cannot resist the attack of the rampaging ogre, even the bronze knight may not be able to last too long. However, I am confident that I can stop it, and in the meantime, all you have to do is keep killing it with your heavy crossbow until it dies!" Bruce said softly, his fighting spirit burning in his eyes,

Obviously, Bruce wanted to use this ogre as an opportunity for him to break through the Bronze Rank and step into the transcendent realm.

"Captain Nelson, you need to pick some men who are good at crossbows and riding to set off with my men, remember to wear only leather armor, because being swept away by the ogre's mace, it makes no difference whether you wear armor or leather armor. Only speed and dexterity can protect yourself. Bruce admonished Nelson.

"Can we dig a trap for this ogre or something?" suggested Victor, who felt no need to fight the powerful and stupid ogre.

"Ogres are stupid and reckless, but they have a keen instinct, or rather a gift, and they can avoid most of the traps that would otherwise be extinct. So, every time a soldier fights an ogre, he takes the risk of death or injury. Edwin shook his head with a wry smile and explained to Victor.

"We'll set out on horseback in the afternoon, and when we reach our destination, let the soldiers and horses rest well before we attack that monster at noon tomorrow, and start preparing now. Bruce slammed to his feet, propped his hands on the table, and said with some excitement.

In the afternoon, a group of more than forty people set off on time, accompanied by Victor and Edwin, in addition to all the apprentice knights.

Victor joins the team at Bruce's request, as he is no less lethal than a normal knight once he picks up a military heavy crossbow, and Victor really wants to see this legendary monster.

As for Edwin, he strongly asked to participate in the operation, and said that he would definitely stay in a safe place and never cause trouble to everyone.

In the evening, they met up with the scout who was in charge of monitoring the ogre, and reconfirmed the information: an ogre had built a nest by a stream, and no signs of injury were found from a distance, and in a nearby wood, there were traces of gnolls, but the number was unknown.

Before the sun went down, a makeshift camp had been set up, and the Bruce Knight, after dinner, greeted everyone and went straight back to his tent to rest.

"Bruce's state is a little wrong, is it really okay tomorrow?" Victor had never seen Bruce, who had always maintained an aristocratic demeanor, so he couldn't help but be a little worried.

"Bruce is preparing for tomorrow's battle, and he will face the ogre in a berserk state alone, which is a dangerous challenge for him. Edwin whispered.

"I don't understand, if the berserk ogre is so powerful, why don't we just shoot it from afar with a military heavy crossbow?" Victor asked Edwin, puzzled.

"There are two problems here, the first problem is that the ogre is in a berserk state, not at all injured interference, but the speed and strength are greatly increased, if there is no knight to withstand its attack, those shooters have not been able to shoot it, they will be killed by this monster in large numbers, the final result is that our shooters have suffered heavy losses, and the ogre will not necessarily die with his strong physique. The second problem is that it is very difficult for knights to advance, and if the Bronze Knight wants to enter the transcendent realm, in addition to the bloodline talent, there is also a way to go through the test of life and death, stimulate the potential of the body, and it is possible to echo all 24 elemental positions and be promoted to the Silver Knight. Bruce is going to take this opportunity to try to break through the silver level, so he will never give up this opportunity. ”

When Edwin explained to Victor, neither of them noticed Nicole's eyes lit up.

The next morning, Bruce and Nelson walked at the front of the group with heavy shields, Nicole and the four Cadet Knights in the middle to protect Victor and Master Edwin, while the other soldiers fanned back with crossbows and headed for the ogre's lair.

At noon, Victor met the lone ogre by the stream, the monster was only 2.5 meters tall, and was covered with a thick black fur, somewhat like a bear's skin, its limbs were exposed, the joints were thick, but the muscles were obviously atrophied, and the complexion was dark and brown, with crust, and raised nodules. It has a rickety body, but its belly is very bulging, like the belly of a pregnant woman, and its thick gray-white hair covers its facial features, making it difficult to see its appearance.

This is indeed an ogre, but unlike the strong and tall ogre leader in people's impressions, it looks like a seriously ill ogre, and just when everyone is looking at each other, they hear an old voice coming.

"Human, what are you doing in Gorush's house? I'm so old that I can't even bite the sinew of a split-hoofed cow, and I don't pose a threat to you, and I don't have any treasure, so please leave. ”

It was the standard human lingua franca, and there was nothing wrong with the grammar or tone, but everyone was confused because the voice came from the ogre's mouth.

Ogre is stupid and primitive, although it also has its own language and even speaks some simple gnoll language, but it has never heard of an ogre who can speak a full human language, and now this strange ogre actually speaks human words, how can this not shock everyone.

"Oh my God!, the legend is true!!, it's an old ogre!!," Edwin was the first to react, exclaiming.

Ogres live up to 90 years, but few ogres live past 50 years old, because weakened ogres die of starvation and cannibalism, however, legend has it that once ogres live past 60 years old, they will turn on their wisdom and be able to communicate with most intelligent races, and they will leave the group and live alone, like this one in front of them.

"Yes, Gorash is old, and I don't have a few days to live, and I live here, eating bark and grass roots, and hunting occasionally, and I am no threat to you. Please spare poor old Gorush. By the way, the person who spoke just now must be an erudite old man. Gorash admires wise scholars above all else, and perhaps we can be very good friends. The old ogre said as he tried to approach Edwin.

"Stop it!!!It wants to eat my brains!" Master Edwin suddenly shouted angrily, "This old ogre can speak human words, which means that it has eaten human brains! Don't be fooled by its words, this is a cunning and cruel monster!"

Bruce's face changed drastically, and he immediately stepped forward and pointed the halberd in his hand at the old ogre, shouting, "Stand back, you ugly monster!"

"Don't be nervous, mighty knight, those are rumors, Gorash never eats human brains. The old ogre stepped back as he spoke.

"Don't believe every word of the old ogre, they are very cunning and good at deception, according to the documents of the White Tower, the old ogre is unable to get food from the tribe because of old age, they will quietly leave the tribe and live alone, in order to fill their stomachs they will use traps and deception to kill the intelligent race, they especially like to eat humans, elves and halflings. It is rumored that old ogres will eat the brains of their prey to gain the memories and wisdom of their victims, so the brains of old people and scholars are extremely attractive to them. Edwin said in fear and excitement: "There is an opinion that the old ogre and the ogre are no longer the same race, because the structure of their brains has changed a lot, I would like to open it with my own hands!"

The old ogre wants to eat the old scholar's brain, and the old scholar wants to open the old ogre's brain!

"No, no, no, you have a misunderstanding of the old ogre, the knowledge of Golash comes from ancient bloodlines, and my memory tells me that ogres and humans have a common ancestor, and it is only when our ancestors are cursed that they become what they are now. ”

The old ogre explained to the scattered crossbowmen and the approaching knights, and slowly retreated towards the lair made of a large number of bones, wood, and turf.

"Ancient memories in the bloodline?" Edwin's eyes lit up, he knew that the way to inherit some powerful racial knowledge was bloodline inheritance, as long as he reached a certain age, he could automatically obtain the wisdom and abilities in the bloodline.

"Of course, I know a lot of ancient secrets, and maybe we can sit down and discuss them together. Seeing the scholar's curiosity about ancient knowledge, Gorash began to tempt him again.

"I can consider cutting off your limbs and bringing them back to the White Tower, and then I'll talk to you slowly. Edwin sneered.

Seeing that Edwin was not tempted by it, he turned to Victor again and said, "You must be the lord of this land, can you please ask your subordinates to calm down first, we can make a deal." ”

"Oh, what are you going to make a deal?" Victor was surprised that the spitting monster was able to identify him.

"Honorable lord, a terrible disaster is about to happen in your territory, you will suffer heavy casualties, and I can tell you this information, in return you will provide me with food, of course, I can also help you destroy other monsters in your territory, such as jackals or something... Gorash threatened Victor like a god.

"Gorash, I won't believe the words of a man-eating monster. Don't be in a hurry to quibble, the bones scattered in your lair speak for themselves. Today is your end, monster!" Victor's eyes shone with a cold light, and the human bones mixed in the jumbled bones were clear to a baron with X-3 and a perception of up to 20 points.

"Hehe, Gorash is an ogre, cannibalism is by nature, just like you humans eat cattle and sheep, there is no sin at all. ”

Sensing Victor's cold killing intent, the old ogre no longer disguised, smiled and directly pulled out the leg bone of an unknown giant beast from the lair, pointed at Bruce and said: "Powerful knight, Gorash wants to break through, even if it can't succeed, you can kill a few of your companions, if you succeed, I will hide in the shadows and continue to take revenge on you." Now give you a chance to fight me one-on-one, and let me go if I win, I swear in the name of Amberley, the mother of ogres, that I will never return to this territory, but you must also swear as a knight that you will not let my men lay siege to me until we decide the winner. Do you dare?

Bruce's pupils shrank, the corners of his mouth pulled out a cruel arc, and he said word by word: "I swear in the honor of a knight that no one will besiege you until I decide the battle with you." ”

Bruce originally wanted to be promoted to the Silver Knight by accepting the life and death test of the Berserk Ogre, how could he be afraid of an old and frail old ogre?

"This monster is cunning! It only says that if it wins, it will leave here and never come back, but it doesn't say what if it loses? Shall we warn Master Bruce?" a rough-looking midshipman muttered to his companion, but he didn't notice that his companion looked at him like an idiot.