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An enormous demon giant walked across the battlefield. These creatures were evolutions of Imps who branched from them as they decided to invest their power into size and raw power, sacrificing their cognitive abilities and become virtually very stupid.
However, when they were so big and strong, intelligence was often not necessary, especially as these enormous giants, who could reach heights to up to fifteen meters were led by various smaller Imps being carried on their backs, who often also brought long-ranged weapons such as bows and even threw stones to shot down foes from afar.
These giants, named as Trolls by the army, were a great threat and annoyance at the same time. Although over half their numbers died in the massive pitfalls they created, there were still around seven of them roaming around, attacking the frontlines with their enormous legs and fists, and shooting down people from afar with the Imps climbing over their backs.
“GRUOOOH!”
One of the Demon Giants noticed Joan and his group marching forward, led by the Imps it carried, it quickly moved towards the direction of the warriors that were in the brink of death. The enormous creature moved at a rapid speed despite its gigantic size, using its bare feet to crush the floor below and throw away several armored knights, who began to fall like flies over the ground, ceaselessly.
CLAAAASH!
The shockwave generated by its footsteps, shook the entire battlefield, as Joan and his allies gritted their teeth before the mighty giant, not even the Giant Wild Boars were as big as these terrifying monsters, and there were no spirits that could easily deal with such creatures. Ninety percent of the population had spirits that couldn’t even beat a monster by themselves. Most of the world of Spiritias, or at least the common population within this area of these lands, often used their spirits to complement their fighting strength, not let them do everything in battle. Therefore, it was extremely rare for spirits such as Eleanora or the Doll House from Blake and Erika respectively to emerge, spirits completely capable of fighting on their own, and exceeding in strength, sometimes being stronger and more capable than their masters.
Joan had a small rat capable of digging and shaping dirt, and had zero offensive capabilities aside from very well prepared pitfall traps underground, alone, it couldn’t had the strength to make them in enough time to dig the grave of that Giant Demon rushing towards Joan and company.
“Joan, the Giant Demon is coming, let’s run around to evade it like we have been doing with the others!” A young knight holding a strange shield in the shape of a snail’s shell, which was actually his spirit, ran towards Joan, it was knight Lukas, who had been covering Joan’s back this entire time.
“Lukas… No, I cannot run anymore. My legs are too weakened, and I feel like my bones are about to fail me now….” Muttered Joan, barely keeping himself standing by putting his weight over his spear and slaying smaller Imps that thought he was too weak to fight back rather leisurely…
“What? Then I shall carry you!” Said Lukas. “We can’t possibly lose someone as strong as you! You’ve taken almost a hundred yourself! J-Just how strong can you be, sir?”
“I am no sir… I am just a father. I’ve lost a lot to these damn demons… I am staying here, and I’ll keep slaying them until I drop dead.” Said Joan while breathing heavily, his heart was beating rapidly as he took out a small flask with a red liquid inside, a health potion, which he drank in an instant, feeling a bit of his vitality and stamina being recovered, while his bones and muscles didn’t ached as much now. “That thing… I’m taking it down.”
“W-What?! The Giant Demon? Without proper preparation that’s impossible…” Said Lukas. “Sir please snap out of it!”
“Shut your mouth.” Said Joan rather roughly. “I appreciate yer help, knight. But… I am not someone that escapes danger when its right in front of me, all while those I ma trying to protect ar behind me…” Said Joan, as Lukas’ eyes opened wide.
“The role of a father is to put himself in front of his family when danger ensues… I am not running away… I am staying, and I’ll keep the demons at bay until my entire body is torn to pieces.”
Lukas’ heart was inspired by the incredible will of Joan. Somehow, he reminded him of a boy he once met, the masked boy that saved him from the demons. Someone that spoke sharply and precisely yet had an incredible heart. A man without many words, that simply showed through actions how big his will was.
The young knight looked into his sword and his shield, his spirit, the snail that had been accompanying him through his entire life… He couldn’t disappoint him after he almost died back then, he wanted to bring glory to his family and his spirit friend.
“Then I am staying with you, sir.” Lukas said, filled with the willpower to fight. Through his entire life he had always doubted if he could become someone strong, given a Talent that wasn’t certainly outstanding, and given a Spirit that couldn’t do much other than defend a bit, he always thought of himself as someone mediocre, a “background character” that couldn’t do anything by himself, always relying on his companions or his commander. After what happened when everyone died in that incident, he lost his hope to become someone strong, and had even thought he would die in that moment… but that boy had come. He rescued everyone and gave them the will to keep on living, so one day they would avenge their fallen comrades and kill as many demons as possible.
To Luka’s response, Joan couldn’t help but smile back and nod.
“Not bad for a kid raised in nobility! Alright then… Let’s see if we can take that big guy over there. I will be counting you, sir knight.”
“Likewise!”
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