Chapter 16: The Cave Ogre
"Sure enough, it's iron ore!"
The stone was gray-black, indicating a high iron content.
Li Meng glanced slightly sideways, scanning the surrounding ground. He noticed many similar stones scattered throughout the nearby forest. This area was at least a mile from the barren mountain.
Li Meng threw the stone in his hand aside and continued walking forward.
The iron ore was found, but now he needed to figure out how to conceal the smoke.
Smelting iron required burning coal, which would produce a large amount of smoke. This smoke could attract the attention of other intelligent species nearby.
Based on the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, at least two intelligent species, Lizardmen and Pigmen, were known to exist in the vicinity.
Attracting any intelligent species could spell disaster for the tribe.
"If only there were a cave!"
Walking through the forest, Li Meng thought to himself.
Ideally, it would be a very deep cave with multiple exits.
A sealed cave wouldn't work, as the smoke could become a lethal poison.
Although the smoke would eventually dissipate, it would be less noticeable after being diluted in a cave.
Li Meng knew that finding such a cave was easier said than done.
In the following days, Li Meng traversed mountains and valleys in search of a place for smelting iron.
Three days passed like this.
During these three days, Li Meng scoured all the nearby mountainous areas.
"Boss, we found it! There's a cave up ahead!"
On the afternoon of the third day, a Goblin ran up to Li Meng excitedly.
Unknowingly, Li Meng and the Goblin followers had arrived at the foot of a mountain.
The steep cliff was almost vertical, rising several hundred meters high.
Li Meng's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Lead the way!"
Under the Goblin's guidance, the group hurried forward.
About two hundred meters ahead, a steep cliff appeared before Li Meng.
At the base of the cliff was a cave opening in the rock wall.
Judging by the shape of the fissure, it seemed to have formed naturally.
The opening was about three meters wide, and the inside was pitch-black.
Outside the cave lay barren, black soil, damp and marked by massive footprints.
"What a strange smell; I've never smelled this before!"
"Me neither!"
The Goblins chattered outside the cave, commenting on the unfamiliar scent emanating from it.
Li Meng also caught a whiff of a foul stench—a mix of excrement and other unpleasant odors.
"Could it be an Ogre?"
Li Meng thought of the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, where he would encounter an Ogre.
"Boss, there's movement!"
At that moment, sounds came from the cave—thudding, heavy footsteps.
"Hide, quickly!"
Realizing something, Li Meng's expression changed. He turned and bolted toward the forest.
The other Goblins, seeing their leader flee, immediately followed him.
Once back in the forest, Li Meng didn't move far from the cave.
Instead, he hid in a bush near the cave's entrance.
The other Goblins also concealed themselves among various plants.
The noise from the cave grew louder and louder.
Moments later, a massive shadow appeared at the cave entrance.
In the terrified gaze of the Goblins, a colossal creature emerged from the cave.
It had gray skin, a bald head, and an enormous, muscular build. Standing nearly five meters tall, it dwarfed even the Goblin leader in size.
Its massive body was sturdy, with exceptionally thick limbs. Its bowl-sized eyes swiveled, giving it a somewhat foolish appearance.
[Cave Ogre]
[Level: 71]
[Strength: 317]
[Defense: 614]
[Agility: 151]
[Magic: 36]
[Enhanced Stone Skin: LV3 (Defense +300)]
[Physical Regeneration: LV1 (Increases healing speed)]
"My goodness!"
The Ogre's terrifying stats left Li Meng shocked.
How could such a powerful creature be captured? With traps?
But traps weren't omnipotent. How deep must a trap be to trap this monster?
And even if it were trapped, how would it be captured?
At the cave entrance, the Ogre sniffed the air with its broad nose.
It seemed to detect a faint unfamiliar scent but lacked the keen sense of smell needed to locate the hidden Goblins in the forest.
Soon, it began striding toward the forest.
In the forest, the Ogre resembled a giant, crushing branches and leaves as it moved.
"Follow it!"
Using the vegetation as cover, Li Meng cautiously trailed the Ogre.
Although terrified, the Goblins followed their leader.
Before long, the Ogre stopped beneath a massive fruit tree.
It grasped the trunk with both hands and shook it vigorously.
Purple, fist-sized fruits rained down from the tree.
After completing this task, the Ogre sat under the tree and began picking up the fruits to eat.
"An Ogre eats plants?"
Li Meng wondered from his hiding spot in the forest.
Despite its size and the name "Ogre," it seemed to be a herbivore.
Of course, it could also be an omnivore—most humanoid creatures were.
Unlike the Goblins, which were purely carnivorous.
Time passed as the Ogre continued eating the fruits under the tree.
It ate for two full hours before finally stopping.
Just as Li Meng thought the Ogre was returning to its cave, it instead fell asleep under the tree.
A strange smell wafted over, making Li Meng wrinkle his nose.
"Is this... fermentation?"
Looking at the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng's eyes brightened.
Could the Ogre be drunk?
The tree's fruits were clearly overripe and rotting. Fermentation might have caused the Ogre to become intoxicated.
"Even with such high defense, I probably can't kill it, right?"
Rather than killing it for its skills, Li Meng hoped to subdue it and use it as labor.
"Gobumeng, take all the Goblins and make bark ropes!"
Li Meng instructed a Goblin beside him. It nodded and scurried off, rallying the others to gather materials deeper in the forest.
Watching the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng contemplated.
The future seen in *Life Simulation* was only a reference.
In this situation, there was no need to build traps.
If the Ogre was truly intoxicated, it wouldn't wake up easily.
This was his chance to capture it.
About five hours later, Gobumeng returned with the Goblins.
Each Goblin carried a bundle of bark ropes.
"Come with me!"
Summoning his courage, Li Meng emerged from the bush and approached the sleeping Ogre.
Despite their fear, the Goblins mustered their bravery and followed their leader.
Li Meng and his Goblin followers tiptoed toward the Ogre.
Gesturing with his hand, Li Meng signaled for a Goblin to hand him a rope.
Taking the bark rope, Li Meng cautiously began tying up the Ogre's feet.
It might not be effective, but it was better than nothing.