I wasn't about to let some tiny troll kid make off with my weapon.
"Motherf—" I cut myself off mid-curse and activated [Warp], blinking right in front of the fleeing troll.
Before it could process what was happening, I launched a kick straight into its back.
The force sent it flying into a barrel roll, tumbling across the ground like a wayward log.
But the troll sprang to its feet like nothing had happened and bolted again.
I blinked, genuinely impressed.
"Alright, future Olympic gymnast. I see you."
But seriously, this little troll was starting to remind me of those obnoxious kids back in the hospital.
You know the ones who thought it was hilarious to steal one of your slippers and swap it with someone else's.
And that wasn't the worst of it.
I frowned as I chased the damned runt, my patience running thin.
"Hey!" I yelled, frustration bubbling over.
"Don't make me do something I'll regret. Hand it over!"
The troll stopped, turned around... and stuck its tongue out at me.
Oh, no. Nope. That's it. That was the last straw.
"Alright, kid. You asked for it."
In a flash, I activated [Warp], appearing right in front of the little troublemaker. Its smug expression vanished, replaced with a wide-eyed look of shock.
Before it could react, I hit it with a clean arm bash straight to the neck.
The impact sent it staggering back.
And it collapsed to the ground, the dagger tumbling from its grasp.
I bent down and picked up the blade, feeling its familiar weight in my hand.
Gravefang was finally back where it belonged.
But before I could savor the victory, the little troll sprang back to its feet.
Determined. Furious.
And clearly not thinking straight. I think it may have hurt its head.
It lunged at me, throwing a punch.
Yeah... saw that coming from a mile away.
I casually raised my hand and deflected it like swatting away a fly.
Then came another punch. And another.
The strikes grew frantic, wild like it thought speed alone would make up for skill.
I deflected each one with ease, standing there like I had all the time in the world.
Finally, it threw a desperate last punch, putting everything it had into it.
I caught its fist mid-swing, holding it in place effortlessly.
The troll froze, glaring at me with wide, defiant eyes.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough to make it sound menacing but calm.
"Hey, kid. Wanna see a real punch?"
I clenched my fist tightly, feeling the surge of my newfound strength.
Then, with one clean, powerful strike, I delivered a solid blow to the troll's jaw.
The impact sent the little troll flying, tumbling backward through the dirt like a ragdoll.
I remain frozen for a second gasping at the strength of my own punch,
"Whoa."
The word escaped me, half surprise, half admiration at my own strength. I stared at my clenched fist. Damn, I'd really gotten stronger.
The little troll lay sprawled on the ground, completely still.
I tilted my head, waiting for the telltale Ding! of a kill notification.
But nothing came.
Guess it's not dead, then. Just unconscious.
I let out a small laugh, a mix of pride and embarrassment.
My first knockout.
And who was my opponent?
A kid.
A troll kid.
But hey, a win's a win, right?
Killing a kid's parent and knocking the kid out cold? That's not a scandal—it's a badge of honor.
Call me a bully if you want, but let's be real—this whole world is full of bullies. It's survival of the nastiest out here, and I was just playing by the rules.
I glanced up at the sky. It was darker now, the shadows thick and heavy. Time wasn't on my side. I had to leave before something worse than me showed up.
Good thing I'd thought ahead and placed a sigil on Narg earlier. With a flicker of thought, I activated [Warp], and in an instant, I blinked into the cave they had just found.
The reaction? Classic goblin chaos. Everyone scattered, wide-eyed and panicked by my sudden appearance. Well, almost everyone.
Flogga didn't even flinch. She just stood there, calm as ever, like she'd been expecting me to drop in unannounced.
Seriously, does anything scare this woman?
"As for the rest of you?" I glanced around at the stunned goblins, shaking my head. "You guys need to get used to this by now."
But then, I froze. My eyes scanned the cave again—something was off.
"Where's Zahrah?" I asked, my voice cutting through the tension.
Before anyone could respond, Flogga, as if she'd been reading my mind, stepped forward. Her face was tight, way too serious for her usual vibe. I could tell something was up.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, already sensing the weight behind her silence.
"Yes, Chief," she said slowly, her voice low. "Since you weren't back, my daughter... she went to look for you. She thought you wouldn't be able to find us on your own."
I blinked, trying to wrap my head around what she'd just said.
My mouth opened, but I couldn't get the words out at first.
I stammered.
"Wait—what?! Zahrah is your daughter?"
I was completely baffled.
Flogga… a mother?
How the hell was that even possible?
Flogga's continued her voice laced with concern:
"It's dark already. The Mooncat will start moving soon. I fear she'll be in danger."
Again, I blinked. "Zahrah is your daughter?" The words felt like they were still stuck in my throat. The idea didn't sit right in my head.
Flogga, though, didn't seem bothered by my surprise. She just nodded, but her eyes were tight with worry. "Yes, my daughter is in danger. I hope the totem can save her."
It was like a slap to my senses. I shook my head to clear the fog. What Flogga was saying started to sink in, and with it came a surge of urgency.
Zahrah. My future wife. Out there in the forest. Alone.
I felt my stomach tighten. Not only was Zahrah out there, but she was in danger because she'd gone after me.
Because she was worried about me.
Well, if that wasn't love, I didn't know what was.
My chest swelled, and the weight of it all hit me hard.
I had to save her.
I didn't waste another second as I activated [Wrap], feeling the familiar rush of air as I vanished from the cave.
Appearing in the forest, a sense of urgency filled me.
Please God...please Gandalf, do not let it be too late.