The Path to Freedom

"So, what should we do next?" Leo asked Justin, his brow furrowed with worry, the weight of their predicament hanging heavily in the air.

"Hmm," Justin replied, his gaze drifting as he contemplated their options. "First, how much have you saved up? Let me know if it's enough to cover the goblin's fee to free you from this situation."

Leo hesitated, a knot tightening in his stomach. The truth was difficult to voice. "I don't know how to say this, but I'm flat broke."

Justin's eyes widened in disbelief, shock rippling across his features. "What? You're not even considering buying yourself out of slavery? How could you be flat broke?"

Leo averted his gaze, grappling with the truth that felt almost absurd. *How could he explain that he had entered someone else's body, a reckless spender who had squandered everything?* Instead, he said, "Isn't there a chance we could find more monsters to fight? Maybe that would help me earn enough money."

Justin sighed, a blend of frustration and concern etched on his face. "I like you, Leo. I consider you a friend, which is why I'm putting in extra effort to help you. But if you think defeating a hundred more goblins will cover it, we're in trouble. Honestly, I don't have time for that. We need to move on to stronger monsters that offer better rewards."

Leo nodded, determination brewing within him. "Then let's find those stronger monsters. I can't stay trapped like this forever."

Justin smiled, a flicker of hope igniting. "Alright. Let's head toward the Dark Woods. I've heard rumors of ogres lurking there. They offer much better rewards than goblins. With my pointers, I'm sure you can take them down."

"I noticed you don't have a weapon," Justin continued thoughtfully. "Maybe when we get back, I can give you one of my old ones. But your hands pack a punch; I guess you're getting stronger."

Justin paused, then added, "Ogres aren't as smart as goblins. They're quite dim-witted, but their strength is far greater. Just remember, they can hit hard. And when we get back, remind me to get you a monster encyclopedia. It'll help you learn about their weaknesses, strengths, and special features—like how a goblin can evolve into a Goblin King. Trust me, it'll ease the burden of figuring all this out on your own."

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "But be careful in the woods. There are even stronger monsters deeper in, ones I can't handle myself. If we don't bother them, they won't bother us. Let's stick to the edges for now."

As Leo and Justin ventured deeper into the Dark Woods, a sense of unease settled over them. The trees loomed tall and shadowy, their gnarled branches twisting like fingers. Suddenly, they stumbled upon a group of ogres. Leo's heart raced as he took in their massive forms, towering over him. 

"Wow, they're huge! How do you fight something like that?" Leo exclaimed, a mix of awe and fear in his voice.

Justin's expression turned serious. "These aren't just any ogres; these are ogre warriors. They've evolved and are much stronger, with high defensive capabilities. You'll need to punch them with all your strength—hard enough to make a hole in their bodies."

Leo gulped. "Isn't that a bit... inhumane?"

Justin shot him a look. "Do you want to die? They've noticed us and are coming this way! If you don't start moving, you'll be in serious trouble. And remember, I'll be up in the trees, watching. I can feel that you've gotten stronger, so you should be able to handle them."

As the ogres approached, their heavy footsteps thudded ominously against the forest floor. Leo took a deep breath, steeling himself for the fight ahead. The first ogre charged at him, its wild hair flying in the wind, a massive club raised high.

With a quick sidestep, Leo dodged the ogre's swing. He could feel the air whoosh past him as the club missed by inches. Channeling his determination, Leo swung his fist with all his might, landing a solid punch right in the ogre's gut. To his surprise, his hand sank into the ogre's flesh, and the creature stumbled back, a look of shock on its face.

"Nice hit!" Justin shouted from above, his voice filled with encouragement.

Emboldened by Justin's words, Leo turned to face the next ogre, which was coming at him from the side. He sidestepped again, and as the ogre swung its club, Leo ducked low and delivered a powerful uppercut that connected with the ogre's chin. The creature let out a roar, its head snapping back as it fell to the ground, dazed.

But Leo couldn't celebrate just yet. The remaining two ogres rushed at him in unison. Leo quickly assessed his options. He could see their muscles bulging, their eyes filled with fury. They were fast and strong, but he had learned from his earlier encounters. He had to be smart.

As the first ogre lunged, Leo ducked and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow. He pushed himself up, spinning around to face the second ogre. With a swift movement, he kicked up dirt, throwing it into the ogre's eyes. It stumbled back, momentarily blinded.

"Now, Leo! Finish it!" Justin shouted, urging him on.

Seizing the opportunity, Leo charged forward and delivered a brutal punch to the blinded ogre's stomach, just as he had done before. The creature groaned and fell to its knees. 

Turning to the last remaining ogre, Leo felt a surge of confidence. This one was smaller, but still dangerous. The ogre bared its teeth and charged. Leo braced himself, knowing he had to end this quickly. He took a deep breath and waited for the right moment.

As the ogre drew closer, Leo sidestepped and pivoted, catching the ogre off balance. With all his strength, he unleashed a powerful jab, hitting the ogre right in the side. The blow sent the creature sprawling to the ground, defeated.

Breathing heavily, Leo looked around at the fallen ogres. He had done it. "I can't believe I actually fought them!" he exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and pride filling him.

As Leo stood over the fallen ogres, he felt a surge of triumph. But suddenly, the ogre he thought he had defeated let out a low growl and pushed itself up from the ground. Its eyes blazed with fury, and it seemed to enter a kind of rage mode, the muscles in its arms bulging even more as it gripped its club tightly.

Before Leo could react, the enraged ogre swung its club wildly, aiming straight for him. Leo's heart raced as he barely managed to dodge the first swing, feeling the air rush past him. The ground shook with each swing, and the ogre was relentless.

Just as he thought he had enough distance, the ogre swung again, and this time, the club came crashing down toward him. Leo instinctively raised his arms to shield himself, but the force of the blow was immense. He caught the club, but the impact knocked him backward, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Dazed, Leo struggled to get back on his feet as the ogre roared in triumph. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Shaking off the disorientation, he steadied himself and faced the raging ogre once more.

"You won't take me down that easily!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination.

Gathering his strength, Leo charged at the ogre again. This time, he ducked under the wild swing of the club and closed the distance quickly. With all his might, he jumped and delivered a powerful punch right into the ogre's stomach. The creature gasped, its rage momentarily replaced by shock.

But the ogre quickly recovered, swinging its club again. Leo sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of wind as the club whooshed past him. He could sense the beast growing more frantic, its movements becoming less controlled.

Seizing the moment, Leo focused. He could see an opening as the ogre reared back for another swing. He took a deep breath and leaped forward, aiming for the ogre's arm. With a swift kick, he knocked the club from its grasp, sending it clattering to the ground.

Now unarmed, the ogre looked momentarily vulnerable. Leo didn't hesitate. He rushed in and delivered a series of quick punches to the creature's midsection, each one landing with a satisfying thud. The ogre stumbled back, struggling to regain its balance.

With one final surge of strength, Leo launched himself forward, delivering a powerful uppercut that connected squarely with the ogre's chin. The creature's eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the ground, finally defeated.

Breathing heavily, Leo looked down at the fallen ogre. He had faced his fears and come out on top. "I can't believe I actually did it!" he exclaimed, adrenaline still coursing through him.

Justin emerged from the trees, a proud smile on his face. "You were incredible, Leo! That was some serious fighting. You've really come a long way."

Leo nodded, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. "Thanks, Justin. I couldn't have done it without your support. But we should move on before more come looking for their friends." 

"Good idea. Let's gather what we can and keep moving," Justin replied, giving Leo an encouraging clap on the back. "We should head to the nearest village. They'll sign an approval seal for how many monsters you've killed. Once you have that seal, you can take it back to the capital to collect your payment."

Leo's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds perfect! I just want to get my money and figure out our next steps."

As they searched the area for loot, Leo picked up a few shiny trinkets that the ogres had dropped—a small pouch filled with gold coins and a tattered map that looked like it might lead to treasure. Justin examined the map, nodding in approval.

"This could be useful later," Justin said, tucking it away. "Now, let's make our way to that village. It shouldn't be too far from here, but we need to stay alert. We might still run into other monsters on the way."

They set off along a winding path that led toward the village. The dense forest began to thin out, revealing a clearing dotted with small cottages. As they walked, Leo felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

"What if they don't believe I defeated those ogres?" he asked, glancing at Justin.

"They'll believe you," Justin replied confidently. "Just show them the ears you took as proof."

"And what about the goblins?" Leo added. "I defeated a bunch of them too."

"Good point! Make sure to include that in your report to the chief. Every kill counts," Justin encouraged.

As they approached the village, the sounds of lively chatter and laughter reached their ears. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, and Leo could see villagers bustling about, carrying goods and chatting with one another. The sight filled him with hope.

They entered the village, where a central square was alive with activity. Leo took a moment to soak it all in, watching children play and vendors call out to passersby.

"Let's find the village chief," Justin suggested. "He'll be the one to give you the seal for your kills."

They navigated through the crowd until they spotted a modest building adorned with a sign that read "Village Hall." Justin pushed open the door, and they stepped inside. The room was warm and welcoming, filled with wooden furniture and a large map of the area hanging on the wall.

The village chief, an older man with a long beard and kind eyes, looked up from his desk. "What brings you two adventurers here?" he asked, a curious smile on his face.

Leo stepped forward, heart pounding. "I've defeated four warrior ogres and ten goblins in the woods nearby and wanted to get an approval seal for my kills."

The chief's eyes widened in surprise. "Four warrior ogres? That's no small feat! Do you have proof?"

Leo quickly reached into his pack and pulled out the severed ears of the ogres and a handful of goblin ears, holding them out for the chief to see. "These are from the monsters I defeated."

The chief examined the ears closely, his expression shifting from surprise to admiration. "Incredible! You've truly proven yourself," he said, clearly impressed. "I'll provide you with a seal for your bravery. However, you'll need to take this to the capital to collect your payment, as we don't have the funds here."

Leo felt a rush of relief and excitement. "Thank you! I appreciate it."

After a few moments, the chief wrote out a seal and handed it to Leo. "Take this to the capital's treasury. They'll ensure you receive your due."

"Thank you, sir!" Leo replied, taking the seal carefully.

As they left the village hall, Justin turned to Leo. "Now that you have the seal, we need to prepare for the journey to the mansion. There the contractor will settle the account for you and you will be freed.