Chapter 16: The Cave Ogre
"Sure enough, it's iron ore!"
The stone was gray-black, indicating a high iron content.
Li ng glanced slightly sideways, scanning the surrounding ground. He noticed many similar stones scattered throughout the nearby forest. This area was at least a mile from the barren mountain.
Li ng threw the stone in his hand aside and continued walking forward.
The iron ore was found, but now he needed to figure out how to conceal the smoke.
Slting iron required burning coal, which would produce a large amount of smoke. This smoke could attract the attention of other intelligent species nearby.
Based on the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, at least two intelligent species, Lizardn and Pign, were known to exist in the vicinity.
Attracting any intelligent species could spell disaster for the tribe.
"If only there were a cave!"
Walking through the forest, Li ng thought to himself.
Ideally, it would be a very deep cave with multiple exits.
A sealed cave wouldn’t work, as the smoke could beco a lethal poison.
Although the smoke would eventually dissipate, it would be less noticeable after being diluted in a cave.
Li ng knew that finding such a cave was easier said than done.
In the following days, Li ng traversed mountains and valleys in search of a place for slting iron.
Three days passed like this.
During these three days, Li ng scoured all the nearby mountainous areas.
"Boss, we found it! There's a cave up ahead!"
On the afternoon of the third day, a Goblin ran up to Li ng excitedly.
Unknowingly, Li ng and the Goblin followers had arrived at the foot of a mountain.
The steep cliff was almost vertical, rising several hundred ters high.
Li ng's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Lead the way!"
Under the Goblin's guidance, the group hurried forward.
About two hundred ters ahead, a steep cliff appeared before Li ng.
At the base of the cliff was a cave opening in the rock wall.
Judging by the shape of the fissure, it seed to have ford naturally.
The opening was about three ters wide, and the inside was pitch-black.
Outside the cave lay barren, black soil, damp and marked by massive footprints.
"What a strange sll; I've never slled this before!"
" neither!"
The Goblins chattered outside the cave, comnting on the unfamiliar scent emanating from it.
Li ng also caught a whiff of a foul stench—a mix of excrent and other unpleasant odors.
"Could it be an Ogre?"
Li ng thought of the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, where he would encounter an Ogre.
"Boss, there's movent!"
At that mont, sounds ca from the cave—thudding, heavy footsteps.
"Hide, quickly!"
Realizing sothing, Li ng's expression changed. He turned and bolted toward the forest.
The other Goblins, seeing their leader flee, imdiately followed him.
Once back in the forest, Li ng didn’t move far from the cave.
Instead, he hid in a bush near the cave's entrance.
The other Goblins also concealed themselves among various plants.
The noise from the cave grew louder and louder.
Monts later, a massive shadow appeared at the cave entrance.
In the terrified gaze of the Goblins, a colossal creature erged from the cave.
It had gray skin, a bald head, and an enormous, muscular build. Standing nearly five ters tall, it dwarfed even the Goblin leader in size.
Its massive body was sturdy, with exceptionally thick limbs. Its bowl-sized eyes swiveled, giving it a sowhat foolish appearance.
[Cave Ogre]
[Level: 71]
[Strength: 317]
[Defense: 614]
[Agility: 151]
[Magic: 36]
[Enhanced Stone Skin: LV3 (Defense 300)]
[Physical Regeneration: LV1 (Increases healing speed)]
"My goodness!"
The Ogre's terrifying stats left Li ng shocked.
How could such a powerful creature be captured? With traps?
But traps weren’t omnipotent. How deep must a trap be to trap this monster?
And even if it were trapped, how would it be captured?
At the cave entrance, the Ogre sniffed the air with its broad nose.
It seed to detect a faint unfamiliar scent but lacked the keen sense of sll needed to locate the hidden Goblins in the forest.
Soon, it began striding toward the forest.
In the forest, the Ogre resembled a giant, crushing branches and leaves as it moved.
"Follow it!"
Using the vegetation as cover, Li ng cautiously trailed the Ogre.
Although terrified, the Goblins followed their leader.
Before long, the Ogre stopped beneath a massive fruit tree.
It grasped the trunk with both hands and shook it vigorously.
Purple, fist-sized fruits rained down from the tree.
After completing this task, the Ogre sat under the tree and began picking up the fruits to eat.
"An Ogre eats plants?"
Li ng wondered from his hiding spot in the forest.
Despite its size and the na "Ogre," it seed to be a herbivore.
Of course, it could also be an omnivore—most humanoid creatures were.
Unlike the Goblins, which were purely carnivorous.
Ti passed as the Ogre continued eating the fruits under the tree.
It ate for two full hours before finally stopping.
Just as Li ng thought the Ogre was returning to its cave, it instead fell asleep under the tree.
A strange sll wafted over, making Li ng wrinkle his nose.
"Is this... ferntation?"
Looking at the sleeping Ogre, Li ng's eyes brightened.
Could the Ogre be drunk?
The tree's fruits were clearly overripe and rotting. Ferntation might have caused the Ogre to beco intoxicated.
"Even with such high defense, I probably can't kill it, right?"
Rather than killing it for its skills, Li ng hoped to subdue it and use it as labor.
"Gobung, take all the Goblins and make bark ropes!"
Li ng instructed a Goblin beside him. It nodded and scurried off, rallying the others to gather materials deeper in the forest.
Watching the sleeping Ogre, Li ng contemplated.
The future seen in *Life Simulation* was only a reference.
In this situation, there was no need to build traps.
If the Ogre was truly intoxicated, it wouldn’t wake up easily.
This was his chance to capture it.
About five hours later, Gobung returned with the Goblins.
Each Goblin carried a bundle of bark ropes.
"Co with !"
Summoning his courage, Li ng erged from the bush and approached the sleeping Ogre.
Despite their fear, the Goblins mustered their bravery and followed their leader.
Li ng and his Goblin followers tiptoed toward the Ogre.
Gesturing with his hand, Li ng signaled for a Goblin to hand him a rope.
Taking the bark rope, Li ng cautiously began tying up the Ogre’s feet.
It might not be effective, but it was better than nothing.
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