Chapter 65: Ogres and Humans

In the southern Ogre Basin, Ugar Skullcrusher, as usual, led a few Dragonvein Ogres on a hunting expedition.

After the torrential rain, the far northern ice plains were now basked in sunshine, cloudless and exceptionally clear, a rare good weather. Many ice plain creatures ventured out to enjoy the gentle caress of the sun, including magical beasts.

Having tasted the benefits of hunting to the south, Ugar Skullcrusher now frequently moved southward during his hunts.

Within the week, he and his tribe had hunted three large magical creatures, all severely wounded and temporarily kept in the Ogre Basin, to be offered as tributes to Garon when the time was right.

Garon required one beast per week, but Ugar Skullcrusher always exceeded the quota, diligently providing more.

Besides the Savage Frost Tiger, it was Ugar Skullcrusher and his Dragonvein Ogres who could provide high-quality food for Garon. The Northern Ice Spirits, Terror Lizards, and White Hounds, along with other kin formed hunting teams capable of supplying more ordinary quality food.

They were numerous, but lacked high-end combat strength.

At this moment, five ogres, carrying large spiked mallets or wooden clubs and dressed in simple tanned hide, moved slowly across the sunlit far northern ice plains.

After some time, Ugar Skullcrusher paused, exchanging glances with the other ogres.

Just as they had crossed a low ice mountain, nearly a kilometer away, they spotted a group of twelve humans.

Eleven of these humans were agile and sturdy, dressed in simple light armor enchanted against the cold, with crossbows at their right hips and blades at their left, moving carefully and vigilantly observing their surroundings.

One wore a gray robe, around thirty years old, holding a short, simple staff and wearing a badge on his chest.

Upon seeing the five giant-like Dragonvein Ogres, the human team also froze.

Ugar Skullcrusher looked up at the sky and couldn't help but feel moved.

"Once again, I thank nature's bounty."

He felt that his luck had been extraordinarily good lately.

The great true dragon master did not like to eat tender-skinned children; these adults might just suit his taste.

Seconds after the ogres and humans encountered each other, and before the ogres could attack, the human mage quickly chanted a spell, solemnly warning, "Ogres! These big fools aren't easy to handle, everyone be careful!"

He muttered a spell and waved his staff, casting a layer of elemental glow over his companions.

A first-level spell, Featherfoot.

Ugar Skullcrusher knew this human was casting spells. He howled and led the charge, followed closely by the other Dragonvein Ogres.

As the tank-like ogres started their full sprint, the ground trembled violently, causing the human team to turn pale.

As the distance closed, they saw the true size of the Dragonvein Ogres.

Each stood over three meters tall, adorned with small scales, their ferocious momentum nearly suffocating.

The human mage's fingers turned white as he hastily chanted, casting two more supportive spells before the ogres reached them.

A second-level spell, Weapon Enchantment.

The humans' blades became sharper.

A first-level spell, Barkskin.

A layer of vine armor wrapped around their upper bodies.

At the same time, the ogres roared and charged into the human defense line.

Ugar Skullcrusher was the first to arrive; his two-meter long black mallet swung violently, the powerful force accompanied by a whistling wind swept across.

Crash!

Three human warriors within his reach changed color; under the overwhelming force, their weapons flew from their hands, and they were hurled away like ragdolls, the world spinning around them.

Their bark armor shattered, saving their lives but leaving them powerless to stand up once they hit the ground.

Other human warriors mustered their courage to counterattack, but their enchanted blades could only inflict a small, negligible cut on the ogres.

"Haha, weak little things, are you trying to tickle us?"

The ogres shouted in Giant, continuing their assault.

The initial clash displayed their ferocity, quickly turning the fight into a one-sided rout.

The human mage at the back turned pale, steadying his nerves to cast another spell.

Whoosh!

A ray of frost shot at an ogre, but aside from causing it to turn its head and lock its gaze onto the mage, it did nothing more.

The ogre laughed menacingly, leaped high, and landed heavily right in front of the human mage.

Moments later, the ogres, with minor wounds, stood over a scattering of human bodies.

Knowing Garon preferred fresh food, they left these humans barely alive; one ogre carried two or three humans, turning to leave, leaving behind only chaos.

Back at the ice cliff dragon's

 nest, Garon had just woken up, contemplating whether to go hunting to stretch his limbs.

Before he could decide, a familiarly excited voice in Giant came from below.

"Master, Ugar has good things to offer you, you will surely like them."

Hearing Ugar Skullcrusher's excited call, Garon's gaze shifted, and he left the nest.

Seconds later, he looked strangely at the gathering of ogres in front of him, along with the magical beasts they brought and about a dozen humans whose life force was extremely weak, almost expired.

Could it be that the Skullcrusher tribe's ogres have developed a taste for human flesh? Why had they been bringing humans to him one after another?

"Master, Ugar has been very lucky lately, encountering rare and delicious humans."

After a pause, Ugar Skullcrusher cautiously added, "Since they were capable fighters, it was difficult to capture them alive, so we had to bring them like this."

"Ugar, where did you find these humans?" Garon asked.

Ugar Skullcrusher thought for a moment and truthfully replied, "Towards the south, about eighty kilometers from our Skullcrusher tribe."

Garon was silent, scrutinizing the humans, pondering in his mind.

Humans?

It seemed they were a team with a purpose in the far northern ice plains, not just wandering in aimlessly.

Garon felt that their appearance here might be related to Morton.

The old mage's flight to the far northern ice plains had brought many strange humans to this rarely visited, frigid place recently.

"What kind of humans do you like to eat? Please tell Ugar, and if I encounter suitable ones next time, I will do my best to capture them for you."

Ugar Skullcrusher thought these people were not to Garon's taste, which is why Garon appeared contemplative and slow to act, so he bravely asked.

Garon:

Faced with this strangely lucky, yet persistent kin trying to provide him with human snacks, he responded somewhat helplessly, "I do not like to eat humans."

"In the future, if you encounter humans you think are special, you can capture them, try to take them alive; for ordinary ones, you handle it."

Ugar Skullcrusher was stunned, then slowly nodded, "Ugar understands, what about the other three magical creatures, do you find them satisfactory?"

"They are fine, you have done well, you are an excellent kin."

Garon rarely praised Ugar Skullcrusher.

A smile of joy and pride spread across its face, and it happily said, "It is Ugar's honor to contribute food for the great master. Ugar will continue to strive and ensure not to disappoint you."