Chapter 4: Taming the Variant Troll

Thud.

Thud.

The heavy footsteps grew fainter, echoing not toward the cave’s exit but deeper within. 

Gaon knew there were no other passages in that direction.

‘Another hideout inside?’

It wasn’t certain, but the likelihood was high.

‘Shall I see what’s lurking?’

His hideout was laced with numerous magic circles, including one that recorded the appearance of any intruder who approached. 

Gaon retraced his steps through the passage, returning to the chamber. 

At the entrance, he placed his hand on a small crystal orb and infused it with Heaven-Shattering Qi.

Instantly, an image of the footsteps’ source materialized in his mind.

‘A cave troll?’

He recognized it at once—a troll with rough, brown skin. 

A cave troll, unmistakable.

‘But it’s massive for a cave troll.’

In his long life, Gaon had encountered countless cave trolls, yet none rivaled the sheer size of this one. 

Though trolls varied in build, this one was beyond the norm—an anomaly.

‘A variant?’

The thought struck him immediately. 

A variant would explain its extraordinary size.

‘With magi’s influence, a variant isn’t surprising.’

In a place where mana and magi coexisted, such mutations were plausible.

‘I need to grow stronger, fast.’

Even now, he could likely survive a clash with this variant troll, but killing it easily? 

That was another matter.

Gaon grabbed the two elixir pills from the desk and headed back to the herb garden. 

Arriving, he plucked another Luin Flower, sat cross-legged, and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoroughly. 

Its essence slid down his throat, vaporizing into mana and magi.

Channeling the Heaven-Shattering Method, he began converting the energies into Heaven-Shattering Qi. 

After two cycles through his body, all traces of mana and magi had transformed.

He then retrieved one of the pills—the Mareunghwan—and swallowed it, pondering his next step.

‘What first?’

The time had come to decide: forge the 2nd Circle or break the first wall of the Heaven-Shattering Method.

The choice was merely a matter of sequence. 

He had another pill, the Macheonghwan, and the garden brimmed with spirit herbs. 

If he formed the 2nd Circle first, he’d tackle the first wall next. 

If he broke the wall first, the 2nd Circle would follow.

‘Considering output, strengthening my body first makes sense.’

After deliberation, Gaon chose the first wall. 

The 1st Circle’s output, amplified by Heaven-Shattering Qi, was already formidable, and his reinforced body had handled it without issue. 

But adding a second circle could strain him if his physique wasn’t ready. 

Breaking the first wall to bolster his body was the safer path.

Decision made, he circulated the Heaven-Shattering Method, converting the Mareunghwan’s mana into qi. 

Gathering the qi before the first wall, he sent it crashing forward.

Boom!

This was no gentle probing. 

The full force of his qi slammed into the wall, a deafening explosion ringing in his mind as pain surged through him.

‘Ugh!’

Clenching his teeth, Gaon endured and checked the wall’s state. 

Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface.

‘One more strike should do it.’

He gathered his qi again and hurled it forward.

Boom! 

Crack!

As predicted, the wall shattered, its fragments dissolving into Heaven-Shattering Qi and seeping into his body. 

In that moment, he felt it—his physique had grown incomparably stronger.

Well, look at this.

A smile curved his lips as he assessed his enhanced body.

‘Just the first wall, and it’s this potent?’

He had known breaking the wall would strengthen him, but the result exceeded his expectations. 

His body wasn’t the only beneficiary.

Circulating the Heaven-Shattering Method, he noticed something else.

‘The recovery rate is incredible.’

The qi depleted by breaking the wall was replenishing rapidly.

‘No wonder Cheon Muhyeok never tired.’

Gaon chuckled, recalling their relentless seven-day battle. 

Now he understood the source of Cheon’s boundless stamina.

Soon, his qi was fully restored.

‘Half of it was consumed.’

Breaking the wall had drained half his reserves. 

He glanced at the remaining pill, the Macheonghwan.

‘This should be enough for the 2nd Circle.’

The Macheonghwan was a grade above the Mareunghwan—more than sufficient for his needs.

His gaze shifted to the herb garden, teeming with spirit herbs.

‘I’ll need to choose between the second wall or the 3rd Circle.’

Even with the herbs’ potency maximized through compounding, achieving both was impossible. 

He’d have to pick one.

Wait.

A sudden idea sparked in his mind, his eyes gleaming.

What about troll blood?

Troll blood, renowned for its regenerative properties, was a key ingredient in healing potions and certain elixirs, amplifying their effects. 

The garden held several spirit herbs compatible with troll blood. 

If he could acquire it, the amplified elixirs might allow him to break the second wall and reach the 3rd Circle.

‘First, the 2nd Circle.’

Gaon swallowed the Macheonghwan. 

As it dissolved, a massive surge of mana emerged. 

Wrapping it in Heaven-Shattering Qi, he circulated the Heaven-Shattering Method, converting the mana into qi.

With his prior experience, forming the 2nd Circle was as effortless as breathing. 

Soon, it was complete, brimming with Heaven-Shattering Qi.

Satisfied, Gaon rose and activated both circles. 

They spun fiercely, unleashing a torrent of power.

No issues.

His body, fortified by the first wall’s collapse, handled the output with ease.

‘This should handle the 3rd Circle’s output too.’

Though he’d need to confirm, he felt confident his body could withstand it.

Raising his right palm skyward, he chanted, “Fire Ball!”

A blazing orb materialized above his hand. 

Unlike a mana-based spell, this Fire Ball was forged from Heaven-Shattering Qi. 

He had worried about elemental magic compatibility, but those fears proved unfounded.

In fact, it surpassed expectations. 

The Fire Ball grew stronger, drawing in ambient mana and magi without Gaon’s input. 

It soon reached its limit, stabilizing.

Whoosh! 

Whoosh!

With a thought, Gaon sent the Fire Ball dancing through the air, moving freely under his control.

‘This is 4th Circle-level power.’

In terms of raw energy, it rivaled a Fire Ball cast by a 4th Circle mage specializing in fire magic.

With a flick of his wrist, he dispersed the spell.

Thud.

Thud.

The ground trembled again, the unmistakable footsteps of the cave troll.

‘Time to deal with it.’

At the 1st Circle, he hadn’t been confident in an easy kill. 

But now, with the first wall broken and the 2nd Circle formed, even a variant troll posed no threat.

Thud.

Thud.

The footsteps faded, this time toward the cave’s exit.

Gaon scanned the dense array of spirit herbs, calculating.

‘At least five liters of troll blood.’

With his estimate set, he returned to the hideout, grabbed a pouch for the blood, and headed out through the cave’s entrance.

Stepping into the open, he noticed the ground.

‘It’s unscathed.’

Despite the earth-shaking footsteps, the cave floor showed no signs of damage—not because of its durability, but likely due to some ability the variant troll had gained.

‘Definitely a variant.’

Gaon stepped outside.

“Magic Shield!”

Swish!

A barrier of Heaven-Shattering Qi shimmered into existence before him.

Thud!

A small boulder struck the shield, shattering into fragments. 

The barrier held firm.

Gaon’s gaze locked onto the source—a massive variant cave troll, his target.

‘It didn’t even try to hide.’

He hadn’t concealed his qi, so any creature with keen senses would have noticed him.

‘Roar?’

The troll seemed puzzled that its attack had been blocked. Gaon smirked.

The troll didn’t share his amusement.

ROAR!

It let out a guttural bellow, the sound wave shaking nearby trees. 

Uprooting a massive three-meter tree, it wielded it like a club.

Gaon extended his hand, chanting, “Ice Fog.”

Swish!

A frigid mist enveloped the troll, freezing the tree and coating its body in frost. 

But it wasn’t enough to halt its advance. 

The troll trudged forward, slow but relentless.

“Freeze.”

Crack!

Ice encased the troll, locking it in place. 

It wasn’t dead—its eyes still blinked within the icy prison.

Gaon chanted again. “Wind Cutter!”

Swish!

A blade of wind, infused with Heaven-Shattering Qi, sliced through the troll’s neck. 

Unable to dodge, its frozen head detached and shattered upon hitting the ground.

Approaching the still-standing corpse, Gaon summoned another spell.

“Magic Blade.”

With precise cuts, he sliced open the troll’s leg.

Gush.

The outer layer was frozen, but the inner flesh was untouched, and blood poured out. 

Gaon positioned the pouch to collect it, calculating.

‘A week should suffice.’

With the blood secured, he planned to craft and consume enhanced elixirs, aiming to form the 3rd Circle and break the second wall. 

A week would be ample for the task.

‘If only there’s a town or city nearby…’

Afterward, he would seek out a settlement to gather information—why the demonic invasion persisted, and the state of the continent’s affairs.