Hiro had left the ruins of Serabeft behind him.
But unlike his journey there, he had no convenient portal waiting to return him to Theo.
The only thing ahead of him now was distance.
And running.
A lot of running.
Smoke from the burning giant village still lingered faintly across the horizon as Hiro sprinted westward through the forests of Alctora.
As he ran, he remembered Theo's final words before sending him to attack the Yakioni.
"If you survive, head due west until you reach the city of Dwarvenguard."
Theo had spoken casually, as if sending someone alone to massacre a giant clan was completely normal.
"That's where I'll be waiting."
Then the old man smiled.
"You have one week to reach it, so try not to waste time."
Hiro's eyebrow twitched remembering it.
Curse that old man…
For two straight days, Hiro ran without stopping.
Yet somehow—
Dwarvenguard still felt impossibly far away.
Why didn't he just teach me the portal spell instead?!
Hiro gritted his teeth.
I bet he's laughing right now while I'm sprinting through forests like an idiot.
The mere thought of Theo smugly drinking tea somewhere while Hiro exhausted himself made him irrationally angry.
That old bastard is definitely doing this on purpose.
Eventually, Hiro arrived at a small town called Gresham.
The settlement was modest.
Quiet.
Human.
And after two days of nonstop travel, Hiro finally decided he needed rest.
As he entered the town, a wooden sign hanging above a tavern caught his attention.
The Sleeping Poppy.
"…Good enough."
Hiro stepped inside.
Immediately, he frowned.
Two trolls were harassing the tavern staff.
One of them had cornered a frightened woman against the counter while the other laughed loudly nearby.
"You're a fairly decent human wench," the troll growled drunkenly.
He grabbed the woman's chin roughly.
"How's about we 'ave a little fun, eh?"
The troll grinned with rotten teeth.
"I've 'eard human women let you do all sorts o' things as long as you're of higher status."
Something inside Hiro snapped.
Not because of the exact words.
But because of the sheer arrogance behind them.
The belief that humans existed beneath them.
That disgusting creatures like these could look down upon humanity.
Hiro's eyes darkened.
"How about you take your filthy hands off her?"
The tavern instantly fell silent.
Hiro slowly stepped further into the room.
"Can't you see the lady doesn't enjoy being touched by living garbage?"
The trolls turned.
The one harassing the woman released her immediately as she ran away trembling.
The second troll lumbered toward Hiro slowly.
He towered nearly a meter above him.
"Who in the 'ell do you think you are?"
The troll sneered.
"Coming in 'ere ruining our fun, little insect."
He cracked his knuckles.
"I can't stand tiny pissants that act tough."
The troll leaned closer.
"One little flick and you break apart."
Hiro smiled.
"Oh yeah?"
He crossed his arms casually.
"Then give me a little flick."
The troll grinned viciously.
"Gladly."
BOOM!
The troll backhanded Hiro with monstrous force.
The impact launched Hiro straight through the tavern wall in an explosion of debris and broken wood.
The troll burst into laughter.
"I barely touched him!"
He slapped his knee while laughing.
"Humans really are fragile creatures."
Then—
Laughter echoed from outside.
The trolls froze.
"…What?"
Hiro casually walked back through the hole in the wall.
Completely unharmed.
He brushed dust from his shoulders calmly.
"That was a pretty cute punch."
The tavern stared at him in disbelief.
Hiro tilted his head thoughtfully.
"I just wanted to gauge your strength."
He smiled.
"And honestly…"
"…I'm amazed."
The trolls blinked repeatedly.
"Amazed?" one repeated.
"Why aren't you dead?!"
Hiro shrugged.
"Because you're weak."
The troll's face twisted.
"It's natural for trolls to be stronger than humans!"
Hiro walked directly up to the second troll.
"So far I'm not impressed."
He looked the troll directly in the eyes.
"Come on."
Hiro spread his arms slightly.
"Show me a stronger one."
The second troll roared and punched Hiro with his full strength.
BOOM!
Hiro blasted through another wall.
The tavern customers gasped in horror.
Surely that had killed him.
Then—
"My gods…"
Hiro walked back in again.
"I swear trolls are fragile."
The entire tavern stared at him like he was a monster.
Hiro glanced around at the destroyed walls awkwardly.
"My apologies for the damage."
He casually pointed at the trolls.
"They'll pay for the repairs."
Then Hiro smiled slightly.
"I got a little curious about how hard they could hit me."
He walked directly back up to the second troll again.
"Not as weak as your friend over there…"
His smile widened.
"…but still disappointing."
The troll roared furiously and threw another punch.
This time—
Hiro didn't move at all.
The troll's fist slammed into Hiro's face harmlessly.
Hiro stared at him blankly.
"…That's your strongest punch?"
Fear slowly crept into the troll's eyes.
Hiro smiled like a demon.
"Here."
He clenched his fist.
"Let me show you one."
CRACK.
Hiro punched the troll once.
The troll's jaw shattered instantly.
Before the troll could even scream—
CRACK.
Hiro kicked both of his legs apart.
The troll collapsed violently.
Desperate, the troll grabbed Hiro's arm—
CRUNCH.
Hiro casually crushed every bone in the troll's wrist.
"I swear…"
Hiro sighed dramatically.
"Trolls are so fragile."
"One little grab and they break apart."
The troll writhed in agony.
"Don't worry though."
Hiro smiled kindly.
"I won't make you suffer."
Hiro knocked the troll unconscious instantly.
Then he slowly turned toward the first troll.
"But for you…"
His eyes darkened.
"I'll be less merciful."
The troll stumbled backward nervously.
"What the 'ell are—"
WHAM.
Hiro appeared instantly before him and backhanded the troll through the same wall the troll had originally launched him through.
The troll crashed outside violently.
Hiro calmly followed after him.
The troll desperately tried standing—
THUD.
Hiro stepped onto the troll's back, crushing him back into the dirt.
"What are you?" the troll growled fearfully.
"Some kind of halfling brat that loves protecting worthless sacks of flesh?"
Hiro smiled coldly.
"Oh no."
Flames flickered faintly around his eyes.
"I'm one hundred percent human."
His foot pressed down harder.
"And if humans are weak…"
His smile widened dangerously.
"…what does that make you?"
Before Hiro could continue, the tavern owner hurried outside nervously.
"Please!"
The older man bowed repeatedly.
"We're grateful for your help…"
He glanced fearfully at the troll beneath Hiro.
"But please don't kill him."
Hiro blinked.
"…Why not?"
"If they die…"
The tavern owner's hands trembled.
"The Alcaton Clan will send more trolls here."
His face turned pale.
"They'll slaughter everyone in this town."
Silence.
Then Hiro stepped off the troll.
"Fine."
The troll looked up in surprise.
Hiro pointed away from town.
"Pick up your pathetic friend and get out."
The troll slowly grabbed the unconscious troll.
As they limped away, the troll glared back hatefully.
"You'll regret this…"
Hiro simply watched them leave.
Then the tavern owner sighed heavily.
"You've only made things worse for us."
Hiro looked at him calmly.
"How about this?"
He pointed toward the tavern.
"You give me a room and food for the night…"
A dangerous smile spread across his face.
"…and you won't have to worry about the Alcaton anymore."
The tavern owner stared at him.
"No human has ever defeated the Alcaton."
He shook his head.
"I know you're strong…"
"But fighting an entire troll clan is suicide."
Hiro shrugged.
"Whether I interfere or not doesn't matter."
The tavern owner frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Hiro crossed his arms.
"The moment those trolls lost here, this town was doomed anyway."
The tavern owner's face paled.
"The Alcaton won't tolerate humiliation from humans."
Hiro's eyes narrowed.
"They'll either assume the entire town rebelled…"
"…or they'll silence everyone to erase the rumor."
The tavern owner slowly realized Hiro was right.
"So either way…"
"…we would've been destroyed."
"Exactly."
Hiro shrugged casually.
"So you might as well let me handle it."
He smirked.
"Besides…"
"…I don't like sleeping in places that get destroyed."
He stretched slightly.
"It's terrible for my back."
The tavern owner stared at him for several moments before sighing.
"…Very well."
"I'll trust you."
Hiro immediately shook his head.
"It's not trust."
He grinned.
"It's convenience."
---
That night, Hiro left Gresham and followed the trolls' trail deep into the forest.
Far behind him—
A hooded figure silently watched from the shadows.
The mysterious person followed Hiro carefully from a distance.
Eventually, Hiro arrived at the Alcaton encampment.
Massive troll warriors filled the camp.
Bonfires burned.
Weapons rested nearby.
And dozens of trolls laughed loudly around the campgrounds completely unaware of what was approaching them.
Hiro cracked his knuckles slowly.
Flames ignited around his fists.
A grin spread across his face.
"This…"
His eyes glowed in the darkness.
"…is gonna be fun."