After completing the transaction, Alexander was in a great mood.
Inside the hut, Alexander once again conquers Ravenna with his mighty cock, making her even more infatuated with Alexander.
Outside, the animal skins sewn onto the hut's surface suddenly rustled loudly in the wind, a noise that persisted for a long time.
"It's the cold wind, winter has come!" Ravenna lifted her head from Alexander's chest, her large, rose-red eyes filled with adoration as she gazed at the ogre in front of her.
Alexander wrapped his arms around Ravenna's waist and asked with a slight seriousness, "How do succubi survive the winter?"
Ravenna kissed Alexander's chest, then propped up her chin with her hands, lying naked on his chest. She spoke with a hint of nostalgia, "Every winter, succubi return to their palace, shut the doors, and hide from the harsh cold."
"During this time, succubi also mate and reproduce the next generation!"
"But, during the coldest times, everyone picks up their weapons, ready for the looming crisis of the Dark Tide."
As Alexander listened, he suddenly asked, "Do you know about the Dark Tide?"
Ravenna first shook her head, then nodded, appearing conflicted as she spoke, "No one knows exactly how the Dark Tide starts, but it brings with it hordes of dark creatures."
"When these dark creatures arrive, weaker races are slaughtered, or more accurately, devoured."
"To these dark beings, we are just food, delicious food!"
"Alexander... we must survive!"
Ravenna seemed to recall some unpleasant memories and suddenly fell silent, lying on Alexander's chest.
Alexander gently patted her back, comforting her.
"Master, I've heard from my tribe that killing these dark creatures and consuming the dark essence crystals inside them can greatly enhance our evolution!"
Cassana suddenly peeked out from beneath the animal skins, continuing Ravenna's point with a piece of news that excited Alexander.
"Cassana, what did you just say?" Alexander reached out his left hand and pulled Cassana from under the skins.
At that moment, Cassana was also half-naked, with her white serpentine tail casually swaying, exuding great allure.
"Master, I've heard from my tribe that although the Dark Tide is a disaster, many warriors in the Lamia's main lineage seize the opportunity to fight the dark creatures and consume dark essence crystals to potentially evolve into Medusas."
Alexander focused on Cassana, confirming the truth of her words, then turned to look at Ravenna.
Ravenna shook her head and thought for a moment before speaking, "Cassana is from another continent, and the situation there might be different. In our land, most races can only protect themselves, and very few actively fight the dark creatures."
"My dear, perhaps you can ask the chief and other elders!"
Alexander nodded, pulling Lamia into his embrace. Though she was not yet a Medusa, she also joined in.
The three of them continued their intimate moments in the warmth of the hut.
The next day, as Alexander lifted the curtain of his hut, a blast of cold air hit him.
It had snowed!
In just one night, a half-meter thick layer of white snow had covered the ground.
"Alexander, the chief wants you to visit his hut!"
Nearby, Cain, who was clearing snow with a few other ogres, called out to Alexander as he stepped out of his hut.
"Got it, Cain!"
Alexander looked at the snow in front of the hut, and with a light step of his left foot, he compacted the nearby snow with his massive frame.
10 minutes later, Alexander entered Chief James's hut.
"Alexander, you're here, take a seat! We're waiting for the Grand Elder to start the council meeting," James gestured.
Alexander walked to the right of James and picked up a bowl of hot soup from the table, starting to drink.
Alexander could tell that everyone present was somewhat fearful, and this fear mainly stemmed from last night's snowfall.
The snow signified the arrival of winter!
Following this, the ogres would be spending their days continuously clearing snow.
Soon, the Grand Elder also walked in with a grave expression.
"Chief, I just took a round outside. The defensive works in the valley are almost complete, but some minor areas need more time to perfect," he reported.
James nodded, indicating for the Grand Elder, Ferrer, to sit to his left.
"Fellow elders, as you see, it has snowed! Winter is here, everyone prepare yourselves!"
"Although the Polar Night is still some days away, it's not far!"
"The arrival of the Polar Night means the Dark Tide is approaching."
"This time, I hope our ogre tribe can survive this winter and the Polar Night intact."
"..."
James said a lot, and Alexander heard many things he had never heard before.
Every winter, all the underage ogres in this region were not allowed to leave their huts. Outside the hut, danger lurked everywhere.
"Chief, the first snow of the year has arrived, and most magical beasts in the Black Forest will likely migrate south. In the next few days, there will definitely be a migration wave. Should we take the opportunity to hunt?"
James shook his head, rejecting one elder's suggestion.
"We have enough food reserves. Hunting the migration wave is risky, and we might not come back unscathed. So, everyone rest!"
"Conserve your strength, and let your women bear more young ogres for the tribe."
"When the Dark Tide comes, I want everyone to defend the tribe with all their might!"
...
The council meeting concluded only in the afternoon.
James and Ferrer noticed that Alexander had not left and looked at him curiously. Alexander gestured towards the still open door, and with a wave of James's hand, the door closed.
Alexander spoke up about the information he had received from Cassana the previous night: by killing the dark creatures in the Dark Tide and consuming the dark essence crystals found within them, there was a high possibility of enhancing one's own strength.
"Is that true? Did Cassana really say this?"
Alexander nodded in confirmation but remained silent, waiting for Chief James and Grand Elder Ferrer's reaction.
In the next moment, the ogre chief James took out a grape-sized, ink-like black bead from his Gluttonous Birdstomach sac.
"Alexander, are you talking about this thing?" James asked.
Alexander shook his head. He had never seen dark essence crystals before and was not sure if what James held was indeed what Cassana had mentioned.
"Chief, let me try it. I'm already old and plagued with many hidden ailments. Let me be the one to test it for everyone," Ferrer offered.
Alexander stayed silent, knowing that in such moments, silence was the best option.
James hesitated; although Ferrer was old, he was still a major force in the ogre tribe.
As James deliberated, a mist of blood appeared around Ferrer's hand, and he snatched the dark essence crystal, swallowing it down immediately, followed by a large jug of water.
"No feeling yet!"
However, the moment Ferrer finished speaking, a massive surge of life energy emanated from his body, incredibly vast and powerful. This energy rapidly increased Ferrer's vitality, simultaneously healing the hidden ailments and injuries in his body.
But this state lasted for less than three minutes.
After a while, Ferrer opened his eyes, a mix of excitement and disappointment in his voice.
"Alexander is right, the dark essence crystals truly enhance strength. Not only that, they also heal some hidden injuries."
"But the effect of a single dark essence crystal is too short-lived. To achieve a significant level of advancement, we need a large quantity of dark essence crystals."