Ignite with Me

Before everything had fallen apart; before betrayal, before the pyre, before the Inferno Crown had rewritten his fate, the thirty chosen heroes had all been told of the final obstacle awaiting them within the Arthurian Trial.

The Kolossal Knight.

The instructors had spoken his name with unusual reverence, describing him as the guardian of the deepest chamber beneath the kingdom. They had warned every contestant that one day they would have to face him.

He failed to share proper information with us.

There was no explanation regarding his weaknesses and no strategy made.

Only his name was mentioned.

Perhaps that had been intentional.

After all, no battle ever unfolded exactly as one imagined. A warrior could spend years preparing for a single enemy, only to have every carefully crafted plan crumble within the first exchange of blades. Victory belonged not merely to the strongest, but to those capable of adapting when the unexpected arrived.

Helmut understood that now more than ever.

The towering guardian slowly rose from the sea of gold, each movement accompanied by the deep groan of ancient metal awakening after centuries of silence. Standing nearly eight feet tall, the Kolossal Knight resembled a living monument more than a man. Every inch of his body was encased in magnificent golden armour, polished so brilliantly that it reflected the treasure surrounding him. A short crimson cape hung from his shoulders, its faded fabric stirring gently despite the still air.

Yet the most unsettling feature was his helmet.

There were no eyes behind the visor.

No face.

Only darkness.

It was as though the armour itself had been granted life, while the soul that once inhabited it had long since vanished.

The giant rested the tip of his colossal sword against the marble floor.

Then, with slow and deliberate steps, he began walking toward them.

Each footstep echoed through the treasure hall like distant thunder.

The three Wolf Beastkins immediately reached for their weapons.

Freyla’s grin widened with excitement.

Before any of them could charge, Helmut raised one hand.

"No."

The sisters looked at him.

"Take care of the red-haired girl."

For a moment none of them spoke.

Freyla’s ears flattened in disbelief.

"What? You want us to leave you alone?"

Helmut never looked away from the advancing guardian.

"If he reaches her while she’s unconscious…she’ll die."

Zorna gave a quiet nod.

"As you command."

Without questioning him further, she turned toward the unconscious girl. Trauna immediately followed.

Only Freyla remained.

She crossed her arms dramatically.

"Darling… you’re no fun. I wanted to fight beside you."
Zorna glanced over her shoulder.

"Freyla."

A single word was enough.

With an exaggerated sigh, Freyla reluctantly stepped back.

"…Fine, but if you die, I’m going to be very disappointed."

The Kolossal Knight eventually stopped only a few paces before Helmut.

The giant slowly lowered his head.

Its hollow voice echoed from within the empty helmet.

"You are an intruder."

Its enormous sword rose.

"The punishment is execution."

Execution.

That single word pierced Helmut more deeply than any blade.

The flames, the pyre, the pain and Luger’s smile.

"I always loathed you, brother."

The memories returned with merciless clarity.

Helmut instinctively reached toward the nearest weapon buried beneath the treasure.

His fingers wrapped around the hilt.

He pulled.

Nothing happened.

"…Huh?"

He pulled harder.

The enormous sword finally lurched free from the mountain of coins, nearly dragging Helmut to the ground beneath its impossible weight.

"A Zweihänder…?"

The blade was nearly as tall as he was.

Far heavier than his falchion.

Definitely not a weapon he had ever trained with.

"…This was a mistake."

The Kolossal Knight gave him no time to reconsider.

The colossal blade descended.

Helmut threw himself sideways.

The impact shattered the marble floor, sending golden coins flying in every direction.

"…That would’ve killed me."

He immediately corrected himself.

"…Probably."

The giant slowly recovered his stance before attacking again.

Every swing was devastating.

Every movement remained deliberately Measured, Almost painfully slow.

Helmut continued dodging, desperately searching for any weakness.

There had to be something.

No armour was truly indestructible.

Was it? Is he the only exception?

Another strike narrowly missed his shoulder.

The air alone nearly knocked him off balance.

"…Think, think."

Then, someone landed lightly beside him.

"You’ve been running around for quite a while."

Freyla smiled brightly.

Helmut blinked.

"I told you to protect the girl.”
“I got bored," She shrugged "Besides, Zorna and Trauna can handle that."

She watched Helmut narrowly avoid another tremendous swing.

“Darling, why are you only dodging?"

"I’m trying not to die!"

Freyla stared, then suddenly she burst into laughter.

"So that’s it!"

She laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from one eye.

"You really forgot."

Helmut frowned.

"Forgot what?"

She pointed directly at him.

"You’re the Knight of the Inferno."

She tilted her head innocently.

"Normal people die from attacks like those, but you are absurdly difficult to kill."

Helmut looked down at himself.

"…That still doesn’t help me defeat him."

"Oh, you adorable idiot."

Freyla giggled.

"Look closely."

She pointed toward the giant’s chest.

"The Kolossal Knight isn’t fully alive, but his core is. You don’t need to destroy the armour. You simply need to remove it."

Helmut looked back at the towering guardian.

"Like…melt his armour?"

Freyla nodded enthusiastically.

"You’re literally covered in fire, so you can do that."

"…How?"

She smiled mischievously.

"I suppose you’ll need my help."

The way she said it made Helmut instinctively take half a step backward.

"…That sounded strange."

"It was supposed to."

Before Helmut could respond, Freyla sprinted forward.

"HEY!"

She waved both arms dramatically.

"Big shiny knight! I’m over here!"

The guardian immediately shifted his attention.

Its massive sword came crashing toward her.

Freyla danced gracefully between each attack, her movements almost playful, laughing every time another devastating strike narrowly missed her.

Helmut understood.

She was buying him time.

He tightened his grip upon the Zweihänder.

Then began walking.

Each step felt heavier than the last as he dragged the enormous blade behind him.

Steel scraped loudly across the marble floor.

Sparks scattered.

Then, something unexpected happened.

The sword suddenly grew warm.

Helmut looked down.

Infernal flames had begun creeping across the blade.

Orange became crimson.

Crimson became blazing white.

The ancient steel blackened beneath the overwhelming heat until it resembled molten obsidian wrapped in living fire.

The Zweihänder had become an infernal weapon.

"…I did that?"

His flaming mark pulsed once.

Almost answering him.

Freyla continued dancing around the Kolossal Knight.

"Now!"

Helmut drew a deep breath.

"Your opponent is me!"

He shouted.

The guardian immediately turned.

Its enormous sword rose once again.

But it was too late, because Helmut swung the blazing Zweihänder carved across the giant’s chest with explosive force.

The infernal flames didn’t merely cut.

They melted.

Golden armour flowed like wax before a furnace, collapsing apart in massive molten pieces.

The Kolossal Knight staggered.

Then crashed to one knee.

For the first time, Helmut saw inside.

There was no body, not skeleton, no nothing.

Only a brilliant crystal suspended within the hollow chestplate.

A heart of pure light.

The core.

The scattered armour immediately began moving.

Broken gauntlets slid across the floor.

The helmet rolled back into place.

Every fragment attempted to rebuild the guardian.

"It’s regenerating!"

Helmut shouted.

Freyla immediately pointed toward the exposed crystal.

"The core!"

"Stab it!"

Without hesitation Helmut charged.

At that exact moment—

Something spun through the air.

Freyla’s curved dagger.

He caught it instinctively.

The armour was already rebuilding itself.

The opening was disappearing.

Helmut smashed aside what remained of the breastplate with the burning Zweihänder.

The crystal lay fully exposed.

He raised the dagger.

Then—

"Wait!"

Freyla’s voice stopped him.

Helmut froze.

"…What?"

"If you destroy the core…"

"…he dies forever."

She smiled.

"But that’s not why we’re here."

Understanding slowly dawned upon him.

"Necromancy…"

She nodded.

"Raise your weapon, speak to him, and Invite him."

Helmut slowly lifted the dagger toward the heavens.

The infernal flames gathered around its blade.

He looked directly at the glowing core.

"You fought faithfully, even after everyone who created you disappeared. You protected this place alone."

His voice grew firmer.

"I have no wish to erase such loyalty."

The flames intensified.

"Erhebe dich, Kolossal Knight, become my knight."

He lowered the dagger and pierced the crystal.

The crystal erupted into brilliant orange fire.

Every piece of golden armour trembled violently.

The radiant gold slowly darkened, becoming deep obsidian black, while glowing rivers of molten orange spread across every plate exactly like Helmut’s own armour.

Infernal flames engulfed the giant.

Moments later, The Kolossal Knight slowly stood once more.

His appearance had changed completely.

The once-golden guardian now wore armour forged from living darkness, while crimson flames burned proudly through every joint.

He stepped forward.

Then knelt before Helmut.

His massive sword was planted respectfully into the floor.

"My fearless lord."

His voice remained deep.

But there was warmth within it.

"What command do you give?"

Helmut simply stared.

"It actually worked."

Freyla squealed happily before throwing herself at him.

"I knew you could do it!"

She wrapped both arms tightly around him.

"I’ve never been happier my love!"

Helmut awkwardly tried to free himself.

"…F-Freyla…I…can’t…breathe."

"Oh."

She smiled innocently.

"Sorry love, forgot humans need that."

Helmut sighed.

"…I’m not entirely human anymore."

The words felt strange to say.

Then his expression changed.

"…The girl."

He immediately hurried across the treasure chamber toward Zorna and Trauna.

The red-haired girl still lay unconscious upon the mountain of coins.

Her breathing had become shallow.

Her face had grown unnaturally pale.

Trauna gently examined her wounds before quietly lowering her head.

Helmut knelt beside them.

"…Will she survive?"

Trauna remained silent.

She looked toward Zorna.

Almost asking her to answer instead.

Zorna closed her eyes briefly.

When she finally spoke…

Her voice carried no emotion.

"There is only one way."

Hope flickered within Helmut.

"What is it? I’ll do anything."

Zorna met Helmut’s eyes directly.

"You must kill her."