As the adventurers prepared to leave the ruins, having slain the demon dragon, a deep rumbling vibrated through the ground, sending shudders through their bones. At first, they thought it might be the volcano stirring, but the tremors only grew stronger. Rocks began to fall from the crumbling ruins, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to shift as though something massive was moving beneath them.
"Stay alert!" Kaelen barked, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "Everyone, get into formation!"
The team quickly fell into their battle-ready stances. They were all exhausted from the fierce battle with the demon dragon, but the instinct to survive kicked in. Merek began muttering incantations, preparing his magic, while Lyra nocked an arrow, eyes darting back and forth between the shadows. Finn crouched low, ready to spring into action.
Then, from the dust and rubble of the ruins, three towering figures emerged. They were giants, but not the massive, lumbering monsters that most would think of when hearing the term. No, these were Giantkin—a peculiar and terrifying race, standing nearly eight feet tall, their physiques rock-solid, with muscles rippling under their skin. Their features were sharp and angular, with eyes that burned with a primal intensity, marking them as fierce warriors of untold strength.
The air grew heavy as the three giants stepped into view, each one exuding an aura of raw power. They were not your typical beasts, not mindless brutes, but highly trained and disciplined fighters. And judging by the intimidating auras that surrounded them, they were all at least 8-Star Warriors, far beyond the capabilities of anyone in the group.
"Dammit!" Kaelen cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword. "These are not your average monsters. They're a threat."
"Stay calm," Merek muttered, eyes flashing with arcane energy. "We need to hold our ground and fight smart."
But Celestine could feel it in her bones—the overwhelming weight of their enemies' presence. The 8-Star Warriors were known to be vicious, unstoppable once in their element. She had only heard tales of such beings in the old texts, but seeing them with her own eyes, standing before her like an immovable wall, was an entirely different experience.
The giants growled in unison, their voices like thunder, their enormous hands gripping massive stone clubs, the size of trees. Each one looked to the adventurers with disdain, sizing them up with cold, calculating gazes.
"Not enough," one of the giants sneered, his voice gravelly, almost ancient. "We've come to claim this ruin as ours." His eyes glinted with hunger, scanning the group as if they were mere insects beneath his feet.
"We're not here for the ruins, though," the second giant said with a grin that stretched across his face, revealing rows of sharp teeth. His hands twitched as he prepared for combat. "We're here for the blood of adventurers, and we'll enjoy it thoroughly."
The third giant, silent and stoic, brandished his massive club with a casual swing, the ground cracking under the force of his motion. He was already assessing the group, calculating his next move.
Celestine felt a wave of dread wash over her. The scales of the battle had tipped drastically. A group of adventurers—strong, yes, but only 4-Star Warriors at best—had no business taking on these titans. Even Kaelen, with all his skill and experience, could see that this fight would be an uphill battle.
Before anyone could react, the first giant lunged forward with incredible speed, swinging his stone club toward Kaelen. The sheer force of the attack sent a gust of wind rushing past them, and the sound of the club smashing through the air was deafening. Kaelen barely had time to raise his sword in defense.
CLANG!
The impact of the club against Kaelen's blade sent a shockwave through the air, knocking him back several feet. The ground beneath him cracked, and he stumbled, barely staying on his feet. The strength of the giant's blow was unlike anything he had faced before.
"Get back!" Celestine shouted, instinctively stepping forward with her sword drawn.
Her heart pounded as she took a fighting stance, prepared to help Kaelen. Merek's voice rang out as he began to cast a spell, his fingers weaving through the air with intricate gestures. Arcane energy crackled around him, and a bolt of lightning shot toward the first giant, striking him square in the chest. The giant roared in pain but was not deterred. The lightning merely singed his skin, leaving no lasting damage.
"These bastards are tough!" Merek spat, frustration coloring his tone.
The second giant, seeing his comrade engaged with Kaelen, charged toward Lyra and Finn, who were standing to the side, preparing to make their move. Lyra quickly fired an arrow at the giant, but it barely pierced his thick hide, bouncing harmlessly off his shoulder. The giant snarled in anger, his massive hand reaching out toward Lyra with terrifying speed.
"Lyra, move!" Finn yelled, but it was too late. The giant grabbed Lyra by the waist and lifted her into the air, his grip crushing her ribs.
Lyra gasped in pain, her vision blurring for a moment. But she quickly regained her focus, reaching for her short sword at her side. With a quick, desperate motion, she drove the blade into the giant's thick arm. The creature howled in rage and tossed her aside, sending her crashing to the ground several meters away.
"Lyra!" Celestine cried, seeing her friend's form slump on the ground, her body unmoving for a moment.
Finn, enraged at the sight of Lyra's injury, leapt forward, his beastkin agility allowing him to close the distance in a blink. With a feral growl, he slashed his claws across the giant's legs, but the blow did little more than scratch the surface of the giant's thick hide. The giant turned its attention to Finn, swinging its club with lethal intent.
Finn dodged, but just barely. His fur bristled as he scrambled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly swing.
"Damn it," Kaelen muttered under his breath, still grappling with the first giant, his sword barely holding up against the creature's blows. "These giants are too powerful. We need to rethink our strategy or we're all going to die here."
But even as he said the words, the third giant—a silent figure with an air of quiet menace—stepped forward, watching the group intently, calculating. His massive club rested on his shoulder, his eyes glowing with the hunger for battle.
"Time to end this," the third giant said with a low growl. "Your death will be quick, but it will be sweet."
Celestine's breath hitched in her throat as the third giant moved to strike, but in that moment, something deep within her stirred. The Primal Chaos that she had begun to tap into during her training flared to life within her. A surge of power filled her chest, and she could feel the mana within her body coalesce with the raw, untamed energy of aura, creating something far greater—something beyond just magic and physical strength.
This was something she had never felt before—an overwhelming, primal force that radiated from deep within her, ready to burst out. Her sword pulsed with an inner light, glowing with the power of chaos itself.
"Everyone, fall back!" Celestine shouted to her companions. Her voice was filled with newfound strength.
With a powerful thrust of her sword, she launched herself forward, faster than she had ever moved before. Her body was a blur, the very air crackling with energy as she closed the distance between herself and the third giant. The sword, infused with the primal chaos, left a trail of light behind it.
The third giant, sensing her approach, swung his massive club toward her. Celestine met the blow head-on, her sword striking the giant's club with a force that shattered the air. The ground beneath them cracked, and a shockwave rippled outward.
But Celestine, with the primal chaos within her, was unstoppable. She pushed forward, her sword finding its mark. With a single, precise strike, she cleaved through the giant's defenses, cutting deep into his thick hide. The giant staggered, roaring in pain as blood poured from the wound.
The other giants, seeing their comrade injured, rushed to his aid. But Kaelen, Merek, and Finn weren't about to let up. They attacked with renewed determination, their willpower driven by Celestine's sudden burst of power.
Together, they fought fiercely, the battle now turning in their favor. The tide had shifted, and the giants found themselves pressed on all sides.