Three seconds.
That was all I had to process my life choices before an ogre the size of a minivan tried to turn me into troll paste.
My first instinct was to run.
My second was to cry.
My third was to do both at the same time.
I went with option one.
Branches whipped against my face, roots tried to trip me, and my lungs burned like hell, but I kept running.
I heard growls behind me, but I didn't bother looking back. All my attention was focused on escaping, because fighting wasn't an option I was willing to consider.
After running for what felt like forever, I dove behind a massive moss-covered log, sucking in deep breaths as my heart pounded like a war drum.
I was exhausted. I didn't know how long I had been running, but it felt like it had been enough to escape the ogre.
I looked back and saw no trace of the ogre, and let out a breath of relief.
But a few moments later… I heard heavy footsteps heading straight toward my location.
Then they stopped.
I peeked through the gaps in the log, my heart pounding, and spotted the ogre standing just a few feet away.
Its massive nostrils flared as it sucked in air like a vacuum, its beady eyes scanning the area.
It knew I was close.
And it was pissed.
With a frustrated snort, it raised its spiked mace, and then slammed it into the ground, sending dirt, rocks, and splinters flying in all directions.
I gulped at the sight.
This thing wasn't playing around.
I clamped my mouth shut, knowing that even the slightest sound would be a gold-plated invitation to my funeral, and hoped the ogre wouldn't find me.
But that was just wishful thinking.
I couldn't run at this point; the ogre would catch me instantly.
Instead, I pressed myself deeper into the dirt, hoping that would somehow make me invisible.
And that's when I noticed it.
My skin began to ripple, shifting colors and textures until I blended into the moss-covered ground. My arms, legs, and my entire body took on the same earthy greens and browns as the surface beneath me.
I froze, stunned. What was happening? Had my wish been heard?
The moment the thought formed, a response appeared in front of me in the form of a floating text box.
It looked digital, like something straight out of a VR game.
I was momentarily thrown off by its appearance, but quickly forced myself to focus as danger was still right in front of me.
The box displayed the description of a skill.
[Skill: Camouflage (Passive)]
Description:The user instinctively blends into their surroundings, masking their presence from detection by predators, enemies, or tracking abilities. This passive skill alters the user's appearance to match the environment, making them nearly invisible when stationary or moving slowly. However, if a tracker ventures too close or possesses heightened perception, the illusion weakens, making the user easier to spot. Sudden movements or direct light exposure can also disrupt the effect.
Limits: Last for 2 minutes
Alright.
I didn't know what this was, and I didn't care much in that moment, but it meant my chances of survival had just increased, and that alone was enough to give me hope.
The ogre stepped closer, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air again, its beady eyes narrowing.
Then it tilted its head, like a confused dog trying to understand human speech.
I swallowed hard, praying to whatever gods hadn't already decided I was a dud to let me survive this.
The ogre stepped closer.
It stopped right in front of the log I was hiding behind, standing directly over me.
Then it leaned in.
My heartbeat went haywire, every muscle screaming:
DO. NOT. MOVE.
And then I smelled it.
An unholy mix of wet dog, rotting meat, and sweat so rancid it could probably peel paint off walls. The ogre's scent.
What the hell? How could something smell this bad?
I had to fight the urge to gag.
This was it.
If this thing didn't move soon, I'd pass out from the stench before it even got the chance to kill me.
The ogre grunted, its nostrils flaring as it took another deep sniff.
Then, to my absolute horror, it reached down.
Its thick, gnarled fingers dug into the dirt just inches from my body, yanking up clumps of moss and soil. Slowly, it began moving toward the other side of the log.
In that moment, I knew I couldn't hide here any longer.
Carefully, making sure the camouflage didn't break, I began to take slow, measured steps as I crawled backward and it moment I was away from the log I rose to my feet, slowly moving backwards.
The ogre now stood facing the spot where I had been lying, and with a brutal swing of its mace, it slammed down on that exact location, destroying a massive chunk of the log in the process.
Yeah… moving away had been the right decision.
But I wasn't safe yet.
I kept moving backward, slowly, carefully, putting distance between myself and the threat.
But it seemed my prayers went unanswered, because the worst possible thing happened.
SNAP!
I stepped on a dry twig.
The sound might as well have been a gunshot, because the ogre's head snapped toward me instantly, its beady eyes locking onto mine.
For one terrible second, neither of us moved.
Then camouflage dissapeared almost as if saying 'I cannot hide you anymore young man'.
It had already been 2 minutes since I activated it.
I was screwed.
The ogre could now see me now and, in just a step or two, closed the distance.
It raised its spiked mace high, muscles bulging, veins popping.
I froze, but at the last second, I threw myself to the side, barely avoiding the blow.
BOOM!
The mace slammed down, obliterating the ground, wood, and dirt, sending debris exploding in every direction.
I didn't wait to see if it would miss again.
I scrambled to my feet and ran, the world blurring around me as I tore through the underbrush, weaving between trees, vaulting over roots, and dodging branches like death was right on my heels. Because it was.