Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Wigon Ruins (3)
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Arsen led Bazkal and Anun toward the plaza where steel giants stood tall.
“Hoo…”
A deep breath escaped Bazkal, as if he were trying to shake off his tension.
Beside him, Anun was reciting a prayer offering victory to the God of War.
They had said they would just confirm if the giants moved and then retreat, but was it okay to recite something like that? The thought crossed Arsen’s mind briefly, but he had no desire to question it in this situation, so he ignored it.
‘Wide open…’
Arsen murmured to himself as he surveyed the plaza.
They said that in the past, a thousand knights had gathered to conquer these ruins.
It wasn’t just a tall tale—the plaza was vast enough to accommodate that many knights maneuvering freely. It could probably fit several soccer fields inside.
Even giants over 3 meters tall didn’t look all that imposing in here.
Directly ahead, fourteen giants stood spaced well apart from one another.
Up front, six on each side wore gray outer armor—standard steel giants. Behind them, two clad in dark red outer armor were the enhanced ones.
The power and speed of those enhanced giants were beyond comprehension; even Clen could only handle one or two at most, or so the tales went.
Lasur had devoted his life to conquering these ruins, so his words carried undeniable credibility.
Arsen didn’t overestimate his own abilities.
He had improved a bit since his last spar, but objectively, his skills were far below Clen’s.
That meant if Arsen faced two or more enhanced giants, he’d have to risk his life.
As the three knights advanced in a line between the giants, the warnings began just as before.
-Warning: This sector is restricted to pass holders or—
The same alert that had driven them back earlier repeated.
Arsen ignored it and kept walking.
Bazkal and Anun, tense as bowstrings, followed close behind.
By the time they cautiously reached the first cluster of giants, Bazkal spoke up.
“Seems fine… No reaction at all…”
-Notification: This facility has no non-lethal settings for humans. If you are not a combat puppet test subject, please refrain from entry.-
A mechanical whine echoed as red glows flashed from every giant’s eyes.
Just lights from their eyes, yet accompanied by an eerie sound—or perhaps that synchronized menace—the three knights felt the threat and froze in place.
Silence hung for a moment.
After seconds—or what felt like it—with no further action, someone let out a sigh.
That broke the stillness, and the ruins issued its verdict.
One only Arsen could hear.
-Commencing trial.-
“Everyone, back!”
With Arsen’s shout, the three knights spun and bolted—far faster than their approach.
Toward the distant door to the descending elevator sector.
Mid-sprint, Bazkal glanced left and right and screamed.
“They’re coming!”
Gears ground and metal groaned as the giants activated. The ancient monstrosities that had once buried over a thousand knights in these ruins.
All fourteen charged to crush the three knights.
* * *
“God of War!”
Praying aloud, Anun swiftly ducked.
The giant’s kick grazed past, cooling his face instead of decapitating him.
No time to relax at the sight—a pair of giants swung fists at Arsen, who had been watching.
Arsen raised the shield on his left arm and hurled his body opposite the incoming blows.
Fist met shield with a crash, launching Arsen’s body skyward.
‘What the…’
The giants’ combat prowess exceeded his expectations.
They looked like clunky scrap robots, yet moved with fluid human grace.
And with their material? No need to mention strength or durability.
If someone saw fourteen giants chasing three knights, they’d liken it to humans hunting cats.
Not a welcome analogy for the knights playing feline.
“Uwaaahaha!”
Bazkal’s laugh—or scream?—drew Arsen’s glance. He had slashed off one giant’s leg with his greatsword.
Pleased with his counterattack, perhaps. But too soon to celebrate.
Despite their heavy footfalls, another giant closed in on Bazkal at startling speed.
Arsen yelled.
“Bazkal! Right side!”
Hearing the urgency, Bazkal finally looked.
The approaching giant mimicked kicking a soccer ball—straight at him.
Awakening to the danger, Bazkal commanded his Jin to leap sideways, dodging the kick.
Identical to the playful hops he’d done with Anun fresh from the city.
“Whoa!”
Anun cheered like he was at an extreme sports event.
No chance to respond—crisis hit Arsen again.
Three giants encircled and closed in.
First, one from behind raised a rounded fist to smash down.
Dark red armor marked it enhanced; its movements were far nimbler than standard.
Even Arsen’s exceptional reflexes struggled to react.
“Urk!”
Arsen commanded his Jin to bend its knees, lowering his body while crouching forward himself.
No helm could block the sensation, but he knew that heavy fist had whistled past his helmet.
No reprieve—two more giants attacked with fists and feet. Having grasped their patterns, evasion wasn’t hard.
Arsen charged the kicking giant, twisted his body low, and slid on his Jin.
Classic soccer kick whiffed; the raised leg exposed a gap. Arsen’s momentum carried him sliding through.
‘Made it!’
Joy at breaking the encirclement was short-lived. One final hurdle.
Two giants stood side by side, staring him down.
“Damn.”
Bazkal and Anun were out of sight—likely escaped to safety.
These two, having lost their original prey, targeted him instead.
Thudding steps as they advanced; the rear giants pursued, unwilling to let the last morsel flee.
No time to hesitate.
Arsen drew a deep breath, maxing his reflexes.
Then edged left.
‘Here it comes!’
Predictably, the giant swung its fist in the same pattern.
Anticipated and with his specialty engaged, Arsen timed it perfectly—leaping to its arm.
Landing atop, he springboarded again.
Simultaneously, the giant lifted its arm to shake him off.
Unintended aid; it boosted his leap.
Arsen soared over 5 meters, clearing the giant in a flash.
“Ooh!”
Cheers erupted from the group by the elevator.
Then Eloise’s voice screamed through his earring.
[Behind you!]
Arsen whipped around. The other giant charged his landing spot.
Slower reflexes than expected—it hadn’t backpedaled.
Regrettably, his Jin couldn’t fly.
Midair option: one—spring off the Jin.
But that would doom the Jin to the giant’s strike.
As Arsen gritted his teeth to decide, a knight speared the charging giant’s chest.
Anun.
“Thanks!”
The running thrust’s momentum staggered it.
Arsen landed safely, thanked him, and swung his wind axe at its head.
The invisible blade didn’t sever it but rocked the head violently.
“Quick, the spear!”
As ordered, Anun yanked it free in the opening.
No time to finish—more giants approached from behind.
The two knights sprinted for the exit.
Finally, they reached the elevator room.
“You’re back!”
“Good work, Captain!”
Waving acknowledgment amid cheers, Arsen glanced behind.
His pursuers halted at the threshold, staring—as if ordered not to cross.
Watching briefly, Arsen removed his helmet and shook off sweat.
His overheated, sweat-soaked face cooled in the fresh air.
“You okay? Any injuries?”
Eloise asked worriedly. Arsen nodded faintly.
“For now.”
He swallowed his unease and eyed the giants reverting to standby, announcing, ‘Trial complete. Halting operations.’
Not reassuring in the slightest.
Bazkal and Anun had drawn enough attention to let him escape unscathed. Alone? He might’ve died.
If bypassing them worked, great—but the sages had proven the far door stayed sealed without destroying all giants.
No shortcuts anymore.
* * *
Gathering everyone, Arsen described the giants’ abilities and traits from firsthand experience.
Then they debated strategy.
First topic: soldier enhancements.
Arsen summoned Jisharan.
“Jisharan, that enhancement herb from last time—can you make it last longer, even if weaker?”
During the last ruins delve three days ago, bandits ambushed; soldiers fought beyond their limits.
Thanks to Jisharan’s pre-made stimulants—blends of magical herbs from the Darkwood Forest.
Minimal boost for knights, but soldiers gained massive temporary physical surges.
Downside: faster stamina drain.
Dropping after ten-odd minutes of fight wouldn’t do.
“Possible. Everyone—soldiers here, mages too. Line up.”
Jisharan had them queue, holding their stimulants, then dabbed yellow liquid from a herb pouch onto each.
“Rub it in well to absorb.”
Her experience ruling the village in her mother’s stead shone; she handled the soldiers adeptly.
Bazkal assisted quietly.
Processing done, Jisharan whispered to Arsen.
“No massive gains. Stamina lasts thirty minutes to an hour.”
“That’s plenty.”
Satisfied, Arsen banged his shield on his Jin.
“Thirty minutes: full assault. First, combat tactics.”
* * *
Thump, thump.
A loud heartbeat reached his ears.
Arsen realized it was his own—inner tension—and sighed softly, unheard.
Deep breaths calmed the pounding.
‘Still got a ways to go.’
He’d survived near-death fights aplenty, yet pre-battle nerves persisted.
As a kid, he’d believed endless fights would forge a reversal hero, tension-free before battle.
Lack of fights? Or innate flaw?
No time for rumination. Arsen moved his Jin and commanded.
“Approach.”
At his order, the group advanced slowly.
Javelins first? Pointless.
Giants had special force fields weakening incoming projectiles to harmlessness.
“Everyone, prepare.”
Nearing, the ruins repeated its warning to Arsen.
Ignored, they pressed on.
As battle loomed, the ruins declared.
-Enemy count confirmed: Hu…man 1, combat puppets 3, puppet variants 22. Requesting reinforcements.-
With that, gray liquid oozed from the ground.
It surged upward, forming giant shapes in seconds.
They knew what this was.
Ruins tallied foes; if outnumbered, it spawned more giants.
Hence, brute-forcing with numbers failed here.
Too few: overwhelmed by base giants.
Too many: swamped by endless reinforcements.
The ‘sweet spot’ to break the dilemma? Lasur said ten to thirty.
Arsen’s group fit perfectly.
“Attack!”
Arsen’s cry unleashed the giants too—their grinding roars heralding the charge.