A one-ton increase in strength was certainly enticing, but its stamina was a major issue. It seemed that to fully unleash the power of the "Giant's Grip," or to make it truly practical, finding a replacement or repairing the "Heart of the Giant" was the only long-term solution.
Still, even so, the three hundred gold dragons were well spent. At the very least, he now had a trump card capable of exploding with immense power for a short duration.
As the night grew deeper, Renly sat alone in his study.
"The Dragon Temple—"
Renly murmured to himself, his gaze drifting toward the deep night sky outside the window. The dangers of the Emerald Marsh were far beyond those of any ordinary perilous land. The lesson of Earl Boulder, whose coalition of thousands was nearly wiped out, was still fresh in memory.
He had no intention of repeating that mistake.
Ground troops were too large a target and moved sluggishly in the marsh; once in danger, they were easily surrounded and trapped. For this mission, he had to pursue ultimate mobility.
He pondered for a moment, a plan forming in his mind. He would take only a few elites and rely on the aerial advantage of the Gryphons. They could strike when advancing and retreat rapidly when necessary.
As for companions, Renly planned to take only Ed. For now, in terms of both ability and loyalty, Ed was the best candidate. He immediately issued an order for guards to ride post-haste to recall Knight Ed from the Emerald Marsh defense line.
A travel-worn Ed soon appeared at the Blackstone Castle training grounds. He was burly with a resolute face, his military attire adding a touch of battle-hardened sternness. Upon seeing Renly, he dropped to one knee.
"My Lord, Ed has arrived as ordered."
Though the fighting in the Emerald Marsh had temporarily subsided, sporadic conflicts had never truly ceased. Renly signaled for him to dispense with the formalities, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
"Ed, it's been a while. Have your skills grown rusty? How about a little exercise to stretch our bones?"
Ed was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily. "Nothing would please me more! How does My Lord wish to exercise?"
"Something simple." Renly picked up the "Giant's Grip" from the table and weighed it in his hand. "Arm wrestling, perhaps?"
Arm wrestling?
A flicker of oddity flashed in Ed's eyes. Since when did the Lord have such leisurely whims? However, he didn't ask questions. He simply grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.
"Fine! But My Lord must be careful; this arm of mine has gained quite a bit of strength lately!"
As he spoke, he walked to the desk, planted his right elbow firmly on the surface, and squared his stance. Renly said nothing more. He slipped on the "Giant's Grip" and gripped Ed's right hand tightly.
"My Lord, I'm starting!" Ed grunted and suddenly exerted his strength.
However, the expected scene of Renly being pinned did not occur. Renly's right hand remained steady as a rock; even his expression didn't change in the slightest. Ed felt as if his strength was a clay ox entering the sea—disappearing into nothing. The opponent's arm felt like an immovable mountain.
"Huh?"
Surprise flashed in Ed's eyes. He increased his force, the veins on his forehead bulging, his face flushing red. He poured every ounce of his strength into the effort, yet Renly's arm didn't budge an inch.
With a thought, Renly quietly funneled Dou Qi (Battle Qi) into the artifact. A torrential surge of power instantly filled his arm, conducting through his entire body. He gave a slight, sharp press with his wrist.
"Arrgh!"
Ed felt an irresistible, terrifying force surge from Renly's arm. The strength he took such pride in was as fragile as rotten wood before this power. His wrist was instantly slammed down, his center of gravity thrown off so violently that he stumbled back several steps, nearly falling over.
"This... how is this possible?"
Ed shook his numbed wrist, his face full of disbelief. He knew Lord Renly was a Magic Knight, but in terms of pure physical strength—aside from that "human bear" Thor who might surpass him in the future—he was confident no one in the Blackstone Castle knights could match him.
This bout completely overturned his understanding.
Renly chuckled, removed the "Giant's Grip" from his hand, and handed it to the still-shocked Ed. "Try this."
Confused, Ed took the strangely shaped metal gauntlet. It was cold and heavy to the touch. He did as he was told, sliding it onto his hand and, following Renly's instructions, attempted to channel Dou Qi into it.
Hum!
The magic runes on the surface of the gauntlet suddenly flared to life. A sensation of power several times stronger than his own surged through his arm, as if an ancient behemoth had awakened within him. Ed could clearly feel the muscles in his arm swelling, filled with unprecedented explosive force.
He subconsciously looked at a 300-pound stone weight used for knight training nearby, which usually took him some effort to lift. Now, his gauntlet-clad hand simply reached out and snatched it up. He hoisted the stone weight effortlessly with one hand, as if it weighed nothing at all.
"Good heavens!" Ed cried out, feeling the surging power. His eyes were wide with shock. "My Lord, this... what kind of artifact is this?!"
"The 'Giant's Grip,' an ancient alchemical creation," Renly explained. "It significantly amplifies the wearer's strength. However, the energy consumption is enormous; it cannot be sustained for long."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "Ed, I plan to take you into the depths of the Emerald Marsh. This journey will be exceptionally dangerous. I am lending you the 'Giant's Grip' for the time being to bolster our combat power."
Hearing this, the excitement on Ed's face faded, replaced by solemnity. He knew well what entering the depths of the Emerald Marsh entailed—it was the graveyard where even Earl Boulder had met his defeat.
"My Lord," Ed said firmly, "I will not fail your trust. I follow you unto death!"
Renly patted his shoulder. "No need to be so tense. This trip is primarily for reconnaissance; safety comes first. With the Storm Gryphons, if we can't win a fight, we can always fly away."
Ed nodded heavily.
Everything was prepared.
The next morning, before the thin mist had fully dissipated, Renly and Ed set out together. Renly flipped himself onto his majestic Storm Gryphon King, "Storm." Sensing its master's will, Storm let out a high-pitched, piercing cry, spreading its massive wings and kicking up a gale. Ed nimbly mounted another magnificent Storm Gryphon.
"Move out!" Renly barked.
The two Gryphons beat their wings and soared high, piercing the clouds like arrows, heading rapidly toward the Stone Forest. Blackstone Castle shrank quickly behind them, turning into a blurred black speck.
Soon, they arrived at the Stone Forest nestled among the mountains. This was the habitat of the Storm Gryphons; dozens of bizarre, massive stone pillars rose from the ground, piercing the sky, where the Gryphons built their nests atop the summits.
Storm let out a series of guttural cries that echoed through the forest. Soon, answering calls rose from all directions. Twelve Storm Gryphons—slightly smaller than Storm but equally agile and fierce—spiraled up from the pillars and converged behind their King.
Renly looked back at the assembled Gryphon wing and nodded with satisfaction.
"Toward the Emerald Marsh—advance!"