Chapter 9 : The Strange Feeling
As the situation escalated, the ogre's hunger fueled its aggression. It singled out the injured Ark as an easy target and ruthlessly attacked him, causing further harm to his already injured body. The other three trainees, including Vina, tried to intervene, but their efforts weren't enough to stop the raging beast. Vina's attempt to strike the ogre's neck with her aura-infused attack only managed to inflict a superficial wound, leaving the creature even more furious.
Amidst the chaos, Kaizen found an opportunity to act. He bravely rushed towards Ark, using the trees as cover, and managed to support his injured friend outside the field of battle. Carefully, he lowered Ark's back against a tree, providing him with some much-needed stability.
As the intense battle raged on, the 4th year trainees, including Vina, were exhausted. Their repeated attacks and efforts to distract the ogre had taken a toll on their bodies and their reserves of aura. Even though they were skilled knights, facing an "A" rank monster like the ogre was no easy feat.
Breathing heavily, they tried to muster whatever energy they had left to continue the fight. The ogre's relentless assaults had pushed them to their limits, and they knew that they couldn't keep this up for much longer. But their determination to protect their team and survive the encounter kept them going, even as their muscles screamed for rest.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Kaizen made a daring move to join the desperate fight against the formidable ogre. He declared his intent to help, gripping his sword and magic dagger firmly. Despite not being able to use the magical skills imbued in the dagger, Kaizen knew that the weapon's quality could still be put to good use.
Ascending a nearby tree, Kaizen seized the advantage of height and leaped onto the ogre's back, attempting to deliver a powerful slash to the beast's vulnerable neck. However, to his dismay, the attack proved ineffective against the monster's tough hide. Undeterred, Kaizen knew he had to think quickly and find another strategy.
The enraged ogre now shifted its attention solely on Kaizen, who was an easy target standing atop its back. Without an aura shield to protect him, Kaizen realized that one direct hit from the ogre could mean certain death. Determined to survive, Kaizen acted on instinct and rolled along the ground, evading the massive hand that threatened to crush him. The timely maneuver spared him from the deadly blow.
As Kaizen continued to evade the ogre's attacks, a strange sensation washed over him. Amidst the chaos and danger, an unexplainable feeling of euphoria filled his heart. It was as if an external force was pushing him to keep going, to embrace the adrenaline rushing through his veins, and find an extraordinary strength within himself.
The rapid beating of his heart intensified, and he could feel each thump reverberating through his entire body. He couldn't help but smile, despite the dire situation he was in. It was a peculiar sense of joy, one that he couldn't comprehend, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Despite the ogre's overwhelming strength and its relentless pursuit, Kaizen's movements became more fluid and precise. His senses were heightened, and he anticipated the ogre's attacks with uncanny accuracy. He felt an almost instinctive connection with the rhythm of the battle, allowing him to dodge and evade the ogre's strikes with surprising grace.
As the battle continued, Kaizen's consciousness began to blur. The excitement and elation he felt were almost overwhelming, and he struggled to understand the source of this newfound strength. In the midst of this mental fog, he heard a chilling scream, and his attention snapped back to the battle.
To his surprise, the ogre was the one screaming in agony. The realization hit Kaizen that he had inflicted a wound on the monster, a wound that had caused it immense pain.