Chapter 11. The strength of weakness

The trolls reach the camp where the Alcaton had been staying with roughly 40 other trolls warriors. The leader of the Alcaton, Fargar of the Blade had seen two of his warriors in shambles.

"What 'appenend to you lot?"

"In the village.....the 'umans..."

"What kind of trolls loses to a bunch of meat sacks? "

"It was only one sir 'e musta been some kind of halfling pretending to be 'uman. The strongest I've ever seen."

"Are you talking about little ol' me?"

Hiro appears behind the two trolls and waves at them and the one carrying his partner runs off leaving his friend on the ground.

"You did this to my men? That's quite impressive you little halfling"

"Gods you guys are dumb. How many times do I have to say it? I'm human say it with me hue-men."

"Well 'uman what do you want? I sup'ose it doesn't matter because you'll be dead anyway I just thought I'd ask."

The troll warriors surround Hiro pointing their swords and spears at him.

"This is a cute little display you have going on. I'm just here for a warm bed and free food."

"The dead don't need food and it's plenty warm in the fire."

"I suppose you won't mind me taking your food because you won't be needing it."

"What the 'ell did you just say you lil stain?"

"Oh that's right I forgot to tell you. Slips my mind sometimes no worries. I've come to eradicate such filth from the world. And by filth I mean this entire orgy you have going on here. A bunch of men in the forest alone playing with their swords without a single woman in sight. My my my aren't we an interesting lot."

"KILL HIMMMM!!!!!!!!!"

The troll warriors rush into stab Hiro. Hiro's eyes are inflamed and uses fire to melt the metal on all the swords and spears. The trolls begin to get weary of Hiro after witnessing his display of magic.

"What you lot standing around for I said kill him"

Fargar throws a warrior into the center with Hiro. This pisses off Hiro to see the complete disrespect from the leader of the Alcaton.

"Okay I get it trolls have no honor but you are more worthless than those who follow you."

Pissed off Hiro walks towards Fargar. The troll warriors try to stop Hiro but he keeps backfisting the warriors into trees knocking them unconscious. The whole time he never takes his eyes off of Fargar. After knocking away twelve trolls he reaches Fargar. Afraid Fargar steps backward falling to the ground and looks up at Hiro. Hiro picks up Fargar by his chest plate.

"You're utterly pathetic putting the lives of your men before your own. You make me sick"

Fargar takes out his sword and swings it towards the head of Hiro. At that moment Hiro punches the blade of the sword in half.

"Even a cornered animal will try to strike. I wonder how it must feel to think you're so far superior to humans and now you can't even beat one. I won't kill you all just yet but I think this clan of yours needs some correction in the way they think don't you agree?"

"No matter what the Alcaton will never bow down to magicless weaklings!"

"Oh, I know that's why I'll make all of you into the weaklings you so despise. All of you will suffer and understand what it's like to live life on the bottom. Ill turn this whole miserable world on its head."

"Magic Sealing Art 3: Excruciating Paralysis!"

Hiro sealed the magic of Fargar first and then every other member of the Alcaton.

"That pain you feel comes from strength being taken away and what I am now is the strength that comes from weakness. Someone like you could never understand it but you will come to fear it. Oh and by the way, if you even think about getting revenge on the human in that town...."

Hiro looks at Fargar with intense malice in his eyes.

"I'll kill you all without a second thought. The terror you feel right is my only warning to you there won't be another."

Hiro walks out of the troll camp having depowered the entire clan. Hiro headed back to Gresham and was exhausted after his journey running non-stop for two days and fighting the Yakioni and Alcaton. He walks into the tavern being greeted by the tavern owner and his daughter. His daughter was one of the girls being harassed by the trolls before Hiro had arrived. She bows in front of Hiro.

"Thank you for saving us. I'm deeply sorry for all of the trouble we have caused you. Everyone here had been bothered by those trolls for weeks and everyone was too afraid to face them. You don't even know us or owe us anything and you still stood up to them I can't thank you enough. My name is Erica Clidel and this is my father William Clidel. Please if there is anything we can do for your sir hero please let us know."

"I didn't do it out of the kindness of my heart. I'm no hero I just hate when disgracefull worms like those think they're better than humans just because they have magic. Your father and I had come up with a mutually beneficial agreement."

"Father what does he mean?"

"In exchange for food and a bed he promised to solve our troll problem. However, I didn't think he'd come back alive."

"That's all you wanted sir hero I mean... My apologies I didn't ask your name."

" Hiro... Hiro Kurokumo. Food and bed are more than enough to wipe out some pests."

"Did you kill all of the Alcaton?"

"No, I assumed if they were all dead some other group of trolls or some other clan might come to Gresham and know nothing outside of the massacred Alcaton. However, I did do something much worse so they can serve as a warning to the demihumans that might wander in. However, I'd put up a barrier to protect this town just in case."

"That would be ideal Sir Kurokumo however no one in this town has that type of magic to create a barrier or any magic items that could do that either. Those kinds of magics are left to the nobility and humans married to demihumans."

Just as I thought no one here can do any magic either that's probably why this town was such an easy target for those trolls. Dammit if I wake up in the middle of the night by people getting killed I'm going to be really annoyed.

Just then the door opens to the hooded figure standing in the middle of the doorway.

"I have watched your exploits, Hiro. I must say I'm impressed by your strength."

The hooded figure pulls out a magic item that looked like a circle surrounded by a half helix.

"This is a magic item that can hide and protect this town. In exchange for this item, I'd like a conversation with Mr.Hiro."

The hooded figure takes off its hood revealing long blonde hair and long pointed ears. The figure was a female elf. The look of her ignited Hiro's anger and flames began to surround him with a vigorous ferocity.

"I DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAYYYY!!!!!"

Hiro charges at the female elf and is about to burn her to a pile of ashes. She winches in fear seeing her impending demise and her necklace comes out revealing a symbol on a rock that looked like the symbol of the elf that had originally protected Hiro's village. He calms down and his flames are extinguished.

"I don't wish to fight you, Sir Hiro. I just want to talk. Please, I would just like a few minutes of your time."

"Fine but if I don't like what you say consider your life forfeit."

"Your terms are acceptable."

"Those aren't terms that's a declaration of death."

"Even so I accept."