In the lair of a level 5 Stone Ogre
In the decaying forest, what were Stone Ogres?
Stone Ogres were the most terrible of the 3 types of monsters that took the first level of this dungeon, the decaying forest as their home.
The Green Goblins were the weakest, their main weaknesses being their vulnerable skin and weak strength.
It was why they hurdled together in the biggest packs.
The Undead Trees had tough hides but this was undone by their blatant weakness to fire. With fire, they become vulnerable.
As for the Stone Ogres though, they were the real OGs of the decaying forest.
They had stone skin as tough as nails. They were slow, but their impenetrable defense more than made up for it.
They were literal tanks.
Of the 3 types of monsters in the decaying forest, the Stone Ogres were the only types brave enough to move alone around this forest, even the lower-leveled ones. They were scared of no one.
In a way, they were the apex predators of the decaying forest.
And right now, Clinton was now hiding in the lair of one of the scariest members of their race, one of the three level 5 Stone Ogres of this forest.
The lair of this level 5 Stone Ogre was a cave in the decaying forest.
Clinton noticed the cave already since his first day of deciding to explore round the decaying forest. He steered clear from it though due to its only inhabitant, the fearsome Stone Ogre.
As for how he was able to infiltrate into this cave without attracting the attention of its lord, it was because of Clinton’s extensive knowledge of it.
For days, even as he hunted monsters in this level of the dungeon to level up, Clinton spared enough time to observe the level 5 monsters in the forest.
Afterall, they were going to be his eventual enemies.
He spied on them whenever they fought and crushed lower-leveled monsters. He observed them when they clashed against each other in titanic confrontations, which one won and how it was able to win.
He also observed them when they went up against and threw their lives away at the gate guardian.
Through all these observations, Clinton already had close to textbook knowledge of all five level 5 monsters in the decaying forest and their magic.
Whereas the level 5 Green Goblin had access to basic ice magic, mostly slowing down the movement of his opponents in battle and sometimes freezing them entirely, the other level 5 monsters were different.
The level 5 Undead Tree had access to wood magic. In the decaying forest where it felt at home with decaying trees everywhere, it was indomitable.
Not even the Stone Ogres could survive going up against the gate guardian. But with its wood magic, the level 5 Undead Tree was the only monster that Clinton had observed till now to survive the rampage of the gate guardian.
That did not mean it was stronger than the Stone Ogres though, it only meant that its magic made it unimaginably tough. But more importantly, its magic was a counter to the power of the gate guardian.
While the Green Goblin and Undead Tree had access to ice magic and wood magic respectively, the Stone Ogres had access to stone magic.
Their body was already made of stone but they could create an extra layer of stone to serve as a second level of defense.
Their magic was not just defensive. They could also create stones that they haul at opponents at absolutely devastating speeds.
Clinton already watched these stones tear the level 5 Green Goblin to pieces once, he had no intentions of being in the receiving end of the stone throw.
This was why he entered the lair of the Stone Ogre, and stayed silent.
Clinton was so silent he could almost be mistaken for a shadow.
He didn’t come here without a plan though; he did have a plan and it banked on how much the humans valued taking his head.
Just about 2 minutes later, the humans arrived at the vicinity of the cave but they didn’t enter like him, rather they stayed outside and observed.
Without a doubt, their lantern device already detected the monster inside the cave with the undead skeleton.
There were only 2 options, either them deciding that the danger was not worth it and retreating or they braved it nonetheless.
Clinton had no high hopes on the first option though, this was because he already knew the levels of 2 of the humans.
A level 12 human would definitely not run from a level 5 monster even if it was a boss monster, right?
Well, he was right.
Bam!
The humans charged into the cave.
They barely charged in when an irritated monster woke up from its slumber.
Due to its gray stone skin that enabled it blend to the surroundings inside the cave, if you didn’t look closely enough, you won’t notice it on time.
But in the dark, Clinton’s vision was vastly amplified.
He knew exactly where the Stone Ogre was all along and predicting what would follow, he hid in a corner that was away from its potential path.
Immediately after the humans charged in, the Stone Ogre’s eyes snapped open in frenzied rage as it roared loudly.
And then, it moved.
Right at that moment, notifications buzzed before Clinton’s eyes.
***
{Warning! Multiple enemies have been detected!}
{You have encountered a level 5 Boss: Stone Ogre!}
{Stone Ogre!}
Level: 5
HP: 21/21
Magic affinity: Stone
{Active Skill: Might Punch; Devastating Ram; Earthquake Stomp!}
{Magic Skill: Stone manipulation; Stone Bat}
…
{You have encountered a powerful enemy!}
{You have encountered a level 12 human: ???}
…
{You have encountered a powerful enemy!}
{You have encountered a level 13 human: ???}
…
{You have encountered a powerful enemy!}
{You have encountered a level 7 human: ???}
…
{You have encountered a powerful enemy!}
{You have encountered a level 8 human: ???}
***
‘F*ck!’ Seeing this, Clinton cursed. ‘Even the amateur humans are freaks!’
Right at that moment, the powerful Stone Ogre clashed against the humans.
BOOM!
This cave shook like an earthquake was imminent.
Clinton did not pay attention to the battle that just started in this cave, he decided to trust in the power of the Stone Ogre. It sounded crazy but the Stone Ogre was the sole ticket to his survival at this moment.
The Stone Ogre would die, that he was sure of. He simply banked his hopes on the belief that the Stone Ogre’s pride would make it struggle and hang on for a long time before dying proudly.
While the chaotic battle started, he turned his back to it and ran to where the Stone Ogre was sleeping previously, on top a thick slab of stone.
This slab of stone was going to be his anvil.
His eyes gleamed. ‘On top this stone shall I forge my new weapon!’
He brought the 2 bones out, and then he stared. ‘Huh? How am I even supposed to do this?’