Chapter 46: Kingdom of Trolls

"Ms. Vilna, welcome to the Kadilak plane. Morud Giant-Fist sent me to welcome you."

"Lead the way!"

Vilna walked on the road leading to the Troll palace. The air was filled with a thick, primitive breath of life, mixed with damp soil, some spicy herbs, and the faint smell of roast meat. The sky might present an ominous deep purple, and the outlines of three moons of different sizes were faintly visible.

The road itself was not carefully paved with stone bricks, but inlaid with stone slabs of different sizes that had not been polished. In the gaps between the stone slabs, moss and thorn vines emitting dark phosphorescence grew tenaciously, providing lighting at night. These plants were deliberately cultivated, clearly part of the Troll "gardening."

High totem poles stood on both sides of the road. What was carved on them was not gods, but patterns depicting how Trolls tore enemies apart in battle, regenerated broken limbs, and finally stood tall. This is both a historical record and a promotion of the core belief that "immortality" and "power" are truth.

Some conspicuous rock walls or exterior walls of buildings were inlaid with huge, petrified Troll limbs, arms, hearts, and even half a head. These limbs belonged to those heroes who lost parts of their bodies in legendary battles but finally won and lived to their natural lifespan.

For them, scars that cannot be regenerated are a symbol of the highest honor. This is not a terrifying decoration under barbaric customs, but a way for Trolls to spread their glorious battle achievements.

Troll buildings are not dead things. Many houses seem to be "guided to grow" from a huge, petrified fungus. The building surface is covered with thick, root-like veins, pulsing slightly, emitting warmth. Vilna can keenly perceive that destroying these buildings is extremely difficult because they will repair themselves at a slow speed.

The watchtowers along the way are not simple wood and stone structures, but "Moss Trolls" composed of huge, thorn-bearing living trees. The sentries are not ordinary Troll warriors, but "Moss Trolls" whose bodies are partially fused with the watchtowers. They are like statues, motionless, and only when strangers approach will they open their eyes flashing with amber or green light.

Crossing canyons or rivers are plant suspension bridges woven from thick living vines, covered with moss emitting green fluorescence, and walking on them seems to feel a slight, rhythmic life.

The Troll warriors responsible for patrolling walked with heavy and neat steps. They held huge wolf-tooth clubs or bone spears inlaid with unknown plant thorns, and wore armor made of thick animal skins or some kind of shiny shell. Most importantly, they were disciplined, silent, and the vigilance trained in their eyes revealed not barbaric madness. This clearly told Vilna that the Trolls here possessed a highly efficient militarized organization.

After 26 years of recuperation, on this land, the traces of that terrifying catastrophe could no longer be seen, only some severed limbs of Orcs hanging under the eaves, or a tattered flag, were still telling the story of that unyielding war back then.

When the siege of Lugo City entered its third year, the human allies from the Duofeng Republic finally blew the horn of counterattack. Hundreds of thousands of Troll warriors set out from here again to slaughter the Orc invaders.

When she finally arrived at the Troll capital, which was carved from a living mountain range and covered with glorious scars and roaring totems that never healed, she already understood that she was not facing a barbaric tribe, but a race that had sublimated the instinct of "survival and resilience" to the height of civilization, worthy of awe or vigilance.

"Friend from afar, welcome to Lugo City. This glorious Troll capital will bring you unforgettable memories. I am Gruno Spine-Breaker, the Prime Minister of the Troll's Garmok (similar to Khan). The dinner has been prepared for you, please follow me!"

Guided by this tall Troll, Vilna passed through the city gate that looked like the jawbone of a giant beast. The gate itself was made of some kind of black living wood that was still growing slowly, and the touch was warm, as if she could feel the surging life force beneath it.

Behind the gate was an extremely wide passage. The ground was paved with huge bone stone slabs, and on both sides were vertical rock walls up to 100 meters high. And on the rock walls, countless huge Troll hearts were inlaid, ranging in color from dark red to almost stone-like gray-white. They were like living monuments. Gruno explained in a low voice: "These are the 'Immortal Hearts' of past Garmoks and heroes who died for the country."

Troll guards stood on both sides of the road. They wore full sets of dark green bone heavy armor, motionless, as if they were integrated with the earth. Only when their sharp, ancient and desolate eyes moved slightly with Vilna's footsteps did she realize that these were living, battle-hardened warriors. The entire passage was terrifyingly silent except for the sound of footsteps.

Vilna knew that this was showing off to her, warning the Drow, who were known for conspiracies and betrayals, not to try any tricks here. It also deterred the Black Dragon hidden behind the scenes, making it put away its intention to breach the contract. Even the well-informed Vilna had to marvel at the power displayed by the Trolls.

The banquet hall was not an exquisitely carved palace, but more like a giant cave hollowed out of the mountainside. The dome was high and dark, and what hung down were not crystal lamps, but countless giant firefly nests and slowly wriggling symbiotic vines emitting soft phosphorescence, casting unpredictable light and shadow.

The seats at the banquet were huge, flat tree stumps, covered with thick and warm rare animal furs. There was no exquisite tableware, replaced by heavy obsidian plates, wooden wine cups grown naturally, and sharp bone knives, each of which was both tableware and a weapon. Looking at the huge dining table that was rough but not lacking in aesthetics, Vilna doubted for a moment whether this was really created by Trolls.

"Lady, are you curious why the rude Trolls can possess such a unique civilization? Everyone who has been here will have such thoughts."

Looking for the sound, when Vilna's eyes fell on the figure on the throne, even she felt a trace of awe in her heart. The size of this Garmok far exceeded any Troll she had ever seen. Sitting still, he was like a mountain covered with moss and ancient patterns. His skin was a deep rock gray, covered with countless petrified scars, which formed a merit map with more visual impact than any tattoo.

He did not wear a crown, but on both sides of his head grew huge, branched bone horns like ancient deer horns, and vines and tiny runes emitting light were wrapped around the bone horns. Just sitting there, the life energy of the entire banquet hall seemed to be flowing with him as the core. He is a demigod and the concrete embodiment of the concept of "regeneration" in the mortal world.

A thunderous laugh came when Vilna was lost in thought, startling her. "Hahahaha, lady, don't be afraid. You know, Trolls are not a race that likes to reason. If I show even a little weakness, they will think I'm not going to make it. I must maintain this state that makes people feel fear at all times."

"Sorry, Lord Mogus, it was my gaffe. Please don't mind."

"It doesn't matter. Let's talk about things first! What good things do you intend to take away from me this time? I'm very curious."

"'Regeneration Furnace,' we need a device that can repair any pain, as well as the method of use."

"Very good, your offer is within my expectations. However, you need to understand that the core of every 'Regeneration Furnace' is composed of the heart of a Troll demigod. Although we have more than one, none of them are redundant. You must bring enough price."

"We provide the right of residence for half of the Kadowen plane. You must understand that the Troll's hand cannot reach so far."

"Deal, this transaction makes me very happy. Those humans come every time and try to deceive me, using various language traps to lower my price, which is as annoying as a devil. This time I will give you an extra flesh scroll, which records the production method of flesh puppets."

"Thank you very much for your generosity, wish us a happy cooperation! Lord Mogus."

"Alright, you can eat now. Let those scum handle the trivial and complex transaction details! Find them something to do, so they don't run around fighting everywhere."

The banquet began. The first three side dishes were "Night Dew Berries," a deep purple berry that only reached the peak of flavor when swamp night dew condensed after midnight. The skin is crisp, the pulp is smooth like gel, and the taste is a blend of sour and sweet, with a complex aroma similar to blackcurrant and pomegranate. It is served in a vessel carved from hollow vines, appearing elegant and natural, specifically set up to cater to the Drow.

"Moonlight Lotus Root": The rhizome of the water lily picked from the central pool of life. When sliced thin, it presents a translucent texture, crisp and slightly sweet, and can be eaten raw or quickly simmered in meat juice as a side dish for the main course.

"Crispy Fern Buds": The most tender curled bud tips of ferns picked in early spring, quickly blanched in boiling spring water, and then soaked in fruit vinegar to form a refreshing cold dish. The taste is crisp, which can well balance the greasiness of meat, and is a dish specifically used to entertain distinguished guests.

Next is the main course. The first dish is "Ghost Swamp Crayfish," selecting a large crayfish in the swamp, whose shell emits a faint blue light in the dark. Trolls will skillfully remove the complete shrimp meat, then lightly marinate it with a local herb with mint and spicy flavor, and then quickly grill it to maintain the sweetness and elasticity of the meat.

The second dish is "Crystal Cave Blind Fish Sashimi," a blind fish caught from underground rivers that is completely transparent like crystal. Trolls cut the most delicious fish belly meat into thin slices like cicada wings and serve them on chilled obsidian plates. Beside it, there will be a small dish of sweet and sour sauce made from fermented berries and spicy roots to cater to the Drow's pursuit of "strong flavor."

The finale dish is "Spiced Roast Giant Lizard Tail." If the first two are appetizers, this one is the main dish showing strength. Select a piece of the most tender tail meat of a young giant lizard, massage it with various swamp spices (the taste is similar to black pepper, Sichuan pepper, and a smoky moss) to enter the flavor, and then roast it over low heat until the skin is crispy and the inside is juicy. This dish tastes close to high-quality lean meat, with a rich flavor, showing the hunting results of Trolls, and its cooking method is also easy for Drow to accept.

The drink provided to Vilna is "First Brew of the Spring of Life," which is a sparkling wine made by fermenting berries with this spring water as the base liquid. It has a complex taste of honey, orchids, and minerals, with delicate bubbles and the roughness unique to Trolls.

There is also "Shadow Moss Tea," a hot drink made by roasting a special moss that grows in the shadow of Troll buildings. The tea soup is dark amber, with a rich smoky flavor and a hint of the fragrance of the earth, which has the effect of refreshing the mind.

Troll musical instruments are mainly stone harps, a series of black shale of different sizes that have been polished and can emit specific pitches, hanging on a bone frame. The musician strikes with a wooden mallet wrapped in thick skin, emitting a crisp and ethereal melody like a spring hitting a stone.

And the Thorn Harp, this is the most amazing musical instrument. Its body is a living, thorn-bearing thorn, and the strings are made of the extremely tough glowing vines secreted by this thorn. When the Troll musician plucks the strings, the light of the vines will fluctuate with it and emit a subtle fragrance with a calming effect.

The banquet proceeded happily in the performance of "Awakening of Roots and Bones." At the beginning, there was only the slow and lonely beat of the earth-sounding drum, like the heartbeat of ancient times. Subsequently, the stone harp joined, and the notes fell like raindrops, symbolizing the germination and probing of life, empty, ancient, and mysterious. Vilna felt the ground under her feet shaking slightly with it. ===== CHAPTER 47 =====