Chapter 164: Personal Reward
Early the next day, the Blue Bound gathered at dawn, their breath misting in the crisp morning air.
They ate a quick breakfast of dried meat and mana bread beside the campfire, the forest still humming with the distant songs of waking birds.
Alyssa doused the embers with a flick of her wrist, and soon, the four adventurers disappeared beneath the thick canopy like shadows.
They knew Ogres were nocturnal creatures, hunting and bellowing through the night, but sluggish and half-asleep once the sun rose.
That window between dawn and midday was their best chance to strike.
The forest was damp and eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the faint crack of branches under their boots.
Sunlight dripped through the foliage in narrow beams, scattering against the armor plates and weapons they carried.
Leading the team was Blas, their sharp-eyed scout and trap detector. His movements were feline and silent, each step calculated.
He guided the group through winding roots and mossy slopes, always taking the route least likely to draw attention—or trip a snare.
Behind him followed Alyssa, their stalwart vanguard and shield. Her armor was lightly polished, reflecting the occasional glimmer of green, while her sword hung within easy reach, ready to intercept any sudden ambush.
Right beside her walked Essel, their quiet healer, her pale fingers wrapped around the staff that faintly pulsed with blue light.
Her expression was calm but focused, whispering brief prayers as they advanced. Auren brought up the rear, holding a silver sword forged of orichalcum—a weapon Alyssa had borrowed from his collection but returned for this mission. It gleamed faintly even in the shade, like moonlight caught in metal.
Of course, Auren also had his ranged weapon slung across his back, ready to be drawn in case things went sideways.
His mind was steady, but his heart thudded with a quiet excitement.
This was his first real operation with the Blue Bound, and despite their calm demeanor, he knew the others were quietly measuring him too.
After nearly half an hour of careful movement, the group reached a narrow ridge overlooking a cavern shrouded by enormous trees.
The entrance to the Ogre den yawned before them—a jagged mouth of stone, large enough to fit a carriage through. Moss hung like curtains from the edges, and a foul stench drifted from within, thick and heavy with rot and damp earth.
Bones of various beasts lay scattered around the perimeter, gnawed clean.
The Blue Bound perched high on sturdy branches above the clearing, using the forest’s cover to conceal their approach.
Alyssa raised a hand, signaling for a brief pause. They gathered close enough to whisper.
"Alright, this is it," she said, her voice low but firm.
"We’re about to enter their base. Everyone ready?"
Her gaze swept across her teammates, then stopped on Auren, who seemed lost in thought.
He spoke quietly.
"So, just to confirm—our goal is to find and eliminate the Ogre Chief first, right? That’s the key to subjugating the entire den?"
Alyssa nodded.
"That’s the plan. Once their leader falls, the rest lose coordination and scatter since they depend on him for instuction. Without their chieftain, theyre like mindless beasts only moving by instincts. That’s how we’ve always done it."
Auren frowned slightly. "And you’re sure that’s the best way?"
The tone of his voice made Alyssa pause. She tilted her head.
"You have a better idea? Let’s hear it."
Her words carried no sarcasm—just curiosity.
Everyone knew Herbon, or rather Auren under that alias, wasn’t an ordinary adventurer. He had topped the guild’s written exam, something most veterans struggled to do.
Auren tapped his chin, thinking.
"I know your usual strategy involves diving into the den, fighting through waves of Ogres until reaching their Chief. But each battle drains stamina, mana, and potions, not to mention the risk of injury. By the time we reach the boss, we’ll be exhausted. If even one of us falters, the whole run collapses."
"..."
Silence fell among them.
Blas and Essel exchanged glances.
The memory of their last Ogre mission still haunted them—three days of relentless combat, little sleep, and near-death exhaustion before they finally brought down the Chief. It had almost cost them their lives.
Blas broke the silence first, scoffing.
"What’s wrong with that? It’s how adventurers earn their keep. Fighting them one by one is safer than charging the whole nest at once."
"Not necessarily," Auren replied calmly. "What if we lure them out instead—force them into a trap on our terms?"
Alyssa raised an eyebrow.
"Lure them out? You mean make them come to us?"
He nodded.
"Exactly. We can use wide-area skills and set up an ambush before they even realize what’s happening. We have the right mix of abilities for that."
Essel blinked.
"Wait, you want to fight dozens of Ogres outside the cave?"
"Not fight," Auren corrected with a grin.
"Crush."
The corner of Alyssa’s mouth twitched, half-amused.
"Alright, genius. Explain."
Auren pointed first to Essel.
"She can amplify magic to make our spells bring more bang. And she can also use immobilization spells, right? If we trigger that at the right time, she can lock down the entire horde and stop their movement."
Essel hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"That’s... possible, yes. But only for a short time. At least two seconds maximum."
"That’s enough," Auren said.
Then he turned to Alyssa.
"You have access to Shield Roar. The shockwave will draw their attention and taunt them. Once they’re grouped together, Blas can use Arrow Rain and I can assist with my special artifact to finish the job."
Blas snorted, crossing his arms.
"Sounds pretty, but how do we get them all to walk straight into the open? They’ll smell us the moment we get near the cave. These beasts have sharper noses than hounds."
Auren’s grin widened.
"That’s where this comes in."
He reached into his pouch and produced a small, round pill wrapped in a black casing. It looked harmless enough, but the others immediately leaned closer, curiosity piqued.
"What’s that?" Essel asked, eyeing it suspiciously.
"It’s our bait," Auren said. "A lure for the Ogres—and their Chief."
Alyssa squinted at it. "You made that?"
"Of course," he said with mock offense.
"It’s my personal blend. Ogre attractant, infused with fermented bloodgrass and condensed mana spores. To them, it’ll smell like a feast waiting to happen."
Blas wrinkled his nose. "And to us?"
"Let’s just say you don’t want to be downwind when I crush it."
Even Alyssa cracked a smile at that. "Alright, Herbalist. If this works, you’ll save us day’s worth of fighting."
"If it doesn’t," Blas muttered, "we’ll be ogre stew."
Auren smirked. "Have a little faith."
He got the idea of the lure from is experience back at Austerra when he was hunted by the Night Stalker after a lure bomb was placed on him.
With their plan settled, the Blue Bound began setting up the ambush.
Alyssa and Blas positioned themselves in the treetops above the cave entrance. Essel knelt on the ground behind a thick root cluster, drawing glowing runes in the soil for her immobilization spell.
Auren stood at the center of their formation, clutching the black pill between his fingers.
When the last sigil shimmered to life, he whispered, "Here we go," and crushed the pill.
A faint black mist drifted through the air, vanishing almost instantly. For a few moments, there was nothing—just the quiet rustle of leaves and distant chirps of unseen creatures.
Then came the growls.
Low, guttural, and deep, echoing from within the cavern. The sound multiplied, rising into a chorus of angry roars. The ground trembled faintly as massive footsteps approached.
Auren grinned. "Showtime."
...
Meanwhile, far from the forest, the capital of the Empire was abuzz with a different kind of tension.
Inside the grand throne hall, sunlight streamed through the high stained windows, casting gold and crimson across marble floors.
Emperor Romeov sat on his dazzling throne, chin resting on his fist as he listened to the latest report from his messenger.
"Ninety-three percent?" he repeated slowly, the words hanging in the air.
His voice was calm but carried an undertone of intrigue.
"And you’re saying this was achieved by a level twenty-five Herbalist named Herbon?"
The messenger bowed deeply. "Yes, Your Majesty. The Guild verified the results twice."
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed. Around him stood rows of elite knights in polished armor, their presence silent but imposing.
The only movement came from an elderly man standing near the throne—wrinkled, bespectacled, and draped in royal scholarly robes.
His name was Gurang, the Empire’s Royal Alchemist, and second only to the Emperor in written exam records.
He frowned deeply.
"My Lord, forgive my bluntness, but this is highly suspicious. No novice Herbalist should surpass the score that even seasoned scholars fail to reach. Could it be... that he cheated?"
Gurang’s voice carried a mix of disbelief and wounded pride. For decades, he had taken pride in following the Emperor’s brilliance.
To think someone bested them both—it stung like acid.
Romeov rose from his throne, his long red cloak sweeping across the marble as he approached a nearby table set with ornate wine jars.
"Cheating?" he mused, pouring himself a drink.
"If he did, the world outside will deal with him soon enough. No cheater survives long in this world."
He swirled the cup, the liquid glinting in the sunlight.
"But if this Herbon is genuine... then we’ll be hearing much more about him soon. Until then," he said with a faint, knowing smile,
"keep your envy in check, Gurang. The future has a way of revealing its own truths."
The old alchemist lowered his head, though his jaw tightened. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
The Emperor turned toward the hall’s towering doors, his reflection gleaming faintly in the marble floor. "When that day comes and he is indeed the real deal," he said softly,
"Then I’ll reward him personally."