The gates loomed before them, towering at least 50 meters high, guarded by two armored giants—two warriors.

  Eiruk and Nova approached, drawing the immediate attention of the guards. Their cold, unblinking gazes fixed upon them, assessing.

  One of the giants spoke first, recognizing Eiruk. "Well, well. Eiruk, have you finally come to offer your place to our young master Torvag?"

  The other guard sneered, cutting in before Eiruk could respond. "Jorvak, don’t be so hard on him. Let’s not forget who his father was. A tiger father would never father a dog son, am I wrong, Eiruk?"

  Urthok, the second guard, let out a deep, booming laugh. "Right! You must be just as impressive as your father! My apologies, Eiruk, I didn’t see it before."

  The two giants shared a laugh, their voices booming through the air. The sound attracted a few passersby, who, upon seeing the situation, quickly scurried away, their footsteps loud in the silence as they fled.

  Eiruk’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were on the verge of cracking, each word an insult to his pride. His reputation was being dragged through the mud in front of everyone, but he could only stand there, silent. Retaliating would only make things worse.

  Nova, standing quietly beside him, was completely ignored by the giants—his small stature, no higher than their knees, making him invisible in their eyes.

  Turning his gaze toward Eiruk, Nova observed his stoic silence. ‘At least he isn’t rash’, Nova thought. ‘He knows when to keep his mouth shut. Reminds me of myself before Earth fell apart—the time when I gave up...’ His gaze lifted toward the sky, but all he saw were the hulking figures of the two guards. His mood soured. With a sharp, cold voice, he finally spoke. "Get out of the way. I’m here to see your family head."

  Jorvak and Urthok paused, looking down at the tiny figure before them. Confusion and amusement spread across their faces as they exchanged glances. Urthok scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is this your son? He really takes after you."

  Jorvak’s laughter boomed even louder, almost to the point of him kneeling from the absurdity. "Hah! This is too good!"

  Eiruk, who had been silently enduring the insults, finally relaxed his fists. A small, knowing smile crept onto his face. ‘Idiots’ he thought, glancing down at Nova.

  The two giants, now looking at Eiruk’s strange reaction, couldn't help but laugh even harder. Here was a man who had endured all this ridicule and still found the strength to smile? To them, it only confirmed their belief—Eiruk was no more than a dog, subservient and meek.

  What they didn’t realize was that, from below, Nova had a smile plastered on his face. The spear in his left hand remained steady, and with each calm step he took toward the giants, he muttered, "These two’s luck has run out."

  Urthok didn’t even glance down at the words, too busy smiling at Eiruk. But Jorvak, sensing something in Nova’s tone, looked down just in time to meet the cold, predatory smile on his face. A chill ran down his spine, and before he could open his mouth, he stammered, "Urth—"

  But Nova didn’t give him the chance. In a single, fluid motion, he leapt and swept his spear across Jorvak’s neck. The blade cut effortlessly through flesh and bone, leaving only a thin, jagged line. The massive head fell cleanly from the body, a cloud of dust rising from the impact as it hit the ground.

  [Spear Sweep proficiency increased]

  [Received 3,180,000 Stat EXP]

  Eiruk watched the scene unfold, his expression a mixture of complexity and reluctant joy. In that moment, he seemed to have shed years, as if witnessing this display of power had rejuvenated him. On the other hand, Urthok looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief as he froze, watching his friend’s severed head tumble to the ground while the lifeless body stood upright, an unsettling proof to the speed and precision of the strike.

  With great effort, Urthok tore his gaze away from the decapitated head and looked at Nova, his face turning a deep shade of red. He tried to speak, but the words barely formed. “Ever—”

  This time, Nova didn’t flinch. He swept his spear low, the motion swift and fluid, striking Urthok’s left knee. The impact was instant, and the giant’s leg was severed with brutal ease. A scream tore from Urthok’s throat as his balance collapsed, and in a desperate bid to stay upright, he threw his weight forward, crashing to the ground in a heap.

  The dust in the air settled with an eerie calm, the only sounds the agonizing screams of Urthok and Nova’s deliberate footsteps. Each step Nova took was methodical, unhurried, as he advanced toward the fallen giant’s head.

  ‘If only I had this much strength...’ Eiruk’s thoughts raced, the excitement now clearly visible on his face. He had always known Nova was strong, but watching it unfold before him was something entirely different. The raw power, the movement—it intoxicated him, and for the first time, he truly understood the depth of Nova’s strength, or so he thought.

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  Oblivious to Eiruk’s inner turmoil, Nova stood in front of Urthok’s kneeling form. Even on his knees, the giant towered over him, his head still high above Nova’s own.

  Nova looked up, smiling at the sight of Urthok’s anguished face. He twirled his spear in one smooth motion before shifting his grip, his hands now positioned slightly behind the middle, readying himself. He planted his feet shoulder-width apart, steadying his body as he rotated it slightly to the right, taking aim.

  With a single, fluid movement, Nova stepped forward, his left foot pushing off with the full force of his speed. As he did, his left hand extended in a perfect throwing motion, his entire body flowing into the throw.

  What left his hand was no longer a mere spear—it was a missile, one aimed at Urthok’s skull. There was no time for the giant to react. No time to blink. The spear pierced his head with a sickening finality, the devastation so complete that nothing above the hips remained intact.

  [Spear proficiency increased]

  [Received 3,210,000 Stat EXP]

  The spear flew with blinding speed—so fast, in fact, that Nova briefly thought, ‘I think I overdid it. I might have just lost my spear.’

  Then, a shockwave rippled through the air with the force of a bomb going off, sending a tremor that was felt for kilometers around. It sparked immediate chaos. Nearby people shouted in confusion, some running in panic, fearing they were caught in a noble's battle. Others, braver or perhaps foolish, started moving slowly toward the source of the explosion, undeterred by the potential danger.

  Nova turned toward Eiruk, intending to ask for money, but found the giant rooted to the spot. His mouth hung open, eyes fixed on the remnants of Urthok's body.

  Shaking his head, Nova coughed, trying to snap Eiruk out of his daze.

  "WHAT" Eiruk shouted, his voice cracking with disbelief. As his senses slowly returned, he struggled to comprehend the scene before him. He had never witnessed anything like this in his civilization. There were plenty of strong giants, but none had ever managed to vaporize half the body of another giant with a mere spear throw.

  Seeing Eiruk still lost in the moment, Nova decided to lightly tap him on the calf. The soft impact drew a low cry from the giant, who finally turned his gaze down to Nova. The awe in Eiruk's eyes was unmistakable—respect.

  Nova met his gaze and asked, "Do you have any Gold coins?"

  "No," Eiruk responded, shaking his head. Then, as though remembering something, he added, "But if you need a weapon, we can make you one..."

  Suspicion flickered in Nova’s eyes. "You can forge something that’ll fit my size?"

  Eiruk's voice dropped to a whisper. "I’m not sure... but we could try asking one of the blacksmiths in the city."

  ‘Blacksmiths…’ Nova mused. ‘I should learn to forge as well’. He pushed the thought aside for now and nodded. "That works. Let’s go inside."

  It felt like an eternity, but in reality, less than three seconds had passed since Nova’s spear obliterated half of Urthok’s body. Most of that time had been spent waiting for Eiruk to snap back to reality.

  Eiruk gave a quick nod and led the way into the estate, with Nova following close behind, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

  Moments later, a crowd of giants gathered at the scene, their eyes falling upon the remains of the two guards. A collective, sharp breath escaped their lips as the gravity of the situation hit them.

  "Who could’ve done this?" a middle-aged giant murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His words hung in the air, unanswered, as the others stood frozen, lost in their own stunned thoughts.

  It didn’t take long for one of the younger giants to break the silence, his voice frantic. "Find whoever did this!"

  The estate itself resembled a small town more than a noble residence. Guards patrolled diligently while giants, likely members of the Xalathar family, moved about, conversing casually as they went about their business.

  No one questioned Eiruk or Nova’s presence. Inside the estate, it was assumed that the guards at the entrance had already vetted them—identifying who they were and why they were there. The guards inside were responsible for maintaining order and guarding against potential attacks from outside. In this case, however, they remained oblivious, allowing the threat to move freely through the estate, unaware of the danger within their walls.

  As they walked, Nova couldn’t help but notice how comfortable Eiruk seemed in this environment. The giant’s familiarity with the estate was apparent.

  Curiosity getting the better of him, Nova asked, "Have you been here many times?"

  Eiruk nodded, though he kept his response short. "Yeah." It was clear he wasn’t eager to elaborate.

  Nova shrugged at Eiruk’s reaction not pressing further as silence settled between them.

  They had passed through numerous buildings before Eiruk finally halted, pointing to one on their right. "That’s where Torvag lives" he said, his eyes filled with expectation.

  Noticing the look, Nova spoke calmly. "We’ll see how the meeting goes before deciding if he lives or dies. The family head’s residence isn’t far from here, right?"

  Eiruk exhaled deeply and nodded. "Yes." He gestured toward a towering structure in the distance—neither a typical tower nor a pillar, but something in between. It stretched at least 100 meters high, its exterior pulsing with thick energy flows, evidence of a formidable protective array.

  Nova studied the structure and nodded. ‘Worthy of the family head’. Without another word, he started walking toward it. Eiruk hurried after him, unwilling to be left alone in this place.

  Before long, they arrived at the grand entrance, where a lone guard stood—a final layer of defense for the family head. His gaze barely flickered toward Nova, instead locking onto Eiruk with a knowing smile.

  "The family head expected you to cave sooner or later," the guard remarked, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "Seems he was right again." Taking evident pride in his leader’s foresight, he stepped aside. "Go in."

  Nova raised an eyebrow. ‘That was easier than I expected’. Without protest, he allowed Eiruk to take the lead, and they stepped inside.

  The interior was eerily silent. No guards. No attendants. No signs of life.

  ‘Does he not like people?’ The thought passed fleetingly through Nova’s mind before he dismissed it as irrelevant.

  Within minutes, a massive door loomed before them, its surface adorned with intricate markings filled with a visible flow of energy. The design seemed to demand attention, boldly signaling the immense power of the family, as though even a simple door could showcase their dominance.

  Eiruk glanced at Nova for direction, only to receive a look that plainly said, Go ahead.

  With a nod, he stepped forward, knocked, and announced, "I, Eiruk, am here."

  A dozen heartbeats later, the door swung open on its own.

  Bonus Chapter!

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