The air around them grew heavier, the oppressive weight of the dying magic still lingering like a thick fog. Julian barely had time to register the rumbling before a harsh, dry wind whipped through the battlefield, stirring the dust in swirling eddies.
"What's happening?" Kaelin asked, her voice tight with fear and fatigue.
Julian didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the land seemed to ripple unnaturally, as though some vast force was stirring beneath the earth. Eirik, still staggering but trying to keep his feet, noticed it too. He took a labored step forward, eyes narrowing as he scanned the distance.
"The ground," he muttered, gritting his teeth against the pain. "It's not just shaking. It's... moving."
Julian felt a sudden, sickening realization grip his chest. "No... It's not over."
A low, rumbling growl echoed from the depths of the earth, deep and resonant, like a beast awakening from slumber. They had taken down the giant, but it was just a herald—a sign of something far worse to come. The dark magic that had powered the giant had not vanished with its death. Instead, it seemed to have fed into something else, something larger.
Kaelin turned sharply, her eyes searching the horizon. "Do we run?" she asked, but her voice lacked the conviction it once had. The battlefield had gone eerily quiet, save for the distant tremors.
"No," Julian said, shaking his head. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, though he knew the blade wasn't enough. Not for what was coming. "We don't run. We face whatever this is, here and now. But we need to move. Now."
With a shared, determined glance, the three of them began to sprint toward higher ground. The ground beneath them shook again, this time with greater intensity, as though the earth itself were protesting their steps.
As they crested a rise in the terrain, the sight that greeted them was enough to freeze the blood in their veins.
In the distance, rising from the depths of the cracked earth, a second giant was emerging. But this one was not like the last. It was bigger—much bigger. It had the same grotesque features, but its form was more refined, as though its skin had been crafted from stone and iron. The dark magic that had once swirled around its predecessor now seemed to converge on this new behemoth, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
"By the gods," Eirik whispered, his breath ragged as he took a step back. "How do we stop that?"
Julian didn't respond right away. He couldn't. His mind was racing, but the answers were elusive, slipping away from him as quickly as they appeared. The air had thickened, almost tangible now, like something was pressing down on them from all sides. The oppressive magic seemed to seep into the very soil, wrapping around them, pulling them into the abyss.
"Kaelin," Julian said finally, his voice steady despite the growing sense of dread. "Get Eirik to safety. I'll hold it off. I have to—"
"No," she snapped, her tone hard. "We face this together. We've done it before. We'll do it again." Her eyes met his, unflinching, and Julian could see the fire in them. The fire that had kept them alive in worse situations.
Eirik, still clutching his side, nodded in agreement. "You don't fight alone, Julian. We're in this to the end."
The words were simple, but they carried the weight of something much deeper, something older than their shared history. It was a pact forged in the heat of battle, one that none of them could break, no matter the odds.
Julian didn't argue. He knew, deep down, that they were right. If they were going to survive this, they had to work as one—no hesitation, no second-guessing.
"We need to distract it," Julian said, his mind working quickly now. "Kaelin, get in close. Strike at its joints. Eirik, hit it where you can. I'll try to find its weak point, but I need you two to keep it off balance."
Without a word, Kaelin was already moving, her body flowing like water as she darted toward the giant. She wasn't afraid—none of them were. But even Julian could feel the weight of what they were facing. This wasn't just a battle for survival. It was a test. One that they might not pass.
The giant roared as it finished pulling itself fully from the earth, its massive form blotting out the sky. The ground cracked and splintered beneath its feet, sending debris flying in all directions. The dark magic that enveloped it pulsed with an almost sickening rhythm, its power feeding into the behemoth's every movement.
Kaelin had already closed the distance, her daggers flashing as she aimed for the joints of the creature's legs. But this time, her strikes didn't have the same effect. The armor was thicker, more reinforced than before, and the magic that powered the creature seemed to resist her efforts. She dodged its massive fist as it swung toward her, but the blow created a shockwave that sent her sprawling.
"Eirik!" Julian shouted, looking to his companion. Eirik was already in motion, limping toward the giant, his sword raised high. The giant's attention flickered for a moment, its glowing eyes locking onto the smaller figure of Eirik, and it swung its massive weapon in a wide arc.
Eirik had no choice but to dive to the side, the sword's edge grazing his shoulder and sending a spray of blood into the air. He gritted his teeth, fighting against the pain, but the distraction had given Julian the opening he needed.
Julian rushed forward, his mind clear despite the chaos. The giant's sword was raised again, glowing with deadly energy. But this time, its movements were slower, more deliberate. It was recovering from the earlier strike, and Julian knew that was his chance.
He closed the distance quickly, using the giant's slower swing to his advantage. With a roar, Julian launched himself at the creature's arm, slamming his sword into the joint of its elbow. The impact sent a reverberation through the blade, but it wasn't enough.
He had to do more. He had to—
The giant howled in fury, bringing its sword down with a force that made the ground tremble. Julian barely managed to roll out of the way, the blade narrowly missing him. He could feel the heat from the magic radiating off it, could almost hear the crackle of its power as it threatened to consume him.
Kaelin, in the meantime, was back on her feet, darting in and out of the giant's reach, striking at any exposed weakness she could find. But it wasn't enough. Not yet.
"Julian!" Eirik shouted, his voice strained, but full of resolve. "It's not just the arm! We need to get to its core! That's where the magic is coming from!"
Julian's heart skipped a beat. Of course. The magic wasn't in the sword—it was in the creature itself. The sword had merely been the vessel, the conduit.
He glanced up, looking for any indication of where the heart of the creature might be. The glowing energy seemed to pulse through its chest—there. The core was hidden beneath layers of thick armor, but it wasn't impenetrable.
"Kaelin!" Julian shouted. "Aim for the chest! The core! We can finish this!"
The next moments were a blur. Kaelin took a running leap, her daggers raised, and plunged them into the creature's chest. Her strike was precise, but the armor held. She twisted the blades, trying to find an opening, but the giant roared and shoved her away with a backhanded swipe that sent her flying.
"Eirik!" Julian shouted again, his voice desperate. "Distract it, now!"
Eirik didn't hesitate. With a cry of defiance, he lunged, his sword aimed for the creature's exposed side. The giant recoiled, raising its sword to strike him down, but in that instant, Julian saw his chance.
With a final, desperate burst of speed, Julian charged. The air around him crackled with the magic of the sword as he closed the gap. He leapt, his sword aimed for the heart of the beast, and in a single, powerful thrust, he drove the blade into the creature's chest.
There was a blinding flash of light.
Then, silence.