The second Gunthar committed to his swing, I moved.
I caught his arm, using his own momentum against him, and leaped.
My weight crashed into him, forcing his massive frame down onto the dirt.
Gunthar snarled, but before he could react—
I struck.
My head snapped forward, jaws wide, fangs bared.
Then—I bit down.
Hard.
My teeth sank deep into his thick, trollish skin, tearing through flesh. The taste of iron flooded my mouth, but I didn't flinch.
This wasn't just about damage—I was using my Venomous Bite.
Gunthar let out a roar of pain, muscles twitching as the venom surged into his bloodstream.
I felt it working instantly—his grip faltered, his strength wavering for just a moment.
But even weakened, he was still strong.
With a furious snarl, he ripped his arm free and drove his elbow straight into my face.
CRACK.
My head snapped back as pain exploded across my skull.
The force shoved me off, sending me skidding across the ground.
Gunthar staggered but forced himself upright, his chest heaving.
His red eyes locked onto me, filled with fury and something else—
Pain.
Gunthar's wound oozed thick, blackened blood, the venom working its way through his body.
I took a step back, dragging a hand across my mangled lips, smearing the blood on the ground.
Then I grinned.
"Doesn't feel so good, does it?"
Gunthar let out a low, guttural chuckle, shaking out his wounded arm.
"You bite like a coward," he spat, red eyes burning with fury. "I'll crush you for that."
I tilted my head. "By all means, do."
But I had already noticed something—
Gunthar's movements were slowing.
Not by much. Not enough to notice. But I saw it.
His breathing was heavier, more labored.
His stance—normally grounded and powerful—had the slightest wobble.
The venom was working.
Trolls had insane healing.
Their bodies could patch up wounds, close gashes, and even reattach limbs if given time.
But I had pumped enough venom into him that his body was struggling to fight it off.
It wouldn't kill him, but it would certainly slow him until he recovered.
And right now, that was enough.
Gunthar, of course, didn't care.
Or maybe he just didn't notice.
Too blinded by his own arrogance.
With a feral snarl, he charged again—clawed feet kicking up dirt, his bulk barreling toward me like a runaway boulder.
Reckless. Overconfident.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
I shook my head, exhaling through my nose.
I'd make him pay.
This time, I didn't run.
Instead, I crouched low, every muscle coiling like a loaded spring.
I was done being on the defensive.
The moment he reached me—I exploded forward.
Like a slingshot, I twisted mid-air, my momentum carrying me straight toward him.
CRACK!
My elbow slammed into his face, the impact shattering his nose.
Gunthar stumbled back, snarling in pain.
I didn't let him breathe.
I followed up immediately—claws flashing, slashing.
I activated Savage Blow boosting my damage.
One. Two. Three. Four.
Each strike landed with brutal efficiency, stacking pain upon pain.
Gunthar's tough hide split under my relentless assault, dark blood splattering the ground.
He howled, staggering under the sheer force of my attacks.
I grinned.
He was breaking. And I wasn't done yet.
Gunthar was on the back foot.
His defenses were crumbling, my attacks overwhelming him.
Desperate, he lashed out.
A wild, rage-fueled punch came crashing into my torso.
THUD!
Pain jolted through my ribs, but—I endured.
The impact wasn't nearly as bad as before.
My body had adjusted.
The first hit had rocked me. This one? I could take it.
Gunthar saw an opening.
He tried to press the attack—
But I was faster.
I threw a devastating punch straight into his jaw.
CRACK!
His head snapped back, his massive body stumbling like a felled tree.
"Nice try," I taunted, shaking out my fist.
Gunthar blinked, dazed, his body swaying.
He was trying to shake off the dizziness. Trying to stay in the fight.
But I wasn't about to let him.
Gunthar raised his arms, desperate to block—
Too slow.
I slammed forward, driving my claws deep into his gut.
Flesh ripped. Blood sprayed.
Gunthar let out a guttural howl, staggering back.
Something primal awakened inside me.
My rage surged.
The more I fought, the lighter my body felt. Stronger. Faster.
If I pushed just a little more—if I fully activated Rage Mode—
I could tear him apart.
I could end this.
Gunthar must have sensed it.
His red eyes flickered with something close to fear.
Without warning, he leaped backward, trying to put distance between us.
Coward.
But I didn't let him.
I lunged. No hesitation. No mercy.
Gunthar wasn't getting away.
My claws twitched, ready to end this—
Then I heard it.
Movement.
A faint rustle. A shift in the air.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
Instincts screamed.
I turned fast, heart pounding.
Figures emerged from the trees.
One. Two. Three.
No—more.
Five? Six?
Their yellow eyes glowed in the dim light, muscles tensed, weapons gleaming.
Shit!
One troll? I could handle.
But this many?
Not a chance.
Gunthar noticed them too.
But unlike me, he didn't tense.
Instead, he smirked, wiped the blood from his nose, and let out a dark chuckle.
"You're done now, whelp."
My pulse quickened.
They weren't just passing by.
They were reinforcements.
I took a step back, scanning for an escape route—
But there was no way out.
The trolls had me boxed in.
A deep, simmering rage bubbled inside me, thick and burning.
The familiar Rage mechanic pulsed at the edge of my mind.
Tempting me.
If I activated Rage Mode, I'd be faster. Stronger.
For a while.
Then, the crash would come.
My body would slow. My stamina would plummet.
I'd be vulnerable.
But maybe—just maybe—that would be enough.
Enough to escape.
Or at least take some of them down with me.
I had no other options.
My fists clenched.
My muscles tensed.
I was ready to let the Rage take over...
But then, a voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"ENOUGH!"
The voice wasn't Gunthar's.
Didn't sound like one of the other trolls.
It was something different.
I turned toward the source.
And then I saw her.