The trolls were towering like trees in height. "8 trolls, all high rank monsters! Do you still wanna fight them? I doubt it's a good idea" Herjar said. Saito smirked, "Well do you rely on ideas or your skill when your in a fight?" he asked. Herjar also smirked and said, "Don't you know the answer already?". Both of them unsheathed their weapons and took their stance for the battle.
The first troll rushed in forward with its huge wooden club while shouting. Herjar said, "I'm going High!" Then he jumped on to a tree and started climbing it rapidly. "Then I'll go low!" Saito said as he rushed towards the troll.
The troll brought down its club towards Saito with a roar. Saito dodged it and got slid through the opening between its leg. The moment he got behind the troll, he got up and did a spin with his blade being horizontal.
The blade cut the backside of the troll's both kneecap and made it lose balance. Saito evaded the falling troll and it kneed on the ground with both its knee injured.
Herjar used this opportunity and launched from the nearby tree and slit the neck of the troll when he passed by it in mid air. He landed near Saito and looked at the troll, it dropped it's club and grabbed its neck as it dropped on the ground and died.
The other trolls now clearly showed fear all over face. Saito and Herjar showed an extreme level of cooperation and trust with each other even though just met a while ago. Both of them looked at each other and smiled.
Herjar understood that he got something up his sleeve he wanted to try, so he gave the hunt to him, "Well the stage is yours now, go crazy" he smirked. Saito smirked and gave him an understanding look.
Herjar backed up more than ten steps and climbed a tree to sit on its branch while taking out some fruit he got when they were exploring earlier.
Saito put back his blade inside the saya while not letting go either of them from his hand. He adjusted his legs a bit and closed his eyes. A Samurai killer blow stance.
Nirashi talked to him earlier when he was fighting and showed him a move in his mind. He been wanting to try it ever since and luckily, Herjar understood his feelings. Now the stage is set and the audience are waiting and the performers are ready for it, now its time for the main character to show his gig!
He closed his eyes and concentrated on a particular object. The trolls started to feel the atmosphere getting weird and weird by the second, hell even Herjar noticed the change! He then started to look closely at Saito to see what kind of skill he was going to show off.
The wind was blowing ominously like a wild fire out of control. This was because Saito was trying very hard to materialize that object. Nirashi's voice sounded in his mind, "Master, don't fight it! Don't struggle to think it! Just let it flow and imagine a peaceful environment and be at peace".
He then tried doing as she said and stopped struggling. He then imagined a park full of trees filled with Sakura cherry blossoms. His mind was at total peace and he did what he wanted to.
Unknown to him in the outside world, the wild wind stopped and turned in to a gentle breeze and it was surrounding only Saito. Its as if a small tornado formed with Saito in the center.
Herjar was enjoying the show and eating his fruit with no care while the trolls were almost shitting their pants.
The small tornado was carrying leaves with it while spinning. Then the leaves started to set on the ground, one by one. The leaves were green in color and they were setting themselves in an orderly way on the ground with the help of the wind.
The leaves lay on the ground and formed six huge green leaves on the ground surrounding Saito. The leaves started to levitate from the ground.
The green color of the leaves seemed to leave them and the six big green leaves turned pink. The leaves turned into Sakura petals.
They then started to rotate around Saito in normal speed like they were guarding him. Saito slowly opened his eyes.
"Petal Dance of Sakura!"
He said that in a normal voice. Saito then darted towards the trolls alone and Herjar was enjoying himself with a snack and a show. Saito's speed increased abnormally and he blasted the ground.
He closed in the first troll. The troll was affected by fear and was not in good mind set for combat. It just lifted its club to bash at him. Saito just smirked and unsheathed his blade and slashed before he even reached the combat range.
The Sakura petals resonated with the blade and followed the blade's trajectory, one by one and interlocked their ends together. The petals cut the huge troll into two pieces, clean.
The petals then immediately started to surround Saito and spin around him like they are his eternal guards. Both the trolls and Herjar even Saito didn't expect this to be an OP skill that cut a troll in half. There was not even a single drop of blood on the petals, like if they didn't see it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have known that these petals were the ones that cut that troll clean in half.
Herjar clapped his hands and had a "Show me more" type of look in his face. Saito smiled and his face turned serious. The petals started to spin faster around him.
He once again, darted at the troll with an explosive speed. This time the troll tried to overwhelm him by strength. It bashed its club at him. Saito brought his blade to block the incoming attack, but surprising to him, the petals joined together to form an "Star" shaped shield before his blade.
*BOOM*
That strike was truly powerful as it sent shockwaves in all direction but didn't affect Saito as he was behind the Sakura petal shield. Even Herjar had to hold on to not be blown away by that powerful shockwave but Saito was still standing like nothing happened.
The petals took the hit and was still holding like that hit was just a scratch. Saito smirked and moved away. The petals also separated and let the club hit the ground. The troll lost his balance for a second and Saito used this as an opportunity and cut the hand of the troll.
The troll cried out loud and Saito did a spin and slashed towards the head of the troll. The slash sent one of the Sakura petals flying and cleave of the head clean from the troll's shoulders.
"Five more huh? Well I don't want to spend more time on this myself either" Saito said. The moment he finished saying that, the remaining five petals flew towards each troll's neck at an unimaginable speed and decapitated all five remaining trolls.
The headless trolls bodies slumped on the ground with a loud five *thuds*. Herjar jumped down from the tree and whistled while clapping. "Now I did not expect that! I knew you had something you want to try, but that to be this over powered, clearly blew my mind" Herjar stated. Saito smiled and said, "Come on! That was not even the full power of that skill, I'm still an amateur in using this".
He said that simply, but Herjar's mouth was hanging. "You mean... That was not it's full power!?" Herjar asked. Saito smiled and said, "Nope, its half or even less from the full form so its weak".
Herjar then said, "But that "weak" power you said, took a hit from a troll and didn't even shake a bit! How's that weak! Even the warrior class Mercs or adventurers will have a bad time handling that hit! Be human and talk like one!" He shouted.
Saito shunned him, "Yea yea, stop it already and we gotta collect those stones that guild girl asked right? Let's go, you're doing it". "Wha-?" Herjar got surprised by this cunning human. Collecting magic stones means cutting the flesh of the monster and taking it out from the center of the monster.
Monsters are born from the Chaotic Mana in the atmosphere. These Mana condense together and form an living organism with the Magic stone which was born from the condensed Chaotic Mana as its core.
"You just watched it from the sides and I have almost zero experience in this field, so its best to leave it to the professional" Saito winked. "Fine fine fine! I got it already! I'll go do it!" Herjar finally gave up. Saito added gunpowder to the fire caused by gasoline, "Also, we gotta get those stones from the goblins inside that cave". "Have you no mercy!" Herjar shouted.
And so the pitiful Herjar took out seven magic stones from the Trolls, the ones that are not cut in half. They then ventured inside the cave and collected almost 30 good quality stones and 10 normal quality stones as the rest were damaged by their rampage earlier.
After their successful haul, they left the cave and they fist bumped and walked towards the city. Saito used his storage pendent he got from the village to store the stones and the flowers.
On the way back, Saito had an ominous feeling about someone watching them. Herjar's eyes were glowing with a red glint and Saito noticed it. "Up" Herjar muttered in a low voice. "Left" Saito said in the same low voice.
Suddenly, Herjar jumped and disappeared while Saito moved left and disappeared as well!
A shadow 20 meters behind then was standing behind them and was keeping track of them, until they disappeared. The shadow tried to escape, but he felt something cold on his neck so halted his movements and stood still.
Herjar came from the side while keeping one of his daggers on the person's neck, his eyes look red. Saito also came out of hiding. "So you were the one who was following us from that cave, am I right?" Saito asked.
"Not bad to be able to sense him right from the start Saito, even I couldn't sense him until we finished all the stone collecting" Herjar said. Saito smiled and looked at the person. The person was wearing a full on black hooded robe, a typical mage outfit.
"Flower..." The person said in a low voice. Saito and Herjar tightened their guard. "You guys took all the GrassClove flower from that place! So I had to find a way to get that!" The person's voice was that of a man.
Saito and Herjar was taken back from his words. So he followed them because he was also doing the same request as them? Saito asked, "Are you a Mercenary as well?".
The man looked a bit down when he heard it, "Like hell I am! Even I want to be one...." He said in a low voice. Herjar asked in a cold tone, "What do you mean by that?".
The man didn't look scared by that at all. "Heh, like hell you will leave me alive! I'll say it since I have no chance of living anymore!" The man scoffed. Saito and Herjar were taken by him statement once again. The didn't lower their guard and listened to him.
He said, "I am a Necromancer! I can never join a Mercenary guild since I am a follower of the death magic! There! Happy now!?". Saito and Herjar were stunned for a second. A Necromancer. A real Necromancer was in front of then! Necromancy is a taboo magic. There is nothing good that comes from this type of death magic, infact it brings more trouble which is why the Church of Light preached that this kind of magic is blasphemy and those who follow this way of magic should be killed, even the Higher Magic Academy agreed with the church on this one. Killing a Necromancer can also get you a big reward.
Now such a Necromancer is in front of them with a dagger at his neck. Herjar was ready to slit his neck on his word and was waiting for it. Saito inhaled air and said, "Herjar, let him go".
Herjar was stunned and even the Necromancer was so shocked at he couldn't close his mouth. Herjar took his dagger from his neck and sheathed it. He believed his companion to have a plan, a crazy one at that.
"Why...."
Herjar and Saito looked at him. The Necromancer was facing the ground as he asked, "Why not kill me? You will get a great reward for killing me! For killing.....a Necromancer....". It was obvious that he was said and confused at the same time.
Saito put one of his hand on his shoulder and said, "We would have killed you, if you weren't a good guy that is". The Necromancer was eyes wide as Saito continued, "You could have killed us in a lot of occasions, but you chose to steal the flower from us so that we don't be hurt in anyway, am I right?" The man nodded his head.
Saito took out three GrassClove flowers from the storage pendent and said, "We don't kill good guys and I'll give this to you only on one condition". The man's eyes shinned as he held Saito's both hands and said, "Anything you wish!".
Saito said, "I want you to tell me why you want this flower? I don't think this will be useful for death magic preferences". The man shook his head and said, "I'll show you why, but you must promise me not to tell anyone about this! Even your guild!". Saito looked at Herjar and he nodded his head. Saito said, "You have our word".
The man moved forward and said, "Follow me". Both if then nodded their head and followed him. "Oh yea, what is your name? I'm Saito and this is Herjar" Saito said. The man turned his head and said, "I'm Minos, nice to meet you". "Same here" Herjar said.
They all walked till evening and finally arrived at the house inside the deepest part of the forest. There were several magic barrier formations around the house to fend of the monsters. Minos walked to the door and opened it, "Come in".
Both of them walked inside the small house and what greeted them was a huge goblin at the size of Herjar sleeping on the couch while sweating a lot.