Alice and Roan had joined Renn in his mission to kill the Giant Blood. Only two of them remained from their organization. They had been assigned as team generals, each commanding 10 people.
Under them were 10 team leaders commanding regular people, with 7 generals total on the field. Alice and Roan's primary duty was to control the elemental chains created by Lira, capture the blood creature, and give Renn the opening he needed to finish the Blood Giant.
They had planned for a week and set off to capture it, having identified the perfect location. Everyone was counting on Renn for the final blow.
Alice turned to Roan, who looked deadly serious. She had questioned him countless times about why they had to join this mission, but Roan remained resolute, leaving her no choice but to follow. She felt there was nowhere else for her now—she had tried to find the man who raised her but failed, so she returned to Roan.
"Are you sure about this, Roan?"
Roan didn't turn his head, continuing toward the city where the Giant Blood awaited them. Everyone could feel the creature's terrifying presence.
"Yes. We have to do this." Roan's eyes remained focused on the Giant Blood, ready to fight at any moment.
The Giant Blood could launch projectiles of its own substance that would absorb people and return to strengthen the main body.
That's why everyone looked at it with such terror. People were hiding behind broken buildings, rubble, and debris. Even other species had come to help kill this monstrosity. If they allowed the Giant Blood to roam freely around the kingdom, it would devour everything.
But they too felt overwhelming fear and were beginning to regret coming here. Just as their hearts were consumed by dread, Renn's voice boomed across the battlefield:
"JUST HOLD THAT GIANT FOR ONE SECOND, AND I WILL DESTROY IT! WE WILL LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW AND CELEBRATE OUR VICTORY! SO DON'T LOSE YOUR CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE! I WILL END THAT GIANT BLOOD!"
Everyone saw the sun blazing behind Renn's silhouette and looked at him with renewed hope, their fears dissipating. They focused on just one thought: 'one second.'
Their willpower surged as they saw Renn as their beacon of light. They believed in him with their final hope—they only needed to give him one second to kill the Giant Blood.
"YES, WE KILL THE GIANT!" the crowd roared in unison.
Their collective shout was so powerful it seemed to shake the very buildings around them.
Renn's expression grew serious as he gazed at the giant. His face transformed, and two brilliant white wings emerged from his back as he soared into the sky.
Minutes later:
The Blood Giant arrived at their chosen battlefield. Renn spotted it and looked toward Lira, who awaited his signal. He nodded.
Seeing his signal, Lira unleashed every element from her magical arsenal simultaneously.
A massive, colorless, shapeless wave like a raging ocean surged toward the Giant Blood. She lost all control of her elements, but before the Giant Blood could retaliate, the entire crowd rushed forward toward the wave.
People stared at the wave in awe—What is this phenomenon? It defies description—but they all channeled their skills to control it and trap the Giant Blood. However, the creature sensed danger and fired its blood projectiles at the crowd.
"We don't fear you, monster!"
Someone shouted from the crowd, but instantly they were all consumed by the Giant Blood. Yet that absorbed blood didn't return to the main body, and a second wave of fighters emerged from the crowd, using their mana and skills to control the elemental wave.
Miraculously, they managed to bind the Giant Blood's legs, but the second line was also consumed. Still, they achieved their objective and died with triumphant smiles as the final line approached the wave.
This time they succeeded—they managed to chain the creature with the mysterious wave and restrain it completely. The Giant Blood hurled more blood projectiles at them. They had some protection, but half the final line still perished, leaving everything to Renn.
From the sky, Renn observed the Giant Blood with emotionless, calculating eyes. His wings gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
Renn exhaled slowly and drew his sword—a weapon he rarely used in public, last wielded in the shopping district when he was twelve.
As people in the crowd glimpsed Renn's sword, they saw the beautiful goddess etched upon its blade. Overwhelmed, they dropped to their knees, feeling unworthy to witness such divine beauty, and pressed their foreheads to the ground.
In the next instant, Renn dove toward the Giant Blood, guided by Elenya's sight to target its mana core.
"First Form: The End," Renn whispered to himself.
Swish...
The Giant Blood was severed in a single, perfect sweep. It scattered across the battlefield as the crowd was blown back by the impact. A crimson lake formed where the creature had stood. Everyone stared at the blood lake, expecting it to reform, but nothing happened.
Witnessing this, the crowd erupted in celebration. Some wept with relief, others mourned friends who had sacrificed themselves—friends whose bodies couldn't even be recovered from the blood lake. They could only bid farewell to bonds forged in these final moments.
After several minutes, all eyes turned to Renn as he began emerging from the blood lake. They were about to call out to him in celebration.
Then someone appeared from nowhere, snatched the sword from Renn's grasp, and drove it straight through his stomach.
Renn stared at Aeren in shock. Lira saw this and screamed, "NO, Aer—"
Her words were cut short as her head hit the ground. With her severed head, she looked back to see who had decapitated her and saw a girl smiling coldly. Lira's body collapsed as her eyes widened in disbelief.
Renn looked down at the sword that had slain the Giant Blood, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. "H...ow... c...ould... y...ou... u...se... th...is... sw...ord?" Renn could barely form the words, still staring at Aeren in shock.
Aeren watched the sword, and the goddess on the sword was watching Aeren too, but there was nothing they could do about him.