Eternal Rest

Earth Stomp was a skill commonly associated with earth mages, known for its ability to send shockwaves through the ground in the vicinity of the user. In its basic form, it was used to disrupt opponents and throw them off balance, but advanced mastery could even reshape the terrain with powerful earthquakes. This particular troll seemed to possess an instinctual grasp of earth manipulation, utilizing it with ease.

Trolls were renowned for their physical prowess, resilience, and rapid health regeneration, making them formidable opponents. Their thick skin provided natural protection against various forms of damage, though their lack of dexterity somewhat mitigated their threat level. Yet, the mere thought of trolls with class abilities sent a shiver down Bones' spine, contemplating the potential dangers they could pose.

As Bones continued to evade the troll, he strategized his next move. Bone Spikes emerged from beneath the snowy ground, but they merely caused the troll to stumble rather than crippling its legs as he had hoped. Disappointed but undeterred, Bones made a swift decision to retreat.

While he sprinted, he scanned the surroundings for any advantageous terrain that he could utilize to gain the upper hand. Periodically glancing back, he ensured that the troll remained in pursuit, determined not to let this encounter go to waste. Despite the fact that only a week had passed since he departed from Westbrook, Bones couldn't shake the feeling that he had been out of combat practice for too long. It was a strange sensation, considering the numerous battles he had experienced prior to his departure. Nevertheless, he remained determined to adapt and overcome, refusing to let any opportunity for growth slip through his fingers.

The pursuit seemed endless, with the troll showing no signs of relenting. It appeared as though the creature's territory spanned the entire mountain, or perhaps it was simply driven by the constant provocation it faced. Regardless, Bones grew weary of the prolonged chase and sought a way to end it decisively.

The Bone Lance, propelled by Bones's will and skill, sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, cutting through the falling snowflakes like a blade through silk. Caught off guard by the blizzard's obscuring veil, the troll failed to anticipate the attack until it was too late. With a sickening thud, the lance struck true, driving deep into the troll's stomach and emerging from its back in a gory display. A primal roar erupted from the troll's throat as it tore the lance free, the arcane energies dissipating into wisps of mana.

Despite the grievous wound, the troll's formidable regeneration quickly went to work, knitting flesh and muscle back together before Bones's eyes. Undeterred by the injury, the troll took a defiant step forward, its determination unwavering. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Bones swiftly conjured another Bone Lance, his movements fluid despite the biting cold and swirling blizzard. This time, he aimed for the troll's legs, seeking to cripple its mobility and gain the upper hand in the battle.The lance struck true once again, finding its mark in the troll's thigh with a sickening crunch. With a howl of agony, the troll buckled under the force of the blow, sinking to its knees in the snow. But before Bones could launch a third strike, a sudden barrier of earth erupted from the ground, intercepting his attack and thwarting his attempt to deliver a fatal blow.

As the troll struggled to pull the lance from its wounded leg, its relief was short-lived as it caught sight of Bones peering over the barrier. Before it could fully comprehend the danger, Bones unleashed a surge of mana that shattered the wall, sending the troll tumbling backward onto the waiting spikes. The impact was brutal, driving several spikes deep into the troll's flesh, puncturing vital organs and causing blood to gush from its wounds.

As the troll's lifeblood spilled onto the snowy ground, its body continued to twitch involuntarily, a futile attempt to stave off the inevitable. Gradually, however, the bleeding slowed, and the wounds began to close as the troll's regeneration struggled to keep up with the catastrophic damage inflicted upon it.

Bones watched with a mixture of disbelief and determination as the troll's body continued to twitch despite the severe injuries it had sustained. Prepared for any sudden movements, he maintained a safe distance, his instincts sharpened by the ongoing threat.

Suddenly, the troll lurched upright with a deafening roar, its movements wild and erratic. While most would have been paralyzed by fear, Bones remained resolute, swiftly driving a lance through the troll's gaping mouth. The force of the impact caused its head to jerk back, and it collapsed once more, blood gushing from its maw and staining the pristine snow crimson.

As the troll's body convulsed, Bones wasted no time, unleashing a relentless barrage of Bone Spikes that punctured its flesh with deadly precision. He continued the onslaught until the troll finally lay still, its body riddled with holes. Standing amidst the aftermath, Bones felt the surge of mana coursing through him, further empowering him. The unmistakable sound of a level up resonated in his ears, solidifying his kill.

It had been some time since his last level up, so the increase in both class and race levels was a welcome upgrade. His skills had also leveled, and it wouldn’t be long until his Bone Manipulation advanced. As Bones surveyed the fallen troll, he found no loot except for its valuable blood, known in alchemy circles for its potency. Lamentably, he lacked alchemy flasks to store the precious liquid..

Then a spark of realization hit him. “No wait! I do have some!” Remembering his mana potions, Bones retrieved a dozen empty vials and six still full. “Well, might as well empty a few right now…”

After draining two mana potions, he carefully extracted the blood into the small vials. The cold had caused the blood to congeal quickly, given the hours-long blizzard. Despite his expertise in Mana Manipulation, Bones felt the chill slowing his movements, especially with his wet, heavy clothes.

Maybe immediately buying an enchanted set of clothing was an impulsive decision. I didn't think of enchantments against freezing effects. Something to remember in the future!

For now, Mana Manipulation would have to suffice to stave off the cold. The points in wisdom from previous levels made a noticeable difference. With precise timing, Bones could keep casting spells without running out of mana. Not indefinitely of course, but long enough to finish a fight. A newfound point from the recent level up was wisely invested in WIS again.

As he contemplated the fallen troll, Bones reflected on the significance of stats in battles. At higher levels, the gap in stats from level difference became less crucial, with skill taking precedence. It was a concept he had read about but couldn’t fully grasp until now. The disparity in power between someone at the early stages of bronze rank, like himself, and someone close to silver rank, like Guntar, seemed substantial. Observing the level twenty-three troll lying in front of him, he could vividly see how skills could mean the difference between like and death. If he still had Bone Spears, penetrating the troll’s tough skill would have been an arduous task.

“Enough troll’s blood for now,” Bones mused as he capped the vials. He left two empty ones for potential use and still had four mana potions in his possession.

After rising, Bones retraced his steps down the mountain path, towards the "bridge". There wasn’t much else to explore on the mountain except for the expanse of snow. He had climbed quite high by now, and peering down, he could barely make out the distant city of Stonefalls. The blizzard, which had started not too long ago, drowned out the sounds of distant animals, leaving only the howling wind and snow.

By the day’s end, Bones achieved another hard-earned level up. He discovered that while mountain trolls were solitary creatures, they shared the territory. It didn’t make sense, but that’s just how it was.

The most challenging encounter was against a level twenty-six troll. Unlike its counterparts, it wielded a club and displayed a basic understanding of how to use it—swinging from side to side and delivering vertical blows. While the attacks were avoidable, each hit sent shockwaves radiating around the impact, putting Bones in a precarious position. The troll skillfully balanced offense and defense, using its enhanced strength for club attacks and employing earth spells defensively. It would kneel and set up an earth dome whenever close to defeat, regenerating inside before launching another assault. In the end, it succumbed when it ran out of mana. Bones shuddered at the thought of facing another opponent like that, yet he couldn't deny the substantial gains from such challenging battles against higher-level enemies.

The day, mostly cloudy, darkened with nightfall. Bones found a crack in a boulder large enough to serve as shelter. Cozying up in the confined space, he settled into an inactive state for the night.

“What do you mean he's not en route? There's only one road leading from Stonefalls to the capital! Have you checked Middlesbrough?”

“Of course I did. Don't address me like it's my first time scouting. If I say he isn't on route, then he isn't. Maybe he went a different route?”

“Fine, fine! What different route?”

“Over the mountains?”

*pfft* “Common, why would anyone…shit.”

“Yep.”

“He must be mad going over the mountain in the winter! Trolls are out, and the mountains are their territory. It's common knowledge! He is no common man!”

“I'll go report to Guntar, and you send someone to be on the lookout on the other side of the mountains. There's a watch post right at the base of the mountain with a tavern inside. If he is really going over the mountains, that's the place we'll find him! Probably…”

“Sure thing boss, over and out.” The scout finished his report and left, leaving his superior, one of Guntar henchmen, alone.

"Stop saying “over and out”; it doesn't mean anything,” he yelled back. “Guntar won't be happy hearing about this." The henchmen exhaled, feeling a headache incoming.

Despite their preparations to intercept Bones, they overestimated his aptitude for orientation. Bones lost his way more than once on the mountain. In fact, after he "woke up" the next day, he already strayed off the mountain path. Blame couldn’t be solely placed on him; the blizzard raged throughout the night, and due to the snow, no path was visible. The second day on the mountain went similar to the first day - fighting trolls - until he discovered an entrance to a cave. Two trolls stood guard at the entrance, grunting over a fireplace, and a large iron cauldron where venison cooked.

“Solitary creatures, my ass!”

Mind racing, Bones pondered how to approach without being seen. One of them had to die in the first attack. His mind set, he summoned a lance and began empowering it - an approach he had adopted lately against the tough skin of trolls. A lance grew in size and became even pointier. Just as he was about to attack, another troll approached from the deeper end of the cave. The newcomer had a different color of skin, a dark shade of gray, and its eyes, from what Bones could tell at a distance, were white, like those of a blind person. The newcomer grunted a few times, exchanging noises with the other trolls, then disappeared into the deeper part of the cave.

Bones dismissed the skill, the summoned lance poofing away in a cloud of smoke. He took a deep breath and sat down, observing the cave from the boulder he perched on. Ten minutes later, the same troll - or at least he thought it was the same one - reappeared and left again after more grunts were exchanged.

“Not a talkative bunch, I guess. Alright, let's do this.”

Concluding that the troll would reappear for the third time in roughly ten minutes, Bones readied for the assault. Two lances materialized, and he positioned himself with a clear line of sight to the trolls. First he aimed at the one facing him, then at the one with his back turned, and sent the lances flying. Both, over a meter and a half long, struck true. One pierced the sternum of the middle troll, while the other impaled the troll in the back, possibly piercing its heart. The impact caused the troll to motionlessly jerk forward, knocking the cauldron and its contents over the other troll, who roared in pain. With a savage look in its eyes, it searched for its attacker.