Chapter 40 A Thorny Problem
Tancred walked step by step to the Sun Sculpture, lifting it with some effort, veins bulging on his forehead from the exertion.
The Sun Sculpture was a sphere about three feet in diameter with a small base.
But now, it was covered in a thick layer of ice crystals because Brian approached it cautiously, making it heavier.
The freezing cold of the ice crystals made Tancred shiver.
To prevent frostbite, he gathered all his strength and quickly carried the Sun Sculpture outside the stone house, placing it heavily in a vacant spot. The large block of ice crystals caught the attention of many Ogres.
Brian watched as Tancred handled the Ice Crystal without any issues, his eyes thoughtful.
"When facing the eyeball on the Sun Sculpture, Tancred was also unaffected."
"William and I are both influenced ."
" Maybe it only affects species with Spellcaster talents?"
Brian shook his head, dismissing the thought.
He had made the decision to destroy it, so he no longer worried about its specific effects or which creatures it affected.
Taking a step forward, Brian left the stone house.
His scales shone as if new, his dragon wings were well-defined, and his dragon claws sharp and menacing. Brian's very presence instilled a hint of fear in the gathered Ogres, who had not yet recovered from his earlier display of dominance.
At the same time, a thunderous sound echoed above the Ogre basin.
Following the sound, they saw Tancred wielding the Black Spiked Hammer he had taken from William, raising it high and smashing it down on the Ice Crystal.
With all his strength, the Black Spiked Hammer glowed with a blood-red aura, greatly enhancing its power.
The Ice Crystal cracked with dense fissures but did not shatter completely.
Amidst the watchful eyes of his kin, Tancred's face turned red as he raised the Black Spiked Hammer again and brought it with force.
The thunderous sounds persisted as the ice crystal was slowly shattered, revealing the Sun Sculpture.
With Brian watching expectantly, Tancred's arm muscles bulged as he swung the Black Spiked Hammer with a whistling force toward the Sun Sculpture.
A metallic clash rang out, echoing across the Ice Field. In Tancred's bewildered expression, the Black Spiked Hammer was repelled by a tremendous force, cracking his hands and causing blood to trickle out.
The hammer nearly flew back to strike his own head.
Yet, the Sun Sculpture remained unmoved.
Brian's eyes narrowed, realizing that this object was indeed not easily destroyed.
Without making direct eye contact with the eyeball on the Sun Sculpture, he glanced around and spoke to the eager Ogres in a deep voice, "My followers, harness all your skills, wisdom, and strength to crush and obliterate this Sun Sculpture."
After a moment of silence, Brian bellowed, "To the one who prevails, I will grant the bloodline of a True Dragon!
Having gathered a sufficient number of followers, Brian chose to refrain from transforming more of them into dragon-blooded minions on a whim. Instead, he opted to utilize the dragon-blood transformation as a reward to inspire and motivate his followers.
The Arctic Ice Spirits had indeed gotten a good deal.
The Ogres of the Bonecrusher Tribe were filled with excitement upon hearing Brian's words.
Despite not being known for their intelligence, these creatures possessed their own cultural heritage and understood the significance of a Dragonline Creature, recognizing this as a rare opportunity.
Some cunning Ogres even thought that if they gained the dragon-blood transformation, they could challenge Tancred and replace him as Chief, becoming the top Ogre under Dragon Wings.
In response to Brian's directive and observing the enthusiasm of his kin, Tancred took a deep breath and turned to Brian, uttering sincerely, "Master, please grant me another chance.”
Anxiety gripped him when he spoke, fearing that his previous performance may have diminished his standing in Brian's eyes. Brian remained silent, offering a slight nod.
Tancred felt a wave of relief and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your trust, Master. I am truly grateful.
He grew serious, parting the crowd of Ogres and stepping back until he was roughly sixty feet away from the Sun Sculpture, his gaze fixed upon it.
Tancred then tightened his grip on the Black Spiked Hammer and began to run.
His immense weight left faint footprints with each step, radiating a powerful presence. When he reached a distance of twelve feet from the Sun Sculpture, Tancred let out a roar and leaped high into the air. While airborne, he raised the Black Spiked Hammer above his head, using the force of his descent and charge to strike the Sun Sculpture.
Even Brian wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of such a powerful blow. A moment later, the Black Spiked Hammer, enveloped in a blood-red light, collided with a corner of the Sun Sculpture.
The ground shook violently, the Ice Crystal shattering into large pieces that fell onto the surrounding Ogres, causing their skin to swell slightly.
But they paid no attention to the pain, their eyes fixed on Tancred and the Sun Sculpture.
The Black Spiked Hammer flew out of Tancred's hands under the immense recoil, his large hands dripping with blood, his face pale with disbelief.
The Sun Sculpture was embedded three feet into the ground before him.
But incredibly, it remained undamaged as if Tancred's full-force blow was nothing more than a gentle breeze.
Brian felt his heart tighten as he couldn't help but gaze at the Sun Sculpture. The sensation of being drawn in returned, with the eyeball appearing to transform into a vortex that tugged at his mind. However, Brian, who was already on high alert, swiftly broke free from its grasp and averted his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Master. I failed.
Tancred looked at Brian with pale-faced.
Brian's expression remained unchanged, revealing nothing.
"You did well."
Brian looked at the other eager Ogres and said, "You guys all give it a try."
One by one, the Ogres eagerly attempted to destroy the Sun Sculpture, only to walk away disappointed.
Some cunning Ogres, recognizing that their raw strength was ineffective, attempted to burn the sculpture over a campfire or steam it in a large iron pot, utilizing their limited intellect.
However, their efforts proved futile as the Sun Sculpture remained unmoved, unaffected by the Ogres' endeavors.
