Vireon slashed at the God-King’s chest. Zyung caught the blade in his fist and hurled it back. The flaming sword thrust at Vireon’s head, but his knees bent and the weapon failed to touch him. He countered with an upward swing but the God-King was no longer standing before him. Zyung had somehow repositioned himself behind Vireon.
The Giant-King whirled to parry the arc of the flaming sword, and he spat thunderbolts into Zyung’s face. The dreadnoughts at their knees moved out of the way as best they could, canvas wings carrying them above the churning waters and away from the colossi.
The clashing of the mammoth swords sent fresh thunders across the valley. Men killed and died in the tempest, while sorcerers cast rays of deathlight into their midst. More Giants perished, caught by the falling beams of sorcery. They died now as easily as Men.
Soon Dahrima would find herself trapped inside a burning column, and she knew her amulet would not protect her against such magic.
If not for this legion of sorcerers, we might win the day.
The silver-robes were specifically targeting Giants now, letting Men fight Men. The sheer numbers of the Manslayers would guarantee a victory as soon as the last of the Giants were gone.
More Udvorg burned to death every second this conflict continued.
Yet Dahrima knew that the true outcome of the battle lay in Vireon’s great hands. If he struck down the God-King, these sorcerers might flee and abandon their invasion.
The world shook again beneath the titanic blades.
Dahrima leaped away from a shaft of deathlight meant to end her. The Manslayers fleeing her proximity had warned her just in time. A great mound of bodies turned to ash in the glow, and she ran toward the thickest ranks of Zyungians. If the sorcerers became desperate enough, they might start burning away their own men in order to slay Giants. Until that moment, Dahrima would continue her death dance in the very midst of her smaller foes.
More of the flying wizards converged above her. They had taken special notice of her and awaited now the perfect moment to strike. Without Vireon or Khama to occupy their attentions, that moment would not be long in coming. In a matter of moments the Manslayers would realize what was happening. They would run from the raging Giantess in their midst, leaving their sorcerers free to incinerate her.
Her axe was a spinning wheel of death. She would take as many of them with her as she could. It was all up to Vireon now. She would not live to see his victory.
She saw the Giant-King’s cobalt blade plummet toward the God-King’s head. A gout of seething light erupted from Zyung’s eyes, catching the greatsword in mid-arc. The steel turned to molten scarlet, pouring along Vireon’s arm. The Giant-King roared in agony as his flesh steamed and bubbled.
A grin empty of mirth spread across Zyung’s face. His flaming blade shot forward to take Vireon in the gut. It emerged from the seared flesh of the Giant-King’s back. Impaled on the great fire-brand, Vireon’s head fell back on his shoulders.
A last peal of thunder rocked the valley. The sword’s unnat ural fires were quenched as Zyung pulled it free of Vireon’s body. The God-King’s blade gleamed black as night now, and constellations of stars glimmered in its alien metal.
Vireon staggered backwards, his right foot finding the debrislittered beach. His great form dwindled, growing somewhat smaller. Black blood poured smoking from his terrible wound. The stormclouds parted above him, the rain ceased all at once, and Dahrima screamed as the Giant-King began to fall. Men, Giants, and sorcerers rushed from his looming shadow as it cast the valley once more into darkness. When his gargantuan body met the earth, thousands upon thousands would be crushed.
Dahrima stood still among the carnage. The battle was replaced by running, howling men. Even the Giants ran from the teetering colossus. She did not move.
Let me die with him.
I will perish beneath the mountain of his greatness.
Yet Vireon was not wholly dead yet. She knew this as he fell because his size continued to change. His great body contracted, shrank, reduced itself to the size of an Uduru so that the last half of his fall was through thin air, his legs having left the earth and sea. He fell upon a pile of charred bones and torn corpses, no larger now than any other Giant.
Zyung too seemed to shrink, but still he towered above the valley. He stepped onto the beach, his blazing eyes searching for Vireon’s diminished form. By his keen gaze, and the burning intent of his face, Dahrima knew that Vireon was still not dead.
Dying, yes, but the God-King would finish him with a final blow.
Again the battling armies became spectators, captured by the spell of Zyung’s greatness, awaiting the final blow that would end all resistance to their invasion.