We proceed cautiously, following the young man's guidance towards the area where broken crates are scattered near the damaged iron door. The room itself resembles a storage area, cluttered with crates and barrels in disarray, all shattered. Rusty daggers and shattered spears are strewn about, and the room exudes the ambiance of a dimly lit, brick-walled dungeon chamber.

The creature in front of me continues to absentmindedly scratch its head, its club resting nonchalantly on its shoulder. It pays us no heed, as long as our voices remain low, and we avoid any sudden movements. However, as I take a step, my sword accidentally makes contact with the ground, eliciting a sharp clang that captures the troll's attention. Its expression instantly shifts to agitation, and it lets out a deafening scream.

"DODGE, NOW!!!" the young man urgently cries out.

In a swift reaction, I sidestep, narrowly evading the creature's club as it swings towards me. My instincts kick in, and I counterattack by ducking and swiftly swinging my sword from left to right, aiming for its stomach.

Stepping back a few paces, I closely observe the monster, my surprise growing as I realize my blow seemed to have no effect at all. I was convinced I had delivered a significant strike!

"What is this thing!?" I exclaim, my voice filled with bewilderment.

"You've never heard of trolls?" the young man asks incredulously, his tone laced with surprise.

"The WHAT!?"

He lets out a heavy sigh, his spear pointed firmly at the troll.

"Seriously? You're facing it without even knowing what it is? Do you have a death wish or something!?"

"I only heard about it from Horroundeous. He didn't provide any details, just-"

The young man's face contorts with disbelief.

"You called His Highness by HIS NAME!? What were you thinking? You prideless idiot!!"

"Stop calling me an idiot. I have a name!! Are we going to face this thing together or not!? Tell me more about this thing already!" I shout while raising my sword.

The troll, clearly intimidated by my swift response, swings its club menacingly in my direction.

Anticipating its attack pattern, I effortlessly evade the incoming blow by ducking, then swiftly counter with a well-aimed swing of my sword at its legs.

As my blade connects, I notice it inflicts an injury, but my surprise grows as I witness the wound healing within a matter of seconds.

"Trolls have a high regeneration ability. Try cutting off its head instead of making useless moves!" the young man advises, his voice urgent.

Without hesitation, he charges at the troll, thrusting his spear into its back. The troll becomes agitated, attempting to grab the spear.

"Now, cut off its head!!" he calls out, his tone filled with determination.

Stepping back, I position my sword on my lower left side.

"Here goes, [Riselite Slash!!]" I declare, my voice resolute.

I swing my sword toward its head, but due to the height difference, my blade ends up slashing its chest near the neck.

"Uh-oh..." I mutter, my heart pounding as the troll abruptly ceases struggling, raising its club menacingly and swinging it in my direction.

Instinctively, I attempt to parry the oncoming blow, but the sheer force of the impact sends me hurtling through the air.

"Why did he send YOU, of all people, who can't even handle a single Troll!" the young man exclaims, his frustration evident as he facepalms, appearing utterly hopeless.

"You're one to talk. What about those wounds you have, damn it!" I respond, my voice filled with irritation as I struggle myself standing up.

I slowly manage to get up, wincing in pain as I feel the ache in my back.

"I've been facing goblins aside from this one, you idiot! What do you think these cut wounds are from!" he retorts, angrily pointing at his own injuries.

"STOP CALLING ME AN IDIOT ALREADY, MY NAME IS RAIKEN!!" I shout in exasperation, my patience running thin.

As I regain my composure, I suddenly realize something. Apart from the goblins with broken heads, there were also goblins with stabbing wounds back in the first room. It dawns on me that it was this person who had fought and killed them while battling this troll, ultimately leading it into this place.

I rush at the troll, while the young man releases his grip on his spear, preparing to attack its neck.

"[Pentastab!!]"

He expertly maneuvers, knocking the troll towards a nearby crate, piercing its neck with a rapid five-time thrust of his spear.

Seizing the opportunity, I sprint toward a lower, broken crate and then leap onto a higher one.

"[Riselite Slash!!]" I declare as I swing my sword toward its neck. However, the troll swiftly blocks my attack with its left hand.

My body spins, and I instinctively slash again at its neck. This time, the troll attempts to block me once more, but the young man intervenes, stabbing its hand with his spear, preventing it from defending itself further.

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With all the strength I can muster, I swing my sword with all my might!

Finally, with a great force, I manage to sever its head from its neck, the decisive blow leaving the troll’s head fall to the ground. It’s body slowly collapsed to the ground, making a loud thumping relieving voice to us.

The young man kicks the head away from the body, and we watch as the headless troll, in its last futile attempt, tries to scratch its chest, seeking a desperate breath, before eventually collapsing lifeless.

Both of us are panting heavily, the intensity of the battle taking its toll.

"Good work," the young man acknowledges, still catching his breath.

Holding his spear, he collapses to the ground, struggling to remain upright.

"Damn, my wounds..."

"What about them? Didn't the guards give you a couple of potions on the way here?" I inquire.

"That vile liquid? I tossed them away. I can't stand the taste."

"You WHAT!? How are you supposed to heal your wounds now!?"

"I'm fine, idiot! I just need to catch my breath!"

Seeing him struggle to stand, barely able to remain on his feet, I retrieve a healing potion from my pouch with a pale expression.

"What are you--" he begins, but I interrupt him firmly.

"Drink."

I push the potion into his mouth with force. He resists at first, attempting to push the bottle away, but I persist, making sure every drop finds its way into his mouth.

He drinks it begrudgingly, spitting here and there, before shoving me hard.

"I DRANK IT ALL, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!?" he exclaims, wiping his mouth with his hand.

"I just don't want to witness anyone else die before my eyes. I'll do what's necessary," I reply solemnly.

"You're a strange one, you know that?" he remarks, glancing at me, his expression softening.

"Anyway, I owe you one for that. My name's Duke Craigered. Just call me Duke."

"I'm Raiken J."

We shake hands firmly, the weight of our recent battle still heavy on our shoulders as we catch our breaths.

"Let's wait for a while until it takes effect," I suggest. Duke nods, and he sits down on a nearby crate.

#

Meanwhile...

Alpha and Josh step into the shop and are greeted by three doors. Inside of each doors and levels, stands a friendly cashier. One door is positioned to the south, while the other two face left and right. Stairs divide the shop into three distinct segments, separating the floors that display various weapons, armors, and assorted items on each of the floors. The walls are made of polished bricks, giving it a style of knighty elegance.

Alpha heads toward the weapons section, where swords and bows gleam enticingly. Simultaneously, Josh makes his way to the armor section, eyeing the sturdy suits of protective gear.

...

"Hey Josh, come check this out," Alpha calls out, his eyes fixed on a particular weapon.

With careful hands, Alpha lifts a long, slender sword from the display. The blade possesses a striking resemblance to swords hailing from the southern continent. It boasts a unique balance, with a hilt and blade width that mirror each other. The quick grip is adorned with quillons reminiscent of a broadsword, and the blade gracefully narrows to a fine point.

"Ho-ho. A Bastard Sword, eh?" Josh remarks with a knowing smile.

Yes, you read it correctly, [Bastard Sword].

Though it shares similarities with a standard longsword, the Bastard Sword possesses a slender profile. Swordsmen often favor it for thrusting maneuvers rather than sweeping slashes. Its slim design allows for versatile use, either with one hand or both.

It seems to have its origins in the work of a skilled blacksmith who took a keen interest in southern continent swords and ingeniously combined their attributes. The result is a blade that outperforms the traditional longsword.

"However," Alpha adds, "the previous lord didn't quite fancy the idea, which led to its rather unconventional name."

"You really do take your time delving into history, don't you?" Josh playfully nudges Alpha's shoulder with his elbow.

"I wonder if Rai could put this to good use. It's certainly lighter than that Iron Sword I gave him," Alpha muses, lightly nudging Josh back in response.

"Considering how swiftly he picks up combat techniques, it seems like a solid choice."

"Yeah, definitely a better choice than you," Alpha smirks at Josh, a playful twinkle in his eye.

"Remember the time you were swinging this thing around, claiming this seemingly fragile sword would snap faster than your bow? You nearly demolished half of the shop's display," Alpha chuckles, recalling the incident.

"Uh..." Josh takes a step back, grinning sheepishly.

"I do seem to remember someone swinging it like a maniac until he realized it wasn't as delicate as it looked," Alpha continues with a grin.

"Alright, alright! I underestimated it because of its size, okay!" Josh concedes, playfully shoving Alpha.

The two friends share a hearty laugh, the fond memories of their past adventures filling the air.

"I'll take this as a reward for him. Do you need anything else?" Alpha inquires.

Josh ponders for a moment before returning to the armor section. There, he selects a finely crafted light armor from the display.

"I think I'll get this for him," Josh decides. "It provides good slash resistance and allows for nimble movement. He doesn't strike me as someone suited for heavy armor."

Alpha nods in agreement. "That sounds like a wise choice. Let's also pick up some potions before we head back to the castle to await his return from the trial."

With their selections made, they make their way to one of the cashiers to complete the purchase of the equipment and restock on essential potions.

...

Several minutes later, Alpha and Josh return to the front of the castle.

"Halt," one of the vigilant guards commands as they approach.

"What's the matter?" Alpha inquires, his curiosity piqued.

"You're General Alpha, right?" the guard asks, eyeing them closely. "We've received word about an unknown wizard sneaking into the castle. If you come across anything suspicious, be sure to report it to us."

"A wizard?" Alpha and Josh exchange uncertain glances.

"Yes, precisely," the guard confirms. "If you happen to notice anything unusual or out of place, please do not hesitate to inform the guards immediately."

"Understood. Thank you for the information," Alpha acknowledges with a nod.

With that, they continue their journey into the castle, heading towards the underground area where Rai's trial is underway. The familiar route is etched in their memories, guiding them to their destination with ease.

#

End of Chapter 12