The forest groaned under the weight of destruction. Trees splintered, their once-majestic forms bowing to the unrelenting force of the stone Giant. Its molten veins pulsed like rivers of fire, casting an eerie, flickering glow across the ravaged landscape. The air was thick with ash and heat, suffocating Boyd with every labored breath he drew.
He stood amidst the chaos, his sword gripped tightly in his bloodied hand. His body bore the signs of the relentless battle—a deep gash on his thigh, bruises forming along his ribs, and smaller cuts lining his arms. Blood trickled down his face from a shallow cut above his brow, mingling with the sweat that dripped off his chin.
Ahead of him, the Giant loomed—a behemoth of stone and molten fury. It flexed its massive hand, the appendage Boyd had previously slashed now fully regenerated. The Giant's glowing eyes locked onto him, unyielding and merciless.
Boyd's chest heaved as he adjusted his stance, shifting his weight to his uninjured leg. His mind raced, each thought a desperate attempt to form a strategy. I've hit it everywhere, and it just keeps healing. How do I stop something that doesn't stay down?
The Giant roared, a guttural sound that reverberated through the earth, shaking Boyd to his core.
The beast moved with surprising speed, its colossal fist arcing through the air toward him. Boyd's instincts screamed at him to move. He dived to his right, the Giant's fist slamming into the ground inches from where he had stood.
The impact sent shards of rock flying. One struck Boyd's shoulder, tearing through his shirt and leaving a jagged scratch that began to bleed. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to roll back onto his feet despite the burning pain in his muscles.
The Giant didn't relent. It swung again, its movements wild yet devastatingly powerful. Boyd ducked, the massive hand whooshing overhead, but the second strike came faster. It clipped his side, sending him sprawling.
He hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him.
For a moment, he lay still, the world spinning as pain radiated from his ribs. He pushed himself up, wincing at the sharp sting of the blow. His shirt was torn, blood staining the fabric where the Giant's strike had grazed him.
"You're not unbeatable," he muttered, his voice low and strained. "You can bleed like anything else."
He charged forward, his movements fueled by a mix of adrenaline and sheer willpower. He ducked beneath the Giant's outstretched arm, aiming for its knee. His sword gleamed in the fiery light as he swung, carving a deep groove into the stone.
The Giant roared, staggering slightly, but the molten veins within the wound flared brightly. Before Boyd could land another blow, the stone knit itself back together, the Giant's body whole once more.
"Damn it!" Boyd cursed, his frustration boiling over.
The Giant turned, its molten eyes narrowing. It swung both arms in a wide arc, forcing Boyd to retreat. He stumbled over a fallen branch, nearly losing his footing. The beast took advantage, bringing its massive hand down in a crushing blow.
Boyd rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the impact. The ground where he had been standing exploded, sending dirt and debris flying. A sharp piece of rock slashed across his forearm, leaving a fresh line of blood.
He scrambled to his feet, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His sword felt heavier now, his grip slick with sweat and blood. The Giant advanced, its steps deliberate and unrelenting.
"Think, Boyd. Think!" he hissed to himself. His mind raced, searching for a weakness he hadn't exploited yet.
The Giant lunged, its molten fist barreling toward him. Boyd ducked, pivoting to the side and slicing at its wrist. The blade bit deep, molten stone spraying from the wound. But the Giant barely faltered. Its other hand came around in a brutal backhand that caught Boyd square in the chest.
He flew backward, crashing through the underbrush and slamming into a tree. The impact rattled his teeth and sent a fresh wave of pain coursing through his battered body. He slumped to the ground, coughing as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The Giant stomped toward him, its molten eyes glowing with rage. Each step shook the ground, the vibrations reverberating through Boyd's already-aching ribs. He forced himself to stand, leaning heavily against the tree for support.
The beast paused, its gaze shifting momentarily. It spotted Holland cowering at the base of another tree, the servant's wide eyes filled with terror. But the Giant didn't care. It turned its attention back to Boyd, dismissing the trembling man as inconsequential.
Boyd gritted his teeth, his mind sharpening through the haze of pain. As the Giant reached the tree he had crashed against, it paused, staring at the deep indent his body had left in the bark.
The air was heavy with tension. Boyd crouched above on an overhanging branch, his bloodied form blending into the shadows. His hands trembled as he gripped his sword, the blade glinting faintly. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"Now or never," he whispered, his voice carrying a mix of desperation and determination.
The Giant's head snapped upward, its molten eyes locking onto him. But it was too late. Boyd leaped from the branch, his body twisting mid-air as he brought his sword down in a powerful arc.
The blade connected with the Giant's head, carving through its molten core and slicing straight down its massive torso. Boyd landed in front of the beast, his sword dripping with molten stone.
For a moment, the Giant stood still, its massive frame trembling. Then, with a groan that echoed through the forest, it began to fall. The two halves of its body slid apart, collapsing into a heap of smoldering stone and molten debris.
Boyd staggered back, his chest heaving. His head was partially covered in blood, a mix of his own and the Giant's. His vision blurred as exhaustion finally took hold.
A chime rang in his mind, and the system's familiar text appeared before him.
Quest: Slay all nightmare devils.
Progress: 1/9.
Lavae defeated.
Reward: 1 point.
He let out a shaky laugh, leaning heavily on his sword. The battle was over, but the war was far from won.
The forest was silent once more, save for the faint crackle of cooling stone. Boyd closed his eyes, allowing himself a brief moment of respite before the journey continued.