Two days have passed since the day we scouted the Ogre's Lair. During the night after we talked about the plan on how to rescue and steal from those Ogres, I used the whole night to devote myself to cultivation.
Just like when I was in the World of Barbarians, I cultivated nonstop to push myself to reach the last stage of the 2nd realm. 5th Stage Augmented Realm, Level 5 Support Professional System and 5-Streams Fused Spirit.
Upon my breakthrough, it earned me another 9.5 Strength, 9.5 Endurance and 0.2 Intelligence.
Err… and like the first, Strength and Endurance was reduced by 45%.
For the last and final Augmented Skill, I created a support for the Orb of Enhancement.
Well, since I'm already walking the road of a support character, might as well be serious with it. With Energy Shield and now this, my Augmented Skills were now completed with two offensive, one evasive and two support skills.
The fifth Augmented Skill, Energy Field. Any recognized ally within the field will get an enhancement buff of 5 Strength from me that will not expire as long as the field is opened. If one left the area covered by the field, the enhanced Strength will last for two minutes. If I boosted the Augmented Skill using my Streams, it will add another 1 Strength per Stream.
With the addition of the Passive Skill [Field Expansion] gained from the System Path, The area of the field was extended from 3 meters to 5 meters around me.
This is the last breakthrough with which I would get bonus stats from each path. Once I reach the 3rd realm to become a Saint Realm and the equivalent of it from the other paths, the stat bonus will be reduced. In exchange, my cultivation speed will normalize.
Since they will run parallel by then, I will be like someone with a unique path compared to the others. A Unique Path and a Unique Energy. Adaptability is really something, eh?
I don't know about the rest of the 30 worlds I haven't stepped into yet. Because of the Flux Energy State, I will not be able to gain as much stats there but maybe their paths and inherent energies can further enhance my abilities.
We'll see when I step foot in the 4th world. Even if it was explained it's still better to experience it myself.
According to the old man in the mansion ruins, I'm already a Rank 4 Mortal. That means, even the bonus stats were counted in determining one's rank. But how do they calculate it though? He didn't detail it enough. My system will surely adjust itself to also project the Universal Power Level that they were using if he gave a detailed description of Mortal Ranks.
That will surely be useful to properly gauge the new enemies. Even if it's not Transcendent, Rank 5 Mortal will surely appear soon. It's probably because the Peak Rank 4 was already useless against the Heroes and the strongest among the denizens of the world. Just Like that Dark Beastmaster killed by Raiden as well as the Dark Elves in the World of Spirits who kept on losing against the Yumiko or the Spirit King.
Last night, before our operation today, I once again infiltrated that lair, alone.
Well, I didn't take long since I only went there to check on the Pole. Luckily, they're not doing the ritual everyday. It's a coincidence that we chanced upon it.
While concealed, I quietly went to the raised platform and touched the Pole
One touch was enough for its functions to become clear to me. Remembering the information I discovered, I immediately left the lair before the concealment ran out.
The Pole which served as their Altar is a mystical equipment made by a Transcendent called Totem Pole. The Ogres must have chanced upon it somewhere in this dimension.
It's main function isn't the ritual we saw but the enhancement of an ability. It can make an ability stronger if used with it.
The ritual we saw was just the Totem Pole enhancing the Shaman's ability to draw out the Ruin Dweller's lifeforce. That ability was mentioned on the stone tablet I found in the Shaman's Room. It's like a free ability if one followed the instructions written in it.
The ability is the use of someone else's lifeforce to forcefully induce growth towards its target by expending that lifeforce instead of the target's own lifeforce.
What we saw was just someone forcefully being turned to an adult.
Err… it shouldn't have that grand of an effect but thanks to that Totem Pole, it became possible.
On that same note, if Yumiko uses it, the Totem Pole will enhance the effect of her Spirit Channeling, it might extend the duration of channeling or increase the power she could borrow.
Well, I can use it too but it's pretty useless since my ability is like a Passive skill. It will be more useful for the Unique Abilities unlocked by Psyche Energy like Yuko and Raiden's Foresight and Temporal Acceleration. Using the Totem Pole with it will surely enhance those abilities of theirs
Ah. It might really become a Totem for the Heroes if ever we all stand together to fight. Every hero can take their turn to use it.
My initial guess wasn't exactly right but wasn't wrong either. The Pole was really useful for Yumiko.
Because of that discovery, stealing that pole is now one of our main objectives.
"Daisuke, come here. I'll put on the disguise for you."
Jayna called to me after she's done disguising Jagu.
Looking at him now, you wouldn't really mistake him for another species but only an Ogre. It looks real, those ugly mug of it and those buffed bodies. Even if you pinched his arm you'll clearly see that it is his own arm that you're pinching. That's how the Earthfire perfected the already perfect disguising skill of Jayna.
"You seem happy."
I commented upon noticing her humming out a tune while preparing for my disguise.
When she heard my words, she giggled like a mischievous child before explaining why.
"It will be harder for Father to notice my disguises now. I will be able to go out more often."
Hearing her words, I couldn't deny that it made me laugh.
"I'm amazed that's what you can think of at this moment."
"Is it that funny?"
She tilted her head as if she didn't know why I laughed.
"No. It's adorable."
And it really is. Despite what we went through and what kind of battle we will be having soon, she could still be this carefree. That positivity is uplifting.
"Uhh. Are you here to tease me? Stay still. I'll start now."
She pouted and ordered me.
I could only smile and let her do what she wanted.
Two hours later, everyone was already in their own Ogre disguises. Jayna put some specific marks on our bodies to know who is who and to know if that Ogre is an ally or an enemy. Once we enter the lair, we'll be socializing with the Ogres even if we don't know their own incoherent language. They all look alike, so it will be hard for them to spot us.
"Alright. Let's set off. Remember your tasks."
Yumiko declared as she spearheaded our formation. She took the role of the leader of the patrol we abducted. With each of us having the same stone clubs, we started our march while acting as an Ogre back to the lair.
On the way, we encountered some Ruin Dwellers and since we're acting as an Ogre, we pulled them out of their holes and made them unconscious before pulling them with us back to the lair.
With prey in hand, it will be easier for us to pass through inspection. Hopefully.
When we entered the narrow pathway, we ran into another group of patrolmen who were about to leave.
They exclaimed as if they're praising us when they saw the number of Ruin Dwellers we're bringing back. Since we didn't know what they're talking about, we growled like idiots while gesturing to them. Surprisingly the idiotic Ogres understood it and they laughed loudly before continuing on their way out.
"Great. Even without us knowing what we're talking about, they understood us."
I exclaimed upon seeing their backs getting farther from us.
"You can live your life as an Ogre. They will not notice you're an impostor."
Yumiko commented while smirking. She's surely smirking behind that disguise, right?
"Err… It won't be fun seeing those identical mugs of theirs. Even just looking at us is…"
I shook my head as I stopped thinking about it.
"What? Aren't I still beautiful even with this?"
With that ugly mug of an Ogre? No, not even remotely beautiful.
"… Yes, you are."
But yeah, how can I say that?
"I love it when you're like this, Daisuke."
Yumiko giggled beneath that disguise of hers.
We continued our way and soon arrived at the barricade. Saying another incoherent language, we acted stupidly while pointing at the Ruin Dwellers we brought.
The Ogre stationed there look at it and as if seeing a new meal, he happily let us pass.
At that point we split up once again, Yumiko will lead the twins to the same side they went to two days ago while me, Jayna and Jagu will bring the Ruin Dwellers to their prison.
With the plan in mind, we will steal everything from them first, even the broken blades and armors wouldn't be spared.
Well, if I found more valuables then that wouldn't be spared as well.
After we rescue the captives, we'll leave this dimension before any mishaps happen. I'm sorry for the Ogres but they'll be looted dry.
When we reached the Ruin Dweller's Prison, Jagu handed the Ruin Dwellers to the Ogre that was guarding the room.
However, once the Ogre held the Ruin Dweller, Jagu twisted his neck without a second thought before throwing its body inside the Ruin Dweller's cell. Having been given a meal, the thick armed creatures were energized.
"Then see you later, Jagu. Look after them."
Jagu nodded as I watched him take the seat of the previous Ogre.
This is his role. He will release the Ruin Dwellers later.
Leaving that room behind, Jayna and I then turned our heels to the room filled with energy stones. No one was guarding and the other Ogres didn't seem to find the stones important.
Maybe it was really only used by the Shaman.
Upon entering it, we were once again met with piles upon piles of Energy Stone.
Now that we have some time, I got to observe the room again and from one pile of Energy Stones, some kind of chest was hidden beneath it
I pulled the chest out and was honestly surprised at what I found.
"Jayna, look."
I excitedly called out to Jayna who was looking outside to warn me if there's someone about to come.
She turned her head and also gasped in surprise upon seeing it. Inside the chest were storage necklaces, the same necklaced we found below, in the Underground Ruins. It's too many that the chest was about to burst from it.
Now it makes me wonder, are these storages this common in a higher world?
Ah. In any case, this was really a bountiful harvest.
I could also now spare some for Yuko and the other girls. And by using some of these, we'll be able to take out everything from this room.
"Help me stash these out Jayna."
I said before throwing two necklaces towards her.
Understanding what I meant, Jayna nodded and started binding the necklaces and collecting the piles of Energy Stones inside.
About 10 minutes later, the room was fully emptied by us.
I chuckled as I compared its previous state to now. It's like we just robbed a bank without anyone caring at all.
And with this, one of our objectives was successfully cleared.
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