Yes, this is a short chapter, but fret not! I plan on releasing as many chapters as I can today since I'm finally free! I apologize for the wait, enjoy!

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“JOHN!” I shouted. He ran up to me and gave me a big bear hug. My brother John, who was my second favorite.

“Big brother, how have you been?” I asked while hugging him. I gave him a once-over when before I hugged him. He had grown, looking to be about 14 and a half feet tall. His previously rotund stomach had slimmed down quite a bit, and he even had some visible muscle going.

“I have been good” he began in troll “And how has my nameless brother been these past few years?” He asked

“Well, your nameless brother has found a name, which is Qor Hayvon” I said with a smile. “And the person who gave me this name is atop my head” I said. John looked up, seemingly surprised to see an elf child on my head.

“Your babysitting elves now brother?” He laughed

“Babysitting? No no, you misunderstand this. She is not a job, she is family” I say while smiling.

Instantly his smile changed into a frown.

“Family with an elf? And a dark one to boot.”

“Is that a problem?” I asked, slightly angry. Why does it matter who I make my family? It’s my life

“No, not at all. It’s just… interesting. After all, elves think we are creatures shunned by nature”

It was true. It wasn’t uncommon to see and elf personally go out of their way to kill a troll. They believed dark forces created us. All that mumbo jumbo. Not that I cared. If they didn’t fuck with me, I don’t fuck with them.

“That is true. However, after looking at Gabriel, you should know that not every beast of the same race has the same thought” I said

Gabriel. My favorite brother and lifelong friend. From the day I was reborn, we were friends. He worked out everyday with me and grew into an extremely tall and powerful figure. When I last saw him, he was about 17 or so feet tall, so he should be even taller by now!

“That is true brother. That monster has gotten extremely strong! He recently killed a Mid-aged Ice dragon!” I was shocked at this. Even I have only killed a young child dragon. But given, that was a few years ago. Now, I’m positive I could face a Teen dragon. But that is with my abilities! The only thing Gabe has to rely on is his strength and godlike regeneration. This is definitely an extremely good accomplishment.

“Hoho, so brother Gabe has gotten strong? Where is he anyways?”

“Out recruiting! Brother Gabriel has a plan… a massive plan!” Replied John in a feverous voice

“And that plan is…?”

“To build an Empire! He plans to make an empire of Ice trolls in the mountains!!”

Well, I’m not sure how I should process this. There are some extremely good points toward this, but extreme bad points as well. Since I’m a glass half empty kind of guy, lets think of this first. If this plan actually works, there is no way the other races will stay quiet. Ice trolls are already extremely formidable opponents, and with an army of them… it would be a terrifying force of untold power. Now the good points! Ice trolls would become stronger, and possibly become educated. At the same time, they might become smart enough to become a race that doesn’t thrive off of bloodshed!

There are limitless possibilities for this, and I truly hope that Gabe’s plan will work.

“Wow… Gabe is certainly ambitious. Where did he get that thought from anyways?”

“Not sure. One day, he came out of the tent and said “I am leaving. I plan to make Ice trolls a stronger race, and to do this we need numbers. I will make this clan stronger. Goodbye” And then actually just took off and left”

“I understand. Shit like that happens” I said while laughing.

John later told me during dinner about how his and Gabe’s life has been, and the struggles he has faced.

Apparently, after I left, John Gabe and Jenna looked for a tribe. During this time, they were attacked by what he described as “Bears with long arms and legs” that were controlled by a human. They managed to kill them, but Jenna lost her life in the process. Gabe went mad with rage and slaughtered a defenseless human village. Of course, John assisted. After this, they traveled the mountain, going where the wind took them. Eventually, they met a large tribe of travelling Ice trolls. They had initially been friendly with them, but after a few minor disputes the king of the tribe attempted to kick them out. Angered by this, Gabriel killed the king, and ended up becoming the new king. After he became king, he changed the whole tribe, making them workout to become stronger. After this, he went from tribe to tribe with John in tow, helping him as he traveled. He left various trolls who gained his trust throughout the tribes, making sure they become stronger. After that, apparently I just missed him by a week.

“That is quite some tale” I said while laughing. During this whole time Zayan was sleeping my lap, laying against me as a child. I looked down, seeing the little elf child sleeping like an angel. Various thoughts went through my head as I stared at her. I wondered if she missed being with the elves and others of her kind. I sure know I do.

“So, wanna tell me the story?” He said, hinting to Zayan.

So I did. I explained everything that has happened since I left. Climbing the mountain, finding Hank and then the band of elves camped on the mountain. I told him of the Ice dragon, the power of it’s tail and the lapse of my power when I ate it. I didn’t tell him of my power. I don’t know why, but it just didn’t feel right. I told him of my fight with the elves, how I fought to the death with their extreme power.

“Wow. I thought my tale earned some bragging rights, but yours…” He left the comment go unsaid. I got what he meant though.

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“You really have to leave?” John asked.

“Yeah, we have been here for three days and Hank is gonna get too fat if he’s gone for too long.” I laughed

“Then, if Gabe comes back here I will definitely let him know of your visit brother Hayvon”

“Thank you brother Gabe” I said. I gave him one last hug then began my climb up the mountain, Zayan sitting atop my head.

“Daddy, how come you never told me you grew up with trolls?”

“Didn’t I?”

“Nope. Never mentioned it”

“Oh. Well, it really wasn’t that fascinating. I spent nearly two years not being able to leave a cave so there really isn’t much to talk about.” I responded.

“Oh… so who is this Gabe person? You said his name a lot” Zayan asked. Before you ask, no, she does not know troll. But if you say a word enough naturally someone will be able to guess the meaning.

“Gabe.. he is… your uncle!” I replied.

“My uncle!?” She shouted.

“Well, technically so is John but I prefer Gabe over John” I said while laughing.

“So if he’s my uncle, then that means were family?” She said in a slightly quivering voice. I already thought she would have assumed this

“Of course. We will always be family, forever and always.” I said. She didn't respond, only squeezed her little arms around my neck tighter.

The trip was quiet as we walked up the side of the mountain, encountering few beasts. When we had reached the cave, I smelled a new smell inside. Instantly I was on alert.

“Stay here” I told Zayan then walked inside. The scene that was shown before my eyes was something like a horror movie. Hank’s powerful feline body had been completely ripped apart, intestines thrown across the wall and his eyeballs smashed. By his corpse, chewing on one of his legs was a large beast I had never seen before. It had a turtle shell, but had spikes on the back of it. Goat hooves mixed with a large reptilian tail occupied it’s lower half. It’s upper half had a massive lions mane on one side, while the other had goats fur. Oh, and did I mention the two heads that were staring at me with killer eyes.

Rage overtook me in an instant as I charged at the beast. My eyes were completely red, but through the haze I could see the beast charging at me. I activated my flaming nails and did a sword thrust with my hand at it’s heart. I felt slick blood flow around my hand it grasped the beasts heart. It roared in pain and without a seconds hesitation I crushed the heart.

I expected the fight to be over, so when I turned around only to get blind sided by a massive tail you could imagine my shock. After getting up from the ground I was shocked to see that the wound I had made was completely healed, and seemingly no harm had befallen the creature. I smiled, this was going to be a fun fight.

I smashed the beast in the chest, only to get bitten by both heads on my shoulders. I bit back, only to taste poison blood enter my mouth. I spit it in the eyes of the goat, much to it’s anger. Suddenly it’s reptilian tail smashed against my right leg. I went down hard, breaking a few bones in the process. The goat lion hybrid jumped in the air turned on it’s back so that the spiky turtle shell was facing me. I barely managed to roll away before it dropped down, it’s massive weight creating a crater in the ground. Before it could get up I threw all my weight into a powerful stomp to its chest. It bleated-and roared- out blood. It did this weird spinning roll and flipped onto its feet. It let out a blood curdling roar, then charged at me. I charged back and met the beast head on, making this a contest of strength. I shoved with all my strength, but this thing felt like it was a mountain. I could barely move it, yet it was slowly pushing me back. Even when I enhanced my arms I could only match it. I smashed my knee into its stomach then grabbed its arm. Judo flipping it over my body, I promptly smashed its arm against my knee, then stomped on its bleating goat throat.

I continued to pummel it for about an hour, never stopping to rest as my fist’s repeatedly smashed both of it’s faces. By the time I finished, it was a massive mess of broken bones and guts lying around the place. I wasn’t sure how I was going to explain this to Zayan when I suddenly remembered :Zayan! I had totally forgotten about her. I turned towards the exit, only to see her crying over Hank’s corpse, his head in her arms.

“Hank! Hanks dead daddy!” she cried with snot and tears on her face. I walked over and hugged her from behind, holding her while she held Hank.

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It was a grim day when we buried Hank. Well what was left of him. We buried him on the very spire of the mountain, making proof of his glory.

“This world is cruel” I thought as I watched Zayan mope around, not having the energy to do anything. Suddenly, a thought struck me.

This will work!