The Giant's Advance

It was overwhelming.

An overwhelming power.

It wasn't violence. Violence is something more aggressive.

Not an attack, but simply brushing aside things in the way.

Such a simple, pure power.

The Cyclops's movements were unimaginably fast for its massive body. If Serge hadn't cast acceleration magic on them, they would have been done for immediately.

But even if they could dodge its attacks, what did it matter?

No matter how desperately they attacked, they couldn't even reach the giant's knees. And the giant's skin had enough elasticity to deflect even Gig's warhammer.

"Excalibur!"

Serge's magic sliced through space. But it only managed to scratch the giant's skin.

"Fireball!"

Ria's magic, enhanced with magical power, burst and fizzled out against the surface of the giant's skin.

Even Ria's magically-enhanced sword strike only managed to draw the faintest bit of the giant's blood.

But perhaps it felt some pain from that, as the giant roared again and began thrashing about wildly.

A single blow from its maul shattered the ground, sending fragments flying everywhere. The same material that hadn't been scratched when Ria tried to dig a bath.

Perhaps their small size was a blessing, as the giant's weapon and limbs couldn't directly catch Ria and the others. Of course, the acceleration magic helped too.

The giant grew angry.

It lacked the wisdom of the gods, but it had their strength.

The swinging maul summoned fierce winds, and the shattered ground became stone bullets. It was impossible to dodge them all.

"Aaaaaah!"

Ria roared. With body strengthening, she endured the stones pelting her body.

She circled around and aimed her blade at the giant's ankle, seeking to sever its tendon.

It was useless.

The steel-like skin absorbed almost all of her slash's power, drawing only the faintest blood.

Even so, Ria didn't give up. She had collected Hydra venom for situations just like this. Without hesitation, she coated her blade with it and struck the same spot over and over.

But she couldn't tell if it was working. The Identify magic was being deflected.

"Serge, Identify it for me!"

"Sorry! I can't tell either!"

Even Serge's Identify couldn't see through it. The descendants of the fallen gods possessed abilities befitting their name.

Meanwhile, the giant's attacks continued.

Then one strike sent countless fragments flying at Lulu in an unavoidable spread.

Carlos threw himself in the way. The impact was enough to warp his shield.

But Lulu was safe. Carlos only had a numb arm.

"Are you alright!?"

At Carlos's question, Lulu tried to answer.

She tried to answer.

The giant's arm swung, sending Carlos flying.

It was a careless, irritated motion, like swatting away an insect.

Yet it was still a blow that sent his shield flying and warped his armor.

The knight slammed against the wall and coughed up blood.

Lulu's healing magic flew toward him. But his warped armor prevented his body from properly healing.

Then came the giant's follow-up attack.

With a wet crunch, Carlos was crushed.

It was instant death. Perhaps that was a mercy.

Carlos's body dissolved into particles of light and disappeared, leaving behind only his compressed armor. Blood-soaked armor.

Where had his sword gone?

Lulu was thinking about such trivial things. She was thinking while screaming.

How dare you.

How dare you do that to Carlos.

She had completely lost her temper. Though it's rarely pointed out, Lulu was impulsive and hot-blooded. If she weren't, she would never have left her countryside home, nor would she have followed along on Ria's journey.

The aggression normally suppressed by reason revealed itself. She just wanted to kill this thing in front of her. That was all she could think about.

Magical power surged. The spell formula took shape.

She raised her staff.

"White Inferno!"

An advanced fire spell said to possess otherworldly power. A white serpent of flame struck the Cyclops's chest.

The giant howled. A cry of agony.

Its chest glowed red like heated metal.

But that was all.

The giant glared down at the mage who had caused it such pain, raising its maul overhead.

"Lulu!"

Ria's cry and the maul's descent came simultaneously.

With a wet crunch, her body was crushed, leaving only her staff behind.