The Troll Lord had been deep within his lair, focused on his usual tasks to increase his numbers, when he suddenly felt the disturbance outside. Annoyed, he sent a few of his Elite Trolls to investigate, irritated that they'd be interrupting him for anything less than a serious threat. The Elite Trolls reluctantly left, abandoning their rest, only to vanish without a trace.
After a while, with no word or sign from them, the Troll Lord grew suspicious. He sent out more of his warriors, one batch after another, but none of them returned. Frustration slowly twisted into rage as he realized something was terribly wrong.
Finally, unable to ignore the ominous silence any longer, he stormed outside. The sight that greeted him made his blood boil: the once-bustling territory lay in smoldering ruins, his soldiers reduced to ash. Overwhelmed by fury, he let out a deafening roar that echoed through the Black Forest, shaking the trees and sending a wave of dread through every creature nearby.
The Troll Lord had arrived, and he was ready for revenge.
****
The Troll Lord was unlike any other troll I had faced. Standing three times taller than a regular troll, he was a towering, muscular figure. Unlike the usual pot-bellied trolls, who relied on brute strength and crude clubs, this one looked more like a well-trained warrior. His physique was powerful, with defined muscles that rippled beneath his rough skin. He wasn't lumbering or awkward; instead, he held himself with a menacing poise.
In one hand, he gripped a massive spiked mace, its jagged edges gleaming ominously in the dim light filtering through the forest canopy. The weapon alone was as big as I was, and it looked capable of crushing boulders, let alone a single player. This troll was no simple-minded brute; he was armed and ready, a deadly mix of power and intelligence.
I could feel the danger radiating off him as he locked his cold, furious gaze on me. This would be a real fight.
"...Nahh, why should I waste my energy fighting it head-on?" I muttered with a smirk, realizing I had a much easier option. I called out, "Light Spear!" A spear of brilliant light materialized in my hand, its tip radiating with intense energy.
The Troll Lord's expression shifted, and he seemed to recognize the threat, a bit more aware than his lesser brethren. Smirking at my plan, I gave Puddle the signal. "Puddle, it's time for our distraction routine."
Kyuu~~
Puddle nodded with enthusiasm and darted forward, launching a barrage of light bullets at the Troll Lord. Though they were weak in power, they served their purpose. The Troll Lord's attention fixated on the little creature, causing him to roar in anger as he charged, mace raised.
I seized my opportunity. With the Troll Lord charging forward in a straight line, he wouldn't be able to change direction quickly. Perfect. I took a deep breath, steadied my aim, and hurled the Light Spear directly at him.
He laughed mockingly, assuming he could withstand the blow with his thick muscles. But as the spear closed in, it pierced right through his defenses, sinking into his chest. His laughter cut off as his eyes widened in shock.
The light spear's piercing attribute did its job beautifully. The Troll Lord's body shuddered, and a flash of searing light burst from the wound.
Boom!
The Light Spear had two attributes, after all: piercing and explosion. "Hehe, ancient magic rocks," I chuckled, giving a thumbs-up to Puddle, who mimicked me with a jiggly, cheerful thumbs-up of his own.
"Human, this can't stop me!" the Troll Lord roared defiantly. But I shook my head and said, "This will."
"Huh?" he grunted in confusion as he noticed bright red flames erupting from his body, starting from his abdomen and spreading outward.
The Troll Lord tried desperately to swat away the flames, thrashing around in panic, but it was no use. "Human, did you do this?" he bellowed in pain and rage.
"That's right," I replied with a smirk. "I gave you a dose of blood-burning poison." I watched as his flesh continued to sear, and he staggered, now barely able to keep himself upright.
"You'll pay for this, human!" he screamed as he struggled, his entire body shuddering under the effects of the poison. Just then, his eyes turned blood-red, and his posture shifted.
"How... did you do this?!" he demanded, desperation in his voice. I crossed my arms and gave him a smug nod. "It's a little something called 'strategy,'" I replied. "And you're only halfway dead. Let's see if you can handle the rest."
But then, as I prepared to deal the final blow, a sudden notification popped up:
[Troll Lord has entered Berserk state]
[All abnormal conditions have been lifted]
[Troll Lord's power increased by 500%]
"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath as the flames extinguished. The poison was gone, and with that, my ace in the hole. The Troll Lord's muscles swelled, his eyes glowing with pure rage. His strength had skyrocketed, and to make matters worse, I was out of poison.
"Human," he growled, his voice darker and more menacing than ever, "you will pay for this!" He charged at me with terrifying speed, the ground shaking beneath his feet.
I clenched my teeth, focusing on the only plan left. Glancing over at Puddle, I gave a nod. "Alright, buddy, let's do this!" I yelled as I spun around and started sprinting in the direction of the Orcs' domain.
Why the Orcs? Simple: it's my last-ditch plan. Always have a backup in case the first one fails—especially when life throws curveballs, like this one. The Troll Lord was hot on my heels, his furious roar echoing behind me, shaking the very trees.
"Hey, don't blame me! It was the Orcs' fault!" I shouted over my shoulder, trying to egg him on, hoping he'd take the bait and buy into the idea that it wasn't me who had started this mess.
But as I ran, I couldn't help but wonder, "Does he even understand what I'm saying?" Judging by his deafening, angry roars, maybe not—but at least he was following me. Good enough.
Finally, as Puddle and I reached the outskirts of the Orc territory, I felt the Troll Lord's heavy footsteps thundering closer, almost close enough to feel the heat of his fury on my back. Any second now, we'd be in the thick of it, with Orcs on one side and the enraged Troll Lord on the other.