...

  In the Ogre Stronghold

  ...

  The Chieftain of the Ogres was in a conundrum, what was he to do? He had overlooked the battles with Fjalminar, the more attacks that came the more apt the name became. No one had seen him up close and lived, most scouts reported a plume of smoke and no bodies were left.

  He needed too muster his supporters and wary of his dissents. He knew that some cowards planned on surrending to Fjalminar and in such a situation cowards could be more dangerous then your enemy.

  "Report!" The Chieftain roared as he overlooked his burning stronghold, smoke and ash billowed out.

  "Yes milord, the servants of Fjalminar attacked seeding destruction and surrounding the settlement, Lieutenant Vojin attempted to battle him but was laid low by a single blow, however is superior Captain Nuermoun The Gate-Shield manged to battle Fjalminar but he is due to expire soon Milord the shaman is attempting to stabilize him at the moment." The smallish ogre reported shaking in fear at having to be the messenger for the news.

  "Hmm, this Fjalminar is certainly the father of Ash, but he is also a coward dancing with Ash to hide, warn me as soon as Nuermoun is able to speak I must prepared to make orphan of the ash." The Chieftain spoke standing over the balcony prepared to battle this menace should he appear again.

  ...

  Meanwhile In the Ogre Infirmary

  ...

  The Shaman stood over weakening Nuermoun watching as his patent was clinging life, the once proud captain brought low by Fjalminar, the only living victim of the monster, besides the Shaman. His whole town burnt under the wrath of flames and smothered by Ash's embrace.

  His death was coming, clad in sliver and wreathed in flames, however no force was almighty, and the Shaman would sacrifice everyone left to revenge those that had died. Power required something in turn, an equal exchange, each party gaining something of equal value. The Shaman knew not what the forces beyond would stand to gain from the death of the Ogres. However what he did know was that they be willing to give in turn what the shaman desired.

  A terrible Price, for a terrible power.

  Nuermoun would be the vessel of this power, the wrath of the Ogres would suffuse the ailing ogre. Nuermoun would serve a much greater vessel then the shamans own elderly body.

  The Ritual had been prepared when Fjalminar spread his Ash to every Ogre in the last bastion the ritual would begin.

  ...

  Kien's Camp

  ...

  It took several hours for the Ogres to put out the flames, guards once more stood at the walls looking nervously at the Force that was encamped around their city. I was hoping that the time without another attack would cause the stronger ones to attempt a counter attack negating their defensive position.

  However none had come, something told me that something bad was going to happen. However at this point I was going to write it off as nerves.

  First though I was going to attack first draw the battle into the center while my troops wiped out the fodder in the outer fringes of Ogreburg.

  Sending a command I prepared my troops, jumping off I slammed into the wall, the stone walls warping around me as I blasted apart the walls. The Guards scrambled to react but didn't have much time before the puppet Yeti's reached the wall tearing through them.

  I sensed a flare of my [Flow of Combat] skill and dodged out the way. In my wake the destruction from a large ornate mace. It depicted a screaming yeti in its last moments. It's wielder stood at thirty feet tall his body was covered in furs from various animals.

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Fjalminar, you come to my home and you breed your Ash from my people's bones, you shall die" the Ogre stated with no dramatics just a simple statement. He followed up with another swing of his mace. The force behind the mace was Unnatural in the extreme. Winds were created in the still cavern air.

  Moving around it I fainted as it left shoulder and he didn't take the bait as he followed up with another strike.

  "Who are you?" I asked simply trying to figure how many resources I could dedicate to battling the Ogre before me.

  "I am the High Chief of the Ogres, though I suppose thanks to you I am the only Chieftain, and you will not make Ash of Weurnia" the High Chief stated and continued his assault.

  If he was the high Chief, then I was in luck. I could almost go all out and get this over with faster.

  "Good that makes this easy" I said before I blitzed around his mace and my blade bit into the knee of my opponent severing it from the rest of his body. Quickly returning to my feet, I looked in confusion as I saw one leg laying limp on the floor and another connected to what should have been a stump.

  I quickly ducked as the High Chief's mace tried to renovate my face. Standing up, I switched weapons to my club.

  "So you do wield a weapon of Nobility, it shall make a fine spoil" the now significantly more dangerous opponent replied. Ignoring him I struck outwards and he met my club with his mace and was rebuffed.

  "You are not as strong as your attacks make you appear" I replied as now I pressed the offensive the High Chief eyes growing wider. At the same time I called forth spears of stone easily connecting with the Conceptual Plain of spears in order to empower them. They glided through the Ogres flesh like dolphins through waves. The High Chief battled on even as he was losing. Meeting another one of his strikes, I heard a chorus raise from Weurnia's inhabitants.

  The dual roar was in a language that the system did not translate to me. Yet I felt a shift, the High Chief began to push back against my club.

  "Jyrōn yfa, Jyrōn yfa, Jyrōn yfa, Jyrōn yfa, Jyrōn yfa" the repeated the same phrase over an over again with a musical tone. The High Chief stood taller his muscles bulged, and he pushed the offensive.

  Somehow they manged to make a war chant empower their leader. Could the puppets recreate it? I would have to drop it to Anastasia. Moving back to evasion I struck out at the rig cage of the massive Pig. The High Chief barley flinched as he was struck.

  Pushing him back with a wave of earth, I decided to push the envelope a bit. See just how durable this guy was.

  "[PSEUDO-DOMAIN OF GEOMANCY, [ROVING TIDES]!" I shouted cutting through the cities chant of support even as puppets cut them down. The earth yielded to my command, yet something else also yielded to me I could feel it. The connection was tenuous at best but it was their.

  ...

  [Pseudonym Alert]

  Your Pseudonym [Fjalminar] has been upgraded.

  [Fjalminar(Father of Ash)]

  Intimidation Against Ogres: +10%

  Deeper Connection to the Conceptual Plain of [Destruction] & [Ash]

  ...

  [Alert!]

  Emotional Aspect of [Anger] has been activated due to the emotions of your enemies! This effect combined with your Pseudonym [Fjalminar] had added a new temporary effect to your Domain Skill.

  -[Fatherhood of Ash]

  Grants the ability to manipulate ash that you or your allies create, directly or indirectly.

  ...

  Dismissing the notification I called forth the wave of Ash, It was a pain to control but it would hopefully freak them the fuck out. Freak them out it did, as the ash didn't do a lot of damage initially but it would choke them out.

  The sight of the ash seemed to enrage my enemy all the more as he continued his pressure. However the wave of earth where on my side and the ash that collected in air became like fog descending in the inhabitants stopping their singing. The battle was firmly on my favor as I began to raze the whole city under earth and ash. I summoned my trusty dagger in my left hand swinging out the blade it nicked the chest of the High Chief.

  Switching out my club for my sword I began to create a whirlwind of sword and dagger strikes. Even as the Ogre healed the cursed energy remained. Ogre Blood flooded around us as we fought, and my opponent weakened under my assault.

  "FJALMINAR!!!! MY PEOPLE WILL NOT FALL TODAY! WE LIVE TO SEE THE TREES BLOOM ONCE MORE" the last push of the ogre Warlord as he brought his last breathes of life as he tried to kill me with one last barrage of attacks. Moving around them I watched as the High Ogre flagged his strength fleeing him as he fell into his knees his eyes burning with hatred.

  "No, your people will die here but the memories of your final days will live in mine" I spoke before decapitating the High Chief.

  I stood their watching as the ash shifted and the kill count tracker of the quest ticked up to the max. I was ignoring the ones that came after killing the Ogre chief.

  Then the counter finished and as the number filled to the max something shifted.

  Then the walls glowed a sickly maroon and my senses went crazy. Something was happening and It was definitely not in the best interest of my bodily survival. So I got the fuck out of dodge.

  The glow continued to intensify as me and the puppets over looked the city ruins. The glowing energy intensified and coalesced into a point shining at the point in the settlement.

  Then it flashed and it was over and a haze of cursed and eldritch energy vibrated throughout the city.

  ...

  [Tutorial Update]

  New Mini Boss recognized...

  [Objective Added]

  -[The Last Ogre]

  The Ogre Shaman has sacrificed him and his people eternal souls in a bargain with beings of the Higher Plain of Paradox.

  Requirements: Kill the [Eldritch Spirit Of Vengeance], Survive

  Rewards: ???

  ...