Several mountain giants clad in heavy metal armor, wielding massive weapons, strode across the land. With each step, they left deep footprints in the ground, but as they passed, the soil automatically filled in the impressions.
However, even after the soil settled, the shape of the giant footprints remained, making it easier for certain daring or discontented humans to follow.
"Human, why are you following us?"
Soon, a mountain giant noticed a human—or more accurately, a half-giant—leaping through the trees nearby.
"Giant, what are you going to do?" The man who had caught up didn't answer the giant's question but instead asked one of his own.
"Human, this is none of your concern. Stop following us," the mountain giant who first noticed the man said emotionlessly, issuing a cold warning.
"You're going to war, aren't you? My goal is the same as yours. Don't worry, I won't get in your way."
"You're too weak, human. Go back. This isn't something you should be involved in," the giant replied indifferently, seeing the man as nothing more than a human.
"This is a war that will determine the fate of humanity. How can I stay away?" The man, already resolute, continued leaping through the trees, keeping pace with the giants' seemingly slow but actually swift strides.
Seeing that the man wouldn't heed his warning, the mountain giant who had spoken to him simply ignored him, allowing him to follow.
As for the giant's indifference, the man gripped his Divine Mech tightly, feeling no particular emotion. He understood the vast gap in strength between himself and the giants.
He was exerting all his effort just to keep up with the giants' leisurely pace. It was only natural for the giants to ignore him—strength determined one's right to speak.
The man desperately followed the group of mountain giants, who were among the slowest of their kind. Along the way, he saw more and more giants gathering.
At the same time, he noticed the number of dragons flying overhead increasing rapidly. At first, he only occasionally saw dragons passing by.
But as time went on, the intervals between sightings grew shorter, until finally, he saw dragons flying one after another, forming a massive flock.
"What a grand spectacle!" The man couldn't help but exclaim in awe at the magnificent scene, something most people would never witness in their lifetime.
"Human, climb up and stand on my shoulder. Don't get accidentally stepped on by the other giants."
Just then, a voice that surprised the man spoke up. It was the mountain giant who had ignored him the entire time.
"Are you talking to me?" The man looked around, confirming there was no one else nearby.
"Yes."
"But…" The man's expression twisted in confusion. He couldn't understand why the giant, who had been so cold and indifferent earlier, suddenly changed his attitude.
"Your determination has moved me. In that regard, I acknowledge you, human," the mountain giant said, noticing the man's confusion. "On the battlefield, you can fight alongside me."
"Just let me stand on your shoulder. On the battlefield, fight as you normally would. Don't worry about me."
Hearing the giant's reason for acknowledging him, the man couldn't help but smile.
Although his mind told him he should remain expressionless to salvage his dignity, his body's instinctive reaction betrayed him. Being acknowledged by a higher life form was indeed something to be happy about.
"I will," the mountain giant responded bluntly. While he acknowledged the man's determination, protecting him on the battlefield was another matter entirely.
"Uh…" The man's smile froze, and he felt a twinge of disappointment.
"Come." The mountain giant extended his fully armored hand, and the man climbed onto the giant's broad shoulder. From there, he witnessed a scene that would forever be etched in his memory.
Giants clad in armor converged from all directions. Without any command, they formed a disciplined battle formation purely through mutual understanding, moving in unison as if they were one.
The earth trembled under the feet of the giants—not as a figure of speech, but literally. The man saw the ground shaking with his own eyes.
In the sky, the dragons formed an equally awe-inspiring formation. With each beat of their wings, they left behind trails of lingering light. Their scales, harder than most materials in the world, shimmered with elemental brilliance.
Before long, the man standing on the giant's shoulder looked around and realized he was surrounded by giants. No matter which direction he looked, he saw giants brimming with fighting spirit.
The sky was completely obscured by the dragons' wings, and he could no longer see the dark clouds above.
Just then, the man noticed a dazzling golden light appear at the distant horizon where the sky met the earth.
The golden light quickly expanded, forming a pillar that connected heaven and earth. Then, an overwhelming pressure emanated from the pillar.
The man watched as the giants, starting from the area near the golden pillar, knelt down like wheat flattened by a strong wind.
Soon, it was the turn of the mountain giant he was standing on. The giant, who had barely acknowledged him earlier, also knelt down, bowing in worship toward the distant figure whose appearance was impossible to discern.
As the giant knelt, the man fell from his shoulder. Fortunately, he was prepared and landed safely after a few spins in the air.
When he began to wonder what to do next, he noticed the giant's eyes, though his head remained bowed, were fixed on him.
"Kneel!" Though the giant didn't speak, the man understood the message in his gaze. Looking around, the man knelt down, compelled by an instinctive urge.
As he knelt, he suddenly heard a deep, authoritative voice in his ears. Upon hearing it, he instinctively adjusted his posture to appear more reverent.
Before long, the overwhelming pressure that had compelled him to kneel vanished. The giants around him rose to their feet one row after another, including the mountain giant behind him.
"What was that?" The man asked the mountain giant, his eyes filled with confusion. He had heard the voice but couldn't make out what it said.
"The Master has descended," the mountain giant said, looking at the man with a hint of approval before picking him up and placing him back on his shoulder.
"The Master? That must be the so-called savior," the man thought to himself.
He looked toward where the golden light had appeared, but it had already vanished. Recalling the overwhelming pressure he had felt, the man was filled with nothing but awe. It was a presence that left mortals with no choice but to worship.
"The war is about to begin, but don't worry. With the Master here, victory will surely be ours," the giant said, mistaking the man's dazed expression for fear. After reassuring him, the giant followed the advancing army of giants.
…
Roar!
A crimson dragon roared in the sky, its powerful claws gripping a flying beast of similar size. It opened its mouth, lined with rows of sharp teeth, and tore into the beast's chest, ripping off chunks of flesh and devouring them.
The beast screamed in agony but fought back fiercely. It opened its mouth and fired a destructive orange beam, striking the dragon and sending scales and flesh flying.
As the two colossal creatures battled in the sky, a green dragon glowing with elemental energy joined the fray.
It roared and unleashed a corrosive breath attack, hitting the beast and melting away a portion of its body, exposing white bones and emitting a foul stench.
With the green dragon's assistance, the flying beast—a nightmare for humans—was quickly torn to pieces in the sky.
Such scenes were commonplace in this aerial battlefield. Compared to the beasts, the dragons held an overwhelming individual advantage. After undergoing 120 years of compulsory education, the dragons' combat prowess as a united force was beyond imagination.
Agile dragons, breathing various types of elemental breath, clashed fiercely with the beasts in the sky. Blood, bones, flesh, and scales—primarily from the beasts—rained down like a storm, drenching the giants battling the land-based beast hordes below.
The earth and sky were painted in shades of red, turning the world into a bloody canvas…
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