Chapter 40: "Gear Up and Level Up"(7)

Zeeth and Hanson's lifeless bodies were hidden among the crowd of trolls, concealed from sight.

Hundreds, even thousands, of menacing red eyes stared toward us.

"Jenna, do you see the wall behind us?"

"Yes, I do."

"Climb that wall."

Caught by the floods of monsters, we ended up pressed against a towering barrier, with the building's roof sprawling above.

Jenna took a quick glance behind her.

"But if I climb up, I'll be running alone."

"Who said you could? Once you're up, I'll follow. Then it's Aaron's turn. You go first, and stretch out your hand to help."

"Understood."

Aaron's condition was beyond description.

He wanted to say something, but he was deprived of the breath to speak, so he panted for air.

"They're coming! Aaron, hold your ground!" I yelled.

"I'll lead. You go first!"

Jenna started her climb up the stone wall.

"Aaargh!"

A horde of trolls descended upon us. I swung my weapon in an arc, exposing their chests' vulnerability, while Aaron wielded his lance with determined assurance.

"Avoid pushing! One at a time!"

I parried their attacks with my shield, then struck back.

The number of trolls we had to face multiplied significantly. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't block or dodge them all. Wounds began to appear, marking my body.

"I've made it up! Hurry!"

"I'm going!"

Applying every ounce of strength, I delivered sweeping strikes. The trolls were vanquished.

Quickly, I turned around and scaled the stone wall. There were footholds scattered about, offering support.

[03:12]

"Aaron, follow up!"

...

"Hey, Aaron! Can't you hear me?"

Suddenly, Aaron snapped back to reality and moved toward me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I-I'm coming, I'm coming!"

"Give me your hand."

Jenna extended her hand. I grasped her hand, stained with both blood and exhaustion, and pulled myself onto the roof. Aaron rushed to climb up below.

"Grab my hand."

I extended my hand from the roof.

In that fleeting moment when Aaron seized my hand and attempted to climb up...

"AAAUGH!"

Aaron let out a pained cry.

...

A blade embedded itself in Aaron's calf.

The blade was deeply lodged within a crevice of the wall.

"I can't..."

"Jenna, hold onto Aaron."

I grabbed the edge of the rooftop and descended to the wall.

"What are you trying to do?"

"I'm cutting off his foot. If I do, we can pull him up immediately."

"...Got it."

With my left hand gripping the rooftop, I swung my right sword forcefully.

It wasn't a pleasant task to put strength into, but I had to cut it in one strike. I recalled the sensation of chopping down a straw scarecrow with a single blow.

"AUUUUGHHHH!"

One of Aaron's legs, splattering blood, fell to the ground.

"Pull him up!"

Jenna held Aaron's right hand with two hands and pulled him up.

The hot blood flowing from the severed leg splattered her face.

"Phew."

I spat out the blood that entered my mouth and climbed back onto the rooftop.

[Aaron is experiencing bleeding. Health decreasing.]

Aaron seemed to have no strength left, and he fell on the rooftop.

I had little time; I quickly stood up and looked beneath the rooftop.

"You've gotta be kidding me?!"

Countless trolls had gathered beneath the rooftop.

When our eyes met, the trolls looked up at us and laughed.

"Are they giving up?"

"Do you think they could?"

One troll toppled over. Another troll leaped on top of it. The trolls started building a pyramid.

"Well, they're smart."

"They're smart, my butt!"

The troll at the very top managed to find a foothold in the crevice of the stone wall. Slowly, bit by bit, the troll that built the makeshift stairs climbed up the wall.

I surveyed the rooftop, its well-worn surface littered with broken bricks. Decisively, I flung a brick at the troll below.

"Kuaaack!"

The troll suffered a direct hit to the face and plummeted to its demise.

"We need to stop them from climbing up!"

"Got it!"

[01:58]

Soon we even ran out of bricks to throw.

Now, trolls were emerging from all directions.

Jenna tightened her grip on her blade.

[Aaron has entered a critical state and is in danger of losing his life!]

Aaron was lying limp, his condition worsening.

He wasn't dead yet, but it wouldn't be long. The bleeding was severe.

"Use Aaron's staff. Stab them!"

Jenna held the knife's blade between her index and middle fingers, flicking it off at a troll. The blade found its mark, piercing the troll's forehead.

Gripping the staff, Jenna began jabbing downward. I, too, raised my blade and mercilessly struck at the climbing trolls.

The trolls at the top used those beneath them as stepping stones to descend. However, there were more trolls climbing up than tumbling down.

"Nowhere else to run..."

I kicked away the troll trying to grab my hand, scanning the surroundings.

"Damn it."

Other rooftops had already been seized by the trolls. They gleamed with blood-red eyes, fixated on us.

"Kiyaaaa! Jenna yelled.

"What's wrong? Did you get injured?"

I quickly looked back.

It would be dangerous if Jenna fell here. I couldn't fend off the enemy alone.

Jenna was clutching her right hand.

She wasn't hurt, but she had lost her grip on the staff.

"I lost the staff."

"I'll make them regret it!"

"What do we do now?"

"What can be done? Kick them and smash them!"

Jenna rested her body against the sloping roof, delivering powerful kicks to the oncoming trolls' faces. With cries of pain, they tumbled to the ground.

[01:24]

"Eeek! Eeek!"

Many hands surged from beneath the rooftop, grasping their weapons. Green flesh was sliced, blood flowed, but the trolls pressed on as they climbed higher, and pulled their weapons closer.

"Clang!"

Unfortunately, I lost my sword. The weapon disappeared, swallowed by the sea of trolls.

Only a blood-stained shield remained.

I struck at the hands reaching onto the rooftop with the edge of the shield. Severed troll fingers sprayed blood as they flew through the air.

"There are too many! How much longer? I can't hold on anymore!"

"30 seconds, only 30 seconds!"

"It feels like an hour has passed!"

"It's true, trust me, and hang on a little longer!"

[00:32]

My vision became blurry.

Blood covered my right eye, obstructing my sight.

I couldn't discern whether it was my blood or the trolls'.

My body begged for rest.

"Now, take a moment to rest. You've done your best and then some."

I had to clamp down hard to return to my senses the moment I heard this whisper in my ear.

I gathered all my remaining mental strength, refusing to succumb to weakness.

Dying here was not an option. I had my own sense of pride. I had to at least clear the fifth floor, if not more longer.

Finally, a troll managed to reach the rooftop.

I swiftly struck its head with the edge of my shield. It toppled down, swinging its sword, and deeply cut my right arm, blood spraying out.

[Han is in critical condition. Endurance decreasing.]

It felt absurd.

I couldn't grasp why I had to endure such hardship here. Back on Earth, none of this ever happened. I rested in a warm, comfortable bed and enjoyed delicious meals.

Why now?!

Why was I brought here?!

Why was I called to fight monsters?

Why me?

Why Me?!

WHY ME?!!!!

[Ability Awakened!]

[Han has obtained the Wrath skill!]

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