Chapter 146: [Arc 4] Chapter 26: The Frozen Realm and Hot-Headed Idiot

Ciara's PoV:

The frozen landscape stretched across the horizon. Icicles high enough to rival two-story buildings. Roads covered in ice. And creepy statue-like iceblocks littered the landscape… At least I really hope they are statues.

It's the fifth day of this event. The contents are, in short, clean up after the Disaster of Ice. This extends to the layer of ice that covers all the land here, plus-

"Careful, people! There's a Frost Dread Spirit here!" shouted one of the other competitors.

Speak of the devil, there it is. The second type of "trash" that we need to clean up.

The Disaster of Ice, also called the "nightmare of Luxuria" or something, was a massive negative source of life and heat...I think. The detail's unclear even for the workers that are clearing up the mess it left. 

Basically, it was a "negative sun" created by some idiot messing with things he shouldn't have touched. What does that mean? It means that instead of bringing heat and encouraging life, this "negative sun" covered everything in a layer made of supernatural ice, plus it birthed things that are living, yet not living. 

People call these things "Frost Dread Spirits", but they are different from the original creatures, so I've heard. Physical attacks alone are useless against them, and they can freeze you to death with a single touch. And they are simply strong and fast too. Luckily, they have quite the weak defense, making them "glass cannons", no, "ice cannons" may be a better way to describe them.

Proving my point, the Frost Dread Spirit from before is already taken care of. With almost literal lightspeed, considering it was Mira who did the deed.

"Thanks again, missy!" 

"Sure, no prob~." - Mira

Seeing that the situation was under control, I continued with my job of breaking the ice-layers. This ice does not emit cold, yet it doesn't melt from the summer heat. Maybe some of its properties as a type of ice were lost by the destruction of the Disaster that created it? 

Nonetheless, it does not change the situation. Mira and I have stayed at the outmost rim of the ice region, working on removing the ice with the participants of the event who are too weak to go deeper into the frozen wasteland. 

Iron, Alf, and Noire went deeper into the frozen wasteland to look for those "Heart"-thingies that give ten thousand Points each. Mira and I stayed behind since my Water skills are not so effective against this ice. Mira only stayed behind to look after me. Aww, I'm such a lucky girl~.

Except that the real reason she's here is to prevent me from continuing my great success from the first event. Probably by Garami's orders. Tch.

Why are they so against me giving some "care" to people? They feel good, and I feel good. Everyone's okay with it! Especially me...*slurp*.

Sure, we don't get any Prize Points from it, but that's why the other three are working so hard to look for hearts to crush! Let me at least nurture some to compensate!

"Hey! That blue-haired woman over there!" - ???

Geez, who's so rude-"HUGE!?!?" - Ciara

I turned around and was greeted by the sight of a man so big that I couldn't stop my voice from leaking out. He must be over 2.5 meters high! Not to mention stacked! 

And I could guess the reason why he's so buff. Sharp horns could be seen pointing out from his brown hair. Ogre horns. 

...plus I used [Clairvoyance (Fairy)] to secretly look at his status. Which confirmed that this guy is a "Ground Ogre".

"My name is Grangron! I'm here to challenge the Dark Knight known as Mira Aureola!!" - Grangron

"...and what does that have to do with me?" I replied, seeing that Mira had already left to hunt down more Frost Dread Spirits.

"...that is not you?" - Grangron

"No, my name is Ciara. Ciara Tritonia." - Ciara

"Damn it! I mean, excuse me. I heard that Mira Aureola was a blue-haired woman wearing a strange jacket, so I mistook you for her." - Grangron

Now that he mentioned it, I and Mira do share those traits, except that Mira has sky-blue hair and mine's dark-blue. As for the clothes...I did design everyone's new outfits, so I guess there is some resemblance between them...perhaps? Maybe? 

While on the subject, my outfit consists of a dark-blue dress with a dark-green/black jacket over that again. The dress has black-and-white wave patterns at the bottom and lacks sleeves so it shows my armpits...and some sideboobs. Plus an opening in the middle to show some cleavage. I'm still a Courtesan, you know! Oh, and I added a dark-blue tie to make the outfit look kind of like a high school uniform if you ignore the fanservice.

The equipment's effects are also sweet. Not touching on the better effects, both the dress and jacket have magical enhancements to let my fairy-wings stick out the back and the pockets of the jacket work as Item Bags, albeit just for painting tools and paintings. 

"So she's not here then. I could swear I heard people talking about her just now." - Grangron

Mira is fast on her feet after all. She must have run off to look for more Frost Dread Spirits...

"Wait a sec, you said your name was Grangron?" - Ciara

"That's right! The one and only!" - Grangron

"As in the guy who got the first place of the first event?" - Ciara

"Indeed!" - Grangron

"...how did you do it? And where is the rest of your party?" - Ciara

"Hmph! For someone like me, crushing all the bugs in that C-arena was plenty! As for my servants, I've left them behind! They are not capable of standing on the same stage as me! A-hahahaha!" - Grangron

Ugh, what a loudmouth. But was that really everything? I don't think people would subconsciously vote for him.

"And then? Why do you want to meet Mira?" - Ciara

"Obviously! To challenge her to a fight!" - Grangron

"...why?" - Ciara

"Do I need to spell it out? She is rumored by the locals to be the strongest member of your group! Being strong is enough of a reason to challenge her!" - Grangron

"...and you are not after, I don't know, someone like Alf or even Garami who actually fought?" - Ciara

"I have already seen the power of the vampire, so I am not interested!! And what honor would it be to challenge a magic caster to a fight? There must be something wrong with your head if you think that is worthy of a warrior!" - Grangron

Okay, definitely a muscle brain. Still unsure if I should let him meet Mira. He could be an assailant like that bull-demon Mira talked about-

*BZZZ-ZAAAP!!*

...there goes any ideas of keeping Mira a secret.

"She's back there," I said while pointing at the large block of ice that the ground-to-air lightning storm just occurred behind. 

"Really?! Thanks a lot!" - Grangron

...he didn't think that was related to her? Is he really part of the Solomar-group??

There has to be trouble going on if Mira uses such a big move...let's observe the situation. I am no fighter. No going straight into the middle of the battlefield for me. No, not at all.

The ogre sprinted around the large iceblock, probably some building before the Disaster struck, and I flew above it while keeping a low profile. After landing on top of the iceblock, I spied down and saw Mira facing off against an armored opponent. Black armor. What irony...

Mira doesn't look wounded, but she's breathing heavily. On the other hand, the armored opponent is acting fine. No signs of exhaustion are visible on that guy, except that he's missing one of his arms...and those bull-shaped horns...

No way. A sudden rematch with the ox-demon that attacked Mira and the others before? In the middle of the festival? What a mood-breaker this ox is!

"HEY! Which one of you is Mira Aureola?" - Grangron

"............"

Hey, you should at least figure that out when only having those two options to chose from.

"That's me..." replied Mira with an unsure voice, but Grangron couldn't do anything with that info.

I mean, doing anything is sort of impossible after you've taken an ox-demon charge in your gut. 

That's right. The ox-demon attacked the ogre! Headbutted him with those nasty-looking armored horns of his! If he had tried to put his dirty hands on Mira, I bet we would see more of that lightning-show from before, so he went for the party who looked like the easiest mark...

Isn't that weird? I was half-expecting that Grangron was connected to the assailants from Solomar, but for me to be this wrong?! Give me back all that suspicion from before!!

Still, why attack the ogre? Maybe the ox-demon concluded that Grangron was part of our gang because he was looking for Mira? Or is this "leave no witnesses alive" thing? I think it's the latter.

"Ho-ho? Aren't we feisty here?" - Grangron 

...excuse me, why're you acting so nonchalantly?! Don't those horns hurt? But then I took another look at Grangron's stats...they are heavily focused on STR and VIT. Almost no HP had gone down with that charge.

The ox-demon distanced himself from Grangron and looked with horror at the minimal amount of damage that Grangron had sustained. It's already healing as we speak...

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"Tsk! Anima Drive!!" - Ox-demon

Now the gloves are off! The ox-demon is getting serious!

The blood-red aura in the shape of a bull appeared around the ox-demon, just as Mira had described it when she told me about their first meeting.

...Doesn't this mean the ox-demon is stronger than before? Mira looks exhausted, and this guy's just started to use the aura. Albeit, he only used it to escape, so maybe it's just the armor he's wearing that's lightning-proof? 

"NOW things are finally getting interesting!" shouted Grangron as he proceeded to produce a light-green aura of his own...?

I looked at Grangron with a stupid expression on my face, one that was shared with Mira, and probably the ox-demon too, even if I cannot see his face because of his helmet. 

And not long, a Tyrannosaurus Rex made of aura was standing behind Grangron..., look, I don't know what is going on either! What is that thing?! Is it going to do something, or is it there just for the looks?

In any case, Grangron is giving off some intense pressure after being enveloped in that aura. And that is coming from me, a homebody that shouldn't know about stuff like "intense pressure"!!

"H-hey..., wait for just a-" - Ox-demon

"Bwa-hahaha! Waiting is for weaklings!" - Grangron 

And with that, the ogre launched himself at the ox-demon and hit him with a fist. One that had so much power in it that an explosion occurred when it hit the ox-demon. And another one occurred when said demon collided with the iceblocks after being sent flying like a rocket due to explosion #1.

I couldn't believe my eyes and was just staring at the miserable sight of the ox-demon, now collapsed on the ground. It is a small blessing, but at least his body is in one piece...

Mira ran over to him, ignoring the ogre who's laughing like he did the joke of the century. I flew over to Mira who's busy checking the vitals of the ox-demon.

"No good. He's knocked out cold." - Mira

"...this place lacks some heating after all." - Ciara

I was so confused that a stupid joke left my lips. Please forget about that. 

What am I confused over? That the ox-demon was defeated so soundly? That despite eating that massive attack, he's just unconscious? That Grangron turned out to be a bigger muscle brain than I first expected?

Honestly, I don't know myself. And didn't I tell you guys to forget about that!?

"Bwa-hahaha! Now, Mira Aureola! Accept my challenge to a duel!" - Grangron 

"Why the f*ck should I!!??" 

Yes! That is honestly the only answer anyone except an idiot could think of! And as I waited for Mira to utter those words-

"...what kind of duel?" - Mira

Eh-eeehh? She's up for it?

"Hmm? Obviously, a fight with our fists and weapons!" - Grangron 

"Despite you being Grangron the stall-crusher?" - Mira

Huh? What-crusher?

"Oh, so you've heard about me! Ga-hahaha! Yes, my servants always complained about wanting to go around and enjoy the festival, so I did! A man has to live 120% or else they're no better than waste! True words from my master!" - Grangron 

...okay, that could explain why he got so popular at the first event...I guess?

"Then what if we make this duel of yours something 120% interesting then?" - Mira

"O-ho? As in?" - Grangron 

"This event is all about crushing this ice that surrounds us, no? And it is the handiwork of a freaking Disaster even." - Mira

"Hmm, I'm listening." - Grangron 

"The idea is simple: the one who's group gets enough Points from this event, which is essentially crushing what a Disaster has created, will be the winner of the duel." - Mira

"...I like it! A truer test of strength couldn't have been invented!" - Grangron 

Ehhh? 

"Then if you would excuse me-" - Grangron 

"No, I won't. What is it in for me if I win this bet?" - Mira

"Huh? Oh, uhh...I don't know?" - Grangron 

"Geez...I'll let you off the hook easily if you can tell me more about that T-Rex from before." - Mira

"Just that? Sweet! I mean, you drive a hard deal, but I'll accept. Now, wait for me, you popsicles!!" - Grangron 

"...Ciara, help me here. Ciara? Hey?" - Mira

*Snap*

"Gah! My mind flew off somewhere." - Ciara

"Can't blame you. You're still not experienced enough with these sorts of things. Now, help me get this guy gagged and ready for delivery. He doesn't look like he's going to wake up in a while, so let's throw him into the cells back in Damavand-Mansion." - Mira

Huh? Oh, the ox-demon. Yeah, I wouldn't have been in better shape if I was on the receiving end of that attack, so I can't blame the guy for not waking up. If we call on Jeeves, he could send someone over with a Floatship to retrieve the demon...

"Then...what about the ogre?" - Ciara

"What about him?" - Mira

"Did you not promise him about that duel?" - Ciara

"Sure, but I never said I would do anything for him if I lost. Plus, it's the Points our respective groups have amassed, not what we have racked up on our own. And from his personality, I would say that ogre must have ditched whoever he's working with, plus not having focused too much on the event if he's been looking for me all the while." - Mira

Ugh! And the worst part is, I can't deny her! Wait, is that so bad? Wouldn't we get information about what appears to be the Anima Drive skill from a real practitioner?

"That's why we're going to continue breaking the ice in this place and leave Jeeves to break the ice with this guy," replied Mira while lifting the ox-demon, armor and all, over her shoulder...

---

And on the final day, the results were an overwhelming victory for Mira. 495.000 Points compared to Grangron who had amassed 101.000 Points after the event with the ox-demon on his own...

Yes, he's got some mad skills, but is it safe to believe the information obtained from this muscle first, brains never-guy?

Description:

An Ogre of the Earth attribute. They are one of the most brutal of the ogre-races, yet they can also be one of the most honorable of the bunch.

Specifically, a Ground Ogre has a strong code of honor to those they see as their "master", "teacher", or whatever they call them. The point is; if you want to find out if a Ground Ogre is safe to be around, look at their superior first. Do note that all Ground Ogres are honest to a fault, but this may not extend to their "master". The opposite is not a fact either.

Appearance:

Ground Ogres have strong, humanoid bodies that can easily reach 2 meters in height. They have tanned skin colors and brown hair, plus simple, yet solid ogre-horns. 

Abilities:

Ground Ogres are easily described as powerhouses. They force their way to victory with their strong physique, and they can call upon the power of the earth to assist them if needed. They are not strong in the magical arts though.

An important factor about the Ground Ogre is that their recovery abilities are the best out of all the ogre-races of the same racial rank, excluding the races who have a strong connection to Life-related attributes.

Ciara's comment: I feel that the average INT should be lowered a few notches...

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