The steel net came down like a storm cloud, its weighted edges crashing into the ground. the barbed chains pierced into her skin. She thrashed about trying to free herself, but every movement only drove the spikes farther in.
Boom
The giantess fell sending a slight tremor through the battlefield.
"She's down!"
"We did it!"
"hoorah!"
"Long live the king! Long live the king!"
War chants filled the air as the soldiers raised their banners high in the sky.
They rushed forward to bind the net with ropes and iron stakes anchoring it firmly to the ground.
The giantess struggled to break free of her restraints but it was useless. She had been caught by one of his latest inventions: The steel net _specially crafted to capture giants its weight was not something to be trifled with as it was enough to pin down a fully grown giant, but the true cruelty of it lay in the barbed chains that dug into a giants flesh every time it struggled causing immense pain_
Now it covered her completely. She could not move. All she could do was lie there and accept her fate.
Her gaze drifted across the battlefield and she saw her comrades who had fallen they were all dead.
Her heart bled. She could not help but curse at the humans in her heart hating them with every passing second. _I am Elaine stoneborne daughter of the chief these pesky humans dare to capture me_
The battlefield was littered with corpses a couple of giants and thousands of humans were scattered among them. But the humans had prevailed and even managed to capture one alive.
"She was a tough one, I'll give her that," a soldier muttered as he pulled off his helmet.
Another scoffed."Doesn't matter. It's thanks to the chief knight's inventions that we've been able to make a comeback at all. Without them, we'd still be getting crushed by these monsters."
"Still," the first soldier said, glancing toward the massive, bloodied form trapped beneath the net, "you've got to admit-he's a genius. Promoted at such a young age, and every one of his giant-killing methods works."
"Yeah," a third chimed in, lowering his voice, "but that cold personality of his makes him hard to be around at ti..."
the war chants faded one by one until only the giantess's ragged breathing remained. The soldiers
shifted uneasily, their eyes drawn to the figure stepping forward from the ranks.
"Oh... he's here," one of the knights whispered as the knights parted making way for the chief knight.
The chief knight emerged from the crowd. His mere presence made the battlefield feel colder.
He appeared to be in his late twenties, he had jet black hair and had a scar that went from his left eye down to his cheek. He wore a silver armor that had a blue cape draping behind it. He had broad shoulders and a thin waist
His breastplate had the royal sigil stamped on it, same as the emblem on the banners, a golden lion
On his waist hung a longsword whose hilt was golden and adorned with red rubies its tip carved into the shape of a lion's head.
This man swore to rid the world of all the monsters that came from the rift, especially giants, he was the chief knight Xavier brown.
His sharp gaze landed on the giant trapped beneath the steel net his lips curling up into a cold smile. He stepped close to her face and his cape was blown into the air by her heavy breathing. He seemed unfazed by her size.
_Giants were not that different from humans, the only real difference was their size and intelligence some were intelligent while some were like beasts_
He looked straight into her deep blue eyes which were filled with rage as she stared at him if looks alone could kill, he would have died a dozen times over.
However he did not seem to falter under her killer gaze He raised his arm and beckoned.
moments later a large cart was rolled over by a dozen men.
Mounted on the cart was a large crossbow. It was equipped with a large arrow the size of a fully grown pine tree its tip aimed at her heart. The arrows tip dripped with a purple liquid, when the liquid touched the ground it made a hissing sound sizzling violently melting the earth beneath it.
This purple liquid was a poison that he had developed recently and wanted to test its effects on the battlefield. Of the dozen giants that had fallen that day over three quarters were killed by this poison. Now he wanted to observe it up close.
****
The giant watched calmly as the large arrow was brought over and aimed at her heart. Her heart immediately sank when she saw the corrosive effects of the poison her eyes widened in fear
When she saw this a chill down her spine sensing the looming danger on her life causing her to subconsciously struggle even more thrashing against the steel net.
"It's no use resisting," the knight said coldly. "Accept your death."
Her eyes flared with rage as her voice thundered across the battlefield
"You despicable humans and your greed... truly despicable."
But this did not seem to make him flinch even the slightest.
"oh?" he murmured. "A sentient one."
Hearing this her strength faltered. The rage in her gaze dimmed replaced by sorrow. Her breathing steadied. Of course she was afraid, she did not want to die but she decided to accept her fate.
The knight froze upon seeing her reaction. He had sworn to kill every giant. Yet in that moment the defiance in her trembling voice reminded him of a memory long forgotten and for a moment there she looked less like a monster and more like a damsel in distress.
Her expression was like a drop of water falling onto a still pond sending ripples in his heart. Her eyes pierced him not with hatred, but with grief.
Against his own will he found himself drawn to the humanity in her eyes his hand trembled midair as he hesitated to give the order to fire the poisoned arrow.
He suddenly had a change of heart. He moved closer to the giant.
"Do you trust me?" he whispered. "I'll help you escape. You only need to follow my instructions."
"Why?" she asked, confusion flickering across her face.
She hesitated. she was conflicted on whether to trust him or not
"I believe giants are monsters," he said, his voice steady but solemn. "I want you to prove me wrong."
She still had a confused look on her face, pursing her lips she nodded
seeing this he placed his hand on the steel net and she suddenly felt all the weight pressing down on her vanish. She immediately stood up ripping away the ropes and stakes holding her down sweeping away several knights close to her.
the soldiers had not even processed the shock when she grabbed him and ran towards the forest.
"chief!"
The knights could only watch the receding figure as it vanished with their commander
What are you waiting for?" his voice suddenly echoed from the distance. "Shoot!"
the soldiers were still frozen from the shock
You heard the orders shoot the voice of the vice chief brought them back
The crossbow was aimed at her, the ropes were cut and and with a deafening crack the massive arrow hurled towards her violently.
her eyes widened when she saw it she looked at him in shock. "I thought you were helping me."
"We have to make them believe, right?" he said with a faint smirk.
for a moment she felt like crushing him in her hand but she had other things to worry about.
The giant arrow drew closer and closer.
Seeing this she clenched her teeth and jumped sideways barely avoiding it unfortunately the tip grazed her leg sending a burst of pain in her body the purple liquid on her wound hissed softly as it corroded her flesh.
She did not stop.
She pulled herself up and kept running vanishing into the forest.
****
In a large cave hidden deep within the forest sounds of night creatures echoed in the cave.
Inside the giant's rapid breathing could be heard as she tried to catch her breath from all the running, the poison had spread turning the area around the cut although not very deep to have purple veins
spreading outwards
"Let me have look at it," he said
She put him down and he immediately started to inspect her wound
the effects are worse than i thought he sighed seeing the effects. Thankfully it was only a small portion of the poison that had invaded her
This poison was very potent, its potency even higher than that of wolves bane and the target would not live long rotting away if they did not have an antidote in a few days.
He quickly administered first aid with the little and ordered her to tear her cloth and wrap it tightly around the wound.
"This will keep you alive for now," he said looking at her "Stay here until i bring you an antidote."
Countless questions ran through her mind why had he chosen to save her why risk everything?
At last her curiosity got the better of her and she asked "Why?"
"I just find you interesting," he said a bitter smile on his face. "That's all."
He walked towards the cave entrance and was about to leave when her voice echoed "I forgot to ask...
what is you name?"
He stopped at the entrance and turned his head slightly.
"Xavier," he said. "Xavier Brown."
Xavier she repeated as if carving it in her memory.
"I'm Elaine." she said.
"Elaine," he said warmly. "It was nice meeting you Elaine. I hope to see you again soon." he said with a warm smile disappearing into the darkness
She watched him until his figure vanished into the darkness before lying on her back to sleep.
she lay there gazing at the ceiling.
_What a strange man_ she thought her lips curving into a soft smile.
Outside, Xavier hurried through the forest with worry on his face.
_I have to hurry_ he thought _her days are numbered_