NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka? (VRMMORPG : Elysia Online)

The ground beneath me shook violently, creating shockwaves that rippled across the battlefield. I almost lost my balance, but my reflexes were quick enough to avoid the impact. Dust and debris flew into the air, obscuring my vision.

"This Ogre is much stronger than we thought!" I shouted, trying to adjust my defensive stance to counter its attacks.

Lyra growled as she jumped back. "You just realized that? I knew it the moment I saw those terrifying muscles!" She gripped her sword tightly, her eyes locked on the massive monster standing in front of us.

Celine stood behind us, her magic still glowing at the tip of her staff. "I need a few more seconds to chant a high-level spell! Don't let it get close!"

However, before we could respond, the Ogre swung its massive club into the ground, creating another shockwave, this time much stronger. I jumped to the side, but was shocked to see a large rock hurled into the air, heading straight for Lyra!

"LYRA! WATCH OUT!"

Lyra tried to dodge, but her balance was shaky due to the unstable ground. Without thinking, I leaped and pulled her back, narrowly avoiding the massive rock that crashed into the ground with a thunderous sound.

Lyra stared at me with wide eyes. "You..."

"I won't let you die so easily," I replied, taking a deep breath.

However, before we could celebrate avoiding the attack, the Ogre let out a loud roar. Its glowing red eyes seemed filled with rage. It began attacking more brutally—as if it realized we were a threat that needed to be eliminated as quickly as possible.

I realized this could end badly. If we continued fighting without a plan, we would likely lose. I had to consider whether to retreat and rethink our strategy—but did we even have the chance to do so?

The ground around us shook violently, creating shockwaves that nearly knocked me off my feet. The Ogre swung its massive club, slamming it into the ground with enough force to create a small crater. Dust flew everywhere, momentarily obscuring my vision, but the deafening growl told me they weren't going to stop here.

"Rei! They're coming from the left too!" Lyra shouted as she jumped back, dodging a brutal swing from one of the half-destroyed armored ogres.

I clenched my twin swords, assessing the situation. There were four ogres, each with a massive build, nearly four meters tall, with rough gray skin and glowing red eyes filled with brutality. The largest one, seemingly the Leader Ogre, wielded a massive spiked club, while the others carried primitive weapons like stone axes and wooden spears.

Celine stood behind us, her hands trembling slightly as she chanted her spells. "I'll prepare a binding spell! Hold them off for a few seconds!"

I nodded, then glanced at Lyra. "Can you handle the one on the right?"

Lyra grinned. "Of course! Let me have some fun!"

She dashed forward, using the skill BlinkStepBlinkStep, disappearing in an instant before reappearing beside one of the ogres. With a quick motion, she slashed at the monster's ankle, causing it to growl in pain.

I didn't have much time to observe, as two other ogres were already heading toward me! One of them swung its axe at me, but I jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. I immediately countered with a spinning slash, trying to wound its side, but its thick skin resisted my strike.

"Damn, its defense is too strong!" I gritted my teeth.

However, before I could think further, the leader ogre suddenly lifted its foot and stomped the ground with tremendous force!

BOOM!

Shockwaves rippled in all directions, knocking me off balance! I almost fell but managed to plant my sword into the ground to steady myself. However, that was enough to create an opening—

WHAM!

A massive fist landed on my chest, hitting me like a speeding train. I was thrown backward, crashing hard into a tree!

"Khh... Damn..." I felt a sharp pain throughout my body, but I couldn't just stay down.

In front of me, the leader ogre stared at me with a bloodthirsty grin. It raised its club, ready to crush me in one deadly strike.

However, before it could move—

"Infernal Chains!"

Celine finally finished her spell! Chains of fire emerged from the ground, binding the leader ogre's legs, causing it to growl and struggle wildly!

"This is our chance! Attack now!!" Celine shouted.

I immediately leaped forward, activating the skill PhantomSlashPhantomSlash! My sword glowed blue, leaving a trail of light as I slashed at the monster's stomach!

SLASH!

Black blood spurted, and the ogre groaned, but it wasn't down yet.

Lyra jumped onto the monster's shoulder, driving her sword straight into its neck! With a battle cry, she pulled her weapon hard—

"HEIYAAAH!!"

CRACK!

The ogre's neck shattered instantly. The monster shook its head, before finally collapsing to the ground with a loud thud!

One ogre down.

However, the battle was far from over. Two other ogres were still standing, and to make matters worse, one of them had just activated its berserk skill! Its eyes glowed bright red, and its body swelled slightly, indicating a crazy surge in strength.

I took a deep breath. This wasn't over yet.

The ground around us continued to shake violently, the shockwaves from the ogre's heavy steps reverberating through my fingertips. Celine bit her lip, her fingers moving quickly as she chanted a protective spell, while Lyra gripped her sword tighter. We had to decide our next move quickly, or this battle would turn into a disaster.

The ogre swung its massive club wildly, smashing trees around it and sending wood splinters flying. Its breathing was heavy, its burning red eyes glaring at us with anger. We couldn't face this head-on—we needed a strategy.

I turned to Lyra and Celine. "We can't just attack recklessly. This ogre is stronger than we thought."

Celine swallowed hard but maintained her focus. "I can restrict its movement for a while, but we need to attack before it breaks free!"

"Good," I said quickly. "Lyra, can you find an opening to attack its weak spot?"

The girl grinned slightly, even as sweat began to drip down her temples. "You're asking me to attack something that big up close? Alright, that's a fun challenge!"

I sighed. Of course, she'd be drawn to the danger...

The ogre stomped the ground hard, causing the earth beneath it to crack. Then, with a deep growl, it raised its massive club and—

WHAM!

I jumped to the side just as the ground where I had been standing shattered into pieces! Dust and rocks flew into the air. Celine let out a small scream but managed to keep her balance. Lyra used this opportunity to run to the side, trying to find a better angle to attack.

We needed a more concrete plan before the next attack!

The ogre raised its massive club again, its muscles tensing, then swung it toward Lyra!

"Lyra, watch out!" I shouted.

With quick reflexes, Lyra jumped back, but the shockwave from the club's impact nearly knocked her off balance. The ogre snorted, seemingly annoyed that its attack had missed.

Celine moved closer to me, her breathing slightly labored. "If we keep fighting like this, we'll only be defending, not winning."

I gritted my teeth. Celine was right. This ogre wasn't just strong—it had insane durability. The only way to win was with the right strategy.

"I have an idea," I said quickly. "Celine, do you have a spell to slow it down?"

Celine nodded quickly. "I can use Frost Bind, but it'll take a few seconds to chant!"

Lyra, who was now standing a bit farther away, listened to our conversation while still dodging the ogre's attacks. "Then I'll distract it!" she shouted, and without hesitation, she charged forward and attacked with Crescent Slash—a circular sword technique that emitted sharp blue energy!

The attack hit one of the ogre's legs, forcing it to take a step back, but it wasn't enough to knock it off balance. However, the monster's attention was now fully on Lyra.

"Celine, now!"

Celine raised her staff, icy energy beginning to swirl around her. The air around us grew colder as the spell began to take shape.

However, something unexpected happened—

The ogre suddenly stomped its foot on the ground, creating a powerful tremor that disrupted Celine's focus!

"Ah!" Celine nearly fell, and the spell she was about to release was delayed by a few seconds!

Damn! This ogre was smarter than we thought!

I didn't have time to think. I had to act now!

"I don't have time to think. I have to act now!"

The ground shook beneath my feet as the ogre raised both of its massive arms before slamming them into the ground with tremendous force. BOOM! The powerful tremor spread across the entire area, creating cracks in the ground and sending rock fragments flying. I jumped to the side, barely maintaining my balance from the impact.

"Damn! We need to finish this before we exhaust ourselves!" Lyra shouted, darting to the side to find the best angle for her attack.

Celine stood behind us, her spell almost complete, purple light gathering at the tip of her staff. However, the spell still needed a few more seconds to activate.

I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly. This Ogre is stronger than expected. If we continued to fight it head-on, we would likely run out of stamina first.

"We need a more concrete strategy before the next attack!"

I turned to Lyra, who was already ready with her sword. I only had a few seconds to think.

"Lyra! Lure it to the right! Make it step on the unstable ground!" I shouted.

Lyra raised an eyebrow, but immediately understood my plan. Without hesitation, she dashed to the right, leaving footprints in the cracked, dusty ground caused by the ogre's earlier attacks.

"Hey, you dumb giant! Come and get me if you can!" she taunted with a challenging tone.

The ogre growled angrily, its glowing red eyes fixed on Lyra before it swung its massive arm. The strong gust of wind from the swing hit my face, showing just how powerful the attack would be if it landed directly.

"Good... come on, chase her..." I muttered while observing the ogre's footsteps.

The ogre stepped on the unstable ground—and just as I predicted, the ground beneath it began to crack wider!

"Now!"

I leaped forward, swinging my sword directly at one of its legs!

"Crescent Slash!"

A blue light flashed through the air, hitting the ogre's knee just as Lyra stabbed her sword into the monster's calf from the other side!

GRAAAARGHHH!!

The ogre let out a loud snort, its body losing balance!

That's when Celine finished chanting her spell.

"Gravity Bind!"

A purple light enveloped the ogre, forcing its body downward!

THUD!

Finally, the ogre fell to its knees!

"Now, finish it!!" Celine shouted.

Lyra and I moved in unison!

"Now, finish it!!" Celine shouted.

Lyra and I moved in unison!

The ground beneath the weakened ogre began to crack. The red light from Celine's magic still lingered in the air, creating an immense pressure that I could even feel on my skin. My breathing was heavy, but this was the best chance we had. If we failed now, the ogre would recover and turn the tide!

"I'll attack from the right! You take the left!" Lyra shouted, her eyes gleaming with determination.

I nodded quickly. There was no time to hesitate. With full force, I dashed forward, my sword creating a sharp flash as it swung. The ogre, even in its weakened state, still tried to raise its massive arm to block our attacks.

But this time, we were faster!

"Twin Fang Strike!!" I activated my skill, making both of my swords move in a cross pattern, slashing the ogre's arm simultaneously.

"Swift Piercer!" Lyra jumped high and stabbed her sword straight into the monster's right shoulder!

"GRUOOOAAARGH!!"

The ogre roared in pain, thick black blood spurting from the wounds we inflicted. However, despite the barrage of attacks, the creature was still standing! Its free left hand suddenly slammed the ground, creating a shockwave that nearly knocked Lyra and me off balance.

"Damn, it's still moving?! Celine, now!" I shouted.

Celine, who had been preparing her ultimate spell, finally completed her long chant. The air around us vibrated, and from the sky, a massive fireball appeared, glowing brightly.

"Meteor Flare!!"

The fireball shot down at high speed, crashing into the ogre's chest! A massive explosion shook the entire area, sending dust and rock fragments flying. The heat was so intense that the grass around us began to dry and burn.

BOOOOM!!!

A large crater formed where the ogre had stood. I immediately covered my face with my arm to protect myself from the flying debris. The ogre's pained roar grew weaker... until finally, only silence remained.

As the smoke began to clear, I saw the ogre's massive body lying motionless. Its once-angry glowing eyes began to dim before finally disappearing into particles of light.

QuestCompleted!QuestCompleted!

A system window appeared in front of us, notifying us that the battle was over. I let out a long sigh, my body feeling heavy after giving it my all in this fight.

"We... won?" Lyra asked, her voice still sounding disbelieving.

I nodded weakly. "Yeah... finally."

Celine smiled, though her face looked exhausted. "That was close... If we hadn't attacked at the right timing, we might have been the ones to fall first."

I couldn't argue with that. That fight was way too risky.

But before I could relax, something else caught my attention—where the ogre had died, something was faintly glowing among the burnt debris.

"Wait... what's that?" I walked closer, trying to get a better look.

Amid the rubble and the ogre's lifeless body, a faint blue light pulsed slowly on the ground, indicating loot left behind after the intense battle. Celine sighed, still trying to calm her racing heart, while Lyra quickly approached.

"Let's grab it before it despawns," she said, without hesitation reaching for the glowing item.

A system window appeared in front of me.

Giant's War Axe (Rare) — A large axe with an effect that increases attack power against large monsters.

Reinforced Ogre Hide (Uncommon) — A tough material that can be used for forging armor.

Beast Fang Amulet (Rare) — An amulet that increases body durability by 10%.

1000 Gold — Reward for defeating the Elite Ogre.

EXP +3,500 — Level up available!

I raised an eyebrow. "Not bad for rewards."

Celine beamed with excitement. "The axe could be sold or—"

"Obviously, I'm keeping it, right?" Lyra grinned, lifting the axe with one hand, though it was clear the weight was a bit too much for her.

I could only sigh. "You're not a heavy weapon class, Lyra."

"But it still looks cool, right?" She swung it once, almost losing her balance.

I ignored her for a moment, focusing more on the amulet I got. Gear like this was quite rare to drop from normal monsters. Was this an effect of the system starting to recognize my existence? Or just a coincidence?

Before I could think further, another notification window appeared.

ADDITIONALQUESTAVAILABLEADDITIONALQUESTAVAILABLE It seems something is still lingering around this area... → Investigate the surrounding area or continue your journey?

I frowned. "Looks like we're not done here yet."

Celine looked at me. "Something strange?"

I turned to the two of them, trying to decide our next move.

Celine was still examining the remains of the ogre we had defeated, while Lyra stood with her arms crossed, looking impatient. "We've been here too long," she muttered. "If there's something weird, we better find out quickly before more monsters show up."

I nodded in agreement. There was no guarantee this place was safe. I crouched down and inspected the ogre's corpse more closely. Unlike normal monsters, its body didn't immediately disappear into particles of light like the usual system drop. This was strange.

"Wait... look at this," Celine pointed at something on the ogre's chest. There was a strange symbol that looked like a faintly glowing rune on its skin. "This isn't natural. It's like—"

"A seal," I cut in. I could feel something was off. "This isn't a normal ogre. Maybe it's the result of an experiment or controlled by someone."

Lyra knelt beside me, her expression hardening slightly. "Then who's crazy enough to control a monster this strong?"

I couldn't answer that. But one thing was certain—this wasn't a coincidence.

Celine moved her finger over the rune, and instantly, the symbol flickered before fading slowly. "I don't know exactly who did this, but this is definitely not ordinary magic."

I sighed. If there was someone who could control a monster this strong, then my journey in this world had just gotten more complicated.

"What should we do now?" Lyra asked, her voice more serious this time.

We had to make a decision