Boom!
Edmond's body hit the ground with a thunderous crash, the impact rattling his bones. His chest heaved as he coughed out a mouthful of blood, the metallic taste coating his tongue while pain coursed through his body like fire. His organs churned as if twisted by invisible hands, each breath dragging a groan from his throat. The only thing keeping him alive was the protective layer of his carbon-fiber combat wear, its reinforced weave absorbing the brunt of the troll's devastating strike. Without it, he would have been nothing more than a broken corpse on the dirt.
The towering troll loomed over him, shadows cast by its massive frame stretching across the ground. Its breath steamed in the cool air, a constant mist that smelled of iron and frost. Leaning down, it gripped Edmond by the throat with one massive, clawed hand. Its eyes glimmered with cruel amusement, menace flickering within the pale glow.
