Empire Builder 1: Breed, Populate, Conquer by Dante King (free e books to read online txt) 📕

The mountain ogre raised his fist high in the air.

“Alright, do it. But don’t get yourself hurt in the process.” Ben rushed to the side after he spoke.

Melody nodded then leaped to the other side as the giant’s fist crashed down on the ground where they’d been standing, the ground cracking into a small crater.

Ben had never wielded a sword before, but now was as good a time as any to learn. As the huge ogre was straightening after his first attack, Ben lifted the scimitar and darted behind him. Ben was quicker on his feet than usual. The strength he’d taken from the sentry not long previously hadn’t yet worn off.

The giant moved slowly, allowing Ben time to raise the scimitar high. The ogre started to turn, looking all around him to see where Ben and Melody gone. Melody ducked behind one of the stones, evading his notice. Ben thrust the weapon forward and stabbed it into the ogre’s side. The tip of the blade jammed into the monster’s bones, and Ben had to let go. He couldn’t pull it out, and he didn’t want to be in range when the giant saw where he was.

The mountain ogre bellowed with rage. He turned around to face Ben, face contorted with rage. He grabbed the scimitar by the flat of the blade, keeping his hand free of the sharp edge, and yanked the scimitar out of his side.

Ben heard the disgusting, sucking squelch as the point pulled free of the giant’s skin. Blood poured down his side, but the mountain ogre simply hurled the blade against one of the huts and roared. It looked like Ben had done more to piss him off than do any real damage.

Well, shit.

All of this took place in an instant. Ben began to back away, desperately trying to think of a plan B. But he didn’t get the chance. The giant lurched forward, faster than Ben could retreat. With a flex of his shoulder, the ogre threw a haymaker with a fist the size of a car door.

The giant’s punch bulldozed into Ben’s ribs with the force of a wrecking ball at full speed. Ben was launched into the air, flying backward several yards, until he crashed into the wall of a hut.

Ben felt the sensation of flying and the dull ache of both impacts as if they were happening to someone else. The strength he had taken was still saving him from the full force of the pain, though he knew he would have to deal with that later.

Ben struggled to his feet, his whole body throbbing like he’d just been put through a full cycle in an industrial-sized washing machine. Through the pain, he didn’t know if he still had enough mana to use Drain again, but he’d have to try.

The giant, seeing that Ben was still alive, thundered forward and snatched up his spear. The weapon was taller than he was, and as thick as one of his legs. The mountain ogre wielded it with ease.

Ben began gathering his magic to cast Drain on the giant, but he was too slow. The mountain ogre thrust his spear, and Ben was forced to break the spell and drop to the ground, the earth rushing up to his face. There was a splintering crash as the tip of the spear tore a chunk out of the wooden wall above his head.

The giant thrust his spear again, straight down, but Ben sprang to his feet and leapt clear, as the weapon gouged a hole into the ground where his chest had been only a split second before.

Ben stood on the balls of his feet, ready to leap away again, preparing the Drain spell. He could see a huge green strand of physical energy in the giant’s body. Ben had infused him with so much strength. Now he’d have to somehow suck it from the superpowered giant.

But Ben was too far away. At a few yards distance, he couldn’t cast Drain.

He had to get closer.

The giant swung his spear at Ben again, forcing Ben to spring back, then again, and again. At this rate, Ben would run out of stamina before he could attack the giant.

“Over here!” Melody yelled.

Ben’s heart skipped a beat as she yelled. What was she thinking?

The mountain ogre turned slowly to see what the noise was, and spotted Melody holding a heavy stone. It wasn’t as big as the other stones the mountain ogres had been sitting on, but still heavier than she should normally have been able to carry. It looked like her stolen physical strength hadn’t yet run out either.

The giant snorted and began to move toward her with a steady gait that made it clear he didn’t fear her in the slightest. When he was a few feet away, he stopped and let out a roar of pure, primal rage.

But Melody stood firm. Her eyes locked onto the giant’s foot and right away it was clear what she had in mind. With a hard grunt, she threw the stone down at his toes, the stone slamming like a comet into the thick part of his foot. The sound of cracking bones blended with the thud of the stone landing, the giant letting out a howl of wild pain as he flung his spear away and yanked his crushed foot free.

Now was Ben’s chance. The ogre no longer had his spear, and was preoccupied with his injured foot.

Ben didn’t wait another second. He ran in close, about five feet from the injured giant. Once near enough, Ben held his palms out, channeling Drain. He pulled on the green strand of the giant’s physical strength, absorbing the foreign energy into his own body.

The big ogre whipped his head toward Ben. He swung his fist around toward Ben’s face, but his movement was slow and sloppy this time, and Ben easily ducked it to avoid it.

Ben kept sapping the giant’s energy. His strength