The group ran after the troll, who tried to escape into the woods. The troll ran awkwardly, groaning after each step. The cuts inflicted by Neptune were slowing him down but due to its massive strides plus surprisingly good endurance it managed to stay ahead of his pursuers.
The group were keeping didn't lose sight of the troll. He was leaving a mess of a trail behind. Nereus was in front with Neptune, Nepgear, Uni and Plutia behind him. Logan was way behind them. He was surprised, again, that they were able to run so fast.
The troll looked behind him, seeing that they had pursued him just as it predicted. He knew that he can't take them alone now and needed help. He ran uphill, where his cave is. The cave was practically inside a massive cliff that ended in a huge drop down onto the forest ground below while at the far side of the cliff was a ravine where it was a drop into the main river.
The pursuit continued for minutes until they burst out of the woods. The land suddenly became sheep and the group saw a cave entrance that seems to go into the cliff. The troll made a run for it.
"It's going for that cave!" Nepgear shouted.
"Yeah, but I doubt it will give the troll an advantage. It will be cornered." Uni shouted back in reply.
Then all of a sudden the troll stopped at the mouth of the cave and turned around to face his attacks. The group stopped in their tracks and prepared themselves.
For a few seconds none of them moved until Neptune decided to break the silence. "So what now big guy? You ain't got anywhere to go. You're going to pipe down and surrender or what?"
The troll snarled, "As if I'm done you little runt."
Suddenly, a voice came from inside the cave, "Hey Grump, is that you? You got something from the bridge or what?"
The troll, Grump, shouted in reply, "Yeah, sort of, and could use some help putting them down. So get your ass over here. You too Trunk."
The five of them stiffened as two trolls emerged out of the cave.
"Hey, what is going on here? What is up with these humans?" one of two new trolls asked. The troll was taller but less muscular than Grump.
"Yeah and why are you all banged up like that?" said the second troll, who was the shortest of them.
"Forget about that. I just need help with these here humans. They are not just some ordinary humans we had come across."
The two trolls looked at the group of humans who were standing in front of them. "These little punts? They are the ones that hurt you like that? Please." The shortest of the three trolls said.
"I ain't kidding. These little buggers are kind of tough. So help me squish them. But first where are those healing grass?"
"They're just in there. You can go rest up while we handle these humans." The tallest of the three stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"All right, just leave me some left for me. I want payback. You got that Stone?"
"All right, all right, just get yourself fix up." Grump walked into the cave. Stone looked at each of the humans in turn. He saw they have weapons and to think that they were able to fight Grump. Stone turned to the short troll next to him, "Hey Trunks get your club."
"All right." And Trunks went back inside to get his club.
"So, whoa, now there are three trolls. Get that shouldn't been obvious," said Neptune.
"This is really trouble. We gonna be careful." Nereus said.
Then with a roar, Stone leapt and slammed both fist onto the group. The six of them dodged out of the way. "So, you little guys managed to hold against Grump. Never had that happen before."
"Well big buddy, guess this will get to be your first time then." Neptune said before charging at Stone with sword drawn.
The troll swept his arm at Neptune but he managed to stop an inch before the sweeping troll's arm. The troll next attempted a punch but was shot multiple times in the head by Uni with her rifle.
The troll, groaning, held up a hand to protect his face. Neptune used the opportunity to rush forward and swung his katana at the troll's leg. Stone gritted his yellow teeth as he felt the pain.
Before Stone could react, Neptune jumped high and stabbed him in the back. He then put his feet on the troll's back while pulling himself up with all his strength and then jumped up again at the same time pulling out his katana. When Neptune reached up to Stone's neck level he thrust his katana into Stone's shoulder blades.
Stone grunted in pain. He reached behind him and tried to get Neptune off his back. But Neptune leapt up farther again until he reached the troll's head. Neptune planted his right foot on the troll's bald head and jumped off it. In mid-air Neptune twisted around and brought his katana down on the troll's head.
The sword cut through Stone's forehead and ended on near his nose. The troll recoiled and yelled in pain. Neptune landed on the ground and turned to the troll.
As he was doing so the troll, one hand clenching his forehead, quickly attacked with a kick. Neptune barely dodged it and was knocked back.
"Why you little…I am definitely going to flatten you!"
Nereus stepped in front of Stone, "Come and try then." Stone slammed his fist onto where Nereus was. He backed away and rolled away from another one.
Meanwhile, Nepgear charged, leaped up, and strike Stone while spinning in the air. As her feet touched the ground, something at the corner of her eyes caught her attention. Then just in time she step sided as a huge club slammed on to where she was.
"Hey Stone, I'm back with me club." Trunk said, brandishing his huge club.
"Fine ok and now squish them will ya!"
"Ok." Trunk went after Nepgear again.
Nepgear dodged and back away as Trunk swung and slammed his club while laughing like an idiot. When Trunk raised his club with both hands again, a black cloud suddenly exploded in his face. Trunk tried to get the black cloud off but was having a hard time as the black fog seems to cling to his face.
From behind Nepgear, Plutia said, "Hey Nepgear, now's your chance."
"Right, thanks Plutia." Nepgear said as she pulled back her broadsword, with the blade pointing back behind her. She then gathered SP into the sword and it started to glow pink with the wind started to kick up, producing a strong wind. With her SP skill finished, she grabbed the handle of her broadsword with both hands and was about to slash…
When Neptune suddenly jumped onto her. The two of them crashed onto the ground, Nepgear's SP skill faded away. She heard a loud crash and felt dirt falling on her face. At the same time she felt something on her chest.
Neptune was top of her; he was just in time to save his sister from being crush by a huge rock. He could feel Nepgear under him but he also felt his head lying on something soft. It wasn't like a pillow but was soft nonetheless.
Neptune got up on his knees and hands, and saw his sister under him but noticed his head was leveled with her chest. And then he realized what felt soft under his head.
Nepgear looked up at Neptune and noticed he was looking at her chest for a moment before looking at her. Then she realized what was on her chest. It took a few second until she felt herself blushing slightly.
"Um, you all right Nep junior?" Nepgear nodded. Then Neptune said with no sign of shame, "Hey, my head landed on your chest and it was kind of soft and all…"
Nepgear's eye widened and she pushed Neptune off of her. "Goodness Neptune, y-you can't just say something like that." Her cheeks were in full blush and she covered her chest with her arms.
"Um, what did…?" Neptune paused and only then did he realize his mistake. "Whoa, sorry that sis, I didn't mean to…"
Plutia's shout cut him off, "Neppy! Nepgear! Look out!"
A shadow moved over the siblings and both rolled out of the way just in time as Trunk tried to crush them with his club. The black cloud Plutia casted wore off.
When the siblings rolled out of the way, Neptune rolled to the left while Nepgear was to the right. Nepgear got up from rolling and went back into fighting stance when she suddenly felt a huge hand enclosed around her body.
The troll, Grump, was back. He had finished eating a pile of healing grass and it healed him; restoring his strength, wear off the pain of his wounds and quickening the healing process of them.
Nepgear struggled in the troll's grasp but it was futile. Grump squeezed Nepgear slightly. "Now time to get back at you all. And I do remember that I said you ought to be a delicious treat." He closed his hand tighter around Nepgear and she grunt and squirmed in his clenches. The air was been squeezed out of her and she has difficulty breathing.
"Hey, let my sister go right now." Neptune shouted. He attempted to charge at Grump but Trunk got in his way. "Damn it."
Grump looked at Neptune with a bemused look, "Sister you say? Well then I'm sure you wouldn't want her to my next meal then." He held out Nepgear in his hand, taunting Neptune. He watched as what looks like anger seep into Neptune's face. But he thought it was pathetic; Neptune's angry look didn't look intimidating at all.
"I'm telling you, if you don't let my sister go you are going to regret it pal."
"Yeah," Plutia appeared at Neptune's side. "You better let Nepgear go because it is making me angry..." In her voice, Neptune detected a hint of anger and her hidden sadistic menace.
"Oh yeah, you two have to get through me first." Trunk said before swinging his club at the two.
Neptune tackled Plutia out of the way of the swinging club. It was lucky for Neptune to do so as Plutia was slow to react to that attack. Trunk then continued to assault them.
Grump watched Trunk attack Neptune and Plutia but he didn't notice Nepgear managed to get her left hand free. With her free hand she pointed her open hand at Grump's face and then blasted it with ice magic.
The sheer cold ice hit Grump in the eye and he howled with pain. "Ahhh! My eye! My eye! You little witch!" Grump tossed Nepgear away. She flew through the air and landed on the ground, dazed.
She got up, with most of her senses returned, looked at Grump clawing away at the ice on his face. When he was done, his right eye was gone, leaving nothing but a socket where it was.
"I am gonna kill you!" And Grump charged forward.
Neptune evaded one of Trunk's attack and when the troll went for another swing, Neptune rushed forward. He made it pass the swinging club and swung his sword over his head. The blade cut the troll under his arm. Neptune continued onto his feet and did an overhead swing, cutting the troll's leg.
Trunk turned around to attack Neptune but was struck by three of Plutia's magic beams. Trunk grunt and clenched his teeth. Then Plutia grabbed her plushie and threw it. The bear plushie spun in the air like a boomerang and smacked the troll in the face. The impact actually hurt Trunk. He could feel the damage inflicted by magic. The plushie then spun around back towards Plutia. When it came close, she reached up and grabbed albeit awkwardly as she almost stumbled.
Trunk, slightly dazed by the attack, was about to attack Plutia but he forgot about Neptune. He was gathering SP and was summoning a mega blade. This one was bigger and stronger than his 16-bit mega blade: 32-bit mega blade. He point two fingers; his index and middle finger at the troll and the purple energy blade flew at the troll. It made impact and exploded.
Trunk's back was in pain. His knees buckled and looked like he was about to fall down on his knees. But he stand firm.
Neptune, seeing the troll was weakening, was about to charge and continue the assault when Trunk, with a roar, ran towards Plutia.
Trunk was onto her quickly thanks to his massive strides. Plutia was too slow to react and Trunk kicked her. She flew back, paining exploding in her front where the troll kicked her. She landed on the ground, the air knocked out of her and dazed. She was near the edge of the ravine where the main river ran east out into the ocean.
Plutia, with some effort, managed to get up, bended over slightly, cringing with the pain. Then the shadow of Trunk moved over her. The troll had her cornered and he raised the club behind him. Plutia can't do anything in time and stood there as the club came swinging towards her.
She felt the weight of her body been lifted as something, no; someone pushed her out of the way of the approaching club. She landed on her side and at that same moment, heard a yell of pain and then a scream; Neptune's scream.
With that scream Plutia was instantly in a panic. She got up and looked over the edge; just in time to see the splash of water in the main river down the ravine. Plutia eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.
"No…Neppy…"
Then from behind her, Trunk chortled and grabbed Plutia by the leg. "Ha! Looks like I busted the cap on your friend there." He shook Plutia and she struggled but it was no use.
The fight between the rest of the group and the two other trolls was going fairly well. Nereus and Uni were having the upper hand with Stone; Nereus was too fast for Stone to keep up and Uni supported him from a distance. Nepgear was having a tougher time. Logan was with her, wielding a sword. But compared to the five young fighters he wasn't so skilled or as strong. Grump had trouble seeing thanks to his damaged eye.
Then, he heard Trunks voice shouting, "Hey Grump! Look at what I got." Grump looked at the shorter troll and was surprise to see him holding Plutia by the leg. Nepgear looked at Trunk as well and was shock to see Plutia hanging upside down by the leg.
Seeing Trunk managed to capture one of the enemies, he sees an advantage and ran towards Trunk. He grabbed Trunk's wrist and held his hand up high for them to see, "Stop the fight humans or your little friend gets it." He shouted at the top of his voice.
Nereus, Uni and Stone stopped fighting and looked at Grump. Everyone was silent as they saw that Plutia was in enemy hands.
"Great. Not good." Nereus muttered.
"Plutia! Hey, don't you hurt her!" Nepgear shouted at Grump.
"Oh I won't hurt her, unless you humans dropped your weapons. If you don't we will rip her in two." Grump said.
"Wait, where is Neptune?" Nepgear looked around but couldn't see her brother anywhere.
"Oh you mean that purple hair boy? Sorry to say but he took a little stumble down the ravine." Trunk said and pointed a thumb behind him. "Got him with me club. That could have killed him."
Those words struck the group like a hammer, "Neptune…is d-dead?" Nepgear said; her voice breaking.
Nereus and Uni were utterly shocked as well. "Neptune's really died? But how?" Nereus thought.
Seeing their reactions, Trunk added, "Yeah that's right. I was going get this girl here but the boy pushed her out of the way, saving her but got himself knocked off. I saw his body went down the ravine myself."
Nepgear buckled and she fell to her knees, "Neptune…no…"
"I'm sorry everyone…Neppy died saving me…" Plutia said, tears starting to appear in her eyes.
"Yes well he died. And she will die too if you don't drop your weapons now." Grump said again.
Plutia then held her hand at Trunk and a magic circle appeared. Three beams of magic energy shot out and hit him.
Trunk yelled and dropped Plutia and she fell on the ground. She tried to get up on her feet and run but Grump immediately grabbed her leg. Plutia was once again hanging upside down by her leg. But this time Grump took precaution and with his other hand he grabbed both of Plutia's arms and hold them together, making sure she won't cast any magic.
"Enough already. You humans better drop your weapons or I will tear her in half." Grump applied a little force and stretched Plutia a bit. She groaned as her body was stretched.
Without hesitation, Nereus, Uni, Nepgear and Logan dropped their weapons. "Ok, good humans, now don't try anything funny unless you want your friend to be in half."
Nepgear and Uni looked the troll holding Plutia in despair. But for Nereus and Logan, it was hard to feel the same when they saw that, with Plutia being held upside down, her skirt fell down, revealing her white panties.
"Well, now I guess we don't have trouble from these little midgets anymore." Stone spoke up. The troll stood up, "Now what are you all going to do now huh?" Stone then whack Nereus with the back of his hand. Nereus flew back and slammed into a tree which cracked slightly. He slumped down; pain was coursing through his body.
"Nereus!" Uni shouted. She tried to run to her brother but then Stone grabbed her. She struggled against his grasp but he squeezed her tightly and she stopped struggling.
"Trunk, go get those two." Grump ordered, pointing at Nepgear and Logan.
"All right then." Trunk walked over to where Nepgear and Logan were and grabbed each of them with both his hands.
With all of them disarmed and a hostage in their possession, it was victory for them. Grump looked at each of the humans and then at Plutia in his hands. "Hmm, now that we have achieved victory, this calls for a little reward. And I think this one will do." He turned Plutia sideways and sniffed her and she cringed. "Yap, she should do fine enough."
Hearing the troll's words, Nepgear pleaded, "No, you can't do that. We surrendered like you said."
Nereus, after recovering from Stone's attack shouted at Grump, "Yeah, we surrendered. We meet your terms so you better leave her be."
Grump looked at Nereus with a trickster frown, "Well I didn't say I wouldn't eat her did I?" And then Grump let go of Plutia's arms and threw her up into the air by her leg.
Plutia's world spun as she was tossed into the air. Then she stopped flying up and her descend began. She saw Grump opening his mouth, ready to swallow her and eat her. She can't anything; no magic can save her from becoming meal to the troll. Time seems to slow down for her and the dark opening of the mouth became bigger. Grump's yellow and broken teeth and greenish tongue was all Plutia could see in his mouth…
Until the color of skin appeared out of nowhere and moved over the troll's mouth. Before landing she made out a hand; a huge human hand.
She landed on the huge hand. The feel of the skin under her was undeniably human-like. Then she felt the hand moved and the next thing she knew she was looking a pair of large human eyes.
Grump saw the huge hand as well. He saw the hand moving over his mouth to catch Plutia. The hand withdrawn and he followed the hand until he came face to face with a pair of huge breasts.
"Honestly, you trolls are really disgusting creatures and deceitful as well, who knew." A girl's voice said.
Everyone was surprised at the newcomer.
The giantess was over 17 feet tall. She had short blonde hair and green eyes. She was wearing a yellow tunic and a travelling bag was sling over one shoulder. She also had a pair of giant-sized boots and gloves on both hands.
"Looks like you all were distracted that you didn't notice me coming. But luckily I was able to catch this human girl." The giantess looked at Grump and then Trunk and Stone. "So you three are the trolls I heard was causing trouble.
Grump was the first to recover from surprise, "What on earth is a giant doing here? There aren't any giant villages nearby here."
"No there aren't. I was just passing by for a visit to some relatives from a different village. But then I heard about you trolls from some passing humans. But I didn't expect to find you here." Then her eyes scanned the humans, "And to see humans fighting you. Don't see that very often nowadays."
"Well I don't think this is your problem. So walk off and go on with your business or whatever."
The giantess raised an eyebrow, "Really? I guess I should. But…" She bended over and let Plutia down, "Somehow I don't feel like leaving these humans behind to be your meal."
Grump stared at the giantess, surprised, "And why would you care about a bunch of humans?"
The giantess looked at Grump and then at Plutia, who looked back with eyes half-filled with wonder to be seeing a giant close up. "I don't know. But somehow I want to help. If I don't it will feel like forsaking an abandoned baby behind. Besides…"
Without warning, the giantess straight out punched Grump in the face, managing to break a tooth, "We giants and you trolls had never been on friendly terms."
Grump could feel blood in his mouth. He snarled at the giantess, and took a step back. He didn't know the chances of winning against a giant alone. If the three of them worked together they have a good chance but then there are the humans to consider.
"You better not because we got the humans in our hands and if you want them alive you better back off."
The giantess glared at Grump. She knew he was right. She cursed herself for attacking before thinking it through. She scanned the humans and two other trolls and saw that she really was in a disadvantage. There was no other way to get through this without…
The sound of Stone screaming in pain caught everyone's attentions.
While Grump was talking with the giantess and everyone else was distracted with unexpected event, Nereus took the chance to attack. Raising his right at Stone he drew out his SP and a jet of flames shot out of his hand. He carefully aimed at the troll without burning Uni.
Eventually Stone dropped Uni. Her senses quickly came back and she moved out of the way as the troll spun and stepped away from Nereus and his flame. But Nereus kept on him and moved forward every time Stone steps away. Later, Nereus stopped and Stone was burned almost all over. The troll dropped down and rolled to put out the flames.
"Uni!" Nereus' shout draw her attention and she saw Nereus ran towards her gun with great speed and kick it towards her. She caught it and aimed it at Stone, lying on the ground, managed to put out the fire.
Before she could fire, Trunk shouted, "Hey! Leave Stone alone and drop that gun or your friends get it!" As the troll said, he began to squeeze Nepgear and Logan.
"Damn it." Uni aimed her gun at Trunk but stopped.
"Stop right there. I'm warning ya one last time." Nepgear's and Logan's groans became louder as Trunk squeezed them tighter.
Uni stood there, not taking her eyes and her gun off the troll. She thought through what she could do; she could shoot Trunk in the face or maybe in the eye but the troll was smart enough to hold his hostages in front of his face. That leaves his body open but she knew she can't deal enough damage to make him let Nepgear and Logan go.
Meanwhile, with Nereus and Uni were getting back into the fight, the giantess saw the chance for an attack and she threw a hook at Grump before he could react.
The troll stepped back and looked back at the giantess. Grump was three feet shorter than the giantess but he was more muscular which his only advantage was.
Without a second to spare Grump charged forward and tackled the giantess to the ground. While on the ground and on top of her, Grump punched the giantess in the face once and then twice. On the third punch, she held up an arm and blocked it. She grabbed his tunic and wrestled him off successfully.
When both got up, the giantess threw a right elbow and then left hook. Both made contact successfully. She attempted to throw a right but Grump ducked and violently punched her in the stomach. The giantess took a step back but shrugged off the blow.
While they have their fist fight, Plutia backed away. She ran towards Trunk to save Nepgear and Logan.
Trunk's back was facing her and his attention was on Uni. She moved silently until she was a few feet away. Plutia scrolled what magic spells she can use.
Then Trunk spoke up again, "All right then, if you don't want to drop it then I guess I'll just crush this two then." And proceed to squeeze his hostages even tighter.
"Ok, all right. Just leave them be." Once again Uni dropped her rifle.
But by then Plutia had chosen a spell. Seeing Trunk hurting her friends was making her angry already and then her thought went back to Neptune. His pain as Trunk's club hit him and sent him down the ravine. She recalled his scream as he plunged into the river. That was excess coal for her already blazing anger.
Plutia held her hand up, palm open and facing upwards. She manipulated and gathered SP into the air and it started to grow cold. Ice started to appear and formed into a huge spike. Plutia weaved and shape the ice, making the tip thin and sharp as she can. When it was ready, a shadow formed over her eyes, and the thought of the ice spike piercing the troll's body made her grin slightly.
With one throwing motion, the ice spike shot straight at the Trunk's back. The spike cut through skin, flesh and organs. Trunk's howl echoed throughout the battlefield.
Trunk released his grip on Nepgear and Logan. Both landed on the ground while Trunk fell to his knees. Plutia ran to Nepgear's side, "Are you all right Nepgear?"
Nepgear took a moment to catch her breath and then replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks Plutia."
From behind them, Trunk grunted and gasped. The ice spike had gone through him from behind and the tip was protruding from his belly. Blood was pouring out of the wound and his mouth.
"You got him." Nepgear said.
"Yeah but I didn't kill him."
Trunk grabbed the tip of the ice spike and foolishly tried to pull it out but he ended up making his wound bled more.
"I think it's best to end his life than let him suffer longer." Logan suggested.
"I guess you are right. I think I will finish it," said Nepgear. She went over to her broadsword, picked it up and then channeled SP into it. She drew to blade back, tip pointing backwards, the blade glowed pink and the kicked up and gathered round it.
With one upward swing of her sword she shouted, "Slash Wave!" A huge wave of energy flew in a straight line, cut through the ground and then through Trunk. His life ended there.
The wave of energy destroyed the ice spike and Trunk's body fell on its back, lifeless. One troll down, two to go.
Nereus and Stone watched as Trunk's lifeless body fell to the ground. Nereus then turned to the troll lying on the ground, half of him burned.
Nereus went to pick up his short sword and faced the troll. Stone tried to get up, cringing and groaning with the pain of his burned body. He bucked and then fell on one knee.
Uni walked to her brother side, having retrieved her rifle. They both looked Stone and the troll glared back at them.
"Damn you humans, I have never seen humans like you this strong before. The ones I have fought previously barely put up a fight."
"I don't about us either. We never thought much about our abilities. We just go with it. And using what we have to take you down," said Nereus.
"Fine then." Stone got up on his feet. He buckled a little but stood firm.
Nereus turned to his sister and said, "Uni, you will support me right?"
Uni replied, "Yes, of course I will."
"Ok then, time to do Licht Schwartz. On my signal."
Uni nodded, "I won't let you down."
Nereus stepped forward and Stone observed him carefully. Then Nereus' short sword started to glow a rainbow color as he draw SP into the blade. The colors grew brighter until the magic energy gathered transformed into a big sword that shines and emitted power; Nereus' 'Torneroid Sword'.
Nereus rushed at Stone. The troll threw a punch at the approaching Nereus. Nereus was fast to react. He brought his sword to meet the troll's fist. In a flash of light, the magic-imbued sword cut and blasted the fist with magic. Stone withdrew his hand, the feeling in it fading, telling in pain.
Nereus went for the troll's leg and swung his 'Torneroid Sword'. The attack crippled Stone. He dropped to his knees again and Nereus continued his next assault. This time he disabled his SP skill and mustered all speed he could he ran, dashed and sped around Stone with inhuman speed while slashing the troll. After a dozen slashes, Nereus leapt up, flipped over and brought his sword down on Stone's head as his final attack.
"Uni, I'll leave the rest to you." Nereus shouted.
"All right," While Nereus was attacking Stone; Uni took the time to gather as much SP as she could into the bullet in the barrel. The inside of the barrel glowed reddish-orange with magic.
"Target locked," Uni muttered as she aimed at Stone. And then she pulled the trigger. "Take this!"
A large beam shot out of her rifle and pierced Stone, leaving a big hole in his torso. Stone didn't make a sound, just the look of bewilderment in his eyes and he dropped dead.
Nereus inspected the corpse, expecting it to burst into light but somehow it didn't. Uni walked over to him and said, "We got him."
Her brother nodded, "Yeah."
"So," Uni said but didn't finish. Nereus looked at her with a frown, "What is it Uni?"
"I did good there right? I mean it was my best shot yet." Uni said with an edge of nervous in voice. Nereus detected it but didn't know why she was nervous, "Yeah, it was definitely your best shot yet. Good work."
Nereus didn't see it but Uni grinned slightly.
"That's two down, now the last one was fighting with that giant," said Nereus. He looked to where he last saw the fight and watched just in time to see Grump fall down.
The giantess was standing over him. She had a bruise on one side of her face and was panting but was nonetheless victorious. Grump had cuts and bruises everywhere. His right eye was starting to swell and blood was coming out his mouth.
Everyone gathered around the fallen troll. The giantess looked at the humans around her, "I see you all had deal with the other two. Now this one has lost as well. He put on a surprisingly good fight."
"Yeah, it was close call back there. We wouldn't have got out of that if it hadn't been for you." Nereus spoke up first to the giantess.
"Yeah, thanks to you, we have beaten all three of them." Nepgear said.
"I never thought we could be this lucky to get out mess, no thanks to you." Uni said.
Plutia offered her gratitude as well, "I would have been eaten if it wasn't for you, thanks you Miss Giant."
"Your welcome, and call me Maranda."
Logan looked at Maranda from head to toe, looking with eyes filled with wonder, he will definitely have a tale to tell when he gets back.
They heard Grump groaned and shifted. "He is still breathing but should we spare him or kill him?" Maranda asked.
"Kill him. That is the reason we were fighting them." Nereus said as he hopped onto the fallen troll. He walked across his chest and reached the head. Holding his short sword with both hands he raised over his head and the sword started to glow red with flames dancing along the blade.
Grump looked up at Nereus, "Wait, no, just spare me, please."
Nereus looked the troll in the eye. He could see only fear in his eyes. Nereus looked at his comrades. Their eyes said nothing; it is his decision to make.
Nereus looked back at the troll and then brought his short sword down. The blade pierced and seared through the troll's skull. Grump's eyes rolled back and his body became limped.
And that was it.
Everyone was silent; the wind blow across the clearing, rustling the trees and birds chirped and flew off. The humans all looked at each other. Maranda broke the silence, "So why were you humans fighting the trolls. It doesn't look like you all just came across them by accident."
"We were sent here to get rid of them. It is our job." Nereus answered.
Maranda looked at each of them with surprise. 'Humans this young were sent to kill three dangerous trolls? But yet again they seen be able to handle themselves quite well,' she thought.
"We sure got out of this alive." Logan said.
"Not everyone." Nereus countered. They know what he meant. Nereus looked at Plutia. "Where did Neptune fell?"
She pointed to the end of the edge of the ravine. Everyone walked over there with Maranda behind them.
They looked down and saw the main river below. The river ran west across the land and end in the ocean. "You think he could have survived?" Nepgear asked with a voice of depression.
"I'm not sure. Plutia," Nereus looked at her, "how did Neptune got knocked off?"
Plutia recalled the moment Trunk swung his club and Neptune pushed her out of the way, "Neppy was hit by that troll's club…"
"Then that sort of decrease the chances of him surviving. He could have gotten broke all over with a club hitting him."
"But shouldn't we at least try and find him? Maybe he could get wash up on a riverbank."
"Excuse me if I ask but are you all saying that a friend of yours had fallen into the river below during the fight?" Maranda asked.
Everyone nod their heads. "Well, it is hard to tell if he survived but I do know about the landscape the river runs through. The river is deep but becomes shallower along the way to the river. There are no waterfalls or dangerous obstacles in the way and the riverbanks are wide so he could have drifted onto one of them."
With that the group's hope rose up slightly, "Ok then it is settled. We're going to look for him."
"But how? It is a long way down the cliff and this ravine." Logan said as he looked down the ravine.
"Hmm, I think I can help with that..." Plutia said. Everyone looked at her and Nepgear asked, "How are you going to do that?"
"I could fly us down using a platform made out of magic power…"
"You can do that? Then we got a way down. Come on let's go! We have to find Neptune."
"All right but first I don't think this is a good place. Let's go to where the cliff ends."
The group including Maranda followed the ravine until it ended with the cliffs. They looked down at the forest spreading out to the ocean in the horizon with the river running through the forest.
"Ok this is a good spot. So do what you have to do Plutia." Nereus said.
"Ok," Plutia walked near the edge of the cliff and then jumped. In mid-air, Plutia stuck out her legs straight and all of a sudden a magic circle appeared as she landed on it.
"All right here we go…"
"Good work Plutia," Nepgear complimented.
Everyone, except Maranda, hopped on the magic circle until when Logan jumped on, it started buck and disappeared for a split second before returning. "Hey, what was that?" Uni said. "Oppsies…I forgot to tell you all…but I hardly practice this spell." Plutia said.
Everyone looked at her in shock. "What?! You just let us on a magic platform that you hardly know how to use or keep it on, risking us falling to our deaths." Nereus said.
Plutia smiled and tried to look innocent, "Hehe, sorry, I didn't think it through."
Nereus sighed, "Great."
"So should we jumped off or just go with the plan?" Uni asked.
"I know it is dangerous but this is the only so far we can get down." Nepgear said.
Nereus considered the two options. He looked along the cliffs. "Hey, Maranda, is there any other way down?"
"Well there is actually but it could take hours. This option of yours-flying down the cliff-is the fastest route," the giantess answered.
Nereus sighed again, "We are flying down then. Just be sure to keep it steady, ok Plutia."
Plutia nodded, "Ok."
"Well if that is settled then I should take my leave. I wish you all luck in finding you friend. May Mother Gaia watch over him."
"Hmm, thanks Maranda, have a safe trip too." Nepgear said.
With that, Maranda walked to the forest and from there continued south. Plutia flew the group down, concentrating her SP under her feet; carefully holding the magic platform together. But with five passengers and lack of practice, she was straining to hold it together.
"There Plutia, just land it by the riverbank." Nereus pointed down at the riverbank.
"Ok," said Plutia.
"Huh-uh, Plutia, the platform is crumpling!" Nepgear shouted over the noise of the rushing wind.
Everyone then noticed the edge of the magic platform crumpling bit by bit. "Plutia!" Nereus shouted.
"I'm sorry but I can't hold it much longer…"
"Ok then, just descend faster and get us near the ground."
Plutia willed the platform to move faster down. Just as they neared the ground, Plutia and her magic platform finally gave out. Then all six of them started screaming as they fell towards the ground…Which luckily was only a few feet down from the ground below.
Everyone fell through the branches of the trees, breaking them, scattering leaves and scaring birds and squirrels before reaching the ground.
The six party members groaned and moaned after landing. Nereus landed on his back, his vision was blurry and senses were hazy with a ringing in his ears. As he recovered he sat up and looked around. His visions began clear again and as he looked around at his comrades and was in for a surprise.
The girls were lying in front of him and he had a nice, clear view of their panties. Uni's and Plutia's skirt were upturned, revealing white panties while Nepgear's, with her sailor outfit having a short skirt, was simply exposed with her rear facing him and giving a view of her pink stripped underwear. Nereus' heart skipped a beat and he stared longer than he knew he should. He tore his gaze away and pushed the image out of his mind before it seared into it.
The girls started to recover from the fall and Uni was the first to sit up. When she did, she saw her brother looking away with an embarrassing look on his face and his cheeks were blushing slightly. She didn't know why until she noticed her skirt upturned. Piecing both together she immediately felt embarrassed as well and quickly pulled down her skirt.
Plutia and Nepgear however didn't noticed and both stood up, oblivious. Logan had landed behind one of the tree and walked over to the rest of the group.
"So we made it. What now?" He asked.
Nereus stood up and tried to pretend nothing happened. "I guess we should follow the river, stay close to the riverbank."
The group made it to the river. They were on the right side of it. "All right, we just follow the river. Come on." Nereus set off down the riverbank. The others followed behind him.
'Neptune, please be all right. We will find you.' Nepgear thought.
'Neppy, please be all right…' Plutia thought as they walked along the riverbank.
Author's note: Ok that is it for this chapter. I intended to continue writing but since the story was 22 pages long and passed over 7000 words I decided to split the story. I got more time on my hand and maybe I could finish the next one soon. It will be shorter than this one.