章 29: Defeating A Troll
Amukelo's breath came in ragged gasps as he forced himself to his feet. His body screamed in protest, bruises and cuts making every movement a struggle. His ribs ached from the impact of the fall, and his palms stung from the raw skin scraped against the cliffside. Each step was a battle against pain, but he pushed through, leaning against a nearby tree for support.
As he tried to steady himself, he heard a deep thud. Amukelo froze, his heart skipping a beat. He turned slowly, every instinct screaming at him to run, but his legs refused to obey. His eyes widened as he saw the troll lumbering toward him. The massive creature was in terrible condition. It dragged one leg awkwardly, its broken arm hanging limp at its side. A branch jutted from its belly, and its movements were sluggish and uneven. But it was alive.
Amukelo's breath quickened as fear gripped him like a vice. He staggered back a few steps, his eyes darting between the troll and his surroundings. The creature's guttural growl sent shivers down his spine, and he felt the familiar weight of terror settle in his chest.
As the troll advanced, Amukelo kept retreating until his back hit something solid. He turned his head to see the jagged edge of the cliff behind him. Panic surged through him. There was nowhere left to go.
The troll raised its massive club. His legs trembled violently, refusing to move. His sword hung limply in his hand, useless in the face of his paralyzing fear.
"Move!" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the troll's heavy breathing. "Move!" He clenched his teeth and slapped his leg, desperate to will himself into action, but his body betrayed him.
As the troll loomed closer, Amukelo shut his eyes tightly. His voice cracked as he whispered, "God... is this it? Did I fail? Did I break my promise to her... just like this?"
He clenched his fists, the image of his mother flashing in his mind—a memory of her warm smile, her hopeful eyes, the quiet strength she had always carried. For a moment, a crushing sense of failure washed over him, threatening to consume him entirely.
Then came the sound of the club smashing into rock.
Amukelo's eyes snapped open in fear, his entire body trembling. He expected pain, an end to his struggles. But instead, he saw the troll's club embedded in the cliffside just inches from where he stood. The impact had caused the troll to lose its balance, its massive frame swaying as it struggled to right itself.
The realization hit Amukelo like a jolt of lightning: It's in worse shape than I am.
The troll yanked its club free with a grunt, turning back to Amukelo. For a brief moment, Amukelo saw the weariness in its movements, the unsteadiness of its stance. The fear that had paralyzed him began to ebb away, replaced by resolve.
He drew a deep breath, his grip tightening on his sword. His heart was still racing, but now it beat with purpose rather than panic. "I can do this," he muttered to himself, his voice gaining strength. "It's hurt... more than I am. I can do this."
The troll, regaining its footing, roared and raised its club again. Amukelo didn't wait this time. As the massive weapon came down, he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow.
Rolling to his feet, Amukelo slashed at the troll's leg as it tried to recover. The troll swung its club in a wide arc, but its movements were sluggish and predictable. Amukelo ducked under the swing, stepping back to create distance.
The troll staggered, its balance faltering again. Blood seeped from the wound in its leg, mixing with the dirt beneath it. Amukelo readjusted his stance, his body still trembling but his mind clear. He was breathing heavily, but this time it wasn't from fear—it was from determination.
He gripped his sword tightly, and took another deep breath. The image of his mother's smile filled his mind again, but this time it wasn't a source of despair. It was a reminder of why he fought, why he had come this far. He wouldn't let this creature end his journey.
As the troll turned to face him again, Amukelo met its gaze with a steady resolve. He whispered, "I'm not dying here." Then, louder, he shouted, "Come on!" The troll roared in response, raising its club for another attack.
Amukelo's legs no longer felt weak. His arms no longer wavered under the weight of his sword.
The troll roared, and charged at Amukelo with surprising speed despite its injuries. The ground shook beneath its pounding steps. Amukelo tightened his grip on his sword and charged forward to meet it.
As the troll swung its enormous club in a horizontal arc, Amukelo ducked low, the weapon whooshing just inches above his head. He could feel the force of the swing in the air as it passed, but the motion threw him off balance, causing him to stumble. The troll's sharp eyes caught the momentary weakness, and it raised its foot to stomp him into the ground.
Amukelo rolled to the side just as the massive foot crashed down where he had been a second earlier. The impact sent tremors through the earth, but the troll's overextension caused it to falter, its weight shifting awkwardly as it tried to steady itself.
Using this opportunity, Amukelo pushed himself to his feet and lunged at the troll, slashing his sword across its already-injured leg. The blade bit deep into the flesh, sending a spray of dark blood across the dirt. The troll howled in pain, collapsing to one knee with a deafening thud.
It swung its club backward in desperation. Amukelo leaped out of the way just in time, the massive weapon crashing into a boulder behind him and splitting it in two. He circled around to the troll's front, closing the distance quickly before it could recover. Drawing his dagger with his free hand, he vaulted forward and drove the blade into the troll's remaining eye.
The troll roared, thrashing wildly in agony. Its broken arm swung in a blind, chaotic arc. Amukelo, caught off guard by the unexpected attack, took a direct hit to his side. The blow, though weakened by the troll's injuries, was still powerful enough to send him tumbling across the dirt. He landed hard, the impact knocking the air out of his lungs. Coughing and gasping, he struggled to his knees, every muscle in his body screaming in protest.
The troll, now with no sight, staggered to its feet. Its movements were slow and uneven, each step a labored effort as blood poured from its wounds. Still, it pressed forward, sniffing the air and groaning in fury. It raised its club high above its head, aiming to crush Amukelo where he knelt.
Amukelo scrambled to his feet. He tried to backpedal, but his boot caught on a rock, and he fell backward, landing hard on his rear. He stared up at the troll as it loomed over him, the massive club descending with terrifying speed.
The weapon crashed into the ground just inches from Amukelo, the impact sending a cloud of dirt and debris into the air. Amukelo, momentarily frozen in shock, blinked at the crater where he had been sitting. He couldn't afford to waste this chance.
Before the troll could recover from its missed swing, Amukelo surged to his feet with a roar. With all his strength, he drove the blade deep into the troll's stomach. The creature let out a tortured bellow, its massive hands clutching at the hilt of the sword as if trying to pull it out.
Amukelo twisted the blade inside the troll, aiming for its vital organs. The troll, in its desperation, began pounding at him with its broken arm. The punches, though weak compared to its usual strength, were still enough to make Amukelo grit his teeth in pain as they struck his back and shoulders. But he held his ground, refusing to let go of the sword.
The troll's blows grew slower and weaker with each passing second. Its roars turned to groans, and its massive body began to sway. Finally, its arms fell limp at its sides, and the light faded from its remaining eye. Amukelo yanked his sword free with a wet, sickening sound and jumped back just as the troll's enormous body collapsed to the ground.
The earth quaked beneath its weight, and for a moment, the forest was silent except for Amukelo's labored breathing. He stood there, bloodied and bruised, staring down at the lifeless troll. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath, his fingers trembling around the hilt of his sword.
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