Reluctant Heroine 5

In a flash, my entire army has been overwhelmed with magic. Meanwhile, all of my commanders have been defeated, sliced apart like butchered meat. Even the Chimera my superior handed over to me wasn't able to stand a chance against the single enemy.

This wasn't supposed to happen!

I amassed an army and crossed an entire continent for this!

"Jugómo-sama! What are we going to do!? We can't just stand here and wait for that person to get to us!" the goblin mage standing nervously beside me warned.

"Kuh! It's only one enemy!" I couldn't help but shout.

"Eek!"

"You! What happened to your elite forces? I asked the scared goblin.

"Ye-Yes! They were not supposed to come out until later, so they're still here... D-Do you want me to deploy them, sire?"

"Do that. Even if they do not survive, they still might be able to tire her a little."

"O-Of course!"

Just like that, the goblin mage scurried about.

"Grr..." I growled as I continue to watch the massacre unfold.

Sitting on my make-shift throne, I begin to evaluate my options.

Should I run away now and preserve my own survival, or should I continue to attempt to defeat this unknown enemy.

This elf woman... Even after casting a number of catastrophic spells and after swinging her sword through dense muscles and bones, she doesn't seem tired at all. She was not hectic, and there wasn't even a single drop of sweat on her striking face. She was almost inhuman, more monstrous than the monsters she was cutting down.

"A hero...?"

I was not expecting a hero to show up. Now, she fucked up all of my plans.

Because I don't know the extent of her power, the best thing I can do now is retreat. However, running away now would only put shame on my name. I would not get another opportunity to climb the rank of general.

With that said...

"Kuku..." I lowered my chin on my fist and showed an amused smile.

There's no doubt that the Dark king would appreciate it if I take down a hero of this caliber. My promotion will be guaranteed if I defeat her now...

I eyed the lone elf casting spells and swinging her sword in the battlefield.

She truly was striking. Not only her face, even her body demands attention. I could think of only a few that could rival her appearance in the Dark continent.

She's no doubt a treasure, but it would be difficult for me to keep her alive. To ensure my victory, I would need to murder her in cold blood. Still, I should find the opportunity to merely incapacitate her. Perhaps I should take a leg or two, even both of her hands, just to make her my slave.

Either way, the Dark king would reward me for defeating a hero, and shall I keep her alive, she would serve as a secondary award for my efforts as well.

"Kuku..."

I couldn't hide the sudden resurgence of my mood.

However, as if to deliberately depress me, the elf woman continued on to easily defeat the elite infantry of hobgoblins the goblin mage sent after her. Even though they were wearing the strongest armor among my soldiers, she cut through all of them like butter. What's worse was that none of them was able to lay a finger on her.

"Tch!" I clicked my tongue in frustration.

What happened to that goblin mage?

I expected him to come back after the defeat of his kin, but he didn't. I was watching the battle all this time, so I know for certain that he hasn't join the defeated hobgoblins and so he still haven't gotten himself killed.

Did he run away? If so, I'll kill him myself whenever I see him again.

"Jugómo-sama...?" one of the remaining orcs around me asked as I suddenly stood up.

"I'm tired of this, I'll battle that woman myself," I calmly said despite my evident frustration.

It would be best to let my weakling soldiers wear her out a little, but at this rate, all of them would get killed and I won't have anyone left for backup. In the event that I get injured after I defeat her, I would still need them to carry me back to safety. Even if their number only amounts to a few hundreds now, they will still be useful.

"Humph...!"

Smoke came out of my nostrils as I prepared myself for battle. My muscles tightened and my already humongous arms further enlarged, almost breaking through my scaly forearm guards. After I straightened my back, I carried my two heavy war axes from the ground. Then, I loudly scream to announce my presence and hype my self up.

Right away, the elf's attention switches on me, and her eyes narrowed as I rapidly charged towards her.

"You fucking bitch! How dare you!" I bellowed as I swung one of my axes down over her head.

I thought I would able to maintain myself, but as soon as I got close, my emotions erupted out of control. I can feel the veins popping out of my forehead and the muscles on my neck tighten. It seems that the blood of ogre in me has taken over my body.

"I see... Are you perhaps the leader of this army?" the elf nonchalantly asked, escaping unscathed as she was able to easily dodge my attack.

"Humfuu...!" I exhaled heavily. "That's right, I'm indeed the leader of this army. The name's Jugómo," after I let out my frustration, I was able to regain my composure and properly introduce myself.

"Good. Then this would be over as soon as I defeat you?"

"Not so fast, elf! I'm not a weakling like the ones you were fighting before!"

"Are you an officer? As expected, they wouldn't easily send a general out here. That's a relief..."

"For the time being, my rank is indeed only that of an officer -- but I warn you now, I have enough strength to rival any general in the Dark continent."

"Eh?"

The elf seems baffled by my statement. Her eyes widened and for a moment, she let her guard down. I did not waste the opportunity and immediately attacked once again, but just like before, she was able to easily dodge.

"Grr..." I growled.

She's faster than I thought. I suppose she was actually holding back all this time?

"I thought the Dark army only assign monsters with similar strength to the common races' heroes...? Aren't you too weak for that?"

"Don't mock me, bitch!" I snarled in response to her straight-faced insult.

I'm certain that I would not lose even against the Dark King's generals. I have proof, and soon, I'll be established as a general myself.

This elf has no idea what she's talking about.

"Hmph! If you're only this strong, then you wouldn't stand a chance even against a rookie hero," she pitifully said.

"Now you're really getting in my nerves...!"

Kuku...! Her appearance might be alluring, but the words that comes out of her mouth were not...

There's a change in plans. There's no way I will kill her now. I'll make sure to make her suffer like the cocky bitch she is.

I'll cut her limbs off and make her my toy. I'll tie her in ropes and stick her up my crotch. Then I'll turn her unresisting body into an accessory and present it as a trophy.

"Aren't you too ill-tempered? I can practically read what's on your mind by that ugly look on your face. Fufu... And they say I'm easy to read..." despite the tense situation, she carefreely laughs.

My frustration only keeps on mounting, and before I knew it, I was recklessly swinging my double axes. To only further mess with my emotions, none of my attacks were landing at all. The cocky elf keeps on blocking and dodging by an inch off the blades of my axes.

"Gah... Haa...!" I huffed and puffed as I slowly got tired.

"Well, it's true that ogres are usually an angry bunch. You guys just always let your emotions get ahead of you."

"All of you! Attack her now!" I ordered my remaining men to swarm and attack.

They understood that this was a duel only meant for us two, so they were keeping their distance all this time. I have my pride as a high-ranking officer in the Dark army, but I'm still a monster in the end. I won't hesitate to use my men as disposable meatshields in a duel. I'll do whatever I can to defeat my enemy.

I just need a single opening to exploit...

"Tch!" the elf clicked her tongue.

Taken by surprise, she took a huge leap back and immediately put on her guard. The swarm of my men equipped with their swords and axes recklessly jumped on her without regards for their lives.

Kuku... This is why orcs and trolls are such useful monsters. They lack proper reasoning and they don't feel fear as much as the common goblins. They won't run away from any opponent, no matter how strong they were.

"Guhahahaha!"

With a mad laugh, I dashed towards the lone elf and joined the relentless assault. The ground beneath my feet cracked as my excitement reached its climax. I can feel power flow through my limbs as I foresee my victory.

Kuku!

It did not take long before an opening present itself. As she guarded the strike of a single orc, she left one of her arms open.

One arm down!

"Kuh!"

Unfortunately, she was able to quickly turn her body around and dodge my strike.

Just how nimble can one person get!?

It matters not, soon, another opportunity came for me. As she jumped over to escape, her legs were free for me to take. I followed and leaped from the ground as well. I swang my axe to cut at least one of her legs, but...

How absurd!

"Guh!"

To my surprise, she managed to bend her legs just in time to escape my attack and use my face to leap for a second time and further increase her distance.

"Argh..." I groaned as I cupped a hand on my hurting face.

When the nimble elf landed on the ground, she immediately casted a spell. The spell she casted manifested as an invisible wind that cut through most of my remaining men. I only managed to survive because my axes were strong enough to act as a shield.

"Y-You bitch...!"

"Cool down, will you?" she angrily said.

"How am I supposed to calm down!? I so badly want to cut all your limbs and make your cocky cunt my toy!"

"I-I see..." she stuttered. "I simply wanted to ask: was there any particularly reason you were attacking this place? But now that I think about it, you really must have no other reason than wanting to kill humans as usual," she voiced her realization.

"Kuku! That's right! You inferior species serve no purpose other than becoming our toys! Whether you live or die is in our hands, and I'm here to show it you!"

"How typical..." she sighed. "I should've done this from the beginning," she coldly said as she flicked off the blood on her sword.

"Did you decide to finally stop running away and fight me head on?"

Good! There must be a reason why she keeps running away, either it was to tire me out or throw me off. However, now that's she's going on the offensive, I'm certain it would be a lot easier for me to land a hit.

Since she's fast, she herself might be able to land a few hits on me, but that won't matter. My tough body can handle any magic or physical attacks she might throw at me. My ogre body is much tougher than steel and my healing factor is formidable.

"Guhahahaha! Come at me!" I bellowed at her.

The elf bitch did not say a word as she landed a step on the ground. Her stare was now cold but focused, and her gait which was previously inconsistent, became as sharp as her sword.

My back shivered as my eyes processed the sudden change in her appearance. A cold drop of sweat trickled down my face as I once again prepared my weapons for battle.

"Come...!" my voice came out weaker than I thought, and unlike my previous screams of confidence, it now sounded nervous.

As I contemplated my rising emotions, she finally made her move.

I was carefully eyeing her as to not miss any unexpected attack that she might throw, and so I was able to notice it immediately...

For a second, her sword gleamed a dim blue light, and before I knew it...

Huh...?

"What a waste of time."

My consciousness faded away just like that, and in the darkness, those were the last words I was able to hear.