When I came to, the forest clearing was still bathed in the eerie glow of the Glowshrooms. The Mushroom King's massive form lay motionless on the ground, its spongy body already starting to decompose into a pile of glowing spores.
I sat up, rubbing my aching head. Every muscle in my tiny ogre body screamed in protest, but the thrill of victory drowned out the pain.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
You have gained a Boss Relic Shard.
A shimmering fragment materialized in my hand. It was warm to the touch, pulsing faintly with an inner light.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Relic Shards are powerful artifacts left behind by Boss Monsters. Collect and fuse them to create Legendary Relics.
"Legendary, huh?" I muttered, turning the shard over in my hand. "Not bad for a baby ogre."
The system chimed again:
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Skill Acquired: Spore Manipulation (Level 1).
Spore Manipulation? My curiosity piqued as I focused on the skill. A small interface appeared in my mind, detailing its effects:
Spore Manipulation (Active): Control and utilize spores for offensive or defensive purposes. Current abilities include:
Spore Cloud: Release a cloud of spores to obscure vision and hinder enemies.
Spore Burst: Trigger an explosion of spores to deal minor area damage.
"Oh, now this I can work with," I said, grinning.
---
Before I could test my new powers, the ground beneath the Mushroom King shifted. I scrambled to my feet, half-expecting it to spring back to life. Instead, a large bulbous pod emerged from its remains, pulsating softly like a heartbeat.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
You have discovered a Spore Pod. Do you wish to harvest it?
"Yes, absolutely," I said without hesitation.
The pod cracked open with a squelching sound, releasing a burst of golden light. Inside were several items:
1. Glowshroom Spores – Seeds that could be planted to grow Glowshrooms.
2. Boss Relic Shard (x1) – Another fragment to add to my collection.
3. Rare Material: Luminescent Mycelium – A crafting material with magical properties.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Resource Node Depleted: Glowshrooms will not regenerate for 30 days.
"Guess I'll have to make these count," I muttered, carefully storing everything in my makeshift pouch (read: a tattered piece of cloth tied around my waist).
---
As I made my way back to the cave, the forest felt… different. It was quieter, less oppressive, almost as if the Mushroom King's defeat had lifted a weight from the area.
I paused to experiment with my new skill. Concentrating, I activated Spore Cloud. A faint golden mist swirled around me, thickening into a dense fog.
"Not bad," I said, coughing as I accidentally inhaled some of it. "Okay, note to self: don't stand in the cloud."
Next, I tried Spore Burst. A small explosion erupted a few feet away, scattering glowing particles everywhere. It wasn't particularly powerful, but it had potential.
Satisfied, I continued on, eager to see how the others would react to my spoils.
---
When I returned to the cave, the adults were in their usual spots, bickering over scraps of food. Grumpy glanced up as I entered, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the glowing shard in my hand.
"What's that?" he grunted, his voice thick with suspicion.
"Just a little something I picked up," I said casually, holding up the shard for emphasis.
Grumpy's jaw tightened. "You think you're better than us, runt?"
I sighed. The guy really had a one-track mind.
Before he could start another fight, the cave's de facto leader—a massive ogre with a scar running down his face—stood up. He towered over the others, his presence enough to command respect.
"What's going on here?" he growled, his deep voice echoing off the cave walls.
"Nothing," I said quickly, tucking the shard away. "Just brought back some food."
I pulled out one of the Glowshroom caps I'd harvested and tossed it toward the group. The adults eyed it warily, but the leader grabbed it and took a cautious bite.
His eyes widened. "This… this is good."
The others swarmed him, each one clamoring for a piece. I couldn't help but smirk as they devoured the Glowshroom, their usual grumbles replaced by muffled sounds of satisfaction.
"Looks like I'm useful after all," I muttered, leaning against the cave wall.
---
That night, as the others slept, I sat near the entrance, staring out at the moonlit forest.
I had survived my first boss fight, gained a new skill, and earned a shred of respect from the adults. But I knew this was just the beginning.
The system had given me a glimpse of what was possible, and I wasn't about to stop here. If I wanted to thrive in this world, I'd need to keep pushing forward, growing stronger with every step.
"Watch out, world," I whispered, clutching the Boss Relic Shard. "This baby ogre's just getting started."