Chapter 323: In Capable Hands (2/2)

Li had created a massive wall of wood to separate the fire giant army, leaving just two giants for the party to deal with, but now, the giants had scaled the wall, leaping down from it with solid thumps as their hefty weights settled on the forest floor, their every step burning foliage.

Many, many giants. Almost ten of them, it seemed, and probably more coming.

Vilga spat out some blood and exhaled a strong breath through her burnt and parched lips. Patches of burns lined her face and her thick silver mane was singed black at its tips. However, she just smiled, baring her fangs, her gleaming yellow eyes wide with adrenaline and battle hunger.

She slammed her gauntleted fists together.

”Come!” she roared, her once quiet demeanor completely gone now that her blood had started to flow, bringing her back to how she had been bred to be through decades fighting every single day, three hundred and sixty-five days of the year for fifteen years: a veteran of the Republic Arenas once feared as the Savage Fist.

”Y-yes!” shouted Mercer rather weakly, raising his dagger to support Vilga, though he was evidently much, much more worried about losing his life than she was.

Mason watched as the ten giants began to charge forwards now, their huge bodies causing quakes. He raised his wooden shield and peered through the visor of his oaken helm with worry.

”Where is the seer!?” said Mason. ”I thought he would have dealt with these foul beasts yet!”

”It is difficult to sense him,” said Asala. ”His magical energy flows strong, yet none of it do I now perceive.”

Old Thane stood beside Vilga at the front and smiled just as broadly as the Lupi warrior.

The Savage Fist and the Blood Fist together. A union that would never have been known had not the all welcoming nature of Li's presence made its mark on this world.

Yet, a union that would not be enough.

”Is what she says true?” said Old Thane as he rolled his shoulders, feeling the blood trickle from burns and wounds littering his body. ”Zagan.”

A brief pause. The fire giants approached ever the closer, but everyone's attention, everyone except Old Thane, stared back at Zagan, the unassuming black dog that followed them everywhere.

Old Thane kept his fists clenched and stared straight ahead. ”I know ye were to keep yourself hidden, but if the lad is gone, now is no time for it.”

”The Serpi is correct in her arcane judgement,” said Zagan, his deep voice projecting outwards, an infernal rattle underlining it. Mason and Mercer, unused to demonic influence of this caliber, felt shivers rattling across their bodies.

”Aye.” Old Thane nodded to himself. ”I worry little of the lad and the girl. They are mighty. But we will need some help.”

”This personage understands the situation.” Zagan trotted forwards, his black fur swaying like flames comprising a royal cloak as he stood in front of Old Thane.

Old Thane's smile broadened even more. ”Then shall we? I am quite greedy for battle meself.”

Zagan's crimson eyes blazed. ”It shall be so.”

Zagan's form turned into a cloud of black flame for a moment before funneling into Old Thane.

Old Thane sighed as he felt power flow into him, the effects of his aging completely reversing. His wrinkles faded. The fat gathered around his belly melted away. His muscles filled into his skin, veins bulging and old scars popping through taut, youthful skin.

His usual hunch disappeared, and he grew taller, noticeably taller until he was just a few heads shorter than the smallest three-meter-tall giants.

The loose skins that wrapped around his shoulders and legs, skins of mighty beasts such as Dire Crusher Boars, Frostbears, Yeti, and even the scales of Glacial Serpents began to fill out, worn by the younger body they truly belonged to.

No more did Old Thane look like he was out of place wearing his gear. He was ferocity incarnate, his teeth tapering into near bestial points. Many of his veins bulged through his skin, and they were black, flowing with demonic energy.

”Aye,” said Old Thane as he cracked his neck and clenched his fists. ”Aye. This be the might I had. The violence I held down.”

On Old Thane's exposed chest, where his heart was under his plate like pectoral muscle, two red eyes popped out, and from them, Zagan's voice emerged.

”This personage grants you power to fulfill the safety of this party as the 'Seer' wishes. Waste no more time in completing this objective, mortal.”

”Hehe, aye, aye,” said Old Thane. He looked back at Vilga, and she stared at him with surprise now. ”Yer a lot like me, lass. I know how much ye wanted the fight. So I'll be sure to leave ye some scraps.”

With that, Old Thane looked forwards, at a fire giant that now was within ten meters of him, and charged forwards, his speed so explosive that he was a blur. He tackled the fire giant's leg and took the giant's multi-ton weight clean off the ground as if it was as light as a feather.

Roaring like a wild beast, Old Thane swung the giant around like a ragdoll, building up speed before tossing the giant as a projectile right into a group of three other giants.

The thrown giant crashed into the group and scattered them backwards, causing them to tumble several times on the dirt, disoriented.