Chapter 636
Giant King ElNino
“What!”
“How could—”
Origen was not the only one astonished by this sight, having a deep understanding of giants. Everyone knew that the Skinless One legion represented the giants’ highest combat power. The Skinless One was already a terrifying advanced profession, and it became even more formidable when wielded by giants. They possessed extreme magic resistance, making most spells below the Fourth Tier completely ineffective. Spells of the Fourth and Fifth Tiers were too slow to hit them, and even if they did, they would hardly deal significant damage. Moreover, Skinless Ones had the highest life force among all professions, boasting a terrifying regenerative speed.
As a consequence of this magical resistance, Skinless Ones were unable to cast spells, use potions, employ martial skills, or equip armor and weapons. However, these drawbacks were insignificant for giants. As for non-magical damage… what kind of non-magical damage could possibly harm a group of giants, each standing over ten meters tall and all trained in the Path of Power? Even if an attack could penetrate their defenses, mortal swords and blades would still fail to reach their bones. Such shallow wounds could heal within moments, with the pain and damage being insufficient to impede their actions. Instead, the clear sensation of pain would only enrage them further. Unless they could be killed in one fell swoop, Skinless Ones would only grow stronger with each fight.
—When such terrifying units are amassed into an army, it becomes an impossible situation to either fight or not fight. One Skinless One is a vastly different concept from a group of them. Once the number of Skinless Ones reaches a certain threshold, it becomes difficult to pinpoint and kill an individual amidst the interference and protection of others. However, if even a single Skinless One remains alive, it can immediately unleash the terrifying power of ten, and it will recover to full health if left unharmed for a period.
Because of this, even the Church was reluctant to provoke the giants of Avalon. The Church excelled at protracted attrition warfare, relying on healing and enhancement abilities to maximize logistics. They also invoked prayers to the gods of the Dream Realm for intervention, and secondly, they relied on top-tier casters, cultivated through their long lifespans and complete inheritance systems, who could adapt to various environments. Giants perfectly countered every aspect of the Church’s strengths. As long as the giants remained within Avalon, rarely venturing out, even the Church could only watch as they caused mayhem. They dared not gamble on the unpredictable disaster that might ensue if the giants rampaged outside, nor were they sure if the elves could suppress the giants if the Church and the Giant Kingdom were to suffer mutual heavy losses. Giants, lacking a political structure, had a far greater advantage in individual combat than elves. Consequently, the giants never feared interference from the elves.
—But this complacency was about to end today. Helchin had just demonstrated what it meant to “kill in one fell swoop!”
The Giant Priests watching from afar wore expressions of disbelief. “Even the Skinless Ones cannot defeat him…”
“That’s Helchin, the White Knight of the elves.”
“No, that’s clearly an Undead being?”
“He defeated the Skinless Ones without even needing a dragon…”
“—The second one! The second one!”
As the priests were in shock, they witnessed Helchin transform into an arc of lightning, charging far into the distance before surging back, piercing through the heads of the second Skinless One! The Skinless Ones, capable of single-handedly destroying a human minor kingdom, were as fragile as newborns before Helchin, who had transformed into an Undead. They couldn’t even fight back—Helchin’s speed was simply too great! He darted across the battlefield like a streak of lightning. If they couldn’t find a way to stop Helchin, these elite Skinless Ones would be picked off one by one, and they would be utterly helpless.
“Quick, send another wave!”
“Recall the Skinless Ones first! We can’t afford further losses!”
“Send someone to invite the Patriarch, we need the Scar Branch! Invite our Guardian!”
“Only killing intent can catch up to lightning!”
“Great Supreme Heaven, look upon your people…”
The priests descended into chaos. The giants had grown accustomed to bullying weaker enemies; they had never been so wantonly slaughtered by a Sixth Tier Extraordinary. Logically, shouldn’t higher-tier Extraordinary beings cherish their lives more? By doing this, weren’t they afraid of Supreme Heaven obliterating their souls?!
The Giant Priests, clutching their holy staffs, gathered together but couldn’t reach a consensus. In their hands were the holy artifacts unique to Giant Priests—metal rods adorned with steel nails, the number of which represented the number of powerful enemies they had defeated. —They could also be directly called maces. While both were blunt weapons, unlike hammers, they lacked any utilitarian purpose. These were weapons solely designed to take lives, existing purely for combat. They required immense strength to wield, and merely holding them was enough to instill fear. Sharp weapons like daggers and swords, which emerged with civilization and technology, would bend and shatter before absolute barbarism. —The holy staff was a manifestation of the Path of Power. If a giant disrespected Supreme Heaven, the priests, or the King’s decree, they would be punished by the Giant Priests with their holy staffs. This was the sole form of punishment in the Giant Kingdom. Indeed, the Giant Kingdom had no prisons, no death penalty, and no fines—such things were too advanced, too civilized. The giants’ only punishment was to be beaten and have their bones crushed by Giant Priests of varying levels. Higher-ranking priests could crush bones closer to the skull. The lowest-ranking priests were the “shinbone” level, capable of breaking a tibia, which was the lowest form of punishment. The Patriarch of Supreme Heaven was the only “skull” level priest, permitted to crush any giant’s skull. Even the Giant King did not possess the authority to execute other giants—this was perhaps the only advanced aspect of the Giant Kingdom. After all, all giants were descendants of Supreme Heaven with varying degrees of kinship; they were, in a sense, one family—but the head of the family was not the Giant King, but Supreme Heaven himself.
However, even with such punishments, it was merely the level of beating one’s skull to death. For the great bloodline of Supreme Heaven, if such an injury proved fatal, it was one’s own fault—one was too weak. Flowing with Supreme Heaven’s divine blood, yet unable to withstand a mere fatal wound. When war erupted, these priests would stand behind the front lines with their holy staffs—just as they were now. If any front-line giants disobeyed orders or attempted to flee, they would be surrounded and executed by the priests on the spot. And there were not a few of these executed giants, for giants were selfish, and few unselfish ones became priests. Unless forced, almost no giant was willing to fight for the Giant Kingdom. If the battle went unfavorably, or too smoothly, they would also find time to bestow blessings on the warriors, performing their duties as back-line clergy.
To ensure that those being punished died and did not burden logistics in a crippled state, this entire line of priests consisted of those at the “rib cage,” “spine,” or higher levels. Out of respect for Helchin this time, three “neckbone” level Giant Priests had even been sent—equivalent to Cardinals in the Church’s hierarchy. These three, upon hearing other priests suggest inviting the Patriarch, looked extremely grim. While other priests might not know, these three did… the Patriarch no longer possessed the Scar Branch. The Guardian of this generation was the Giant King himself.
“—Don’t be afraid, I am already here.”
Just then, a deep voice echoed. The Giant Priests parted in surprise, revealing a giant clad in deep crimson armor, holding a radiant, curved blade, stepping forward from behind. This weapon burned incessantly, emitting a light brighter than the sun. It was the avatar of Supreme Heaven’s “Supreme” will, the Scar Branch Levantine! And the one wielding this Divine Artifact was not the Patriarch they expected, but their King—ElNino Arctos! ElNino was covered in soft, deep crimson fur, obscuring every inch of exposed skin. The bear-like fur emerged from the gaps in his armor, resembling weeds growing on ancient, exposed metal armor.
“I will protect everyone—in the name of the new Grand Guardian.” ElNino said clearly.
(End of Chapter)
