At night, the area around Clearwater Lake was bustling with activity. Adventurers had set up camp here, chopping down large trees and igniting bonfires. The air was filled with the aroma of roasting meat and the scent of alcohol, with hearty laughter ringing out late into the night, and occasional gasps of men and women emanating from the tents.
Hugh was drinking alone, feeling physically exhausted and financially drained after the day's battle and an intimate encounter with a female adventurer. Yet, his mind was much clearer.
A dashing young man sat down beside him and said, "Why so glum, regretting yesterday's events?"
"No regrets," Hugh replied in a somber tone. "That's the life of an adventurer. It was the best choice at the time. I just don't accept that Bane and Cax will have their day, and since I'm not as strong as them, I will too. I don't want to accept such a fate."
The young man patted his shoulder, "Throw your full support behind me. Once I become the lord of Engles, I'll promote you as my knights. When that time comes, you'll have your own knightly fief, and you can live a stable life."
Hugh said indignantly, "Why should I? If I rescue Lady Elga, she'll marry me, and I'll become the lord of Engles. Why should I help you?"
The young man chuckled, his eyes filled with pity, "Stop dreaming. It's impossible."
"Why is it impossible? It's the will set by Count Belens himself."
The young man scoffed, "You actually took it seriously? Let me tell you, according to the law, this will is only valid for those who are related by blood to the Garcia family and are of noble status within three generations."
Hugh's face was filled with disbelief, his lips trembling, "How could this be?"
In an instant, a single sentence from the young man shattered all his ambitions. He kept shaking his head, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it, if they can do it, so can I."
"Who are 'they'? Oh, you're talking about the legendary heroes from the epics, right? Like the young blacksmith Ank, the dragon slayer Shubis, or the tyrant Dark?"
Hugh's eyes gleamed as he grabbed the young man's hand, "Yes, it's them."
The young man laughed again, the pity in his eyes even more pronounced, "But you don't know, their identities before they rose to prominence were far from simple. Ank, the young blacksmith, was the son of a dragon who took human form, backed by an old dragon; Shubis the dragon slayer is a fictional character, based on Duke Rose Clark III; as for Dark, he was the son of the previous king before he became king, and killing the king was just revenge to reclaim his rightful place."
Hugh slumped to the ground, his mind buzzing. The young man said sincerely, "Help me, and even if I fail, I'll give you a position as a captain of the guard, so you won't have to live the life of an adventurer anymore."
Hugh's eyes were dim, muttering, "My lord, I agree."
The young man smiled faintly, having successfully recruited another pawn. But he wouldn't tell Hugh that there were actually quite a few examples of commoners becoming the upper class, the most famous being the founding emperor of the Sis Empire.
The young man was complacent, having successfully persuaded Hugh, and now had over 30 strong adventurers under his command. With their help, he was one step closer to realizing his ambitions.
Suddenly, a scream shattered the tranquility of the night. A disheveled couple rushed out from the edge of the woods, screaming as they ran. A group of adventurers immediately drew their blades and were on guard, asking what had happened.
"There are ghosts, we saw ghosts!" The female adventurer's scream made the young man frown. The adventurers mocked the couple, but Alonso Garcia warned everyone to stay alert, just in case. The young man watched Alonso perform in front of everyone, feeling helpless and resentful.
As the night deepened, the laughter and joy in the camp gradually subsided, especially after the recent disturbance, no one dared to venture into the forest anymore.
Hugh was still drinking alone, and in his drunken stupor, he felt something float by. He turned his head and saw nothing, shaking his head in mockery. Suddenly, a chill ran down his collar, making him shiver. He turned his head fiercely and saw Bane standing there expressionless.
Bane's appearance had changed drastically, his body covered in stitches, and he had grown much taller, standing at seven feet. He was holding an axe covered in blood, and in the other hand, he was holding something dark, which looked like a head.
Hugh gasped and quickly took off the war hammer from his waist. At this moment, a cold hand grasped the back of his neck, slowly sliding to his throat. Hugh stiffened and turned his head to see a figure entirely wrapped in a black cloak. The figure raised his head, revealing a pale face like frost, with pitch-black pupils exuding indifference, and a bloodstain spreading down from the corner of his eye.
"Ah!!!" Hugh let out a shrill scream, and the entire Clearwater Lake instantly boiled over. Adventurers rushed over with swords and saw Hugh squatting on the ground, holding his head in his hands, crying and babbling incoherently.
In the forest, Aflra was delighted by the scene and nudged Bane beside her with her elbow, "How does it feel, satisfying?"
Bane's mouth twitched. Although he had lost his expressions, his pleasure was still evident. Aflra had saved Bane and enhanced his strength, but it also brought some problems, such as rejection reactions and the influence of the ogre's personality. However, overall, the situation was still under control.
After Aflra brought Bane back, she had been busy with the surgery and finally saved his life and enhanced his abilities. However, when she was about to go out to take a bath, she found that her Clearwater Lake had been occupied by a group of strangers, and the lake water had been messed up. In a fit of rage, Aflra decided to retaliate.
She first scared a couple making out in the wild, and then Hugh. As for the head in Bane's hand, it was the head of a jackalope they found nearby. Bane tested his new body and chopped off the jackalope's head with one swing of his axe.
"How's the body?" Aflra asked.
Bane replied, "The heart and muscles are stronger, but after high-speed movement, I feel like my body is falling apart, and my heart aches a bit."
Aflra explained, "This is a normal rejection reaction and will take time to adapt. Any other issues?"
Bane said with some embarrassment, "I seem to have become dumber, and my diet seems to have changed. I always want to eat this head."
Aflra said calmly, "This is the influence of the ogre's personality and requires targeted training to get rid of it."