The troll leaned its body forward slightly, its shoulders raised, and its back curved like a drawn bow. Its breathing was heavy and wet, like air forcing its way through a throat too narrow. Each exhalation created a thin vapor that rose into the cold air.
The creature's fingers, each nearly as long as my forearm, clenched and unclenched repeatedly. The sound of its massive bones grinding together was like metal chains scraping.
I felt pressure in the air. It was like standing before something that shouldn't exist.
But my body didn't retreat. Instead, something inside me… rose up.
That instinct and my desire. The urge to test, to tear, to feel this creature's power.
"So this is a troll…" I whispered, nearly soundless.
The creature suddenly stomped the ground hard.
BOOM!
The earth beneath his foot cracked a little. The mist scattered in all directions. The creature's body leaned slightly… then—
It vanished.
Not truly vanished, but his speed far exceeded its size. A giant like that should be slow and clumsy. But this creature? It shot forward like a huge rock fired from a giant catapult.
I was momentarily startled.
Without thinking long, I moved. I jumped to the side, my body moving lightly as if weightless. The air rushed past my face as I dodged the first attack.
And when the troll passed right where I had stood… the wind from his body alone was enough to shake a medium-sized tree behind me.
The creature then rammed a tree with his shoulder.
KRAAK!
The trunk, as thick as a waist, broke from one impact. The tree toppled sideways, crushing the surrounding shrubs and roots. Adrenaline began to pump fast through my body.
"Too fast…"
The troll turned with a loud grating sound. Its head turned faster than its body, revealing murky eyes now fully focused on me. A low, hard, choked sound came from its mouth.
"GhrraaAAAAHHH…"
His body moved again. I was ready this time.
As the creature swung its arm as thick as a tree trunk, I lifted my body and leapt forward. The arm missed me and slammed into the ground.
BOOOOM!
The earth cracked, tree roots were upheaved, and fragments of mud and small stones flew into the air.
I used the momentum, landing near its flank, and immediately drove my nails into the troll's hip.
SLASH!
Its skin tore. Thick, and dark blood spurted out in a sharp spray.
The troll roared loudly.
"GRAAAAAHHH!"
I retreated two steps, observing the result. The wound was large and deep enough. Its blood also flowed quite fast. I prepared to attack again—
But something unexpected shocked me. The troll's wound closed, and within mere seconds…
his skin sealed back, its muscle knitted together, and the blood stopped flowing. In less than three seconds, the large wound I had made… vanished.
I stood still.
That's… doesn't make sense. He has regenerative abilities? And that fast?
This was far beyond anything I had seen from the bear or wolves. This was the first time I'd seen a creature that could heal itself, even though this is a fantasy world, still… this was unexpected.
The troll didn't wait. It raised both its arms into the air, then slammed them down onto the ground.
BOOOOM!!!
The blast of earth sent my body flying backward. I flew several meters, tumbled in the air, and crashed hard onto the ground.
"Uggghhh…"
The physical strength of this creature was extraordinary. Even without hitting me directly, the pressure from its attack could send me flying.
My body was strong.
But this troll… was in a different league. The creature then scrambled forward quickly, his feet clawing at the dirt.
Then it charged. I stood my ground, bracing my stance, and swung my leg sideways with all my might as it closed in. My kick hit his ribs.
THOOM!
The troll was flung sideways, smashing into a medium tree until its trunk cracked loudly. The tree nearly fell, swaying heavily from the impact of the troll's body slamming into its side.
Finally, I had done something meaningful. But as I raised my hand, readying another attack,
The troll stood right up. Without any sign of pain.
And the ribs I had kicked… showed no mark at all, as if my kick had never happened.
I clicked my tongue. His body recovered too fast. My full-powered kick wasn't enough.
I had to tear it apart faster than its body could regenerate. Or I had to find its weak point.
But… did a creature like this even have a weak point?
I had no time to think strategy, as the troll was already running towards me with terrifying speed. Each step was like a giant hammer hitting the earth.
I jumped sideways, but the creature had anticipated. Its huge hand grabbed the air swiftly, almost catching me.
Only my new reflexes let me slip away. I spun and launched a counterattack, swinging my hand claw.
SLASH!
This time I aimed for the neck. The troll ducked quickly and its shoulder rammed me.
DUUUUGHH!
The air was forced from my lungs. My body was flung again, and I hit the ground, rolled, and stopped when my back struck a large tree root.
"Ugh… Damn it…"
I gasped hard, my chest hurt, and air wouldn't go in.
I took a quick breath, my body forcing me to keep moving.
The troll was already approaching again. I was only half up when the creature swiped with its long claws.
I couldn't dodge in time. The claw swept through the air and caught my shoulder.
SHREEKKK!!
"AAAAGGGHHHH!"
Blood sprayed into the air, and my body twisted from the impact and fell back to the ground.
My shoulder was torn open. A long, deep gash from my left shoulder to my collarbone.
Blood flowed freely, warming my skin.
I bit my lip. The burning sensation stung… but my body withstood it.
I rose slowly, bracing myself not to fall again. The troll's eyes turned wild, like a predator that had found its prey. The smell of my blood made it more ferocious.
I stood up with one long breath, clutching the wound on my shoulder. Blood was still flowing between my fingers.
Here, I began to wonder if fighting this troll was a mistake. I look too arrogant... just because I've gained a little power.
But the troll didn't give me more time. The creature charged again quickly. I tried to move fast, but I was too late. Its claw had already slashed my waist.
SHREAAAGH!
"AAAAGGGGHH!"
Blood splattered again. My body was thrown to the ground, the world was spinning, and the sound of hums filled my ears.
And something came loose along with it. The wooden water bottle tied to my side was thrown by the impact, breaking free from its strap, hitting the tree trunk with a dull thud before rolling into the bushes. The water inside it splashed out, wetting the ground and the surrounding leaves.
I fell face down, the wet soil hitting my face.
I felt warm blood filling my waist and running down my leg.
The wound was deep. Very deep.
The troll approached with slow, heavy, and steady steps. It seemed confident its prey wouldn't last much longer.
Its voice was low, grating like grinding stones.
"Ghhrrrrhh…"
"Haa… haa… n-no… I… have to get up…"
I tried to rise. My body trembled, and my breath was ragged.
My legs were unsteady. My waist burned, hot from the large wound that kept pouring blood.
I pushed against the ground, forcing my body to stand. This body was strong. But it wasn't indestructible.
I stared at the troll through my hair, now damp with sweat and blood.
Looking at the troll, I truly realized something.
I… could die here.
The troll raised its hand, its long black nails gleaming through the mist. It prepared to deliver the final blow, a finishing strike that could split my body in two.
I took a long breath, the only breath I could prepare.
"I will not die…"
The troll swung its arm.
And I moved.
His arm came down like a giant iron beam thrown from the sky. Its swing was so large, heavy, and fast that the air around it was split. The sound roared, deafening at close range.
I felt the wind pressure from the swing even before its nails touched me. The wind was so strong, enough to shake my bleeding body and almost drop me to my knees.
But I forced my body to move, just enough so I wouldn't die here.
I twisted my body, forcing my waist, still pulsing hot from the deep tear, to withstand the pressure. My feet planted on the ground, slippery with my own blood.
Right as its claws were about to hit my neck, I ducked hard.
WHOOOOSH—!!
The swing passed… just a few centimeters above my head, and the tree behind me was instantly split.
KRAAAAAKKKK!!
The trunk shattered from the middle. A chunk of wood slid to the ground with a heavy, rolling sound.
If that swing had hit my head, my body would have been cut in two.
I hadn't even caught my breath when the troll turned its body again. Its movement was like a huge shadow passing through the mist.
his right arm rose, ready to strike me again from the side, a blow clearly meant to correct its mistake for missing.
I jumped back, but my body wasn't as fast as before.
My waist throbbed. Blood flowed from my shoulder and waist. Every movement triggered a heat like forged iron.
I wasn't fast enough…
The troll's claw struck the ground where I had stood, half a second after I dodged. The earth exploded, and small stones slapped my cheek.
Mud mixed with blood sprayed into the air. The blast pressure alone was enough to hurl my body backward.
I tumbled, my shoulder hit a large tree root, and the wound on my shoulder tore wider.
I felt blood flowing from the wound like a small, unending stream.
"AGGh… Damn it…"
"GRRRAAAAAHHHH!!" yelled the troll, his voice full of frustration, anger, and hunger.
The creature's breath sounded like a volcanic crater steaming, full of heat and pressure.
It advanced with large steps that made the earth tremble.
I forced my body to rise, but my knees wobbled, and my waist felt like it was burning.
My blood soaked the entire left side of me, dripping from my fingertips, creating small stains on the ground.
The troll didn't stop or slow. Perhaps in its eyes, I was just weak prey ready to be finished off.
And it wanted to finish me now.
I took a sharp breath, focusing my eyes on the troll even though my body was near collapse.
"I'm not that weak…"
The creature raised one of its large, thick, muscular legs and stomped it right towards me.
I tried to dodge. But the wounds on my body slowed my movement.
The foot hit the ground right beside my body, and the force of its impact once again created a wave of pressure.
I was flung back like thin cloth caught in a whirlwind.
My body crashed into a large tree trunk.
DUUGHH—!!
"A-AGGGHHH…"
All the air in my lungs was forced out. It felt like a giant hand was forcibly emptying my lungs.
I fell to my knees. My vision blurred, and the sky spun.
The sounds of the forest disappeared, replaced only by a sharp ringing in my ears.
"Hah….Haaah…"
Is this the end of my life?
I was too arrogant… thinking I was strong enough.
But the troll gave me no pause for regrets. The creature approached, its steps heavy but its rhythm quick.
It attacked with both hands, swinging the long claws that could kill me. I forced my body to roll sideways.
SLASH—!!
The claw split the earth beside me. The ground was torn like thin cloth.
Dust and small stones flew everywhere. The troll raised its arm again, this time quickly and without pause.
It was angry.
It was hungry.
It wanted my body.
I raised my arm, trying to block the second attack with my own purple nails, and that was a mistake.
The collision happened.
CLANGG—!!
The troll's claw met the purple nails on my hand.
The impact produced a sound like heavy metal clashing. The vibration traveled through the bones of my arm. It felt like my bones cracked.
Pain. It felt like a giant hammer had struck the bones of my palm. The force of its attack was too great.
The troll's power pressed my arm down until I fell face down.
The creature stepped forward, bringing its huge face closer, those yellow eyes staring at me with pure savagery.
Its breath, hot, wet, and reeking of rotting flesh, blasted into my face. I turned my head slightly because the foul smell from its mouth almost made me nauseous.
"Disgusting…"
The troll growled loudly, disliking my reaction. Its huge hand grabbed my shoulder, right on the open wound.
"AGGHHHHHHHH…"
I screamed from pure pain.
The troll's grip was exactly on the open wound, its large fingers pressing into my flesh, tearing it a little further.
Blood spurted. I clutched the troll's arm, trying to pull it away.
It didn't move, not even a little. The creature then lifted me from the ground with one hand.
My legs dangled, and my body was lifted like a small doll. The troll lifted me higher, then slammed my body onto the ground.
BAAAMMM—!!
"A-AAKKKKHHH"
My entire waist screamed in pain. It felt like my spine cracked.
I tried to get up, but the troll's hand grabbed my hair again. The creature dragged me up. My hair was pulled until my scalp burned, as if being ripped out.
My body swung, all my strength seemed gone.
The troll lifted me once more, and smashed my body against a tree trunk.
CRAAAKHH—!!
"AGGGGHHH"
Hurt… it hurts…
I felt the world collapse for a moment.
The tree cracked, and my bones sounded like they cracked too. I lay on the ground, unmoving. My arm and shoulder went numb, and my waist felt severed.
With a body full of wounds, I tried to lift my head.
Only a few centimeters, then fell again.
My vision blurred. Blood filled my eyes, and my voice was gone.
He stood before me, its body towering, and its breath heavy and hot. Its eyes looked at me like a piece of meat that barely moved… but was still fresh to eat.
The creature approached step by step. Each of its steps sounded like a death knell waiting for me.
"Alright…" I mumbled faintly, my breath shaky.
I understood… I was indeed too arrogant…
I wasn't strong enough.
Not like this. Not by attacking without preparation when my enemy was stronger; that was my foolishness.
My body trembled violently, and pain spread everywhere.
But my eyes… remained fixed on the troll.
Even with half my body shattered, one thing still burned inside me.
I don't want to die! I must get revenge, and I can't die in a place like this!
And more than that—
I won't lose to a creature like this.
The troll raised its arm again. The long nails aimed at my head, the final, unavoidable strike.
I lifted my head, and my eyes stared straight into its eyes.
And in the moment where death almost touched my face,
I moved.
Not from human strength, nor from the physical power I gained from monsters.
But from a survival instinct sharper than the pain.