Chapter 66 – Giant (2)

A burning pillar spun and flew through the air. Veloc ducked to avoid it. Then he sprinted off the ground. As if waiting, a hairy hand reached out. Grimy fingernails. Beneath them, veins bulged and wriggled repulsively.

The emotion contained within was clear. It was an expression of will to strangle and crush him to death. Veloc resisted with the blade in his hand. He spun his body halfway and swung his sword. A blurred trajectory flashed. The giant’s huge hand was severed from its wrist, spilling blood in torrents.

[Aaargh!]

A greatsword drove deep into the mouth of the shrieking monster. The giant died with its head abruptly tilting down before it could finish its cry. It was a clash brought about by the meeting of a warrior a head taller than ordinary men and a two-meter-long sheet of iron. Veloc lowered his outstretched arm and retrieved his sword. Vibrations thudded. Two other giants charged at him from both sides. They weren’t giving him any breathing room.

[That thing is dangerous! Kill it!]

[Bilbo got killed. Avenging him!]

One giant’s belly swelled up. White steam hissed from its nose, and flickering flames were visible between its teeth. The other was approaching while swinging a mace in circles.

If he dodged or blocked the iron ball, flames would fly. If he moved to avoid the flames, the chunk of iron would fly. Despite their slow-witted tone, it was quite a threatening joint attack. However, Veloc did not care. Even now, methods to pierce through this encirclement were coming to his mind one after another. Among them, the easiest was…

“Move, you pigs!”

It was getting help from his companions. Adel, still swearing colorfully, rushed at the giant holding the iron ball. As she mumbled something under her breath, a strange light radiated from her shield. It was the crest of Helena.

With her glowing shield in front, she charged aggressively. The giant turned its head away from the offensive light that pierced its eyes. Soon, the monster rolled on the ground with a grunt, feeling as if its entrails were twisting. At that moment, one of the giants spat fire. It was a desperate struggle to save its kin or to eliminate these dangerous humans beforehand. Reminiscent of a drake’s fire, the flames spread rapidly over a huge area. It looked sufficient to reduce the groaning giant on the ground and the two knights to ashes. Such a thing did not happen.

“Grip of the North Wind!”

The spell of the mage standing in the back was completed. The blue ray shooting from Cara’s hand blocked the giant’s flames. Soon, the two mystical powers entered a struggle. The red licked at the blue, and the blue froze the red like stone. Scattering shards of glass, dripping water, and rising steam. The giant spat fire until its belly was hollow, and Cara also shouted loudly as her eyes glowed brighter with light.

“Breath of the Banshee!”

The size of the frost ray grew larger and more ferocious. It was like looking at a huge stream of water. The giant’s pupils shook violently. At that moment, the ray swallowed the flames and consumed the caster as well. The monster’s pores, fine hairs, and pupils were all frozen. Soon, a unique statue emerged that could inspire any painter. It was a strange and beautiful stone sculpture, matching poorly with the surrounding scenery. ‘Quite a sight. I think I understand why hunters stuff animals.’ Leaving a short impression, Veloc swung his sword. The ice statue shattered into pieces.

He looked back. Adel, with Isabel’s help, was also ending the life of the giant that lay on the ground. A gurgling sound escaped the vocal cords, and the elf’s sword and curved blade returned to their owners. Stepping on the giant’s corpse, Adel spat out phlegm. Then she immediately shouted.

“Sir Veloc! Are you alright?!”

“Shouldn’t you ask me if I’m alright first? Veloc looks perfectly fine at a glance.”

Exhausted from excessive spellcasting, Cara panted as she approached. Adel looked at the mage once. Soon, she turned her head back to ask.

“Sir Veloc, are you alright?”

“Of course.”

Veloc nodded silently.

“Shit.”

As Cara grumbled, Isabel approached and supported her.

“Are you okay?”

“Thanks. I think I’m starting to like you. We could be good friends.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way… it seems this situation is slowly getting resolved.”

Isabel perked up her ears and turned her head.

– In the name of the Goddess, I condemn you!

– Hey! Bring more chains. This bastard is resisting!

– Sir Garan! Do you need support? We have resolved it here to some extent!

No matter how much their numbers had dwindled, the humans were still many. Moreover, as most of them were survivors who had withstood the monsters’ attacks, the elite soldiers soon adapted and launched a counterattack. The members of the order, led by the archbishop and the paladin commander, fought while calling out to their god.

When the light of holy power flashed, the fiends living in the dark were greatly weakened. Whether they killed the monsters out of sincere faith or were manipulated by a few high-ups hungry for power, they were nonetheless the god’s sword and shield. The members of the order were steadily pushing the fiends back.

The warriors without divine protection found their own solutions to break through this situation. Under the command of experienced knights or nobles well-versed in strategy, they hunted the giants using traps and tools. They launched chains to bind limbs and stabbed them with spears, or used a few as bait to lure them and crush them with spells. Among them, the most impressive was the knight order under Duke Georg.

“Die, monster!”

A stout dwarf aimed a bowgun in his hand at the monster. Soon, he turned the crank-like handle on the side.

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

A downpour of arrows rained down. A giant, turned into a hedgehog by the power of the repeating bowgun, lay on the ground. ‘Crazy. Is that a machine gun?’ Following that, lances that suddenly extended blades, shields that emitted shockwaves, and various other artifacts flaunted their power.

In Veloc’s eyes, it was a display of wealth. Each of those armors and weapons was a parade of equipment that could easily exceed hundreds of gold coins, perhaps even thousands. Where did the Duke, who was fighting northern barbarians, get the money to buy such equipment? As Baron Pigo said, it might have been wrung from the blood of his vassals. Or perhaps the barbarians’ villages were piled with gold bars and he looted them. Whatever it was, it was a good thing.

Because they were reducing the number of monsters. Losing experience points was a bit annoying, but wasn’t that just how the world worked? Compromising and living together. After all, the group’s ultimate goal was to defeat those giants, enter the castle, and kill the Greater Demon. At this rate, it would end smoothly. Just as Veloc thought so, an anomaly occurred. He furrowed his brows.

Another vibration rumbled. Along with barking sounds, chilling screeches were also heard. Soon, through the hazy smoke, something rushed while making hissing sounds. The sound of lightly tapping the ground. It belonged to a four-legged beast. Before he could raise his sword, Isabel, who was supporting Cara, perked up her ears. Soon, she fired the crossbow in her hand. A black line flew. One of the beasts charging at them rolled on the ground while yelping.

With black leather wrapping its body and a red mane, the beast, which looked like a rabid wild dog, was letting out hot, red breaths instead of a death rattle. Cara’s expression grew even worse.

“Hellhound. It’s a sentinel of hell. Now all sorts of monsters are…”

Awoooo!

[Humans! Kill all! Astaroth’s land invaded! Kill!]

The group turned their heads. Beyond the wall, giants kept crossing over. In their hands, they held some leashes. At the end of the ropes, the rabid dogs they had seen earlier growled and raised their front paws. The giants let go of the leashes.

[Chase! Kill!]

They moved nimbly and pounced on the people who were confronting the remnants of the giants. Those who adhered to relatively light armor had their throats bitten and died instantly, while those in heavy armor were struck by red flames. The armor heated up and blood spurted. The result of a brief gap was fatal. In an instant, the frontline collapsed and the damage increased exponentially. Severing a sentinel dog with his Rune Sword, Georg shouted loudly.

“Retreat! Retreat! We must reform the line for now!”

“Duke! If you suddenly pull out, what about us?!”

As the knight order and soldiers under the Duke pulled back, the burden on the church’s side confronting the monsters grew heavier. However, the Duke didn’t even pretend to hear. He simply issued the retreat order.

“This greedy old man! Brothers! Let us also pull back!”

Archbishop Hynek of the Helena Order shouted, clutching the cross in his hand. The shield of holy power expanded, and in that gap, the church members retreated. Soon, similar things were repeated. As the two largest forces pulled out, the free knights and allied nobles also swore and withdrew their forces. Then, the monsters formed a circle, encircling the humans, and the people were trapped in the center of the village like mice.

‘What a total mess. How does it turn into this?’ Rough breathing, the smell of sweat, curses, cries calling out to god, and groans of pain struck the group’s ears. And also the glistening eyes of the monsters looking at them from the opposite side. Veloc spoke.

“If we’re not careful, we’ll become roasted meat.”

“The smoke is getting thicker. We can’t hold out anymore. We have to break out.”

It was just as Cara said. The fire engulfing the village was gradually worsening, and black smoke decorated the sky. Although the mages sometimes blew wind to clear the smoke, they would all burn to death if they stayed here. And the giants, seemingly knowing this, simply growled at the edge of their encirclement. The moment the expedition moved forward, flames would probably spit from their mouths. At that moment, someone shouted. It was a voice Veloc had heard before.

“Listen up, everyone! I am Duke Georg! If we stay here, only death awaits us!”

“Georg! You coward! If you hadn’t pulled your forces back in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened!”

“You expect us to listen to a coward without honor?! How ridiculous!”

The church members and the nobles opposing them raised their voices, but Georg didn’t even listen. He simply glanced around and gestured to his knight order. He opened his mouth again. This time, his voice was amplified with the help of a mage.

“My knight order and I will pave the path! Everyone, follow behind us! Then you will live!”

At that, the voices criticizing him fell silent. There was no reason to object when he volunteered to consume his own forces. The free knights, mercenaries, and soldiers who had no one to follow cheered. Soon, they began to slide behind the Duke’s forces. Georg and the knights watched with satisfied faces. Then, whispering to each other, they leveled their weapons. Watching this, Cara spoke.

“A man who had been saving his skin suddenly charges in the vanguard…”

“He plans to win over the leaderless people. Nothing catches the eyes of soldiers like performance on the battlefield.”

Isabel spoke, and Adel caught it.

“If he breaks through without much damage, his influence will grow even larger.”

Veloc turned his head. A dwarf with a repeating bowgun, an elf mage, and a tan-skinned warrior holding a spear; various figures stood by the Duke. Behind them, new faces were still joining.

If it went according to the Duke’s plan, he would lead the largest force in this expedition and become the person closest to the path of the King. The martial prowess of the knight order they had seen earlier would be more than enough to make it possible. But… Veloc listened to the giant footsteps approaching this place.

It was heavier than the others, and the vibration was also larger. A boss? As he tilted his head, Georg shouted loudly.

“Dawn Knights! Charge! Trample the enemies!”

The horses had all died or been eaten long ago, but the knights ran bravely. The giants spat fire as if waiting. However, the mages belonging to the knight order deployed shields to offset it. In that gap, a rain of arrows fell like thunder.

“Mwahahaha! Die, you filthy fiends!”

It was the work of the dwarf holding the repeating bowgun. The monsters’ line collapsed. Georg’s Rune Sword sliced a demon’s body. Soon, Garan’s lance and the scimitar wielded by the tan-skinned warrior also sliced the monsters. The encirclement broke. It was according to plan. Georg’s eyes shone. He raised his sword.

“Everyone, follow be—cough!”

As he spat out words, he suddenly rolled on the ground and collapsed. The knights following him also vomited blood and rolled on the ground.

“Ugh.”

A dwarf knight, covered in dirt from the impact shaking his organs, raised his head. A giant, a head taller than the other giants, was looking at him and laughing. No, perhaps they should be called giants. Because the monster had two heads. The dwarf knight spat blood-mixed saliva. Burning with fighting spirit, he raised the bowgun in his hand. Soon, he turned the crank and shot a rain of arrows.

“I’ll make wind holes in you!”

Before the black lines could pierce its body, one of the giant boss’s heads muttered something. It was a spell. Then, a translucent force field appeared, and the arrows deflected away.

“A mage?!”

As the dwarf knight was taken aback, the giant’s hand moved. A huge axe fell, and the dwarf was crushed. The gap in leadership created in an instant, and the powerful monster appearing in that gap. The giant boss swung a fireball in one hand and an axe in the other.

[Kill all!]

[Burn them to death!]

Under that fierce attack, the knights armed with artifacts fell helplessly. The encirclement they had struggled to open closed again, and the monsters intruded once more. In the middle of the chaotic battle, the giant boss ran wild. When the human-sized battleaxe was swung, heads wearing steel helmets were shattered without fail.

It laughed. Then it chewed inside its mouth. The taste of blood and flesh felt between its teeth was very good. It should have come earlier instead of leaving it to its subordinates. Four eyes spun around again. An old knight lying on the ground was visible. The boss licked its tongue. Soon, it swung the axe down. At that moment, a metallic clash sounded, and the axe stopped abruptly. Two heads turned their gazes.

A knight wearing a strange crested armor, holding a greatsword, was visible. Even while taking its force, he did not waver at all. The boss wore a ferocious smile. Because the flesh of such an outstanding guy tasted even better. Just as the two heads were about to open their mouths, the black knight spoke.

“Two heads. Somehow, you look like a guy who’ll give bonus experience points.”