Chapter 30 - Encounter

Solis looted whatever he could find on Valedd's corpse, and this is the sum of the things that he could get—

***

(Item Name: Crisscross Slash Skillbook)

Level: 1

Type: Consumable

Grade: Magic

Usage: 0/1

Mastery Requirement(s): Sword Mastery – Rank 1

[Description: The subject of this skillbook details the process of learning the rank 1 sword skill Crisscross Slash.]

(Item Name: Rising Attack Scroll)

Level: 1

Type: Consumable

Grade: Magic

Usage: 0/1

Effect: Grants the user 30+ strength and 25+ dexterity for ten minutes.

[Description: A high-performance magic scroll enchanted with physical damage and attack speed.]

(Item Name: Silverlight Sword)

Level: 10

Type: Primary Weapon

Grade: Magic

Durability: 100/100

Physical Damage: 144 – 161

STR: +20

DEX: +20

[Description: A very lethal sword crafted with Silverlight Metal. It is an exclusive product from the weaponsmiths of the Nebuchadnezzar Aswang Clan.]

***

There were only three items, which's honestly a lot less compared to that ugly fatso ogre, but each one of them was undoubtably precious and valuable. In the end, Solis gave a nod of satisfaction with the gains he got from the unexpected battle.

He waved away the three floating windows to close them before looking around him. Hmm… What should he do now?

"Guess it's time to head on over to the Town of Nebuchadnezzar…"

Or so he would have liked to; unfortunately, today's troubles didn't stop forcing themselves over.

Faintly from the distance, Solis could hear rushing footsteps approaching him once more.

'What the hell man.'

Solis let out a sigh and swiveled around to face the oncoming guests. Ah sh*t, here we go again.

Two lithe figures came flitting through the woods, arriving before him in a gust of wind. Solis looked at both of them with keen eyes, noticing their cuts and bruises and the fresh blood covering their bodies. One was a pale white man with pools of red eyes wearing dark clothes, and the other was a bipedal fox the color of deep autumn.

The pale one ran past him without a second glace, whereas the fox stopped for a moment to quickly address him.

"Yow, evil-looking guy. I suggest thee to waltz away right this instant, for hardy pursuers are hurriedly proceeding over as we speak. Anyway, I bid you farewell and adieu~!"

After pronouncing his weird speech, the bipedal orange fox took off escaping from whatever it was that was chasing him and his partner. Solis just stood there and watched until the guy blended into the trees and mist.

'Pursuers, huh? I wonder what that's about.'

Just as he had that thought, loud thumping sounds in the woods shortly followed. And when Solis turned to look, five buff ogres wielding heavy intimidating weapons was what registered in his sight.

ROOOOOOAAAARRRR!!!

All five of them bellowed with bloodshot eyes when they saw him standing in their way. Then, seeing that he wasn't trying to get away from them while being totally afraid, one of the ogres conjured a fireball and flung it towards him.

Without blinking his eyes, Solis sidestepped to the side and avoided the magic attack like it was nothing. In the next moment, the ogres were right in his face about to assault him with their weapons, and naturally enough they got him.

A pike skewered his abdomen, a great sword cleaved his left shoulder, a hammer landed on his skull, a mace struck his chest, and lastly, a club crushed both his legs; all at the same time. It was truly an overkill. As a result, the body collapsed and lay littered, mangled on the soil in a sad heap.

The ogres huffed through their circle nose holes, glad to have taken care of the trash that was blocking their path without knowing its place. Then, as they were about to continue on their chase for the two helpers of the young master of the Aswang clan, they strangely felt something pass through their throats. When the ogres touched their necks, it was odd to feel it warm and wet.

"You okay guys?"

Out of the blue, they heard a man's voice utter those words behind their backs. And because of those words, it was only now that they were able to register the shocking amounts of pain they were experiencing.

AAAARRRRGHHHH!!!!

Somehow, the ogres were still able to scream out in rage despite their throats being slit. All of them turned around at once and charged at Solis vehemently.

"So energetic." Solis commented nonchalantly before yelling, "Speed of a Devil!"

And so, a clash between a single Speed Devil and five burly Ogres ensued thereafter.

Meanwhile, a bit further away from there, Casanova the orange fox managed to catch up to Draken despite being left behind by him earlier.

"Yow, my pale man. Wassup?"

"You didn't have to warn the guy, y'know? We could've used that random to stall the ogres for a time."

"Naaaaah~ Would that even be worth it? That rando looked extremely weak. I wouldn't even be surprised if he was cut up instantly by the ogres, or maybe even fried alive by one fireball."

"True…"

Draken nodded his head without denying it. While unconsciously looking at the guy for that single moment, Draken already knew what sort of race he was: a red face, pitch-black eyes, crocodile textured skin, and legs that resembled a leopard. Without a doubt in his mind, that rando was definitely from the Speed Devil Race.

Although he had to admit that the Speed Devil Race was indeed impressive due to their superior agility over the other races in the Demon Continent, but that was it. He didn't think that a race only lauded for their speed could outmatch and defeat five powerful ogres all on their own; it just wouldn't be a fair fight. That Speed Devil would die in mere seconds if he were to even think of attempting such a ridiculous feat, especially if it is a close-quarter combat fight. However, in regards to fleeing from enemies, then maybe they can take first place in his mind.

"Let's just keep going. We're almost nearing the town's vicinity." Draken said.

"Yeah. Ha-ha. Guess we'll live another day, amirite?"

"Don't jinx i—"

But before Draken could finish what he was going to say, a blasting rage-filled scream resounded throughout the forest.

AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

In sync, both of them immediately halted in their tracks and twisted their heads to seek the origin of that noise.

"What the hell was that?" Casanova asked.

"I don't know… It seems to be coming from the direction of that rando we passed by." Draken replied.

"…Should we maybe check it out?"