CH 10

Despite reaching this conclusion in an instant, the giant troll was now only 20 meters away, already in a combat stance. Even if they were to run with all their might, it was clear that they wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Let’s do this! Maury, distract it! Bart and I will be the wall, and Pamela, prepare your magic! We’re not trying to defeat it, just to retreat and escape when we get the chance!” Franz ordered.

As Maury fired an arrow to draw the troll’s attention, the monster charged at them with agility that belied its massive size.

“──Kuh! Maury, aim for its legs!”

As the giant charged towards them, the swordsman tried to dodge and slash at the giant’s leg with his one-handed sword, but it felt like he was striking a solid rock.

“Damn it, how hard is this thing!” he cursed.

The giant picked up a nearby log and swung it around with its strong arm, its movements slow but deadly. Even one hit from it would mean certain death.

However, since only Pamela’s magic was effective against the giant, they couldn’t afford to redirect its attention to the backline.

“Bart, fall back and protect Pamela! I’ll draw its attention! Maury, keep shooting your bow!” Franz commanded.

Despite knowing that his attacks were futile, Franz continued to strike his sword against the giant’s body, trying to buy time until they could use magic.

He managed to dodge the attacks for a while, but then suddenly tripped on a protruding tree root from the ground.

“Shit! Ugh!” he groaned in pain.

“Hey, are you okay?” Bart asked.

“Ah! It’s Franz!” Pamela shouted.

“Pamela, don’t lose focus!” Franz reminded her.

Franz raised his shield to block a direct hit, but he was still knocked back and slammed into a large tree, hitting his head and back hard. He could feel the air being knocked out of his lungs.

His bones were intact, but he couldn’t move his legs and was unable to speak.

This is bad, Bart can’t hold the front line alone…!

Even though dwarves were much sturdier than humans, it was impossible for one person to withstand a giant’s relentless attacks.

While Franz was struggling to stand up, Bart was hit by the giant’s log and was about to collapse.

Damn it, is this it…?

If only his comrades could escape while the giant was eating him…

“Hey, you there! Are you an adventurer!?” Maury suddenly yelled.

Franz, overwhelmed by despair, lifted his head to see a strange man standing in the bushes, whom he hadn’t noticed before.

The man had a face that he had never seen in this area.

He wore three swords but no armor, only simple gauntlets and greaves.

It seemed like a somewhat light equipment for venturing into the Demon Forest, but he didn’t have the flippant attitude of a novice adventurer.

The man had rare black hair tied up at the back of his head, and his unusual black eyes were fixed intently on the giant. However, his eyes seemed to hold a hint of curiosity.

He appeared to be in his mid-twenties and looked quite young, yet he didn’t show any signs of fear in the face of the giant.

In fact, a faint smile graced his handsome face.

After a brief exchange, the man leaped forward towards the giant. It seemed like he was going to help them.

Thank goodness…!

As long as the front line can hold out, there is still hope.

Once Pamela’s magic lands, the giant should flinch for sure.

Then they can make a run for it and hide somewhere.

Franz felt grateful to the God of Harmony for this unexpected help, but he froze in shock when he saw the man’s next move.

What was he thinking? The man deliberately jumped right under the log that the giant was swinging.

What an idiot.

What is he trying to do…?

“Hey! Get out of there! You’ll be crushed!!” Maury yelled at the top of his lungs, but the man didn’t budge.

To Franz’s horror, the man raised his sword above his head and took a defensive posture.

What the hell, is he an amateur!?

Please, please move out of the way!

Despite Franz’s prayers, the log came crashing down with a deafening sound.

Aah…I’m dead…

Just as he thought that all was lost, he heard a voice cheering excitedly.

“Hahaha! Amazing! I’ve never felt such strength before!!”

The man was laughing after taking a hit from the giant…?

Is he intentionally letting the giant attack him?

This guy is insane…

As Franz shuddered at the man’s actions, the man threw the sword he was holding at the giant and reached for the hilt of the thin sword at his waist, lowering his stance.

No, that won’t work!

That thin sword, like a thrusting rapier, won’t be able to block the giant’s attacks!

But then, something strange happened.

The man darted past the giant at lightning speed, then suddenly the giant froze in place.

Seconds later, a large amount of blood gushed out from the giant’s side.

“Ha? What!?”

The giant’s side had been slashed open, and it was clear that its spine had been severed. It was a fatal blow.

What was that just now…? Wind magic?

No, did he use the miracle of body reinforcement?

Looking at the wound, it seemed like he had used that slender sword to finish off the giant, but Franz couldn’t even follow the motion of drawing the sword.

With a heavy sound, the giant troll collapsed.

Franz and his comrades were struggling to understand what had just happened before their eyes.

Who on earth was this man…?