The ground quaked beneath Boyd's boots as he trudged alongside the cloaked man. Around them, the desolation of the battlefield stretched far, littered with broken carts and shattered goods. The smell of blood hung heavy in the air, a metallic tang that clawed at Boyd's senses.
Every step toward the 20-meter nightmare devil felt heavier than the last. Its hulking form towered like a monument of despair, the jagged stone coating its body glinting dully under the ashen sky. Each thunderous step it took reverberated through the earth, as if even the world itself trembled at its presence.
Boyd glanced at the monstrous figure ahead, dread coiling tighter in his chest. His breath hitched as his thoughts spiraled. This is insane. I shouldn't be here. This can't be real. I want to run... I want to hide. But— His hands clenched.
"But the system gave me this quest..."
The cloaked man's deep voice broke through his frantic musings.
"You're going to need this."
Boyd turned sharply, startled. The cloaked man had unsheathed one of his three swords. Its blackened blade glinted faintly, runes carved into its surface glowing with a cold light. The hilt was wrapped in leather, weathered but firm, and the aura it exuded was intimidating.
The man thrust the blade toward Boyd.
"And don't even think about dying on me, you little cunt."
Boyd's shaky hand reached out, his fingers brushing against the hilt before wrapping around it. The weapon was heavier than he anticipated, its weight settling like a leaden reminder of the task ahead.
"I-I won't." Boyd stammered, forcing conviction into his voice. His lips pressed into a tight line.
"Don't worry...'m strong enough for this."
The man raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a derisive smirk.
"Sure you are. Just try to keep up."
Boyd tightened his grip on the sword, his knuckles white. Around them, the battlefield seemed to close in. The smaller giants—hulking five-meter creatures—prowled at the edges like wolves circling their prey. Boyd's gaze flickered to them nervously, his thoughts a tumult. The system said those were rank D. I can probably handle them, right? Maybe... maybe they're not as—
"YOUNG MASTER!"
Edward's shout shattered Boyd's focus. He spun around just in time to see Edward charging toward him, his face twisted in fear.
"What are you—" Boyd's words died in his throat as Edward slammed into him, shoving him to the ground.
A massive hand swept through the air where Boyd had been standing moments before. The gust of wind from its swing sent dust and debris flying. Boyd scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding as he looked up at the five-meter giant that had nearly snatched him.
"Edward!" Boyd shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
Edward stood defiantly, his fists clenched as he glared at the giant. Boyd's stomach sank as he saw another giant closing in behind Edward.
The cloaked man dashed toward Edward, his movements swift and calculated. His black cloak billowed behind him as he leapt onto a fallen cart, his boots barely making a sound against the shattered wood. With a powerful lunge, he raised one of his swords, its runes blazing with light.
But the other giants were quick to intercept. A five-meter titan hurled a shattered carriage at the cloaked man, forcing him to leap backward. The man twisted mid-air, landing with feline grace before darting to the side as another giant swiped at him.
"Stay alive, damn it!" he barked, slashing at a giant's arm as it came too close. The blade carved a glowing line across the stone-like skin, but it wasn't enough to fell the creature.
While the cloaked man was occupied, the 5-meter nightmare devil turned its massive head. Its crimson eyes locked onto Edward, who was now frozen in fear. The giant reached out with a hand as large as a carriage and plucked Edward from the ground as if he were no more than a toy.
"EDWARD!" Boyd's scream tore through the chaos as he sprinted toward the servant.
Edward struggled wildly, his fists pounding against the giant's stony fingers. Tears streamed down his face as he shouted,
"Let me go! Please! I don't want to die!"
Boyd's heart raced. I can save him. I have to save him! But before he could reach Edward, the cloaked man shouted,
"Boyd, MOVE!"
The warning came too late. One of the five-meter giants lunged toward Boyd, forcing the cloaked man to abandon his attempt to save Edward and instead grab Boyd by the arm, yanking him back just as the giant's fist crashed into the ground.
The impact sent Boyd sprawling, his sword clattering to the ground beside him.
Dazed, he looked up just in time to see the 5-meter nightmare devil's, with something more terrifying, on its other hand was one of the servant, crying his eyes out as he bashed his hands bloody on the stome giant's hand, which unfortunately came with no avail.
"No... no, no, NO! This shouldn't be happening. " Boyd scrambled to his feet, his voice cracking with desperation.
"Hold on!"
Edward 's terrified eyes met Boyd's, as he sniffled, his eyes showing his intent to refuse death.
"Young Master—"
The giant tore Edward in half with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed into the air, painting the battlefield red. Boyd froze, his legs refusing to move as the scene unfolded. Edward's upper half dangled lifelessly from the giant's hand, while the lower half fell to the ground in a wet, lifeless heap.
"Edward..." Boyd whispered, his voice trembling. His hands shook as he took a step forward.
The giant lifted Edward's remains to its mouth, its massive jaws crunching through bone and flesh with horrifying ease.
Boyd's knees gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. His vision blurred as tears streamed down his face.
"This isn't real... this can't be real."
But unfortunatelythe nightmare continued, and it was far from ending.
A scream pierced the air as another servant attempted to flee toward the forest. The 20-meter nightmare devil turned, its massive hand snatching the unfortunate man mid-run. The servant flailed, his cries echoing as the giant raised him high.
With a casual flick of its arm, the giant hurled the servant like a cannonball. Boyd turned, his eyes widening as he saw the projectile hurtling toward him.
Before he could react, the cloaked man shoved him aside. Boyd hit the ground hard, his breath knocked from his lungs, as his petrified shaking skin left him stranded once more. He turned just in time to see the flying servant collide with another servant who, unfortunately, had been standing behind Boyd.
The impact was catastrophic. The bodies collided with a sickening crunch, the force splintering bones and rupturing organs. Blood and viscera exploded outward, painting the ground in a grotesque display. The lifeless forms crumpled to the dirt, one choking on his own blood as the other lay still, dead.
Boyd gagged, bile rising in his throat. He turned away, his entire body shaking.
"Get up!" the cloaked man snarled, dragging Boyd to his feet.
"If you stop moving, you're dead!"
The giants were relentless, their massive forms dominating the battlefield. Around them, the remaining servants screamed and scattered, fleeing toward the forest. But escape seemed impossible as the nightmare devil's crimson eyes scanned the carnage.
Boyd gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding in his chest. I'm not human anymore... I have to fight. I have to survive.
But in truth, there were only two options for him- fight and die, or to run.