Chapter 3: The Ogre

Three seconds.

That was all I had to process every terrible life choice I’d ever made before an ogre the size of a minivan turned me into green paste.

My first instinct was to run. My second was to cry. My third was to do both at the same time.

I settled for the first option and took off without looking back.

I did not move in the cool, action-hero kind of running. No. It was more like the panicked, arms-flailing, screaming-internally running,

Branches whipped against my face, roots tried to trip me, and my lungs burned like hell. But no matter what, I did not stop.

After running for a while, with the ogre nowhere in sight, I dove behind a massive moss-covered log, sucking in deep breaths as my heart pounded like a war drum.

I clamped my mouth shut.

Not that I needed to breathe—pretty sure I was still running on adrenaline and blind terror alone—but any sound would be a gold-plated invitation to my funeral.

Then I heard it.

THUD!

A heavy footstep, close by.

I peeked through the gaps in the log and spotted the ogre standing a few feet away, sniffing.

Its massive nostrils flared, sucking in air like a vacuum, its beady eyes scanning the area.

It knew I was close. It just couldn’t figure out where I was hiding, and judging by the murderous look on its face, it was absolutely furious.

With an angry snort, it tightened its grip on the spiked mace before slamming it into the ground, sending dirt, rocks, and splinters flying in every direction.

I instinctively flinched, my heart pounding against my chest. Yeah... if one of those attacks connected, I’d be on a one-way trip to the afterlife.

I opened my system, hoping there was something in there that could give me an edge.

[Stats]

Physical: 5

Mental: 5

Social: 0

Stat Point: 3

I still had three free stat points, so after a brief moment of thought, I poured all of them into Physical.

The change was immediate.

A surge of strength spread through my body as my muscles tightened, making me noticeably stronger than before.

Once that was done, I shifted my attention to my skills, scanning through them one by one in search of anything that might help.

[Camouflage] [Nightvision] [Iron Gut] [Regeneration]

[Skill: Camouflage (Passive)]

Description: The user instinctively blends into their surroundings, masking their presence from detection by predators, enemies, or tracking abilities. This passive skill alters the user’s appearance to match the environment, making them nearly invisible when stationary or moving slowly. However, if a tracker ventures too close or possesses heightened perception, the illusion weakens, making the user easier to spot. Sudden movements or direct light exposure can also disrupt the effect.

[Skill: Nightvision (Passive)] 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Description: The user’s eyes are permanently adapted to function in darkness, allowing them to see clearly even in environments with little to no natural light. Shadows become easier to distinguish, movement is more readily detected, and depth perception remains largely unaffected at night or underground. While complete darkness no longer hinders the user’s vision, intense flashes of light can temporarily overwhelm their enhanced eyesight, causing brief discomfort and reduced clarity.

[Skill: Iron Gut (Passive)]

Description: The user’s digestive system becomes exceptionally resilient, allowing them to safely consume and process materials that would normally be indigestible or harmful. Spoiled meat, raw flesh, poisonous plants, monster remains, and other unconventional food sources can be broken down with little difficulty, greatly reducing the risk of illness or food poisoning. Although this skill neutralizes most natural toxins and improves nutrient extraction, exceptionally potent poisons or corrosive substances may still affect the user depending on their strength.

[Skill: Regeneration (Passive)]

Description: The user’s body rapidly heals wounds, regenerating damaged tissue, sealing cuts, and mending fractures over time. This passive ability allows for continuous recovery, making the user highly resilient in battle. However, the accelerated healing process consumes significant energy, increasing hunger at an exponential rate. Without sufficient sustenance, prolonged use of Regeneration may lead to extreme fatigue, starvation, or even physical deterioration.

Camouflage was the only thing that could help me here, so I decided to use it.

The only problem was... how exactly did I use [Camouflage]?

The moment the thought crossed my mind, my skin rippled as if responding to my intention. Colors and textures flowed across my body, shifting until I blended seamlessly into the moss-covered ground beneath me.

My arms, my legs, even my face took on the same earthy greens and browns, making me almost indistinguishable from my surroundings.

How convenient.

Apparently, all I had to do was think about using a skill for it to activate.

Not wasting another second, I pressed myself flat against the ground and held my breath, silently praying to whatever god existed in this world that the ogre wouldn’t find me.

But it felt like that god heard my prayer, paused for a moment... then simply shrugged.

No... you’re on your own with this one.

The ogre lumbered closer until it was standing right over me, with nothing but the massive log I was hiding behind separating us.

I pressed myself deeper into the dirt, every muscle in my body screaming, DO. NOT. MOVE.

Then the smell hit me.

It was an unholy mix of wet dog, rotting meat, and sweat so rancid it could probably peel paint off walls, and I had to fight every instinct not to gag.

This was it. If this thing didn’t move soon, I’d pass out from its stench before it even had the chance to kill me.

The ogre grunted, its nostrils flaring as it drew in another long, deliberate sniff. Then, to my absolute horror, it reached down.

Oh, come on... How good was this thing’s nose?

Its thick, gnarled fingers dug into the earth just inches from my leg, ripping up clumps of moss and damp soil as they searched.

Every instinct I had screamed at me to run, but I forced myself to stay perfectly still while those massive hands crept closer and closer.

My heart hammered so violently I was convinced the beast could hear it.

Then, just as its fingers stopped searching, the ogre lumbered forward and planted itself directly in front of the bush where I was hiding.

The moment its attention shifted, I didn’t hesitate.

Keeping as low as I could, I slowly crawled away from my hiding spot until I was a safe distance away, then rose to my feet, intending to find another place to hide.

But the worst possible thing happened.

My foot came down on a dry twig.

SNAP!

The sound might as well have been a gunshot.

The ogre’s head whipped toward me, its beady eyes locking onto mine. I froze, staring right back at it, desperately hoping it hadn’t actually seen me and that [Camouflage] had done its job.

For one agonizing second, neither of us moved. Then it took a deliberate step forward, and all hope vanished.

My camouflage had been compromised.

"...Uh-oh."

The ogre answered with a thunderous roar, the deep, guttural bellow shaking the air around me as it raised its spiked mace high overhead.

Muscles bulged beneath its green skin, veins standing out along its massive arms, before the weapon came crashing down with enough force to flatten me.

I threw myself to the side at the last possible second.

BOOM!

The mace smashed into the earth, blasting apart the ground beneath it as dirt and splintered wood erupted in every direction.

Nope. Nope, nope, nope...

I didn’t wait to see if it would miss again.