There was a giant's mighty arm that made even the world scream.

　The canopy that covered the sky collapsed, and even the wind that caressed the air was torn apart by the force of it. The mallet, which seemed to have more than enough power to break the mountain range, was swung down in the other world.

　Its target is only one person. Compared to the mallet, the body of a man seemed to be no bigger than a grain of sand, but the full force of the Titan, the founder, was falling on him.

　It was truly a swing of all his might. Even if it is only an illusion, if a human body is struck down, its existence will disappear.

　Not shattered, not snapped. Not a drop of flesh, bone, or blood will be left. No magic, no tricks, just an overwhelming primal majesty.

　In front of it, the gold in the shape of a man said, with his head of hair fluttering.

If the original mallet was real, it would be an illusion. Isn't that a bit reckless? King of the Giants, the Great Demon Flimsurat.

　The flesh of a man makes a sound as his lips twist. There was no atmosphere or will of Alueno, the owner of the body, but only the figure of a divine spirit with a piercing light.

　I could almost see its true shadow. The outline imprinted in the soul emerges on the surface, as if inspired by the majesty of the giant.

　It is no longer a person, though it has the shape of one. It was just an intense, bare demonic nature itself.

　The giant does not respond to the demonic voice. It doesn't respond in any way. It just howled with immense hostility towards its opponent.

　--Whoa-ohh--!

　As if it were echoing high in the sky and down to the depths of the earth. While swinging the mallet.


　◇◆◆


　When Caria's silver eyes licked the altar of the Great Temple, there was seemingly nothing there. It was dim and the future was as unclear as a cloud. There was no sound, no voice, not even a hint of human presence.

　Normally, I should have left this place as soon as possible and gone elsewhere to find the person I was looking for. With that man, you never know what he might do while you're not looking.

　But today was different. Kalia could feel the blood all over her body, and it was a very strange feeling.

　It was as if the blood was biting her from the inside, as if it was going to overflow her whole body, a feeling that was indescribable. Her skin was on fire and her breath was ragged.

　I've never been in such a state before. It's as if the blood that flows through my body is running rampant.

　And that blood is speaking. That man, Lugis, lies ahead. In the darkness.

　I had an unpleasant premonition. Kalia's heart thumped harder. The sweat that licked her cheeks was strangely hot. The blood still pointed to a dark place. And yet, something was visible.

　Kalia's eyes widened, as if she were looking at the bottom of a silent sea. The silver glinted with a shiver.

　There he was, indeed. His green uniform was stained with black blood, and a white blade sprouted from his own flesh.

　Reflexively, his breathing stopped. For a moment, Kalia didn't even know what she was supposed to do.

　Her fingertips wavered as if lost, and her feet staggered. Her skull went blank, and all thought of noble things disappeared.

　I have a bad feeling. Unpleasant imaginations are clinging to the inside of my head.

　Shaking them all off, Kalia ran to the body lying there. When she touches her cheek, it is so cold that it could be mistaken for ice.

　It's not simply cold. It's just that the heat that should be in a living being has been eradicated. Spit naturally licked at Kalia's throat.

　I was sure of it. Lugis would die soon. No, even his soul might be gone.

　There was no time to lose. So there was no doubt in Kalia's mind.

　--Without the slightest hesitation, she took her silver sword and gouged out the wound on her shoulder once more. Blood splashed out like a gusher.

　From the outside, the scene seemed insane. Even Kalia herself couldn't say that it was an act of sanity.

　The pain was so intense that her eyes flickered, and a tremendous amount of blood rushed out of her body as if she had a will of her own. At some point, they overflowed his shoulders and flowed into Kalia's fingers.

　With a hand that could be called polite, Kalia opened Lugis' lips. The blood ran down her hand and poured directly into Rougis' mouth.

　Kalia wasn't absolutely sure of anything. She only had an unspoken premonition.

　Blood mating. The blood she had once put in Lugis' mouth. It still resides in Lugis' body.

　And only that blood is pulsing with heat in this cold body, as if responding to me. Perhaps it was your blood that led you here.



　If so, he might be able to share the heat with Lugis using his own blood. Such a ridiculous delusion was enough reason for Kalia to injure herself.

　Besides... There's nothing else I can do anyway.

　She could only wield a sword, so if there was anything she could bet on, she would bet on it. Kalia's cheeks relaxed as she forgot about the pain going through her body. She spoke to Lugis and said.

"If not, I will die with you. Don't worry, Rougis.

　It was as if he was talking to Rougis, and also to himself. It's not like I'm expecting any words back.

　But there were words in response. A distinctive voice that tickled the back of my ears echoed in the sanctuary.

"I hate you. Where's your battlefield bravado, boy? Giving up is just something those who find it inconvenient when we do.

　Her blue eyes and the same color of her hair appeared in the darkness. The Queen of the Elves, Erdis, said this in a light tone, as if she were imitating Lugis.

　However, her complexion did not match her tone. Her skin was pale, and her originally white cheeks looked even whiter and more translucent than before. Her expression was stiff, and she did not look safe.

　Erdis bends down close to her, looks at the blood dripping from Kalia's hand, and says. She could see her eyes narrowing.

"- Ancestry. It's rare for it to happen in a giant's bloodline. It's rare for it to occur in giant blood, but it should work well with elven necromancy.

　That's what elves are made of," Elddis said with a hint of self-mockery.

　Then, without any hesitation, Elddis ran her hands over Lugis' body and activated the cause and effect of the spirit art.

　A throbbing formula crawled all over her body and caressed Elddis' skin. It was a solidified formula, a manifested curse. It flowed slowly across her skin and into Lugis' body as if it were transferring.

　It could even be called an origin curse. It was born because the spirit's beloved son offered the curse not to all humans, but to a single individual.

　Oh, how I love you. Oh, I hate it. So let's curse it. That's why I'm going to bind it. While devouring these emotions, the mud-like formula runs through Elddis's body.

　Elddis thinks. Lugis's body is now losing its heat, and so is his soul. With the giant's blood that Caria possesses, she will be able to give heat to his body.

　But not the soul. The soul, once detached from the body, does not leave the hands of the Reaper so easily. Only a god or a demon would be able to pull it out.

　Erdis is neither a god nor a demon. There's no way she can keep a soul in her hands and control it. The best she can do is bind them with a curse.

　Yes, then bind and confine them.

　Lugis is still clothed in the spirit gear that Elddis put all her heart and soul into. It's as if she's wearing the spirit art, or in other words, the spell of Elddis. The body that has been bitten by the spell has accepted the spell as it is.

　Therefore, it is easy to bind the soul of Lugis in the prison of the body with a new technique. All you have to do is sew up his body with the curse. Just let the curse run through the body of Lugis itself as well as the blood.

　Erdis poured his talent into his own technique without any consideration for his own body that was losing blood. There is no room for slackness or error. If he did, Lugis's soul would probably be lost intact.

　Erdis smiled, his cheeks lifting. We can't do that.

　After all, we've exchanged vows. Then you have a duty to fulfill it, even if it means sacrificing a little of your body. Elddis remembered in her mind the words of Lugis that she had once heard.

　Lugis had said that he would not let Elddis go. That's why Elddis also swore to Rougis.

　--I won't let you go. Even to the death.