[Ace POV]

"The ogre army you saw today was just part of the numbers I witnessed that day."

What?

Understanding the implications behind the emperor's words, I was starting to realise how serious this situation was.

From what I observed today, it was clear that ogres were significantly stronger than humans in almost every way. Even when comparing individuals of the same level, ogres seemed to surpass humans in their base attributes.

The fact that the emperor was going to war against these beings made it even more troubling.

To make matters worse, they had a formidable leader who prevented the emperor from eliminating the entire race single-handedly.

This presented numerous problems because not only did the ogres willingly engage in battle with the emperor, indicating their determination to see it through, but their attacks couldn't simply be explained by a desire for more territory.

Based on the discussions I had with the emperor, their camp was located far away from the settlement territory.

Hmm... Well, it wasn't really my concern in the first place, but there was something that compelled me to get involved in this matter.

It wasn't because of the money the emperor would pay me for my pills or anything like that. Whatever dragon item he gave me should be more than sufficient compensation, depending on its value.

What motivated me to participate in the war against the emperor's settlement and the ogres was something I discovered during the battle. I found that killing ogres yielded more primordial records than slaying monsters of the same level.

I wasn't sure if this was specific to ogres or applied to other races as well, but it was clear that killing them granted me more primordial records. I don't believe the same is true for humans, although I've never killed a human before, so I can't say for certain.

If the opportunity arises, I should conduct further experiments and try it with other races.

Regardless, due to the brief battle I participated in alongside Blue, and the primordial records Blue obtained from killing some ogres as well, I was finally able to acquire a level up after such a long time.

However, I had no intention of using it.historical

I was already as strong as I am at the moment, and I don't think a single level up will significantly boost my strength by much. It would be better for me to save it and use it in times of emergency treatment.

As I pondered this, we continued our journey towards the settlement, our bodies exhausted from the battle. Well, to be honest, I wasn't that exhausted, and neither was Blue. We merely assisted in the battle and didn't push ourselves too hard.

Surprisingly, the emperor seemed to have completely recovered his stamina. He didn't appear as someone who had just engaged in an intense battle with a formidable opponent. His recovery was insane. What a monster.

While contemplating whether my peculiar physique would resemble the emperor's when I reach his level someday, and thinking about a few other things, our group managed to reach the settlement before it became too dark.

However, the atmodimension with which we were welcomed was a bit... odd. It made me feel somewhat uneasy.

**********

At present, I found myself in a wooden house near what seemed to be the emperor's residence in the settlement. Blue was currently resting outside, keeping guard, which made me feel slightly more at ease in this unfamiliar environment.

The emperor mentioned that he would speak with me tomorrow, and then he entered his house with his wife and a few of his subordinates. It seemed they had no intention of sleeping anytime soon and would be discussing various matters, most likely related to the ogres.

Fortunately, I wasn't included in this meeting, nor did I wish to be. I was content with wandering around and practising alchemy.

Speaking of alchemy, when was the last time I created something other than pills? Ah, yes. It was before I evolved. Perhaps I should consider making a few more things besides pills. This war might require something beyond medicinal remedies.

I think you should take a look at

With this in mind, I glanced around the wooden house, which was more like a single room, and surveyed my surroundings once again. There was a wooden table, two wooden chairs, and a wooden bed. It would suffice as a guest room, I suppose.

With that thought, I rearranged the room, removing one chair and the wooden bed to create more space. I didn't really need the extra room, but I preferred the open space of my basement when practising alchemy, and the enclosed environment didn't suit me.

Now then, what should I create?

*******

Meanwhile in another part of the true world, Adara and Chris got a little excited about their recent evolution and decided to soar a little.

It was a physical spar and nothing else.

What Adara did not expect was to be a little bit more powerful than Chris in strength.

Adara and Chris stood face-to-face in the heart of the dense woods, their eyes filled with determination. They were both aware of their superhuman physical strength and were eager to test their limits in a fierce spar.

With a sudden burst of energy, Adara lunged forward, her movements fluid and precise. She unleashed a powerful right hook aimed at Chris's jaw, but he swiftly dodged, his reflexes honed to perfection. In a fraction of a second, Chris retaliated with a lightning-fast uppercut, aiming for Adara's midsection.

However, Adara's heightened strength came into play. She caught Chris's first mid-air, her muscles bulging with raw power. Her eyes flashed with surprise, realising her superior strength had caught him off guard. With a swift twist of her arm, she sent Chris hurtling backward, crashing into a nearby tree.

Chris shook off the impact, his eyes narrowing with determination. He couldn't let Adara's momentary advantage dampen his spirit. He charged forward, fueled by adrenaline, and launched a barrage of rapid punches and kicks. Each strike carried the weight of his superhuman strength, but Adara's newfound power allowed her to withstand the assault.

Adara's confidence grew as she countered Chris's attacks, deflecting his blows effortlessly. She revelled in her newfound strength, pushing her limits further. With a mighty sweep of her leg, she knocked Chris off balance, sending him sprawling onto the forest floor.

Undeterred, Chris quickly recovered, his competitive spirit refusing to falter. He propelled himself back onto his feet and lunged at Adara once again. This time, he combined his strength with lightning-fast agility, aiming to overwhelm her.

Their sparring match intensified, both Adara and Chris showcasing their superhuman abilities with every move. The sound of their punches echoed through the woods as they danced around each other, dodging and parrying with incredible speed.

Adara and Chris's battle reached a new level of intensity as their superhuman strength collided with lightning-fast agility. Adara's muscles strained with each powerful strike, while Chris's movements became a blur of calculated precision.

Adara anticipated Chris's next move, but he surprised her with a sudden change in strategy. As she attempted to block his punch, he swiftly sidestepped and delivered a spinning back kick that caught her off guard. The force of the blow sent Adara crashing into a nearby tree, causing the branches to shake and leaves to scatter.

With a grunt, Adara regained her footing, a fiery determination burning in her eyes. She refused to let her temporary setback deter her. She charged at Chris once again, her fists clenched tightly as she unleashed a barrage of punches, aiming to overpower him with sheer strength.

Chris, however, relied on his agility and nimble reflexes to evade Adara's blows. He weaved through her strikes with graceful movements, retaliating with lightning-quick kicks and punches of his own. Despite being slightly overpowered in raw strength, he made up for it with his speed and precision.

The air crackled with their power source as the fight raged on. Adara's strength allowed her to withstand Chris's onslaught, but she knew she had to find a way to exploit his weaknesses. Gathering her focus, she managed to land a devastating blow to his side, momentarily staggering him.

Seizing the opportunity, Adara pressed her advantage. She unleashed a series of powerful strikes, aiming to push Chris to his limits. His body engrossed the impacts, but the strain began to show. With each blow, Adara could sense his strength waning.

Chris, refusing to back down, dug deep within himself, summoning the last reserves of his energy. With a surge of determination, he launched a counterattack, his strikes fueled by the remnants of his fading strength. Adara found herself momentarily on the defensive, her muscles straining under the relentless assault.

As the fight neared its climax, both Adara and Chris fought with all their might, their bodies pushed to the brink of exhaustion. Each blow resonated with the raw power of their evolved forms, shaking the ground beneath them.

In the end, with sweat trickling down their faces, Adara and Chris found themselves locked in a final clash. Their fists collided, creating a shockwave that reverberated through the woods. Time seemed to stand still as their strengths clashed one last time.

As the dust settled, Adara stood victorious, a mix of reprieve and satisfaction flooding her.

"Haha, seems like I'm actually more stronger than I thought"