"Man, she really sleeps a lot doesn't she?" Neptune whispered.
Nepgear nodded, "Every time we find her sleeping and she will sleep for an entire day."
They were both looking to where Plutia was sleeping on the couch. She used her plushy as a pillow and snored softly like a baby having a wondrous dream.
It has been over a month since Plutia stayed with them. During that time she helped them with chores like sweeping, washing, cleaning and managing with the vegetable garden. But in the middle of them she asked leave to have a nap. The siblings didn't mind but they found her consistent napping to be a weird choice of what she called a hobby.
Other beside the house chores, she did tagged along with them for monster hunting which had only happened twice that month.
"I don't think sleeping all the time is healthy for her and her stamina will be poor if she keeps that habit on." Nepgear said.
"Yeah, but by the looks of it she is low on batteries from the start." Neptune stared at the sleeping girl for a while longer and then said, "You gonna admit, she is kind of cute just lying there sleeping."
"Do you think we should try and wake her up?"
Neptune thought for a few second and then said, "Nay. I think it better off we just let all those sweet dreams swim through her head."
There was a knock on the door. Nepgear went to opened it and Nereus and Uni walked into the living room. "Good afternoon, Nepgear." Uni greeted.
"Oh, good afternoon to you too." Nepgear greeted back.
"Hey there guys, what's up?" Neptune said.
"We didn't have anything to do we decided to come and visit you two, not like I actually wanted to though, I was just bored." Nereus said.
"You came here just because you're bored, right, right, I get you man." Neptune said, with a shadow of a smile.
Nereus looked from Neptune to Plutia and asked, "Is she seriously sleeping again?"
"Yeah, sweet old Plu is at it again. You should probably keep your voice down."
Nereus sighed. Every time he came and visit, he always found Plutia taking one of her naps. Something he found to be irritating. But for the past month he had get to know Plutia a bit more and she declared Uni and him to be her friends. Something he found to be the opposite of what he feels about her napping.
"So, what are we gonna do? There isn't anything happening." Neptune said.
"Guess you're right. No monster troubles for almost two weeks. Not even from the town." Nereus said.
"Yeah, they are the ones who give us the only two jobs this month." Uni said.
"By the way, did you all hear? They are going to allow other villages to join them soon. That includes us." Nepgear said.
The town or at least that is what they all called it. It doesn't have a name yet. The people there are led by a man name Gilbert who was gaining fame. Just three weeks ago, people from the town spread news that he and others wanted to establish a functioning government. They do not wish to wait for a CPU to appear anymore and decided to take matters into their own hands.
"You all think it could work? Making a nation without a CPU?" Uni asked.
"No Uni, they are not making a nation. They just going to build a government and will expand the town and develop it into a prospering city." Her brother answered.
"But would it be possible for them to make a nation?"
"Not entirely possible. There are a lot of independent nation before. Few of them are successful, a lot failed. They either couldn't be established or they fell apart within a few months or years. By overall only a CPU can create nations."
Then a sleepy voice said, "What failed...?" Plutia sat up and rubbed her eyes, the way she does almost every time she wakes up.
"Oh hey Plu, we didn't woke you up did we?"
Plutia yawned and said in a still sleepy voice, "No…I just want to wake up that's all."
"Don't you think you sleep too much Plutia? I mean who can sleep multiple times a day and still want to sleep the day after?" Nereus said.
Plutia put a finger to her chin and thought for a while and then said, "I don't know…I just like to sleep sooooo much…"
"By the way, Nepgear said you always go to sleep with the same clothes you wore during the day and don't bother to change, is that true?" Uni asked.
"Well yeah…but I have bunch of the same clothes so it doesn't matter if I change or not…right?"
They all look at her with dubious looks and then Nereus threw in a question of his own, "How about your hair? By the looks of it you don't comb it do you?"
"Comb my hair…hmm…" Plutia twirled a lock of her messy hair and thought of it for a while. She admitted that she didn't bother much about her hair other besides keeping it in her favorite braid style, tied with her favorite ribbons.
Don't wanting to wait for a reply anymore, Nereus said, "You know what, never mind." 'Geez she always has to think for a moment before answering. It is starting to get annoying.' He thought.
"Ok, so since we don't have anything to occupy ourselves, how about a little training/practice/dueling session?" Neptune suggested out loud.
Everyone looked at Neptune and said at the same time, "What? Training/practice/dueling session?"
"Yeah why not, I mean we hadn't had one for a while now. I don't want to get a little rusty. As grandpa once said, 'Training is like sharpening a blade. One cannot hope to cut through one's enemy with a rusty sword.'"
They all looked at Neptune and then at each other and nodded. "Okay! So let's get our swords out and…"
He was interrupted by a horn blowing. Everyone got quiet and listened as a long 'bwuaaaaaaaahhhh' rang through the air. Then it stopped.
Suddenly, they could hear people clamoring outside. "What is that…a horn?" Plutia asked.
"No, Plutie, not just any horn." Neptune said and a smile crossed his lips. "Looks like Salimir is back."
"Looks like the merchant is still in business and is not dead." Nereus said.
"I wonder if he has anything new in his caravan." Uni said.
"I wonder if he has robots and techno thingies in his caravan. Come on Neptune, go get our money!" Nepgear half-shouted with her eyes sparkling.
Everyone started to run out of the house. Neptune, after grabbing a pocket full of credits, stopped in the doorway and said to Plutia, "Come on Plu, let's see what he got for us."
Plutia couldn't comprehend what they were talking about but even so she followed them out.
The villagers were gathering at the east of the village. When they got there, Plutia saw trucks surrounded by jeeps coming closer to them. Everyone in the villages seems excited.
"What's going on…? Plutia asked.
"Oh yeah, you don't know yet. Well, you see Plutie, there's this guy who goes by the name Salimir who is from Lowee. He is like this big-shot merchant who like flip-flops around Gamindustry. Whether on land, on sea, or in the air he goes everywhere. The village had traded with him a couple of times." Neptune explained.
"Trade him with what…?"
"Well, we buy stuff off of him and he gets cash. If he needs stuff like food or water or other stuff we give them to him for some cash, as simple as that."
"Oookay, I get it…"
When the caravan reached the village, the villagers started to crowd around the trucks. The jeeps had bulky and tough-looking men in them. Plutia saw some of them were armed with firearms and melee weapons.
The door of one of the truck opened and a man stepped out. He was in his forties, average height, tan skin, a crook nose, salt and pepper hair and a white beard.
From the people gathered Plutia could hear them greeting him and he greeted them back. Kain, the village elder approached him, gave him a handshake and greeted him like an old friend.
Then, Salimir climbed onto the hood of the semi-trailer, looked around and in a loud and benevolent voice said, "Hello again everyone, good to see you again. I'm sure that you all are very eager to see what I have in store for you all. Well you will not be disappointed, because Salimir has all you need right here!" He waved to his men started unlatching the trailers.
The trailers instead of having backdoors like other trailers; they were customized with metal doors that swipe upwards. Inside the trailers were a huge number of things. Plutia saw things from furniture to clothing to electronic appliances to reading materials and many other things. The men started to take some things out of the trailers.
"So come on, look around and see if there is anything you all like to buy!" Salimir shouted. Everyone started rushing towards the contents of the trailers, excited.
"Come on Plu, let's if there's anything we can buy."
"Okay…"
Everyone was hustling among the trailers, some walked around the tight space and looking for things they would need or want. Salimir and his men managed the paying and the merchant talked with the villagers, making suggestions and finding the things they want.
Among the crowd Plutia saw Hamilton found a box of cigarettes and matches. Kain brought an old drum and after testing it with a few beats, decided to buy it. Some kids brought a handheld that still functions well.
Neptune and Plutia got into the trailer and started looking around. "Got anything you want Plutie?" Neptune asked.
"Um…well…hmm…" she looked around, seeing if there is anything of interest until she saw a basket full of clothing material. "Maybe those…?"
"You want those cloths? Ok then Plu. Hey! Salimir! How much for this basket of cloths?"
Hearing him, the merchant came over with a smile, "Ah Neptune, good to see you again. So you want these cloths you say?"
"Yap, for the lady over here, how much?"
"Hmm…I say 200 credits. Say, who is that girl? I never saw her before."
"Oh, she is the new girl here." Neptune handed him the credits and Plutia grabbed the basket. "Thanks Neppy."
"No problem Plu, you can have any…hey what is this?" Neptune picked up something on the floor of the trailer. It was a buckle; a sword buckle.
"Hey I think I can use this. How much is for this thing?"
"It just cost 80 credits. And also to let you know that is made to strap around the body and hold the sword on one's back."
"Ok. Then I am definitely buying this." He paid the merchant and strapped the buckle on. Then Nereus approached them when he saw Neptune found a sword buckle.
"Hey Salimir, do you have another one of that lying around here, I could use one as well."
Salimir thought for a moment and then walked over to one corner of the trailer and came back with another sword buckle. "Here you go, it also cost 80 credits and unlike the one Neptune got it is meant for the waist."
"Thanks." Nereus paid for the buckle and strapped it on his waist. Then Uni climbed into the trailer and asked Salimir, "Hey, Salimir, where are the rifle ammos?"
"Ah Uni, I thought you might ask." The merchant went to side of the trailer and came back with a small box. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Uni opened the box to find smaller boxes of rifle ammos. Nereus paid 300 credits with still lots of credit left in their savings.
From the other end of the trailer they heard Nepgear shouted, "Eureka!"
"You find what you want sis?"
"Yes." Nepgear moved through the tight spaces and came to them with a box full of devices and electronic parts. "I want these!"
Salimir looked over the items in the box and counted the cost of payment. "There are about a total of 600 credits."
"Okay then." Neptune paid for the device and Nepgear hugged the box. Everyone all thought at the same time 'Typical Nepgear'.
"Still a technology nerd you are Miss Nepgear."
"Well yeah, I just couldn't resist when I saw all these parts lying there. Maybe with these I could build something useful."
"That is what you always say and in the end it blows up in your face. Do you really know what you are doing Nepgear?" Nereus asked.
"Of course I do. I know I had failed a lot of times but I don't want give up."
"I must say, you should have joined one of the villages that have those power stations since you like tinkering with devices." Salimir said.
"Um, no, I'm not into that kind of tinkering. I'm more into hardware and stuff."
Plutia then asked them, "Hey, what is a power station?"
Neptune answered her, "Well, you know, the place where engineers or whatever makes electricity with machines or whatever."
"Yes, something like that," Salimir said, "I must say, seeing you people living like medieval citizens really makes me wonder if a CPU will ever turn up. I have been to many other villages, settlements, and small towns. I saw that each town having different lifestyle from the other. Besides Lowee, the luxury of life from ages past has been long gone."
"What do you mean…?"
Nereus raised an eyebrow and shot Plutia a hard look, "You don't know Gamindustry's history?"
"Um…hmm…no, I don't know a thing."
"Seriously?" Nereus' look hardened.
Neptune spoke up in her defense, "Hey, lay off her man, she said that she lost her memory about a couple of months ago. You should just go easy on her a bit."
"Well young Miss, do you wish to know I have a bit of time so I could tell you about the past a bit." Salimir offered.
"Ok, thanks…"
"You see Miss," Salimir sat on a wooden stool which he remembered he got from a town in the east and answered Plutia, "Well, not many people know and all those who had known and experience it have long been dead. Gamindustry wasn't always like this; there were once prospering nations and lives that were enjoyable and fun. And by fun I meant life was full of games."
"Games? What do you mean by that…?"
"Well, it is said that the lives of people in Gamindustry evolved around gaming. Gaming is the most valuable thing in life. Hardly a single person doesn't have a gaming console in their homes. And where do these consoles came from? They were made by CPUs."
"CPUs…they are supposed to be gods, aren't they?"
Salimir nodded, "Yes, gods and leaders. Back then there were many of them. They created nations, lead humanity, make games and protected us. But then the war broke out." Salimir said the last sentence with a gloomy tone.
"War…?"
Uni asked Salimir, "You mean the great Tari Crash?"
Salimir nodded again, "A war among CPUs, when one of them went mad."
"Yeah we heard of the great Tari Crash," Nereus said, "They said that a CPU went mad and insane, seeking more power than the one she already has. Soon, others joined her and a war broke out between nations and CPUs."
"Yes," Salimir took out a flask from his shirt pocket, unscrew the cap and took a drink of fine brandy, "According to books, the tyrant CPU enslaved her people, force strict martial law. And when people dared to protest against her, she executed them on the spot, as other CPUs but not all of them went insane."
Salimir took another gulp and offered the flask to them but when they refused he continued, "It was a harsh time. Nations were destroyed, thousands of lives lost, Gamindustry was in utter ruin."
"But, did anyone stop the evil CPU?"
"Well yes, she was defeated and her allies. By whom it is unknown but according to the history books," the merchant leaned forward and said, "It is said that the CPUs that were still the good guys had help."
"Had help from whom?" Nereus asked.
Salimir answer was, "Other gods."
The five stared at him, turning the words around in their minds. Then Nereus spoke up first, "Wait, you make it sound like there are other gods besides CPUs."
Salimir took another gulp of brandy, then screw the cap back on and put the flask back into his shirt pocket. "That's right."
"Wait," Nepgear said, "So you are saying that there are other gods out there?"
Salimir nodded a third time but then said, "Well, I'm not really sure. According to legends, there are many subspecies of gods out there. But proofs of their existent were not so solid so there are regarded as myths. The only gods we humans believe are real are the CPUs."
"So what happened after the evil CPU was defeated…?" Plutia asked.
"I don't know. After the war, CPUs all suddenly disappeared. Leaving us humans leaderless and plunging us back into the dark ages. And it was said to be a hundred years ago. So for more than seven decades, Gamindustry was chaotic until Lowee came with the first CPUs in decades."
"I was there as a very young lad back then. I remember sitting on my father's shoulders, watched as three of our would-be CPUs stand high and mighty with the people cheering on as they at last have CPUs to lead them. It was a glorious day for the people of my village and other nearby villages."
Everyone listened intently of the merchant account of the day the would-be CPUs of the soon-to-be-formed-Lowee. When he finished, Plutia asked one more question, "So since the people from your village and nearby formed Lowee, why the people here didn't became part of it…?"
"Well, because the people here didn't ask the CPUs to make the land here a part of Lowee. Lowee is to the north, where winter is common; autumn is once every year while summer and spring are non-existent. Culture there is different and to make a far-off foreign land a part of Lowee is a bit difficult and the world is massive."
Salimir stood up and said, "Well, enough chit-chat I have customers to satisfy." He jumped off the trailer and head off to the other trailers.
"So you get it Plu?"
Plutia nodded, "Uh-huh, seems easy to remember…"
"Okay then, come on let's see if there are anything else in the other trailers."
The rest of the afternoon went on like that; the villagers got what they wanted, Salimir got his money and everyone was happy and stuff.
Until a messenger from the town came to the village. Salimir and his caravan were staying outside the village for the night. As they close up shop, a man on a horse galloped into the village. Kain went to meet him and asked, "Greetings, who are you? Are you from the town?"
"I am sorry about my sudden intrusion but I have an urgent request."
"What is it?"
"Just a while ago, some of men from town were attacked while hunting in the woods. Six went off and four returned. According to them, they were walking across a wooden bridge when they were suddenly attacked by a troll. One of the four that returned was seriously injured and the other two that didn't make it were taken by the troll."
Kain listened intentionally to the horseman's story. Some of the villagers came close and listened as well including Neptune and the gang. Murmurs then arise among the listening audience.
"Attacked by a troll, that is most unfortunate. The two hunters that were taken are probably eaten alive. I believe Gilbert request the aid of our five young fighters?" The messenger nodded.
"Very well then." Kain turned around and found the five young fighters standing right behind him.
"So, another job for us? Don't worry old man we got this." Neptune said.
The next morning the group and the messenger, whose name was Logan, head to hunt the troll. Logan knew where the wooden bridge was; somewhere east of the town and northeast of the village.
When they set off Logan left his horse behind and went on foot with the five teenagers on a long walk to the wooden bridge. They walked through the open plains before entering the forest. During the entire journey, they encountered some monsters like boxer-x, tulip monsters, pixelvaders, darthvaders, coyotes, ghosts and the weird screen monster: Tokimeki sister.
Along the way Neptune asked Logan, "So how are things going back at town? How is the 'establishing a functioning government' thing going?"
"It is going pretty smooth so far."
"You sure they can do it? Are they sure they could just wait for a CPU?"
Logan shrugged, "Not sure. Gilbert and the other leaders are pretty determined. Maybe they can succeed. They are definitely not going to wait for a CPU."
Uni walked up beside him and quickened her pace to keep up, "So what is life in your town?"
"Well, life there is better than in your village. Unlike your village we have electricity, drains and roads. But things can get rusty sometimes. The power station will blow a fuse and we have no electricity for hours. The drains are old and once in a while we will have leakages. And the roads are bad and bumpy in some places."
"But it will all change once the leaders establish a functioning government." Nepgear said. "But I wonder; how do they intend to do it?"
"They are making deals with a nearby independent nation. And they are gathering people from other villages and towns."
They continued northwest and Logan said they were getting close to the wooden bridge. "One more mile or more and we will be there. So, how do you all intend to kill it?"
The five teenagers looked at one of another, their expressions were blanked. It was clear they have no actual idea except the old fashion way. "We will just cut and beat the snot of it. As easy as that." Neptune said.
"There are five of us and only one of it. We have the advantage in number." Nereus said.
"Um…can we rest for a bit…?" Plutia said; out of breath and panting.
"We can't. We are close to our destination and we can rest once we get rid of the troll." Nereus said over his shoulder, his tone slightly stern.
Plutia was behind the group, the slowest among them. "Ah, can't we just rest for a bit…? I'm sooooo tire…"
Nereus sighed. 'Not the first time.'
"Ok, since you're tire, again, how about I carry you again?" Neptune offered. Neptune had carried Plutia on his back before during their two previous jobs.
"Okay. Thanks Neppy…"
Neptune bended his knees and Plutia walked over put her hand on his shoulders and climbed onto his back…
"Kyahh…!"
"Huh? What is it Plu?"
Then Neptune heard Nereus said in alarmed tone, "Neptune, are you doing that on purpose?"
Neptune looked at Nereus' looking at him with a weird look mixed with a bit of shock. He also saw Nepgear, Uni and Logan have shock looks on their faces.
"Um, what did I do?"
"Neppy," Neptune heard Plutia said in a slightly embarrassed voice, "P-please stop touching me there…"
Then Neptune realized what his hands are grabbing. He was supposed to place his hands under Plutia's legs to hold her on his back as he did before. But he made a mistake and his hands slipped somewhere else. The cloth under his hands was not the thigh-high socks she wears but was her…
His hands were under her three piece skirt, under the back part and he was touching her panties.
'Ah-oh.' Neptune quickly shifted his hand under Plutia's legs. "Um…so, is that okay?" Neptune said; the embarrassment evident in his voice.
Everyone just stared at him, didn't know what to say about his idiotic and air-headed action until Nereus spoke up, "Really Neptune? Seeing that makes me worry about Plutia and Nepgear living under the same roof with you."
"If you are really into that then we better get them away from you." Uni followed suit with her brother.
"Ah…well…that was just a slip of the hand," Neptune forced an awkward smile but there was no way for him to defense himself.
"Um Neptune, you can be that perverted are you?" Nepgear asked while rolling around the idea of her brother being a pervert of such level.
"What? No way sis, it was just a mistake okay?"
Nereus continued his assault on Neptune, "Keep saying that with you are still carrying Plutia, and with a lot of opportunities at every corner to do that 'thing' again seems to justify that…"
Plutia cut him off, "Please don't keep scolding Neppy like that. It was just a mistake like he said."
Everyone looked at her, surprised. After that 'mistake', they didn't expect Plutia to defend Neptune. "So just like that? You are going to let Neptune off like that Plutia?" Nereus said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well," Plutia put a finger to her cheek, "Neppy said it was a mistake then we should just forgive him. Right…?"
The three of them continued to look at her and then at each other, Nepgear and Uni looked at Nereus while he looked at both of them. Nepgear then gave a faint smile while Uni shrugged. He got the message.
"Well ok then if you say so. Just make sure you'll be careful Neptune and Plutia, better watch out."
Neptune exhaled in relief and Plutia lay on her head on Neptune's shoulder which signifies that she going to take a short nap. But before she did she said, "But Neppy, if you like doing that I won't mind if you do it again, if I think about it I think I would like it and even more so if I do the part of the harasser."
Neptune felt his heart stopped a beat. The tone in her voice changed during the final part of the sentence. It put a chill down his spine along with everyone else's. No one bother to ask what she meant.
Plutia rest her head on Neptune's shoulder, "Oh Neppy, you have such a nice, warm back. It also feels a bit muscular and manly too."
"Um sure Plutie thanks." Neptune still had her previous statement lingering in his mind.
"So that's the bridge."
The group was hiding behind a bunch of hedges overlooking the wooden bridge. It was built over a small river that runs downhill and into the main river in the area. The bridge was over a few meters long and was wide enough for a jeep to ride across.
"So does anyone see the troll?" Neptune asked.
Everyone scanned the woods around and along the riverbank. But there was no sign of a troll. "Obviously it is hiding." Uni said.
Nereus nodded, "Probably. Trolls usually hide under bridges so it could be hiding next to the bridge or under it." Nereus brushed aside a few of the leaves and stems to have a better look. "It's definitely waiting out for someone to cross the bridge and when someone does it is going to surprise attack."
"And how are we going to do this?" Neptune said while adjusted his new sword buckle. He hadn't use one in a long time now. He simply put his katana in his Storage but he thought it will be best to have a sword buckle to hold his katana. And Salimir had what he needed.
Nereus answer came out fast and simple, "If we approach the bridge it will surprise attack us. We need to avoid that and draw it out from it hiding place."
"And how are we going to do that?"
Nereus thought for a moment and then his eyes flashed. He turned to Nepgear, "Hey Nepgear, didn't you be able to do that?"
Nepgear looked at him, confused. "Do what?"
Nepgear walked along the dirt trail leading to the wooden bridge. She stopped right before the bridge and scanned the riverbanks, looking for hints of where the troll could be. When she thought it was clear she stepped onto the bridge.
She walked straight in the middle, looking left and right, waiting for a troll to jump out and attack her. She looked at the river passing the bridge; it was a few feet deep and trolls are usually over 10-13 feet tall. But it was unlikely that it would stay under the bridge and in the river.
Just when she got to the end of the bridge, she heard the sound of grunting and from the corner of her eye; Nepgear saw the ground on the right side of the bridge moved up.
The next thing she knew, a huge gray-greenish hand covered with dirt, and seems to have grass growing on it and branches sticking out of it, appeared. The hand grasped onto the bridge and the huge figure of the troll appeared next.
Nepgear looked up at the troll and saw it looking at her with yellow eyes. The creature's skin was all gray-greenish; it was covered in head to toe in dirt, soil, with hair and grass growing out of some places as well as a few branches. It wore a worn-out leather tunic and a thick wrapped around its waist that works as a belt.
The troll looked at its new prey and smiled, revealing crude yellow teeth and bad gum. "Now what do we got here? A little human girl lost or something?" It chuckled, it's raspy and gargled. "You're a cute one and I'm sure a delicious one at that."
The troll quickly raises its hand to crush Nepgear. And when it did Nepgear didn't move a muscle. The troll's hand slammed the bridge, right on top of her. The troll applied as little force as to not damage the bridge but enough to decapitate Nepgear.
And when the troll looked at his hand, laying on the wooden bridge it was surprised at what it saw.
Nepgear was still standing there, looking up at the troll with a blank expression. Her legs from knee to feet disappeared into the troll's hand.
"What? What is this?" The troll pulled back its arm and with an open palm, swung its hand along the bridge. It closed its fingers around Nepgear but it felt nothing. Nepgear passed through his hand like air.
"What in Mother Gaia's name is…?"
Pain exploded in the troll's face. It felt pain caused by sharp blades and magic. It cranked its head to the other end of the bridge but felt more pain as a bullet was fired at its head.
"Attack!" Neptune yelled in a comical way. Behind him, Nereus, Nepgear, Uni, Logan and Plutia rushed forward to attack.
The troll, recovered from the attacks, looked to where the six humans were charging at it. With a roar, it raised a fist and tried to slam Neptune but the purple-haired dodge it. The wooden boards composing the bridge snapped and fell away into the river. Now there was a gap in the middle of the bridge.
On one side of the bridge where the troll was, stood Neptune, having roll forward before the troll destroyed the bridge. On the opposite side was the rest of the group.
"Damn that troll." Nereus cursed.
"So…should we jump across?" Plutia asked.
Rolling his eyes Nereus stepped back, leapt across the bridge and landed with ease. Logan watched surprised that Nereus did a leap that surpass what an average human can do. Logan was taller than him and would have jumped farther but Nereus, Logan was sure, could really beat him.
The troll realized that the humans it was facing could give resistant. It walked up the riverbank and stepped in front of the bridge; in front of Neptune.
"So, you petty humans are going to fight me? Hah, I would like to see you try."
"Sure thing big guy. But I'm sure short-bearded dudes can slice that ugly face of yours as easy as pie." Neptune said with an air of confidence.
"What?! What are you implying? I'm three times bigger than you are and as if some dwarf creature can kill me."
"Well then would you want a try against a wizard? I'm sure one can turn you into stone or something. I'm sure you make a great statue. People will be like throwing eggs at you and saying "Man that troll sure is ugly enough to be turned into stone'."
The troll snarled ferociously. Neptune was getting on its nerves, "Ok human, once I'm done with you I am going to decorate the wall of my cave with your carcass like a trophy!"
"Me? A trophy? Somehow I think you have bad taste for decorations pal. I think I would look worse than shabby."
The troll had enough. "Enough talking, I'll just kill you and that's it!"
Neptune raised both of his hands to his side in mocking gesture, "Come and try."
From behind Neptune, Nereus shouted, "What the heck are you doing? Stop mouthing off and fight that thing."
Neptune turned around and saw the five of them had jumped across the gap. Nereus, Nepgear, Uni and Plutia easily surmounted that obstacle. Logan on the other hand almost fell into the river if Nepgear hadn't caught him at the last moment.
Nereus gave Neptune a hard stare, "Quit jabbing words at that thing already. It was irritating hearing you mouthing off."
"Oh come on man, a few confident taunts to the enemy won't get you killed. Well, not in a less painful way at least."
His sister said, "He's right Neptune; you can't be cocky and taunt the enemy like that. You will make them angry and…Neptune! Look out!"
The troll pulled back it right arm and punched straight at Neptune; which was what Neptune had anticipated among many things the troll could. He rolled sideways and the troll's fist mashed the ground where Neptune was. Drawing his katana from the sheath Neptune rushed towards the troll, aiming for its legs.
The troll threw another punch which Neptune dodged. When he was under it, Neptune brought up his katana in a wide arc, cutting the monster's left leg. The troll groaned in pain and then raised his injured leg and tried to stomp Neptune.
Neptune jumped back and when his feet touched the ground he spun left with incredible speed and agility, towards the troll's right leg. With two spins he reached its leg and within another two spins, Neptune cut the troll on its thigh in the first spin and brought his katana down to cut its leg on the second spin.
The troll growled in pain, but even with both of its legs cut and injured, Neptune knew that trolls are magical beings and they are pretty durable. It takes more than three cuts to finish or decapitate it.
The troll's legs were in pain but the damage done will not stop it. It will not by defeated by a mere human. The troll turned around as fast as it could and tried to kick Neptune.
Neptune step-sided just in time and ran through his mind what the troll would likely throw at him next: Another kick, a punch, a stomp or a…
The troll did a sweeping kick. The monster's feet slide across the ground, kicking up dirt. Neptune reflexes reacted and when the troll's feet came close he acrobatically flipped over its leg.
The troll the came forward with another punch but as it pull back its arm, it was shot in the back by Uni with her rifle. The troll yelled in pain as his back was seared by her fire-enhanced bullet, Infernius shot.
Nereus rushed in and jumped up impossibly high. He raised his sword over his head and stabbed the troll deep in the back. The troll clenched its teeth as more pain filled its body. Then Nereus brought his leg under him and kicked off of its back and landed on the ground.
The troll turned around and punched where Nereus was. But with abnormal speed Nereus jumped high in the air again and landed on top of its hand and proceeded to run up its arm. The troll tried to brush him off but Nereus jumped off before it could. He soared through the air, towards its face. When he was close he swung his short sword across the troll's forehead, leaving a wide gash.
Nereus jumped off its face, somersaulted and land without a thud. The troll roared with pain, clenching his hands over its forehead.
Seeing an opening, Nepgear charged forward. She ran straight for the front and stabbed the troll in the belly. The troll stepped back, its hand over the stab wound, grunting and bleeding.
From the back of the group Plutia shouted, "Hey I want to do it too."
Plutia ran towards the troll in a brisk pace. When she was close, she retrieved her plushie from her Storage and jumped up while spinning in the air. Then in mid-air she held up her plushie. A magic circle appeared and a beam of magic shot out at the troll. The beam struck it in the chest and the troll fell down.
"Nice one Plu." Neptune exclaimed.
"Thanks Neppy."
The troll recovered and got up on to its knees panting, holding a hand to his smoking chest, "Damn humans, when had there been the likes of you all?"
"Don't know, hadn't there been any others like us?" Neptune said.
"I have come across many humans before but all five of you are something I have never encountered before."
"Well then we will be the last you will ever see." Nereus said before holding out his hand and firing a fireball at the troll. It recoiled back as the fire singed its skin.
Neptune followed up by shooting at it with his 16-bit mega blades. Nepgear blasted it with Icicles, an attack where the caster fires sharp spikes made out of ice. Uni shot the troll several times with her rifle and Plutia summoned long rods of light and fire them at it.
Logan watched from behind, amaze that they can fight a troll with hardly any difficulty. He heard of their amazing abilities and seeing them now left in his mind no doubt as to who they are; fighters; warriors.
The troll finally decided to retreat. It was outnumbered, outmatched and at a disadvantage. It quickly grabbed a tree, uprooted it and threw it at his attackers. Then he threw another one and then a third one while trying to run.
The five fighters dodged and avoided the trees but that left the troll with a small opening to escape. It ran ahead on the dirt trail with slightly sluggish steps but with its large stride it was gaining distance.
"Hey don't you run away!" Uni shouted and aimed her rifle and shot several rounds at the running troll. Some of it reached its mark while others miss. "It's getting away!"
"We have to go after it. We can't let it go or else it could harm others sooner or later." Nepgear said.
Nereus nodded and sheathed his short sword, "Come on let's go." And he ran after the troll.
"All right you heard the self-appointed leader there." Neptune was about to run after the troll as well when he looked over to his sister, "By the way sis, nice work with the mirage." Neptune said and nodded towards the fake Nepgear standing in the same spot on the bridge with a blank expression.
"Thanks Neptune, I have been working on it and looks I got it perfectly." Nepgear turned to her mirage and wave a hand. The mirage then disappeared.
"Come on guys we are falling behind." Uni said and then ran after the troll and her brother. The rest followed behind, Neptune, Nepgear, Plutia and Logan, running after the troll.
Author's note: Ok that's it for this chapter. I don't know if the idea for this chapter was a good idea. But it is up to you readers. Leave a review to let me know what you think and what is wrong with it and what is good about. I would really much appreciate it.