Giants — a race so rare on the surface world that they were comparable to dragons. Of course, that meant pure-blooded giants.
Just as dragons had countless mixed-blood descendants scattered throughout the world, creatures carrying traces of giant blood existed too. They generally stood three to four meters tall, with immense strength and savage physiques.
Giants over ten meters tall were true rarities, though. The Hasavi Party had only seen one once, and that had been several years ago.
But now, inside the Cathedral of the Deep, the Giant Slave standing before them was even larger than the one they'd encountered back then.
"It has to be over twenty meters tall, right?"
Once the Giant Slave rose to its feet, its enormous head loomed almost face-to-face with the adventurers. Its face was hidden beneath crude sheets of iron, making its expression impossible to read — but somehow, that only made it more intimidating.
The members of the Bone Fang party stared, mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg inside.
It was an instinctive awe toward something colossal. Unless you possessed overwhelming strength yourself, bigger usually meant stronger.
"It's swinging down!"
Someone cried out in alarm.
The Giant Slave raised its arm, flinging foul-smelling mud everywhere before its massive hand crashed downward with terrifying force.
"Let them witness it, Matilda!" Fingri suddenly shouted, practically giddy.
"Huh?"
"It's only a giant! Let's push it back!"
Matilda rolled her eyes and answered by kicking Fingri over a dozen meters away.
The kick happened to send him safely out of the giant's attack range.
Boom!
The entire second floor trembled violently.
Fortunately, the Cathedral of the Deep had been built with incredible sturdiness. A blow powerful enough to split mountains only made the structure shake.
Had that strike landed on a person...
Their internal organs would have been flattened into paste.
The Bone Fang party was so terrified they forgot to breathe.
Watching Fingri spring back up as lively as ever, Matilda only regretted not kicking him a little harder. If only that idiot and his endless "brilliant ideas" could get smacked around just once.
Despite its immense size, the Giant Slave wasn't slow at all.
In the blink of an eye, it stood fully upright, sweeping one arm sideways while smashing the other toward the crowd.
Aleya became so absorbed in studying the giant's posture that she completely forgot to dodge.
Matilda yanked her aside just in time.
"Move! Stop standing there like idiots!"
Besides the open courtyard, the second floor was a maze of interconnected rooms.
If they could slip through one of the doorways and break the giant's line of sight, they wouldn't have to worry about being attacked anymore.
The Bone Fang party desperately chased after Matilda.
Behind them, the Giant Slave smashed everything in its path.
The entire cathedral thundered with deafening crashes, drawing monsters in from distant parts of the building.
One realistic touch of this dungeon was that monsters were drawn by noise. Unlike in games, there was no fixed aggro radius.
The whole scene looked like a real-life game of Temple Run.
Each stride the Giant Slave took equaled dozens of frantic steps for the adventurers.
It didn't just slam its arms down, either — it also grabbed anything nearby and hurled it at them.
An unfortunate mage was struck squarely in the back by a flying object and immediately collapsed, unable to move.
Just as the giant reached down to grab him—
A flash streaked through the air.
Fingri raised the hilt of his sword toward the giant and shouted, full of passion:
"Flash!"
The Pursuer had no eyes.
But the Giant Slave certainly did.
"ROAR!"
The Giant Slave let out a muffled howl of pain, clutching both eyes as it staggered wildly.
Taking advantage of the opening, Fingri hoisted the injured mage onto his shoulder and ran.
"Over here!"
Tusk and the others had already slipped into one of the rooms and were waving frantically at him.
"Thank you for saving me, Mr. Fingri."
The mage lowered his head in shame.
"I'm sorry for holding everyone back. If we weren't here, I'm sure your team would've already cleared this area."
"We're not holding anyone back at all. Everyone has their own role."
The mage expected words of encouragement.
Instead, Fingri suddenly stuffed a Recording Crystal into his hands.
"As payment for saving your life, make sure you record my heroic battle poses. A few decades from now, they'll be wonderful memories."
The mage froze for a moment.
Then he nodded solemnly.
"Leave it to me!"
Once everyone was inside the room, the Giant Slave did stop pursuing them.
However — Fingri's Flash had thoroughly enraged it. Now it simply stood outside the doorway, refusing to leave. It looked like it had completely fixated on them.
Tusk poured two bottles of health potion into the mage's mouth. His shattered spine healed instantly.
Health potions were practically a universal medicine, capable of restoring any physical injury. The more severe the damage, the more bottles it took.
"So... what now? The giant's blocking the entrance."
"Isn't there another passage deeper inside the room? Let's see where it leads."
As the saying went, heaven always leaves a way out.
Although the entrance had been blocked, the Cathedral of the Deep was a labyrinth. Every room connected to somewhere else. Surely another exit existed.
A short while later...
"Why is it a dead end?!"
Apparently, this time heaven really had abandoned them.
"I should've realized this sooner." Tusk's brain raced.
"This is the very first hiding place anyone finds after running into the giant. Naturally, everyone rushes in here. They probably stand inside, perfectly safe, taking potshots and provoking the giant since it can't reach them. And then, once the giant's finally consumed by hatred... that's when they discover there's nowhere else to go except back outside. That feeling of absolute despair..."
The mana surrounding everyone suddenly surged upward.
There was good news, at least.
Although it was a dead end, the rewards were excellent. They obtained the highly sought-after Deep Gem, several Large Souls of a Proud Warrior, and many other valuable treasures.
Beyond practical items, every room in the Cathedral of the Deep held decorations exquisite enough to be called works of art. Collectors would pay handsomely for them. That was why so many adventurers wanted to strip even the floor tiles out of the Sein Dungeon. Everything here had value — even ordinary objects that never showed up as loot drops.
Someone was already prying the red wax candles off a candlestick.
The bad news...
If they walked back outside carrying all this loot and got smashed to death by the giant, their equipment would explode across the ground.
Whether using a Bonfire or a teleportation crystal, teleportation only carried away items worn directly on the body. Bonfires were a little more forgiving, but even then, anything more than half a meter away would be left behind.
In other words — unless they dealt with the Giant Slave, none of them were leaving in peace.
Fingri and his companions quickly began discussing a strategy.
They'd fled earlier because they knew nothing about the Giant Slave. Now, though, they had a decent read on its strength, speed, and fighting style.
Their conclusion: they could beat it.
Just then, one of the Bone Fang party's adventurers looked up toward the doorway and suddenly screamed.
"AHH!"
A Cathedral Knight clad in heavy armor came hurtling into the room like a cannonball.
The adventurer had no time to dodge.
Bang!
He was smashed against the wall and killed instantly. The Cathedral Knight's corpse crumbled into ash as well.
Only a few seconds later did everyone realize what had happened.
"The Giant Slave is using other monsters as projectiles!"
Another monster flew into the room. Fortunately, this one survived the impact. Unfortunately, the moment it landed, it charged straight at the adventurers.
"Pretty clever."
Fingri cut the monster down while signaling to his teammates. Turning to Tusk and the others, he shouted:
"We'll keep the giant occupied! Use this chance to run — run as far as you can, straight for the gate! Don't hide in any nearby rooms!"
Without giving them time to object, Fingri, Matilda, and Aleya rushed out.
The Giant Slave slammed one arm onto the ground.
Instead of retreating, Fingri sprinted up its arm, slashing continuously as he climbed toward his target — the back of its neck.
The resemblance was uncanny. He looked exactly like a member of the Survey Corps charging a Titan.
Naturally, the Giant Slave wasn't about to sit still. Unable to catch Fingri, it simply threw its enormous body backward, meaning to crush him beneath its own weight.
BOOM!
Foul swamp mud exploded into the air.
Only then did Tusk come back to his senses.
"This isn't the time to stand around! Everyone, run!"
As they fled, Tusk glanced back. He saw Fingri struggling through the swamp below on the first floor. Every step looked unbearably heavy, as though he were carrying a mountain on his shoulders.
The thick mud alone would have hindered anyone's movement. But the mud inside the Cathedral of the Deep was no ordinary sludge — anyone trapped in it felt as though they were lugging around equipment far beyond their weight limit.
"Crap! Crap! Crap!"
Although Fingri's movements had slowed to a crawl, his thoughts remained perfectly clear.
Watching the Giant Slave lower its enormous backside toward him, his eyelids twitched violently.
THUD!
Tusk couldn't bear to watch what happened next.
The group kept running along the second-floor corridors. Every so often another room appeared, almost as if they'd been deliberately placed there as shelters from the giant.
Naturally, each room also held monsters. Fortunately, many of those monsters had already been dragged off earlier and hurled as ammunition by the Giant Slave.
Eventually they reached the first gate. Panting heavily, everyone looked back.
The Giant Slave lay motionless on the ground.
But the Hasavi party...
Had vanished.
"Where did Mr. Fingri and the others go?"
A horrifying thought crossed Tusk's mind.
"Don't tell me — they were killed by the giant?"
No. That couldn't be right. The giant looked powerful, sure, but surely it wasn't strong enough to wipe out an entire Gold-Rank team.
Without the Hasavi Party, the Bone Fang party now had to face the Cathedral of the Deep alone.
The despair was overwhelming.
They didn't even have time to process it. Heavy footsteps echoed ahead.
Thump... thump... thump...
Looking forward, everyone's expressions froze.
Two fully armed Cathedral Knights were slowly approaching. Every movement radiated overwhelming pressure.
When the Hasavi party had been around, these things had been nothing more than cannon fodder. Now that they were gone, they'd become terrifying bosses in their own right.
"Boss — should we run?"
"...Yeah, let's—"
Before Tusk could finish, he noticed someone standing inside a nearby room.
A person.
That wasn't unusual in itself. Technically, Cathedral Knights were people too. But this figure wore a set of plump, white armor that resembled...
An onion.
The armored man simply stared at them in silence. He made no hostile move. If anything, he looked more like a phantom than a monster.
Wait. Round, white, onion-shaped armor?
Why did that sound so familiar?
Tusk hesitated — and that single moment of hesitation cost him dearly.
A Cathedral Knight's greatshield slammed directly into his face. He flew through the air like a kite with its string cut, landing right at the feet of the so-called "Onion Knight."
"Tsk."
Tusk thought he heard the knight click his tongue.
When he looked up, the Onion Knight had already drawn his sword and stepped in to intercept the charging Cathedral Knight. Mid-fight, he shouted:
"I am Jack Bardo of Catarina! You all look like decent folk, so I'll lend you a hand!"
Jack Bardo?
Tusk blinked. Wasn't that the man trapped inside the well?
He'd climbed out? And even found his armor?
I thought the quest was supposed to be finding his armor, returning it, and getting a reward. Guess that route's gone now.
Still — why did his voice sound so strange? Did staying in the well too long give him a cold?
"Everyone, attack together!"
The Bone Fang party could handle one Cathedral Knight together. The Onion Knight duelled the other by himself.
With his help, the tide of battle turned instantly.
For the first time in a long while, hope returned.
"We won!"
As both Cathedral Knights collapsed into ash, the adventurers cheered triumphantly.
The Onion Knight crouched down nearby to rest. His posture was... odd. Although his armor looked adorably round and sturdy, the way he squatted looked more like a street thug than a noble knight. He resembled a gangster from Liurnia more than an honorable warrior. His appearance and mannerisms simply didn't match.
Clearing his throat, Tusk stepped forward.
"Thank you for helping us. I never expected you'd climb out of that well on your own — and even recover your armor. Congratulations."
The Onion Knight — "Jack Bardo" — paused briefly. Then he burst out laughing.
"So it was you! The one who talked to me at the well! What a coincidence. No need to thank me — a Knight of Catarina is always happy to help others."
The adventurers were deeply moved.
So this is what people from ancient times were like. This is what a truly righteous, selfless knight should look like.
"We have to thank you somehow. Is there anything we can do for you?" Tusk asked, pressing the point.
In truth, he wanted to see whether this phantom offered a quest.
"Let's see... Hmm. Then give me some souls. But don't misunderstand — this isn't payment for saving you. It's a trade. You give me souls, and I'll tell you where the Cathedral of the Deep's treasure vault is."
The adventurers didn't hesitate for even a second. They immediately handed over the Large Soul of a Proud Warrior they'd just obtained.
"A treasure vault?!"
"We knew it!"
"Every cathedral has a treasure vault!"
"Those holy men are always hoarding valuables — hahaha!"
"You really are short on money."
The Onion Knight chuckled.
"See the gate behind me? Cross to the other side — there's a hidden, narrow path. Follow it all the way, and you'll reach the treasure vault. I've already taken plenty for myself. The rest is yours."
As he spoke, the flap of his pouch happened to fall open. Golden treasure gleamed brilliantly inside.
Tusk couldn't help a sharp intake of breath. He turned toward his companions and saw every single one of them flushed with excitement.
The Hasavi party still hadn't returned. The dungeon would close for the day soon. They couldn't afford to wait much longer.
"Let's go! Treasure!"
"Once we find Mr. Fingri again, we'll share it with them!"
"That onion-shaped knight really is a wonderful person!"
"I like him!"
The adventurers happily climbed through the gate, eyes sparkling as though mountains of treasure already lay before them.
"Goodbye! And thank you!"
Tusk turned back to offer one last word of gratitude.
Suddenly—
Rumble...
The ground shook. Everyone nearly lost their footing.
Looking again — the gate was slowly lowering.
At the same time, a large group of monsters had already gathered nearby. In the distance, the fallen Giant Slave began to stir.
"Boss! What's happening?!"
Panic spread through the group.
Then — a familiar, snickering laugh echoed behind them.
"Hehehe..."
It was the Onion Knight.
"Greed truly is something humans can never rid themselves of."
"It was you!" Tusk finally understood. "We've been tricked!"
The Onion Knight slowly removed his helmet. Underneath was a shiny bald head, and the unmistakable grin of a scoundrel.
"As expected — the moment people see onion armor, they let their guard down. Farewell. Go have fun playing with the giant."
"Nooooo!"
At that instant, Tusk finally understood. That hadn't been Jack Bardo at all. It was the most infamous scoundrel Bedford City had ever known —
Patches!
Watching the gate descend while hordes of monsters closed in, the adventurers felt as though the countdown to their deaths had already begun.
Their desperate screams echoed, almost beautifully, through the cathedral.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the second floor, the Hasavi party finally reappeared.
After knocking the Giant Slave unconscious, they'd discovered they'd been hit with a powerful poison, forcing them to retreat and get treated. They'd climbed back up to the second floor by another staircase — on the opposite side from where they'd left.
"The gate's moving. But why did Tusk and the others fall down there?"
Fingri sighed helplessly.
"I disappear for one minute, and somehow they manage to create a disaster this size. Let's go save them. Perfect timing, too — we can finally test Flight."
Looking toward the second gate and the platform where the bishops had gathered, he smiled.
"We'll carry everyone and fly straight to the platform!"
Aleya immediately began casting Flight.
But none of them noticed — the instant the word "Flight" left her mouth, the giants lining both sides of the cathedral began to move.