Two days later.....at the Hysin temporary encampment in Mayard...
Not much had changed, but there was a large quantity of soldiers entering and then leaving to fight the Mayard army. The place had turned into a troop dispatch point, and the defenses had become stronger than anything before. There was now a catapult, and there were Hysin knights patrolling around the fort.
While they were on their usual patrol, they heard a strong vibration, a great vibration coming towards them and the sound of large footsteps coming from somewhere. After a while, they saw Atlas running towards them.
The arriving Hysin army felt terror because they had never seen these Atlas soldiers before, and they thought it was an attack by the enemy. They readied their bows towards Atlas and warned the others. But there were knights who had been with Atlas and explained the situation to them, easing their alertness.
And when Atlas got close, he stopped running and walked leisurely. When he arrived, he opened his hands and a person rose from his palm.
"We're back, guys!" Xander spoke from Atlas's palm.
"Congratulations on your return, Captain Xander," a soldier said.
"It looks like the place has gotten bigger than before!" Xander said, seeing the new fortifications in the camp.
"Yes, the High Command Council issued an official order to reinforce the camp's defenses, because it will become our headquarters of operations," a soldier replied.
"I see now," Xander replied.
"Captain Xander," Randolph spoke.
Xander turned towards Randolph. For some reason, Xander felt a strong pressure emanating from him and felt some anxiety.
"What, is something wrong?" Xander asked with some anxiety, while gripping the hilt of his weapon.
"Lady Charlotte Dears Orbulan, requests your presence," Randolph said, pointing to where she was standing inside the camp.
"Yes, of course."
"Atlas, put me down."
Atlas lowered his body and gently let Xander down from his hands, then Atlas stood up from his position.
"Go and continue your usual work, Atlas," Xander said as he left.
Both Xander and Atlas went to different places. Atlas went into the forest, while Xander stood before Charlotte.
"Hello, great Lady Charlotte," Xander spoke rudely.
"Congratulations on your return, Captain Xander," Charlotte spoke with a remorseful voice.
"Yeah, what's the matter? Did you expect me dead? Tch, as usual from you nobles, you wanted us dead but now..." Xander said while spreading his arms and turning around "...here we are, alive."
"I am truly sorry for what happened, truly sorry," she spoke in an apologetic voice.
"Well, for a noble to apologize like this is something new. Honestly, I didn't expect that from you at all," Xander said in surprise.
"Because the situation was beyond my ability to make a decision."
"Well, you don't need to justify further. For a noble like you to apologize is more than enough."
"But excuse me, I have an urgent question I need you to answer," Charlotte said.
"Go ahead," he gestured with his hand for her to speak.
"Did you go to Serafield and return?" she asked.
"Yes, of course, why do you ask?" he replied.
"But to my knowledge, the journey takes a few days. How did you get there and back here so quickly?" she asked.
"Ah, I just told Atlas to run and we arrived in just five hours," he said.
"You managed to cover that distance in five hours?!" Charlotte asked in shock.
"Yes, we arrived and crushed Serafield, and then we stayed for a few days until reinforcements arrived, and then we returned. That's what happened," Xander explained.
"Wow, that's incredible."
"Wait a moment, you said you stayed for a few days?" Charlotte said with a suspicious expression.
"What's with that strange expression on your face?" Xander asked.
"There's something I'm a little curious about," Charlotte said.
"Speak," Xander replied.
"Regarding food," she asked in a low voice.
"What?" Xander asked.
"I haven't seen him eat anything since he was at the fort, and you said he stayed there for a few days, but he remained intact.....So how exactly does he live?" Charlotte asked with some concern.
"Oh, hahaha, don't worry, he doesn't eat humans like you think. It's just that he rarely gets hungry," Xander said while laughing.
"Rarely? What do you mean?" asked Charlotte.
"Let me tell you an ancient legend," Xander said.
"Since the dawn of existence, the giants had bodies larger than Atlas by several times. It was extremely difficult for them to find food that would satisfy them. Most of them ate each other, otherwise they would die of hunger or exhaustion. And since then, they evolved."
"They became smaller in size and weaker than before but....they gained incredible endurance and healing abilities, and since then they no longer get tired or hungry except rarely. But they eat once a year, and with a healing ability similar to a honey badger's."
"What!? Is something like this real?" Charlotte asked in shock.
"If the story that humans were goblins and then evolved into humans is true, then why not?" Xander replied.
"This is unbelievable. If only we could evolve like them, then..." Charlotte thought with some envy.
"Don't think too much about it. It's just a legend, although some parts of it are indeed true. We humans also evolved and became more intelligent."
"At least we aren't up a tree," Xander replied.
"Yes...I suppose so," Charlotte said and looked at Atlas who was huge.
"By the way, where is Julius?"
"Oh, he left on a mission to help Prince Andres who invaded a fortress in Argudin," Charlotte replied.
"I am now in charge of this fort, until further notice from the High Command," Charlotte replied.
"Oh, I see why the place has become so clean," a voice spoke behind them.
"Lord General!" Charlotte exclaimed while giving a half-bow.
"General Ron!" Xander bowed immediately.
"So this giant managed to reach Prince Greavus's location in a matter of hours, while Julius and his forces might take days. This is impressive."
"Was it your idea to make him run quickly to Serafield?"
"Yes," Xander replied.
"And he didn't get tired at all?" Ron asked while raising his right eyebrow.
"Not at all. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it when he ran for the first time."
"Ahahaha, really?" asked Ron.
"His eyes were like my son's, who loves racing with me when I was on the farm."
"So a giant in body, and a young boy in mind? Is this what you mean to say, Captain Xander?" Ron asked with a serious look.
"This... No... I mean... Yes, General," Xander spoke fearfully for the first time because he was a general.
"And how exactly did you defeat the Serafield army? To my knowledge, they sent their largest army of horsemen towards you. How exactly did he win?" Ron asked.
"With rocks," Xander replied.
"What?" Ron was skeptical.
"I taught him... shooting, like throwing stones. We quickly taught him and he threw rocks towards Serafield."
"And he mastered that quickly?" Ron asked with a surprised expression.
"Yes, he transformed in moments into a huge catapult towards the Serafield army and crushed them completely."
"Interesting. This means that giants are not only effective in close-range missions, but they can also become long-range weapons as well. I must note this down," Ron said while thinking.
"It seems our chances of winning the war are starting to increase," Ron said while looking at Atlas sitting outside the fort walls.
"Well, send me a message if Julius returns," he said as he left.
After Ron left,
"What was General Ron doing here?" Xander asked.
"I don't know," Charlotte said.
"I only hope that..."
...
Somewhere...in the lands of Mayard....
In a high tower, in a certain room... There was a room where many wizards gathered, wearing blue robes, and they were holding a meeting with a person at the meeting platform.
"Is everyone here?" a wizard asked while everyone nodded yes.
"Good, then let's begin."
"We must accept the fact of Malamados's death."
"I object!" a girl, who seemed to be a teenager, shouted, and looked at him with clear anger on her face.
"Malamados is the Head Wizard of the Mayard Tower! It's impossible for him to die at the hands of Hysin barbarians!"
"O Miley, he is gone, that's enough."
"Then where is the body? If he died, where is it, O Jericho?!" Miley continued to scream at him.
"They displayed it!" Jericho shouted angrily.
"What?" Miley asked, not believing what she heard.
"They displayed his corpse, on one of the villages. He was dead there, naked, lying on a mountain of corpses of Mayard citizens."
"No..... no, you're lying! It's impossible for Sir..... It's impossible for the great Malamados to die!" Miley screamed while crying.
"Do you want more or what!? We are at war now. Sit down before I expel you from the council!" Jericho shouted at her.
Miley gritted her teeth while she sat down, her eyes filled with tears.
"As I said, the Head Wizard, the director of the Ivory Tower, the mad Malamados, has departed."
"He is not mad, you just don't understand him," Miley whispered angrily.
"The seat of the Ivory Tower has become vacant. Therefore, the position will go to the second-best wizard, Forbas."
"Are there any complaints?" Jericho asked.
"Forbas?" a wizard from the council asked.
"Doesn't he mean Forbas the Knowledge-Thirsty?" another wizard replied.
"I heard he invented a new spell," another wizard spoke positively.
"Yes, a person like that would definitely be suitable for this role," another wizard said.
"Very good, please come forward, Forbas," Jericho said.
And when his name was called, an old man with a gray beard and faded brown hair came forward. He was wearing a blue robe, and there were many wrinkles on his face.
He cast a glance at everyone.
"My name is Forbas. Others call me Forbas the Knowledge-Thirsty, but I am merely a person who aspires for a better future for wizards."
"Malamados's fate was tragic. I truly feel sorry for him. He was like a symbol of the Ivory Tower's strength. Without him, the value of the Ivory Wizards will fade unless a new Head Wizard appears."
"One may not appear for years or decades. We must unite, for the sake of all wizards, and confront any threat, especially the danger of the inhuman Hysin invasion. It may threaten us especially when they have a huge weapon that can crush everything in its path."
"But there is a method I propose that can confront this great threat once and for all."
"What is it?" one of the wizards raised his hand.
"It is by awakening the dragon in the Monster Forest," Forbas replied.
"What?!?"
"To awaken the ancient Forest Dragon?"
"Has he lost his mind!?"
The wizards of the council were criticizing Forbas. While this was happening, Miley narrowed her eyes at him.
"Before you give your opinions, hear what I have first," Forbas said while explaining.
"The Hysin army is invading our lands and seizing villages as we speak. Their reign of terror must end. That's why I wish to awaken it."
"The dragon is a creature that attacks those who threaten its land, and it has a strong instinct towards threats. Once it senses the presence of the giant, it will go directly to it, and then we can tip the scales of battle," Forbas said while slamming his hand on the platform.
Someone raised his hand and Jericho noticed this, and permitted him to give his opinion.
"But what if it fails? What if everything turns for the worse, and it burns everything, not just Mayard but everything?"
"This risk is necessary, for the sake of the Ivory Tower, and for the sake of the Kingdom," Forbas said seriously.
Most of the people were hesitant, but when there is a danger threatening the Kingdom's existence, they had no choice but to agree. Miley left the council when she saw that everyone had agreed to this.
They did not know what was coming for them....