About two hundred paladins on horseback stopped at the periphery of the forest, staring at the vast plain surrounding a tall lone mountain with giant barbarian men clothed in beast skins with unruly hair, loitering about.
Carcasses of different large beasts could be found here and there, making the place more like a den of giant predators.
These carcasses were the end results of their prey!
The 7 foot tall barbarians were the shortest and weakest of them all as the paladins could see some barbarians were about 9 foot tall!
And there were quite a lot of them!
As the Duke’s guards, soldiers of the highest order were about 6 ‘0″ and sat on horses that were about 17 hands tall, were an overall of 7 feet tall.
This was while seated on their mounts.
For the first time the paladins felt apprehensive of their lord going alone.
Although Nero was with him, they still didn’t feel at peace.
“My lord, is it safe to leave the paladins behind?”
Nero whispered while looking at the barbarians that had their focus on them. It was off-putting to have such large men stare at you expressionlessly.
These were the true Dothanites. The ones they fought were just a bit over 7 foot and it wasn’t too odd because of the Grand Aegis Heavy Infantrymen there were 9 foot men here!
What’s worse, they had quite a substantial amount of muscle mass on their massive skeletal structure.
These were buff giants!
If these were half giants whose bloodline had been diluted over the centuries, how tall were the pure giants?!
“Dothanites! We come in peace!” Asher lifted up his hands as Bezerk kept walking.
Some Dothanites picked up large bone clubs, some wooden clubs that were as big as a human while some, those with actual weapons, remained passive.
“Peace?!”
A voice reverberated from the sky causing Asher and Nero to lift their heads. They saw a figure fall from the mountain and land so heavily that they felt the tremors.
Another landed behind the first.
The first wore a helmet with towering wings on both sides with metal plates protecting his right arm. His thick beards caressed his bare chiseled chest.
Standing at an impressive height of 12 feet, he was no doubt the most fearsome amongst the giants.
Behind him stood a remarkable giant. His blonde hair packed into a ponytail, his eyes sharp yet strangely calm and his skin shone with bronze light.
One of his arms, his right specifically, was made entirely out of metal that mimicked an actual arm!
The veins, contours and everything an actual arm had, this metal arm had!
It had a silver luster, one that was much brighter than that of his body.
A steel titan!
That was the name that came to Asher’s mind when he saw the second giant. Although his force wasn’t as intimidating as the first, he was simply remarkable.
“To step into the sacred land of Dothan demanding peace is the wildest thing a human has ever done. I commend your courage, lad. Now… What is your name?”
Teman Seir, chief of Dothan pointed his Warhammer, made entirely out of a strange ore exuding soft blue luster at Asher.
“I am Duke Asher Ashbourne, lord of paradise, known as Achilles in these parts. I am here to set up a trade. In your land is something I want and I can exchange it for something of your desire.”
Asher went straight to the point. These barbarians didn’t understand the flattering or weaseling of noble politics neither do they know how to entertain their guests so he wasn’t going to waste his time.
On the bright side, they don’t also poison your food while smiling at you.
“Achilles. You are the one who killed my sister, Zilphah.” Teman’s voice grew deep.
Nero’s expression changed and he secretly reached out for his sword.
“It was a full blown war. Your men also killed my men and yet, here I stand.”
“Indeed… here you stand.” Teman growled. His darkened face contrasted to Asher’s plain, calm one.
“You killed one of the last pure descendants of the royal giants and you stand here to mock us?!”
Teman roared.
Other giants, incited by his words, lifted up their weapons, taking menacing steps toward Asher and Nero.
“I come in peace, I repeat once more. A fair trade. I shall have your strange ore and you shall have proper food and clothing from us. At least, your people won’t die this winter.”
Teman lifted up his hand. His men stopped and retreated.
“If I propose the same yet I had slain your sister, what would you do?!”
Nero looked at Asher.
Asher sighed. “Act no differently than you. But I want you to act better than I would, for a battle between us will surely take a life.”
That will deepen the grudge.”
Teman placed his Warhammer over his shoulder. “Hahaha. You think you can kill me? A little human like you? Come then, let there be a duel between us. I represent Dothan as it’s Champion.”
“Ooo!”
Other barbarians roared, their voices scarring birds from their resting place.
As Bezerk took a few steps forward, Asher unsheathed Euodias. “I shall be the champion of paradise.”
“My Lord!”
Asher turned toward the worried Nero, smiled and turned back.
A circular field was created for them as everyone moved back.
“You are one stone hearted human but for the death of my sister, I shall feed your corpse to the birds of the air and drink from your skull!”
“Ooo!”
The barbarians roared in excitement.
Asher gently twirled his sword, his golden eyes, like two suns glowing with a dangerous intensity.
Thud! Thud!
The earth shook as Teman raced toward him. Asher kicked Bezerk causing it to dash toward the incoming half giant.
Teman swung his Warhammer downward from his right, aiming to slam Asher like a ball.
Seeing this, Asher veered Bezerk toward the other side, causing them to narrowly evade the hammer.
In that moment, he broke into Teman’s inner space. He quickly slashed Teman’s knee, cleanly cutting through his flesh!
Teman swung his hammer backwards. The wind alone tumbled Asher and Bezerk!
“Kill!”
The barbarians roared while Nero’s expression changed.
By the time Teman turned, Asher had already raised one foot. A gleam flashed through his eyes and he slammed the foot into the ground.
Empyrean Sigil Stomp!
Boom!
A 30 meters radius had a seething hot emblem carved into the earth and in the centre of it all was Teman.
He was right where the wolf head was carved and thus, was severed into several pieces, leaving his Warhammer bloodied!
Luckily, while he waited for Teman, Bezerk left the vicinity.
There was strange stillness in the air as the Dothanites, feared for their strength and combat prowess stared wide eyed at their chief.
A man who has never lost a battle.
Defeated after two strikes!