Episode 12: The Ogre Horde
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Inside the Red Gate
The moment the Hunters stepped into the Red Gate, the air grew heavy, thick with something unnatural.
The sky was blood-red, casting a dim, eerie glow over the landscape. The ground beneath their feet was cracked, scorched black as if something had burned the land centuries ago. Jagged rock formations jutted out in unnatural angles, and in the distance, the ruins of an ancient, forsaken city loomed ominously.
But the Hunters barely had time to take in their surroundings before—
BOOM!
The ground trembled violently as the air filled with a deafening, guttural roar.
Then they appeared.
Emerging from the darkness, dozens—no, hundreds—of Ogres began flooding toward them.
Massive, monstrous beings twice the size of an average human, their skin was ashen-gray, their eyes burning with crimson hatred, and their fangs dripping with blood and saliva.
Each Ogre wielded brutal weapons—massive clubs, jagged greatswords, and crude axes soaked in the blood of past victims. Their muscles bulged with raw power, and their thunderous footsteps shook the battlefield as they charged.
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The Battle Begins
"HOLD YOUR GROUND!"
Raizen's thunderous command rang across the battlefield.
The SS-rankers and their elite A-rank Hunters immediately assumed battle formations, years of experience kicking in.
The first wave of Ogres crashed against them like a tidal wave of muscle and rage.
Takeda Jin – Master of Basilisk Guild
The moment an Ogre swung its colossal axe toward him, Takeda stood his ground, his stone-like skin hardening even further as his Void Shadow, "Titan Fang," surged to life.
CRASH!
The axe bounced off his body, shattering upon impact.
Before the Ogre could react, Takeda grabbed its head with one hand—and with a sickening CRACK, crushed its skull like a melon.
"Too slow," he growled, moving onto the next.
Hoshino Ren – Master of Kirin Guild
Ren raised a single finger, and golden magical circles formed around her.
"Celestial Arcana: Thousand Blades."
A storm of shimmering ethereal swords materialized above her, raining down with surgical precision.
Each blade pierced through an Ogre's skull or heart, dropping them instantly.
Fujimoto Akari – Master of Phoenix Claw Guild
Akari laughed, her crimson hair whipping in the wind as her Void Shadow, "Infernal Plumage," ignited her entire body in blazing fire.
"Burn."
She snapped her fingers—and in an instant, a wave of fire engulfed the battlefield, turning dozens of Ogres into screaming, flaming corpses.
Hayato Kazuya – Master of Leviathan Guild
With a single wave of his hand, Kazuya summoned a tidal wave of pressurized water.
The water spiraled into spears, piercing through multiple Ogres in one devastating motion.
"Pathetic," he muttered, his icy blue eyes unmoved.
Shirogane Tetsuya – "Hunter Shiro"
Shiro held his breath, gripping his weapon—a dark scythe, its blade humming with sinister energy.
His Void Shadow twitched.
The Demon King's voice rang in his mind.
"Now's your chance, boy. Show them what you're capable of."
Shiro exhaled, then—
He moved.
A hulking Ogre lunged at him, swinging a jagged greatsword.
Shiro sidestepped with inhuman speed, barely an afterimage.
SCHING!
His scythe sliced through the Ogre's neck in one clean motion.
But Shiro didn't stop.
Another Ogre.
He twisted mid-air, bringing his scythe down—slashing through the monster's torso.
Then another.
And another.
His movements became fluid, almost unnatural, as if he had been born to reap lives.
In mere minutes, the battlefield was littered with Ogre corpses.
But then—
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Something Changed
Just as they were gaining momentum, a deafening roar split the air.
The ground shook violently, cracks forming beneath their feet.
Then—
A massive shadow loomed over them.
Emerging from the darkness was a colossal Ogre, easily five times larger than the rest.
Its armor was blackened, its eyes burning with unnatural golden light, and it carried a gigantic warhammer that pulsed with dark energy.
"That's a High Ogre," Ren said, eyes narrowing. "Be careful!"
Before anyone could react—
The High Ogre moved.
With terrifying speed, it appeared in front of an S-rank Hunter and—
BOOM!
With a single swing of its hammer, the Hunter was obliterated—reduced to nothing but blood mist.
Shiro's heart pounded.
That thing was fast.
And strong.
Even the SS-rankers tensed as the monster let out a guttural chuckle, baring its fangs.
"MORTALS… DIE."
Then—
It attacked.
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The SS-Rankers vs. The High Ogre
Raizen's Attack
Lightning crackled around Raizen as he stepped forward, his Void Shadow, "Storm Sovereign," awakening.
"Thunder God's Wrath."
He thrust his hand forward—and a titanic bolt of lightning surged toward the High Ogre.
BOOOOM!
The explosion was blinding.
But—
When the smoke cleared…
The Ogre still stood.
Unscathed.
It grinned.
Raizen's eyes narrowed. "Tough bastard."
Ren & Akari's Follow-up
Ren flicked her wrist, Celestial Blades materializing again—
While Akari unleashed another inferno.
"Divine Strike!"
"Infernal Claw!"
Both attacks landed simultaneously—but the High Ogre swung its warhammer, creating a shockwave so powerful it nullified their attacks.
Akari cursed. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."
Shiro's Attack
Without hesitation, Shiro lunged.
His Void Shadow surged, his scythe gleaming with dark energy.
He aimed for the Ogre's throat—
But—
The Ogre moved too fast.
Before he could land a hit—
A massive hand grabbed Shiro by the face.
"Tch—!"
Then—
BOOM!
Shiro was slammed into the ground, the impact cratering the earth.
Pain exploded through his body.
The High Ogre lifted its warhammer—ready to crush him—
But then—
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The King of Curses Arrives
The temperature dropped.
A wave of suffocating malice filled the air.
The SS-ranked Hunters all froze.
Even the High Ogre stopped.
Then—
A slow, amused chuckle echoed from the shadows.
"Oh? You weaklings are still alive?"
From the darkness, a figure stepped forward.
A tall man, clad in dark crimson robes, his long white hair flowing in the wind.
His eyes—
Were golden.
But filled with something twisted.
He grinned, sharp fangs glinting.
"I was getting bored. How about we play a little?"
The Demon King's voice in Shiro's head shook with fear.
"It's him… The King of Curses."
Shiro's body trembled.
Even the SS-rankers… looked terrified.
The King of Curses simply laughed.
Then, he looked directly at Shiro.
"You. Entertain me."
Shiro, still breathing heavily, gripped his scythe.
He was scared.
But he refused to back down.
The King of Curses smiled wider.
"Good. Let's have some fun."
—TO BE CONTINUED.