Chapter 38: Bloodlust (1/2)
Kadiz Ral Le Lizor was once a simple no named cave troll like his comrades with no district role amongst his peers. They lived in a cave sitting atop a Grade 1 Rubinx mine in the western parts of the Darknar forest. Since trolls easily adapted to any environment they find themselves in, these cave trolls grew to love the rare red ores found in the mine and would generally dig them out for fun.
However, this had attracted the attention of something. The undead King of the West Zerahut noticed these trolls as they sometimes adorned themselves with the unrefined ores. Zerahut decided to take this mine for himself and the trolls were powerless to stop him. They're puny brains couldn't comprehend why an undead creature would need a lot of red Runbinx ores but they could not stop him, rather the trolls that had managed to survive his onslaught were forced under his servitude
Kadiz worked the mine alongside his 127 other trolls that had survived from a tribe of more than 300 trolls. For the next 10 years they worked the mine for the undead and slowly their life energy were drained by the undeads minions while slowly being influenced by negative energy with more that half of his comrades being unable survive the process.
The remaining trolls evolved and became gray trolls. They were more slender and some might even say malnourished, but they were more muscular and a bit faster with some of them developing the ability to speak.
Kadiz was one of those chosen few, he felt a sense of accomplishment he had never felt before. He was then recognized by the undead King to take over the long vacant role of the trolls chief. Kadiz, for the first time in his life received recognition. Amongst his similar looking brethrens he had always been a nobody, he was good in a fight but most trolls were. They were originally cave trolls who only brawled using their fist and clubs, no one cared if you could use a sword.
However, the undead King noticed his skills, he bestowed him with a name alongside the Dark-Syphon. Kadiz wasn't exactly sure what the dark syphon was but he knew he could now slowly Syphon energy from his core and store it in the weird symbols that occasionally appear on his skin granting him the ability to cast spells and even use skills.
Trolls were considered humanoid monsters or demi-human, but they didn't have Mana bodies, possessing only beast cores and if they were strong enough magic crystals, therefore they were generally unable to use spells and in their case even skills, only possessing a racial ability. As long as their cores weren't destroyed trolls could regenerate from any injury, even being sliced in pieces wouldn't stop them so it wasn't a bad tradeoff.
For the next two decades Kadiz used his new found strength to faithfully serve his new master. He did whatever he was told including the massacring of any foolish tribe or individual that refused to serve under his master's rule. His accomplishments was so great he was promoted several times untill he became the left had of his king and was blessed once again with a magic weapon.
His reverence for Zerahut grew, so much so that he became a bit over eager to serve. His wish came true as something strange happened a few days ago that sent shockwave through out the entire forest. His master then gave him a new order, to head east and expand their territory, bringing in any strong monsters or any settlements of intelligent creatures under his rule.
Zerahut's ultimate goal aside from amassing more knowledge abd power was to rule the entirety of the ever expensive Darknar forest and Kadiz hope to be the one to offer it to him. However, something unexpected happened.
Kadiz did as his master commanded and headed east, he followed the trail of the weakest monsters that could be easily captured, without realizing it he had made it across the eastern forest in less than a day. In only a day they had subjugated more that three tribes of intelligent creatures including two different tribes of kobolds, at least that's what he thought when he suddenly received a report that more than half of the second village had escaped with their chief. Anger arose within the belly of Kadiz. Worthless creatures like these dare disobey the will of his king. An insult, they did not deserve to live, death itself was too kind for such insolence.
Kadiz ordered the group of the 10 ordinary gray trolls he had brought with him to hunt down this creatures and massacre them however they should leave behind their leader for him to play with. He then killed off the remaining kabobs in the second village and strolled after his men in the hopes that they hadn't gotten drunk in their sick games and killed the leader by mistake but what he saw next put a frown on his face.
His men had also intercepted a group of ogres and beastmen migrating through the outskirts of the forest. Of course these new arrivals were of no consequences as Kadiz was confident in defeating any ogre, however the few individuals that was travelling with the ogres worried him.
There were three demons with the group and of course whatever race the
blue haired lady was. Kadiz frowned because these individuals were stronger than he had expected, he didn't think that challenging them carelessly was a good idea so Kadiz used a skill, camouflage, him and his remaining group of 10 elites trolls slowly turned invisible and they slowly approached the entrance of the forest.
He wasn't really bothered by the involvement of a few demons as he was very confident in his own strength. Although lord Zerahut had once warned him about getting involved with any demons inside the great Darknar forest. Kadiz was interested in testing his strength against the strength of demons, besides these were not inside the forest so it should be fine.
Kadiz stayed behind and watched the battle between the ogres beastmen and kobolds against his ten ordinary trolls and was disappointed. So far only one ogre was interesting and of course one of the demons that occasionally stepped in to help. It didn't appear like the other three individuals were going to step in and Kadiz keen eyesight noticed the young man stare at his location.
Although he wasn't staring directly at them Kadiz thought he might've noticed them. 'I can't sense any aura from him, an assassin type? Even still, he should be weaker than me if I'm not even registering his presence. The two females are the issue.' Kadiz sensed an icy cold aura emanating from the blonde female and a calm yet soul crushing aura from the blue haired one, however Kadiz mind calmed down when he saw her healing the group.
She may have been their strongest member but as a healer she couldn't have much offensive abilities. Kadiz confidence grew when he realized he only had the blonde icy female to worry about.
He had considered retreating for a while before deciding against it after that realization and staring at the magic weapon in his hand. Kadiz smiled and strolled forth, first he picked up a huge boulder with a single arm and flung it like he had just launched a catapult. The massive rock was aimed at the large ogre that was the most trouble for his troll, he wanted to demoralize the enemy before making his appearance.
He was a bit shocked when his surprised attack was easily deflected by the young man he had previously ignored and considered a weak assassin but he quickly recovered and challenged all three of them while pretending he didn't already know the limitations on the blue haired female.