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Chapter 54 Ogre Cave

Following the python that was leading the way, Duy and Gandalf crossed the swamp and headed deeper into the dense forest.

The python was a chatterbox, and being very hungry, it kept trying to persuade Dui to feed it Gandalf, the old man, as it led the way.

Although Gandalf couldn't understand snake language, he vaguely guessed the reason from seeing the python looking at him repeatedly.

He wasn't angry at all; instead, he chuckled and asked, "Duir, what is this snake saying to you? Why do I feel like it's looking at me like I'm eyeing a dessert?"

Dui had no intention of hiding anything from the python, and said with a speechless expression, "This is just a stupid snake that's not very bright. It's trying to convince me to exchange the treasure of the ogre cave for my permission to eat you."

"Oh, looks like I'm quite valuable, old man. I could even be traded for a troll's treasure," Gandalf said with great amusement.

After walking for about an hour, the python suddenly stopped, looked ahead warily, and said to Dui, "There's an ogre cave ahead. They have sharp eyes, so I dare not go any further."

Then, still worried, she asked, "Don't let the ogres eat you! You promised to give me food, and I've been starving for so long and climbed such a long way, I'm almost starving to death..."

"Okay, be quiet!" Dui whispered.

Tell the python to stay there quietly and wait for them, then Dui turns to Gandalf and says, "According to the python, there's an ogre's cave ahead."

Gandalf didn't make the decision himself, but instead asked Duy, "What are you planning to do?"

Dui was prepared. "Let's sneak into the cave first and see what's going on. If we find any surviving villagers, we'll rescue them first and then deal with the cannibals."

"Then let's do as you say." Gandalf had no objections, and this rescue mission would be led by Dui.

Seeing that Gandalf agreed to his plan, he did not delay, pointed the tip of his wand at himself, and moved his mouth slightly.

An invisible magical force descended upon him, as if a stream of icy liquid had been poured over Dui's head. His body was covered by a thin, cool fluid film, and then his entire body gradually became ethereal and invisible.

To be precise, it doesn't actually become invisible, but rather blends into its surroundings, and its faint arc-shaped outline can still be seen when it moves quickly.

This is the effect of the Disguise Charm, which can deceive the eye and achieve the effect of invisibility.

However, the illusion spell's effect clearly couldn't fool Gandalf's eyes. His gaze remained fixed on Dui's location, and he said impatiently, "Give me one too!"

Duy also cast a disillusionment spell on Gandalf.

The two then stealthily approached the ogre cave.

The ogre's dwelling place is a huge natural cave, deep and dark, yet faintly illuminated by a flickering firelight.

Dui and his companion did not linger and went straight into the cave.

But as soon as he entered, he was hit by a stench that almost made him vomit.

The ground was littered with various bone fragments, some from animals, but others clearly belonging to humans.

The scraps left behind by the ogres were scattered everywhere, emitting a rotten and foul stench. Combined with their excrement, the smell was simply awful!

Despite the stench, Dui and Gandalf continued deeper into the sanctuary.

They arrived at a very spacious cave hall, where a huge bonfire was visible in the center of the cave, with five ogres sitting around it.

These ogres are enormous, standing five or six meters tall, with dark green skin covered in thick scales, resembling giants.

At this moment, the ogres were sitting together, with a large pot on a fire in the center of their campfire. One of the ogres was stirring the soup with a huge ladle.

Beside the fire, there was a pile of clothes stained with blood.

"Are you done yet? I'm so hungry!" one of the ogres exclaimed, his stomach rumbling loudly.

The other trolls also looked eager.

When Dui saw the pile of clothes, his pupils contracted and his mood became heavy.

It goes without saying what's cooking in that pot.

"Let's see if there are any other survivors nearby," Gandalf's faint voice came from the side.

Dui nodded slightly. He slowly retreated, leaning against the cave wall, searching for signs of living people in the dimly lit cave hall.

The cave hall is interconnected, linking several other caverns.

Gandalf and Duy parted ways and each chose to explore a different cave.

The cave was deep and dark, and it took Dui quite a while to reach the end.

Whether it was luck or not, this cave contained all sorts of things collected by the ogres, with many old armors and weapons piled up together, some belonging to humans, elves, orcs, and dwarves.

In addition, there were gold and silver coins and jewelry scattered all over the ground.

While delighted to find the treasure, Dui's most important task at the moment was to find the person, so he temporarily left the treasure cave and decided to take the treasure with him after dealing with the ogres.

They encountered each other in a different cave.

"How's it going? Any discoveries?" Gandalf asked in a low voice.

"No one was found. That cave was a treasure trove for trolls, just some gold and jewels," Dui replied, shaking his head. He then asked, "And you, Gandalf, did you find anything in that cave?"

Gandalf's tone was indescribable. "I wasn't as lucky as you. The cave I chose was where trolls relieved themselves. Oh... what a nightmare!"

The oppressive and heavy atmosphere eased a bit instantly, and a smile appeared on Dui's face, feeling both sympathy and amusement for Gandalf's plight.

This time, the two chose to travel together and enter the remaining cave.

This time, the two finally discovered traces of living people.

At the end of the cave, a huge cage had been built.

Inside the cages were the missing villagers.

The villagers were emaciated, their faces filled with fear, despair, and numbness, like soulless living dead, huddled blankly in their cages.

It wasn't until they heard the commotion from Dui and Gandalf that a flicker of fear appeared on their numb faces. The villagers, who had mistakenly thought that the ogres had come to eat people again, shrank back in terror, waiting for their fate with expressions of despair.

Seeing this, Dui and Gandalf sighed deeply. Dui lifted the spell on them, and they appeared in a faint glow.

Upon seeing that it was Dui and Gandalf, two humans, who had arrived, the villagers in the cage were incredulous, and a glimmer of hope welled up in their hearts amidst their astonishment and doubt.

"I am Gandalf the Grey, and this is Duir the Black. We have come to rescue you." Gandalf's kind and benevolent face instilled hope and courage in the villagers, bringing a glimmer of life back to their apathy.