Chapter 83: Evolution
Chapter 83: Evolution
Trolls were generally dimwitted creatures with little to no brain cells to write home about. However, like in everything in life, there would always be an exception. And as the most versatile and durable demi-human race in this world. There were a lot of those exceptions.
Kazko felt a surge of invigorating energy course through his veins. He hadn’t expected this and he was even more taken aback by the rapid changes his body was going through, his muscles felt tighter, his legs longer, his arms a little shorter but they felt more balanced and new skills began flooding into his head.
°Roaring Boost°
As his body shot through the air, he could sense a clear difference. He felt stronger, more agile, and his body finally felt like it was meant for battle. The sense of insecurities he had whenever he would compare his frame to his peers seemed to slowly fade away. As an innate sense of confidence slowly took root in his heart.
“What is this… Feels familiar… wait, am I evolving again.” Having already been through this process twice already, Kazko instinctively knew what was happening. Trolls were very versatile creatures that had a scrappy will to survive no matter what.
Although it generally took years for a troll to adapt to a new environment and evolve. This entire situation had brought him more hardship than years of enduring the harsh effects of being constantly exposed to the negative energy of the undead.
As Kazko evolved amidst his flight, he retrieved the bone sword strapped on his back and gripped the hilt of the weapon with both hands. The moment he caught up with the pair of ogre and beastgirl, who was still flying away with the ogre Chieftain being carried by the beastgirl. Kazko activated his new skill and, with a precision that was unlike that of a troll, he swung his blade at the pair.
°Lacerating Slash°
The blade was coated with a crimson aura that savagely tore through the air, threatening to slice the flying pair in half. The ogre chieftain swung the ax side of his Hamaxe at the attack in a bid to block it, however…
*Clang! BOOM!
With the resounding sound of metal striking metal, the pair was flung out of the forest and slammed into the rocky terrain of the outskirts of the Greyad plains.
Kazko’s body kept its momentum and landed forcefully in the outskirts of the forest as the ground shattered from the weight of his massive frame. Before the dust had even settled, he lunged forward with speeds the likes of which he had never experienced before, his body was more mobile and his core sent power to every fiber of his being.
He could sense the massive increase in his strength from his evolution and his mind couldn’t be more ecstatic. He had thought he needed the magic weapon to become stronger and desperately clung to the idea that strength was what he needed to validate his existence. However, whether or not that was the case no longer had any value in his eyes.
He was now stronger than even the previous Chief (Kadiz) had been with the magic Weapon, and he would get even stronger with it. Kazko charged at the ogre chieftain and the blonde beastgirl, both of which hadn’t recovered yet from the earlier crash.
He raised his weapon above his head and as he got closer to the pair still struggling to stand. He swung his bone sword and it extended like a whip that accurately sliced through the air, aimed at the ogre chieftain.
*Clang Bang!
Kazko’s eyes narrowed as his bone sword bounced off a metal surface that had suddenly appeared in front of the pair. That surface was the face of a large shield and behind it stood a tall figure with long back hair tied up in a ponytail that complemented his black pupils. His frame was wide and he had a single horn on his head, a scar the shape of two parallel lines cut across his left cheek.
He wielded a long black halberd that seemed to have been made out of high-quality metals. Kazko wasn’t sure where this guy had come from but one more ogre wouldn’t stop him in his evolved form. He tightens the grip on his sword and was about to strike when his new and improved battle instincts warned him of danger.
Kazko used his new skill; °Raging Boost° and shot backward, avoiding what appeared to be another ogre wielding a similar shield, charging rapidly at his previous direction coated in a fiery aura as he swung his battle-ax.
The ogre chieftain soon stood backup completely fine and so did the beastgirl, Kazko finally calmed down and raised his head to look around. Similar figures soon faded into existence after most likely dispelling a mass camouflage spell.
There were a group of more than 30 ogres and beastmen accompanied by around 10-15 kobolds that were most likely the ones that had first attacked him. However, that wasn’t all…
A group of around six Gray trolls stood next to the kobolds as they glared at him. His nerve tensed a bit and although he had evolved into a Battle Troll, his instincts to him this was a battle he could not win, at least without help.
Kazko excited expression from his evolution slowly died down as his brain finally started working again. He was now painfully aware that he had fallen face-first into their trap. And just as he was contemplating on how to escape or maybe inform Rekaz so they could work together on this.
He heard a loud explosion from his left and turned his head to take a look. His eyes immediately widened at the scene that followed soon after.
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Rekaz anger rose without limit and his body reacted to it. He thought of nothing but how to make these ogres suffer for what they’ve done and his aura intensified like wildfire.
The ground he stood on shattered beneath his weight as Rekaz lunged at the ogre in front of him enraged.
He charged straight at the swordsman in front of him with furious intensity as he thrust his spear forward. The ogre quickly jumped back but Rekaz would not let him get away that easily. His right foot kicked off the ground faster than ever before which must’ve surprised the swordsman as he slammed straight into the ogre, whose feet were lifted off the ground as he was sent flying back and slamming straight into a tree.
The mage that had been behind the ogre swordsman quickly cast another spell. “Widened Magic – Wind Cutter.” Razor-sharp winds flew straight at Rekaz, the winds sliced through everything in its path but Rekaz did not spare it a second thought. He waved his shield and the winds chipped away at it as well as slicing through the exposed parts of his skin.
However, Rekaz was so enraged that he did not react to the wounds inflicted on him. It was almost like he had lost his ability to feel pain. As he waved his massive Shield in the area in front of him, the force canceled out the remnants of the wind Cutter spell and Rekaz countered by throwing his spear at the mage.
The mage quickly used the flight spell and avoided the attack by going airborne and he flew away from him. Rekaz was getting even more heated as he watched another prey trying to run away from him. He ground his teeth against each other in his never-ending frustration, he charged at the mage and retrieved his spear, his mind was flooded with thoughts of stopping the pest and as he ran, an unexpected change began to occur.
His skin got redder and redder, it looked similar to when he actives his berserk skill as the aura around him intensified tremendously. His frame got slimmer and smaller, his leg got longer and he felt faster and more agile.
Rekaz picked up his spear from when it had been plunged into the ground and was about to chase after the mage when the female ogre suddenly appeared behind him and her blade cut through the air at an insane speed towards his left thigh.
Rekaz eyes easily followed her movement, which was a first as he moved his shield slightly and blocked the attack, knocking her arms back. With the girl being off-balance, he halted his chase and swung his spear at her head. The female ogre recognizes her predicament and quickly activated a skill.
°Fortress°
His spear met her head but it felt like he had hit a solid wall. However, his strength must’ve been greater than she had predicted as her feet were swept off the ground and she stumbled back several paces.
Rekaz seized his opportunity once more and gave chase. The girl was quite resilient as she quickly regained her balance and took a fighting stance, gripping her weapon tightly. Rekaz growled and raised his spear high in the sky, he then swung it down like a sword, an arc of red trailed the path of the blade as it descended upon her.
Unable to dodge she raised her sword above her head and received the attack. Her feet sank to the ground and her knees trembled. Rekaz laughed out loud as he raised his spear again and before she could move another heavy strike came down upon her. This time a crack appeared on her sword and her knees hit the floor.
Rekaz repeated his actions over and over again as he laughed madly. The mage had circled back and cast another wind Cutter spell but Rekaz ignored it. His regeneration was up to the test and even when the mage used a fireball, a troll’s weakness, it did little but increase the intensity of his strike.
This was not the strength of a Gray-War troll, neither was his newfound resistance to fire something that he originally had. This was the power of an evolved troll, the strength of a Berserker Troll.
Jarret recovered from the troll’s last attack as he witnesses the current situation. The troll that was currently pounding on Kela had evolved right in front of them and this was not part of their plan. He quickly used the communication scroll and informed the others as he immediately charged in before this new smaller but stronger troll killed his friend.
°Razor Wind°
Jarret swung his sword several times and several slashes of Razor-sharp wind larger than the ones produced by the wind Cutter spell short forth at the troll’s vitals.
Rekaz sensed the imminent danger and halt his assault to defend which gave the mage the chance to save the girl who had almost been beaten to death. It was clear that they could not handle this troll along but they didn’t have to.
As Raz picked up Kela off the ground while the troll defended against Jarret’s attack. He immediately flew away towards the prepared battlefield where Tarka would be able to heal Kela as she was at the brink of death.
Jarret continued his fury of attacks as his Mana was continuously drained with each attack that left his sword. He needed to buy time for Raz to get far enough but as he looked up the troll was already charging at him with a furious gaze.
Rekaz had his shield up and ran at the pest that had yet again prevented him from finishing off his prey. He usually wasn’t able to use skills but after his evolution, he now had several.
°Furious Charge!°
Bang!
Jarret’s body was knocked back, however, he remained on his feet. He raised his head to take a look back and saw that Jin was already out of the forest. Now all he had to do was slowly retreat there. However, as he turned his head back, the troll’s fist had already covered his entire vision.
BANG!
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