Chapter 23: Ogre Youngling

The gnoblar town filled the cavern with decrypted majesty, it’s occupants slinking through it’s dust covered shacks and tents . The sound of growls and claw scrapping stone barely punctured the curved stone looming all around. Sweat and soiled meat met Kelford’s nose even in his hiding place at the edge of the last room of this floor punctuated by the fresh copper of blood. Trash and destroyed stone stacked to make an outcropping looking over the destroyed outskirts where spurned outcasts made their meager living. Kelford sat watching the movements of the monsters of this room, all of them drawn towards the center. From here he couldn’t smell the meat the gnoblars always seemed to be cooking when he entered this floor but his improved sight did allow him to see the creatures slinking towards the center. Some, those closer to the entrance he sat near, with greater fear than the rest. Their sensitivity to shadow essence no doubt alerting them to his arrival on the floor. In moments, the entire floor would be up in arms.

“Good, need them ready if I really want to push myself” Kelford rolled his shoulders letting his voice break the dull noise of the cavern.

It was reckless. More than reckless. It was stupid. Kelford’s common sense roiled at the plain insanity of his actions even as his heart raced with the thrill of it. Take the entire floor on, at once. Let the gnoblars eat their food, prepare their defense, then try to fight the floor. Amulet of Storing was almost full and the essence around him was vibrant. The next floor was mostly puzzles and after that he couldn’t be sure if there would be enough essence to be as wasteful as he was right now.

“It’ll be interesting” He could hear the screaming and howling now. The gnoblars probably knew Kelford was here…finally. Kelford pulled at the essence around until it leaked from his skin. Kelford pushed himself from the outcropping essence empowered body making the ten foot drop effortless. Picking his way through the discarded rubble Kelford picked up the pace as he followed the dusty walkways to the center. No gnoblars stood in his way, the entire section of the town seemingly abandoned in preparation of his coming. Minutes went by until he finally arrived at the town center.

The gnoblars stood fearful in a semicircle around their chief and the fire at his back. Their eyes were dark with fear , normal growls silent as they watched the shadows that ebbed from Kelfords skin. Those to Kelford’s sides skittered away as he stepped further into the center, a few gaining the courage to snarl half heartedly. Only one gnoblar didn’t stare at Kelford. The Gnoblar Gorger focused on the long bone of meat that it tore into with ruthless abandon. Streams of juices streamed down it’s mouth as bits and pieces of burnt skin and meat fell from bloody jaws. Kelford stopped amazed and disgusted by the sight, the Gnoblar grew with every bite. It’s ropey muscle was becoming thicker and heavier, while it’s form increased in height to a cacophony of popping tendons. What held Kelford’s attention the most was the look on its ugly face. A rictus of pure ecstasy as it ate, eyes rolled back into it’s skull unseeing. Flickers of power seemed to escape it’s maw as it chewed and Kelford’s eyes widened as he saw the raw essence escaping the monster's maw. Kelford’s mind barely registered the implications before the Gorger roared into the air.

‘ Kill the Heretic!!” The Gorgers command rolled over the gnoblars sending them into a frenzy. Kelford dodged to the side as the leg bone flew by his skull. The gorger roared, now over 7 feet tall as it let it’s smaller kin rush past it. Gnoblar hurlers prepared their slings of trash as the normal gnoblars charged from all directions. Kelford brought up his sword as his enhanced eyes took in the entirety of the scene. His heart beat rapidly as the baying of bloodthirsty beasts beat against his ears. Kelford’s eyes met the gloating Gorger’s.

Darkness

Radiance of the Black Sun

Shadow exploded from around Kelford’s feet. The gnoblars screamed as the lights disappeared only for a wave of fear to smash against their weak minds. Outside the encirclement the Gnoblar Hurlers looked in confusion as their target disappeared . Their hesitation only lasted for a moment before they launched their projectiles into the shadows with no head for their allies lost in the shadows. Screams of pain echoed as improvised projectiles found soft flesh. The screams continued herald by another wave of fear as Kelford burst from the right side of his spell.

Empowered Strike

Kelford’s eyes glowed purple as empowered strikes cut through gnoblars like butter . The encirclement broke as Kelford swung with wild abandon, bodies piling all around him. He ran a gnoblar through as distantly his mind parsed through the different colors of essence the gnoblar gave off. A blood red aura was around it’s head now fading to a dull purple. Kelford threw the body into another gnoblar before laying into the few that hadn’t fled fast enough. A piece of stone smashed into his shoulder throwing him off balance as the air filled with stone.

“ Kill him Kill hiiiimmmm”

The Gorger’s voice filled the chamber as Kelford skipped back swinging his sword in a vain attempt to protect himself. Darkness had lapsed leaving him vulnerable to the attacks of the hurlers from the other side and more importantly the gnoblars trapped in the spell's blinding effect. Kelford took stone and pieces of bone all across his body leaving welts and small cuts as Furs of the Warlord reduced as much of the damage as possible. The volley ended only for waves of gnoblars to throw themselves at the climber. Kelford didn’t stop swinging as he dodged and raged against the gnoblars that crashed into him . Shives cut into his relic leaving pinpricks of pain only for 3 feet of steel to respond. Kelford kneed a gnoblar to avoid another only for another to jump on his shoulder stabbing at his face. Grabbing it he used every inch of Enhanced Might to throw it into the crowds before swinging his sword in wide arcs to claim lives and space. The pressure mounted as the gnoblars kept coming on red auras fighting against the aura of fear around him. Kelford stumbled back even as he kept swinging, essence feeding into Radiance of the Black Sun to fight against the rage of the gnoblars. The air whistled and in his focus Kelford didn’t react in time. Gnoblars screamed as another volley slammed into their ranks. Kelford tried to raise an arm only for a stone to clip the side of his face. Kelford went down as pain ripped through the left side of his skull.

Enhanced Willpower

Kelford rolled back to his feet, arm and sword up as he pushed past the pain. One of his eyes filled with blood but he shoved the pain to the side.His mind grappled with the essence surrounding him and within his relic as he once again casted Darkness. The gnoblars screamed again as their sight was stolen from them for a second time as Kelford dashed into the black. Sword swinging with enhanced strength, Kelford cut through their broken ranks. Each swing led him closer to the other Hurlers , blood and lives being taken in the dark until he broke through the shadows. The Hurlers screeched as they saw the bloody human appear. Scattered stone and trash missed their target as Kelford closed in only for a massive club filled his vision.

His eyes widened as his sword desperately moved to save him. Steel met wood as Kelford was sent flying back into the fading darkness. Kelford’s vision blanked for what felt as moments only for consciousness to come rushing back all at once. Blood erupted from his lips as he tried to gain his bearings. Darkness was fading all around him leaving a trail of bloody bodies and fleeing gnoblars in it’s wake. The Gorger stood at it’s edge, too cowardly to capitalize on Kelford’s weakness. At least that’s what Kelford thought as he found his feet. The majority of gnoblars had fled, the aura of red having finally worn off .The gorger saw Kelford and licked it’s lips before bursting in a mocking laugh.

“Gorger no more it seems…” Kelford hadn’t identified the gnoblar Gorger but now in the lull in the fighting he finally got a chance to identify it.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

[ Ogre Youngling]

“ See.. Puny monster not strong enough to defeat might Gorlush the Mighty!!” The ogre declared holding it’s club high in the air, “ We kill and bury it’s corrupted flesh in the deep tunnels to show tribes strength!”

The remaining gnoblars roared in glee, some reading their slings for another volley. Kelford’s mind churned over the situation. He needed to turn this around. This ….ogre was both the challenge he sought and potentially a source of information. Either way he needed more time.

“ You can speak now… how is that?” The Ogre youngling leered at the words as Kelford allowed Language of the Mountain to translate his words. “ You call me corrupted..why?”

“ You speak the language of our people? Good it means you can understand me when I say you shall die you corrupted thing? Touched by the dark , the King of Winter has protected us from your ilk! The poison in your veins is the only reason your meat does not serve to make me grow stronger trash.”

It seemed to pump itself up as it spat the words, eyes bloodshot but still willing to talk. I can work with this

“You failed to answer my first question, the meat was special somehow. Could I eat something like this to get stronger?” Kelford spoke, paying only partial attention on the ogre.

“ No NO NO! Our Stomachs are gifts not for one such as you! Only the strong deserve the chance to grow, not the pathetic wretches like you. You corrupt everything around you!”

Kelford nodded, connecting a few dots watching as the Ogre became more and more… petulant as the conversation went on. He was ready to end the fight; he just wanted to ask one more question.

“ Why are you down here? You speak of your king but clearly he does not live here in these caves. Why do you not move upward to the lands above?” It was a question that had bothered Kelford the entire time he had ran through the floors. T.U.I had claimed that this Worldshard was a copy of an actual world, so why stay in these caves? The way upward was seemingly straight forward , and apparently some of the creatures were…intelligent. Why stay here?

The ogre smashed it’s chest as it locked eyes with Kelfords. They were bloodshot, dark and filled with a edge Kelford found uncomfortable.

“ The King gave our ancestors the duty to protect these tunnels! From when the storms break and our stomachs empty we will prevent corruption from infecting our world! We hunger but we still stand! We weaken but none have escaped our watch! We dull but our post is not deserted! Our clan stood here for a hundred hundred winters and will stand until the King of Winter releases us!”

The gnoblars growled in agreement behind the ogre, beating their chests in agreement.

“ You could never understand! Something like you could never have the stomach to sacrifice anything for their people!” The ogre held out it’s club as it judged Kelford, “ Enough talk! You die now!”

The gnoblars began to swing their makeshift slings as Kelford stared at the ogre.

“Duty…” Something in Kelford lurched as he felt the judgement of the ogre bear down on him.Guilt squeezed him, familiar and all consuming. People he’d abandoned..just cause he wasn’t brave enough. Kelford read the look of disgust on the creature's face. The way it looked down on him as he remembered the despair that nipped at his steps at his failures. Then it turned into an ugly, rage! How dare they look down on him! They were slinging their own shit and shiving each other moments before he had come onto their mockery of a broken down shanty town! Shadow essence, slowly pulled together while the conversation dragged on, finally congealed. Kelford’s face broke into a bloody grin as essence rocked outward.

“ Understand this ugly!”

Darkness

Shadows consumed the Hurlers as Kelford threw himself to the floor. The ogre roared as it’s sight was stolen and gnoblars threw their projectiles right over Kelford’s head. Kelford rolled to his feet just in time to see the ogre burst from the shadows swinging it’s club. Shadowy essence blazed over Kelford’s blade as he rose to the challenge, his entire body behind the swing.

Empowered Strike

Wood and steel met again as the two met head on. Both were equally as strong, Their swings with the full power of their bodies behind them but as they pushed against each other the power of essence won out. The ogre staggered back but Kelford wasn’t done .

Empowered Strike

The Ogre roared as once again it met Kelford without flinching! Kelford’s eye blazed purple as his skill slammed the club aside, essence raging through him as he pulled more and more from the cavern around him.

Empowered Strike

He remembered all the times he had passed this floor , all the times he had killed the gnoblars here. Enough to brand him a mass murderer back home. Probably enough to fill this city to overflowing with their blood! Only matched by the deaths he’d suffered on his runs !

Empowered Strike

The ogre had learned this time. It refused to meet him blade to club, opting to dodge trying to gain the advantage in the moment between Kelford’s swing. Kelford turned his missed swing into a shoulder tackle right into it’s chest. Grim satisfaction coursed through his veins at the ogre’s wheeze of pain before he stepped back and cut right across it’s chest! It screamed in pain as it staggered back but Kelford pursued. Weapon Proficiency sung a familiar tune in his ear, one that his body had grown familiar in following, as he tore into the ogre. A slash against it’s left leg as he dodged under a wild swing from the club. Cutting into it’s side while it was unbalanced only to stutter step back as it retaliated with a savage kick at his leg. A roar of fury shut early by a fist to the jaw followed by another dodge under another wild club swing . The Ogre Younglings eyes burned with fury and Kelford hated it! He smelled smoke as once again essence coated his blade.

Empowered Strike

Kelford had pushed to the 5th floor over weeks of fighting in the Tower. He’d died dozens of times, but he always remembered the first two deaths. On the few times he slept those were the ones that haunted him. He could still smell the smoke from his second death, the adrenaline pumping in his veins as the roars filled the air. The feel of their shives as they stabbed him on his ill fated first step into the Tower proper. He’d proven again and again he was strong enough to pass those floors. That he was strong. But that wasn’t enough.

His sword cut deeper into Ogre flesh as his sword cut through the Ogre’s club and buried itself into it’s clavicle with jolt. Kelford flared Radiance of the Black Sun and saw the moment defiance turned to fear in the ogre’s eyes. For a second he saw the original Gnoblar Gorger as they grappled in the dirt, its eyes wide as it realized that death was closing in. The memory broke as fear turned to defiance! The ogre bellowed as it’s strength redoubled! An Aura of red bursting around it’s eyes. It’s fist buried in Kelford’s gut as the ogre fell into a rage. Kelford growled as something burst in his stomach. He staggered back, holding in a scream only to dodge a kick. He ripped his sword free as he danced back only for the Ogre youngling to pursue him relentlessly. Kelford danced back cutting again and again as he lost ground. Desperate, Kelford felt for the essence around him and in his artifact. The artifact was nearly tapped out and the essence around him too chaotic to pull on reliably. His personal reserves would have to do, and they were already drained from the fight earlier.

It would have to do. Kelford pulled on the reserves that hadn’t escaped his grip during the fight. Essence funneled from his veins into his sword one final time as he charged forward.

Empowered Strike

The ogre punched at Kelford’s face only for searing pain to make it scream as Essence wreathed steel cut the limb off . Rage overcame the pain as the red aura burnt higher . Kelford kept going as he dodged a kick only to cut it off at the knee. The ogre roared as it lunged, single fist swinging with Kelford meeting it with no fear. A fist cracked Kelford’s chest, sending him flying back once again. He skipped along the blood soaked ground only to scramble to his feet as Ogre Youngling threw itself at him, sword buried in it’s gut. Kelford rolled to the side , narrowly dodging a vicious haymaker. He dived back to the Ogre as it tried to pick itself up. His hands found the hilt of his sword. The combatants locked eyes just as Kelford pulled with all his strength ripping the blade out with all his strength. Kelford roared as swung one more time and cut the ogre’s head clean off .

He staggered as the ogre youngling collapsed. Kelford saw the remaining gnoblars huddled together as they witnessed the death of their champion. Kelford stood in the middle of their village, the bodies of the fallen all around him. His eye still burned a faint purple as shadows seemed to lick at his feet like flames. Blood dripped from the blade that had killed their leader. Kelford turned the full weight of his gaze onto them. He stalked forward, blade rising to do battle once more. Ready to add them to the pile. It was too much for the frightened gnoblars. First one , then two, then the rest fled. No screams of fear or rage. The air only filled with the desperate patter of feet trying to escape death.

Kelford watched them go before allowing the exhaustion to bring him to his knees. His vision doubled for a moment but he managed to find his feet again. He felt like throwing up, his limbs twitchy and heavy as he made his way to store the ogres corpse in his inventory.

“ What a way to end this floor” Kelford’s words died quickly in the cavern air. Dark shadows still flickering at his feet as he left the 2nd floor.