The spear screamed through the air like a lightning bolt, cutting through the distance between us in the blink of an eye.
Move!
Instinct took over before thought.
And my body reacted on its own, muscles tightening, legs coiling like springs.
Wolf's Prowess surged through my veins, sharpening my reflexes at the last possible second.
I twisted—a sharp, desperate movement, just enough to dodge the fatal blow.
The spear grazed my shoulder instead of impaling my chest.
I hit the ground hard, rolling into a low crouch, eyes snapping toward the direction of the attack.
A hulking shadow loomed at the edge of the clearing.
A troll.
Bigger. Bulkier. Meaner.
The dim moonlight revealed its grotesque, scarred face—twisted into a snarl of pure malice.
And in its grip?
Another spear.
I exhaled sharply, forcing my breath to steady.
Then, a bright, red notification blinked in front of me.
Ding!
[Gunthar, Level 5 Forest Troll]
My blood ran cold.
A Level 5?
That explained his size.
This troll wasn't just bigger—he was stronger, faster, and far more dangerous.
He had at least thirty pounds of muscle on me, his body thick with sinew and scars. Every inch of him screamed experience.
And judging by the way he sneered at me, he wasn't here for a friendly chat.
"Tainted."
The word dripped with disgust.
His yellowed tusks jutted forward as he stepped closer, his beady red eyes burning with hatred.
"Eating human flesh. You are an abomination."
My stomach clenched.
The taste of my last meal still lingered on my tongue—metallic, raw, undeniable.
I swallowed hard, my fingers flexing as they wrapped around the blood-stained axe at my side.
The same axe I had used to split open the ogre's skull.
Great.
I had just killed an ogre, and now I had to kill a fellow troll.
Just my luck.
"I didn't know we had diet restrictions," I shot back, shifting into a low stance. My grip tightened around my axe. "Maybe if you all ate better, you wouldn't look so damn ugly."
Gunthar's brow twitched. His lip curled, tusks bared in a snarl.
I had struck a nerve.
Good.
But I barely had time to enjoy it before he lunged.
His arm snapped forward—the spear shot toward me like a viper.
I ducked just in time, the weapon whistling past my head.
Before I could counter, he moved.
Too fast.
A shadow loomed over me—Gunthar was already in my space.
"Huh—?"
His knee shot up.
I had no time to dodge.
CRACK.
"Fuck—!"
Pain exploded through my ribs like a sledgehammer, as I skidded backward, my breath hitching.
The force ripped me off my feet and sent me hurtling backward, my vision shaking from the impact.
My fingers lost their grip—the axe flew from my hand, clattering against the dirt.
I hit the ground hard, rolling once before slamming into a tree.
The world blurred for a moment.
A sharp notification flashed in my vision.
[HP -120]
Not good.
I groaned, forcing myself up, my arms trembling.
My ribs screamed in protest, but nothing felt broken—just bruised, badly.
Gunthar's attack had been brutal, but my tough hide had absorbed just enough of the impact to keep me moving.
I barely had time to recover before—
THUD!
Gunthar was on me again.
Fast. Relentless. A charging beast.
The bastard was massive—easily a foot taller, built like a walking siege engine.
His thick, scarred arms swung out like battering rams.
I had seconds to react.
Dodge—or get crushed.
Instinct took over.
I sprang sideways, my muscles coiling and releasing like a loaded spring.
My enhanced legs, sent me bursting out of the way with a speed that would've been impossible before.
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted out as Gunthar's fist slammed into the ground, sending dirt and rock spraying into the air.
If I had been a second slower—That would've been my skull.
I swallowed hard.
Gunthar whirled to face me, red eyes burning with raw hatred.
"Tainted filth," he spat. "Stay still, and this will be quick."
"Like hell."
I barely had time to speak before...
WHAM!
A fist like a boulder came hurtling toward my face.
I dodged—barely.
The wind from the punch alone whipped past me, sharp as a blade, raking across my skin like claws.
Too close.
I needed to do more than just dodge.
I needed to hit back.
My heart pounded as I rolled to the side, my body scraping against the rough dirt.
I barely regained my footing before Gunthar advanced again.
The power behind his blows was terrifying—just as intense as the ogre's.
For a split second, my mind drifted, picturing a fight between the two. Gunthar vs. the Ogre. Who would've won?
Snap out of it!
I forced myself back to reality.
I couldn't out-muscle him—that much was clear. If I tried, I'd end up flattened.
I had to fight smarter. Use every skill I had.
Gunthar sneered, stepping closer. His massive frame cast a shadow over me.
"What's the matter?" His voice dripped with mockery. "No taste for real fights? Or do you just prefer feasting on corpses like the pathetic vermin you are?"
I narrowed my eyes.
This bastard was really starting to piss me off.
Gunthar seemed to love running his mouth.
But if there was one thing I could do besides fighting, it was talking shit.
I smirked. "Oh, I love a real fight. But why waste energy when my enemies serve themselves on a platter? Efficiency, my guy. You should try it—might help with all that dead weight you're carrying."
Gunthar's smug expression twisted.
His lips curled back, tusks jutting forward as his face burned with rage.
"You juvenile freak!" he roared, muscles flexing. "I'll tear you apart!"
And then—he lunged.
Exactly what I wanted.
I grinned. This time, I didn't dodge outright.
Instead, I baited him—leaning slightly to the left, just enough to make him think he had me.
Gunthar's eyes locked onto the opening.
And he took the bait.