Hunting

"How did your blacksmithing go?" James called out to Blade as he approached.

"It was good," Blade replied.

James nodded. "Good. All your signs are normal, as if you're perfectly healthy and were never a comatose patient. But well, I guess that's just how things are now."

"So, what are you going to do now?" James asked.

"Troll hunting," Blade replied.

He added, "Ryan told me to hunt troll leather."

James nodded. "Okay, I'll help."

Blade shook his head. "No need," he said.

James frowned. "Are you sure? You're not even level 10, and trolls are typically between level 40 and 60," he warned.

Blade nodded confidently. "I am. Don't worry."

James sighed. "At least let me give you some gear," he said.

Blade nodded in agreement.

James then opened a private trade window, sending Blade some gear in exchange for just one copper coin.

"They're quite good beginner gear. You can use them up to level 50. Thank me later," James said, closing the trade window as Blade equipped them.

"Good," Blade muttered, testing the fit.

Old Granny scoffed. "Good? They're rubbish."

Blade chuckled. "Not like I can make better myself now. Speaking of which, since you were so great in your era, you must have made amazing things, right?"

After a pause, he added, "Why don't you tell me if you left behind any hidden items or treasures?"

Old Granny huffed. "If I had, do you think I'd waste it on a random kid? I would've put it in the right hands and chosen the best successor, not just anyone who happened to pick up my blade."

Blade rolled his eyes in response as Old Granny continued, "Now stop dilly-dallying and go hunt those trolls!"

Blade nodded, equipping his gear before heading toward the forest.

"Hey! Start with the weaker ones at least for the first time or you will just die," Old Granny called out.

Blade smirked. "No need. Trolls are strong, but they're slow too. With enough strategy, I can take them down."

Old Granny let out a chuckle. "You're so confident," she mused. "Since you are, how about another quest?"

[ New Quest: Impress the Old Granny ]

Objective: Defeat a troll efficiently on your first hunt.

Reward: Location of a Growth-Type Sword.

Blade raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you had no items left?"

Old Granny smirked. "I don't, but I've been around for a long time, observing many figures. As a spirit, I've learned of many things they left behind."

Blade grinned. "Well then, get ready to hand it over," he said as he stepped into the hunting grounds, his eyes scanning the area for his first target.

Blade moved cautiously through the dense forest, his newly equipped gear feeling light yet sturdy. The cool night air carried the faint sounds of rustling leaves and distant howls, but he remained focused. His target was clear—trolls.

Trolls were known for their brute strength and high endurance, but they had a major weakness: their slow reaction time. If he played it right, he could take one down without much risk.

After a few minutes of searching, he finally spotted a lone troll. It was massive, at least twice his height, with rough, moss-covered skin and jagged teeth that jutted from its lower jaw. The creature grunted as it lazily tore a branch from a nearby tree, stuffing the leaves into its mouth.

"Perfect," Blade muttered.

He tightened his grip on his sword, planning his approach. A direct attack would be reckless—he needed to weaken it first. Looking around, he spotted a large rock on a ledge just above the troll.

"That'll do."

Quietly, he climbed the nearby slope, positioning himself directly above the beast. With a strong kick, he sent the rock tumbling down. It crashed onto the troll's shoulder with a sickening thud, making the creature roar in pain and confusion.

[ -350 HP ]

"Good, it works," Blade whispered.

The troll thrashed around, trying to locate the source of the attack. Using the distraction, Blade leaped down, slashing at its exposed back.

[ -500 HP ]

The troll let out a furious roar, swinging its massive arm. Blade barely managed to roll out of the way, feeling the wind pressure from the strike. "That would've crushed me," he thought.

Not wanting to give it time to recover, he dashed forward, slicing at its legs. The blade cut deep, making the troll stumble.

[ -600 HP ]

The troll tried to retaliate, but its wounded leg slowed it down. Seizing the opportunity, Blade leaped onto its back, driving his sword straight into its neck. The creature let out one final gurgling growl before collapsing.

[ Troll defeated! ]

[ +2,500 EXP ]

[ + Troll Skin Acquired ]

[ Your level has risen]

[ your level has risen]

Just as he caught his breath, a notification appeared.

[ Quest Complete: Impress the Old Granny ]

[ Reward: Location of a Growth-Type Sword unlocked! ]

Blade smirked. "Not bad for my first troll hunt."

As he turned to leave, a faint, ghostly chuckle echoed in his ears.

"Not bad at all, kid."

"You've got the talent and the mind for it. I guess my random kid wasn't a total dud after all," the old granny said with a chuckle.

Blade didn't say anything, simply nodding at her words before asking, "Now, my sword?"

The old granny nodded. "Let's get that Troll Settlement, and then we'll get you that sword," she said.

Blade nodded in agreement and set out once more, this time focusing on locating the troll settlement. Since there was a trail leading in one direction, the settlement was likely around 100 meters ahead.

Blade moved cautiously through the dense forest, his newly equipped gear fitting snugly as he adjusted to its weight. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting wood, a sure sign that creatures lurked nearby. He gripped his weapon tightly, his senses sharp as he followed the faint trail left by the trolls.

As he neared the settlement, the sound of heavy footsteps and guttural growls filled the air. "There they are," he muttered, crouching behind a thick tree trunk. Peering through the foliage, he spotted a group of trolls gathered around a crude campfire, their large, hulking bodies covered in thick, scarred hide. Some were gnawing on raw meat, while others sharpened primitive weapons made of stone and bone.

*******

Like it?

A/ N : While waiting for new chap, do check out my new book, In Marvel with Ultimate fantasy System