58 Trollhunters (2/2)
Despite the malicious destructiveness of each swing of the troll's hammer, Ashley's steelbark shield held. The troll's soldiers fared no better. They too were repelled by the bronze shields held aloft by Ashley's shield squad.
”You two ready?” I asked the two members of my personal fireteam.
Both Aura and Luca gave me the affirmative. It was time to hunt.
”Ashley, let the bastard through,” I ordered.
Ashley spared me a quick glance before she tapped on the soldier to her right. Both of them quickly pulled back to create a hole in their shield wall. This allowed the troll to push past our line. Once he was through, however, Ashley and the other soldier immediately plugged the hole they'd created, ensuring no other enemy soldier was able to follow their commander.
At the same time as this occurred, Luca and I both rushed forward to engage the troll and keep him from attacking the back of Ashley's shield wall.
Luca lept forward with his broadsword held high. He slashed downward but the troll raised its hammer to block the attack.
Clang!
Sparks flew as Luca's shadowblade rebounded after it was repelled by the steel pole of the troll's hammer. But this didn't deter my little brother one bit. He simply tightened his grip on his sword hilt and sent the shadowblade slicing sideward.
Clang!
The troll lowered the war hammer's pole in time for another block. His bright yellow eyes glared menacingly back at Luca.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three successive slashes. Each one with the force of Luca's berserker strength behind it. However, the troll's own strength was a match for Luca's. It blocked each of Luca's attacks successfully. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
As it pulled it raised its hammer to counter another attack from Luca, I saw the deep gashes along the width of the pole. Luca, with amazing accuracy I didn't think possible without a skill like Fool's Insight, had been striking the same part in the troll's war hammer.
It was then that I realized that my brother's incredible athleticism had opened the path for victory.
”Luca, switch!” I ordered.
Quick as a cat, Luca lept back, creating enough of an opening for me to charge in.
My falchion's shadowblade slithered forward as I charged. The shadowblade snaked toward the gash in the pole of the troll's war hammer. Thanks to its constant vibration—an effect equivalent to a chainsaw—my sword cut through the pole, which, despite obviously being steel-tier, had already been thoroughly weakened by Luca's attacks.
The surprised troll had zero time to feel surprised, however, because I had just yelled, ”Switch!” and then lept back to allow Luca to charge in.
Luca, his expression even more intense, swept his shadowblade sideward and cut deep into the troll's thick right arm.
The troll screamed in pain. It was a roar that made my ears ring.
An undeterred Luca continued his attack, sending his shadowblade right back into the troll's right arm and finally cutting it off along with the war hammer's head and half a steel pole.
The troll yelled, ”Guards, rally to me! Defend me from these brutish humans!”
Whoa! I thought. The troll commander sounded nothing like Shaqs who sounded like a typical dumb brute. And did he just call us brutes? Really?
The troll's big yellow eyes darted left and then right. Its mouth formed into a deepening frown. The forehead creased. And then a sudden understanding appeared on his face. Only then did he notice that the trap had been sprung.
Surrounding the troll in a square formation were members of Ashley's squad. Half of them held their shields up facing the troll while the other half raised their shields outward to protect the line from outside enemies.
”Infantry square formation completed, Dean!” Ashley yelled.
”I noticed,” I yelled back.”Thanks!”
”No problem. Just kill it quickly... we can't hold this formation long... some of us have our backs exposed,” she said.
”You heard her, Luca. Let's—”
I didn't have time to finish that sentence as the troll, possibly noticing his own precarious predicament, lunged for me and Luca. The clawed fingers of its only remaining hand reaching out for my neck.