章 24: A Troll's Word, A Knight's Oath
[Observe]
(Character Sheet
Troll Knight
Age: Fifty thousand three hundred and twenty-three years and three months.
HP: 420
FP: 460
Strength: 31
Dexterity: 14.3
Endurance: 35
Vigor: 42
Mind: 46
Intelligence: 18
Faith: --- {Compromised}
Skills:
[Troll's Roar (Active) Level 6: Generate a shockwave that blows back and damages your enemies.]
[Troll Physiology (Passive): Blood of the Fire Giants runs through your veins, yet your betrayal has cost you greatly. +20 Strength. +20 Endurance. +20 Vigor. -All Faith.]
[Greatsword Mastery (Passive) Level 3: Mildly proficient in wielding Greatswords]
Sorceries:
[Basic Glintstone Sorcery Mastery Level 3: Denotes your control over the basic manipulation of life energy present in Glintstone as well as the speed of your calculations. Spells under this branch:
- Glintstone Pebble: The most basic glintstone sorcery of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. The glintstone serves as a conduit, launching magical projectiles at foes. This sorcery can be cast repeatedly and while in motion. This is a universal first step on the journey to true knowledge of sorcery.
- Great Glintstone Shard: One of the glintstone sorceries of the Academy of Raya Lucaria. The glintstone serves as a conduit, launching large magical projectiles at foes. This sorcery can be cast repeatedly and while in motion. Those unworthy of the stone crown typically end their brief journey into sorcery here.]
[Middling Carian Sorcery Mastery Level 2: Denotes your control over the Carian manipulation of life energy present in Glintstone as well as the speed of your calculations. Spells under this branch:
- Glintstone Phalanx: One of the sorceries of the Carian royal family. Creates a defensive arch of magic glintblades overhead, which automatically attack nearby foes. This sorcery can be cast while in motion.])
It was a giant of a thing, even to Godrick. He barely reached its head when it was kneeling, and at full height, it must have been 18 feet tall. A Carian-forged helmet with an attached blood-red cape covered its head, and a large, gaping hole hollowing out most of its torso revealed a stone tablet entwined by eerie black roots.
[Observe]
[Godseal: ???]
"This one is mine," Godrick said, dismissing Elrus and hefting his spear. Gilika frowned, miffed as she wished to prove herself after that pathetic show a week ago, but she bowed and backed away with her children.
One giant flash of gold later, Earnan and his soldiers saluted him.
[Golden Vow]
[Order's Blade]
"To Glory and Eternal Dominion!"
He nodded at them before dashing toward the kneeling Troll Knight with an excited smile beneath his golden-streaked helmet.
***
The lesser giant shifted as Godrick drew closer, bones creaking as it stood to its full height and gazed down upon the Demigod from behind its visor. Its glintstone-embedded greatsword gleamed dangerously as it pointed at Godrick with its free hand.
"You. Stop," it boomed, its voice so deep it rumbled through Godrick's chest. "Tower. Off. Limits."
"I wish to enter," the Demigod replied, similarly pointing his Greatspear at the Troll, hoping with every fibre of his being that it would devolve into a fight. "Move."
"Off. Limits," the Troll said once more, a growl escaping its helmet.
"I don't care."
"Then. Die," the Troll bellowed and hoisted its greatsword, blasting Godrick with a shockwave that slammed into him like a truck. It rattled his armour and pushed him a few feet, but not enough to hurt him.
"Again!" Godrick roared with excitement as he watched the Troll Knight's sword swinging down on him with tremendous force. It looked slow to him and was dodgeable, but he wanted to see if he could take it head-on.
He flipped his Greatspear, using the blunt end to barely parry the greatsword. It possessed such power that he nearly tore a bicep when it slammed into the earth next to him, forming a sizable crater and kicking up large clumps of dirt.
He weaved under a mighty punch, using his higher Dexterity to his advantage and slicing into its dried skin and flesh. The golden lines on his Crystal Greatspear burned and charred the Troll the moment it made contact. As he expected, it barely managed to cut through much, even with the spear's sharpness and the dark-gold light flickering on its tip. The Troll's Endurance and Vitality were just too high.
He wasn't discouraged, though, evading its slower attacks that seemed to rend even air, stabbing and slicing whenever he could. It was a dangerous game. The Troll's Dexterity was low, but not low enough for Godrick to completely dominate the fight. One mistake, one slip-up, and he would end up as a pile of squashed metal and flesh.
And slip-up he did. A giant foot slammed into the ground, throwing him off his feet while the Troll took that small reprieve to raise its greatsword, summoning five glowing greatswords that hovered over its head for a second before dashing toward him with a ferocity and speed that would have been the end of almost anybody else.
He rolled and ducked past three of them, which cut and burned the grass and rocks behind him with more ease than he thought possible. The last two rammed into his helmet and torso, blasting him onto the magically reinforced brick wall of the Tower. He slammed into it with a sickening crack and slid down into the dirt. The golden film around him flashed furiously but couldn't hold back the sheer hurt the Troll threw at him.
(HP 300/300 -> 273/300)
His soldiers and Demi-Human all gripped their weapons and winced as Godrick managed to get to his feet. They were ready to jump in, but Earnan ordered them to hold.
"Let him have his fun," he said as he watched his Lord get battered. He knew more than anyone not to interrupt when that feral grin was on his Lord.
Godrick's helmet was now mangled and steaming while his torso was similarly ripped apart. He tasted iron in his mouth.
A pity. This armour was beginning to grow on him.
He ripped off the worn metal and spat out blood, seeing the Greatsword about to remove his head from his shoulders. He transitioned into a roll, the lack of a helmet making him feel more free. It felt far more dangerous and got his blood pumping more than before.
'I should do this more often,' he thought with glee while interrupting the Troll Knight's [Glintblade Phalanx] with a well-timed stab at the wrist.
He quickly fell into a rhythm that had multiple close shaves and moments where it seemed certain he'd lose a limb, but those were the moments he lived for. He ducked, weaved, and danced around the lesser giant, who grew increasingly frustrated. His Crystal Greatspear turned into a golden blur tipped with dark gold as he slowly covered the wrinkled and dried skin of the Troll with shallow cuts that bled profusely.
A swing, a parry.
A punch, a dodge.
A cast, an interruption.
For nearly twenty minutes, they played this game, and the Troll emerged bloodied, tired, and weak.
Its Greatsword clattered to the ground with finality while the bloodied Troll stood and glared at Godrick through sheer will. It roared in defiance and charged the Demigod, who returned the challenge, throwing down his Greatspear and slamming into the Troll with equal ferocity.
The Troll had been so weakened from the loss of blood and copious injury that Godrick could catch its hands and match its strength. His muscles strained under the Troll's weight as the entirety of his body seemed ready to burst. Even a weakened, injured Troll had a ridiculous amount of strength.
Yet, Godrick's face shone with such a gleeful smile that it looked nearly insane. This was what he wanted. What he needed. Brute force against brute force. His everything against someone else's.
"Tower...Off...Limits!" the Troll managed to grunt out, slamming its helmeted head into Godrick's with a sickening crunch. But all it got in return was a bloody smile as the Demigod began to push it back.
The last bit of blood poured from its helmet as its body finally gave in, collapsing under Godrick's strength. He slammed the Troll into the ground, creating a miniature earthquake, before letting out a large breath.
His torso and gauntlets were a mess of mangled metal and armour, while his entire body was drenched in fresh blood. Even his once-golden hair was matted with it, giving him the appearance of a blood-crazed asura.
He stood above the fallen Troll like a demon risen from the depths of the hells - even his forces stared at him with equal parts worship and fear.
"You are strong," Godrick declared, gazing down at his vanquished foe. "Abandon thy loyalty to masters who have forsaken thee, and join me. In my ranks, all outcasts and kin are welcome. All shall fight for Glory and Eternal Dominion."
The Troll let out a shaky cough, turning its bloodied helmet towards him. It used what little strength it had left to utter its final words with a pride that only a few carry.
"Never...Betray!" it boomed, its voice filled with defiance. "Never...Again!"
And with that, the Troll went still.
[Troll Knight Killed. +3000 EXP]
Godrick sighed, his gaze shifting from the lifeless body to the purple sky above. Blood continued to drip from his broken nose, and he could feel the sting of his wounds as he stood there in silence, contemplating the Troll's final words.
It was a pity. Truly.
(EXP 1970/10,000 -> Gained 1 stat point and 1 skill point. Soulbound Weapons Unlocked)
(HP 223/300 -> 300/300)
What?!
***
[Powerstone Begging (Passive) Level 0 -> 1: Could you please give me your Powerstones? I need to feed my drug add-ahem!-dogs.]
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