Chapter 45: Gains

Blossom collects her dagger from the troll's eye socket, her eyes steely with determination. With a final, solemn nod towards us, she disappears into the dense forest, leaving the battlefield behind.

Ayame and I survey the scene around us. The ground is littered with the grotesque remains of our foes, a gruesome testament to the fierce battle. Goblin corpses lie strewn about, their crude weapons and makeshift armor shattered. Pools of dark blood mix with the dirt, creating a macabre tapestry of our hard-fought victory.

I make my way to the fallen war troll, its massive form now lifeless and still. The sight of the behemoth, with its head separated from its body, is both a grim reminder of the fight's brutality and a symbol of our triumph. I bend down and retrieve my steel spear from where it was embedded, feeling the reassuring weight of the weapon in my hands. The spear, with its smooth, well-crafted shaft and padded grip, feels like an extension of my own arm.