Chapter 453 Ogre Overreached

Chapter 453 Ogre Overreached

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Karl's blade twirled, creating a field of fire from [Flaming Body] that acted as a shield as the Ogres launched their first attacks.

Two rapid steps to the side, and Karl used [Shred] to launch an attack at the flank of his closest opponent. The skill only cut a shallow line in the thick hide of the Ogre, but it stretched across its back, which would make every swing ache.

The other Ogre hurled a spear at Karl too fast for him to dodge, but the obsidian head of the weapon slammed into his armour with a clang, while the outer shell of [Flaming Body] was pierced, but under that [Eternal Lightning] was only vibrating, and then the spear was tossed to the ground.

Karl stomped on the spearhead, shattering the fragile stone so it couldn't be reused, and let a cruel laugh escape the confines of his helmet.

Not because he was feeling enthusiastic. If they kept up those attacks, he was in real trouble, and he knew it. But to taunt the Ogre and make the dimwitted creature do something stupid.

A stone blade came crashing down where Karl had been standing as he charged his target, and the tip of his blade met Ogre flesh, burning and searing it as the Monarch Rank monster's defensive abilities kept it from being run clean through.

Then Karl kicked at the back of the beast's legs as hard as he could manage. The unexpected strike caught the Ogre off guard and threw it to the ground, where it rolled backwards across the grass to avoid a follow-up strike.

The remaining Ogre snarled something in their language as it summoned another spear to throw at Karl.

The wounded member went running for the basement, so Karl stopped focusing on it.

If that was where it really wanted to be, it was welcome to try.

But before either of them could make another attack, a deep blue bolt of lightning struck the Monarch Rank Ogre in front of Karl, killing it instantly.

Next to the temple, a pair of Gryphons stepped out of nowhere, their elegant white feathered wings flaring in rage as they threw their heads to the sky.

The final Ogre turned and fled, leaving the cages and closing the portal behind it as it left.

The battle was over, but the look that the two monsters were giving Karl was enough to encourage him not to take even a single step closer.

They were, at the very minimum, strong Overlords. He was reasonably sure that even Thor's formidable protection would not take one of those lightning bolts.

Fortunately for Karl, he didn't have to find out.

"Sorry." He muttered as he put the blade away, but everyone was still staring at him.

"Sir, do you need assistance? Where are you injured?" One of the clerics stammered.

"Oh, sorry. Thank you for the healing, but I'm not injured. This isn't my blood. I was trying to return home through an anomaly, and for some reason it brought me here. Wherever here is."

The clerics were still staring at him, unsure if they were supposed to answer, run away in terror, possibly fight him, or douse him with holy water. A familiar voice came from Karl's left.

"Prince Karl of the Golden Dragon Nation?"

Karl turned and nodded. "I am. Might I ask again where I happened to end up?"

The priest smiled, and his eyes went fully bronze, and slotted like a dragon's eyes.

There were bronze horns on his head, and he was almost guaranteed to be in charge here, with his Overlord Rank power.

"I suppose you don't recognize me like this, as I have changed appearances since we last met. I am Orthos. Formerly the Town Champion of the Darklight Host in Bunga, and a purebred Bronze Dragon. Welcome to Bruse Temple."

"Well fancy that. I didn't think I would be seeing you again this week. I was on my way back to Baberg after a quest sent me east out of Glatt. The last of my beasts reached Royal Rank, and it sent me here.

I am impressed that you could hide your power that well. I could have sworn that I was the stronger of the two of us when we last met." Karl laughed.

The dragon threw his head back and gave a full throated draconic laugh that shook the walls of the temple.

"You might have been close back then. But that was well over ten thousand years ago. However, a bronze dragon remembers every moment of their life as clearly as if it were yesterday, and I have not forgotten the Beast Master War Champion who accepts duels over his Rank."

"Wait, so Bunga is somewhere nearby?" Karl asked.

"No, it's on another continent. I'm not certain how much it has changed, I haven't been there in thousands of years. Not since the last of the system collapsed, and I moved to the Divine Beast Nation to be with my kinfolk."

"It seems that we have a lot to talk about. Or at least, I have many questions for you. But first, where is Bruse Temple?"

"In the Flokwar River region of the Divine Beast Nation. I do hope that you weren't in a hurry to leave, human Beast Master. That could be problematic."

Well, that did explain the room full of beastkin giving him strange looks.