Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The Thunder Titan froze, speechless. Xi Wei and the others dared not move. Anyone who could tear apart a Legendary-grade Ghost Dragon must be at least Demigod level, right? Moreover, the sheer size of this Titan was terrifying. Its blue-green face was as large as a Ghost Dragon. If it stomped on Emerald Fortress, half of it would likely be gone. It was strange that, even now, no one had discovered where the Thunder Titan’s legs were planted.
After a moment, the Thunder Titan seemed to accept the fact that the Ghost Dragon it acquired had flown away. With indignant fury, he crushed a remaining piece of Angus’s skull. Then, its two sun-like eyes fixed on Xi Wei. It lowered its body, and a strong wind swept across the battlefield, pushing the clouds aside. People saw the Thunder Titan’s thick neck and muscular chest. Its pectoral muscles alone resembled two great mountains, with crevices between them like canyons between hills. Golden lightning crackled around the edges of its muscles. The sun, which had just shown its face, was obscured by the colossal figure, and darkness fell once more.
Xi Wei met the “two suns” gaze without fear, though his palms were already sweating. Beside him, the Silly Dragon, Connie, was comfortable. She had been knocked unconscious and had not woken up. Now, she lay there completely asleep, a crystalline bubble of snot rising and falling with her breaths on her snout.
“Human King!” the Thunder Titan spoke first. Xi Wei felt thunder roar in his ears. The giant’s mouth was like a massive black hole, and a gale-force wind poured out. Fortunately, the Thunder Titan did not have halitosis; otherwise, Xi Wei thought he would have been suffocated.
“You have the Phoenix’s Daughter by your side. Protect her well, and she will bring you good luck.” The Thunder Titan fell silent, saying no more. It seemed he understood that his words alone were destructive to the surroundings. Xi Wei barely made out what the Titan had said. The Phoenix likely referred to the legendary creature unique to the Cain Continent – the Thunder Cloud Phoenix. This was a mythical creature, far nobler than even a Giant Dragon. It was said that Thunder Cloud Phoenixes resided year-round on the Thunder Cloud Peaks in the Northern Territory, a place closer to the heavens than even the Titans’ dwelling. The Thunder Cloud Phoenixes and the Titans had always enjoyed a good relationship.
The Phoenix’s Daughter was by his side; there was no need to think hard to know it was Bai Yao. At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through Xi Wei’s mind. Clearing his throat, he shouted to the Thunder Titan, “Why don’t you stay to protect her? I wish to entrust her to one of my Champion Knights. Surely, your kind, the Titans, could better protect the Phoenix’s bloodline!”
“The Titan God Race does not concern itself with worldly affairs,” came a roar like muffled thunder from the sky. The blue-green face ascended higher and higher until it was hidden within the thunderclouds. Only its sun-like eyes remained clearly visible, even through the obscuring mist.
“Then why did you help me drive away the Ghost Dragon?” Xi Wei was unwilling to give up. If he could pull the Thunder Titan onto his side, who in the North Continent could stand against him?
“Two reasons. First, my Titan God Race and the Giant Dragons have been mortal enemies for generations. Second, this damnable wretch desecrated the remains of my Titan God Race. It was courting death…”
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“Farewell, interesting Human King.” The Thunder Titan was not inclined to linger. Those sun-like eyes abruptly vanished from the clouds, and the sky gradually brightened. However, to Xi Wei’s unbelievable astonishment, the two large mountains in the distance of Emerald Fortress also vanished without a trace.
“So, there were no mountains north of Emerald Fortress before?” Xi Wei stared blankly at the suddenly open vista before Emerald Fortress, muttering to himself. These two mountains had been there since he returned to Emerald Fortress. He had wondered why there were no mountains there when he went to the Emerald Forest to find the Elven Empress. Now he understood. He hadn’t misremembered; those two mountains were the Thunder Titan’s legs. Who knew how long this giant had been squatting there, probably gnawing on melon seeds for days…
The sunlight finally fell completely upon Emerald Fortress. As the sun rose, the entire sky was dyed blood red. On the gravel beach before the city gate, the sharp blades of swords reflected the bloody light of the sunrise, turning even the surrounding grass into a crimson hue. The Undead were weakened by the sunlight, their movements becoming sluggish. Even an ordinary adult could easily kill them. When the last Undead fell beneath the sword of a warrior, he raised his chipped longsword, tears welling in his eyes. His dry, chapped lips parted in a hoarse roar, “We won!” Cheers erupted like a tsunami, like mountains collapsing. The battle for Emerald Fortress was finally over. On the battlefield, besides the garrison of Emerald Fortress, only the corpses of soldiers and blood-soaked armor and weapons remained.
Xi Wei woke Connie. The Pink Dragon had transformed into a girl’s form and, like a child who had made a mistake, lowered her head and followed him closely. Loli, riding a Unicorn, caught up. She was to return to the fortress with Xi Wei, as many wounded soldiers needed her healing. Clemon, leading a group of Knights and soldiers, advanced slowly toward the city gate. Their warhorses had been so frightened by the Ghost Dragons that they refused to move and had to be dragged along. Exhaustion prevented them from feeling the joy of victory or the sorrow of their comrades’ deaths. But they were undoubtedly fortunate. The lightning spears thrown by the Thunder Titan had saved their lives. However, just as there were those fortunate in war, there were also the unfortunate. Many soldiers were severely wounded, and even more would never return to their homeland.
Darth Veid had three ribs broken, and the warhorse of the Skeletal Knight had nearly trampled him to death; Bart had survived the charge of the Heavy Skeletal Cavalry Legion, but this bearded Northerner was later torn in half by a Troll in a one-on-one battle; Macan, avenging his brother, died with his body pierced by bone arrows, his eyes glaring, a silent roar emanating from his gaping mouth; Hofths, that Champion Knight, had been confusedly controlled by the Ghost Dragon and ultimately died confusedly under Bai Yao’s lightning spear… Countless soldiers died in the battle for Emerald Fortress. Some were from Medon, some from Karari, and many Crusaders from Winter City were buried here, their names forgotten. Bards would struggle to capture the horror of this battle. Many years later, when the King of Winter visited Emerald Fortress again to hand over command to the Elven Empress, he stood on this foremost bastion of the North Continent, gazing at the blood-red sunset, recalling the heroic stories, and penned the following poem:
“Northwest sighs, bugles resound, swords flash, battle souls soar. Dark clouds weep blood, eighty miles of city wall, chilling north wind howls; battle songs rise, drums roar like thunder, blades and shadows dance, blood stains the battleground. Evil spirits subdued, even kings bow their heads, heroes cannot be forgotten.”
