The ground erupted not ten feet in front of Aaron.
Dirt and stone fragments pinged off their gear as a massive, gnarled hand—the size of a boulder—burst from the soil. A hulking form dragged itself free from the earth with a shower of rock and debris. The Troll stood at nearly fifteen feet, its hide the texture of weathered bark and moss-covered stone, muscles rolling beneath its thick skin. The stench of damp earth and rotting meat hit them a half-second before its roar did—a guttural, bone-deep sound that sent the nearby crystal trees shivering.
"Troll!" Jude shouted, already summoning a flaming broadsword into both hands. Heat rippled the air around the blade. The creature's beady eyes, glowing with dull malice, locked onto their group with predatory focus.
"A wandering B-Rank monster before we even reach the treasure. Hardcore," Kai said, keeping his voice light despite the edge in it. He took a measured step back, already scanning the beast for weaknesses.
