Chapter 21: A gamble
Kieran's breath hitched.
His eyes shrank as he watched the blue aura form around the massive troll.
{Magical Ability: Armor – 50% Magic Nullification.}
His stomach twisted.
'It's not just strong... It has a magical ability too?'
A surge of frustration shot through him.
'Damn it!'
He clenched his fists, his mind racing.
The troll's massive club was already coming down—fast.
A single hit, and it was over.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
The world around him blurred.
His instincts screamed at him to move.
But there was nowhere to run.
His gaze locked onto the club, frozen by the sheer force behind it.
Then—
His fingers brushed against something rough.
His grip tightened.
'The rock!'
It was as if his body reacted on its own.
His hand moved.
His arm swung back, gathering as much momentum as it could.
And then—
He threw it.
His target was clear.
The eye.
The troll didn't hesitate.
It brought the club down.
But—
CRACK!
The sharp rock slammed into its eye with a sickening thud.
"ARRRFH!!"
A piercing shriek erupted from the troll as it staggered back.
Its grip on the club weakened, but its attack was already in motion.
BOOM!
The earth shook violently as the club missed its mark—barely a meter away from Kieran.
The force alone sent a shockwave through the cave, cracking the stone floor like a spiderweb.
Kieran felt the air rush past his face, debris pelting his skin.
For a second, he was still.
Then—he exhaled.
His lungs burned.
He hadn't even realized he was holding his breath.
'That was too close.'
But he couldn't stop now.
His gaze snapped back to the troll.
It was furious.
One massive hand clutched its bleeding eye, thick red liquid dripping between its fingers.
The other?
It was locked onto him.
Its rage was palpable.
Its chest heaved, and its nostrils flared like a raging bull.
Kieran could see the splinters flying off its club from the sheer force it was using to grip it.
The blue aura around the troll flickered.
'That's the armor skill...'
His eyes flickered to the burns on its skin.
His flames had hurt it, even with the magic nullification.
'It's not completely immune... I just need to hit the right spot.'
On the sidelines, Alexa watched with an unreadable expression.
She had expected Kieran to struggle.
But this?
She clicked her tongue.
'That troll's ability...'
She had fought countless monsters, but even she hadn't expected it to nullify half of his flames.
Her fingers twitched.
'He might not be able to handle this alone...'
A sigh escaped her lips.
Even though she had promised not to interfere, she couldn't just watch him die.
She was about to step forward—
Then she saw his eyes.
Even with blood dripping down his face...
Even with his ankle swollen...
His will hadn't wavered.
'This brat still wants to fight.'
Her lips curled into a smirk.
'Hah... how interesting.'
The troll took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly.
Then—
It dropped its club.
A loud THUD echoed through the cave.
Kieran's brow furrowed.
'What is it doing?'
Then he realized.
It wasn't sparing him.
It was taunting him.
It wanted to kill him slowly.
A chill crawled down Kieran's spine.
His body screamed at him to move.
But his mind?
His mind was working faster than ever.
'If my flames can pass through the armor a little...'
His gaze darted around, looking for a weak spot.
'I just need to focus them on one point.**'
The troll's shadow loomed over him.
Then—
A massive hand gripped his throat.
Tight.
'Shit—!'
His windpipe compressed.
Pain exploded in his chest.
His feet left the ground.
The pressure was unbearable.
His lungs screamed for air.
His vision blurred.
But his mind?
It was still clear.
His eyes, now hazy, stared straight into the troll's bloodshot ones.
'The head...'
'I can't use Eyes of the Sun. Not enough Aetheris.'
His fingers twitched.
His arms trembled.
'But I'm close enough...'
With his last ounce of strength, he lifted his arm—
And grabbed the troll's face.
A weak, bloody grin tugged at his lips.
His eyes met Alexa's.
"I win," he mouthed.
Alexa's eyes widened.
'Wait—don't tell me—?!'
Then—
BOOM!
A blinding light erupted from Kieran's hand.
It consumed everything.
The troll screamed in agony as the flames wrapped around its head.
It struggled.
It thrashed.
But the fire clung to its flesh, burning hotter than ever before.
Alexa barely had time to react.
Her arms shot up.
Two blue flame barriers formed in front of her as she braced for impact, she also stretches her hands towards Kieran doing same.
Then—
An explosion.
A deafening roar tore through the cave.
The walls shook violently.
The ground split apart.
Rocks collapsed.
The flames spread like a plague, consuming everything in sight.
The heat was so intense it felt as if the very air had caught fire.
The entire realm trembled.
For a moment—
It felt like the world was ending.
And then—
Silence.
The once-proud cave was gone.
Nothing remained but blackened ruins.
The trees had been reduced to ash.
The earth was scorched beyond recognition.
And at the center of it all—
A single figure stood.
Kieran.
His body swayed.
His arms hung limp at his sides.
'I... can't... feel... my... arms...'
The system screen flickered before him.
But before he could even register it—
His vision darkened.
His body tilted forward.
The ground rushed up to meet him.
But—
A hand caught him.
A soft chuckle echoed.
"Hah... idiot," Alexa muttered.
Her grip was firm, but her voice was unusually gentle.
"You really gambled on me saving you, huh?"
She sighed, slowly lowering him to the ground.
Her fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from his face.
"You won... but you're still a reckless fool."
She stood up, her crimson eyes scanning the devastation.
The small realm—once the size of a town—was now nothing but ruins.
She let out a soft chuckle.
'You're stronger than I thought...'
She turned her gaze to the horizon—
Where a bright light was forming.
Her eyes narrowed.
'But will it be enough?'
---{ Saw something in my book page called power stones, could you show me how they work? Give power stones ʘ‿ʘ}