[Author's Note: This one will be quick; I want to release the last two chapters ASAP.]
Lilith POV:
I stood in an open field within a forest, decked out in simple, light silver armor made from the mithril, and a black longsword forged out of adamantine. Both metals are so valuable that only A-class adventurers and the elites of an army can afford to use these for their equipment.
I still can't believe Sir Charles made these things, but what I can't believe even more is that the old man is about to make me fight a troll for my last day of training as a final test.
At first, I kept thinking it was a joke, even though I've been given a heads up several times the last three days. The last time he reminded me was yesterday on Monday when we just went over the Reinforcement and Imbuement exercises.
*Sigh!*
Well, if I can beat a troll, then I'll definitely be able to defeat Florence tomorrow. Especially with all of this excellent gear I have!
But I should probably have my thoughts in the present rather than the future.
"Are you ready?"
The old knight called out to me while sitting around a tea table, complete with a tea set and desserts.
Where the hell does he get these items from!?!
Whatever, let's just kill the troll. If I think about it too much, my head might just explode.
"Yeah, I'm ready, send him in."
A dark metal cage rose out of the ground several meters away from me. Inside, stood the troll.
*ROAR!*
The beast howled and punched the bars of its cage with its fists. However, it was unable to put a dent in them, thanks to it being mad out of several metals like Orichalcum well known for their resilient hardness.
Three days ago, I ran for my life, narrowly escaping its clutches and foul breath.
But today, I am here to slay the beast. No more will I run, no more will I hide, no more will I live in fear.
Today, I am reborn as the hunter.
The cage doors opened and the grey-skinned bastard charged out, its hands reaching out, seeking to grab me and toss me down its gullet.
I applied Reinforcement to my legs and nimbly dodged and circled behind it.
While the dull-witted brute remained confused about where I had gone, I Reinforce my arms and Imbued my sword. Swinging my blade down with the intention to sever his tendons. Reducing his already slow agility even further, so I can slowly whittle his health and eventually deliver an easy strike in the vitals, ending the thing's life.
Unfortunately, it seems I underestimated the beast's survival instincts and experience as at the last moment, avoiding my blow. However, I managed to sever off his left hand, everything wrist and below. That'll surely reduce his methods of attack.
The troll clutched the stump where its hand had once been in pain. It let out a roar of fury and charged forward to attack.
Big mistake.
Once more, I Reinforced my legs and dodged.
Rather than snaking around again to take another shot at another one of his limbs or the vitals. I leap into the air. The troll crashed into the spot it I just was moments before, while it struggled to get back up, I dived down and slashed at its neck. A nice clean kill.
Blood spurted, my sword dug deep into its flesh, but the beast lived. In one moment, it turned its head, and I struck its shoulder. Hitting an artery and cleaving deep into it, but failing to kill the troll.
With its remaining hand, it tried to grab me and throw me off its back.
I dodged the hand and got off his back, leaving behind my sword in the process.
Pulling out a Mithril dagger from my boots and strengthening my entire body with Reinforcement. I grabbed a hold of the troll's head and mercilessly stabbed it down again and again in its eye. The troll howled in agony, thrashing around every which way, but I held on.
I kept stabbing.
Eventually, it stopped thrashing and fell upon its back.
The beast is dead.