Chapter 18: Encounter with Two Ogres

A wild boar, weighing around 200 kilograms, was swiftly dealt with by Bask and Rand, the brothers working seamlessly together.

The internal organs were completely removed and buried in a small pit.

From Lyle's perspective, this felt like a bit of a waste. The Rock team, showed no interest in these parts of the animal. Clearly, they had no habit of consuming the innards.

Lyle didn't comment on it.

Despite the rustic appearance often portrayed in animations, both adventurers and Nfirea's family, who owned a prominent alchemy shop, weren't lacking in wealth.

The prepared boar meat was placed over the campfire to roast. Soon, layers of fat began to melt and drip into the flames, intensifying the fire's heat. The aroma quickly spread through the air.

Captain Dosari approached from the side and sat down next to Lyle, his tone cheerful as he began speaking.

Lyle listened attentively, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment, though most of the conversation was carried by Dosari.

Nfirea, seated nearby, was also intrigued by the stories of adventuring.

While Captain Dosari shared some of his past adventures, often embellished with bravado, Lyle managed to glean a few useful pieces of information from his tales.

The next day.

At dawn, the group set out once more.

The journey ahead became more challenging, especially as they drew closer to the border. In the distance, the towering Azerlisia Mountain Range came into view, its majestic peaks casting a formidable presence over the horizon.

The once-relaxed atmosphere among the group grew noticeably tense.

As they pressed on, attacks by monsters became increasingly frequent. Most of the creatures were weak, providing Lyle with valuable combat experience.

The Azerlisia Mountain Range served as a natural barrier between the Kingdom of Re-Estize and the Baharuth Empire.

According to Captain Dosari, these two nations were part of a single unified empire over four centuries ago. However, for reasons lost to history, the great empire collapsed, splitting into the two countries known today.

Suddenly.

"Alert!"

Lerr, the Archer guarding the rear of the caravan, called out sharply. His ears twitched, his expression turning grim.

"Something big is coming!"

The rest of the Rock team members immediately tensed.

Granny Lizzie, who was driving the cart, remained expressionless as she pulled the reins to halt the horses. Nfirea gripped the wooden railing of the cart nervously, his hands visibly trembling.

Lyle noticed the shift in the Rock team's expressions and narrowed his eyes.

During their time together, Lyle had learned that Lerr possessed a remarkable innate ability: an extraordinary sense of hearing far beyond that of an average person. In addition to providing long-range firepower, his role in the team also included gathering and relaying critical intelligence.

If Lerr was reacting this way, it likely meant he had picked up on something terrifying.

Even so, Lyle remained calm. He had come to understand that the true leader of this group wasn't any of the adventurers—it was the unassuming, stoic granny Lizzie.

"Waah! Waah!"

A piercing screech rang out, accompanied by the rustling of nearby bushes.

Suddenly, small figures emerged from the undergrowth.

Standing barely a meter tall, their bodies were covered in dark green skin. They were scrawny, with stark white eyes and grotesque faces.

Goblins.

A group of ten of them appeared, stepping out of the shadows and blocking the path ahead.

Lyle glanced at the goblins. Most of them wielded crude weapons like sticks and clubs. Although their numbers were substantial, they didn't pose much of a threat.

Goblins were a weak race. Their rapid reproduction was their only advantage, and their low intelligence made them an easy foe. In a one-on-one situation, an average adult could take down a goblin with some caution.

Moreover, the Rock team was no ordinary group of adventurers. As a silver-ranked team, their average levels ranged between 7 and 10—far beyond what ordinary goblins could handle.

Of course, the goblin race had many variations. The true danger might still lie ahead.

Lyle's gaze shifted past the goblins charging toward them, focusing on the dense forest behind the bushes.

Bang! Bang!

Heavy footsteps echoed through the air. Compared to the screaming goblins at the front, the presence behind them carried an oppressive weight.

"Everyone, stay alert!"

Dosari, the team captain, drew the twin swords strapped to his waist and shouted sternly.

"Roar!"

A bestial roar split the air.

A massive figure, over two meters tall, emerged with heavy strides. Its robust frame was covered in thick, dark yellow skin, and its back had armor-like scales studded with short, sharp spikes.

"An ogre? No… two ogres!" Lerr, the team's archer, said grimly.

The goblins, who had hesitated earlier, found renewed courage at the sight of the two ogres. Screaming wildly, they charged toward the wagon, brandishing their wooden clubs.

"Take care of the goblins first!"

Dosari was the first to act, dashing forward and hurling the sword in his right hand.

The weapon sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing sound.

The sword struck the leading goblin squarely in the chest with deadly precision.

The goblin let out a pained shriek as pale green blood gushed from the wound, pooling beneath it.

Dosari reached the goblin in an instant, stomping on its chest with force. He yanked the embedded sword upward, causing more blood and shredded flesh to spill out.

Without pausing, he swung his left-hand sword and decapitated another goblin beside him.

Meanwhile, the brothers Bask and Rand raised their silver-plated shields, charging forward with synchronized steps. Each brother tackled a goblin to the ground before slamming their shields down, reducing the creatures to unrecognizable messes of flesh.

Compared to the brutal efficiency of the others, Lerr, the archer, was far more graceful. With steady hands, he nocked and loosed arrows, quickly taking out two goblins with precision shots.

In mere moments, six of the ten goblins lay dead, their bodies littering the battlefield.

Lyle watched the scene unfold, taking a deep breath. He wasn't particularly nervous, but the blood-soaked chaos made his stomach churn.

They had encountered scattered monsters before during their travels, so this wasn't the first time he had seen such carnage.

However, as someone from the modern world, he found the visceral violence hard to stomach.

The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, and the sight of severed goblin heads and smashed torsos made the reality of this world sink in more deeply than ever.

Yet, amid his discomfort, Lyle felt an unexpected surge of excitement.

He realized something profound: this was the very world that the "Eight Greed Kings" had once ravaged.

As Lyle stood there, conflicted and overwhelmed, the remaining four goblins were quickly dispatched by the Stone team.

But the battle wasn't over.

The two massive ogres roared in fury, breaking through the forest and charging into the fray.