Chapter 31 - Guerrilla
The hall was steeped in tension. Rygar gripped his glowing sword tightly, now dimming the intensity of the flames to conserve mana, his eyes scanning every movement. "I've lost the initiative. The situation isn't in my favor—I need an opening."
"Hoooh, your brother, even in death, lied about your race not having innate abilities. He was sad about not being invited to the party, you know?" he taunted, directing his words at the Black Troll.
"WHAT?!" the Black Troll roared, lifting his axe in fury and preparing to charge.
But before he could, Gallus shouted at him, "Calm down, River! He's provoking you! Don't forget, this brat almost took your head off a moment ago."
Ahead of him, Gallus Cleaner remained calm, his right hand already holding a new sword to replace the one he had thrown. The North Saint wore a cold smile on his face, while the Black Troll—a massive creature—had slightly calmed, though his rage still burned beneath the surface.
"So, you're not the leader, huh? Looks like you're just a lapdog?" Rygar tried again, readying himself for the inevitable clash.
"Do not underestimate him," Gallus warned, his voice sharp as steel. "If you hesitate because he's a child, you will die. Surround him and attack together. This must be the Beast boy who massacred the five of the icy cold or something, he can use chantless magic, once again, don't underestimate him."
The warriors around him seemed to take the warning seriously, their dismissive expressions replaced with grim determination.
Before Rygar could make his move, the Black Troll let out a roar that echoed through the hall and charged forward with overwhelming speed, utterly disproportionate to his massive size. His steps thundered like a storm, and the axe he carried looked powerful enough to cleave through a fortress wall.
Rygar spun his sword in time, but the attack was too fast. The impact of the axe against his flaming blade created a shockwave so powerful that it hurled him to the other side of the hall, nearly slamming him into a stone wall.
'This guy is incredibly strong, maybe even stronger than me!' Rygar thought, but there was no time to hesitate. Before he could recover, he noticed a dagger spinning toward him.