After a quick nap, Terry found everyone outside waiting for him and ready to leave. He wondered if he should level up a bit the weapons of the other guild masters, but then he decided that it was better to wait and see.

"Vanessa will stay behind this time," Rebecca explained.

Aside from Terry and Rebecca, George was going to join them in the hunt, he knew the area better than anyone, and they couldn’t send a lot of people, so he decided to send the most useful one, himself. Aside from him, Hector and Natalia were part of the first group as well.

"Lead the way," Terry said, and then George nodded.

They left the town on foot, but soon they began to move using Rebecca’s Earth platform. According to George, the best strategy for them was to move in circles around the enemy’s base while keeping a good distance. Still, he also said that it would be better for now to complete half laps around their territory... in order not to be too far away from their base in case something else happens.

The relentless snowfall had transformed the surroundings into a monotonous and surreal scene. The landscape stretched out endlessly, with gentle slopes and rolling hills obscured beneath layers of powdery snow. The group trudged through the icy terrain, their footsteps leaving deep imprints as they forged their path.

The absence of any recognizable features or distinguishing landmarks made navigation a challenging task. Without any reference points, they had to rely on their maps, compasses, and the guidance of their experienced members to stay on course. The constant whiteness of their surroundings created a disorienting effect, making it difficult to judge distances and perceive depth. Only the people of the area could do so.

For the first run, the group decided to fight only using their own skills and then change that or improve tactics based on the fights of the afternoon. That was another thing that they had to do in order to get used to each other’s fighting styles.

At first, Terry just emptied the mana of his armor by using Fire Swords and killing the trolls as quick as possible. At the same time, George stopped some enemies by making earth spears emerge from the ground and then impale the monsters a bit; Natalia would do the same with her fire magic and burn the trolls as much as possible. While their targets were in pain, Hector would finish off the beasts. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Things went well until they began to move far away from the base. The battles agaisnt five or more enemies began to take place, and that made things a bit more troublesome for everyone.

"I guess I need something like hidden blades in my arms to pierce the defenses of enemies like this with a bit more ease," Terry thought after he cracked the skull of a troll and then impaled the chest of the same target with his arm. "This is rather unpleasant."

Terry recovered ten points of mana per kill, so he could use his Fire Swords pretty often. That being said, the number of enemies kept increasing and increasing... to the point that Natalia ran out of mana since her support had to be stronger and offered more often. Rebecca and George seemed all right, but Hector also was starting to become blue thanks to the cold.

"... Let’s return," Terry declared.

After only one hour of hunting, they had to return. Around eighty trolls had been killed, but they still had a lot of things to improve. Terry wanted to kill five hundred of them every day before crossing their portal.

When the sun was setting, Terry called the others who stayed behind and George again. They needed to get more experience and knowledge to deal with the enemies.

"We already know the weaknesses and the strengths of the enemies," Terry declared. "But just knowing it isn’t enough, we will have to employ some unusual tactics against them."

Terry began to explain what they were going to do, everyone was expecting him to say that they would use the tools and traps that the people in the city were making, but they consumed too much time, and they weren’t that efficient in terms of speed.

The devised strategy was to overcome the overwhelming numbers of their foes. Recognizing the advantage of surprise and the element of deception, they decided to set up an ambush under the cover of massive piles of snow.

Taking advantage of the natural camouflage provided by the snowy landscape, the group carefully positioned themselves in strategic locations well hidden beneath the snow. They synchronized their movements, ensuring their positions remained concealed until the opportune moment.

Terry, with his exceptional combat skills and unwavering determination, took on the role of the bait. His presence would draw the attention of the incoming enemies, making them believe that he was the sole threat they needed to face. Little did they know that the true danger lurked beneath the snow, waiting to strike.

Terry explained that simply eliminating the trolls in small numbers wouldn’t be enough to make a significant impact. They needed to draw out a larger force to create a scene of bloodshed that would lure more trolls into their trap.

Understanding the trolls’ heightened senses and their ability to detect enemies, Terry devised a plan to exploit this very trait. They knew that if they could create a convincing illusion of intense combat and the perception of their allies being in grave massacred or in danger, it would undoubtedly attract more trolls to the scene.

"I guess your guild is affecting me more than I thought," Terry shrugged.

The guild masters listened to Terry’s plan with a mixture of disbelief and concern. The idea of intentionally enraging the trolls seemed insane, and they were hesitant to fully embrace the strategy. However, they also recognized Terry’s track record of success and his strategic thinking.

The guild masters exchanged glances, contemplating Terry’s words. They knew that the current situation required bold and unconventional strategies. While skeptical, they also understood the need for decisive action to turn the tide of the ongoing battle.