7 A Desperate Situation

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I carefully, yet lightly evaded each tentacle and the occasional punches the Troll King would throw at me.

I wasn't familiar with combat against this monster as I didn't get to fight any of them during my previous run. After all, by the time I gained decent strength, it was already 5 years since the Great Shift began and the new variants of the Trolls were wiped out as they were used as training partners for the newbies.

The fight was at a stalemate as none of us wanted to do anything reckless. It was faster and stronger than me, so a single mistake would spell my death.

"Tch."

I clicked my tongue as I knew it wasn't underestimating me. It was trying to whittle at my stamina, and it was damn effective.

'No choice, huh.'

This deadlock had to be broken. Otherwise I'll lose, and if I lose, I'll definitely die.

I took a step back as I paused and released bloodlust while preparing raising Arkenvalle in front of me. Sensing the wave of killing intent, the Troll King jumped back as it went on full guard.

'Good, I managed to gain leeway.'

What I did was make a little bluff in order to make it think I was planning something. And it worked. With the tiny amount of time I bought, I circulated the circulation method for the Void Wind Guidance. Honestly, I've never practiced this and it was my first time circulating it, so I made do with my experience in mana circulation.

I felt my body lighten as dark purple winds were wrapping my body. And when I felt it was completed, I walked to the troll king step by step.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

Three tentacles probed to see if attacking me was dangerous. With my newfound speed, I easily cut them before it reached me. The Troll King made a small growl as it seemed to see that I'd gotten faster. However, it must have concluded that my current state made me unable to run or dash, so it jumped as it raised it both arms for a grand slam.

'Gotcha.'

BOOM!

Right before it made impact, I jumped sideways and dashed into its back, and in a single motion, I slashed with a one-chant spellblade.

"Holy Slash!"

The tentacles in its back was severed from the base as I then jumped away from the monster, evading a backhand swing.

I landed on the ground as my feet slid backwards from the momentum of the jump.

'Shit, that almost got me.'

Well, at least I managed to cripple its annoying tentacles. Now the stalemate should have been broken. It doesn't have any good methods for attack anymore, and I don't thing it has good hand to hand combat techniques. All of its attacks so far were done with brute force, but I can't let my guard dow—

"Ugh—"

As I was thinking, I was suddenly blown away as tentacle slammed at my flank. Wait, tentacle...?

I looked behind me...and saw another Murder Troll King was already swinging its fist towards me...

"FUCK!!"

Left with no choice, I grit my teeth as I prepared to take the blow as I couldn't evade an attack mid-air.

The massive fist hit me in the right flank as I was blown back with greater momentum while I spat a mouthful of blood.

CRRACK!! CRASH! THUD...

I landed on a branch of a tree and it broke during impact, impaling me with a few splinters.

"*KOFF!*"

I coughed out another mouthful of blood as I landed on the ground. This was it.

'Damn it! Just how did two Troll Kings appear?! And why are they out so early?! Damn it! Even though this was my second chance!... Fuck!!'

I was cursing in my mind in anger and frustrations. However, no matter what I do, I don't think I can win this one. I was badly injured from that one punch, and I don't think I'll be able to move as fast as before.

'Arghhh...Damn it.'

I could only curse as I weakly stood while materializing Arkenvalle again. And as I held it, I remembered something.

It wasn't something that could exactly help me out of this situation, nor was it some grand strategy. I was just reminded of something I always wanted.

"...The world's strongest...huh?..."

That's right. Ever since I first fought my very first life and death battle, the thought just occurred to me. And I had pursued it ever since.

"Ha!... What a joke..."

Here I was, struggling to beat Troll Kings, and I wanted to be the strongest? What a joke.

I made a fearless grin as I then looked at the two Murder Troll Kings. They were now standing side by side like brothers. I then spoke.

"But you see...I'm stubborn as hell."

Yeah, I was stubborn. If I wanted something, I'd reach out for it. Even if it meant swatting other's hands. A trait that doesn't suit a former Hero like me. Well, it's not like we were symbols of justice, though. But still...

"I'm not giving up with just this."

I raised Arkenvalle in front of me as I circulated mana again. I felt my body lightening as I disregarded the stinging pain that was coming from my right hand and my right side. As well as the pain from the splinters in my back.

The Troll kings rushed at me the same time, and I reacted my throwing Arkenvalle at the one with tentacles. It seems like the monster was shocked at my action disarming myself, but it stepped aside to avoid the sword.

And from that brief time it dodged, I slammed my right foot on the ground, making a cobweb of crack, and then kicked it as I dashed forward through that tiny opening while leaving a cloud of dust behind.

WHOOSH!

The Trolls Kings couldn't react as the sheer explosive force from the dash make me seem like a brown streak of light, that instantly passed. And a instant later, the dustcloud covered the trolls while I rematerialized Arkenvalle for extra boos as I kept running.

In order to fight them next time.