Amidst the howls and screams of Ogres and Ruin Dwellers alike, the scene at the front was already too bloody. Since they all used blunt attacks, there were no limbs flying or cleanly cut wounds, it's all either smash someone or be smashed by someone.
During all that, while I was directing those who were still standing like an idiot somewhere, I was moving backwards.
When most of them were already crowding at that entrance, I turned around and went to the room where Jagu is.
"What's happening outside?"
I already expected that this would be his question. I put a hand to stop him and gestured for him to look outside.
I then went to the Ruin Dwellers inside their Prison and looked for those we caught earlier.
They're most possibly the reason why the Ruin Dwellers suddenly stormed this lair.
Observing each one of them, even if they're the same as the Ogres who only have one face template, I noticed the difference between those we caught earlier.
They're exuding a different scent that will go unnoticed if no one paid attention. Just like how we didn't notice it
Then what's special about that scent? I don't know and there seems to be no point in knowing.
They're already here. The battle was already ongoing. Even if I find out what's so special about these captured Ruin Dwellers the battle will continue.
Ugh... I guess it's much better to leave these guys imprisoned here or just kill them. It's already chaotic outside and letting them stay here will lure more of those Ruin Dwellers.
Ah. We only needed to wait until they annihilated each other, eh? But that wait will probably be too long.
"What do we do now? Do we still need to release these thick-armed?"
Jagu asked when he went back from outside. He probably saw how many those Ruin Dwellers are. If we released these creatures from imprisonment, the Ogres will surely lose and we will be implicated.
"No. If I'm not wrong, those we caught earlier were the ones luring those Ruin Dwellers here."
We just need to wait for Jayna to finish the disguises and then we can move out of here, leaving them in the carnage they were creating for themselves.
There's also my Orb of Concealment but yeah, we need to open up the narrow pathway for us to leave. The orb will only conceal us, it will not block a stray attack for us. If we are hit, the concealment will be disabled and we have to deal with them while protecting the weakened captives.
Now that he's freed from his task. I turned to Jagu. This guy has been proven really helpful and cooperative, much more than the other Spirit Beasts who left.
"Jagu, help me clear the exit pathway for us. But first, I'll go and steal the Pole."
"Won't it be better to have the twins or Yumiko to help as well?"
Jagu voiced out his suggestion.
"You're right. Go to them first and relay what I said to Yumiko and ask for her opinion. I'll act like their Shaman for now."
"Alright."
He nodded and left the room.
I followed him soon after, leaving the Prison room unguarded. It's fine. It's not as if they're strong enough to get out of there by themselves.
As I passed through the young Ogres who were cowering in their tents, I didn't feel any sympathy. Well, it might just be me being cold-hearted but they will become like those Ogres when they grow up or baptized by the Shaman.
When they saw me passed by, even if they're scared, they cheered as if they saw their saviour in the form of me. That's how respected the Shaman was.
Unfortunately, he's already a corpse down in his room and we will leave this lair in chaos. Whether they will live or die is of no concern to me. As long as they're enemies, I wouldn't hesitate to use them for our own benefit.
After arriving at the platform, I pulled out the Totem Pole that was stabbed on the ground.
When those young Ogre saw me doing that, their eyes glimmered with hope. False hope.
Well, I'll let them have that. This will be the last time they will see this pole, anyway.
With a wave of my hand, the Totem Pole was stored in one of my storage necklaces under the watchful eyes of the young Ogres.
They were shocked and confused when the Pole disappeared but they didn't question it.
Err… I paid them no heed after that. They can continue hiding and that's not my concern anymore.
I went back to the frontline where the intensity of the battle was slowly dying down because of the dead bodies clogging the pathway.
When the Ogres saw me. Their morale naturally increased.
To help me push the battle out of the lair, I activated the Energy Field and strengthened the Ogres to easily kill the originally weak Ruin Dwellers. They just have the advantage in numbers now but the Ogres were still physically superior.
When they felt the increase in their strength, they howled cheerfully and grew bolder. From the barricade, the Ruin Dwellers were slowly pushed out until we reached the corner where we had to turn.
By then, what I saw at the other end of the narrow pathway were giant Ruin Dwellers. Not just one, but three of the same kind! Because of their huge bodies, they couldn't enter the pathway.
I thought they were territorial. However, for them to appear here in full force, looks like today is the day these Ruin Dwellers decided to end this lair.
In any case, without the real Shaman who could possibly strengthen them, these Ogres' future was bleak.
Luckily for them, we need to get out so… Helping them avert this crisis was the least I could pay them for the Pole, chest full of necklaces as well as those piles upon piles of Energy Stones.
Of course, this is not me being merciful, after we leave they'll have to fend for themselves, if they will survive then that's on them. With how low their intelligence is, I doubt if they can produce another Shaman.
The stone tablet was left there. Maybe next time I go to this dimension, they will amass a new pile of treasures for me to take. Isn't that something to look forward to?
Err… I'm overthinking again.
"Daisuke!"
A shout from behind me took me out of that state.
I already noticed earlier that these Ogres never reacted even when Yumiko and I were talking to each other. All they care was as long as you look like an Ogre, you're an Ogre. They might be wondering what we're talking about but since I'm the Shaman, they didn't have any notion to question it.
With Jagu shouting like that, he and the twins appeared from behind me. Instead of clubs, they're holding the equipment they got from their storage necklaces back in the mansion ruins.
Ren got a pair of daggers which complemented his skills, Rei got a crystal globe which gave her another skill apart from her expertise and Jagu, on the other hand, got a gauntlet that could adjust itself to fit his paws when he transformed back to his original form.
But right now, seeing three Ogres holding three unconventional weapons among their kind, it was a silly picture.
"How much time do they need?"
I asked them. I've already pushed all the way here so, for now, we have to wait. Even with these many Ogres at my command, killing those three Giant Ruin Dwellers is currently impossible. Those scales were too hard to break. But yeah, we don't really need to kill them. Will they go out of their way to squeeze themselves in here?
"Jayna said she'll finish in half an hour."
Rei answered my question. They're all geared up for battle now but I didn't intend to push it further.
"Alright, then let's just defend this path for now."
Declaring my decision, they just nodded and positioned themselves as to where it was easy for them to go in and out of combat.
And just like that, the half-hour eventually passed with more dead Ruin Dwellers than Ogres.
"We're here. We're ready."
Yumiko's voice took our attention, behind her were Jayna and a group of Ogre-disguised Spirit Beasts.
I don't know who is who, I never looked inside that Prison they were detained in. In any case, out of the more than 50 who were left behind here during the first expedition, only less than 20 of them survived. At least they didn't immediately become their meal.
It appears that it was only the Shaman who was partaking at eating their meat and one Spirit Beasts took him more than a month to finish.
"Daisuke, let me take it from here now. You've already done enough."
Yumiko whispered to me as she stood in front.
"Alright. Use this then."
I took out the pole and handed it to her.
Stabbing the pole in front of her, the Ogres watching all exclaimed in surprise but yeah, that's all they can do, eh?
Funneling her Psyche Energy into the Pole, Yumiko started her Spirit Channeling.
Even with her disguise, the illusory figures of the Higher Spirits appeared more life-like now. And all of them didn't even comment about her current appearance. Most probably they could see through it.
With the enhancement of the Pole, two Higher Spirits were left behind, and like partners, they nodded at each other as they let Yumiko borrow their powers.
When that happened, a surge of Psyche Energy expanded from Yumiko which caused the Ogres and Ruin Dwellers to be pushed back by a bit.
Yumiko then stood up and two Higher Spirit Phantom appeared behind her and unlike before, she's still acting like herself. Looks like the Pole not only let her channel two Spirits at the same time, it also removed the mannerisms that she was supposed to act while borrowing their powers.
She then pulled out the Pole and handed it back to me.
"That's really an amazing item, Daisuke. Two Spirits. It means I'm probably stronger than a Rank 5 now. But the duration is still the same."
Yumiko detailed what she experienced and what the Pole enhanced in a cheerful voice. It's probably overwhelming even for her.
That's an item forged by a Transcendent after all.
"That's enough. You're already invincible once again."
She nodded and maybe she's smiling beneath that disguise.
After conditioning herself, she put her focus back to what's in front of us.
With Yumiko as the lead, she led the Ogres to push through the narrow pathway, smashing the Ruin Dwellers effortlessly.
That strength she was exhibiting right now was more than what the Spirit King could do. I couldn't gauge it clearly but one thing is for sure, those three giant Ruin Dwellers will pose no threat against her.
Following that tide she created, we followed behind her while keeping those previous captives in the middle.
And in this kind of overwhelming manner, we finally succeeded in our operation with the added bonus of those treasures!
As soon as Yumiko finished the three giant Ruin Dwellers, and even before the Ogres could cheer from their victory, the Orb of Concealment was activated and instantly covered all of us.
Leaving that scene and the confused Ogres, we set our destination to the outside of this dimension.
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