Chapter 1: The Beginning of Legend
White clouds drifted lazily across the azure sky, and white seagulls flew like miniature planes in the vast expanse. The sunlight bathed the lush green hills, casting a radiant glow on a sturdy figure. He lay leisurely on his back, arms crossed behind his head, a blade of grass between his lips that he chewed on intermittently, enjoying the tranquility.
This man stood about two meters tall, his muscular contours resembling sculpted strength, yet devoid of any clumsiness, instead exuding a dynamic and graceful aesthetic. Even in stillness, there seemed to be a latent, powerful force within him, like a dormant lion ready to pounce.
His short hair was neat and tidy, framing a well-defined face. Today's bright sunshine seemed to have brought him a pleasant mood, as a gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a sincere and friendly demeanor, leaving the impression of an honest and reliable person. At least, that's how Feld perceived himself.
"Mmm..." a low murmur escaped his lips, the afternoon rest rejuvenating his spirits. He slowly rose, stretching lazily, his gaze sweeping over the expansive vista below. This was the cliffside overlooking the grand city of Seadust.
Seadust was a renowned bustling metropolis, said to have nurtured two legendary figures, attracting the dreams of countless rural youths. Half of the city stood on the mainland, while the other half stood proudly above the sea, with the buildings on the ocean side being more opulent, undoubtedly the domain of the affluent.
Seadust was so vast that even standing at this height, Feld couldn't see its edges. Beyond the city walls, a continuous stream of adventurers and merchant caravans formed a long queue. A smile played on his lips as he casually lifted the oversized backpack beside him, standing up.
The heavy backpack emitted a clinking sound, indicating its weight was far from ordinary. Hanging from one side of the backpack was a metal hammer over a meter long. However, for Feld, these were all easy to carry; with one hand on the bag and the other slung over his shoulder, he set off with confident strides.
Seventeen years ago, he had crossed into this world, and now he was at the prime of his youth. His robust physique often surprised people: was this really the appearance of a seventeen-year-old?
After his only relative from his previous life, his grandfather the blacksmith, peacefully passed away, he once again found himself in a state of loneliness. In his previous life, he lived in a cyberpunk-like world where mercenaries thrived, and death was commonplace. Every city was controlled by major corporations, and the fate of the lower class was almost entirely in the hands of these corporations. Poverty and powerlessness allowed them to be exploited at will. That world was cold and cruel, and survival was difficult.
Feld struggled in the chaotic city for many years. He had finally built up a top-notch mercenary team, only to have the entire team perish in a conspiracy orchestrated by the corporations during a transport escort mission. The cargo they escorted turned out to be a nuclear bomb, and with the completion of the mission, the entire city, along with his team, vanished into oblivion. The wars between the corporations were merciless and ruthless.
However, he also accepted his fate. Compared to a painful death, the instant evaporation brought by the nuclear explosion seemed more enjoyable. From the moment he became a mercenary, he knew that one day he would fall, and a peaceful old age was only a luxury. He never thought he would die so spectacularly.
Now reborn, he hoped to find a new purpose in life. Although this world wasn't as extreme as the previous one, it wasn't a paradise either; it was still full of cruelty. Here, there was magic, sword saints who could split mountains with a single sword, and terrifying magical beasts. The power system was even more terrifying. Ordinary people struggled to survive in this world, without a voice of their own.
Therefore, Feld was unwilling to be ordinary. His grandfather left behind some inheritance and a shop. For ordinary people, spending seventeen years in a blacksmith shop was not easy, but he yearned for more. Thus, he sold the shop to the relatives of the old man and embarked on a journey to Seadust with funds and relics, like a young man pursuing his dreams.
The difference was that he chose to return to his original profession and become a mercenary once again!
Thinking of bidding farewell to comfort and returning to a life of danger and excitement, his heart was filled with passion. His blood boiled; this was probably his restless nature. He believed that possessing such a strong physique, to be idle would be a waste.
Seventeen years old, towering at nearly two meters, his strength surpassing that of his previous life several times over. According to this trend, Feld estimated that he would reach two meters and one centimeter by the age of eighteen, truly a giant. More importantly, his strength was not just for show because he wasn't human; he was a giant.
Upon his rebirth, he inherited unfamiliar memories—the legacy of the giants—and realized that he was a giant. However, his current memories had not fully awakened; apart from knowing his own race's information, everything else was still a blank slate. But with the growth of his strength, he had a premonition that the giant's legacy would bring unexpected surprises. This kind of strength beyond his peers and level was what it granted him.
However, the problem was that he seemed to lack magical talent. He had always harbored a longing for magic from movies, but no matter how abundant his strength or magical power was, he couldn't learn magic. Upon arriving in Seadust, apart from becoming an adventurer and a mercenary, he had another goal: to become a mage.
In this world where swords and magic intertwined, not having magic was regrettable. He strode forward briskly, and before long, he reached the city gate. Although he was a tall figure, he didn't attract too much attention; after all, taller beings weren't rare, such as the towering stone giants queuing ahead of him. Their stone-like skin seemed indestructible, averaging a height of two meters and five centimeters, resembling small giants.
This made Feld doubt his giant identity. According to the legacy, the average height of giants exceeded ten meters, but at seventeen, he was less than two meters tall. Perhaps his growth was delayed... After paying the ten silver coin entrance fee, he finally entered the outskirts of Seadust.
Wide roads and bustling crowds greeted Feld with a sense of joy. For this moment, he had traveled half a continent, covering two thousand miles. All his efforts were worthwhile. Now, the first thing to do was to find a restaurant and enjoy a good meal. He was tired of chewing on jerky for the past half month.
Luckily, not far ahead, he saw a desired destination—a mercenary tavern, where mercenaries gathered.