The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World! Chapter 38: Tyrant of The Lake

Everyone at the scene, especially Shiori, was stunned by Sukuna’s gesture. The sight of the old ogre bowing in apology left the others feeling deeply ashad.

"Old man..." Shiori murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

A heavy silence hung in the air.

Reika, anwhile, took a closer look at Sukuna. His silver hair, a sign of his old age, contrasted with his ash-gray skin, marked by deep wrinkles. It was clear he was the eldest among them. Then, her eyes fell on the unusual sword at his waist. Its design struck her as oddly familiar.

Sensing the unease lingering in the atmosphere, Reika decided to lighten the mood. With a warm smile, she spoke gently.

"It’s alright. I harbor no ill will toward you or your people."

Sukuna studied her for a mont. Her golden eyes, once so fierce, now carried only sincerity. There was no trace of resentnt—only kindness.

She’s telling the truth…

Closing his droopy eyes, Sukuna let out a quiet sigh before offering a small, genuine smile.

"Thank you for your benevolence, kind human."

"No worries!" Reika replied with a grin.

Sukuna stroked his beard, his eyes still fixed on Reika, filled with curiosity and wonder.

"May I ask our benefactor’s na? I realize now that I should address you properly."

"Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself earlier."

With a bright smile, Reika extended her hand toward Sukuna.

"My na is Reika. Reika Mitsuha. What about you, sir?"

One of Sukuna’s droopy eyes cracked open at the ntion of her na. He glanced down at her outstretched hand before finally reaching out his own.

"This humble old man’s na is Sukuna."

As their hands t, he felt the warmth of her grip—steady, firm, yet undeniably kind.

Her smile was genuine, radiating a friendly energy that caught him off guard. The fierce warrior who had monts ago brought them all to their knees was now standing before him, cheerful and welcoming.

She wasn’t so fearso monster—she was an innocent, pure-hearted human, and humble to the core...

anwhile, Shiori stood at a distance, arms crossed, her mood sour. Despite Reika healing her kin, her attitude toward the human hadn’t changed.

Hmph! Even though she helped my kin tend their injuries, how dare she show hostility in front of earlier?!

Her gaze drifted to her palm, and mories of their fight resurfaced.

I was holding back. I didn’t use any active abilities—I relied purely on my swordsmanship. But she… she resorted to her racial abilities without hesitation.

Her fingers clenched into a fist.

If I had fought at full power, victory would have been mine. No doubt about it!

Shiori’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she caught sight of a familiar figure rushing toward Reika and Sukuna.

Her eyes narrowed in recognition.

Alguis…?!

"Miss Reika! I felt an imnse aura earlier and ran all the way here. Could you explain what happened?"

Reika turned toward Alguis, scratching her cheek.

"Uh, there was a... teensy conflict between us, and I may have mistakenly released my aura..."

Alguis blinked in shock.

T-That heavy aura ca from her?! I could feel it even from hundreds of ters away!

"I-Is that so... I thought we were under attack by so powerful monsters or sothing..."

His gaze shifted, scanning the area until it landed on the ogres.

"Uh... could these people be—"

A voice cut through the air from behind him.

"I guess the dryad wasn’t kidding around when it ntioned dwarves coexisting with humans. And not just any dwarf—one of nobility, no less."

Startled, Alguis turned toward the voice.

There, standing with unshaken dignity, was a tall yet strikingly fair woman. The mont he laid eyes on her, he recognized her instantly.

"You're Shiori from the Ogre Tribe that resides near the Great Lake...? I've heard about you from the orcs and goblins..."

Shiori didn’t respond imdiately, letting the silence emphasize her standing among them. Alguis, unfazed, took a step forward and raised his hand in greeting.

"To think that the chief of the Ogre Tribe agreed to our proposal, allowing your kin to seek shelter in our settlent... It was my great pleasure to join hands with you in this fight."

Shiori glanced at his extended hand, hesitating. After a brief pause, she finally accepted the handshake, though her expression remained unreadable.

"Hm. I acknowledge your efforts, Sir Alguis. However..."

She suddenly pulled her hand away, the gesture deliberate.

"The fact that you, as a leader of your own kingdom, cannot even enforce your ideals among your own people... troubles ," she continued. "Yes, you have allowed other races to enter your kingdom without discrimination, but is it truly as effective as you claim?"

Her words left Alguis montarily puzzled.

"What do you an by that—"

"I’ve experienced it firsthand," Shiori interrupted. "When I arrived at your gates, your dwarven guards stopped . I was questioned for an hour. And I wasn’t the only one—other non-dwarves were subjected to the sa scrutiny."

"T-That's..." Alguis faltered.

"While many of your citizens welcod us warmly, there are still those who openly display their prejudice toward us—the so-called ‘lesser races.’ We purchased goods, interacted with your people, and yet... the scar of discrimination remains."

Alguis was left speechless as Shiori’s words struck deep, wounding his pride. Before he could respond, Reika quickly stepped forward.

"Hey, why are you provoking people out of the blue? Wasn’t what you did earlier enough?"

Before the situation could escalate, Alguis gently placed a hand on Reika’s arm, stopping her.

"It’s okay, Miss Reika. Miss Shiori’s words… they’re not wrong."

His expression darkened, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. Seeing this, Shiori sighed and shook her head.

"You are a good king, Sir Alguis Fellad. I an it…"

She turned away, pausing briefly before making her way toward Shiki.

Sukuna hesitated before calling out, "Miss Shiori—"

"But none of it matters," she interrupted, "since your leniency is overshadowed by your incompetence."

That was the final straw for Reika. Her patience snapped as she turned sharply to face Shiori.

"You...!"

But before she could confront her, a distant sound echoed through the air—a crackling, splintering noise, followed by a series of heavy thuds. The ground trembled.

Everyone’s heads snapped toward the source. In the distance, trees toppled one after another, crashing loudly.

Then, through the clearing, a figure sprinted toward them. Alguis recognized him imdiately.

"S-Sir Alguis, bad news! The next wave has arrived!"

Tension surged through the group. There was no ti for petty disputes now. Instincts took over as they scrambled for their weapons, battered though they were.

Alguis didn’t hesitate.

"Everyone! I’ll defend the southern front with Miss Reika! Chief Shiori and the ogres will hold the southwestern front! The rest of the group will cover the west and northwestern front!"

Shiori frowned, reluctant to follow his orders, but she couldn’t deny the logic. The locals knew the terrain best. In war, disobedience ant death.

Raising her greatsword, she turned to her kin.

"My fellow kin! Those who can still stand and wield a weapon, follow to the southwestern front! Those who can’t—seek refuge in the settlent!"

"Yes, Chief!"

The female ogres, shielding their children behind them, followed the man back to the settlent. Along with the goblins and orcs who were unable to fight, they took refuge inside a large house, securing themselves from the battle ahead.

anwhile, the rest moved to their assigned positions, bracing for the incoming attack. The ground trembled violently beneath their feet, each quake fueling their anticipation.

"H-Here they co!"

The monsters surged forward from all directions, their speed far greater than expected. There was no ti to hesitate—everyone leaped into action, intercepting the horde and cutting them down before they could breach the defenses.

"Hyahh!"

""

A sudden shift in the atmosphere gripped the battlefield as Shiori raised her greatsword. With every ounce of her strength, she unleashed her power to repel the incoming monsters.

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion shook the ground as an imnse aura surged outward, covering the entire area. The sheer force of her energy—converted from aeon—was so overwhelming that every monster at the southwestern front was obliterated in an instant.

Reika’s eyes widened in shock.

What the...?! Was that her actual strength?

For a brief mont, she almost lost focus, but she quickly shook off her surprise.

"I need to concentrate..."

Raising her spear, she conjured several fla orbs at its tip.

"Co forth, "

The orbs spun rapidly, gaining speed with each passing second before launching toward the enemy.

"Creaaakkkk! Gragghhh!!"

The monsters caught in the blast shrieked in agony as they were incinerated, their bodies consud by searing flas. The stench of charred flesh filled the air.

"That’s so nasty ability!" Alguis exclaid.

But Reika remained focused, standing at a distance as she precisely controlled the trajectory of each fireball.

This ability excels in handling large numbers. Since I can replenish the fireballs almost instantly, I can keep bombarding them without pause!

Her Fla Blitz proved highly effective, wiping out waves of monsters with minimal effort. The rapid-fire bursts worked much like a gatling gun, cutting through enemies with relentless precision.

...

Hours had passed since their intense fight began. Despite cutting down countless monsters, their numbers didn’t seem to dwindle. Slowly, exhaustion crept in, and fatigue began taking its toll.

"Ahhhh!! H-Help ...!"

One by one, warriors lost their strength and were overwheld by the relentless horde. Others started retreating toward the settlent, unable to hold their ground any longer.

Alguis saw it happening and felt a sense of unease.

"T-This is bad..."

A voice called out urgently.

"Sir Alguis! The monsters are moving around—they're heading to the other side! T-They're trying to surround us!"

Reika and Alguis turned in shock.

"Damn it!" Alguis exclaid.

"Relay this order to all fronts. The west and northwestern front—"

As Alguis was giving orders, Veylir suddenly noticed sothing unusual.

The ground was trembling again.

But this ti, it felt different. Unlike the previous quakes, the intensity was increasing rapidly, growing stronger with each passing mont. A bad feeling settled deep in her chest.

"This...!"

anwhile, at the western front, Aeden and Geruldo fought to keep the monsters from breaching the settlent. On the northwestern front, orcs and goblins followed Völun, holding the line as best as they could.

"T-This is bad, Miss Aeden! The monsters aren’t thinning out at all!"

"Y-Yeah… This wave is even worse than the last ones!"

Aeden scanned the battlefield, her heart sinking as she noticed the growing number of wounded fighters. The monsters were overwhelming them.

Damn it! If this keeps up, we won’t last much longer!

Lost in thought, she failed to notice a Rabid Wolf closing in on her from behind. By the ti she sensed its presence, it was already too late.

"Ah…!"

"Kirikata: Sen-giri!"

In an instant, the Rabid Wolf was shredded into fine, thin strips, its body falling apart before it could even land its strike. Aeden’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to see an old ogre standing effortlessly behind her.

"Miss Aeden, I presu?" the old ogre—Sukuna—asked.

"Y-Yes… That’s ."

Who is this old ogre? He’s strong!

"By Sir Alguis’s orders, you are to move to the east and northeastern fronts imdiately. Defend them from the monsters trying to surround the settlent. Go now, before it’s too late!"

Aeden’s breath caught in her throat. The monsters… are trying to surround us?

She realized it then—the enemy had adapted. Since they couldn’t break through the main front easily, they had switched tactics, opting to encircle them instead.

Damn… They’re getting smart!

"Alright! Sir Geruldo—"

Before she could finish, the ground trembled violently.

Everyone’s attention snapped toward the horizon.

A massive figure lood in the distance.

A monstrous being with six elongated legs, each clad in a hardened exoskeleton. Two massive arms extended from its body, each ending in deadly, crushing pincers.

It looked like a crab—except this one was colossal, towering above the battlefield like a walking fortress.

"N-Not good… Gargantua is already here!" Sukuna shouted.

"Hurry, Miss Aeden! Surround the settlent and defend all fronts! Now that that thing has arrived, the density of the monster waves will increase!"

"Roger!" Aeden responded, imdiately rushing off.

anwhile, at the southern front, Reika’s eyes locked onto the massive creature. Even though it was still kiloters away, its sheer size made it impossible to miss.

"T-This is bad… Soone has to intercept it before it reaches the settlent…!"

Suddenly, a shadow moved.

Reika’s gaze snapped toward the battlefield just in ti to see a figure rushing toward Gargantua at blinding speed.

It was Shiori, leaping from one monster’s head to another, rapidly closing the distance.

"Eh? She reacted that fast?!" Reika exclaid.

Seeing Shiori rush toward Gargantua alone, she grew concerned. There was no way she could handle that monster on her own. Without hesitation, Reika made up her mind to follow.

"Sir Alguis, can you handle things here from now on? Shiori left her post to face Gargantua alone, and I plan to do the sa."

Alguis, mid-battle, severed a monster’s head before turning to her.

"Alright, Miss Reika. With the two of you together, taking that thing down might be possible. If we kill it, we might finally put an end to this endless wave!"

Reika nodded and dashed off without another word.

Veylir, still holding the frontlines, spotted her heading into the woods. Instinctively, she wanted to follow, but the monsters swarming around her made it impossible.

"Tch! These stupid things just keep coming! If I hadn’t weakened this much, maybe I could…!"

Frustrated, she unleashed a barrage of Gale Cleaves, the sheer force of her attacks sending monster heads flying through the air.

"Oraaaah! Take this, you annoying bunch!"

anwhile, up ahead, Reika finally caught up to Shiori. She arrived just in ti to witness her intercept Gargantua, targeting its massive legs.

With a surge of Aura Energy, Shiori’s greatsword sliced through the creature’s elongated limbs with terrifying ease, cutting them like butter.

"Miss Shiori! Let help you!"

Shiori, hearing the familiar voice, turned. The mont she saw Reika, her expression shifted.

"What are you doing here?! You shouldn’t have left your post!"

"H-Hey, didn’t you do the sa?! I followed because I was worried about your reckless actions!"

"You dare call this reckless? I was the only one who managed to wound that monster, yet you question my strength?"

"I-It’s not like that—"

Before Reika could finish, sothing lunged at Shiori from the side.

A massive force struck her, sending her crashing several feet away before slamming into a tree.

"Damn it! What was that?!"

Shiori winced as she quickly got back on her feet. Ahead, a giant Rabid Wolf stood, its piercing gaze locked onto her. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from its throat, seething with killing intent.

Then, in the blink of an eye, it vanished.

Shiori’s eyes darted around as the beast reappeared, leaping effortlessly between the trees with terrifying speed.

"A Lycann?! That giant crab managed to control a Casualty-grade monster?!"

Lycann—a mutated species of Rabid Wolf—was born from prolonged exposure to thick aeon concentrations. Not only was it far larger than an ordinary Rabid Wolf, but it also possessed imnse speed and strength.

"This is troubleso..."

Shiori scanned her surroundings, trying to track Lycann’s movents. But the beast was too fast. All she could see were blurred mirages flickering between the trees and the deep dents left behind on the trunks as it leaped from one to another.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed behind her.

Here it cos!

Shiori swung her greatsword in a split second, aiming to cut down the charging Lycann.

But it was too quick. The mutated wolf twisted its body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the blade before its claws nearly grazed Shiori in return.

"Ghk!"

That was close!

Lycann landed smoothly and imdiately resud its relentless movent, jumping back and forth between the trees at dizzying speeds.

Damn it! Not only is it unbelievably fast, but its reaction speed matches mine! This is going to be tough…!

In the distance, Reika saw Shiori locked in battle with Lycann. Now that she was occupied, nothing stood in Gargantua’s way.

Reika’s gaze dropped to its injured leg—only to see that it had already regenerated.

"The heck? That’s so insane regeneration!"

She quickly scanned the surroundings. Aside from Gargantua, no other monsters were nearby. With no additional threats to worry about, she made up her mind.

"I need to deal with it myself. Draconic Transformation!"

In an instant, she transford, her wings spreading wide as she soared into the sky. From above, she finally got a clear sense of Gargantua’s true scale.

"Damn. That is way beyond overgrown!"

She turned her head toward the settlent. The monster horde had completely surrounded it, relentlessly pushing against all fronts.

"There’s too many of them! We need to take down Gargantua before it’s too late!"

But just as she refocused on the colossal creature, she suddenly hesitated.

Will I be able to pull this off? This is only my third fight, and yet…

Reika shook her head, snapping herself out of doubt.

"Why are you hesitating now, Reika? There’s no ti for this!"

She clenched her fists. I need to win—for everyone I care about!

Her gaze locked onto Gargantua as she took a deep breath. A purple light flickered to life within her mouth, pulsing with unstable energy.

That bastard’s exoskeleton is tough. Conventional attacks won’t work—I need sothing that can pierce right through it. And this ability suits best…!

The energy inside her mouth grew stronger, illuminating the sky with its brilliance.

Gargantua, sensing the threat, shifted its attention toward her.

Reika thought, Urk… Why is this thing so bright?

Reika saw its massive pincer surging toward her. There was no ti to hesitate. She adjusted her aim, targeting the pivot of its arm—the joint where its movent depended on.

Now! Dragon’s Breath!

A blinding beam of purple light shot from her mouth, slicing through Gargantua’s arm like it was paper. The severed limb crashed to the ground with an earth-shaking thud. The blast’s shockwave followed, ripping through the base of one of its legs and obliterating it entirely.

anwhile, Shiori—still engaged with Lycann—was caught completely off guard. The shockwave from the blast sent both her and the beast flying.

"T-The hell was that?!" Shiori groaned, struggling to get back on her feet.

Reika hovered in the air, wide-eyed as she took in the aftermath.

"I… I did it!"