From what I knew, trolls were called the nightmare of late awakeners.

The reason for this strange title was their strong physical prowess and insane regenerative abilities. To kill a troll monster, two awakeners of the same rank as the troll were needed.

However, thanks to my increased stats, I wasn't any less than a troll when it came to physical prowess.

The violent machete of the troll clashed against the crimson blade of my katana, lighting the cave with sparks of metal.

For a brief moment, our weapons stayed locked at the center, but then slowly, my katana began overpowering the troll's machete, forcing the troll's feet to skid back.

"Even though you are over nine feet tall, your physical strength is pitiful," I muttered with a wide grin, deliberately angering the troll.

My words worked beautifully. With a sudden movement, the troll retracted its machete and came in for a heavy attack.

Well, it was a stupid monster after all. The heavier the attack, the greater the opening before it was launched.

Before the machete could reach me, I moved sideways and, in one swift motion, swung the katana vertically at its arm.

The blade sliced into the troll's arm, but I couldn't completely sever it.

Ding…

"Crimson Wound is activated!

The target will continuously lose blood."

Ding…

"Blood Tempering is activated.

Shinku no Sabi is absorbing the blood of the target…"

"Tsk, its skin is even thicker than steel," I muttered, instantly retreating.

Although its arm wasn't completely severed, the wound was deep enough to render it useless, and Crimson Wound was causing the troll to lose blood rapidly.

"Yu… strong… but… I… stronger."

A smug expression appeared on the troll's face as the wound on its arm began healing.

"Alert! Crimson Wound is deactivated due to the high regenerative skill of the target."

Within seconds, the troll's arm was completely healed, as if there had never been an injury to begin with.

"So this is how my enemies felt when I healed myself with Ruru's blessing. Well, it's not like I have only my sword skills to fight against it."

Quickly scanning the area around the troll as it charged toward me with chattering tusks, I stepped forward, and in the next moment—

"Void Step!"

In the blink of an eye, my body vanished and appeared behind the troll's legs.

I swung my sword, slashing at its knee joints.

The sudden strike forced the troll to its knees.

Before the troll could realize what had hit it, I used Void Step again, this time materializing in the air above its head.

Grabbing the sword with both hands, I stabbed it through the back of its neck.

The katana emerged from the troll's throat, gushing out a pool of gray blood.

Ding…

"Crimson Wound is activated!

The target will continuously lose blood."

Ding…

"Blood Tempering is activated.

Shinku no Sabi is absorbing the blood of the target…"

Shockingly, the katana was forcefully pushed out as its body began healing, even though I had struck a vital point.

"Not so fast!" I shouted.

My right arm glowed vibrantly as a blazing sphere of yang energy materialized in my hand.

"Pure Yang Orb!"

I shoved the orb—along with the fingers of both hands—into the wound in the troll's neck.

Using all the strength in my arms, I split its neck apart, completely beheading it.

"Hah! Try regenerating now!"

The moment its body fell, I was flooded with numerous notification windows.

"Yin energy -200"

"Yang energy -200"

"Yin energy +300"

"What the hell!? Only two Void Steps and one Yang Orb cost me 200 yin and 200 yang energy. Is it because the level of these skills increased that their cost has also increased?"

Well, it wasn't that major of a problem, since I could always regain the lost energy by resting for some time.

"H-he defeated that troll with such ease!" Dhruva gasped, his eyes widened.

I turned, once again welcoming the group's stunned gazes.

"This is one of the reasons why I wanted to send these deadweights back," I sighed inwardly before speaking louder.

"Come on, guys. Don't stare at me like I'm an actual monster here."

"Umm… Mr. Raj, you should say that after throwing that thing," Ashish said, pointing at the troll's head in my hand.

"Oh, when did this come here?" I chuckled, throwing it toward Dhruva.

"Yeek! Why are you throwing it at me!?" Dhruva snapped as the head slammed into his armor, splashing him with gray blood.

"You were stinking so bad that I had to suppress that poisonous smell with troll blood," I shrugged, picking up my sword.

"Y-you…" Dhruva muttered under his breath, but he didn't dare say anything louder like before, afraid of getting beaten by me.

"Awesome! The blade has turned as sharp as Vajra again," I murmured inwardly with a proud smile, my eyes locked on the katana.

"What kind of weapon is that?" Dhruva asked out of curiosity. "Just a few hours ago, it looked like junk, but now it seems as if it could even slice diamond."

"Be careful there, Dhruva," I warned, my expression turning serious.

"Curiosity kills the cat."

I only said it sarcastically, but because of the impression he had of me, the poor guy almost pissed his pants in fear.

While I was messing with him, Payal stepped forward and asked,

"Mr. Raj, the guards outside the gate must have realized that it's a Black Gate. By now, the entire area must have been isolated and surrounded by powerful awakeners. So should we wait here for the dungeon break to occur?"

That was the most optimal choice, but a dungeon break would take seven days—time I couldn't spare. Besides, if I failed this quest, I would lose an entire realm in my cultivation.

While I was thinking of a way to deny her proposal, Alex spoke up again, his voice low and tense.

"That's not possible! There are fifty more monsters of the same type coming this way."

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