The moment they saw the massive ogre… everything froze.
It wasn't just fear—it was pure, suffocating terror.
The creature sat there, tearing apart a wild bull, blood dripping from its jaws. But then—
THUD.
The ogre suddenly threw the bull's severed head toward them.
It landed right in front of the group.
For a second… silence.
Then someone broke.
"I-I CAN'T—!!"
A scream echoed through the cave.
That single scream shattered whatever control they had left.
Nyra, Alex, Leo, and Kio all instinctively turned forward again—
The ogre had stopped eating.
Slowly…
It turned its head toward them.
Their eyes met.
And in that instant—
The ogre stood up.
ROOOOAAARRRR!!!
Its roar shook the cave walls.
Leo's heart pounded violently. But he didn't freeze.
Instead—
"RUN!!" Leo shouted.
Everyone snapped out of it and started running out of the cave.
Leo clenched his teeth.
I have to handle this… alone.
As they reached outside—
"Split up! Run in different directions!" Leo yelled.
But the moment he said that—
Something came flying toward them.
Leo's instincts screamed.
He turned—
A massive, razor-sharp axe was spinning through the air, heading straight at them.
If it hit—
They'd be sliced in half.
Without hesitation, Leo pulled out his katana.
CLANG!!!
He blocked the axe.
The impact shook his entire body.
And then—
Heavy footsteps echoed.
From the cave…
A giant ogre stepped out.
Even bigger.
Even more terrifying.
Leo's eyes narrowed.
…This might be their king.
The ogre roared again and picked up its axe.
Its gaze locked onto Leo.
"This thing… wants to kill us," Leo muttered.
Then he shouted—
"We have to fight it together!"
Kio hesitated. "Can… can this even be defeated?"
Leo's voice hardened.
"It has to be. Or we die."
"I don't want to die!" Alex shouted in panic.
The ogre instantly turned toward him.
It raised its axe—
Ready to strike.
But—
Leo pushed Alex back at the last second.
CLANG
He deflected the attack.
"If you don't want to fight—RUN!" Leo shouted. "I'll hold it off!"
For a moment… everyone hesitated.
Then—
Nyra stepped forward.
"…No. We fight."
Kio and Alex looked at each other… then nodded nervously.
"Alright… we're in."
Leo gave a small nod.
"Good."
He looked at Alex—
And Alex understood.
He slammed his hand to the ground.
A massive swamp formed beneath the ogre.
The creature began sinking.
Leo tightened his grip on his katana.
When it sinks halfway… I'll end it.
But—
The ogre roared and forced its body upward.
Its muscles bulged.
It pulled itself out.
Then—
With a single leap, it jumped back.
Alex's eyes widened.
"…No one has ever escaped that…"
Leo smirked slightly.
"Get used to surprises."
Then—
He vanished.
In a flash, Leo appeared in front of the ogre and slashed at its shoulder.
CLANG!
The blade barely cut.
Leo's expression darkened.
"…Its skin is too thick."
"Nyra! Hold it!"
Roots burst from the ground, binding the ogre's arms.
"Kio! Attack!"
Wind gathered around Kio's hands.
He unleashed multiple wind slashes.
They struck the ogre—
But it barely reacted.
"Damn it…" Leo muttered.
Then he shouted—
"Kio! Aim for the shoulder—where I struck!"
Kio nodded.
He gathered all the surrounding air into his hand.
The wind compressed violently.
"Wind Cutter!!"
He released a massive slash—
SLASH!!
It struck the exact spot.
This time—
A deep wound opened.
The ogre screamed in pain.
"ROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!"
Its roar echoed far beyond—
And in the distance…
Other ogres began moving toward them.
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
This just got worse…
The ogre broke one arm free.
Then the other.
It charged toward Nyra.
But—
Leo leapt into the air.
SLASH!!
He struck its back.
Blood splattered.
The ogre turned its full attention toward Leo now.
Leo landed, breathing heavily.
Then—
He closed his eyes for a second.
And unleashed his aura.
A powerful energy surged around him.
The air trembled.
Leo took a stance.
Then—
He disappeared.
In an instant, he launched multiple high-speed slashes.
The ogre roared in agony.
Mid-air—
Leo spun—
And cut its left eye.
Blood burst out.
The ogre staggered, half-blind.
Leo landed—
Then jumped again, aiming for the right eye.
But—
BOOM!!
The ogre punched him mid-air.
Leo crashed into the ground.
Before he could recover—
The ogre grabbed his leg—
And slammed him violently.
Blood spilled from Leo's mouth.
For a moment…
Everything blurred.
He looked toward Nyra.
She raised her hand—
A green aura surrounded her.
Roots surged again, restraining the ogre.
Alex created an even larger swamp beneath it.
Kio continued launching wind slashes nonstop.
Leo slowly stood up.
Blood dripping from his lips.
His hands trembled—
But he gripped his katana tighter.
His aura flared even stronger.
The ogre sensed it—
And struggled harder.
Leo's eyes turned cold.
"You've made me… angry."
In the next moment—
He vanished.
No one saw it.
Not even his teammates.
Just a flash—
And silence.
Leo appeared behind the ogre.
For a second…
Nothing happened.
Then—
The ogre's head slid off.
Blood erupted like a fountain.
Its massive body collapsed.
THUD.
Silence returned.
Leo stood there… breathing heavily.
Then—
His legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees.