146

Skyfall Meteorite

Forseti couldn't help but glance back when he heard the words, slightly startled.

There were hundreds of trolls chasing after them, far outnumbering the town's defenders. Had most of them converged here all at once?

No time to ponder now. They had to accelerate and retreat beyond the town's borders. Once out, they could seek Uller's aid and teleport away.

They sprinted, trolls in relentless pursuit.

Soon, the fast troll cavalry closed in.

Forseti swiftly turned, raising his hand; holy light burst forth like thunder.

Flash of Light!

The pursuing trolls staggered, some crashing into each other as they turned blindly.

A brief respite allowed them to continue their flight.

Again, the troll cavalry approached.

Forseti repeated his tactic, another blinding flash. This time, the trolls anticipated it, some shielding their eyes, recovering quickly.

After several repetitions, the Swiftness Potion's effect neared its end.

Another wave of troll cavalry approached.

Glancing back, Forseti noted only a dozen, quite distant from the main force.

"Swiftly now!" Gritting his teeth, he commanded, "Fairwind, guard the young prince."

Before he finished, Hermond leaped forward, Judgment Hammer toppling one troll, then striking another with holy light.

"Boom!"

Empowered by the king's blessing, the blow nearly shattered the troll's chest.

Forseti swiftly dispatched another troll's mount with a sword of justice. Nearby, Skurge beheaded a fallen troll with his axe.

Forseti lunged at three trolls, releasing Verrigan's Fist's holy light.

Blessed Hammer!

"Boom boom boom!" The blessed hammer spun, felling all three trolls.

Initially gaining ground with Hermond's fierce onslaught, they remained outnumbered. With only eight members and one guarding the prince, they were at a disadvantage.

Suddenly, a flaming troll charged, wielding a massive sword towards Forseti.

"Attack!"

Hermond parried with his shield, clashing blades and flaming shield.

Noticing the troll's divine power akin to his own, Forseti welcomed the challenge. Understanding his newfound divine power would benefit from such battles.

Yet, immediate resolution was imperative. The troll matched or exceeded his strength, precluding a swift victory.

After a brief hesitation, Forseti lunged forward.

"Clang clang!"

Blades clashed amidst raging flames and scorching heat.

Forseti inadvertently exposed a vulnerability, the troll's sword aiming for his neck.

Unperturbed, Forseti continued to strike with Verrigan's Fist, hitting the troll's arm.

The troll sneered, confident his sword would sever Forseti's head.

Unexpectedly,

"Crack!"

His sword, striking Forseti's neck, shattered harmlessly against a mysterious rune glow shielding him.

This rune, the Holy Knight's shield skill!

Simultaneously struck by his Judgment Hammer, the troll staggered, momentarily stunned.

Capitalizing on the opening, Forseti struck again, headshotting the troll.

"Boom!"

The troll fell, flames extinguished.

Witnessing his swift defeat of their leader, the trolls hesitated, morale plummeting.

"Captain, reinforcements!"

Four Elitos arrived, bolstering their ranks.

Reinvigorated, they swiftly turned the tide, dispatching several trolls, scattering the remainder in retreat.

"Retreat!"

Forseti led the charge, the pursuers falling behind. Victory was within reach, nearing the magic circle's edge.

Unbeknownst to them, atop a town tower, two trolls, one elderly and one middle-aged, watched grimly.

"Mutehus, have they discovered the passage?" The middle-aged troll, clad in golden armor and a beard, asked.

"I don't believe so, Your Majesty." The elderly troll, the giant magician encountered by Forseti ,Hermond and Hela at the Hunting Festival, frowned. "Rest assured, I will handle them."

"Proceed." Ulic, troll king, nodded, departing.

Mutehus raised his staff, magic energy surging, face reddening with effort.

Muttering incantations, the staff glowed intensely, blotting out the moon momentarily.

"Boom"

The sky roiled, thunderous without lightning.

Forseti and his party neared the town's outskirts, Forseti preparing the Allsee Orb.

"What's that?" A soldier pointed skyward, terror in his voice, forgetting to flee.

All eyes followed, dread spreading: "No!"

Above, a dark vortex tore through the night sky, a fiery meteor streaking towards Forseti and his group like a falling star!

"Boom"

Meteorite from the heavens!