We've been running after goblins and kobolds nonstop, yet there was no sign of them yet, just couple of footsteps that they have left after departure

* Hunter sense

I activated my skill and in radius of 1 kilometers every living being was revealed

 - I've found them, about 800 meters ahead... but something's not right, I sense the strong presence and it's not alone... we should be careful

 - No matter how strong they are I can't abandon Liana, let's go!

...

There was sound of trees shaking, then shattering, something is approaching... and I failed to sense it, it should have concealed its presence

We were running up the hill, it's coming after us, I can't let her be caught

I pushed her down, her face revealed disbelief, but there's no other way

Tree shattering sound got closer and I was covered by a huge shadow, something huge has jumped and was about land on me and my horse, I should distract this thing

 - Oh, another human, probably it was fortune for us to get banished from that place, after all

Said the giant as he landed

My horse turned into bloody meat, my heart bled from regret, but I had to worry about myself even more, I was caught by some two headed giant and... I could not lift a finger against it, at least I should know what it is

                                                                                                              Ettin                                                                                                    Level 8 / Level 8 

My heart sank, this is a monster with two cores, I have no chance to beat it at all, I hope she made it out

 - Roy, I'll save you

I heard a voice...

 - YOU IDIOT! RUN, we can't deal with this thing, forget about me

 - I can't do that, you dumb bear!

Ah, it's no use

POV change

What is this thing? It's so large and it's the strongest monster I have ever faced so far, as far as I know, there should be nothing but kobolds orcs and goblins here, when did it change? Was that thing a reason why these monster cooperated to raid a village? But... no matter how strong it is, even if I am merely level 13, I can't abandon Roy, what can I do without him?

I ignored the bruises that I got from the fall, abandoned the idea of fighting it with a dagger and took out a whip, that's the only thing that might work against it

Jumping from tree to tree I approached the giant, which had Roy caught in its hand and its two heads looked at me... with amused look, you bastard, wait until I will make you roll down the hill, I don't believe you can survive this, I hope you brake your bone or two, or even your head

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The wind cutting sound was heard as giant hand was approaching,  I dodged by dropping from branch to lower one, the trees were obstructing my way, I saw its giant legs ahead, I threw my whip like lasso and it wrapped around its leg, now how do I overweight such brute?

I can't, so I'll make sure to make it lose its balance

I started running around the monster, but unexpectedly it did not turn around

Don't want to get caught in my trap? Humph, than taste this!

I took out a black dagger and tried piercing its skin... it bounced off, right, the difference in levels is big, so most of my attacks will be ineffective

It lifted its leg

Oh no

I tried fleeing but it was too late

* Stomp

The earth shattering sound echoed as dust, debris and rock flew around, some of them even managed to hit me and the impact threw me back, I fell, I can't fall here

While shaking I tried to stand up, the giant was approaching

 - Run, forget about me!

You idiot, you know that it won't work right?

And I was also caught, the struggle was futile, the giant held us two in each hands like wingless chicken

Now what?

 - Interesting, you were planning to sacrifice yourself for another human?

 - Yeah, look at them, the only one I would sacrifice myself for would be you my fellow head

And the two heads burst into laughing

I don't know how this thing works, do they have different thoughts or are they the same? But most importantly what fate is waiting for us?

 - Alright, let's bring them back, boss will be delighted

Roy had an ashen face, I am sorry, I could not just leave you here, if we are fated to die here I prefer to be buried alongside you... it's been a short life, things we have been striving for... now they are lost, it's all been for naught, maybe you were right, we should have worked for some noble, with our power we would get a good treatment and we would avoid living a dangerous life, I should have brought my village to the city, it would be hard for them to get a foothold but with our connections they could become merchants... now it's all gone

Monster's stomping sound echoed, it leisurely strolled through the forest, bringing us along with it

 - Silicia, I am sorry... If only I was stronger...

Roy had an ashen face, this is the first time I saw his expression sunken so much, his eyes were full of regret

 - Idiot, it's not your fault...

I said as glistening tears were about to drop from my eyes, but I held them in, I tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it seems it had the opposite effect as he shrunk his shoulders even more

It's the fate of the weak to be devoured, I thought we worked hard enough to get here, who knew... that we would end up like that, I am sorry Liana, seems I can't save you...

POV change

 - A human? Kuhahaha, my first time seeing one, and he's also very beautiful

 - Yeah, listen up maggots, this human is my toy, anybody dares to touch him and we'll slaughter without hesitation

Two heads ordered threateningly

 - Yes boss, merely... it's not he... it's she

...

 - Oh, so humans also have a gender? Wonderful! I wonder how they breed, what would happens if we bred?

* You'll brake her

Thought some experienced goblins to themselves while giving wry smile but they did not dare refute

* Stomp, stomp

 - Oh, you are back, did something happen?

Asked the highest level etiin, which was level 17 in total

Approaching giant was level 16 in total, the one that has caught humans

 - Look, what we brought, I found another two humans, these things are amusing, you can't beleive it, they tried sacrificing themselves for each other

 - Yeah, it sure was unexpected, if we sacrifice ourselves for fellow head that's normal, but to get ourselves killed for another? That's hilarious

5 ettins burst in laughter

Goblins and kobolds that stood like children who have done something wrong mimicked them to not get on their bad side

 - Today is the great day, we'll have a great feast

 - Yeah, and main ingredients will be humans, kuhahahaha

Said the level 17 ettin but level 16 one seemed displeased and grumbled

 - But.. is not that a waste? They are interesting, why don't we play around with them for a while?

 - That's right, we can't eat our toys yet, they might have other uses

...

 - You guys are right, let's do that

...

 - Do you guys hear it?

 - The sound of something approaching, it smells like humans

 - Let's give them a ''warm'' welcome

The monsters hid behind trees, waiting for approaching carriage to get closer

- ROAR!

They talked to each other, they would scare off the approaching humans, they wanted to see their cowardly faces and ettins were curious if they were capable of having such an emotion

Ettins, goblins and kobolds blocked approaching carriage roaring in menacing way

But carriage did not even stop, it kept on going as if nothing was up ahead

 - Are they so scared that they think we aren't real?

 - They pissed their pants?

 - What can you expect boss? Humans are cowards, we have raided their villages countless times, we know of their nature

 - But this one seems different

 - Let's find out!

Said the strongest ettin and he walked out from the crowd, with his towering physique the carriage was covered in its shadow