Troy's expression was stoic, his body radiating calm confidence. He adjusted his gauntlets, the rugged spikes glinting in the sunlight. "You talk too much," he said, his tone low and even.
Sheldon, standing beside him, twirled his black rapier with a flourish. "Just another idiot drunk on his own power. Let's shut him up, Troy."
The priest chuckled, spreading his arms as his golden strings expanded outward, latching onto more fallen bodies. "Oh, you'll find I'm far more than just a zealot. Let's see how you handle my marionettes."
The priest pulled his strings taut, and the animated soldiers lunged forward with jerky, unnatural movements. There were at least a dozen of them, their bodies glowing with the priest's golden energy.
Troy stepped forward, meeting the first wave head-on. His gauntlets radiated dark energy as he blocked a sword strike with his forearm, the force of the blow shattering the animated soldier's weapon. He retaliated with a single, devastating punch, sending the creature flying into the others like a bowling ball.
Sheldon darted to the side, his rapier flashing as he skewered another puppet. "These things are durable," he muttered, pulling his blade free and dodging another strike.
The priest laughed, flicking his fingers to command the soldiers with precision. "Come now, is that all you've got? You can't even keep up with my puppets, let alone me!"
Troy moved with measured precision, parrying strikes with minimal effort and delivering crushing blows that obliterated his enemies. His fighting style was stoic and deliberate, every move calculated and efficient. Meanwhile, Sheldon moved like a dancer, weaving between attacks and countering with precise thrusts of his rapier.
As the last puppet fell, the priest sighed dramatically. "I suppose I'll have to get my hands dirty. How disappointing."
The priest raised his hands, and the golden strings extended outward, forming a massive web that spread across the battlefield. The web shimmered with blazing light, its heat palpable even from a distance.
Troy narrowed his eyes. "What is that?"
"A little something to keep you on your toes," the priest said, his voice dripping with arrogance. He flicked his fingers, and the web moved, shifting between an offensive weapon and a defensive shield.
The priest lashed out with the strings, turning them into sharp, whip-like tendrils. Troy raised his gauntlets to block, the strings slamming into him with enough force to send him skidding back. Sheldon jumped back, narrowly avoiding a strike that left a deep gash in the ground.
"Sheldon!" Troy called out. "We need to take those strings out!"
"I'm working on it!" Sheldon replied, darting forward and slashing at the strings with his rapier. The blade cut through some of them, but the severed pieces quickly reformed.
"Cute," the priest said, conjuring a bubble of golden light in his hand. "Let's see how you handle this."
He hurled the bubble at Sheldon, who barely had time to react. The bubble exploded on impact, disintegrating the ground where Sheldon had been standing. He rolled to safety, his heart pounding.
"That thing's no joke!" Sheldon shouted.
"Something that strong has to have some sort of downtime," Troy said, stepping forward with his gauntlets glowing. "Let's push him while he can't use it."
The two warriors attacked in unison, Troy taking the lead with his gauntlets crackling with black fire. He parried the priest's strings with ease, closing the distance and delivering a powerful uppercut. The priest staggered back, his smirk faltering for the first time.
Sheldon took advantage of the opening, conjuring a glowing amalgamation in the form of a knight. The knight charged forward, swinging a massive sword that shattered more of the priest's strings.
"You insolent pests!" the priest snarled, his composure slipping. He spread his arms wide, creating a blazing web of light around himself. The web burned everything it touched, forcing Troy and Sheldon to keep their distance.
"Sheldon, can you break through that?" Troy asked, his voice calm despite the chaos.
Sheldon nodded, summoning another amalgamation—a smaller, faster creature that darted toward the web and began tearing at it. The priest screamed in frustration, focusing his strings on the creature.
Troy seized the opportunity, rushing through the gap in the web. He dodged the priest's strings with precise movements, closing the distance and delivering a devastating punch to the priest's chest. The impact sent the priest flying, his golden strings faltering.
The priest staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His arrogant demeanor was gone, replaced by cold fury. "You dare challenge me? I'll show you true power!"
He unleashed his strings in a wild flurry, animating more fallen soldiers and forming a protective barrier around himself. He conjured another bubble of golden light, hurling it at Troy.
Troy braced himself, crossing his gauntlets to absorb the impact. The explosion sent him skidding back, but he remained standing. "Is that all you've got?" he said, his voice steady.
Sheldon stepped forward, his rapier glowing with a faint red light. "Time to end this."
He summoned another amalgamation—a glowing figure resembling Lancelot, wielding a massive Spear. The figure charged forward, smashing through the priest's barrier and cutting through his strings.
The priest screamed as the amalgamation's blade struck him, his golden strings disintegrating. Sheldon collapsed to his knees, the effort of the attack leaving him unconscious.
Troy stepped forward, his gauntlets crackling with dark energy. "This is for Sheldon."
He delivered a final, devastating punch, shattering the priest's defenses and sending him crashing to the ground. The priest lay motionless, his golden strings fading into nothingness.
In all of the Chaos the trio regrouped "how was your fight with the fancy witch?" Ace chuckled. "Looks like it was better than you fight with the shiny loud ass" Troy remarked "where the hell did the giant lady go?" Asked Troy "she got knocked out by him but she woke up a few second ago now she's fighting with her people" Ace said dusting his clothes off and wiping blood from a cut on his forehead. "Which we should also be helping them do, Let's go." Sheldon said sternly.
The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Smoke, screams, and the clash of steel filled the air as the giants fought relentlessly alongside the trio. The Church of Light's remaining forces, once emboldened by their leaders, were now in disarray. Though they fought with desperation, their resolve was crumbling under the combined strength of the giants and the boys.
Ace led the charge, his dagger ablaze with blue flames that cut through the darkness of the battlefield. He moved like a phantom, his strikes precise and devastating, leaving trails of azure fire in his wake. His third eye darted around, analyzing every movement of the enemies before they could even act.
"Keep pushing! They're almost done!" Ace shouted, his voice carrying over the cacophony.
Troy was a juggernaut, his spiked gauntlets smashing through shields and armor alike. Each swing of his fists sent shockwaves through the ground, knocking multiple enemies off their feet. His dark flames coiled around him like a protective shroud, daring anyone to approach. His stoic demeanor never faltered, even as he tore through the Church's forces with brutal efficiency.
Sheldon, though drained, continued to summon smaller amalgamations to assist the giants. He conjured glowing, wolf-like creatures that harried the enemy lines, biting and clawing to create openings for the giants to strike. Even in his weakened state, his strategic mind remained sharp, directing his creations to maximum effect.
Magelda was a force of nature. As she reaches on the ground and picks up a discarded giant hammer the colossal hammer smashed through entire groups of soldiers with a single swing, the ground quaking beneath her strikes. She roared commands to her kin, rallying the giants to keep pressing forward. Her towering frame and unyielding strength made her the center of the battle, a beacon of hope for her people.
The Church's forces, now reduced to half their original number, began to retreat. The boys and the giants didn't let up, driving them back toward the ornate Church of Light building.
When the group reached the church, they were met with a shimmering golden barrier. It stretched high into the sky, encasing the grand structure in an impenetrable dome of light. The remaining Church soldiers fled inside, disappearing behind the barrier as it solidified.
The giants immediately began attacking the barrier. They threw axes and spears at it, only for them to bounce off harmlessly. Magelda herself stepped forward, gripping her hammer tightly.
"Stand back!" she commanded, raising the massive weapon. With a roar, she brought it down with all her might, the ground shaking beneath her. The hammer struck the barrier, sending a shockwave through the air, but the golden light didn't even ripple.
"This isn't ordinary magic," Magelda said, frustration evident in her voice. "This is divine."
Sheldon stepped forward, his hand trembling as he clutched his rapier. "I... I can try to summon Lancelot again. Maybe he can break through."
"No," Troy said, placing a steadying hand on Sheldon's shoulder. "You're spent. Rest. We'll handle this."
Sheldon hesitated, looking at the barrier and then at Troy. Finally, he nodded and stepped back, his exhaustion too great to argue.
Troy turned to Ace, his dark flames flickering more intensely around him. "I'm going to channel more of Pride's power. This barrier is nothing compared to what we've faced, but I'll need your help."
Ace nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. "I'm with you. Let's finish this."
Troy closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he focused. The black aura around him surged, growing thicker and more oppressive. His gauntlets began to glow with an intense, fiery energy, the spikes crackling with dark flames. The ground beneath him cracked and blackened, unable to withstand the sheer force of his aura.
The air grew heavy as a massive ball of black flames began to form above Troy's head. The flames roared and writhed like a living beast, the heat so intense that the nearby giants had to step back.
"Almost there," Troy muttered through gritted teeth, his arms trembling under the weight of the energy he was channeling.
Ace stepped forward, his body igniting with blue flames. His flames twisted and danced around him, merging with Troy's. The black flames began to shimmer with streaks of blue, creating a swirling vortex of destructive power.
The sphere grew larger and more volatile, arcs of black and blue lightning crackling around it. The energy was palpable, making the air around them vibrate.
"This is it," Troy said, his voice strained but steady. "Let's end this."
With a roar, Troy hurled the massive sphere of flames at the barrier. The force of the throw created a shockwave that rippled across the battlefield, knocking back even the giants. The sphere collided with the golden barrier, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Then came the explosion.
The sphere erupted into a blinding tornado of blue and black flames, the sheer heat and force reducing everything in its vicinity to ash. The golden barrier cracked and splintered, its divine light struggling against the onslaught. Finally, with a deafening roar, the barrier shattered, the golden light dissipating into nothingness.
The tornado of flames raged on, swirling violently as it tore through the area. The ground beneath it melted into molten rock, and the air shimmered with heat. When the flames finally subsided, all that remained of the barrier was a scorched, empty space.
Cheers erupted from the giants, their voices echoing across the battlefield. Magelda clapped Troy and Ace on the back, her booming laughter filled with relief and pride.
"You boys are something else," she said, grinning. "I've never seen anything like that!"
Troy and Ace exchanged tired smiles, their bodies sagging with exhaustion. Sheldon joined them, his face pale but relieved.
"We did it," Sheldon said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The group began their long journey back to the village, their spirits high despite their weariness. The giants carried the wounded, and the trio helped where they could, sharing the burden of their victory.
When they finally reached the village, they were greeted with open arms. The giants cheered for their heroes, their respect and gratitude evident in every gesture. A massive feast was prepared, and the boys found themselves surrounded by laughter, food, and stories of their bravery.
Troy, Ace, and Sheldon ate their fill, the weight of their victory finally sinking in. For the first time in what felt like forever, they allowed themselves to relax, knowing they had earned their rest.
As the night wore on, the trio sat together under the stars, the bond between them stronger than ever.
The next day began with clear skies and a cool breeze, perfect for a game. The giants had crafted a makeshift soccer field using large boulders for goals and a leather-wrapped sphere as the ball. The field stretched so wide it felt like an arena, the ground freshly leveled and marked by hand-dug lines.
Troy stood at one end of the field, rolling his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. "Alright, let's show these giants how it's done."
Ace grinned, his energy palpable. "I'll be the striker. Just get the ball to me."
Sheldon adjusted his glasses, taking a defensive position. "I'll play goalie. Someone's got to stop their juggernaut kicks."
Magelda, standing in the center of the field as the referee, shouted, "Let's start!" Her voice echoed across the valley, and the game was on.
A giant launched the ball with a single kick, sending it flying toward the trio with the force of a cannon. Troy intercepted it, his spiked gauntlets absorbing the impact as he redirected the ball toward Ace. Ace sprinted forward, weaving through the massive legs of the opposing giants with an almost animalistic agility.
"Pass it here!" shouted Troy, running up alongside him.
Instead, Ace feinted a pass and launched the ball toward the goal. The giant goalie leaped to block, but the ball soared just over his outstretched fingers and slammed into the net.
"Goal!" Ace shouted, throwing his arms up triumphantly.
The giants roared with laughter and camaraderie. "Not bad, little ones," said one of the defenders, a burly giant named Kog.
The game continued with intense back-and-forth action. Sheldon even surprised everyone by leaving his goal to kick the ball across the field in a perfectly calculated arc, assisting Troy in scoring a second goal. The match ended with a narrow victory for the trio, much to the giants' surprise and delight.
That evening, the village hosted a celebratory feast in honor of the trio's performance on the soccer field. Tables stretched endlessly, laden with roasted meats, fresh bread, steaming soups, and pitchers of honeyed mead.
Ace piled his plate high, his appetite as insatiable as ever. "This is what victory tastes like," he said, chomping into a giant turkey leg.
Troy smirked, his plate more modest but still hearty. "You're going to regret eating that much when it's time to spar."
Sheldon sipped his drink thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the crowd. "You two are missing the real treasure: this mead. It's incredible."
Magelda sat nearby, regaling the group with tales of the village's history. The giants listened intently, occasionally laughing or clapping at her animated storytelling.
"To the boys who fought like giants!" Magelda bellowed, raising her mug.
The villagers echoed her toast, their voices ringing out in celebration. The trio clinked their mugs together, the warmth of the moment filling their hearts.
The next morning, the boys joined a group of giants for a hunting expedition. The forest was alive with the rustling of leaves and the calls of distant animals.
Troy crouched low, his sharp eyes scanning the underbrush. He spotted a wild boar grazing in a clearing and signaled to the others.
"Sheldon, think you can flush it out?" he whispered.
Sheldon nodded, summoning a glowing, fox-like amalgamation. The creature darted through the trees, startling the boar and sending it charging toward the group.
Troy stood his ground, his stoic demeanor unshaken. As the boar closed in, he sidestepped at the last moment, delivering a powerful strike with his gauntlet that sent the animal sprawling.
Ace was ready with his dagger, moving swiftly to ensure the hunt was quick and humane. The group returned to the village with their spoils, the giants cheering their success.
The afternoon was spent in the training grounds, where the trio sparred with the giants.
"Alright, who's first?" Magelda asked, cracking her knuckles.
Troy stepped forward, his gauntlets gleaming in the sunlight. "Let's see what you've got."
Magelda charged, her massive hammer swinging toward him. Troy parried with surprising ease, his movements calculated and precise.
"Not bad," Magelda said, grinning. "But let's see how you handle this."
She feinted a low strike before bringing her hammer down from above. Troy raised his gauntlets just in time, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground. He retaliated with a powerful uppercut, forcing Magelda to take a step back.
Ace and Sheldon took their turns as well, each pushing themselves to their limits. By the end of the session, all three boys were battered and bruised but exhilarated.
That evening, as the trio sat around a campfire, an elderly giant named Mogh approached them.
"You boys have potential," he said, his deep voice resonating like thunder.
"Thanks," Ace said, looking up at him. "But we've still got a long way to go."
Mogh chuckled. "Indeed. Have you ever heard of the Six War Gods?"
The boys shook their heads, intrigued.
"They are the strongest magi in existence," Mogh explained. "Lancelot, Lee JinHyeok, Tai, Kabir, and Anastasia. Each of them wields power beyond imagination. They are as terrifying as they are formidable."
"This is so damn annoying, even here all we hear about is how amazing Lancelot is.?" Troy asked, his brow furrowed.
"Don't forget about the others," Mogh replied. "The may not be as strong of beasts as Lancelot but cross paths with them, and you'll understand why they are feared."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Mogh's words settling over them.
On their final day in the village, the boys gathered their belongings and prepared to teleport to Middle Realm Norway.
"Are we ready for this?" Sheldon asked, adjusting his pack.
"We don't have a choice," Ace replied. "We've got a mission to finish."
Troy stood silently, his expression determined. "Let's do it."
Magelda handed them the magus emblems, her expression somber. "Good luck, boys. You've earned the trust of this village, and we'll be rooting for you."
With a final farewell, the trio activated the emblems. A swirling shining light envelops them and they all dissapear.