Duke watched as the old soldier died in front of him, his blood splattering onto Dukeās face.
He didnāt have time to mourn, as he felt a gust of wind from behind, carrying a stench.
Without looking back, Duke pushed off with his foot, leaping a dozen meters away.
The next moment, a dull sound came from behind him.
Turning back, he saw the two-headed ogre closing in rapidly, trying to stomp Duke to death, but missed.
Duke felt a sense of lingering fear; if not for his quick reflexes, heād have been crushed into pulp.
After missing its stomp, the two-headed ogre was visibly angry and grabbed the remaining old soldier nearby.
Before the soldier could react, the ogre tore him in half, blood raining down.
The two-headed ogre seemed unsatisfied, mumbling to itself in defiance and vowing to squash the bothersome pest ahead.
Seeing the two-headed ogre about to charge, Duke breathed in deeply, "Skill Tree, add points!"
He allocated his last three free attribute points: two into Strength and one into Spirit.
[Constitution: 9.9]
[Strength: 11.9]
[Agility: 9.9]
[Spirit: 9.1]
[Free Attribute Points: 0]
Duke felt an immense surge of power, a vast strength coursing through his body.
This newfound strength gave Duke the illusion that nothing could stop him, that he could shatter anything with a punch.
But he knew this was just an illusion caused by the sudden power surge; overconfidence would be his downfall.
He added a point to Spirit in preparation for using the Brass Ring.
Previously, activating the Brass Ring left him exhausted and nearly unable to fight.
With extra Spirit, he should use the Brass Ringās magic spells more effortlessly.
The two-headed ogre had no idea of the changes occurring on Dukeās side in such a short time.
It picked up a nearby club and charged towards him, its footsteps causing tremors.
Soon, the club was overhead, both ogre heads grinning as if already savoring the sight of mangled flesh.
Duke held his Longsword firmly, blocking the club strike.
However, cracks appeared on his Longsword, threatening to break soon.
The Longsword was just an ordinary iron blade, and after enduring such intense combat, it would soon reach its limit.
"Damn it!" Duke cursed, wishing for better equipment for the first time.
The ogre, seeing its attack blocked, grew even angrier and raised its club for another strike.
But its hand found nothingāDuke had vanished.
Duke ditched the Longsword, moved to the ogreās side, and punched with powerful Fighting Spirit.
The two-headed ogre, five meters tall, was hard to hit in a vital spot, or the punch wouldāve hit its head.
Dukeās punch pierced the ogreās tough skin, creating a bleeding hole.
The punch, fueled by all his strength and Fighting Spirit, was devastating.
The ogre cried out in pain, swinging to fling Duke away, but he had already retreated.
Critical damage dealt, the ogre sensed danger, forming a Thunderball between its hands, then launching it.
"AmĆ¼cke Yirensa!"
Seeing the ogreās hands move, Duke chanted the ringās spell, covering himself in a layer of pale gold light.
The Thunderball hit Dukeās chest.
Duke felt the numbing effect Vivian mentionedāthis Thunderball was fast, even hard for a Knight Level to dodge.
Vivianās quick reaction was impressive, but she didnāt expect it to track targets.
Dukeās chest tingled, a bit of pain, but no injury.
The pale gold light dimmed, almost invisible.
Unsure how much longer the light would last, Duke seized the chance to leap up, aiming a punch at the ogreās head.
His Fighting Spirit was low; this punch used up the last of it.
Surprised Duke could still move, the ogre hesitated a moment.
Quickly reacting, it formed another Thunderball, hitting Duke and sending him flying.
Duke was fast, but the Thunderball was faster, hitting before his punch landed.
The strike depleted Dukeās pale gold light, and another Thunderball was forming.
Knowing another hit meant death, he activated the Brass Ring again, blacking out and collapsing, nose bleeding.
The activation was clearly beyond his limitsāhis Spiritual Power failed.
He barely succeeded, the pale gold light reappearing to block the Thunderball.
The ogre howled in frustration, angry Duke wasnāt dead, ready to stomp him out.
Suddenly, a small figure appeared silently behind the ogre, wielding a Giant Axe glowing white.
The ogre sensed something, swinging its club backward, but a flash of white light cut through.
The small figure was knocked back, but the ogreās heads flew off, its five-meter body teetering before crashing down with a dull thud.
Duke, struggling to stand, felt stabbing pain in his head, his willpower keeping him conscious.
He knew he couldnāt fall yet; other enemies were approaching.
If he fell now, heād be cut to pieces and devoured by these humanoid creatures.
Driven by sheer willpower, Duke ran to the unconscious Vivian, checking her breath, then hoisted her up and fled.
Cavemen and goblins chased from behindānormally Duke wouldnāt fear them.
But Duke, now a spent force, was vulnerable; even a weak caveman could kill him.
He kept running, his legs numb, driven only by instinct, reaching a cliffās edge overlooking swift waters below.