Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 155: Armoured Troll Gang-up Fight I

CH155 Armoured Troll Gang-up Fight I

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The bone-armoured troll lay sprawled atop a throne-like mound of skulls and shattered bones—trophies of its fallen prey—quietly digesting its most recent meal. Its third eye blinked lazily... until the wind carried a new scent.

”Fresh meat...” it rumbled, speaking, shockingly, in the common tongue of the Arun Continent.

It rose, thick fatty muscles bunching under its bone-plated hide as it sniffed the air again, nostrils flaring.

”Fresh meat! Fresh meat!” it repeated with a guttural chuckle. A cruel grin split its face as it grabbed a massive, iron-reinforced wooden mace studded with jagged iron spikes. ”Come! Me smash! Me eat!”

It began to lumber forward.

From within the tree line, Lieutenant Cross led the Shieldbearers out into the clearing. His eyes narrowed as he observed the four-metre monstrosity rising from its throne of bones.

Unlike ordinary trolls, this one possessed grotesque bone growths that formed a natural exoskeletal protection around vital parts of its body. It was wearing its own body as armour.

The bones around its skull formed a helmet-like crown that protected most of its head, leaving only the face and ears exposed. On its torso, the troll had a breastplate-like bone plating that shielded the upper chest and upper back—including both sides around the heart—while its stomach and lower back were left exposed.

On its limbs, it had thick bracers of bone on both arms and shin guards growing directly from its legs. But what unsettled even the most battle-hardened veterans was the eerie gleam from its third eye—a gleam that seemed to gaze straight into one’s soul.

Lieutenant Cross tightened his jaw as murmurs of unease stirred among the soldiers behind him.

”Keep your wits about you if you don’t want to die,” he said in a grim tone. ”Remember your orders. Protect yourselves and cut it down.”

The ground trembled as the troll began to stomp forward.

”It’s coming. Move out!”

Without hesitation, Lieutenant Cross surged ahead to meet the beast, Internal Energy flaring from his core.

Aura Coating!

A yellowish-brown energy wrapped around his frame like a second skin, forming a visible aura that coated both his body and his weapons.

The massive troll bellowed and brought its iron-studded club crashing down toward him.

Lieutenant Cross halted abruptly, digging his feet into the earth.

”Ahhhh!!”

Boom!!

The ground cracked beneath him as the mace struck his shield, sending a shockwave rippling outwards—but he held.

Dust and debris flew.

When it cleared, he was still standing.

”Cover him! Now!” he barked.

The Shieldbearers charged in, surrounding the troll and locking it into their formation.

They swarmed close, staying just beneath its reach, denying it the space needed to swing its mace freely. When it tried a downward smash, swords stabbed in from the flanks, forcing it to recoil.

The tactic worked.

The troll was a brute—strong, but lacking technique or finesse. It flailed against their tight formation like a drowning beast, each attack repelled by overlapping shields, swords and precise footwork.

Wounds began to appear across its grey-green flesh.

Deep cuts and shallow gashes all combined to create a relentless letting of blood from the troll’s body.

But then... the wounds closed!

Healed, almost nigh instantly.

As though they had never existed.

’Tsk...’ Lieutenant Cross clicked his tongue. ’This is why trolls are such damn nuisances. Bone-armoured ones are worse; higher healing and better defences.’

He looked around at the members of his unit.

’We can’t drag this fight out...’

Whistle!

Just as Lieutenant Cross had anticipated, the sharp signal whistle pierced the battlefield.

’It’s about time!’

”Phase two!” he roared.

He focused his Internal Energy, reinforcing his body, then launched himself forward to face the Troll again.

The troll, desperate and enraged, attempted a downward smash. Cross angled his shield just right, parrying and redirecting the force. Without hesitation, he spun on his toes and slammed the edge of his shield into the beast’s knees. The troll crashed into a kneeling position, wobbling but vulnerable.

Right then, the two other Shield Captains rushed in from both flanks. Their blades descended with lethal force, aimed at the troll’s exposed neck like executioners delivering final judgement.

Sensing death, the troll twisted violently in panic. It barely shifted enough to protect its neck, but the swords landed deep into its shoulder blades. With a roar of pain, it dropped its weapon.

Cross stepped forward to finish it—

—but then he caught a flicker in the troll’s third eye.

A glint... no, a glyph!

Strange tattoos unfurled from its third eye to spread across its flesh.

Ancestral Markings!

”Shields up!” he bellowed on instinct.

ROAR!!!

The Troll erupted with a primal, omnidirectional blast. Shockwaves radiated outward, hurling the Shieldbearers away like scattered leaves.

Most of them managed to get their shields up just in time, gritting their teeth as the impact slammed against their shields.

SHUA!

A golden glow fell upon the Shieldbearers. The healer’s buff spell activated, washing over them with restorative force. Strength returned to numbed limbs, pain dulled, and shields were once again braced.

Barely recovered, the men raised their defences as the troll charged again.

Bang!

It stomped forward with terrifying speed—far faster than before.

Empowered by the Ancestral Markings, its fatty muscular frame barrelled like a cannonball aimed at the most dangerous threat it recognised—Lieutenant Cross.

Still stunned from taking the brunt of the earlier blast, Cross barely found his footing as the troll barrelled toward him.

Teeth clenched, he braced himself.

Boom!

The troll’s punch smashed into his shield. The impact sent a bone-jarring tremor through his body. Though he deflected it slightly, the force was overwhelming—too much for his recovering frame.

Boom!

A second strike landed.

His shield dented.

His arm spasmed from the impact.

But the troll wasn’t done.

Bang!

The third blow shattered his grip. The shield flew from his hand as he crashed onto his back.

Dazed, Cross stared up at the looming figure. The troll grinned, fangs bared in savage satisfaction. It interlocked its fists and raised them high above its head.

Cross blinked. He saw his men sprinting toward him, but they were too far. Too slow.

’What are you waiting for, Commander?!’ he screamed internally.

The troll brought its arms down in a final, crushing blow.

Time slowed. Cross could see every ripple in the troll’s muscles, every twist of its expression. He felt the air rush as death came for him...

Then—

”Scorching Ray!”

**

Author’s Note

I have more character art models for you.

Seraphina

Sophia

Ulfman