After the indescribable mass of mana and death receded, the people were mesmerized for a time. Soon, cheers erupted from everywhere when everyone realized that the light of destruction was gone along with the army of monsters.

Ellen’s team was no exception, but when Ellen saw that Camus was flying towards the charred area where the giant was swallowed, she somehow felt uneasy. She wasn’t sure what to call it, but in some way she felt that Camus might be putting himself in danger.

Once more, she decided to trust her instincts and head towards Camus position.

“Fenril! I know you’re there! Come out! We need your help!”

“Ellen, what’s wrong?”

“I think Camus might be in danger… either he’s being careless, or… there’s a reason for it. In any case, I don’t like it so we need to get to him, fast.”

*thud**thump*

Just as Ellen was about to say more, they heard thundering thuds on the roof above their watchtower. At the last thud, they saw a massive familiar claw appear at the edge of the roof. Soon its owner appeared before them as it lowered itself onto the top of the wall where the tower was attached.

“Fenril! I believe Camus might be putting himself in harms way! We need your help to get to him fast!”

As Ellen mentioned this, Fenril looked towards Camus’ direction and then looked back at Ellen. As if he understood her, Fenril gave a nod and a howling roar.

“Grawooooo!”

Ellen smiled as she faced her party.

“Looks like he’s willing to help us.”

“Uh… you sure? I coulda sworn it was just howling at us…”

“… as loathe as I am to admit it, it’s the same to me as with Lawrence. Though I understand he’s now on our side, I’m still not sure if he sees us as friends… or dinner.”

“It did help protect the town though… I mean, although it’s still hard to believe, it’s a dragon… so it’s intelligent, right?”

“That’s right! I gotta admit, that attack it did with Old Gren was amazin’! Now that I think about, that guy’s in charge of the beasties protectin’ the town! I say let’s ride him and go get Camus!”

“I’d also agree, but… though our friend is very large, I doubt he can carry all of us. I believe we’ll need to get some horses first since Camus has gone pretty far. I’ll –“

*booom*

But before Dustin could finish, they heard a loud smashing sound in the distance. Followed by booming laughter, they all looked towards the source and saw Camus caught by the giant. As Ellen feared, Camus was in danger, but before she could regret not leaving sooner, without a second thought she jumped down onto Fenril’s back.

“I’ll go on ahead!”, she yelled as she faced the others. She then turned to Fenril, “Let’s go!”

In line with her thoughts, Fenril leapt down from the wall and started rushing towards Camus and the giant. Despite his size, Fenril seemed to be the wind as he rushed towards the enemy.

As they drew nearer, Ellen could see that the Avatar was holding a bloody mass in one of its hands. It then moved it’s last free arm to grab at Camus back. Ellen watched in horror as she saw the monster rip apart Camus’ last wing from his back. Some tears formed in her eyes, but she grit her teeth and channeled her sorrow into rage, tightening the grip on her hammer. Before the Avatar could do more damage, she yelled out his name hoping to catch its attention.

“Camuuuus!”

When she faintly saw Camus move; she felt relief in her heart.

‘Good. As long as he is alive, that’s all that matters. Now for this hateful monstrosity.’

As they rode on, she noticed the giant face their direction and started heading towards them. It appeared to her that it no longer sees Camus as a threat and decided to target them instead. Soon, a massive cloud of darkness enveloped one of its arms as a massive sword appeared in its hand.

‘Hmph. Since fighting Fenril, all I’ve shown was my disgraceful side to Camus. This time, it’s my turn to save you, so please… hold on.’

Strength surged within her body while steam began to rise as if her flesh was incredibly hot. Her skin shone a metallic luster like it was made of bronze, giving a sculpted form to her muscles and curves. With her muscles tightened, and some veins pulsing power, her eyes became white as the mystic rage took over.

Like a goddess of war on her great mount, she rode onwards without fear, ready to take on the Avatar.

“Hahahaha! Die!”

As the giant yelled, it swung down its sword from the side, to cleave them along with the earth.

“Hah! You don’t learn, do you! Yaaaaaah!”

With her half-giant strength further empowered by the Berserker’s Rage, Ellen could reach levels of strength that would even be comparable to the true giants themselves. But that’s not even the limit of her true power…

*BOOOM*

With a loud boom, her hammer smashed onto the edge of the sword, slamming it onto the ground.

“W-What!?”

“Now Fenril!”

“Grawooooooo!”

Covered in a red haze as if even her blood had boiled from intense heat, her strength more than doubles at a level that could make even some Dragons bow down to her in power when she finally unleashes her greatest ability; Juggernaut.

Like its namesake, she becomes an unstoppable engine of destruction that smashes all that stands in its way.

On Fenril’s back, they charge up the blade once more.

“Gah! Did you think I’d fall for the same trick twice? You’re an utter fool!”

With its remaining arm, the Avatar tries to make a grab for them as the reached halfway.

“Hah! Even if you didn’t fall for it, you’re reaction isn’t any better! Now GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

With both hands, she swung her hammer once more and smashed the massive hand, crushing half of it into indiscernible pulp.

“GAAAAAAAAH! You bitch!”

Without stopping, Fenril jumped towards the two hands holding down Camus. Using the momentum of a mighty spin, she swung her hammer down with incredible force and speed on the exposed fingers gripping onto Camus.

*cruuuuuunch*

“AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!”

Eight massive fingers were torn apart as if they were made of clay instead of ensorcelled flesh and bone as she swung down her hammer. As soon as he was freed, she caught the falling Camus as she and Fenril descended to the ground. As soon as his claws touched the earth, Fenril dashed away from the area running towards the town’s direction.

“Camus! Camus! Please, wake up!”

Released from the rage, Ellen tried to shake Camus awake. Had she been calmer, she would have noticed that the damaged wing joints on his back have stopped bleeding… and that some areas of his scales have started to crack.

“…El…len…”

“Camus! Oh thank the gods you’re awake! Don’t worry; as soon as we’re in town, we’ll patch you right up! I don’t know about your wings, but I’m sure Silvi can make you better!”

Tears welled up in Ellens eyes as her greatest fear had passed, but seeing Camus so weak pained her heart. If this were an ordinary situation, people would realize that Ellen’s feelings for Camus were too deep for someone who’s only been together with her for a few weeks.

However, though she doesn’t realize this strangeness, it doesn’t change the fact that her current feelings were true and the idea of losing Camus frightened her more than anything. This was why despite being an able leader of a veteran adventurer’s party, she still rushed out ahead in a reckless manner unlike her usual self.

“…ru … way…”

“Ssh, it’s alight now Camus! We’ll get you to the town soon! Hold on just a little longer!”

“…run…away…”

“What?”

“dan… ger…”

As soon as Camus uttered these words, a thunderous explosion sounded in front of them as earth and stone was rent asunder. The three of them were tossed about in the chaos, but Ellen held onto Camus with her dear life, so he was mostly spared from the disaster. As the dust cleared, Fenril lay on his side while Ellen and Camus was under him between his fore and hind legs, like wolf pups nestled by their mother.

“*koff**koff*, Camus… are you alright?”

With her hair a mess, her armor battered, and her body filled with cuts and bleeding in several places due to the torrent of rent stone, she nestled Camus in her arms. Behind them towered the cause of the destruction – a massive spear; the size of which could be mistaken for a small tower.

Due to its size, there can only be one entity that could throw it... and it was steadily walking towards them.

“Ha ha ha HA! Pathetic! Did you actually think you could escape from me? Foolishness! Utter foolishness!”

They tried to move, but the damage from the shockwave still remained, so they could hardly stand in place, let alone run. Soon, the monster arrived.

“And now, I’m here. Hu hu hu… helpless and beaten… you… have all been a painful THORN on my side for the longest TIME. I am going to thoroughly ENJOY turning you and that mongrel into lumps of BUTCHERED MEAT in front of your LIZARD LOVER!”

The dark cloud appeared over the Avatar’s 4 hands, and soon he wielded two swords and two axes. The giant soon raised one of the axes.

Understanding what was about to happen to them, Fenril forced himself to move, mustering all the strength he could bear. As the axe fell on them like a massive guillotine, Fenril stood to shield Ellen and Camus with his body.

*SMASH*

“GRAWAAAAAAAAARGH!!”

Fenril’s body was that of a true Dragon. Possessing scales harder than ordinary metals, only weapons made of Obsidian, Mithril, and Orihalcum could ever hope to pierce his flesh. His flesh as well possessed countless numbers of muscle fibers that would allow him to carry objects even more than 10 times his own weight while being able to shrug off blows that could easily shatter steel and stone. With all this in mind, he would be able to withstand the attack… but to say he wouldn’t be seriously injured would be another matter.

After all, his opponent was a towering mass of sinew and had a several ton massive weapon that could split even mountains. Indeed, he withstood the attack, but the force of the attack had enough power to send shockwaves that damaged his internal organs.

Blood started to flow from his mouth as he lost strength from his legs, falling to his side.

“And down goes the dog! Now it’s your turn, bitch!”

The Avatar raised another arm armed with a sword, looming over them like the judgment of Death.

Ellen, knowing what she must do, gathered her rage once more. Blood spurted as she tensed her muscles, but the bleeding stopped. With the last of her strength, she raised her hammer, ready to take the blow.

“Camus… I’m sorry… I was so close… but … to my dying breath… I will protect you…”

The giant’s arm came falling and timing with its descent, Ellen swung her hammer.

“Yaaaaaaaah!”

*BOOM*

With a thunderous noise, Ellen smashed her hammer onto the sword. Blade and bludgeon met, the force shattering most of Ellen’s bones and tearing most of her flesh, but she held on with every fiber of her being denying death. The force sent her flying back and smashed onto Camus’ unconscious body. Her hammer lay shattered, but she achieved her purpose and more… she was actually able to split the monster giant’s sword. A testament to how terrifying her strength was indeed.

She flew slamming into Camus like a meteor slamming diagonally onto the earth. In a stroke of irony, his body served as a cushion from the earth and rocks, and as soon as they stopped, his back rested on a mound of gouged up earth. His arms were hugging around Ellen despite him being unconscious, while his muzzle lay on her shoulder. Ellen could no longer move… calling her arms and legs a mess are an understatement… but she was contented.

“In the end… this is all I could do… at the very least… I can promise you… that you won’t go alone…”

She kissed Camus at the side of his face then closed her eyes as she smiled and let her consciousness drift away.

“Gaaaah! Damned bitch! To the end, those two continue defy and anger me! But… no more… Ha… ha ha… HA HA HA HA! At long last!”

The Avatar walked towards Ellen and Camus then stopped before them.

“At long last! I can finally end your miserable existences! I’m somewhat unsatisfied with how I will kill you… but I can delay your death… NO LONGER!”

The Avatar raised all four of its arms and in a grand move, swung all four of them towards where Camus and Ellen lay.

*BOOOOM*

“Not nearly enough!”

*BOOM**BOOM**BOOM*

It continued to slam its weapons onto the ground where the two lay, creating a massive cloud of dust. It didn’t even bother to confirm if it was still hitting them or if they were still there, but it knew the force of its blows would prevent any form interference or escape. After several more blows, it stopped while heaving its chest up and down.

Soon… only dust and silence remained…

“… he he… he he he… ha ha ha… HAHAHAHAHA! Yes! Ah, that felt wonderful! Sigh… now to see… the… results?”

The Avatar stared confusingly at what should be its weapons… but strangely… all that remained of them… were broken swords… and shattered axes…

“What the –“

Before the Avatar could finish its sentence, a beam of golden orange light shot towards it and blasted one of its entire shoulders off along with two if its arms.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAH!! WHAT!? WHAT IS THIS!? GAAAAAAAAARGH!”

The pain from that attack transcends all the others that had been dealt to it thus far. In other words, it had not felt anything more painful than the attack it just received in all its experience.

“AAAARGH!! YOU!? HOW!?”

Before it appeared a massive creature of gold and bronze…

Only over half the Avatar’s size, it was smaller… but it exuded an even more oppressive aura, showing that its strength was worlds apart than the Avatar’s own.

The beast before it had wings greater than even the Avatar’s entire length and a massive tail that looked like it could split mountains and part seas like a flexible sword. It stood on two legs, had great black claws, 7 great horns, and metallic scales that were orange-gold, but seems as if to devour the light around it making it appear lusterless… dark…

And lastly… its eyes…

Pale yellow with black vertical slits for pupils…

Appearing even colder and more sinister than its own…

Stared back at it… filled with fathomless rage…