Big! So big!
Ugly! Fucking ugly!
That was Herbert and the others' first impression upon seeing the strange creatures known as trolls.
Most of them stood over nine feet—three meters—tall, nearly twice the height of an ordinary person. Even without standing directly before them, they exuded an inexplicable sense of menace, and their appearance was utterly at odds with human—or rather, most humanoid—standards of beauty.
Though trolls and frost giants both belonged to the giant class, perhaps because they had lived in damp environments for so long, their bodies looked shriveled and devoid of fat, like skin stretched over bones. Yet many parts of their bodies were covered in disgusting tumor-like growths enough to make anyone with trypophobia drop dead on the spot. Who knew if parasites were to blame.
And because their skin was so shriveled, their teeth were almost all exposed. Thus, regardless of their mood, they always seemed to wear a malicious, savage grin. Combined with their long, drooping noses, their appearance was enough for anyone to recognize at a glance that these creatures were evil and chaotic.
Ugly was ugly, though. They had not come here for a blind date; they had come to hunt trophies.
A rough sweep of the area showed that, just as Ralph, the company commander's "Prophet Bear Cub," had "foretold," there were only a little over twenty trolls. It should not be a problem.
"Everyone, spread out! Follow the plan!"
At Herbert's command, the twenty squads that had been gathered together swiftly scattered in every direction. Some even climbed into the trees like nimble monkeys.
According to the intelligence they had received from the esteemed Mages, these creatures might be huge, but they were not slow. If they used concentrated volleys, the trolls could easily wipe them all out with a