Chapter 23: Plunderer Troll (3)
I watched the rampaging troll, racking my brain for a way to deal with it. Poison was out— that thing had some insane trait where if you couldn't kill it outright with venom, it just built up immunity. Assassination? If my sword could pierce through that thick layer of troll fat and muscle to hit the heart or spine, I wouldn't be an alchemist in the first place. Strangulation? I wish I had the strength and muscle to pull that off on a troll.
As I spun through options at lightning speed, a brilliant idea hit me. But to pull it off, I'd need a little time. I glanced at Lilia—she didn't look super relaxed, but she wasn't cornered either.
"Lilia! Buy me five minutes!"
"Got it!"
"Gaaahhh! Vice-captain! Viiice-caaaaptaaain!!!"
—Boom!
—Crunch!
The moment I spoke, the troll must've thought I had something on me, because it tried charging my way.
Damn it, I shouldn't have said anything!
I'd misjudged thanks to how fast things were moving. But luckily, my screw-up didn't stick.
Look over here
"Guh! Wh-what is that?! My eyes!!"
Lilia smoothed it over perfectly. Or rather, her suspiciously alluring voice, paired with those bright pink eyes glowing through her bangs, seemed to be the culprit. Seeing the aggro snap back to her, I sighed in relief and started pulling stuff from my subspace pouch: oil, wood scraps, suspicious liquids, and more.
Anyone seeing this combo might wonder what the hell I was cooking up. But right now, nothing was better for killing that troll.
It's a hack job, but it'll work for sure.
With that thought, I quickly combined the items. I coated the wood scraps with the suspicious liquid and etched in the basic magic formula my master had taught me. Even with zero magic talent, I could handle simple runes like this and trigger them.
As I rapidly carved into the wood scraps, Lilia effortlessly deflected or countered the troll's increasingly furious assaults. Normally, she wouldn't hold up this well. Even as a veteran adventurer who'd cleared the fifth floor, trolls weren't easy prey—especially for a tank. No matter how tanky you were, how do you block a massive tree swung like a club? Dodging was all you could do.
But Lilia was pulling it off. How?
Master's semen is just too good!
It was thanks to the load of cum he'd filled her pussy with right before the fight. Rike's seed had the power to flip an unwinnable battle. Of course, that was partly because of the subjugation mark binding her body to him and the sheer volume he'd pumped in—but it was still all thanks to Rike's cum.
Her boosted stats let her tank the brute's hits. Not just physical prowess, either—it granted superhuman abilities.
Look over here!
"Gaaahhh! My neck's twisting!!"
The troll whipped its head toward Rike, but Lilia willed it to turn back—and it froze its body stiff in the process.
It's all thanks to Master!
Technically, it was a succubus clan's charm ability, but it was so basic that records were scarce. Lilia just figured it was a gift from Rike.
Just as Lilia was holding steady...
"Grraaaahhh!!"
The troll let out a raw, piercing roar. Not just any scream—Lilia sensed pure rage in it. It was gearing up for something. Or maybe it already had.
The troll halted its attacks and yanked a red potion vial from its pouch, chugging it bottle and all.
—Greeeehhh!!!
It screamed in agony as its blue flesh flushed red. But it wasn't just color—
Sizzle—
Steam erupted from its body as it melted like wax. Lilia's instincts screamed: This troll's completely different now.
And its attack proved it. She sharpened her senses to brace...
But before she could react, the troll vanished—then reappeared right in her face.
When did it get so close?!
Lilia snapped up her shield. Dodging was ideal, but the troll's tree was over there now—this punch she could block.
Wrong call.
—Boom!
"Kuh!"
Even blocked, the shock rattled her bones. Grk... What the hell is this...?
A single fist had dented her top-tier succubus-forged shield—and transmitted the force through her armored flesh. She'd never felt impact like this, even on the fifth floor. And the troll? Not even winded. Overflowing with energy.
Whoosh—!!
Another massive fist sliced the air toward her.
"Hrk!"
She rolled aside. Rike, hurry and finish it!
She couldn't tank this monster much longer.
***
The troll—whose name was Viva—thought to itself.
I can't win! I'm weak!
At this rate, defeat was certain. Trolls weren't total idiots; Viva grasped the bad spot it was in. So it chose.
[What's this red potion?]
[It's our ace in the hole for when kidnapping the mayor's daughter goes sideways. Use it wisely.]
[Ace in the hole?]
[Heh heh. Yes, it's dangerous, so use it with caution.]
The vice-captain had sworn never to use the "suspicious woman"'s gift. But Viva decided to anyway.
Now I get strong!
Viva gulped the red potion bottle-first. Then—
—Greeeehhh!!!
Agony crashed over it, but...
It hurts! But! Power surges!!!
Omnipotence swelled—Viva could do anything now. And it wasn't wrong.
—Boom!
"Kuh!"
The woman who'd been struggling flew back from one punch, blood trickling from her mouth—internal damage.
I'm strong!
Ignoring its body's pain, Viva closed in and swung again.
Whoosh—!!
The wind whistled, but it missed this time.
Close! But okay! Plenty of chances!!
Viva's brilliant brain observed: the woman couldn't flee; she had to protect that tiny elf doing something behind her. Meaning Viva had more time to pound her.
Haha! I'm smart!
It was spot-on.
—Boom!
—Crunch!
—Crack!
Lilia dodged or blocked to keep aggro off Rike. Her shield was scrap now, her white cloak filthy and useless. Scratches and bruises covered her—any normal human would've dropped long ago.
"Hah... hah... cough..."
Yet she stood. Rike's five minutes were almost up. She had to hold till then.
Not just blind affection for Rike—it was a tank's duty, her job.
"......"
Lilia endured. Seeing it, Viva leaped to finish her. Slower than before, but too fast for her now—she couldn't react.
Sorry, Rike.
As she squeezed her eyes shut, accepting her fate—
"Lilia, you did amazing."
Rike's voice hit her ears. Then—
Booom—!!
"What aaaare yooouuuu!!!???"
The troll's shriek tore the air amid a deafening roar.