Chapter 4: The Mushroom King
The cave was quiet the next morning, save for the occasional snore or grumble from the adults. The air hung thick with the smell of damp stone and last night's leftover carcass—a scent I was, unfortunately, starting to get used to.
Grumpy, now nursing a sizeable lump on his forehead, had retreated to a corner. He shot me occasional glares but made no moves to retaliate. My victory yesterday had apparently bought me a brief truce.
Still clutching the Relic, I decided it was time to leave the safety of the cave and scout the surrounding area. If I wanted to grow stronger—and avoid getting squashed like a bug—I'd need resources. Food, training, and maybe even another shiny rock if I got lucky.
The adults didn't seem to care as I waddled past them toward the cave entrance. To them, I was just a weakling ogre baby with a death wish. But to me? I was an adventurer on a mission.
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The forest beyond the cave was as wild and untamed as I remembered. Towering trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches casting eerie shadows across the ground. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set my heart racing, but I pressed on, clutching my trusty Relic like a talisman.
I didn't have a concrete plan. My system hadn't exactly given me a roadmap, and "Stone Toss" wasn't exactly a versatile skill. But hey, every great journey started with baby steps, right?
Or, in my case, ogre baby steps.
As I trudged deeper into the woods, my nose caught the faintest whiff of something… earthy. It was a rich, almost sweet scent that made my stomach growl in anticipation.
Following my nose, I stumbled into a small clearing. In the center, surrounded by a halo of soft sunlight, was a cluster of mushrooms.
But these weren't just any mushrooms.
They were massive, each one easily twice my height. Their caps glowed faintly with an otherworldly light, and a thick, sweet-smelling mist hung in the air around them.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have discovered a Rare Resource Node: Glowshrooms.
Rare resource? My ogre instincts kicked in immediately. Rare meant valuable, and valuable meant useful. Without hesitation, I reached for the nearest Glowshroom, my mouth watering at the thought of sinking my teeth into its juicy, glowing flesh.
But before I could take a bite, the ground beneath my feet rumbled.
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A deep, guttural growl echoed through the clearing, sending a shiver down my spine.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything I'd seen before.
Standing at least three meters tall, with a bulbous, mushroom-like head and a body covered in thick, spongy fungus, it towered over me. Its glowing eyes fixed on me with an almost predatory intensity, and its gnarled hands tightened around a massive wooden club.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Boss Monster Encountered: The Mushroom King.
I froze, my tiny ogre brain struggling to process the situation. A boss monster? Already? I was barely a few days into enjoying this life, and now the system expected me to take on that?
"Uh, can we talk about this?" I squeaked, holding up my hands in what I hoped was a universal gesture of surrender.
The Mushroom King answered with a roar, charging toward me with surprising speed for something so large.
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I barely managed to dodge its first swing, the club slamming into the ground with enough force to leave a crater.
Okay. Talking wasn't an option.
Panicking, I reached for a nearby rock and activated Stone Toss. The glowing projectile shot toward the Mushroom King's face, striking it square in the eye.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Critical Hit! Stun Inflicted (3 Seconds).
The creature staggered back, roaring in pain.
"Alright," I muttered, grabbing another rock. "Let's see how you like round two."
I hurled the second stone, then a third, each one glowing brighter than the last. The Mushroom King swatted at them like flies, its growls growing more furious with each hit.
But it wasn't enough.
The rocks were doing damage, sure, but not nearly enough to bring down something this massive.
My heart pounded as the boss shook off the stun effect and charged again.
Think, Aria, think!
My eyes darted to the Glowshrooms surrounding us. If this thing was guarding them, maybe they were the key to beating it.
Dodging another swing, I darted toward the nearest Glowshroom and tore off a piece of its cap. The sweet-smelling mist intensified, making my head spin.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Glowshroom Consumed. Temporary Buff: Enhanced Stamina (5 Minutes).
"Buffs? Oh, you're on now!"
Fueled by newfound energy, I darted around the clearing, dodging the Mushroom King's attacks and pelting it with rocks. My movements felt faster, sharper, like my tiny ogre body had suddenly leveled up.
But the boss wasn't done yet. With a deafening roar, it slammed its club into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling through the clearing.
I was thrown off my feet, landing hard on my back. The Relic slipped from my grasp, rolling just out of reach.
Groaning, I scrambled to my feet, my eyes locked on the approaching monster.
This was it. My last stand.
Desperate, I grabbed another piece of Glowshroom and shoved it into my mouth.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Glowshroom Overconsumed. Side Effect: Hallucinations Imminent.
"Oh, come on!"
The world around me began to blur and twist, the glowing mushrooms pulsing like living, breathing creatures. But as disorienting as it was, I also felt a surge of strength unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
I grabbed the Relic and focused all my energy into one final Stone Toss.
The glowing projectile shot through the air, striking the Mushroom King square in the chest.
For a moment, everything went still.
Then, with a guttural roar, the boss toppled backward, its massive body crashing to the ground with an earth-shaking THUD.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Boss Defeated: The Mushroom King.
Rewards Unlocked: Glowshroom Spores, Boss Relic Shard, Skill Level Up: Stone Toss (Level 3).
I collapsed onto the ground, panting and shaking.
"Note to self," I muttered. "Never underestimate a mushroom."