Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Mountain Troll
“[Given the amount of meat you have eaten, if you get your hands on some special cores, you can easily unlock those transformations too],” Nexus said.

~That’s true. And since you can only change into 100 kinds, it’s better to search for the best ones rather than some useless ones, like this Jade Horn Rabbit. It’s useless,

Jake listened to their advice and nodded in agreement. He realized that he should focus on acquiring the cores of special beasts rather than wasting time on less useful ones.

****

“He’s up there,” Jake announced, gazing up the mountain. At its summit stood a figure resembling a fat pig with gray skin.

In his hands, he wielded a massive club fashioned from a tree trunk.

“He is more ugly than he looks in pictures” Jess commented and almost everyone nodded.

The mountain troll towered over its surroundings, its massive form casting a formidable shadow across the rugged terrain. Its body, covered in thick, coarse gray fur, seemed to blend seamlessly with the rocky landscape. Despite its hulking size, the troll moved with surprising agility, each step causing the ground to tremble beneath its weight.

Its face was dominated by a broad, flat nose and a wide, gaping mouth filled with rows of jagged teeth. Small, beady eyes peered out from beneath a heavy brow, glinting with a cunning intelligence that belied its brutish appearance. A pair of large, pointed ears twitched atop its head, ever alert to the slightest sound.

Massive arms, thick with muscle, hung at its sides, ending in hands with fingers resembling gnarled tree roots. Each finger sported long, sharp claws capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease. Its legs, sturdy and powerful, supported its bulk as it traversed the rugged terrain with surprising grace.

“I’ve got another idea,” Jake announced, his eyes scanning the mountain troll and its surroundings.

The anticipation in the air was palpable as everyone’s ears perked up, their gazes fixed on Jake with eager anticipation, awaiting his strategy.

Jake’s plan unfolded with meticulous detail as he elaborated further.

“We’ll start by scouting the area and identifying the optimal location for the trap,” he explained, his gaze sweeping across the rugged landscape. “Once we’ve found the perfect spot, we’ll dig a deep pit and line it with sharp constructs of magic, ensuring that they’re concealed from view.”

With a sense of purpose, the team split up, scouring the landscape for the ideal location. After hours of exploration, they reconvened, their efforts rewarded as they identified a narrow gorge flanked by towering rock formations.

“This is it,” Jake announced, he nodded in acknowledgement. “We’ll dig the trap here.”

Under his guidance, the team set to work, digging a deep pit concealed by the natural terrain. Meanwhile, Jess wove his magic threads into intricate patterns, creating invisible tripwires designed to guide the troll towards the trap.

As night fell and the trap neared completion, a sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air. “Phew, now we just have to guide it here,” Jake remarked, his voice tinged with relief.

Turning to Millie, a double-pontailed girl known for her lightning core and Lightning Body Art, Jake assigned her the crucial task. “Millie, it’s your turn now,” he said, his tone serious yet confident.

Millie nodded in acknowledgment, her body crackling with electrical energy as she prepared to spring into action. With a swift movement, she vanished from her position, her Lightning Body Art propelling her with unparalleled speed towards the troll.

Reappearing beside the towering creature, Millie smirked with determination as she unleashed a powerful kick aimed squarely at the back of its head. Though the kick only slightly bruised the troll’s head, her intention was never to inflict harm.

As the troll turned to face her with a menacing roar, swinging its massive club in a sweeping arc, Millie laughed defiantly. With lightning-quick reflexes honed through her Lightning Body Art, she darted away from the troll’s swinging attack, narrowly avoiding being struck.

With a taunting grin, Millie darted forward, drawing the troll’s attention as she deftly led it towards the waiting trap.

As the troll thundered after her, its wrath propelling its pursuit, Millie’s heart beat with excitement. With each passing second, she got closer to performing her role in the team’s plan, knowing that their victory hinged on her ability to outmaneuver the formidable creature and lead it directly into the trap.

As Millie drew closer to Jess’s threads, she leaped with impressive agility, effortlessly avoiding the sharp strands as they danced in the air. Meanwhile, the troll’s fury propelled it forward, its relentless pursuit fixed solely on Millie.

As the troll closed in on the threads, it suddenly recoiled in pain, feeling the sharp sting of the magic strings digging deep into its legs. Jake frowned at the unintended consequence of the plan. “The plan was to trip him,” he muttered, his expression troubled.

Jess, looking apologetic with a guilty expression, spoke up, “Sorry, I guess my magic strings were too sharp.”

Jake shook his head, but knowing there was no time for dwelling on it. With lightning speed, he appeared behind the troll, using his enhanced agility to push and throw the creature directly into the waiting trap.

The troll roared in protest as it fell into the pit, but its cries were soon silenced as countless magic spikes riddled its body with holes. Killing it.

Cilia, descended into the pit with ease, her movements fluid and graceful. With steady hands, she retrieved the trophies from the fallen troll, each item a testament to their hard-won victory.

First, she gently collected the medallion, its complex design shining in the pit’s faint lighting. She then extracted the troll’s core, which was pulsing with latent energy and served as a powerful source of energy. She secured the club with a difficult hand, its immense size and weight demonstrating the troll’s fearsome strength.

Finally, Cilia grabbed the troll’s tusks, the sharp tips shining ominously in the darkness. These trophies would serve as mementos of their victory, souvenirs from their triumphant encounter with the mountain troll.

With the trophies firmly grasped in her hands, Cilia climbed out of the pit, her heart brimming with joy at their successful victory. However, as she returned to her comrades, she sensed an unusual tension in the air.

“What happened?” Cilia inquired, her brow furrowing in concern as she observed the somber expressions of her teammates.

Jake spoke up, his gaze fixed on Jess, who stood with bowed head. “Jess, explain,” he demanded, his tone firm.

Cilia’s frown deepened as she turned her attention to Jess, awaiting his response with a mixture of confusion and apprehension.

“Those sharp magic strings were intentional,” Jake continued, his voice tinged with disappointment. “Jess thought he could kill it alone and claim the rewards all for himself.”

Shock washed over Cilia as she processed Jake’s words. Betrayal pierced her heart as she realized the extent of Jess’s deception. Her trust in her teammate shattered in an instant, replaced by a sense of betrayal and anger.

Cilia’s heart ached as she confronted Jess, her best friend and confidant, with a sword aimed at him. The sense of betrayal cut deep, clouding her mind with anguish and confusion.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. “Why did you do it?”

Jess remained bowed before her, his guilt evident in his posture. As Cilia’s voice filled with anguish, he shuddered, feeling the weight of her disappointment bearing down on him.

“I-I… I got blinded by greed,” Jess confessed, his voice barely above a whisper as he admitted to his wrongdoing.

The admission pierced Cilia’s heart, the pain of betrayal mingling with the sorrow of seeing her friend fall from grace. Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to comprehend the magnitude of Jess’s actions.

“I am sorry,” Jess pleaded, his voice choked with emotion as he knelt before her, his head bowed in shame. “Please, eliminate me.”

Cilia’s grip tightened on her sword, torn between her feelings of anger and the bond she once shared with Jess. Her heart heavy with sorrow, she knew that forgiveness would not come easily, but she also couldn’t bring herself to harm her friend.

As Jake observed the tense exchange between Cilia and Jess, a heavy sigh escaped his lips. “Tch, I would have never thought it would be Jess who would act selfishly first,” he mused silently to himself.

Jake had placed his trust in Jess as one of the captains he appointed to lead various teams within their group. He had divided the team into multiple units, each tasked with specific responsibilities to ensure the success of their missions.

The realization that Jess, one of his appointed leaders, had succumbed to greed and betrayed their trust weighed heavily on Jake’s mind. He had never anticipated such a betrayal from someone he had considered a reliable comrade and friend.

As Jake was contemplating he suddenly heard Cilia Cold voice ” Don’t dare to show your face in front of me again”

The sudden coldness in Cilia’s voice snapped Jake out of his contemplation. Before he could react, he watched in shock as she swiftly swung her sword towards Jess’s neck, her expression hardened with resolve.

In a panic, Jess blurted out defensively, “You b!tch, what’s wrong with working for myself?”

Cilia paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she processed Jess’s words. Without hesitation, she delivered the final blow, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. In an instant, Jess’s head flew from his body, disappearing into motes of light as he was eliminated from the exam.