First Monsters and A Storm

Although it has only been 150 years. I'm already starting to settle into the idea I'm ageless now. Trolls may look older as time passes, but the bodies themselves don't age past their primes. During all these years, I have not encountered a single monster. Only animals. It was peculiar for me as monsters are supposed to be common.

It is extremely abnormal to not encounter a monster in over a century. Not even the weaker kinds of monsters. I've explored the valley I reside in and the surrounding forest extensively. Yet, I found no reason monsters would be around.

Until one day when I was strolling around the valley and the ground shook. From the dirt rose a grand serpent a 300 feet long that was resting beneath the dirt. I had never seen any trails for such a large serpent. Therefore, it must have been here for at least a century. Although, it was probably here before I was.

It stared me down. All I had on me for this stroll was a metal axe and my bow. Even though I am supposedly really strong in my estimation. I never had anything to compare my power to. Therefore, I don't know if I am truly as strong I think I am.

The snake twitches nearly imperceptibly. It launches a bite strike straight at me. I dodge to the right and get my axe in my hand. I attempt to strike back but it coils away again and I miss. The snake is fast, but I am fast enough to react to it. All that physical training to strengthen my body has been worth it.

I mutter an Earth spell in Troll tongue and spiraled spikes of rock erupt from beneath the serpent. IT twists and turns to evade them. I do a strong leap to reach the snake and make a deep gash in its body. Although not in the softer underbelly, but the side scales.

It hisses and slithers away from me in pain. I mutter another spell and discharge lightning from my left hand at it. The lightning stuns the serpent and leap in again for another strike. This time, I aim for the head. It manages to move in time and I only get to cut its mouth a bit. It reacts quickly and tail whips me as I am falling down. I am hit and am launched through a few trees. I could have dodged or countered if I had more battle experience. However, this is my first time fighting anything that can contend with me in any way. Lessons to reflect upon later.

I mutter another spell and the very trees elongate and attempt to wrap up the serpent. It tries to wiggle out, bit it's strength is not enough to break the hold of the trees. Then I feel a large gathering of mana. The snake lets out a mana blast from it body. The mana blast is of corrosive nature as the trees die and grow weak. The damn snake then breaks free.

It then gathers mana in its mouth, corrosive mana. I dodge left behind some trees as the mana ball is launched at me. It doesn't penetrate, but kills the trees. Good to know that the mana is not good at penetrating.

This time, I cast a spell to conjure fire arrows that explode on contact from behind the dead trees. I fire them and go on the attack at the same time. The snake gets superficial injuries from the arrows, but I was right behind them. I managed to get under it while it was distracted by the arrows and slice open the underbelly. The bodily contents begin to spill out and I leap back.

I use the same tree spell again to entrap it. Along with the stunning lighting spell. It's sever injury doesn't allow it the state of mind to react quickly enough. I leap once for a head strike with my metal axe. This time it hits true and the head is split open. The serpent then goes limp wrapped by trees.

"Damnable snake.", I say as I lose tension from the battle.

I secure the body and drag it back to my comfortable home. Once I made it home, I cleaned myself up a bit and then got my tools. I spent the next many hours harvesting the body for bones, meat, organs, fluids, venom, teeth, etc.

The sun had already risen for a hour when I finished. I decided to take the day off the sleep until tomorrow. I went to my fully furnished room in my fully furnished house and slept.

Little did expect for there to be a terrible thunderstorm when I awoke the next day. It was dark, with stinging rain, forceful winds, and constant lightning.

"I guess I'm taking today off too.", I sigh.

I busy myself with properly recording down and researching the snake I killed. Some hours pass and my markers go off. Which are carved wood stakes I placed around the valley to detect lifeforms coming in and out. Every sort of creature as their own type of life signature. I know the signature of squirrels, fish and birds. However, this is no common animal. 

I drop my quill and focus on it. The lifeform is small, and coming to my house. Specifically heading for my front door. I get up from my desk within my study. I make my way to the door and try to hear. I then hear knocking, desperate knocking at that.

I open the door and see a human being. A girl, not that old neither. Well, I hope she is human that is. Many things could appear human with magic.

"Ah! Troll!", the small girl screams then turns as if she is going to run away. She stops at the turn when she sees how horrible it is outside. Now she is shivering in fear.

I shake my head, "Girl, I may be a Troll, but I do not eat people. You will be safe here to weather the storm."

The girl looks at me with sever hesitation. However, ignorant children trust too easily in such a situation as this. She meekly walked through the doorway. I then close the door.

She looks around fearfully as she still unsure about her decision.

Compared to my 20ft stature, this 4ft human girl is a stark contrast.

I ask her, "What is your name girl? Why are here in tattered clothing?"

She dips her head and answers lowly, "My name is Celly. Running away...then storm happened."

I probe, "Running away from who or what?"

She looks up a bit, "A demon was attacking my village. We live on the frontier, we're a pioneer village."

I have some racial inheritance knowledge about demons. For one, Trolls hate them to the core. As they say, Trolls and Demons cannot live under the same sky. It is a matter of absolute duty for a Troll to eliminate any Demon they know he whereabouts of.

"Did you see the demon? How far is your village?", I ask further.

The girl take a moment to answer, "The demon was four-armed, used four long knives, a bone tail, two legs, and a face with two mouths full of teeth. It had no eyes I could see, nor ears. It was bald. Also, I don't know how far the village is, but I know the demon was chasing me."

On cue, my markers pick up another lifeform entering the valley. This signature is instinctually disgusting and repulsive.

I tell the girl, "Stay inside, the demon followed you here. I'm going to go kill it."

I start to walk away to get my axe and proper enchanted leather armor. I hear suddenly, "But demons are super strong!"

I laugh, "Yes, but I am 150 year old Troll that has not been idle. The demon will die like a chicken."

She accepts my words and I suit up. I grab my axe and step outside. The demon was probing around the house, so I had time.

I yell out into the dark rainy wind, "Demon! I know you are here you filthy pest. Come out and die!"

"So quick to think I would die. Troll!!!", I hear. Then from the shadows, an ugly demons lunges at me with four long knives.

I smirk and stomp my right foot. The Earth responds and a stone pillar punches its stomach. It reels, but my lunge with my axe. It used all knives to block and was still flung away. I use the storm to my advantage and channel a lightning strike at the demon. It hits and the demon is charred black over most of the chest.

It roars, "What kind of Troll are you!"

I scoff, "A smart one, now die."

I press the attack in a melee. The injured demon can't keep up with my strength and speed. Yet, I'm barely using half my strength. I cleave an arm, than another, another, and cleave a leg. Disabled, I remove the last limbs from the torso.

"You damn Troll! Stupid! Green! Oversized Forest Monkey! ", It roars in raw fury.

I sneer and proceed to hack the demon to pieces with my axe. I then use the hottest flame I could conjure to incinerate the body.

I walk back inside and take a seat on my comfortable living room chair. The girl hears me enter and comes over.

"Mr. Troll, is the Demon gone?", She questions with big eyes.

I nod, "Yes, I killed the demon. It no longer exists. You are completely safe now. Once the storm blows over. I'll help you get back to humans who will look after you."

I got up from my chair a minute later and prepared to house a guest for the duration of the storm.

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