Being a newborn ogre wasn't the fantastical experience I had thought reincarnation would be. The noise of snarling, grunting and biting over every bits of flesh or dubious mushrooms was a struggle for survival to us. Cleanliness? None. A place to stay? Old moss and dank earthy sll of unwashed ogres who sweat filled the dimly lit and damp cave.
But I wasn't just any ogre baby—I was also, I've reincarnated. And I refused to blend in as just another green potato in the pile.
So far, I'd managed to carve out a tiny sliver of respect from the tribe.
Well, "respect" was a strong word. Let's call it "begrudging tolerance." The other babies had stopped outright stealing my food, opting instead to growl half-heartedly before letting keep my scraps. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
Also, they've been looking rather cute for a while now.
Still, being the runt of the group was stuck on . The older ogres had taken to calling "Little Weakling," their laughter rumbling like it was the funniest thing they've seen especially whenever I struggled to carry a bone twice my size.
I just knew then, that that nickna wasn't sticking. Not if I had anything to say about it.
Also, I've been noticing that the older ogre's have been dwindling in numbers. Is that normal?
Oh, well, probably another ogre thing I don't wanna think about.
---
In any case, I took advantage of the chance to get away from the mayhem one day while the others were munching on the remains of a deer carcass.
I got drawn to the cave's edge, a small corner that even the more courageous infants appeared to avoid.
The slight squish of mud that I got from walking around near the cave's entrance followed my cautious steps on the rough stone floor.
The cave grew quieter the farther I went. There was an unsettling silence as the growls and crunching bones in the distance faded.
A small glow then drew my attention. It was almost pleading for attention as it flickered at the base of a rough rock structure.
Way to not scream shady.
I found a weird object stuck between two stones when I walked closer to that sa rock.
It was a small, crooked rock with glowing runes inscribed on its surface that pulsed softly, like a tiny heartbeat. Strange shadows appeared on the cave walls as if the light were alive.
Oh~ Shiny!
---
My palm trembled as I reached out, a mixture of curiosity and terror. I felt a rush of warmth as soon as my fingers touched the stone; it was like walking into sunlight after a chilly night.
[SYSTEM NOTICE] An Ogre Relic has been found. Unlocked Title: Inquisitive Crawler. "A Relic?" I said in a voice that was almost audible.
"What kind of ga chanic is this?" A tingling sensation crawled up my arm as the Relic shone brighter before I could give it any more thought.
Like a smug notification, a second system ssage lingered in my field of vision.
[SYSTEM SSAGE]
Skill Learned: Stone Toss (Level 1).
I blinked. "Stone Toss? What is this, ogre baseball?"
The absurdity of the situation didn't have ti to sink in. Why? Because behind , a low growl rumbled, sending a shiver down my spine was heard. I turned slowly, clutching the Relic tightly.
Grumpy.
The biggest, anest baby ogre in the group. His tusks glead in the dim light, and his beady eyes locked onto the glowing Relic in my hands. Of course, he'd show up now.
---
Battle of the Runts
Grumpy wasn't interested in negotiating. He charged, his massive feet pounding the cave floor like war drums. My instincts scread at to flee, but there was nowhere to go. I was cornered.
Desperate, I focused on the Relic, silently hoping for it to save .
My eyes darted to a nearby pebble—a tiny, unassuming rock that seed as insignificant as I felt in that mont.
This better work!
"Stone Toss," I whispered, praying the skill wasn't just a cruel joke.
The pebble began to glow, its light mirroring the Relic's pulsing aura. I felt a strange energy course through , guiding my movents.
Without thinking, I hurled the pebble with all the strength my tiny ogre body could muster. Which was a lot because the rock flew through the air like a tiny cot, striking Grumpy squarely on the forehead with a loud THWACK.
Grumpy froze mid-charge, his eyes crossing comically as he swayed on his feet.
And then—THUD. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
[SYSTEM SSAGE]
You have inflicted Stun (5 seconds). Bonus XP awarded for first combat victory.
I stared at the downed ogre, my chest heaving. Did I... win?
---
The Turning Point
The other ogres had stopped what they were doing, their eyes fixed on . For the first ti since my reincarnation, I wasn't the weakling. I was the ogre who took down Grumpy!
Grumpy stirred, letting out a low groan as he pushed himself up. The rage in his eyes was palpable, and I knew this wasn't over. He lunged again, but I was ready this ti.
Another rock. Another glowing light. THWACK.
[SYSTEM SSAGE]
Critical Hit! Skill Level Up: Stone Toss (Level 2).
Grumpy went down again, and this ti, he stayed down. The silence that followed was deafening. Slowly, I turned to face the rest of the group, holding the Relic like a tiny green champion.
"This cave," I declared, my voice shaky but defiant, "has a new boss!"
Okay, maybe that was embarrassing. But judging by the mixture of awe and terror on the baby's faces, I'd made my point. I wasn't just the runt anymore. Hell no was I gonna be just that.
---
A New Chapter
That night, as the cave settled into its usual cacophony of snores and growls, I sat in my corner, cradling the Relic. Its soft glow bathed the space in a comforting light, a beacon of hope in my otherwise chaotic new life.
The Relic had given a glimpse of what was possible—a way to fight back, to grow stronger, and maybe even to rise above my circumstances.
For the first ti, I didn't feel like a victim of fate. I felt like a player in a grand ga, and I was ready to roll the dice.
This was only the beginning.
Reviews
All reviews (0)