----------- ADC archer girl's POV -------------

It was supposed to be an easy mission. Some troll spawned in the newcomer forest of a nearby town, we were supposed to go there and kill it. Since it was an emergency mission, the pay was double the standard. A cakewalk that should not take more than 10 days.

But nothing went our way. We had no problem up to reaching the 'Death Willow Meadow'. Some basilisks, but we killed them easily. The fresh tracks of the troll showed he was hiding inside this meadow. We were getting ready with our antitoxin potions, when a huge belch was heard. It was terrifying, but none of us was shaken.

I spotted it first. The troll was watching us shyly. It should have let that belch escape because it was too engorged in feeding. It ran away right when we saw it. It was probably afraid of us, but when I was about to recommend caution, Helmholtz just gave chase. We had no choice but go after our hotheaded leader.

The troll was cornered in a clearing at the middle of the willow meadow. It was crawling backwards from Helmholtz, sitting on its butt. It was not even threatening. Probably terrified of his flaming sword. Trolls are relentless in their attack, but they fear fire and acid. I climbed on an ironbark tree, and shot several poison arrows at the monster.

Then everything broke down. The troll tossed a short spear that impaled through Helmholtz's head, skewered him in a huge spear and discarded him a cloth puppet.

We pressed on nonetheless. Helmholtz had to be avenged. My poison arrows with giant dune scorpion poison would sap its health and paralyze it, Grant would keep it taunted while Thibault would be free to burn it to a crisp with fire.

It worked. As it was going to run away, Thibault's [Fireball] knocked it down, Grant's [Taunt] was keeping it focused on his shield, and firebolt after firebolt the troll was burning away.

Ever impatient Thibault signaled it was going to use a big spell, to make the troll die in one go. Then shit happened again. The troll grappled Grant and used it as a human shield against Thibault's [Nova Blast]. This caused Thibault to almost fizzle and the spell went off at the lowest power. Even so, Grant was cooked. The troll should've become cinders even from the aftereffects of the spell, but it was standing there, hugging Grant's corpse and smiling an evil grin.

It again discarded Grant like a broken toy. Thibault used fireballs, but the troll just walked through the firebolts instead of running away. Wounded, but his burns and blisters were recovering as It breathed. Trolls were not supposed to regenerate fire damage.

I had to stop it from reaching Thibault. I used my martial skill [Kneecap Pin] and paralyzed it. Then some girly voice from outside the meadow shouted.

I don't know whose voice was that, should be a very young woman judging by the pitch. And who is Helen? No idea. But the monster seemed flustered. Confused. It hesitated and gave us an opening. But before Thibault could finish his next incantation, it released all its anger.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAARRRG!!!!!!!”

The roar was so fierce I dropped my bow and almost fell from the tree. Thibault felt on his buttocks, cowering.

The monster leapt at Thibault; crunching and slurping sounds echoed in the clearing. My legs lost strength, and my face met the ground. Next I saw Thibault's body above the monster's head, eating his entrails and drinking his blood. The creature's wounds were nowhere to be seen.

I crawled where my bow was, but my arms were cut by wind blades. In front of me, a Crested Naga was cackling. Behind her, several devil monkeys were circling around me and cutting my escape with spears.

The troll finished eating Thibault and grabbed Grant's body. It tore grant's body from the rest of the armor, and ate it. The monkeys were screaming and grunting like a rabid audience at a horror theater. The naga was motionless, watching me. Why didn't they finish me?

That moment I knew my life was over. I was a sacrifice, a meal for their troll boss. Some monkeys even had short spears equipped. Were they a variant? A mutation? I tried to get my bow, wind blades cut my fingers. An archer without fingers, i'm done for. I only hope the monster devours me, instead of defiling my body.

It took more time to eat Grant than the scrawny Thibault. And then it leapt to where Helmholtz body fell. Ah, I refused that face so many times. I am going to die unmarried. I don't want to die in that thing's teeth. I can hear Helmholtz's bones break under the thing's jaws.

Resolved, I take a dagger with my good hand, and when I was about to cut my throat with it, another wind blade mutilated me.

I can't even die a proper death.

I close my eyes. The sounds of meat being ripped, bones being chewed. The creature should be rather sated, because it walked my way slowly. I don't dare to look, dreading the moment its clawed hands will pick me up and bring me to its filthy bloody mouth. Or worse.

"Helen..." A deep voice calls for someone. Isn't it what that girl shouted? Who is Helen?

"Hiiiiii" It is coming to me.

"You... murdered Helen..." I can feel its breath close to me. I'm going to die because of some dumb girl elsewhere.

A big hand grabs my leg. I'm in the air. Upside down. A sharp pain and my other leg is no more. Something is being chewed on. My consciousness fades...

-------------------- Grendel's POV -------------------

I wake up next to Shraaizar in the clearing, as usual. I feel dizzy. I am fully healed though. Was I fighting adventurers?

I'm in the clearing. The first few rays of sun are still filtered by the treetops. I can see some monkeys resting and others doing their monkey business around.

Yellowed leaves of the syrup willows announce that it is autumn already.

I can't remember what happened clearly. Someone warned me humans were coming. I was going to use chinese strategy to fight... but...

"Did I win?" I mumble to myself.

"You fought splendidly. It was a inspiring fight, better than the any before." Shraaizar is strange. Is she admiring me? "There are your spoils!" She points at a pile of bags and equipment almost as tall as a person. I can see a fancy long sword, a silvery shield, composite bow, a magician's staff and some other equipments.

"And the adventurers?" For some reason I'm afraid of asking.

"They are all dead and gone. Don't worry. We shared the leftovers among ourselves. You slept for three days." Shraaizar is friendly and dismissive. Something happened. I get cold feet. What just happened? Leftovers?

Something is strange. I remember something about Helen? What was it? "Did someone call the name 'Helen'??"

"I don't know, Grendel. I can't understand much of the human speech."

A sharp pain numbs me. I remembered something.

Seal Strength decreased by 5%.

I was burned by their magic. I was angry. Starved by the regeneration. I killed people. I... those kids... I was hungry...

Error. Soul vessel damaged. Skill information core corrupted.

All requirements met. Unique skill &¨m*Ç#[email protected] unlocked.

Skill link in place. Adjusting...

Activating power link to Loot Crate Maniac ... successful.

Skill levels will be combined for effects.

Power for &¨m*Ç#[email protected] will be routed using Loot Crate Maniac energy points.

Requirements 1 of 3 for unique skill *@$%! / #%& Management met. Check entry for more details.

Early unlock conditions not met. Aborting unlocking attempt of *@$%! / #%& Management.

That shout. Helen... murdered. I lost control...

"Grendel, what is happening??"

There is some problem with the Akashic Records, but I couldn't care less. Helen was murdered. Someone will feel my wrath.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Grendel! Keep your mind focused! Don't let go! Monkeys, help me hold him down!!!!"

Time passes, my mind clears, and I remember what happened. Those kids came at me with murderous intent. In this world, it is kill or be killed. But what happened after... not even one prisoner. Whoa I can't believe my hunger. Trolls regenerate by spending the nutrients in their bodies, and when the amount of health regenerated is over a threshold, they eat... I ate... anything.

At the price of an unforgivable sin, I unlocked my fourth unique skill. I check its parameters.

And with it, I can avenge Helen.

"Shraaizar... Can I count with your loyalty?" I need her to manage the monkeys while I am out.

"Yes, Grendel. Why are you looking at the distance? Towards the human lands..." she looks at me, and after a long pause continues: "You are going on a journey? And we can't go with you, right?"

"Right. I am probably going to kill a lot of humans." Shraaizar gets excited. "But I can't take any of you with me. I need you to stay behind and manage the monkeys. Keep them safe so I have a place to return to."

"I do not like it, but I will do as you say."

"Then it is fine. You are a strange troll. Using tools. Wearing clothes. Talking about things I don't understand. And now there is something you need to do in the human realm..."

"Yes. There are many things from the this world that I don't know. I must learn those. The humans won't let me go. And there is someone there I need to kill."

"I want to see what will Grendel do to the world. I will do as you ask." She goes to my stash, and takes that ribbon. "Tie this ribbon to my neck. This will be a symbol of our covenant."

I tie the ribbon on her neck. Then I take her chin, and kiss her brow.

"You are really tamed now."

"Don't joke... Go on your journey, Grendel. And return to us when you are in need of a place to stay." I nod. It is hard to part from my companions yet again, but I need to fix up the troubles my half-assed attitudes caused. When I am about to go prep my gear, Shraaizar completes. "And kill lots and lots of humans for us."

Title Snake Charmer awarded.

Those that through friendly interactions obtained unswerving loyalty of snake-kin.

Grants a higher chance of success with friendly social interactions with snake kin.

I part with Shraaizar, and pick through the pile of bags. Seven in total. Weren't four humans? But I think I heard Marcy's voice... It couldn't be. Marcy would never be this deep in the woods. One item that was outside the bags make me really curious...

"A rat? With a collar?" I pick up the rat. Something is written in the collar.

Shraaizar comes. "This rat was dead next to the willows. It had human smell. You ordered all things with human smell to be brought to you."

I invest skill points into the language skill. Literacy unlocks at level 5. The knowledge of the writing of this world invades my mind from the Akashic Records. The necklace reads: “I belong to Helen, please take care of me.”

Tears wet my face. She was trying to call for help. Maybe Marcy was indeed here, to warn me. One of the bags has girl stuff. This must be Marcy's.

I prepare a rucksack for me, and order the monkeys to pack everything we have on some empty sacks that were in a bag.

Check status. Several skills have raised. The adventurer party was worth five levels. I'll hold onto these remaining skill points for now.Also, the points in [Loot Crate Maniac] are unchanged.

Humans have no core.

There is one new and stupid title I'd never want to have though.

Title Man Eater awarded.

Those that are considered people and commited the taboo of eating several people.

Grants 50% more Exp from killed people.

If a human corpse is eaten, earns again as much Exp as the full kill

Leaving behind the meadow of yellowed syrup willows and the tall steelwood trees, I begin my vengeance journey. Each step is a knife in my heart. I declare my pain at the world. I am cursed. I am twisted. I have committed taboo. I will make this world suffer as much as I did. A world without Helen, I will kill and burn everything on it.

...

Starting with that fucking murderer sniper.