For the Rise of the Trolls

The nearest major city south of the Black Pine River, Leaping River City, had become a living hell after the trolls' rampage.

A great fire spread wildly through the city, thick smoke soaring into the sky and forming dark clouds that pressed down upon the earth.

The firelight reflected off the blood that had yet to dry, giving it an unnaturally vivid crimson hue. The streets and alleys had long since lost their former bustle, replaced by shattered stones and broken tiles. Countless mutilated corpses lay strewn across the ground, devoid of all life, waiting for the flames to gradually devour everything.

In the largest square at the city center stood a towering mound built from human heads. A dark red trickle slowly seeped out from its base, and in an instant, the world seemed to lose all color, turning into one of black and white.

Outside Leaping River City, the vast troll army stretched like a dark blue shadow as far as the eye could see, its murderous aura soaring into the heavens.

The cold wind howled, battle flags fluttered, war drums thundered, and blades pointed straight south.

At the very front of the troll formation, a troll a full size larger than the others rode atop a snow-white giant wolf. Bare-chested, with a massive iron hammer slung over his shoulder, he gazed toward the southern horizon.

An invisible aura radiated from his powerful, upright body—the confidence of one who could conquer anything.

He was the leader of the troll allied forces, the faith of all trolls, and the last hope for the rise of the troll race—Ge Mu.

A lean troll with a weathered face held a Skull Scepter and urged the giant wolf beneath him toward Ge Mu.

"Chief Ge Mu, what you hold in your hands is the future of the troll race. You still have a chance to choose again. Will you return to the polar lands, gather strength, and wait for the right moment? Or... will you lead all our people in a desperate gamble? If we lose, the trolls will have no future left."

They had already sent more than four hundred troll children and many female trolls to an isolated island overseas. Even if their army was utterly defeated, there would still be a sliver of hope in the distant future. At the very least, the troll race would not be wiped out entirely.

But they all knew that sweeping across the world again would be almost impossible.

"Sangbo Priest, I understand the plight of the troll race better than you do. What I want to tell you is that if the trolls continue hiding away in the polar lands, we will only slowly destroy ourselves. If we do not head south soon and seize a place to survive, there may be no chance at all in the future. Since our people still yearn for the south, we might as well stake everything on one final fight."

He paused, tightening his grip on the giant hammer over his shoulder, then bared his teeth in a grin. "Besides... the power within me cannot be stopped. Under my leadership, Ge Mu, the trolls will return to our homeland.

"The rulers of this beautiful land are destined to be us. Humans are nothing but a band of despicable, feeble thieves. There is no room for them in this world."

As he spoke, incomparable confidence poured from him. "This is the inescapable responsibility I bear as a Heavenly God Warrior."

Sangbo looked at Ge Mu's powerful body, suppressing the inexplicable unease in his heart. He silently backed away two steps. "Then this worn-out body of mine will guard your side until I die in battle. I only hope you never forget your promise."

Ge Mu raised his giant hammer high, then swung it downward. "For the rise of the trolls!"

He took the lead, urging his wolf southwest.

The troll army behind him followed closely, gradually forming into a sharp sword that thrust forward.

"For the rise of the trolls!"

Every troll following behind Ge Mu wore a fanatical expression, their bodies cloaked in a sacred golden glow.

They were doing something great.

In a city not far south of Leaping River City, the Second Prince stared at the map on the table in a barracks, his brow deeply furrowed.

At last, he let out a long breath, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair.

After a moment, he asked those around him, "Have you determined Ge Mu's martial realm?"

A guard replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, we have not. None of the Earth Treasury experts we sent out could withstand even a single exchange. Ge Mu's strength is unfathomable."

In other words, they could not confirm whether he was a Heaven Treasury Warrior, but it would be safest to regard Ge Mu as one.

The Second Prince's brow tightened. Two hundred thousand elite troops were encircling fewer than twenty thousand poorly equipped trolls. By all logic, they held an absolute advantage. Yet he did not dare relax in the slightest. The possibility that Ge Mu was a Heaven Treasury Warrior had always weighed heavily on his heart.

Back then, humanity had relied on the leadership of a single Heaven Treasury Warrior to turn the tide and defeat the incomparably powerful trolls. Today, he was deeply worried that history would repeat itself in reverse.

If they truly lost, humanity might fall into an abyss of eternal ruin, never to rise again.

Therefore, this battle absolutely could not be lost.

Xiang Dongping, standing nearby, said, "Even if Ge Mu has broken through to the Heaven Treasury realm, he alone cannot stir up much trouble. Besides, we have already issued bounties throughout the martial world. Powerful warriors from every corner have arrived, all waiting to take Ge Mu's head and make a name for themselves. Six of the Anlan Ten Great Experts have also arrived. At the very least, they can keep Ge Mu occupied. Even if those Ten Great Experts prove insufficient, I know the Hand of God—Zhuang Hong. Perhaps..."

The Second Prince shook his head. "When marching to war, we cannot blindly underestimate the enemy out of optimism. No one of our generation has ever seen a Heaven Treasury Warrior. We do not know what kind of power such a warrior possesses, nor whether one can change the course of an entire battle. Ge Mu is no fool. Since he dares launch a war against us, he must have something to rely on. No matter how cautious we are, it will not be excessive."

After a pause, the Second Prince continued, "Though the Ten Great Experts are powerful, they are not people who will submit to our unified command. We cannot place our hopes on them.

"We must win this battle. Even if we have to trade lives for lives, we must wipe out every last troll. If we fail and allow the trolls to head south, it will be a disaster for all humanity."

Xiang Dongping said nothing more.

He also knew that the Ten Great Experts had not come primarily to fight for humanity's defense. Their true purpose was Ge Mu's title as a Heaven Treasury Warrior. They wanted to take this chance to witness a Heaven Treasury Warrior's strength, seek an opportunity to break through themselves, and prove their own power along the way.

Long, long ago, human warriors had believed in driving back the trolls and protecting humanity. But at some point, warriors had lost that sense of devotion. More and more, they pursued only personal freedom and transcendence.

Yet had they ever considered that without their people, how far could they transcend?

Xiang Dongping slowly tightened his grip on the long saber at his waist. No matter what, I will not let the trolls breach the city. This is my responsibility as a prince. But if Ge Mu truly is a Heaven Treasury Warrior, who can stop him?

Just then, a general came to report, "The troll army of more than ten thousand has already marched south from Leaping River City. Led personally by Chief Ge Mu, they are heading straight for the western army. Two thousand wolf cavalry are moving somewhat faster and will encounter the western army first by noon tomorrow. The rest of the troll army will arrive shortly afterward.

"Our latest scouts report that the agents who entered the Land of the Far North have confirmed that there are no longer any trolls to be found there.

"In addition, we have estimated the composition of the troll army. Eighty percent are Secret Sea Warriors, with at least one thousand Secret Knowledge Warriors. The rest are Sky Bridge Warriors. There are fewer than thirty Earth Treasury Warriors, while Chief Ge Mu is suspected to be a Heaven Treasury Warrior."

The Second Prince took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on a gorge marked on the map. He murmured, "Just as I expected... Cross Gorge is the perfect battlefield."

He had divided the army into five routes, advancing from different directions to surround and attack the trolls. However, that was only the surface plan. As soon as the trolls attacked any one of the armies, that army would immediately become bait to lure them into the predetermined battlefield. The other four armies would swiftly reinforce them and carry out the plan to annihilate the trolls.

He turned to Xiang Dongping. "Tenth Brother, immediately inform You Baojiang and the other warriors of the time and place of the decisive battle. Allow them to follow behind the army to Cross Gorge."

"Understood."

After climbing a hillside, Zhuang Hong stood atop a rock and looked north.

He could already sense that the Other Self in this world was not far away, which filled him with anticipation.

Will I gain a new ability in this world? If so, what kind of ability will it be?

With that thought, Zhuang Hong lightly leaped down from the rock and continued north. His steps unconsciously quickened, and there was even a flash of white light...

No, that was not white light around his feet. It was a fluffy little thing.

"Woof!"

It was none other than Lord Thousand Shadow White Dragon.

Its four stubby paws were wrapped tightly around Zhuang Hong's calf. No matter how quickly Zhuang Hong walked, it did not budge in the slightest.

At some point, it had awakened a new skill—hitching a ride.

As Zhuang Hong walked, he gave a soft sound of surprise. "The Other Self seems to be moving. It's heading west... Good heavens, it really knows how to cause trouble."