Ch.1818. Ogre Bear

When one hears the name “Ogre Bear,” it’s easy to imagine a bear the size of an ogre or a beastman ogre with partial bear features, but…

Its true form is actually a bizarre centaur-like race with a bear’s body and an ogre’s upper body.

Unlike the centaur that people commonly imagine, where a bear’s body is attached with an ogre’s upper body emerging from where the neck would be,

the Ogre Bear has an ogre’s upper body growing from the back of the neck of an enormous bear with its head intact.

Due to its appearance resembling two fused creatures, one might typically classify it as an artificially created being or chimera, but…

Surprisingly, the Ogre Bear is actually a naturally occurring subspecies, somewhat related to centaurs.

Therefore, despite its appearance, the bear’s head has no brain, and while the upper body resembles an ogre, this race has absolutely no relation to ogres.

And the combat power of an Ogre Bear is, naturally, even more formidable than giants, who are considered among the strongest of subspecies.

It’s basically classified as a 4th-grade monster, among the highest of the intermediate monsters, with physical abilities superior to giants and intelligence comparable to that of an average human, far from being dull-witted.

Therefore, even an unarmed Ogre Bear would require dozens of mid-level warriors to tackle it, with more than half expecting to perish in the attempt…

‘An Ogre Bear in armor… God of Vengeance help us.’

What’s worse, this Ogre guarding the door was fully armed with intricate and sturdy full steel armor that Bjorn had never seen before, along with a massive two-handed hammer.

The only saving grace was that, like the trolls and ogres encountered earlier, it had lost its reason, so instead of using effective tactics, it would simply rely on its physical abilities and charge forward…

But even with such simple behavior, a fully armed Ogre Bear is a powerful monster.

Weight class, strength, agility, and sheer mass.

There was absolutely no sign of winning in close combat, and even if he were to send out the Hounds of Vengeance and wear it down with ranged magical attacks like before…

Given the Ogre Bear’s overwhelming physicality, that would hardly make a dent.

Therefore, Bjorn, after a very cold assessment of the situation, came to a conclusion.

‘…I’ll use it.’

His trump card—he needed to end this battle quickly using “that method” he had acquired during his training to handle power.

If he used this trump card for too long, his body would certainly not withstand it.

“UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”

“KUOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

Watching the Ogre Bear charge toward him with a roar, raising its two-handed hammer, Bjorn quickly began to recite a prayer.

As the prayer in sacred language—impossible for anyone but a god or their apostle to pronounce due to vocal structure limitations—resonated,

he became aware of certain changes occurring in his body.

His size grew even larger, almost to the level of a giant-hybrid, and his short auburn hair began to glow blood-red before rapidly growing longer.

The tribal chief attire covering his body burned away in black flames, replaced by elaborate full-body armor reminiscent of dark red blood.

Additionally, dragon wings with membranes like thinly spread blood began to sprout from his back.

A halo of glowing blood-red light formed behind his head, and his helmet transformed into something resembling stark white bone.

He was no longer Bjorn.

By accepting the consciousness of his master Ma-Duk into his body, temporarily channeling Ma-Duk into his flesh, he had transformed into Bjorn-Duk.

It wouldn’t be strange at all to be overwhelmed with joy and ecstasy, given that he had essentially become one with the god he truly served, but…

Bjorn was different now.

‘Kh, nnnnnngggghhhhh…!’

The emotions and power that constituted the “god” were eating away at both his body and mind.

While the Ogre Bear remained frozen in place, unable to move against the overwhelming pressure of the red radiance emanating from him,

Bjorn’s mind was on the verge of breaking from the endless thoughts of vengeance flooding into his head.

Normally, when a god directly descends, they would regulate the power to prevent the body or mind from being damaged too severely, but…

With a mortal as the vessel, the power began to backflow, unable to be controlled.

It was only because Bjorn was born with the qualities of a Chosen One of the evil gods capable of destroying the world that he could barely maintain his sanity.

Any other apostle would have had their soul collapse long ago, unable to withstand the pressure of divinity.

But Bjorn, utilizing his overwhelming talent as a “vessel,” could somehow maintain consciousness despite the pain, and he exerted his strength to quickly deal with the Ogre Bear.

The overwhelming divine power needed no control.

Pyung—Pushk!

Raising a hand that felt like it could snap at any moment, he shot a beam of sacred red light from his index finger toward the petrified Ogre Bear, and the light instantly penetrated its head.

Kuung!

With a hole large enough to erase its entire face, the Ogre Bear collapsed to the ground without even a scream—

—Thud!

And immediately after canceling the divine possession, Bjorn too collapsed to the ground, feeling terrible pain as if every cell in his body was being stabbed.

His body was bruised purple as if beaten from using the unprocessed power of a god directly.

His mind, tormented by thoughts of vengeance, was on the verge of collapse, and his soul, directly exposed to divinity, was cracked.

With all three components of a human—body, mind, and soul—completely shattered,

he was in such a broken state that it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any moment.

And just before he completely lost consciousness.

Through blurred eyes, he saw something small and red entering through the open doorway.

※ ※ ※

‘Ugh, uuuugh…’

Feeling a terrible fatigue as if he hadn’t slept for dozens of days, Bjorn barely managed to regain consciousness.

And as he lifted his head and looked around—

‘Th-this place… is that cave?’

He was lying in the middle of that cave where he had lost consciousness, covered with a blanket on what seemed to be some kind of leather.

‘Seeing that Ogre Bear over there… I see. Is this His miracle?’

It clearly seemed like someone had treated and taken care of him, so he naturally thought that Ma-Duk, who had given him this trial, had shown him mercy.

Therefore, as Bjorn was trying to get up from his place to enter through the inner door, lifting his heavy body—

“…?!!!”

“…Who are you?”

Suddenly, a wolf beastman girl carrying something like a bundle in her arms entered from the door behind him, and upon seeing him, she was startled but quickly approached him.

“Who are you? Were you sent by Ma-Duk?”

Seeing the delicate girl who seemed out of place in this environment, Bjorn asked, wondering if Ma-Duk had sent down a servant or handmaiden.

The girl nodded and took out a glossy brown piece of bread from the bundle in her arms, offering it to Bjorn as if telling him to eat.

“…Are you telling me to eat this?”

“(Nods).”

Apparently unable to speak, the girl only nodded in response, and Bjorn thanked her as he bit into the soft bread—

“—?!!!”

Surprised by the bread’s softness and deliciousness beyond his imagination, he devoured it hastily to fill his hungry stomach.

Tap tap.

“What is it… Ah, thank you.”

After hastily eating the bread, Bjorn drank the milk the girl offered him and finally looked at her directly, and upon seeing her ears, a sudden thought occurred to him.

“Could you be… that puppy who guided me here?”

“…(Nods).”

Though she looked displeased at being called a puppy, the girl nodded to affirm his statement, then stood up.

Then, just like when she had guided Bjorn here before, she ran very quickly but in a way that made it clear where she was going, climbing over the Ogre Bear’s corpse and disappearing through the open door.

At this, he hurriedly got up and followed her through the door—

‘—Wh-what is this place?’

Beyond the door extended a cave with a mysterious atmosphere.