Chapter 3: Stone Toss!
Being a newborn ogre wasn't the fantastical experience I had thought reincarnation would be. The noise of snarling, grunting and biting over every bits of flesh or dubious mushrooms was a struggle for survival to us. Cleanliness? None. A place to stay? Old moss and dank earthy smell of unwashed ogres who sweat filled the dimly lit and damp cave.
But I wasn't just any ogre baby—I was me also, I've reincarnated. And I refused to blend in as just another green potato in the pile.
So far, I'd managed to carve out a tiny sliver of respect from the tribe.
Well, "respect" was a strong word. Let's call it "begrudging tolerance." The other babies had stopped outright stealing my food, opting instead to growl half-heartedly before letting me keep my scraps. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
Also, they've been looking rather cute for a while now.
Still, being the runt of the group was stuck on me. The older ogres had taken to calling me "Little Weakling," their laughter rumbling like it was the funniest thing they've seen especially whenever I struggled to carry a bone twice my size.
I just knew then, that that nickname wasn't sticking. Not if I had anything to say about it.
Also, I've been noticing that the older ogre's have been dwindling in numbers. Is that normal?
Oh, well, probably another ogre thing I don't wanna think about.
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In any case, I took advantage of the chance to get away from the mayhem one day while the others were munching on the remains of a deer carcass.
I got drawn to the cave's edge, a small corner that even the more courageous infants appeared to avoid.
The slight squish of mud that I got from walking around near the cave's entrance followed my cautious steps on the rough stone floor.
The cave grew quieter the farther I went. There was an unsettling silence as the growls and crunching bones in the distance faded.
A small glow then drew my attention. It was almost pleading for attention as it flickered at the base of a rough rock structure.
Way to not scream shady.
I found a weird object stuck between two stones when I walked closer to that same rock.
It was a small, crooked rock with glowing runes inscribed on its surface that pulsed softly, like a tiny heartbeat. Strange shadows appeared on the cave walls as if the light were alive.
Oh~ Shiny!
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My palm trembled as I reached out, a mixture of curiosity and terror. I felt a rush of warmth as soon as my fingers touched the stone; it was like walking into sunlight after a chilly night.
[SYSTEM NOTICE] An Ogre Relic has been found. Unlocked Title: Inquisitive Crawler. "A Relic?" I said in a voice that was almost audible.
"What kind of game mechanic is this?" A tingling sensation crawled up my arm as the Relic shone brighter before I could give it any more thought.
Like a smug notification, a second system message lingered in my field of vision.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Skill Learned: Stone Toss (Level 1).
I blinked. "Stone Toss? What is this, ogre baseball?"
The absurdity of the situation didn't have time to sink in. Why? Because behind me, a low growl rumbled, sending a shiver down my spine was heard. I turned slowly, clutching the Relic tightly.
Grumpy.
The biggest, meanest baby ogre in the group. His tusks gleamed in the dim light, and his beady eyes locked onto the glowing Relic in my hands. Of course, he'd show up now.
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Battle of the Runts
Grumpy wasn't interested in negotiating. He charged, his massive feet pounding the cave floor like war drums. My instincts screamed at me to flee, but there was nowhere to go. I was cornered.
Desperate, I focused on the Relic, silently hoping for it to save me.
My eyes darted to a nearby pebble—a tiny, unassuming rock that seemed as insignificant as I felt in that moment.
This better work!
"Stone Toss," I whispered, praying the skill wasn't just a cruel joke.
The pebble began to glow, its light mirroring the Relic's pulsing aura. I felt a strange energy course through me, guiding my movements.
Without thinking, I hurled the pebble with all the strength my tiny ogre body could muster. Which was a lot because the rock flew through the air like a tiny comet, striking Grumpy squarely on the forehead with a loud THWACK.
Grumpy froze mid-charge, his eyes crossing comically as he swayed on his feet.
And then—THUD. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have inflicted Stun (5 seconds). Bonus XP awarded for first combat victory.
I stared at the downed ogre, my chest heaving. Did I… win?
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The Turning Point
The other ogres had stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on me. For the first time since my reincarnation, I wasn't the weakling. I was the ogre who took down Grumpy!
Grumpy stirred, letting out a low groan as he pushed himself up. The rage in his eyes was palpable, and I knew this wasn't over. He lunged again, but I was ready this time.
Another rock. Another glowing light. THWACK.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Critical Hit! Skill Level Up: Stone Toss (Level 2).
Grumpy went down again, and this time, he stayed down. The silence that followed was deafening. Slowly, I turned to face the rest of the group, holding the Relic like a tiny green champion.
"This cave," I declared, my voice shaky but defiant, "has a new boss!"
Okay, maybe that was embarrassing. But judging by the mixture of awe and terror on the baby's faces, I'd made my point. I wasn't just the runt anymore. Hell no was I gonna be just that.
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A New Chapter
That night, as the cave settled into its usual cacophony of snores and growls, I sat in my corner, cradling the Relic. Its soft glow bathed the space in a comforting light, a beacon of hope in my otherwise chaotic new life.
The Relic had given me a glimpse of what was possible—a way to fight back, to grow stronger, and maybe even to rise above my circumstances.
For the first time, I didn't feel like a victim of fate. I felt like a player in a grand game, and I was ready to roll the dice.
This was only the beginning.