Chapter 1848: Chapter 1848

Ogres are ugly and greedy magical creatures with an inherently evil nature.

They are distant relatives of giants and goblins but have not inherited the grandeur of giants or the acuity and wisdom of goblins. Instead, they have inherited the greed of goblins and the laziness of giants.

Adult ogres stand over three meters tall and weigh more than two hundred kilograms. They are communal, omnivorous, and enjoy eating the flesh and blood of other magical creatures (with a habit of cannibalism), allowing them to grow, much like hyenas on the savannah, and are regarded with hostility by other sorcery tribes.

Similar to the Fishman Tribe, traditional Ogre Tribes have their own shamans, who inherit basic knowledge of divination and herbology. The shamans of larger Ogre Tribes can even wield some vicious black magic curses.

However, this group of ogres suddenly appearing at the edge of the Eyjafjallajökull foothills does not match the general knowledge the Atonement Hunting Team’s young wizards have about them.

"Under normal circumstances, a small Ogre Tribe includes about ten males, six or seven females, and three to five cubs."

Zhang Ji Xin had been watching this tribe all morning, eager to share his confusion with his companions: "But there are no cubs among this group of ogres, and there are as many as thirteen females, even two more than the males... More importantly, they have no shaman; instead, there’s a Two-headed Ogre."

"Did you see which kind of Two-headed Ogre it is?" Zheng Qing inquired further.

Depending on the position of their heads, Two-headed Ogres are divided into two types. One type has the second head growing on the shoulder, called a Yin Yang Ogre, also known as a Bicephalous Ogre; the other has a head growing under the jaw, called a Hoop-headed Ogre, also known as a Multi-headed Ogre.

It’s called a Hoop-headed because this ogre’s new head grows from under the jaw, starting like a lump on the chin. As it ages, the old head gradually shrinks, and the lump rises until it becomes a new head. The old head transforms into a new lump, positioned at the back of the ogre’s head. As its power breaks through, new heads continue to grow under the jaw. These lumps then line up along the spine, like hair tied with brass hoops.

"It’s a Hoop-headed." Zhang Ji Xin rubbed his hands, a trace of excitement on his face: "I counted, it has four lumps on its back, worth a fortune!"

Ogre lumps, like the Purple Chariot River, are extremely precious magical herbs.

Xin Fat Man seemed to have just remembered something, interrupting the elder’s dream of fortune, frowning and asking: "You just said there are no Ogre Shamans in the camp below... aren’t Two-headed Ogres all shamans?"

"No, no, no, I meant like those in the elder’s line, specialized shamans."

The main hunter of the Atonement team immediately realized the inaccuracy in his previous description and quickly corrected himself: "It’s like at the First University, a professor can be a researcher, but a researcher isn’t necessarily a professor. A Two-headed Ogre can be a shaman, but not all shamans have two heads."

The explanation was convoluted and verbose, perfectly fitting the thought process of the red-faced warlock.

Zheng Qing observed for a while through his brass telescope, finally nodding: "Indeed, there are no cubs... and no elderly ogres either."

Students always speak so pedantically.

Xiao Xiao, fiddling with the crystal ball and divination tokens, answered without lifting her head: "That’s normal, as the mortality rate of ogres entering old age is shockingly high. Very few tribes can bear the consumption of an elderly ogre... but having no cubs is indeed strange."

For any species—ordinary or magical—survival and reproduction are the two great instincts. The external manifestation of reproduction is cubs.

A tribe without cubs has no future.

Brutal like giants, greedy like goblins, reclusive like giant dragons, all must succumb to instinct, expending their precious energy to raise offspring.

With this lingering confusion, the young wizards—including Li Meng—took turns taking the brass telescope, confirming the situation in the ogre camp.

As the day grew brighter and brighter, Xiao Xiao was still staring at the crystal ball in her arms. Li Meng finally lost patience, kicking Xin Fat Man and grumbling: "Why aren’t we taking action yet? How long are we going to wait?"

The worst experience in the world isn’t being run over by a rampaging boar in the street but knowing full well that you’ll fall into a cesspit the very next second, yet that next second never arrives, just hovering leisurely in front of you.

Though she kicked the fat man’s leg, the little witch was clearly speaking to Xiao Xiao. The fat man showed no grievance at all, instead, being all thrilled, looking greatly honored.

Zheng Qing rubbed the corner of his forehead, unsure whom to tease for a moment.

"Hold on for a bit," before Xiao Xiao could speak, Zhang Ji Xin spoke up to comfort: "Don’t hurry, wait till the ogres in the camp set out to hunt, then we’ll make our move."

Li Meng may have been younger, but that didn’t mean she was stupid.

"Oh, so it’s hitting them one by one?" She showed a sudden understanding: "Wait for them to split their forces first, deal with the old, weak, and infirm in their camp... then wait for the hunters who are exhausted after hunting to come back, and easily take out the remaining ones!" ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI~Fire.net

"That’s about the idea." Xiao Xiao finally lifted her head, glanced at the little witch, and added: "But as you just saw, there are no old or weak ones in the camp, only relatively weaker ogres. So we still can’t be careless..."

Zhang Ji Xin suddenly spoke, interrupting the professor, his tone urgent: "The hunting team of ogres has set out... seven, eight, nine, a total of nine males, and seven females have left. Two males and six females remain to guard the camp!"

"What about the Two-headed?" Zheng Qing eagerly looked at the telescope in his hand, forced to ask patiently.

"The Two-headed Ogre is in the hunting team."

Zhang Ji Xin put down the telescope, his tone carrying a bit of excitement: "Not bad luck; after dealing with the guarding ogres, maybe we’ll have enough time to set some traps outside the camp."

"Check your equipment."

Zheng Qing finally found some sense of himself as the hunting team leader, glancing at everyone around, focusing particularly on Li Meng: "Check the law book, ensure the spell formula is accurately recorded; check the talismans, ensure there is sufficient infusion; check the magic potion and bandages in each of your packs... Don’t underestimate any spell; on the battlefield, every spell can be useful."

Li Meng felt a bit uneasy being stared at, almost about to lose her temper, but Zhang Ji Xin dragged Zheng Qing’s attention away, preventing her from finding a target for her anger.

She could only hatefully kick the fat man again.

"Um, before we officially make a move, I’d like to confirm one last thing."

Zhang Ji Xin pondered, seemingly trying to be a bit more tactful: "Was the treatment you received at the school hospital over the summer effective? I mean, your magic power is controllable now, right?"

Zheng Qing’s face instantly darkened.