The party stared at the large boss that stood before them. StossTruppen had never seen anything of that size before.
"So..you're not a Goblin, after all." Goblin Slayer said, slightly surprised.
"W-what? No! It's an Ogre!" High Elf exclaimed at the slayer.
"I see..." The silver-rank adventurer said suspiciously. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" The Ranger exclaimed in anger.
Stoss threw his palm over his face."Oh mien gott, what is this conversation?"
The Orge grimaced. "But I must thank you insects. You saved me a lot of effort tracking and hunting you down! Now...you will be exterminated!" he threatened. Lifting his palm up. "Carbunculus...Crescunt.." It chanted, as a fireball began to expand rapidly over his hand.
Realizing what was going to happen. The Party started to panic. Some suggesting to take cover in one of the buildings. However, the flimsy, destroyed houses would provide little cover from the intense heat radiating off the fireball.
"Everyone! Get behind me!" Priestess shouted, hastily getting all party members to follow the warning. Quickly. As she chanted her spell, Stoss turned to Wizard and the Elf-wizard.
"Elf-wizard, use a spell to hold him in place. Wizard try to blast a hole in his face!" he turned his head, just in time to see the fireball getting flung towards him and rest of the team.
"Lacta!" the ogre shouted.
"Protection!" Priestesses shouted, immediately after. Creating a large enough, see-through shield, to block the entire attack.
Stoss, and he was pretty sure everyone else too, could feel the fire slightly burning the surrounding area. Turning the corpses of the fallen, into charcoal bones.
Then as fast as it started, the fire faded and turned the area into a black, destructive mess. With protection fading immediately after, Priestess struggled to stand up.
"I..*huff...did it," she said between breaths, not at all expecting the attack to be that strong. Before her vision felt blurry and started to lose her balance completely. Expecting to hit the ground hard, but figuring it was better than being burnt alive. Despite this, she felt a pair of hands catch her midway through her fall.
Wondering if it was her imagination, Priestess opened her eyes. "S-stoss?"
"Gut gemacht, Priestess...good job" He replied with a warm smile. Seeing the exhaustion in her eyes. As Goblin Slayer approach the healer.
"You saved us," he added, making sure the girl was alright.
Priestess made a small, tired smile. Before she felt herself being placed gently back onto the ground.
"Impressive! But futile! But you all will be squashed beneath my-..!" The Orge began. Gasping at the large plant-like, vines wrapping and tightening around his legs. "What the-!"
"Sorry. No Ogres allowed!" Elf-wizard stated, her staff emitting a green glow. Turning her head to her fellow Spellcaster, she shouted, "Wizard, if you may!"
Nodding. Wizard pointed her staff directly in between the Ogre's eyes. Chanting a spell, and exclaiming "FireBolt!" Firing a crimson projectile into the Ogre's face.
"Arghhhh!.." The Ogre groaned in pain, clutching to the wound, as smoke began to radiate off his burnt face. "Y-you think this will be enough?" he shouted in anger, staring at the party, with his undamaged eye. Swinging his club downward at the party's position. Causing the group to scatter and ducked from the monster's wrath."I was appointed by the Demon King's Generals to ravage this land...you are nothing!" He roared, like his face, slowly beginning to heal. The ogre, trying to free himself from Elf-wizard's vine, holding the spell.
Damn it! This guy is a tough one. Stoss thought grimly. Trying to see if there's a way around to bring the titan down.
"Guys...I don't want to rush you...but.." Elf-wizard pleaded, desperation in her voice.
Before Stoss come the reply, he heard High Elf shout, "Goblins! Coming straight towards us!" Pointing straight behind the Ogre, only about 60 yards away.
"Any ideas, sir Goblin Slayer and Trooper?" Lizardman said preparing a ritual.
Stoss glanced over to his commanding-in-chief, who was currently still getting off the ground from the ogre's attack. "Yea." Goblin Slayer got into a defensive stance, turning his head to the Female group. "Rhea Ranger, Monk. Move up ahead and make sure all the villagers had evaluated, then turn back," he told them. After the duo nodded and hastily left, he continued, "Everyone else.." he unsheathed his sword, "hold the line."
Stoss could feel his smile widen a bit. "Yes, sir." Gripping his rifle, he turned his head over to the other members of the group. "Tanks up with Goblin Slayer, everyone else with me!" he ordered, pulling his scarf over his mouth, and taking aim at the horde, rapidly approaching.
Soon Goblin Slayer leads the assault to attack the ogre, as Stoss and his group provided support from afar, against the goblins.
Firing his rifle and pulling the lever, Stoss took potshots at the goblin force, in order to stall them from Goblin Slayer team. He grunted. It seemed like for every goblin he shot, two more took its place. Gott, it this keeps up we'll be done for! Glancing over to his comrades. Wizard was with Priestess, who was still fading from in-and-out consciousness. Since Wizard's staff had slightly overheated from her recent spells, she decided to take it easy and help her fellow mage. Elf-wizard, on the other hand, was slightly better off, since she had drunk her last stamina potion and took over for Priestess in spotting targets.
Reloading. High Elf, who was taking on the same elevated position with Stoss, stepped forward and fired an arrow directly at a row of goblins. Impaling all three with a single bolt. "Gut gemacht. Good shooting." he complimented on her marksmanship.
"Hey, you're not too bad yourself." the long-eared elf replied, with a wry grin.
"Look out-!" Someone shouted, hearing a loud and eruption sound from the ogre's club. Stoss, shooting his gaze in front of him, he caught a glimpse of someone in armor fly towards him. Seeing no other way, he held his rifle horizontally, as a way to try and somehow reduce the impact of whoever was hurling at him. After a moment, the hurdled body slammed into him, sending the trooper back, several feet.
"Dreaded Trooper! Orgbolg!" High Elf shouted.
"Stoss!" Wizard and Priestess followed behind
"You incompetent fools. I'll make sure to let you watch your females relish my army!" The Ogre declared, with sinister satisfaction. Winding up his club into the air for another strike.
"I don't think so!" The Knight said, throwing her sword at the Ogre's good eye. Recoiling back. The towering beast staggered and cursed in pain. As Fighter, Warrior and Lizardman continued to advance on the Ogre, landing a fury of attacks on Ogre, trying to swat away the overwhelming number of adventurers. High Elf joining the fight as well.
Quickly, Priestess and Wizard ran to Stoss and Goblin Slayer. Both seeming like they were unconscious. Luckily, after shaking the duo for a few moments, they came back to and were quickly given potions for stamina and healing. They asked what was happening.
"Ha! Kill as many goblins as you wish. It still won't make a difference!" The Orge declared as a swarm of rocks shot and bounced off his face.
"Long-ears! Hurry and go for his eyes!" Dwarf Shaman shouted, trying to prepare another salvo of stones.
"What do you think I'm trying to do!" High Elf snarled back.
"Enough of this!" The Ogre screamed in annoyance, and raising his palm once more, "Carbunculus...Crescunt.."
Feeling his vision gets blurry. Stoss shook his head, "Goblin Slayer, any ideas?" He asked, feeling the heat of the expanding fireball.
Looking back at his second-in-command. Goblin Slayer paused, then started to dig into his bag. But before he could pull out what he was looking for, Wizard intervened.
"No...I've got this." She declared, getting up and walking slowly to the Orge, as its fireball continued to grow in size.
"Foolish Wizard! The Elf that came before you, was far stronger than the likes of you!" The Ogre, getting ready to sling his spell.
Pushing up her glasses, she glared back at the boss. "Well, I always do like an obvious target," she stated. Causing the Ogre to glare in confusion. But before he could say or do anything, another large green vine shot out of the group, wrapping and gripping onto his arm. Preventing any movement of his attack. "Now.." Wizard got into position. Chanting a spell under her breath, she exclaimed, "Ray gun!"
Pointing her staff forward with both hands, a powerful beam burst out towards the Ogre. "You think that will be enough!" he chuckled. Remembering the elf that he fought in the ruins fired a much more powerful spell against him. Wizard smiled.
The ogre realized why, when the red beam made contact with his fireball. Erupting and blasting outwards. Engulfing most of his body, as he screamed in agony.
Stoss couldn't really see, either from being hit by his leader or because the large gust of smoke the fire committed and covered the surrounding area.
After a few seconds, the fire subsided before them. What had been a crossroad, then became a small burned-out battlefield, had now become a blacken wasteland with several small craters scattered here and there. But that didn't stand out. No, not at all. It was the large ogre, most of its upper body, resembling a blackened mess.
Soon, the group's remaining spellcaster fell to the ground, joining her comrades in the ritual of heavily exhaling and inhaling.
Stoss sighed. Glancing over to Goblin Slayer, who had got off the ground and looked over the elevated edge. Stoss figured he was making sure everyone was alright. Getting up as well. He made his way to the fatigue spellcasters. But before he could thank the group, a loud *Thud! Was heard. Frozen in his tracks. Looking north, he saw why.
The Ogre got up. Turning and facing down the tired adventurer's party. Stoss wince in disgust, he had seen plenty of dead, burned goblin bodies enough now. But Ogre...well. Half his face was withered away from the blast, along with a blown off arm, as parts of flesh and chunks of his skull showed. Despite that, the death glare he gave could still he felt, as he roared in angry. Sounding more like a screech.
"Stoss? Goblin Slayer? What's our plan, now?" Warrior said, sounding like he was on the verge of turning tail and running like his life, literally, depended on it.
After a long pause, Stoss turned around to Goblin Slayer. Realizing he had turned to him prior. Even though he couldn't see his eyes, he felt his gaze. Nodding. Stoss turned back, "Retreat!" he shouted, picking up Wizard and sprinting back through the forest. Everyone else following in pursuit. Hearing a series of large stomps erupting behind as well.
"Retreat? Stoss, we'll be led indirectly to the villagers!" she urged him. But instead of replying, he just continued to run. What is he thinking? She thought, as they made their way through the small forest and back in the fields. Quickly. She realized why, when he sat her back down and tore off a small canvas, hiding something.
/….
His vision entirely red, his hate intensified when the last of the adventurers made their way out of the forest. "A thousand hells await you! You will scream in agony after I'm-" The orge froze, just at the end of the tree line, separating the village from the open field. Laying not far off the forest's entrance. Revealing not only the adventurers and villagers, but a certain coal-scuttle wearing trooper, and a long, cannon-like rifle perched on a dead piece of log.
"Auf Wiedersehen," Stoss said, his sights on the exposed heart, still beating underneath the ogre's chest. Exhaling. He pulled the trigger, grunting when the large rifle kicked up against his shoulder. Creating a small gust of wind, as it made contact with the Ogre's exposed wound.
Grinning his teeth. He pulled the lever, realizing the dead bullet, and plugging in another round. Exhaling again and firing at the same spot. Through the gun sights', he saw the Ogre stagger back, clutching onto the gaping holes in his chest, before collapsing immediately after.
Once the loud *Thud! Was heard, a whoop of cheers were heard behind the adventurers. All of it coming from the villagers behind the group. Quickly, they too joined at the victory. Wizard, on the other hand, sighed in relief. "Good job luring him out in the-" she glanced over to the trooper, currently having his face in the dirt. "Stoss?"
She couldn't hear anything at first. But the small whimper from her comrade said other wised. She sighed again, before calling, "Priestess!"
/…
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" The Knight asked in concern.
Rubbing his almost shattered shoulder, Stoss nodded. "Ja, it's no problem.." he said, lying through his teeth. It especially didn't help when his shoulder wanted to remind him, it was still there. Knight told him she'll escort the remaining villagers to a nearby town, hopefully, get them compensation for what they have been through. After saying their byes, the Female party left with the villagers. Stoss turned back to the remainder of the party.
"Well, shall we get going, then?" High Elf said as the rest Greenhorns and her own party got up, ready to continue.
Looking up at the sun above them, he was still surprised that it was still the afternoon. He pulled out his automatic pistol, cocking the safety off. "Los,...Let's get going."
Note: Nothing else to report. Other than thank you for reading. Have a good one!
