The Thunder of Giants

The dawn brought not hope, but a tremor in the earth. At first, it was faint, barely noticeable, like a whisper among the stones of the castle. But soon it became a rhythmic roar, like war drums shaking the walls.
We climbed to the highest tower, and there they were. Advancing from the hills, Kiseki’s giants dragged their heavy steps, each as tall as the castle towers. They were clad in black armor, chains dangling from their arms, massive maces in their hands. Behind them, thousands of devotees marched like an endless river of shadows.
—By the gods… —Nara muttered, eyes wide. —It’s like they brought the very mountain to crush us.
Cicilia clenched her fists on the railing. —Everyone to your positions! This will be the hardest battle yet!
The horns sounded. The entire castle sprang into action. Archers drew their bows, mages chanted, and soldiers lined the walls. The air smelled of iron and ash.

---
The first giant raised its mace and slammed it into the ground. The impact made the walls shudder, dust rising from the rooftops. Another lifted a house-sized boulder and hurled it toward us. The stone smashed against a side tower, collapsing it in a deafening roar.
—Hold the line! —Rei shouted, drawing his sword.
A rain of arrows fell upon the enemy, barely slowing their advance. The bolts bounced off the giants’ armor like needles against stone.
—Aim for the joints! —Lysbeth ordered. —The weak points are the hinges!
The archers obeyed, targeting knees and elbows. Some giants dropped to their knees, but even wounded, they kept moving, dragging their bodies as if nothing could stop them.

---
In the courtyard, the mages conjured circles of fire and lightning. Nara raised both hands, summoning a storm of flames that engulfed an entire giant. The monster roared, staggering, but it did not fall.
—Come on! —Nara yelled, sweating. —Burn already!
Aria extended her hands, summoning spears of light that pierced the shadows. Her face was pale, but she did not hesitate.
I ran toward the walls with the Lance of the Veil in hand. Its glow resonated with the presence of the giants, as if recognizing worthy foes.
—Kaoru, wait! —Rei shouted, but I was already leaping from the wall into the field.
The impact made me roll on the ground, but I got up immediately. I ran toward the foot of a giant, the lance blazing.
—You will fall! —I roared, driving it into the giant’s knee.
The giant bellowed and lost balance, toppling backward with a crash that crushed dozens of devotees in its path.
The echo inside me laughed, satisfied. “Yes… more. Bring them all down. Only with my power can you destroy them completely.”
I gritted my teeth, resisting the temptation. I didn’t need to give in. Not yet.

---
Back on the walls, Rei and Lysbeth led the defense. Rei moved like lightning, cutting down anyone attempting to scale the battlements. Lysbeth, shield raised, blocked projectiles that would have killed dozens.
Nara and Aria combined their magics: fire and light intertwined, exploding in blinding flashes, halting the devotees pressing against the gates.
The ground trembled again. Another giant raised its mace and slammed it against the main wall. Stones cracked, and fissures opened in the gate.
—It won’t hold much longer! —Cicilia shouted, dust covering her face.
I looked toward the top of the hill, where Kiseki watched, her shadowy cloak dancing like black flames. Even from afar, I could feel her smile.
"When your walls fall… your hope will fall with them."
The siege had just begun, and we already knew this would be the battle to decide the castle’s fate.