Chapter 54: Ono

"Why don't we show you around our village? I will gladly tour you!"

"Ah yes please!"

Hnung guided the siblings and began to tour them to their homes.

"Truth is we didn't live in this village first. We used to live far away from this forest, my tribe and I were only a couple of numbers at that time."

"Then what lead you to this part of the forest then?"

Lerak sensing no threat, questioned Hnung as they started walking in the village.

"My tribe faced a great foe known as a Minotaur. We lost one companion and we were droved out of our forest. I used myself as bait to lure the minotaur away and managed to live. I managed to meet well a Beastmen, a wolf Beastmen. He was umm, lost just like me..."

"After that, we traveled for many days alongside the goddess apostle. It was also my first time speaking with the god of the ogres, Orcus!"

"You have a god as well?"

"Yes, my tribe has..."

Hnung pointed at the statue of an ogre standing with his two axes in his hands. There was another statue, of a huge wolf.

"That is the ogre's god Orcus, and that one is the apostle of the ogres and the wolves, the apostles were sent to aid both our tribes. As such we also worship the majestic wolf"

"Ehem, the apostles guided me and my companion back into his tribe. I learned many useful skills there, and after spending a few days the apostles guided me back to my tribe."

"After coming back, the apostles helped my tribe and we settled here in this peaceful village of ours.."

Listening to Hnung's story, Lerak couldn't help but compare their tribe to theirs. Forced out of their land, to venture onto the unknown.

"So your apostle is a wolf..."

"Yes, the majestic wolf who saved my tribe from extinction!"

'How great it must have been if our apostles saved us as well'

Lerak grimaced, but he didn't fully believe the story yet. For his tribe, the sky was a place for the gods to reside. They watch over everything. But what made Lerak doubt the existence of the goddess was that the goddess had neither sent her apostle to save them.

"Wow, your houses are amazing!"

Krag easily let down his guard, Krag ran to one of the houses made of wood.

"This house looks comfy as well, back in our old hometown our homes were made of rocks and clay. With some grass as well. But this house looks comfy.."

"If you want, I can send some of my men to help you build your homes in the forest."

"Ehh? Really?! Thanks!"

"Momma look!"

Lerak and Krag glanced up to see children watching them from bridges in the sky.

"Ogres live in the bottom of the village, meanwhile the goblins live on the tree. We made this so if ever a strong enemy comes the goblins can easily escape. Many of the children were also taught how to move fast on the trees to help them escape if ever there is an incident.."

There were many men and women on top of the bridges walking casually.

Lerak and Krag noticed a big house on a tree, it had two stories and there were many children inside.

"What's that?"

"Hmm? Oh you mean the school?"

"School?"

"Oii uncle!"

Suddenly an ogre ran to their side. It was Phi, after that incident, Phi decided to spend more time with his family, he had also given up the title of the champion. Instead, he became a teacher in the school.

"Hello, there you must be the new visitors Nice to meet you I'm Phi!"

"This is my nephew, Phi.."

Lerak and Krag bowed their heads.

"Nice to meet you as well.."

Suddenly three small children ran to Phi's side holding small wooden axes.

"Mwahahaha twake twis Papa!"

"Kwill da monster!"

"Jahahahaha awxe slawsh!"

The three children began to barrage Phi with all sorts of hits.

"I hope you have a nice time, by the way maybe you have some children in your tribe. Our school is welcoming and will accept any students!"

Suddenly the three children were out of breath from hitting their father.

"Hiekkk"

"Wahh"

"Papa won't dwop dead!! Wahhhh"

"Huh? Oh right!"

Phi immediately played the part and slumped to the ground.

"Ahhh I'm badly hurt...you are such strong warriors. Papa is dying..."

"Yeheyy!!"

"We vwanqueshed the mwonster!"

"Yippie!"

Lerak and Krag watched the scene a bit awkwardly. Meanwhile, Hnung gestures for the two of them to follow as they continue their tour.

....

"Hyahh!"

On a small island, there was a man with blue hair, a pair of gray eyes. The man was catching fish on the shore.

Plop!

Some of the fish would swim away as the man got close. But immediately the man stretches his hands and sharp claws lunged at the fish. The blood of the fish stained the water, meanwhile, the man's pupils started to narrow.

"Ono!"

A woman with long gray hair and a pair of gray eyes ran closer to Ono.

"Hurry!"

The girl shouted. Ono's instinct felt that there was a huge beast on the horizon, Ono immediately ran to the coast.

As he arrived on the coast, in the distance was a huge fish. The fish feeling that the prey was gone swam back to the deep sea.

"That was close Ono!"

"Maki, thank you for the warning. But you mustn't run like that, it's dangerous...Especially for the little one"

"It's still early Ono, it won't hurt the child.."

"Hah, but we must take precautions. Our numbers are slowly depleting..."

The couple went back to their tribe. Many of the women, men, and small children gathered in front of the huge stone. The stone was an image of Lux and their apostle on the side.

After their prayers, the chief and everyone gathered.

"Chief what do we do? Huge monsters are roaming near the island, we can't even venture a little further off the island due to them immediately attacking us..."

"Not only that, our food is getting scarce. The island for an unknown reason is starting to produce fruits that aren't even digestible."

"Not only that for another unknown reason, the animals have begun dying one by one."

Everyone was in jeopardy, their numbers have dwindled. They haven't had any food that could further sustain their tribe any longer. Countless monsters are roaming in the sea, they couldn't venture far to hunt for food or leave the island.

"The goddess must have cursed us"

"Now everyone don't say that, please! Our goddess has not cursed us, this is simply a test!"

"A test? But chief we are slowly dying, my husband is in bed and was even plagued! What can we do?"

"Chief we need an answer now!"

Maki and Ono went home, they didn't want to enter the fight. As they entered their home, Ono cooked the fish he had caught.

But suddenly the fish on the table started to stench. Ono took the fish and threw it out.

"Guess we're not having food for today..."

"Your right..."

Some of the fishes would instinctively be poisonous that even they couldn't eat. As such survival became intense.

"Ono, it's going to be alright right?"

"Of course, the goddess is watching over us. She wouldn't leave us be..."

"Your right..."

Seeing his mate asleep, Ono went out of their home and knocked on the chief's door.

"Ono I'm glad you are here..."

"Chief, I'll do it..."

"Are you sure about this Ono? This is a very dangerous task..."

"If it's for everyone in the tribe to survive, I will do it. Just please take care of my mate for me chief.."

"I will.."

On the table inside of the chief's home was a map inscribed on a rock.

"Many years ago, the goddess apostle, the almighty great shark had protected our tribe for many years. But after that, he fell into a deep slumber. Our apostle was the one keeping the balance, and the one who scared many of the creatures away from our tribe."

"For our tribe to not go extinct, you must wake our apostle of his deep slumber..."

Ono nodded his head. He held the map and put it inside a small basket made of coconut leaves.

"There is a secret passage on the other side of the island. A cave will present itself, enter the cave and dive deep down. But be warned, the water is dangerous, one wrong move and the current will pull you inside a never-ending loop.."

"How did you know about this tunnel chief?"

"It was because my friend and I were the ones who tucked the apostle to sleep. My friend and I were the ones who covered our apostle to protect him from any predators while he was asleep. At that time, my friend and I found the cave. But it wasn't easy to get out, there were tons of currents trying to pull your body. But Luckily we both made it out alive.."