Demon beetle

Day by day passed until one morning, when Alexander opened his eyes to find darkness still enveloping the outside of the hut.

"The polar night has come!" Ravenna's voice carried a weight as she and Cassana clung to Alexander's arms, one on each side.

Alexander could feel the concern of the women in his hut.

"Don't worry, I'm here!" Alexander reassured, patting Ravenna's bottom and also giving Cassana's soft breast a squeeze.

"Prepare food for me, I'll be back soon!"

Alexander got up, donned a set of leather armor, and stepped out of the hut, cloaked.

In Alligator Turtle Valley, fires burned everywhere.

Arriving at the chief's hut, most of the elder council members were already present. The atmosphere was tense; no ogre spoke.

If it were just the winter, most species in the Black Forest could survive until spring. But with the polar night, the coming of dark creatures along with the biting cold turned into a nightmare for all living beings in the Black Forest.

Once everyone had gathered, James spoke in a deep voice, "From now on, our ogre tribe will guard around the clock!"

"I, Elder Ferrer, and Alexander will lead teams in turns to guard Alligator Turtle Valley."

"I've divided the elder council into three teams to lead all our bloodline warriors in defending Alligator Turtle Valley."

"Remember, the crisis for ogres has arrived. Do not let the fires of Alligator Turtle Valley be extinguished."

As the council meeting ended and Alexander stepped out of the chief hut, four elders followed him.

"Go prepare. Eat well, drink plenty, and ensure your weapons are ready. We'll start our shift this afternoon!"

"WAAAGH!" The four elders responded to Alexander, turning to gather their respective guards and return to their huts.

Alexander, braving the wind and snow, gazed into the darkness beyond the valley.

"This is my chance to grow stronger, an opportunity I cannot miss!"

It was still dark in the afternoon. Alexander, now accompanied by the four ogre elders Gorthok, Brungar, Thragg, and Mordok, had taken over the shift from Elder Ferrer's team.

Standing atop the stone watchtower of Alligator Turtle Valley, Alexander let the cold wind whip against him.

"This kind of cold wind brings back memories!" Gorthok, standing behind Alexander, was in his prime, with a fierce scar stretching from his eye to his chest. 

He was a one-eyed ogre, having lost his eye to a dark creature last winter.

"What kind of dark creatures did you encounter last winter, Elder Gorthok?" Alexander asked, his calm tone slightly easing the tense nerves of the elders.

"A humanoid dark creature, we call them Nightwalkers!"

"Their limbs are deformed, some with blades, others with pincers... all sorts of oddities."

"Some even have multiple arms. Their bodies are bizarre, extremely agile. These Nightwalkers are not something a regular ogre can contend with."

Gorthok spoke with a lingering fear in his voice. Even Brungar, Thragg, and Mordok, who had also experienced the last winter, looked worried.

Alexander frowned, noticing the low morale. This was not a good sign!

Alexander pondered for a moment, then released the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus. With a powerful leap, he jumped onto the back of the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus, gripping his spear in hand.

Roar... 

The next moment, a roar from the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus reverberated through the entire valley. Simultaneously, Alexander's deep, resonant voice also rose.

"Brothers and sisters of the ogre tribe, I am Alexander!"

"The harsh winter descends, darkness approaches. Arm yourselves and join me to resist the invaders, to defend our homeland!"

In Alligator Turtle Valley, the ogres were initially startled, but quickly some began to respond.

"It's Alexander, the ogre knight, the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus!"

"Yes, it's Alexander, the mightiest bloodline warrior of the ogres!"

"Is Alexander fighting the enemy?"

...

Alexander didn't hear the ogres' discussions; he continued to passionately call out.

"For our families, for our tribe, are you willing to fight?"

Roar...

With every sentence Alexander uttered, the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus let out a fierce, ear-piercing roar.

The previously anxious atmosphere of Alligator Turtle Valley suddenly lightened.

"WAAAGH!"

It was unclear who among the ogres first bellowed "WAAAGH," but soon the entire valley resounded with passionate cries of "WAAAGH!"

Even from the huts deep in the valley, voices joined in.

Hearing these rallying cries echoing through the valley, a smile appeared on Alexander's face.

But behind that smile was a fierce determination and an impatient desire.

Deep in Alligator Turtle Valley, James and Elder Ferrer, discussing matters in a hut, stepped out and exchanged a glance.

"Youngsters lack experience!" James sighed. Alexander's attempt to boost morale was good, but such commotion would surely attract nearby dark creatures.

"It's okay, let it be a lesson!"

"Alexander is young and needs to grow. Without experiencing some things, how can he be our mainstay?" James nodded, agreeing with Elder Ferrer.

"Elder, you rest first. I'll keep watch here and inform you if anything happens."

"Alright!"

After speaking, Elder Ferrer, along with two guards, returned to his hut.

James looked towards Alexander standing on the stone wall of the valley mouth, praying that this time it wouldn't attract high-level dark creatures.

However, contrary to his hopes.

Just a quarter of an hour later, Alexander, standing on the stone wall, was the first to react.

Alexander stood up, gazing into the far darkness of snow and ice.

Simultaneously, a piercing, insect-like sound approached.

Hiss... Hiss... Hiss...

Behind Alexander, the four ogre elders Gorthok, Brungar, Thragg, and Mordok also stood up, following Alexander's gaze.

Moments later, Elder Gorthok exclaimed in shock.

"They are demon beetles, with strength equivalent to level six max magical beasts!"

Elder Gorthok's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

Almost instantly, he turned and ordered his guards. "Quick, go inform the chief and the elder!"

Alexander's brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Elder Gorthok, whose face was filled with fear.

The same went for Elders Brungar, Thragg, and Mordok – they were hardly in a better state.

Alexander, gazing into the distance, then said calmly, "You guard this place, I'll deal with this dark creature!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Alexander leaped off the stone wall.

Simultaneously, the Abyssal Tyrannosaurus appeared outside the wall, catching Alexander as he landed.