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Logan continues training, fighting against the strongest adversaries the caves have to offer. He once again faces off with the giant monster he fought in the last chapter, as well as a new adversary: a legendary reacher, a foul creature that stalks the caves and strangles even the mightiest of Dwarves.

The following is the report filed by Erush Lovedwheel, Director of Defense, submitted to His Majesty King Minkot Figureslick on the 13th of Obsidian in the year 215.

13th Obsidian 215

Having finished up mapping out the Adamantine veins beneath the fortress, I have taken control of the project once more.

The Cave Crocodile that yielded before had become quite unruly according to our animal trainers. I thought that perhaps another combat session against Logan would make the beastly warrior more complacent. Ordering young Mr. Cudgelurdge into the arena, I sealed the gates and once more released the beast against our soldier.

The beast charges at Logan, hungering for Dwarven blood after being kept in a cell covered in vomit. He’s changed a lot from the magnificent beast that once faced Logan: massive blue bruises crisscross his body, marring its formerly unmarked body through cracked gray scales. The bruises run across his back, chest, stomach, neck, and legs, and a massive red scar mars his foot. He is, of course, toothless, after Logan knocked out his teeth in their last encounter. Nevertheless, his size makes him no less formidable, and with a fell roar he charges at the comparatively small Logan.

The result is, of course, predictable.

Logan lets loose a flurry of blows, too fast for the eye to see. One strikes the Croc in the head, cutting it open through the thick scale armor. Another smashes his left leg, cutting it open. Two particularly powerful ones strike him in the upper and lower body, and Chief Medical Dwarf ïngiz Towerknives notes damage to the Croc’s internal organs as a result.

Finally, Logan throws a finsihing blow straight into the right eye of the beast, mangling it and partially taking away its vision. The croc turns tail and runs back into its cell, and a lever-puller standing by closes it back up.

As this happens, I am informed that the trappers have successfully brought captured a reacher after it tried to strangle one of the haulers and walked right into a cage trap. Splendid! Logan must learn to fight evil enemies, and its been a while since he’s fought a humanoid. I order the trappers to haul the reacher into the pit, and send it in after Logan.

They do so, and after the reacher is thrown in its cell is opened. The reacher shambles out, and a shiver runs down my spine. Although it is human-sized, very small compared to the monsters Logan has been facing of late, its features are terrifying. Its jet-black skin was impossible to see in the darkness, be we Dwarves could sense it. It’s long black arms, with massive hands that could squeeze dwarf necks without a thought. It’s face was like a bat’s, save the ears, with a pig-like snout and sharp fangs. And the eyes… by the Mightiness of Leading, the eyes! Those we could see: they glowed as dark green orbs, with pinprick irises peeking out in the center.

The Reacher let out a deep, sinister laughter, drawing up to full height and sniffing the air, sensing Logan. Logan was completely unfazed, leaning casually to one side and observing the Reacher. The Reacher suddenly turned its horrible lamplike eyes to Logan, which would have been a terrifying sight…

Had it not immediately let out a shriek, convulsed in terror, and relieved its bowels on the floor.

Logan advanced towards the reacher, who cowered in terror. Desparate, it lashed out at Logan…

Who promptly made short work of the poor monster.

Two jackhammering strikes, Logan softens up the Reacher’s leg and bruises his guts. With a third, more powerful one, he destroys the Reacher’s left knee entirely, sending it collapsing into the floor, sobbing.

Logan sneered at it, and walked away, leaving it to its fears on the floor.

I order the marksdwarves to preform a cleanup operation. Logan seems uninterested in finishing off his opponent, having neutralized him as a threat. But as the marksdwarves filed in, King’s Ranger Kumil Abbeytangle calls out to Logan: “Logan, would you be so kind as to finish off the reacher? We would very much like to see your martial prowess in action!”

Logan smiles, nods, and walks back over to the Reacher. He stands over the monster for a moment, musing over the situation, before letting loose.

He disables an arm with a scratch, bruises internal organs with a punch, and follows up by shattering the Reacher’s right leg with a powerful blow and a resounding crack.

It doesn’t last much longer: he pulls back and shatters the Reacher’s right arm with another punch, pulls back again and destroys the Reacher’s left hand, before completely destroying the Reacher’s arm and hitting it straight into the body. The pain is too much and the Reacher passes out.

Logan then punches the reacher so hard its skull flies out of its head, tearing apart the brain as it goes.

I call halt, and let Logan out. The marksdwarves, now acquainted with Logan’s ability, shift uncomfortably. I order the cleanup to begin as Logan goes off to sleep.

And so ends this report. The monster attractor is working perfectly. We would’ve had Logan fight a troll, but it was extremely weak and skinny so we sacrificed it to Armok instead. Let me tell you, it is very hard to clean up their hemocyanin-based blood off Adamantine spikes, as they blend in very well!

I also extend my greeting to Prince Urvad, who has recently turned one and has gained some independence. I hope to introduce him to Logan on New Year’s Day. After all, he will be trained by him someday!

A rather underwhelming update, as far as Logan’s standards go. The Croc still lives, through my timely intervention via lever-pulling. Knowing its role in the story, I decided to let it live once more. It’s toes are mangled, however, and most of its body parts are dented and covered in scars. Logan may still fight him yet, if he doesn’t get trained and become Logan’s pet. A pity it isn’t a war animal. The Reacher, being humanoid, was killed nearly instantly. Logan’s next humanoids will be armored, if not armed. However, things have been quiet, and despite a supposedly imminent elven siege all has been prosperous. There’s more to come, so stay tuned!