Chapter 9: Zuerjin: The Boiling Intent to Kill

As long as we breach Silvermoon City

Thud

Indeed, it is worth mentioning that although the Shadow Hunter may sound like a character similar to a ranger, in the tradition of the trolls, it is actually a title of a priest

The number of trolls killed by Tyrion is countless; this ruthless ranger captain is quite famous among the Amani trolls. It is precisely for this reason that killing him would serve as the best proof of strength

He strolled forward in the forest, suppressing his breath. He knew he was about to face one of the finest rangers of Quel'Thalas. He appeared unafraid, yet inside, he felt a bit anxious

A complete victory of 1 against 20 without any injuries is virtually impossible, unless there are rangers like his mentor, General Lileisa, who might make it possible

After three strikes, the hunter lost his weapon and his left arm. Tyrian did not give him a moment's respite, stepping forward with a misstep, drawing a sharp arrow from the quiver with his left hand. The metallic blade pierced his body, while the arrow viciously stabbed into his eye, penetrating his brain.

At the moment the screams echoed, Tyrion leaped down from the branches, holding not an elven war blade in his hands, but a wooden spear distinctly characteristic of trolls. In the dark forest, the pale green voodoo markings on the spear were strikingly eye-catching

Puff

Puff

They walked almost silently through the jungle, wielding wooden spears coated with a secret voodoo mixture. This insidious weapon is prone to breaking easily when it pierces the body of its prey, and the broken weapon would then embed the voodoo even deeper into the prey's bloodstream

The rapidly effective voodoo swiftly integrated into the veins of the headhunter, and after a few seconds of trembling while he struggled to draw out his battle knife, Terrion's body became heavy, and his breathing grew labored

Zul'jin glanced back at Sylvanas, a hint of a sinister smile appearing on his aged face

On the other side, two troll hunters advanced through the forest, one in front of the other. Their keen sense of smell allowed them to easily detect the gradually spreading scent of blood in the forest, a pungent odor they were well acquainted with, for the same wild blood coursed through their veins.

The title of "Hunter" is unique to the trolls, representing the best hunters among them. They possess a deep understanding of the art of hunting, which is one of the most important aspects of troll tradition.

The wooden spear flew out from the dark forest, piercing into the flesh of the headhunter's back like a javelin piercing its prey. It did not penetrate his body completely, but it broke through the flesh, and the cruel voodoo seeped into his body, which for this headhunter, equally signified the arrival of death.

At the very moment when the chaotic sounds erupted, a deadly arrow shot out from the branches behind the troll, piercing through the chest of the troll in front. The enchantment attached to the arrow was activated by the blood, and at the moment it struck the ground, it firmly pinned the towering troll to the earth

My shame, I will wash it away with my own hands... Before I return with Tyrion's head, General Garrosh, I entrust my army to your temporary command

The orc leader was momentarily taken aback by this statement. The armored orc nodded slightly, his severe disdain vanished, replaced by a look of scrutiny. He said in a deep voice:

Snap!

After narrowly escaping Tyrion's lethal arrow, he was utterly terrified and recklessly dashed out of the forest, committing the most disgraceful mistake for a hunter

In the pitch-black and frigid forest, the silent threat gradually unfolds under the patter of raindrops, like an invisible hand tightening around a beating heart from the darkness

Ka Ka

Oh!

Puff

Twenty minutes later, the last surviving hunter screamed and rushed out of the forest without looking back

The bloodied arrow was drawn out and reloaded into the quiver. Tyrion, with a somewhat pale complexion, reached down to cover his abdomen, where the chainmail had been cut open, revealing two gaping wounds, flesh torn and bleeding, inflicted by a thrown axe. His left hand, which was drawing the bow, was also drenched in blood

This dire situation heightened the vigilance of the two headhunters; with every few steps they took, they would discern the path ahead in the darkness. The forest terrain of the Hillsbrad Foothills is not particularly complex, at least not as daunting as the Silvermoon Forest and the forests of Sin'dorei. However, Tyrion has been stationed near this forest for 4 years, and he knows it like the back of his hand

He exposed his completely defenseless back to the eyes of a deadly opponent, so do not expect him to show any mercy

The trembling troll hunter could not control the convulsions of his muscles; he knelt down by the riverbank in the forest. He struggled to lift his head, looking at the indifferent leader before him, desperately trying to plead for his life

The springing rope flipped the hunter upside down into the air, and in that moment of dizzying rotation, he vaguely saw a glimmer of brilliance shining from the darkness behind him

Originating from the barbaric lifestyle of trolls in the savage era, these creatures did not hesitate to fill their stomachs with humanoid beings when food was scarce. However, the modern Amani trolls have largely abandoned the tradition of headhunting, yet this title has persisted, reserved only for the best, most elite, and most ruthless troll hunters.

Ah ah

They are accustomed to using sharp throwing axes, which possess a lethality at short distances that is more than ten times that of arrows. Moreover, high-ranking bounty hunters carry various voodoo trap materials and trinkets with them. The highest-ranking shadow hunters can even summon the power of the Loa gods to engage in battle, just like mages.

just like one's own hunting ground

The arrow pierced the body, and in this forest shrouded in darkness, only the sound of blood dripping onto the fallen leaves remained, while the rough trap still lay beneath the leaves, seemingly representing Tyrion's silent mockery

Bang bang bang

He crushed the portable spirit elixir and applied it to his wound, the sharp and intense pain made Terion grit his teeth. After the bleeding stopped, he looked around and quickly walked deeper into the forest... to search for his next prey, he had no time to waste

The sharp blade pierced the body, and the indifferent elven ranger flipped the hilt, completely shattering the troll's heart. He stepped back, and behind him, the beheaded hunter, having broken free from its restraints, charged towards Tyrion with a roar. As the ranger's left hand waved, two elven blades merged into one, and the uniquely shaped war knife stirred up a whirlwind with the twist of his wrist.

Indeed, regardless of which troll clan it is, the Shadow Hunters are the true heavyweights. The mere presence of a minor figure like Teron'gor is not sufficient to warrant the deployment of such a formidable ace by the Amani tribe

Zul'jin coldly regarded the last surviving headhunter with his remaining single eye, the fearful posture evoking once more the malice of that elven boy. He extended his withered, frail hand and grasped the neck of the dying headhunter with three fingers.

The headhunters have always been the most troublesome adversaries for high-ranking elven rangers, and this time, Tyrian must face 20 headhunters alone... For an ordinary ranger, this is almost akin to a death sentence

Whoosh

The hunter at the rear reacted swiftly enough; at the moment his companion was struck by the arrow, his body leaped outward. However, he was still grazed on the arm by the swinging spear. The fragile wooden spear broke rapidly upon impact, and the splintered fragments that flew through the darkness pierced into the troll's arm like tiny concealed weapons.

... ...

A troll headhunter, with painted face, gripped the war spear tightly in his hand. The troll's unique palm, along with its thumb, has only three fingers, yet their arm strength is immense. Coupled with their hunched posture, this lowers their center of gravity significantly, enhancing the lethality of the thrown axes and thrust spears.

And amidst this acrid stench of blood, there was none of the gentle scent characteristic of the high elves, which means... Terion is not dead, and he has begun his own hunt, surrounded by numerous foes.

You did not bring back his head, you have brought shame upon the Amani clan

However, before that, I want to first enjoy the small pleasure of revenge

Puff

Zul'jin moved his neck, and a crisp sound of bones colliding echoed between them. He glanced back at the trolls behind him holding torches, as well as the orcs who were watching from a distance, especially the calm glow of the orc leader, which made him feel a hint of disdain

Crash!

It was as if he had escaped from the most terrifying nightmare, his face bearing an expression of horror. Among the 20 fully armed bounty hunters, he was the only one who had survived the assassination by Terion until now. This dreadful pressure, along with the corpses of his tragically deceased companions, had completely snapped the taut string in the heart of this bounty hunter.

The sudden sound in the darkness caused the two tense trolls to quickly raise their heads, only to see a large group of night owls flying in the forest, seemingly disturbed from their quiet hunting by the arrival of the trolls

Flapping!

The mysterious incantation inscribed on Zul'jin's body emitted a faint glow, with a pale green light entwining around his arms. His body, weakened from prolonged imprisonment, seemed to regain vitality, becoming muscular once more. In contrast, the headhunter he had grasped by the neck quickly weakened, as if exposed to the swift passage of time, ultimately transforming into a terrifying corpse.

The headhunter reached out to push aside the drooping branches in front of him. Before taking the next step, he keenly noticed the trap beneath his feet. It was a crude snare trap, covered with leaves, but the craftsmanship was too rough. Perhaps Tyrion had no time to conceal it properly; in any case, it was a failed trap

The Amani trolls will become the most steadfast allies of the Horde! Thousands of trolls will fight under the banner of the Horde for your great chieftain! The Amani have always been true to their word...

The headhunter retracted his foot, letting out a sneer in the darkness. To his left stood a large tree, prompting him to instinctively step to the right. However, as his foot landed on the thick layer of fallen leaves at the edge of the trap, the sensation of emptiness caused him to widen his eyes.

High Chieftain Orgrim is waiting for news of my victory, Zul'jin, your time is running out! The Horde will meet your demands, but likewise, you must also meet ours!

The old chief of the Amani trolls snorted and stepped forward into the Forest of Death