Arrived

Troan then felt a tingling sensation from his sword. He thought it was time to test his instinct whether he knew how to wield a sword or not.

One, two, three slashes to the wolves that attacked and were left with a wound. Troan felt the flesh being sliced apart and the blade sliding through the bones while just gripping the handle of the sword.

A fast and precise swing was displayed and the enemies went staggering as they landed on the ground. The slash was not enough to cut them into half but it was enough to make them back away.

The wolves then felt like not attacking him. Seeing that the enemy was more threatening than normal.

The tiger attacked his blind spot and its mouth was opened wide for his throat. Troan can only block it with his sword.

Once Troan saw the tiger, he remembered them in his memories and the monster bestiary. A bite from a demon tiger will cut flesh and shatter bones. That alone made his heart shudder.

The force and weight of the tiger were enough for him to be slammed to the ground. Its mouth bears its fangs on the sword. Troan was in a pinch, still, he knew that his enemy made a mistake by biting the sword.

In a flick of the sword, Troan pushed the sword towards its cheeks. His force was all used but it won't budge.

The demon tiger then shakes the sword to make Troan let go of the sword. To the enemy's surprise, its hold on the sword has loosened up and then slides the blade sideways through its jaws.

Luckily, the sword just slid through the teeth and made its way to the cheeks. Making its mouth left hanging. The enemy backed out but Troan was left terrified.

The monster was left with its jaws hanging and was infuriated. It leaped towards him with great wrath, paws as hard as steel and sharp as blades.

Went forth aimed at his vulnerable self. Troan nearly freaked out and nearly closed his eyes in fright. He leaped backward to avoid the paws. Still holding the sword pointed at what was incoming towards him.

Swish!

The tiger stumbled towards him; lifeless. Blood trickled on his damaged leather armor. Troan opened his eyes and the sword was stuck in his throat.

"Ha! Haha!"

He pulled it but it was stuck. Killing one made Troan chuckle and rejoiced because it has good crystal qualities. He then pushed the monster away with what his strength was left and managed to pull the sword after using both hands and a foot on the monster at the same time. It sounded swish as the sword went out of the wound.

He then turned around as he went to leave the body behind in haste. A Stat crystal floated and went towards him. He crushed the crystal and then absorbed it. Looking back, the monster was disintegrating and went towards him like fireflies, entering his skin.

Monster essence was absorbed and the crystal boasts of +1 Strength stat, +1 Dexterity stat, and, +1 Endurance stat. Making him feel that his being increased its strength, speed, and everything else.

"Killing monsters, they make me stronger."

Just as he felt like victory was achieved, he heard more gargoyles and monsters make their shrieks and roars. Making Troan feel that it was not safe to linger more in the open.

Troan then saw more gargoyles flock towards him. Making him feel like running once again. No one fighting that many with his measly stamina left.

Running for his life, he knew that the village was up close. He can feel it nonetheless. Still, the fog didn't help and it was nighttime at that moment. He has to flee before everything goes dark with the sunset. In just a second of being absent-minded, he tripped on a root. Or so he thought it was.

Slamming his chest on the leaves beneath, he pushed himself up and stood. It was slightly hurting to land on the ground with how heavy his backpack was.

Just as he was swatting the rotten leaves on his outfit, he heard a crisp crackling sound on his back. Little slithering was accompanied by rattles.

As he looked back, a looming figure was seen overshadowing him and had bright red eyes. It was a spitting figure of a snake. Scales were shiny as glittering gems. Rubbing of scales and a hiss was then heard. It was obvious to Troan but he didn't know what he thought it was, it actually was!

"Demon Anaconda!"

It was then, that memories surged inside his head. Troan knew that escaping such a creature was almost impossible. Don't mind its size, it was as fast as its youthful movements. Making it bad news when seeing one.

There were three types of enemies here in this world. Monsters or any types of minions and the like belonged to "Demonic minions". The other ones were called the "Corrupted", once the doer of good and greatest asset of humanity but was corrupted to become evil. And last were the "Demons", categorized into Lesser evil, Greater evil, and, Prime Evil.

Troan didn't know what to do, whether choosing to fight it or to escape from it was the best choice. Or the right choice was even one of them.

His mind was divided on what could be the best choice. But as he was struggling internally, the enemy launched its jaws open to him, making the answer obvious.

Troan jolted and unknowingly rotated and flipped upwards. Landing on its back then jumped away to escape.

Battling it was out of his mind and so he evaded each attack. All movement cost him every ounce of strength. It didn't feel fun at all while doing it.

But Troan realized that he can do such movements without having a hard time. It felt like he just knew he could and so he executed it. Thanks to the past training in thievery skills on stealing foods. He made it a lifesaver skill he had.

Running towards the village, more gargoyles came. Even wolves and tigers caught up eventually with him.

It was something that he knew could be his last moment. He fought all of them while running towards the village.

The Anaconda can be evadable but his luck has run out. One evasion failed as his leg strength vanished at the most crucial time. He was bitten on the shoulders but eventually ripped it in the last moments.

Bits of flesh were left hanging in the snake's mouth. Making him prevent being constricted to death or all his bones will break effortlessly. He landed on the ground but the enemies didn't let him rest a bit.

He was attacked in all directions and slashed four at the same time. Blade aimed to their necks and a little sidestep was made with every slash. They were left with fatal wounds gushing out with blood with his precision.

But the tiger and a wolf managed to bite his legs and his left arm. Stabbing the head of the tiger, it won't budge its mouth dug deep into his skin. Sadly, the tiger has its jaw locked on him.

Snap!

He felt the bones on his left arm had broken by the biting strength of the tiger. The bones were crushed and Troan screamed in pain.

Gritting his teeth while his saliva was dripping accompanied by his tears starting to welling up. The bite of the anaconda left wounds but it was a shame to be compared to his bones breaking.

The Anaconda then opened its mouth wide. Troan then knew he would get swallowed if he would not make haste on making decisions. The demon wolf bit him and pulled him away from the tiger, adding up the pain as he was pulled apart. Further screaming at the process.

It was then, that Troan felt his anger welling up. He still has his sword in his hand and so he smirks with his eyes full of wrath. Stabbing the cheeks of the tiger and it went through on the other side. With all he got, he sliced its jaws apart.

Even with the waning strength, the sharp edge of metal made its flesh cut apart. No hardened cheeks of a tiger can stop a sharp edge of a bladed metal. Especially when it was not as tough as steel.

The enemy tiger left its mouth hanging and Troan then faced the wolf. Making the wolf whimper as he stabbed it to its chest straight to its heart.

Stabbing right on the gap of its ribcage and made its way to its death. Not even its skin managed to stop the blade from getting through towards the heart. Crystal was then grabbed after its death.

The anaconda then went in his direction with an opened mouth. Troan rolled to the side and ran as fast as he could. The tiger was nowhere to be seen and only the anaconda was left.

He ran while being chased by the Anaconda. Swerving on the trees as they traveled fast. Troan leaped towards the tree trunk while holding his injured hands and then leaped sideways.

The Anaconda struck the tree and it was uprooted. Troan further whimpered as he was assaulted with great pain, as his injured arms went aching with every sudden hasty movement.

Soon after, the gargoyles caught up with him. And so, he ran faster than before, even if he felt breathless with every step. He was breathing all along. But thinking of passing out was not even an option.

Gargoyles arrived and three dived for him, making him roll towards the side. It was then, that he smashed his back on the timber wall. Its expanse was wide all towards his side.

He was left with no way to retreat. Monsters on his front and a wall on his back. Nothing was left to do as he felt like he lost more blood than he could endure. Stalkers were seen stalking the trees and felt like they were not joining the fight.

He leaned on the wall and slammed his butt on the ground. His sword pointed at the monsters and then gathered air in his lungs. Left-arm limp on his side, blood dripping.

"Come here to those who want to die!" he shouted with all he got.

It was then a bright light coming from his side was seen. It made a flash in the darkness and Troan can only cover his eyes. A man was seen walking towards him.

All the monsters fled, as they saw the light, they shrieked in pain. They flee like they were burning when the light touches their skin.

It was a skill none other than [Ward evil]. That was the skill that made all appearances of evil flee from its presence. The greater the skill, the wider its area of effect will be.

It was then, that Troan heard a loud creaking sound. A gate was opened near him and multiple silhouettes came rushing toward him. All have the blinding light on their hands.

"The thief! He's alive! He came back!"