A series of thunderous explosions shook the forest as Auren and the rest of the Blue Bound unleashed everything they had on the swarm of hypnotized and horny Ogres.

ZZZT—KABOOM!

ZZZT—KABOOM!

ZZZT—KABOOM!

Auren fired one bazooka round after another, each shell glowing faintly blue with condensed mana, its trail slicing the air before erupting into carnage at the Ogre horde.

Each detonation cracked through the morning air like divine punishment, scattering smoke and debris across the crowd of ogres.

Even the massive Ogre Chief took several direct hits, its roaring form barely visible behind a haze of fire and dirt.

Essel's magic flared from behind, her staff pulsing like a living beacon.

"I got it!"

Her wide-area spell, Field Bloom, expanded across the battlefield—a shimmering wave of pale green light that locked the Ogres in place like insects trapped in sap.

The spell also magnified every strike the others landed, making blades cut deeper, arrows pierce faster, and the explosion hit stronger.

[LIGHT SENSE]

On top of that, Essel layered another enchantment that give group buff that sharpened awareness, accelerated stamina recovery, and shortened spell cooldowns. Even amid the chaotic flashes of explosions, none of them lost track of their targets.

At the front, Alyssa leapt down from her perch, her boots cracking the earth beneath her.

With sword in one hand and shield in the other, she channeled her aura until her body glowed faintly gold.

[SHIELD ROAR]

A blinding pulse of energy burst from her shield, rippling through the Ogres together with devastating roar.

[CRESCENT CLEAVE]

Her swing followed instantly, sword aura merging with the shockwave, unleashing devastating crescent waves that carved through flesh and bones alike. Each swing cleaved through two or three Ogres at once, their dying howls drowned out by the storm of destruction, their faces painted with helpless fury.

High above, Blas was having the time of his life.

"take this! And that! And this!"

Perched between two trees, he drew his bow and summoned a torrent of shimmering arrows made of wind and mana.

[RAIN OF ARROWS]

A torrent of arrows descended like a glowing storm, tearing through the chaotic entrance.

Each projectile pierced thick Ogre skin as easily as paper, leaving trails of azure wind in their wake. Every impact shook the ground, and the air smelled of burned hair and ozone.

In less than a minute, the cave entrance had transformed into countless crater of ruin.

The once-dark forest was now a battleground of smoke and flickering green blood. Ogres dropped one after another, their hulking bodies collapsing like mountains, their roars replaced by the crackle of fire and fading echoes.

Each kill fed their systems, the steady stream of experience points making their bodies hum with power.

'Wow!' Essel was shocked at the surging amount of expe into her system.

Notifications flickered in front of their eyes like golden light.

'Damn, this feels so good!' Blas grinned wildly, loosing another volley. His heart raced, his hands trembling—not from fear, but from exhilaration.

'It's a good thing we listened to Herbon,' Alyssa thought, striking down another Ogre that tried to claw her.

She could feel her strength surging, every muscle alive with energy.

By the time five minutes passed, hundreds of Ogres lay dead in the clearing.

The ground was slick with green blood, littered with broken limbs and shattered weapons. Those who hadn't been caught in the explosions fled into the deeper forest, too terrified to look back.

And in the midst of it all stood the Ogre Chieftain.

The creature, once towering with power and pride, was now on its knees. Its eyes are still unable to believe what had just happened.

One arm was gone, torn clean off by the explosions.

Its remaining ear hung in tatters, its hide burned black in patches where Auren's bazooka rounds had struck. Even so, its massive chest still rose and fell, defiant to the end. The reason it still stood was thanks to their terrifying healing abilities.

"What a sturdy bastard," Blas muttered, drawing another arrow.

He aimed for the heart—but before he could release, a sharp pain spiked through his head. He winced.

"Ugh, I'm out of mana."

"I can't help right now," Essel said, panting. Sweat ran down her temples as she clutched her staff. "My recovery spell's on cooldown and I too am short in mana. Probably ten minutes before I can cast again."

"Here."

Auren tossed two vials their way. The bluish liquid shimmered inside the glass like melted sapphire.

Both Blas and Essel caught them instantly, relief flashing across their faces as they understood what it was.

"Thanks for the mana potion, Herbon!" Essel said before drinking it in one go.

"Yo, appreciate it," Blas added, chugging his share. "Still takes a few minutes to kick in though."

He notched another arrow, fired—only for it to bounce harmlessly off the Ogre Chief's chest with a dull clang.

"What the—? What kind of defense is that?"

"Let me try," Alyssa said, stepping forward. Her blade flared with aura as she rushed in, slashing diagonally across the creature's body. Sparks flew where metal met flesh.

Essel renewed her buffs, her chants filling the air with faint harmonic echoes, while Auren moved across the battlefield, finishing off the twitching Ogres that still clung to life thanks to their healing abilities.

'I'll let them handle the final blow,' he thought, decapitating one last straggler.

Grooar!~

The Ogre Chief roared suddenly, a guttural sound that shook the trees.

It swung its remaining arm like a club, sending a shockwave of dirt and rock toward Alyssa. She blocked with her shield, boots grinding against the earth as the impact pushed her back several meters.

"Still got some fight left, huh?" she muttered, tightening her grip.

The two clashed again and again, sparks flying from each strike. Alyssa's movements grew sharper with each swing, her aura slicing through the monster's hide and showing everyone why she was the party's leader.

Hiyah!

Finally, with a final shout, she drove her sword straight through its chest while barely dodging it's massive arms. The blade pierced its heart and thick green blood ozzed out as its healing ability failed to hold onto its life.

Gr-grrroah~

The Chieftain's body convulsed, then slumped to its knees before collapsing completely.

THUD.

A heavy silence followed.

The forest itself seemed to pause, the tension dissolving like mist.

The looming threat of an Ogre invasion on Khodian territory had been erased in a single morning thanks to their team.

"What a though one."

Alyssa lowered her sword, breathing heavily, her armor splattered with blood and dirt.

"Whew," she exhaled. Her hair stuck to her forehead, her shoulders tense but steady.

"That's one less nightmare to worry about."

There was a river not far from here, and she already looked forward to diving straight into it.

The corpses around them began to decay rapidly, black mana leaking from their wounds until their bodies dissolved entirely, leaving behind small, glowing black crystals—their mana cores.

The Blue Bound immediately began collecting them, knowing these cores weren't just valuable—they were proof of their completed quest when they returned to the guild in Lipayran.

"Good work, everyone," Alyssa said, scanning the team. "Anyone injured?"

"More than alright," Blas said cheerfully, hopping down from his vantage point. His quiver was nearly empty.

"I feel terrific! That's the best workout I've had all month."

"I'm doing fine," Essel added, her voice calm but pleased. "And that was probably our fastest den clear ever."

"All thanks to Herbon's strategy," Alyssa said, giving Auren a rare, approving smile.

"Thank you," Auren replied modestly. "But it worked because everyone played their part. That's what teamwork's for."

Blas raised an eyebrow.

"Humble too, huh? I like that. But seriously, that bazooka of yours—mind letting me try it someday?"

Auren chuckled, slinging the weapon over his shoulder.

"When the time's right."

Then, turning to their leader, he asked,

"So, what's next?"

Alyssa looked toward the shadowed cave entrance.

"Cleanup. We make sure there's no troubles left."

A few minutes later, the team entered the cave cautiously.

The stench inside was worse than before—thick, musty air filled with decay and damp stone. Faint drips echoed from somewhere deep within.

They moved in formation once more, torches lighting the narrow path ahead. And then, faintly, they heard it.

Ghyiiaow! Ghyiiaow!

Tiny shapes scurried from the darkness—Ogre younglings, their small but vicious faces twisted in panic.

"They're just kids," Essel murmured softly.

Alyssa's expression hardened. "If we leave them, they'll grow up and slaughter others. End it quickly."

No one argued.

It was the kind of choice every adventurer had to live with.

Steel and fire flashed briefly, and soon the echoes faded into silence again.

Aside from a few primitive tools, cracked pots, and torn hides, the cave offered little worth looting.

By the time they emerged into daylight again, the air outside felt fresh and new, as if the forest itself had exhaled in relief.

Alyssa raised her arm toward the sun.

"Quest complete. Let's move out."

The team nodded, their steps lighter than before.

"I can't wait to take a jump on the river." Alyssa muttered.

Soon, they stopped by the nearby river, washing off blood and soot, their reflections rippling in the clear water. The afternoon light danced across the surface, painting their tired faces with gold.

When they finally packed up and began walking back to camp, Auren lingered for a moment, watching the forest sway gently in the wind.

A small, contented smile crossed his face.

"So this is adventuerer life huh. " he said quietly, before following the others down the path.

"I could get used to this."

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