The giant changed its course, from pursuing Darius its attention was switched to Brennan. The enormous body started looming over Brennan creating a shadow that covers the young man and his horse. The sound of its feet as it gained more speed sounded almost like a hundred galloping horses, with a thick trail of dust in its back.
Brennan could feel his heartbeat racing, his heart drumming as if it is about to explode.
Watching the giant chase Darius from the distance is one thing, but to be chased himself is a different matter. Glancing back, Brennan caught a glimpse of the giant's teeth. The color of yellow and brown mixing together in a terrible way, the sight alone could make him shudder. It was like a rusting guillotine with its sharp edges ready to cut down the nearest person.
"Just keep going!" Darius shouted from the side, his horse also closing the distance.
Brennan nodded his head, his eyes now looking forward. 'Surely… he has a plan.' Brennan thought putting his life in his companion's hands.
Darius gripped the horse's mane as he tried to balance himself. His other hand, neatly placed in its back, as he struggled to climb the horse.
"How much longer?!" Brennan shouted, cold sweat dripping from the side of his face.
Unfortunately, Darius did not have the privilege to reply. Because standing atop the horse is not as simple as a daily choir.
As Darius somewhat managed to stabilize his footing, he drew his sword. The metal glinting under the sunlight. With a desperate act to save his friend, he jumped off of the horse.
Lifting into the air, both hands holding tightly around the hilt of his sword.
With luck and a well-calculated jump, he managed to stab the giant's back.
The giant howled as pain spread in its back, thinking that it was over Darius used his left leg to push himself away from the monster. As he draw the sword, the blood trickled into the ground. While the red thick liquid nourishes the earth.
Darius waited patiently for the poison to spread…
Which, unfortunately never came.
As the giant turned to Darius, its eyes burned with hatred. Teeth gritted together like a child ready to throw a fit.
"I'm going to kill you," it announced, hand griping the club so hard a crack appeared on its surface.
Darius could only stare at the giant with wide eyes, he was certain that it would be over after he made a cut, just like he would so many times before.
Alas, he remembered what Ravana had told him before.
'The poison will not always work.'
Ah yes, this giant just has to be one of the creatures that are immune to the poison.
The giant raised the club ready to smash Darius into a splat of meat in the dirt road. But fore it could hit him, an arrow came flying to the monster's head.
A blast of fire erupted as soon as the arrow hit its target.
"Well don't just stand there!" the young man shouted.
Snapping out of his daze, Darius jumped away. Keeping a good distance between himself and the giant.
"I will kill both of you! You're annoying!" The giant started chanting over and over, his face starting to grow redder and redder.
In a split second, the giants launched forward with his club in hand. Just like before as the club hit the ground, it created a strong blast of wind and a huge cloud of dust.
Just in the nick of time, Darius managed to dash sideways. Completely avoiding the blow.
'It is a good thing that this monster is not thinking much, it just keeps on charging forward. If it was a thud bit smarter, both Brennan and I might be dead by now.'
The giant raised its club once again to strike, but this time Darius is prepared.
He dashed to the side, then came running in the direction of the giant. Both hands holding the sword, he slashed with all his might.
A huge gash formed in the side of the giant's torso. It was fairly deep, but not deep enough to kill the creature.
"You pest!" The giant tried to swat Darius away but he was fast enough to make a run for it.
From a safer distance, Darius watched the blood sip through the wound. Waiting to see if the poison will somehow take effect.
But to his disappointment, it remained useless against the giant.
Each time he strikes he can give a good cut, but to the creature, it wasn't enough. A wound that could kill a person was like a nuisance to the giant.
'It's like he wasn't affected by any of it, even though he's bleeding.' Darius chewed the insides of his cheeks, 'what to do…' he wandered.
'If only I know how to utilize the power of the sacrifices.'
'Even if you do can't use them. The inherited powers can only be used after the twelve sacrifices are completed and the user was recognized by the sword.' Ravana's voice echoed inside his head.
'What?! then how…' Darius knew that this battle cannot be won by physical strength alone. This creature could crush his head between its fingers, he can't possibly kill the giant with just a sword.
'Don't fall into despair… I told you, didn't I? You and I share a common goal, your victory is mine as well. I will not let you die not until you finished your service.' Ravana reminded him.
'Now, you must use my power. Not the one from the sword but from inside you.'
'What?' Darius knitted his brows, completely lost.
'Have you forgotten how a dead witch could communicate with you? The night I gave you the sword, I gave you another gift. A fraction of my… power.'
"The essence?" Darius mumbles under his breath.
'Yes, you've already used it against the water leapers. If you focus enough, I know you can utilize it well.'
"But how? I only did it out of pure luck."
Ravana sighed, 'I'm here Darius I will help you.'
'I want you to image a small fraction of light inside you, focus them closer to you.'
Following Ravana's instruction, Darius felt a surge of energy flow inside him.
The magic he gathered started condensing as the power increases.
Crackles of electricity sparked from his entire body and into the sword. His eyes started glowing, the shade of purple now shining brilliantly- like the stars in the midnight sky.
'This will do for now, but you will need to learn how to use my power in the future' Ravana mumbled.
"Darius are you alright?!" Brennan shouted.
Finally going back to his senses, Darius noticed the giant facing Brennan a few arrows sticking in its head.
"Over here!" Darius shouted at the giant, his hands holding the sword tighter.
As expected, the giant turned its attention to Darius.
Who is now running towards the giant at full speed, leaving a thin cloud of dust and flickers of magic energy behind him.
Darius transferred the sword to his right hand, just like how Oraculi would hold his ax.
As he came close to the giant, he took a full stop.
'Right foot forward,' he reminded himself.
Darius draw the sword from his left to gather enough arm strength for a full swing, and in a split second, he slash with all of his power. Like butter under the knife, Darius cut the giant's arm with ease.
As the sword made contact with the flesh of the giant, the magic power gathered exploded into a burst of electricity.
'THUMP!' the giant's arm fell to the ground, its crimson blood splattering to the earth. While the air filled with the scent of burnt meat.
The giant howled as the pain spread in the rest of its arm, the surge of electricity traveling through its body.
The giant fell to its knees and slouched as it held its bleeding arm.
On the other hand, Darius took another step forward, now he is face to face with the giant.
Taking advantage of his opponent's disorientated state, he stabbed the sword to its chest.
Without having the chance to even react, the sword was embedded in its heart.
"Balor… will hear of this…" the giant mumbled its dying words before exploding into dust. Leaving nothing but the scent of its blood and burnt flesh.
Just as the giant died, the use of magic had finally taken its toll.
Before he could even sheath his sword, Darius collapsed on the ground. His breathing was quite heavy, his body felt weak, and his was vision fading.
In his weakened and battered state, Darius coughed as he saw Brennan jump off of his horse. The younger male started running to his direct.
"Darius!" Brennan shouted, the young man was worried, to say the least.
Kneeling beside Darius, he turned his body. Now, his back was lying flat on the ground.
"Are you alright?!" Brennan asked.
But his companion could barely hear his words. To Darius, it was almost like his head was underwater.
"Hey, Darius!" Brennan called his name over and over.
"Darius!" that was the last thing he heard before he completely lost his consciousness.