While the dwarves' adventure party was still wandering in the Dark Forest, and while Gandalf was still having a headache trying to convince Thorin to go to the Elves' settlement to seek their help in translating the runes, Mike had already crossed layers of snow-capped mountains to reach the Northern Highlands.
This vast plain, located between mountains and forests, was not as desolate as Mike had imagined.
In fact, because of the large number of dark creatures in the surrounding mountains, many Rangers from all over had gathered here to make a living.
These Rangers had formed various villages of different sizes.
Once the population increased, business opportunities followed.
In some of the larger villages, living facilities such as taverns, blacksmiths, and general stores had even been established.
Most of the Rangers who came here to make a living possessed their own unique skills. During the more than half a month Mike had spent wandering here, he had also harvested quite a few skill light orbs.
Most of these were wilderness survival skills, while others were various weapon usage and combat experience.
Among the various weapon usage orbs, the experience with bows and longswords was the most abundant.
After all, there were many Rangers who were adept at using bows and longswords. Quantity leads to quality; after more than half a month of accumulation, Mike was now a bona fide [Sharpshooter] and [Master Swordsman].
"You must be the [Loner] who recently arrived from outside. I heard your swordsmanship is quite good. Any interest in a sparring match with me?" In the village tavern, a tall man with a longsword strapped to his waist walked straight up to Mike.
Clearly, he had come prepared.
"[Strider], I've heard of you too. You're quite a formidable lone wolf. How do you want to compete?" Mike looked up at the newcomer.
I don't know why, but people in Middle-earth are particularly keen on giving nicknames to others.
Previously in Rhosgobel, Mike had asked the Brown Wizard how he got the title [Troll Slayer].
The other party explained that small animals in the forest had seen him kill an Troll, hence the title.
Upon arriving at the Northern Highlands, after Mike wandered around the surrounding mountains a few times, he not only gained the [Troll Slayer] title but also several other similar ones.
For example: [Goblin Slayer], [Orc Bane], and [Loner], among others.
"Naturally, we'll compete to see who kills more dark creatures..." Perhaps because they both liked traveling alone and had similar titles, the tall man opposite him suggested: "I know of a mountain nearby where a large group of Orcs recently arrived; let's use them for our competition."
"If you're not satisfied with that, we can also go hunt the Giant Spiders in the forest. How about it, do you dare?"
Yes, Mike hadn't guessed wrong before; the Giant Spiders heading to Rhosgobel indeed originated from the mountains around the Northern Highlands.
It was just that there were too many mountains nearby with complex terrain, and even Mike hadn't found the nest where these Giant Spiders were born.
Of course, this was also related to the fact that the number of these Giant Spiders was not yet large enough.
"The strength of Orcs and Giant Spiders is just so-so, not suitable for a competition. I've heard that a group of Snow Trolls lives on the highest snow-capped mountain. How about it, want to go take a look with me?" Mike looked at the newcomer and turned the tables.
The tall man nicknamed [Strider] opposite him was none other than Aragorn, the last royal bloodline of the Gondor monarchy.
With the bloodline of the [Long-lived Race], he was only in his early twenties, strictly speaking, still in his "childhood" stage.
The reason he left the protection of the Noldor Elves at such a young age and came from Rivendell to the Northern Highlands was to hone his skills and make himself a qualified royal heir.
Proud at heart, upon hearing that someone even more powerful than him had come to the Northern Highlands, he naturally felt unconvinced and thus developed a desire to compete.
It was just that Aragorn, who possessed a powerful bloodline, was still in a developmental stage and could at most deal with one or two Giant Spiders or a small squad of a dozen Orcs.
As for challenging the thick-skinned and immensely strong Snow Trolls, he knew he didn't have the ability yet.
"Let's go then. I don't believe you can kill those big guys." Perhaps because he was too young, or perhaps the "goading" worked, Aragorn's eyes flickered, and he agreed to Mike's suggestion.
There are many types of Trolls, including Forest Trolls, Mountain Trolls, and Snow Trolls.
What Mike had killed in the forest before were Forest Trolls, which were considered a relatively "weak" type among Trolls.
Snow Trolls were larger, with tougher skin and greater strength, belonging to a very strong category among Troll species.
Compared to the Giant Spiders that hadn't yet grown into a real threat in the valley, the Snow Troll clan on the snow-capped mountain was clearly more dangerous.
Other Rangers in the Northern Highlands naturally knew about the Snow Trolls on the mountain, but ordinary weapons couldn't penetrate their defenses, so no one went to provoke that group of monsters.
But now, the situation seemed to have changed.
"OK, let's get moving then," Mike smiled and stood up, tapping the table before leaving, "By the way, remember to pay my tab."
Watching Mike's dashing retreating figure, Aragorn painfully took out a few silver coins from his pocket and placed them on the table before chasing after him.
There was a bounty for hunting dark creatures in the Northern Highlands, but Aragorn's purpose in coming here was to hone himself. Therefore, after killing dark creatures, he generally wouldn't cut off the prey's ears to exchange for the commission.
This also meant that apart from the precious sword at his waist, Aragorn was actually a penniless pauper.
"[Strider] has finally challenged [Loner] for the top spot..."
"I guessed this day would come. It looks like they're planning to take on that group of monsters on the snow-capped mountain..."
"This is big news!!! Does anyone want to go take a look..."
Before Mike arrived, Aragorn, known as [Strider], could be counted as the strongest in the Northern Highlands.
And in the more than half a month since Mike arrived, he had become a celebrity among the Ranger community.
Coupled with the conversation the two had just had, which they hadn't made any effort to hide from others in the tavern, the news of their "wager" spread quickly.
As Mike and Aragorn headed towards the highest snow-capped mountain, a considerable number of curious onlookers who had heard the news formed a spectator team.
"I heard a group of powerful Giant Eagles also live on the peak of the snow-capped mountain. I just don't know whose strength is greater, theirs or the Snow Trolls?" Perhaps feeling he had met a peer, on the way to the mountain peak, this loner Aragorn actually learned to take the initiative to speak.
"You've seen that group of Giant Eagles?" As Mike asked, a small whistle appeared in his hand.
This was a parting gift from the Brown Wizard when Mike parted ways with him in the Rhosgobel wilderness.
According to the Brown Wizard, this group of Giant Eagles in the Misty Mountains were also his companions. When Mike encountered danger in the Northern Highlands, he could blow the whistle, and the Giant Eagles would naturally come to help.
It was just that until now, Mike hadn't needed any help from the Giant Eagles.
"Those Giant Eagles come and go very mysteriously; I've only been lucky enough to see them from afar twice. One time I was lucky enough to see the Giant Eagles grab Orcs and throw them down the cliff, smashing those dark monsters into meat paste..." Aragorn spoke excitedly until he was hit by the cold mountain wind and sneezed.
The temperature on the snow-capped mountain was vastly different from the plains, especially the higher one went, the colder it got.
Aragorn's simple leather armor naturally wasn't cold-resistant, but seeing Mike next to him also dressed thinly yet not afraid of the cold, this [Strider] immediately suppressed the urge to wipe his nose.
Have to say, still young—
Mike noticed Aragorn's situation, shook his head, and didn't say anything. The other party had the bloodline of the King of Men and was no ordinary person; even if the weather was colder, it wouldn't be a problem, at most a small cold.
"This really isn't a place for people to stay, how much longer do we have to walk..."
"Bear with it, they should encounter the Snow Trolls soon. Don't you want to miss this wonderful show..."
"...really wish I had some hot soup to warm up, this damn weather is too cold..."
"I have wine here, do you want some? One gold coin..."
The temporary spectator team formed by the Rangers, because they were in a hurry to catch up and watch the show, many were also dressed thinly and were not as cold-resistant as Aragorn.
Now, hit by the cold wind on the mountainside, these people couldn't help but sneeze repeatedly, and some even had glistening crystals hanging under their noses.
There was only one path on the snow-capped mountain, and Aragorn soon noticed the situation of the crowd behind him.
Looking at the miserable state of the others, Aragorn suddenly felt that he didn't seem that cold anymore.
Enduring the cold and climbing for another half a day, Mike and Aragorn finally arrived at an icy plain below the peak of the snow-capped mountain.
The low temperature at high altitude made fine snowflakes drift in the sky, and a layer of ice crystals had already formed on Aragorn's eyebrows and hair tips.
The harsh weather meant this loner didn't try to be brave anymore; halfway there, he had taken a cotton coat from Mike and wrapped it around himself.
Compared to the group of Rangers who had followed to watch the show, now huddled together for warmth but still shivering, Aragorn's situation was much better.
"The human nature of loving to watch the excitement is indeed very strong." Mike hid behind a small snow mound, turned his head to look at the Rangers who were almost frozen to death lying in the snow behind him, yet still chose to follow to watch the fun, and shook his head speechlessly.
"This is of their own doing..." Beside him, Aragorn, who was used to being a loner, didn't care much about the Rangers behind him.
He was the first to retract his gaze, looked at the icy plain ahead, and said: "Six Snow Trolls... How do you plan to deal with them? Do you want me to help you lure one over..."
Yes, this icy plain below the snow-capped mountain peak was the nest of the Snow Trolls; six Snow Trolls of different shapes were sleeping in the snow nest.
They had pale skin like solid ice, and most were over ten meters tall. Only two were slightly smaller, but still over eight meters.
Such a group of huge monsters was very oppressive just by looking at them from afar.
"No need, I'll just go and wipe them out." Mike observed the Snow Trolls; they were indeed two or three times stronger than the Forest Trolls, and they were also gregarious animals.
For ordinary people to encounter them, it would be hard to even escape.
But for the powerful Mike, it was just that.
"This is not the time for jokes, how are you going to deal with them? You didn't even bring a weapon..." In Aragorn's mind, even if Mike was very strong, there was a limit, and besides, the other party didn't seem to have prepared anything.
"Maybe let's forget it, we don't need to fight these monsters to the death." Seeing the "earth-shaking" scene when the Snow Troll turned over inadvertently, Aragorn had the thought of retreating.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Mike smiled, then walked towards the six Snow Trolls.
In his view, this was the stage for him to make a name for himself; how could he harvest the Power Of Faith in Middle-earth without becoming a "legend"?
"Wait, at least take a weapon..." Aragorn stood up and tried his best to throw the sword in his hand to Mike.
As the royal bloodline who had been raised among the Noldor Elves since childhood, Aragorn was well-liked by Elrond. Therefore, when he left the Golden Forest, the other party gave him this sword forged by the Noldor Elves.
Sweeping an arc through the air, when this Noldor sword fell into Mike's hand, it instantly made a "humming" sound.
The sword had spirit; after this Elven sword was unsheathed, it erupted with a dazzling silver-white light.
The huge commotion naturally attracted the attention of the six Snow Trolls.
Seeing an outside enemy invading, a Snow Troll with thick upper limbs got down on all fours and charged at Mike like a rhinoceros.
The remaining five Snow Trolls, some picking up ice weapons, others relying on their own strange physiques, surrounded Mike together.
For a time, the commotion caused by these six Snow Trolls shook the snow off the peak of the mountain.
Opposite them, Mike was like an elegant matador; when the "rhinoceros" Troll charged over, he gently tapped his toes, stepped on the Snow Troll's head, jumped up, and completed a 360-degree front flip in the air.
At the same time, the Elven sword in his hand brought a residual image, piercing the back of the Snow Troll's neck below with one strike, bringing up a splash of blood.
Subsequently, as his figure drifted to the ground, the sword in Mike's hand swept across smoothly again, drawing two more splashes of blood while successfully shattering an ice weapon of a Snow Troll.
"Boom... Boom..."
Amidst the muffled sounds, two Snow Trolls whose throats had been slashed knelt on the ground clutching their necks.
At the same time, the Snow Troll that had rushed out like a rhinoceros also lost its movement after sliding a long mark on the snow.
In a short instant, three Snow Trolls lost their lives.
"How is this possible? That is definitely not swordsmanship a human can possess..." Aragorn stared in astonishment at the scene on the plain.
Only then did he understand how ridiculous his previous idea of competing was.
"As expected of the [Troll Slayer], really too strong..."
"To be able to witness this scene, even if frozen to death, it's worth it!!!"
"Today's experience, I can brag about for a lifetime..."
The crowd of the Rangers' spectator team behind, discovering that Mike could really kill Snow Trolls, were so excited they couldn't control themselves.
They shouted and rushed to the front, wanting to see the battle in the distance more clearly.
No matter what, from today on, when they go to the tavern, they will never have to worry about having no bragging rights.
"Troll Slayer? This title is really persistent..." With Mike's five senses, he could naturally hear what the Rangers were saying.
But this was exactly what he wanted; he needed these people to spread his "legendary" experience to help him gain the Power Of Faith.
Just as Mike was preparing to give the remaining three Snow Trolls a gorgeous death, a bird's screech suddenly came from the top of the snow-capped mountain.
The Giant Eagles appeared.
Dozens of Giant Eagles with wingspans of over twenty meters circled twice in the high sky, and then three Giant Eagles swooped down.
Steel-like talons grabbed the three Snow Trolls that were trying to escape, and then threw them down into the abyss.
No need to think, the ending awaiting these three Snow Trolls was to be smashed into meat paste.
"Screech—"
The two larger Giant Eagles flew back to the eagle flock after completing the mission, only that slightly smaller Giant Eagle suddenly came to the top of Mike's head and circled.
Like a mischievous child...