Major Shalshukein ordered them to hunker down in the outpost and wait for further orders. A few days went by. A summon from the major reached Avryn and Leifren’s squads. They went up to the command tower. Scouts were there and greeted them. They had a worried look to them. Their hands were shaky.

  “Right, show them what you showed me,” the major said.

  Video footage of showed a rampaging beast decimating other Corpses. It wielded a giant club as a weapon. It wiped out several wolves while chomping on a mutt. Its roar pierced the sound barrier as it let out a powerful war cry. Each of its steps were heavy and with purpose. Avryn was salivating on the honor of fighting such an opponent. His eyes shone while he was watching the footage. Then he saw something he did not expect and it caused him to wholeheartedly commit to bringing the beast down. The major interrupts.

  “I’m also gonna need squad Leifren on another mission.” he points. “I’d send support but I’ve sent soldiers to help at Outpost C.”

  “Sir,” Avryn called. “Let us deal with the ogre.”

  “Just you four?” The major doubted.

  “We’ll get it done,” Avryn assured. “Right, guys?”

  The rest of his team nodded. They would finally be tested. The major nodded.

  “Well, your funeral but I’m not stopping you. Dismissed.”

  The two squads gave their goodbyes for now before splitting.

  “You guys be careful, alright?” Jenilah expressed to them.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll see you when you come back,” Avryn assured.

  Avryn’s squad went up to the quartermaster to get special bullets and arrows. They would certainly need them to subdue the beast.

  “Never heard of an ogre before,” Tvira commented.

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  “There was basically no data on the bestiary as well,” Rinna added.

  “From what I can tell, he’s one feisty S.O.B. Valoche, you’re gonna be the anchor in this fight. I’ll be counting on you,” Avryn said.

  Valoche nodded as he finished sharpening his battleaxe. He would rise up to the challenge. Tvira and him excused themselves to do their rituals. Avryn and Rinna were left to take stock of the ammunition they would need for the mission.

  “We’re gonna need strong poisons for this,” he told her.

  She nodded along as well as grabbed several fire bullets. Avryn took several healing crystals. They met by the exit and distributed their inventory. After having confirmed the coordinates, they drove their dualcycles.

  Past the northern forests, they arrived at the same area they saw with the piles of corpses. All of them were half eaten like last time. Valoche knelt near one of the corpses.

  “The creature should still be nearby, stay alert.”

  Avryn needed to know badly if he saw what he thought he saw. His eyes darted around every part of the forest. His hands started to get a little shaky. Rinna stopped him.

  “Calm down,” she urged him.

  Avryn nodded and took some deep breaths.

  The shadow of a big log interrupted them.

  “Watch out!” Tvira pulled Rinna out of the way.

  Valoche did the same for Avryn. The log crashed down on the ground, and moved so much earth. A piercing roar confirmed their quarry. The Corpse Ogre was here and it was ready for a fight. It looked at the two women and concentrated its efforts against them. It swung its club around, knocking Avryn and Valoche opposite ways from each other.

  “Go, I’ll be fine,” Rinna took the initiative.

  Tvira created distance between herself and the ogre as Rinna took its attention. Avryn got back up and finally got a good look at the ogre’s back. There was a longsword lodged within it.

  “No way,” he could hardly believe it.

  He gritted his teeth. It was personal now.

  “Valoche, let’s go!” he commanded.

  “Right.”

  The two rushed to assist Rinna. Valoche swung for the ogre’s knees but his battleaxe seemed to bounce off of it. Avryn took several slashes at the ogre’s forearms with the same result.

  “No way,” Avryn was astonished.

  The ogre took one step forward and pivoted himself. He spun around like a top. He sent the three sailing across the field. Tvira hesitated with her shot. She used the nearby bushes to bide her time. The ogre sniffed around and only got more frustrated and aroused. It slammed its hands on the ground in a fit of rage.

  “Lerosa, to me,” Avryn summoned his gunblade. “Let’s see you fare against this!”

  A slash, and another, and another. Still no effect. He went for another flurry of slashes this time with timed trigger pulls. Finally he was getting through its thick skin. Valoche came in to assist. He called upon the winds to guide his attacks and focused on the same wounds. It started to open up.

  The ogre was forced to drop its club in favor of flailing his arms around. Rinna jumped high and met against it head on. She fired several fire bullets onto its wound. The ogre wasn’t having it and delivered a wicked clothesline on her but not before Avryn jumped in front of her. The two were sent crashing to the ground.

  Rinna grabbed and turned Avryn on his back.

  “You alright?” she asked him.

  “Yeah. Keep focusing the attack on its wounds,” Avryn said.

  She nodded and provided Valoche with some much needed backup. Avryn observed the battle. Blood came up from his mouth. That clothesline was sure wicked, he thought. He needed more firepower to take down this ogre, who seemed to get more fired up as it inched closer to death. That was when he hatched an idea. He stood up and charged at the beast.

  Valoche and Rinna were distracting it enough. Avryn jumped on its back. He pulled on the longsword that was stuck in there. He had both legs help support him pulling it out. The ogre knocked him back. Avryn landed on his side. He took a look at the longsword. It was still glowing a yellowish white. It confirmed to him his suspicions.

  Sorrow turned to rage. Avryn let out such a guttural scream that even his teammates were surprised for one moment.