A metal behemoth thundered through the Tsingy Rock Forest, its eight massive wheels rattling over the jagged terrain.
It was a fortified carriage, twenty meters long and six meters wide, moved with calculated precision. Each of its wheels, each a meter wide, let out dull rattles as the eight wheels sprang up and down upon the uneven rocky terrain.
The carriage rattled forward, its advanced suspension the only thing keeping it from breaking apart on the rough terrain. The rubber-coated wheels fought against the uneven ground, swallowing each jolt as it pushed ahead.
A soldier pressed his fingers against the narrow window grille, barely wide enough to fit a hand through. His breath smeared against the cold steel, vanishing as fast as it came. His eyes flicked across the barren land, searching, waiting.
Across from him, another set of eyes peeked through a narrow slit. The soldier’s face shone with sweat, jaw locked so tight it might snap. His fingers twitched against the wooden wall, restless, unsure.
Inside, the air sat heavy, pressing down like a weight on their chests. Soldiers clutched their weapons like lifelines, knuckles pale, breathing shallow. But one figure didn’t move. Their posture remained firm, eyes locked on the periscope jutting from the roof. When they spoke, their voice was steady. Cold.
“It’s clear. Keep moving.”
The armored carriage pressed on, its flame-powered propulsion kicking up dust as it advanced. Outside, the jagged stone formations began to tremble.
A soldier stiffened. “Your Highness, they’re after us.”
The imposing figure barely spared him a glance. “Of course they are.”
The periscope extended further, revealing massive figures emerging from the craggy landscape—ogres. Five meters tall, they wielded stone spears longer than the carriage itself. Their heavy footfalls sent deep tremors through the ground as they surged forward.
A soldier hesitated. “They will catch up soon.”
Your Highness remained unimpressed. “Then we move faster.”
A burst of fire erupted from the rear vents, its roaring thrust propelling the carriage forward like a crude jet engine. Within the armored shell, a human stood at his station, with his palm outstretched toward the vent, his flames fueling their momentum.
The Fire Race of Humans—Level 2 (Creation).
At the command of the authoritative voice, he gritted his teeth and cranked up the output, the flames surging hotter through his palm. The carriage shuddered as it lurched forward, wringing every ounce of speed from its weight.
On this terrain, the carriage was already moving near its top speed—18 kilometers per hour—but most of the time, it managed only 12, far too slow for an escape.
But with the weight and value of their cargo, there was no choice.
The worst of the terrain was behind them. The jagged rocks of the Tsingy Rock Forest gave way to flat land with scattered boulders and patches of tall grass.
Hidden within the grass were small piles of firewood, carefully placed to blend in. Not enough to be obvious, but enough to serve their purpose.
The metal carriage’s speed increased to 30 kilometers per hour, leaving deep tracks on the loose soil, “Keep up the speed. Let them chase if they dare.”
The metal carriage swerved around the boulders, its wheels leaving deep tracks in the soil as it was able to maintain speed. However, the Ogre Race, famed for their battle charge, were faster.
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Their enormous bodies—averaging around a height of five meters—rushed across the grassland, charging with unstoppable momentum. Held in the hands of each were rock columns reaching a height of eight meters, shaped like spears.
The Stone Race of Ogres!
With their Authority over Stone, the Ogres created Stone Spears by touching the boulders amidst their paths. They were steadily arming up while racing closer and closer to the metal carriage.
“Your Highness, the Ogres have reached the field and are closing in on us!” a soldier announced tensely, peering through a periscope.
“Torch the field.” came a cold reply. Immediately, over a dozen Flame Tongues flashed out of the metal carriage and set the fields on fire. The fresh grass didn’t burn as quickly, but the scattered firewood showed its purpose.
Flames spread from the carriage, quickly catching onto the scattered firewood. The dry wood fueled the blaze, raising the heat until the surrounding grass dried and ignited, turning the field into a firewall.
“Damn humans!” An Ogre charged through the flames, determined to reach the carriage. But as the fire seared his skin, he snarled and stopped short. Furious, he hurled a massive Stone Spear, the impact echoing with a loud clang as it struck the armored carriage.
The Ogres would have caught up if the chase had lasted a few more minutes. But now, the spreading fire stood between them and the carriage.
“Quick! Make a path!”
The Ogre bellowed as it approached the closest boulder. The rock shifted and reshaped, transforming into an eight-meter-long and two-meter-wide cylinder. Four Ogres grunted and rolled it across the field of fire, snuffing out the flames along the stone cylinder’s path.
“Don’t let them escape!” one roared, frustration mounting as the carriage gained distance. “They have our Relic!”
“Kill them! No matter what!” As the Ogres roared in anger, one of them took out a conch and blew into it, sending a sharp, high-pitched shriek—like the piercing call of a bird.
The commanding figure in the carriage stared ahead, “Once we’re past the border, they’ll lose their advantage. They know it. That’s why they’re desperate. But they will find a way through. Be alert.”
⊱⨷⟐⨳⩥⚔⩤⨳⟐⨷⊰
T’Hara Forest!
The forest edge marked the beginning of Elven territory, now fully controlled by the Humans. As the metal carriage crossed the border, the soldiers exhaled in relief.
The Ogres’ greatest strength—Authority over Stone—was useless here. With no boulders in sight, their power held little threat.
Moreover, if push comes to shove, the Humans could torch the trees and create a forest fire, which provided them the perfect environmental advantage to deal with a horde of enemies without issues. Damage to the forest didn’t matter since they could always use their Elven slaves to repair and regrow the burnt forest sections.
T’Hara Forest lay at the heart of the Gangnea Continent, bordered by the territories of many races.
In this forest, a narrow ash road stretched through the dense woods, part of a massive network built for war and conquest. The Humans had carved through the land, burning entire sections of forest to create these paths. The leftover ash was compacted with massive stone rollers, pushed by Ogre slaves, solidifying it into a serviceable road—the Ash Road Network.
Meanwhile, the carriage rumbled forward; its heavy wheels cracked the hardened surface, but the ride was smooth compared to the brutal terrain before.
For the first time in the journey, silence settled inside the carriage. The carriage touched its top speed of 35 kilometers per hour—and, for now, they were safe.
“Your Highness, do we set up camp for the night?” one of the soldiers asked, clearly exhausted, as they had been fighting nonstop for days.
“No.” The response was firm, unwavering. “We rest when we’re home. Not before.”
—Boom!
Suddenly, a rock pillar protruded through the ash road, emerging in the metal carriage’s path. It had appeared too suddenly and in closeup, so the metal carriage was unable to stop on time. “Turn! Evade it!”
However, despite their best efforts, the Humans couldn’t turn the metal carriage fast enough and braced for impact. As it slammed into the rock pillar, it tumbled from its momentum. The impact shattered the pillar and caused it to fall on the carriage, trapping it.
Immediately after, eight Ogres rushed towards the metal carriage, wielding stone spears.
“Defend the carriage!” The command rang out, sharp and unwavering. A soldier, shaken but still standing, climbed out of the wreckage—only to be impaled mid-step, a stone spear piercing through his chest.
“Die! Humans!” One of the Ogres climbed onto the carriage and attacked the entrance. With a brutal swing, he cut down a soldier, blood splattering against the metal. But the next moment, a wave of fire engulfed his face, illuminating the forest.
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Gangnea Daily Article #9
The Ogre Race is the most physically gifted in Gangnea. However, their intelligence is compromised compared to other races.