Hyang and Perlmut continue going south.
Perlmut: "On this map it shows the mountain as an oasis and not as a mountain. Are you sure that's a mountain?"
Hyang: "It just shows how old this map is. The geographical surroundings are clearly that of the troll mountain as well. And while one can call it an oasis, it's full of different types of trolls. Not only that, the Affenhitze desert is south from here. However, we are going north right now."
Perlmuts inner laugh kekekeke.
And so, after having obtained information about an old treasure that is in the "Affenhitze" desert on the "Oasis Mountain", also known as "Troll Mountain" for all the different types of trolls living there, they walk south, unbeknownst to Hyang. The part of Hyang's mind responsible for directional and environmental awareness is foggy and luring him towards the south, where the desert is. With Perlmut staying quiet about it, interested in what this might evolve into, already awaiting the moment she can poke fun at him when the realization hits him.
Perlmut *All of this seems very odd, from the moment he said we would go north but went south instead to the point where we received this treasure map. If I didn't know, he is well-read. I would even question him identifying this map's location so easily. Also, considering it's in a desert, there don't really seem to be any Angkor points to reasonably assume that this oasis on the map is a mountain today. There might just be a troll out there from that mountain targeting us.*
While they are traveling south, Kronkostos converses with the mysterious stranger back at the carriage.
SusC🕶️: "I'm a busy man, so I'll be bringing you to your mansion first. Your appointment with me will be in one month. Exactly 30 days from now in the alley behind the boring boar bar in Fǎwèi de shǐ City when the sun is at its zenith."
Kronkostos: "What is in it for me? I'm a merchant after all."
SusK🕶️: "Oh, you don't want to miss this opportunity. Missing it could prove- fatal."
He says, extra serious at the end.
Now back to where Hyang and Perlmut are walking right now.
Perlmut: "Why are we always walking everywhere? Wouldn't we be way faster if we ran? We are cultivators, so we wouldn't even break a sweat, right?"
Hyang: "A slow journey helps calm one's mind and helps cultivate one's thoughts to train the mind and defeat one's inner demons for a safe breakthrough. And it all comes as a benefit of a slow journey."
Perlmut: "What do you mean by inner demons?"
Hyang: "The evil within you that wants to be part of you, coming in thoughts or in extreme cases whispers and even images causing chaos within your mind. Which is quite troublesome for a cultivator and gets exponentially more troublesome when cultivating if you don't deal with it."
Perlmut: "Mmh, ah that, yes, I don't have that."
Hyang: "What? You don't? Everyone has one or at least had one."
Perlmut: "Certainly, in my youth I might have had something akin to that." She changes her appearance with the crown to an old granny, "But I must have outgrown it. With age comes wisdom, some say."
Hyang: "But I'm older than you..."
Perlmut: "Hohoho, you have been running away from truly aging your entire life. Hohoho, I've been "walking" my entire life, you could say, hohoho." Perlmut turns her appearance back into a small Marie Madeleine Charlotte de Foix to be more annoying in the future.
After Perlmut said that, Hyang sank into deep thoughts, blending out his surroundings, now walking without comfortable campfire rests with the time passing by.
To then suddenly be awoken from his deep thoughts in the middle of a desert, Perlmut still with him and as ❄️cool❄️ as ever.
Awoken by a person that introduces himself out of nowhere in a hostlike voice as Konrad, perhaps a fata morgana.
SusK🕶️ switches glasses and puts on other glasses👓, both are expertly crafted from wood, though without classy glass lenses. The only discerning feature is the different type of wood that has been used in these masterpieces. Whereas the first one🕶️ is made of dark wood, the second one👓 is made of almost white wood.
Konrad👓: "Hello and welcome to your Imbiss MC Contronnics. I am Conrad. Konrad, employer of the month, here to seerve youuu."
After his introduction he pokes up his modern age glasses, which causes the light of brilliance and geniuosety. It overshadows his glassless wooden spectacles while he looks at Hyang in an incredibly serious manner.
👓Konrad: "If you would like to not try one of our money saving combos tonight. And absolutely not eat this hamburger. It tastes like honeey."
He now switches over, looking dead serious at Perlmut.
👓Conrad: "And you over there! You seem so indecisiiive. Just standing there. That's dangerouuus. You'll have a hole in your stomach before long from the hungeeer. So why won't you move away from there? And take a menu. Just follow you're nose."
There is no menu to take, just a gesture.
Konrad👓: "No? Your loss. Then I'll serve you what our company recommends the most."
'Drum roll'
from nowhere
👓Conrad: "Aaaaaaaaan icy slushy."
Konrad makes a whispering hand gesture to her while looking into the endless desert as if someone might intrude other than Hyang.
Konrad👓: "A little warning from me. It starts off spicy and tastes like bitter lemon with, you guessed it, honey."
After which the mad person called Conrad starts a rampage about the seven heavens, wildly rambling in an insane and manic way. Looking at the reader at the end, which is followed by a surprised and shocked view change looking at him from a different angle. Only for him to swiftly adjust and look there as well, staring the reader down as the reader's vision swiftly turns black.
And the hero party arrives at their destination, "Troll Mountain", without further explanation towards what just happened.
At the foot of the mountain they encounter skinny, weak trolls with an average height of 1.90 m, with long ears, noses and tusks. As they do not emit murderous intent, Hyang and Perlmut walk past them with Bing. While the trolls drink mojo and smoke mojo, having deep conversations on mojo with each other.
Troll1: "Mojo maan"
Troll2: "Mojo maan"
Troll1: "The Mojo revitalizes so good maan"
Troll2: "Yea, today's mojo is good man"
Troll1: "Yea, yesterday's mojo was also good man."
Troll2: "Yeah man, yesterday's mojo was good man."
Another troll comes towards the two.
Troll3: "Do you have mojo maan?"
Troll2: "Ya maan, have some mojo maan."
Troll3: "Those mussel trolls are no chill maan."
Troll1&2: "Yeah, no chill maan."
Troll3: "Good we have mojo maan."
Troll1: "Yeah, mojo revitalizes so good man."
Troll2: "Yeah man."
Troll3: "Yea, today's mojo is good man."
...
Thanks to Hyang and Perlmuts cultivation and chilled way of walking everywhere, they could hear this and similar wonderful conversations for a while before encountering their first "Muscle Troll".
Hyang: "These trolls are all in the sense condensing realm, which I find frankly astonishing."
Perlmut: "How so? From what we can hear, it's plain obvious that they must be sensing all kinds of things with that mojo they are taking."
Hyang: "Haa.. Specifically stage 7 of realm 4, anything funny about that?"
Perlmut: " "
Hyang: "Good! Now where was I? Ah yes, it is so astonishing because not many reach that LVL of cultivation. The bandits we met are an example of that. It also means we should be careful, as those muscle trolls that we could meet are, according to these mojo trolls, much stronger. And we don't know by how much. It would be baffling if they were a whole realm stronger."
Perlmut: "I'm sensing something."
Hyang: "...I don't... so what is it that you are "sensing"?"
Perlmut: "Hmm~ I'm sensing- something for shadowing!"
Hyang: "What's that?"
Perlmut: "I don't know. Perhaps a cultivation technique?"
Hyang: "Is there someone use-"
As they talk and walk, Perlmut managed to distract Hyang quite well as they are rudely interrupted by 12 aggressive, 3m large trolls that are buffer, slightly rounder in their upper body stature and with larger tusks than the mojo trolls. Also, they did notice them when they were already in vision. They continue talking like that as these trolls were already too close to avoid a confrontation. "Thanks Perlmut." and so they talk, as these trolls don't pose a threat to them since they are only in the Meridian opening realm at stage 7.
Perlmut: "All for you."
Hyang: "-They are at stage 7 of realm 5, normally known as the Meridian opening realm. This mountain is really mysterious. Housing creatures of such power."
The trolls encircle them and play breast drum in sync, like a gorilla would. After which they stretch out their arms so that their fingertips nearly touch each other. Holding their upper bodies straight, they enclose Rex Hyang and Perlmut, closing in with frog jumps until they touch each other's shoulders. From then on they torpedo each other towards the 3, not 2 but 3. As they fly, Perlmut does nothing while Hyang slashes at the first.
💮'S
[ERROR]
lash'💮
Only causing a 1 cm deep scratch into the troll's skull as the trolls reverted back to the place they were torpedoed from, just like a mined Minecraft block during server lag. Back to his original position, the wound regenerates, showing the natural ability that trolls possess. Also, the regeneration is visual to the eye, it is not fast.
Hyang: "What happened?"
Confused by what happened, Hyang is taken aback by the trolls seemingly being able to move in an instead and regenerate so fast. As for the trolls, after witnessing the power of their opponent, decide on going all out. Now starting to run in this circle they are in. Still holding each other's shoulders. Then, while running, they jump. And at the peak of their jump, they release their shoulder touches.
All doing individual spread eagle poses.
\_o_/
I
/ \
[ERROR]
Changing into another pose right before landing on the ground.
Before Landing:
o
lIl
//\\
Landing:
o
lIl
/<< \
A landing pose humans would interpret as a why gesture. Despite that, it is part of a secret troll technique. And as they now land on the ground, the from running hardened dirt beneath them hardens even more, forming shapes. Loosening from the surrounding soft dirt, forming 12 skateboard shaped dirt tiles.
To their surprise, demise comes like an unwanted price as they suddenly speed up to a degree they did not expect. Freeing Rex, Hyang and Perlmut from the encirclement as all the trolls nearly fly away, with but a minimum of control over their board technique. One would think they must be scared after suddenly losing control of their most honed technique, but anyone seeing them would only be able to see the joy in their faces as they dodge trees and plants at highest speeds with all kinds of board tricks.
Hyang is now incredibly cautious after the power display of the last muscle trolls. Not playing into any of Perlmuts distractions. For the time being, anyway. And because of that, while hiking up the mountain, they notice the trolls first. A group of 9 aggressive, 5m large trolls with green skin, considerably more round of a stature than previous trolls, with their muscles not quite visual anymore and enormous tusks.
Hyang: "9 martial masters at stage 7... stage 7 of realm 6 (-.-) up ahead. No need to fight them, so let's go around and avoid them."
Perlmut: "What a gentle man you are. Sparing these trolls."
Climbing up the mountain, they do not have further encounters until they reach a cave at the peak. Beside the entrance of the cave, they see trolls guarding it and one of them plays a wood drum, beating rythmically on a log. Having noticed the trolls first, they have the initiative.
Hyang: "This must be the troll cave. These trolls are unbelievable."
He says, awestruck and calm. A calmness that came over him as adrenalin started running and his mind went into a prepared for battle state. As he looks at the 3 aggressive, 7m huge dark trolls with tough skin, a muscled monstrous stature, and the breath of a steam engine, large spiked manly troll tusks, all in all very powerful.
Hyang: "The trolls, they are in the body tempering realm." 'Shocked'
Perlmut: "And so?"
Hyang: "We are stage 9 of the body tempering realm. So we are still stronger, but not by much. And before you ask, they are at stage 7 of realm 7, and we are stage 9 of realm 7."
Perlmut: "'Tsk'" Upset over Hyang averting her asking stupid questions.
Hyang: "Indeed, it won't be easy to get that treasure."
They approach the three trolls, and Hyang goes for the first attack to probe the trolls capabilities. '💮slash💮' The troll1 bobs and weaves '🪿→', avoiding Hyang's sword, gauging Hyang's abilities to a certain extent as well.
After their exchange, the 9 martial master trolls they had avoided suddenly surrounded them in a half circle to fight them too, as if the dark trolls called them. Perhaps the wood drum one of the trolls plays is more than just good music. Perlmut now taunts them with a cheeky remark that is incredibly annoying to someone else as well.
🧌 🧌 🧌
🧌 🥸 🪵🧌3
🧌 🤺🧌1
🧌 🧌2
🧌 🧌 🧌
As Hyang got surprised, troll 2 lands a successful left punch on the right side of Hyang's head
'🤛Bang🤛'
as Hyang had lost his focus on him for but only a moment. With the fight fully starting, the drumming troll stops drumming and joins in, focusing on Hyang.
'💮slash💮' Troll 2 '🪿→Another bob and weave🪿→'
Troll2: "What a difference two little centimeters can make in life."
Troll 1 boxes Hyang's chin from below.
'🤛Bang🤛'
Troll 3 throws a right hand blow directly after.
'🤛Bang🤛'
Troll 1 kicks, but Hyang follows up and kicks as well with the intention to propel himself back.
'kick'←→'kick'
They push each other as Hyang avoids being grabbed by troll 2 with an elegant backward salto. During which Perlmut has been only avoiding the 9 martial master trolls attacks, painting their faces in red from anger. Trough freezing '❄️freeze❄️' her feed on the ground and dodging in that anchor like position. And frequently moving away from that frozen spot, causing them to slip every now and then, only fueling the fire of their rage.
Hyang cuts Troll 1 down '💮🩸slash🩸💮' slicing through the right side of his neck and out of the left, rendering him unable to properly regenerate anymore, resulting in him dying '🩸☠️🩸🩸' and a terrible regenerated body.
Beaten Hyang: "What a bloody mess."
Seeing that Perlmut taunts the Trolls she is fighting with.
Perlmut: "High regeneration comes with high blood pressure, it seems. Perhaps that's why you're all so red. Or mayhaps you're shy?"
Hyang now attacks Troll 2 '💮slash💮' Troll 2 blocks Hyangs sword move with a high guard, '].[block]o.o[' both of his forearms more than already supported by his Qi to further boost his defense, which gets amplified through the boost in regeneration that is already naturally extraordinary. In a connected attack, Hyang slashes the approaching Troll 3 in quick succession, right in his face '💮slash🩸' and cuts off his arm '💮🩸slash🩸💮' both of which quickly regenerate, leaving no scar face or an armless side. As Hyang did that troll 2 goes for another grab, which Hyang steps backwards from, successfully avoiding it.
Perlmuts has also started "attacking" during this. Freezing to the martial master trolls backs, having them scream things like
MMTrolls: "YOU! WHERE YOU ARE!??!!!" "VANISH WHERE?! CHICKEN, COME OUT!!" To then be beaten by their own troll mates as a follow up '🤛ba🤛ba🤛ba🤛ba🤛bang🤛' as they're all blinded by rage..
Troll 2 lands a successful frontal punch on Hyang's frontal skull '🤛BANG🤛' right at his forehead, bloodying it. Hyang backs away, staggering. He receives another frontal punch by the physically unexhausted Troll 3, 🤛BANG🤛' bloodying his forehead even more. In this staggering motion, Hyang gets punched strongly in the stomach by troll 2 in a connected attack, sending him flying backwards.
'Hyang spits blood.'
Managing to somehow regain composure, Hyang dodges the next attack aimed at his head by Troll 3 through a bob.'🪿'
Seeing another punch coming from Troll 2, he bobs again, '🪿' skillfully avoiding it.
As the fight continues and everyone visibly looks QI exhausted from having given it their all, Hyang slashes troll 3's head into multiple slices. ''💮slash💮''💮slash💮''💮slash💮''💮slash💮''💮slash💮'' '🩸☠️🩸'
As they attack her, blinded by rage, beating each other up because of her foul plays, the fight gets closer and closer to its end on Hyang's side.
'Wind buzzing'
The 12 skateboard trolls that previously sped suddenly away have now come back visibly high on mojo. Surprisingly enough, they help out running down the Martial Master Trolls, '☠️?''☠️?''☠️?' Having evolved into cool mojo board trolls helping Hyang and Perlmut out fighting the 9 martial master trolls just happened to happen.
MojoBoardTrolls: "Hahahaha! You Mojo maker too? Mojo Good! Mojo make strong! Hahahaha!" '☠️?'
MojoBoardTrolls: "No they not Mojo makers 7. Mojo makers were: "Argh, Muscle troll dumb!"" '☠️?'
MojoBoardTrolls(7): "We crash in mojo maker, they angry. They right, poor mojo."
MojoBoardTrolls: "Let's go make up." '☠️?'
MojoBoardTrolls: "What with red trolls, Heavens?" '☠️?'
MojoBoardTrolls: "I no Heavens and they no mojo, let's go." '☠️?'
MojoBoardTrolls: "Yeah, ogo ogogo." '☠️?'
The now evolved MojoBoardTrolls roll off again in their glory.
While the MojoBoardTrolls did that, Hyang finished off the last troll '☠️?' which was considerably easier since he didn't get tackled anymore. With the fight over, the beat up and bloodied Hyang sits down in the entrance of the troll cave.
Hyang: "If taunting and enraging your opponent was a martial art, you would be an unparalleled genius of all time at it."
Perlmut: "...we should rest for the day."
She says, feeling kind of sorry for not being able to help him out. Also, she did have her hands fairly full. And not having too much fighting experience didn't help her finish them off faster either. But in the end, despite all that, she still knows she did play around.
After camping, they wake up the next morning, ready themselves, and enter the cave. As they spiral deeper down into the cave, they start hearing muffled rumbling. Cautiously they continue, and before you know it, they walk on a brown buffalo pelt like carpet. With stone buffalo statues on the side that give off that chilling, creepy rumbling noise they have been hearing. Now reaching what seems to be the end, the first thing that strikes their eye is the golden ball holden up by two golden arms from the ground. And behind it, three hoops. A voice suddenly echoes from the ball.
Ball: "IF 1+1=10. WHAT DOES 10+10+10+1 EQUATE TO?"
After the voice finishes, 10 more balls roll in, 5 from both sides, left and right. Surprised by it, Hyang reflexively goes into a defensive position. While Perlmut goes to the balls, takes one, and throws it at the hoop. She continues until she threw a ball once into every hoop.
Ball: "Correct."
A glass casing comes fairly slowly up from beneath the ground.
Hyang: "How did you know?"
Perlmut: "Know what?"
Hyang: "TheAnswer!"
Perlmut falls asleep.
Hyang: "?... what...?"
Hyang *It's been barely 30 min since we finished our rest...?*
Ball: "Here behind this formation and glass is the coveted treasure everyone who climbs this mountain is after. An Outstandingly round shield O<- with the engravings KC for Outstanding individuals. So riddle me this: which kind of troll is the shield connected with? A. a Green Troll, B. a Dark Troll, C. a weaker Troll"
Being sure it can't be any of those Hyang wittingly answers: "The strongest of all trolls, the troll god, the god of the trolls."
Ball: "Correct Answer~ : "None of these, and not the troll god either. It is the troll that trolls you hard.""
Hyang ._.
Ball: "As a reward for failing this quiz, this shield of forbidden powers will disintegrate, and the cave will cave in."
Hyang quickly grabs Perlmut and barely gets out. Dirtied through the rubble falling on him and the rubble blocking his way, but thanks to the protection his cultivation grants, he stayed unharmed.
After escaping and the pressure of it subsiding, Hyang realizes that the cold didn't encroach on him while he carried the both of them. He is quite certain that it's Perlmuts doing. Now, after "they" successfully fled out of the crumbling mountain, Hyang has another realization.
Hyang: "Why are we here? This place is not only a desert, it's also in the opposite direction of where we needed to go. Why did we walk south instead of north?"
In his arms, Perlmut, lifting her head.
Perlmut *kekeke*
Perlmut: "Oh, don't worry, it's not the worst to be directionally challenged."
Hyang gently drops her on the ground, feet first.
Hyang: "But I'm not."
Perlmut: "Then go north this time."
Hyang: "Shouldn't you be able to tell the direction through the stars as well?"
Perlmut: "🥸"
And so they truly venture north this time.