Trolls?

Early the next morning.

“Move it! Put some muscle into it!”

“You bunch of fools! If they get away, you’ll pay dearly for it!”

Accompanied by their leader's angry shouting, a group of more than a dozen burly humanoid creatures swept through Starfall Forest.

Each possessed a tall, imposing frame, rugged facial features, sharp fangs protruding from their mouths, and rough, grayish-brown skin.

These creatures were no strangers to the inhabitants of the continent of Aenoria—they were trolls.

“Hurry up! Move like you're running to a feast!”

The troll leading them, named Bonechewer, barked orders while carrying a massive greataxe fashioned from beast bones over his shoulder.

“Boss! The targets are all still there!”

Just then, an excited shout came from a scout sent ahead to confirm whether the targets were still present.

Hearing this, Bonechewer perked up immediately, his anger instantly dissipating.

“Excellent. Boys, grab your weapons! Don't let them escape.”

He turned around, his fierce expression softening as his mood brightened, though his sharp fangs and hideously coarse face still gave him a terrifying appearance.

“Once this task is completed and we get our hands on those thousand gold coins, we'll have whatever we want. Life is going to be grand. I just hope those vampires keep their word.”

At the thought of such astronomical compensation, Bonechewer couldn't help feeling eager anticipation.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a lingering doubt about the identities of those three humans.

After all, he knew very well that vampires had a special fondness for humans with rare bloodlines. To vampires, such humans were more than just food; they were the key to increasing their power.

As for their targets this time, Bonechewer speculated they were highly likely humans possessing angel bloodlines.

Ever since the God War a thousand years ago, the Goddess of Light had fallen, leaving humans with angel bloodlines without divine protection.

Since then, under the siege of various races, humanity had suffered a crushing defeat.

“Once we capture these humans and offer a portion of the reward to the old Shaman, my prestige will surely reach its peak. Who knows, the position of the next chieftain might even fall to me.”

The title of chieftain meant not only power, but also greater wealth—and, above all, it meant no longer having to undertake dangerous missions. After all, he valued his own life immensely.

Bonechewer licked his lips, thoughts filled with greed.

“Let's go! Lead the way!”

Bonechewer delivered an impatient kick to the reporting troll's backside, unable to wait any longer.

“Right away, Boss!”

...

Having finished praying through the entire night, Lilith slowly stood up, her eyes slightly red.

“Lady Mother Goddess...” she murmured softly.

Every time she prayed, she hoped to awaken the Goddess, only to be met with disappointment time and time again.

“Lilith...”

Seeing this, West involuntarily took a step forward to comfort her, but fearing he might be out of line, he stopped in his tracks.

Selby let out a sigh and said, “Your Highness, the Goddess will surely answer you. The time simply has not yet come.”

West looked at Selby gratefully before plucking up the courage to speak: “Indeed, Your Highness. And look at how bright the sunlight is today—perhaps this is a revelation from the Goddess Her divine self, listening to your prayers and watching over us.”

As he spoke, he looked up at the sunlight streaming through the ceiling.

“We will remain by your side until the day Lady Goddess awakens.” West placed his right hand over his heart, his gaze resolute.

Hearing his words, Lilith wiped away the slight redness at the corners of her eyes and offered them a gentle yet firm smile. “Thank you, Uncle Selby, Knight West. You are right. Lady Mother Goddess has been watching over us all along.”

Turning around, she gazed out through the dilapidated window at the dazzling sunlight outside the temple. “This light is proof of hope; the Holy Light is always with us. Let us depart; our kin are still waiting for our return.”

Looking at Lilith's smile, West didn't want to dampen her spirits and agreed: “Yes, Your Highness! The Holy Light is with us!”

With that, he stepped forward quickly, intending to open the temple doors for Lilith.

Selby cast a complex look at West, then looked at Lilith's steadfast back, echoing softly, “Yes, the Holy Light is with us.”

He followed silently behind Lilith.

Suddenly, as if hearing something, Selby's expression changed drastically. His body tightened instantly, his hand snapping to the hilt of his sword.

“West, get away from there!”

Before his words could fully settle, the temple doors burst inward with a deafening BOOM!, shattering into pieces.

“What is that?!”

Startled, West was sent flying by the powerful impact before he could even react.

Shattered stones flew in all directions. Despite his best efforts to dodge, a stray rock struck his leg, causing him to let out a muffled groan as he fell heavily to the ground, blood quickly seeping from the wound.

“West! Are you alright?!”

Selby shielded Lilith behind him and drew the longsword from his waist, its blade flickering with white light.

He glanced back at West, who had fallen to the floor, and then toward the collapsed entryway where several tall, heavy figures were dimly visible through the billowing dust.

“I'm fine, Uncle Selby!”

West glared fixatedly at the figures in the dust, his voice trembling slightly from the pain.

“Are they beastkin? Damned bastards, how dare they attack the Saintess!”

Gritting his teeth against the pain, he pulled himself up to one knee, drawing his knightly longsword to support his body.

Filled with concern, Lilith hurried over to West's side, divine power surging at her fingertips to heal him.

“West, hold on!”

Feeling the warm Holy Light from Lilith's fingertips, the pain in West's leg eased slightly. He looked up at her: “Your Highness, ignore me! Find a safe place to hide quickly! Leave these guys to Uncle Selby and me to stall!”

With that, he struggled to his feet.

Right at that moment, the figures within the dust finally revealed themselves.

They were actually a dozen trolls.

“Trolls?”

Selby cursed under his breath and tightened his grip on his sword, turning back to give urgent instructions: “West, take Her Highness and leave quickly! There is a secret passage behind the temple—I'll hold off these beasts!”

“Go, quickly!”

Without waiting for the two to respond, he charged toward the entrance, raising his longsword high as light condensed along the blade.

“Starlight Slash!”

However, a massive greataxe swept forward, effortlessly blocking the longsword's strike.

“!!!”

Selby stared at the owner of the greataxe—a creature noticeably taller and larger than the other trolls.

Then, under Selby's astonished gaze, the heavy greataxe was wielded like a feather, crashing down toward him with fierce velocity.

Selby struggled to defend himself, hurriedly raising his sword to parry, but the tremendous force knocked him back several steps, numbing his arms.

Stabilizing his stance, he glared intently at the troll leader before him.

“Heh.”

Bonechewer sneered, suddenly lowering his stance before hurling the greataxe straight at Selby.

Selby's expression hardened. Just as he was contemplating how to react, Bonechewer's figure vanished, and a massive fist accompanied by the howl of wind slammed into Selby's stomach.

“!!!”

Selby was sent flying a full five meters before crashing heavily against the ground, coughing up a spray of blood, his fate unknown.

The battle concluded abruptly, having lasted a mere dozen seconds from start to finish.

“What a fragile body.”

Bonechewer sneered disdainfully, casually retrieving his fallen greataxe.

“Uncle Selby!!!” both shouted.

A look of grief filled Lilith's face. At the same time, she realized the strength of this troll leader.

High Bronze Rank! He might even have reached Bronze Rank peak!

She turned to face the trolls, illusory angel wings emerging behind her. The holy light was blinding, tinged with a resolute finality.

Neither she nor West could escape now.

West's eyes nearly split with rage. He roared loudly, ignoring his leg injury entirely as he funneled mana into his longsword, causing the blade to glow brightly.

“You damned troll! I'll avenge Uncle Selby!”