Chapter 154: For Bask

Duskfang and Verdant hovered high above the shifting land of Bask, their forms outlined against the distant horizon, now fractured and changed by the Earth Giant King's unrelenting advance. They had been unleashing everything they could towards the giant, but apart from a few cracks on its massive body, and a few pauses to its movement, it was for naught, as it treated them like annoying insects, proceeding forward.

The once-close Central Region was little more than a faint blur away from them, the separation marked by the vast, growing sea.

Despite the distance, the ominous silhouette of the Earth Giant King loomed, each massive step reverberating like thunder in their chests as it had finally reached land.

Verdant's gaze remained locked on the giant. His face was etched with grim determination as he broke the silence, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of impending doom. "We don’t have a choice, We know Stone is fast but maybe not fast enough. We have to bring out our spirit weapons. We are lucky it sees us as nothing more than bugs, but If we can slow it down further, even for a longer time, it might buy us enough time to see what Stone is planning."

Duskfang’s pale face darkened further at the suggestion, his eyes narrowing beneath the weight of his injury. "The Rollen King’s spear did more damage than I initially thought," he admitted, flexing his shoulder as if testing its strength. "I might not be able to unleash the full extent of my power, but I’ll do what I can. Even if I can’t stagger it, I’ll try to hold it off for as long as possible."

Verdant nodded solemnly, his jaw set as he raised his arm. In an instant, the ethereal green energy of the Verdant Lance materialized in his hand. The weapon glowed fiercely, its poison-laden aura rippling like waves of venomous light. "This is our only shot," he said firmly.

Duskfang inhaled deeply, lifting his arm into the air. A shadow fell across the land as he began to chant, his voice resonating like the toll of a distant bell: "The light fades, the shadows rise… In the space where day surrenders to night, my power awakens. Dusk Mantle… Envelop them in eternal twilight!"

The air around Duskfang seemed to shudder as the chant ended, and the battlefield began to change. The bright sky dimmed unnaturally as if a curtain of twilight was being drawn over the world.

The light of the sun—already faint from the Earth Giant King’s oppressive aura in the surrounding world—waned further, and the colors of the land shifted to muted tones of deep purple, shadowy blue, and faint silver.

Duskfang’s spirit weapon, Dusk Mantle, manifested with an ethereal flourish.

The weapon did not take the shape of a conventional blade or staff but appeared as a liquid-like shroud of shifting, semi-corporeal energy. It hung heavily from Duskfang’s shoulders like a cloak of pure twilight, its texture neither fully solid nor entirely intangible. The mantle billowed and coiled around him like living smoke, glowing faintly at its edges, which dissolved into motes of light before reforming anew.

From the mantle’s frayed edges, two pitch-black sickles extended, their curved blades gleaming like the void. The weapons were seamlessly connected to the shifting cloak, moving with Duskfang’s every gesture. Occasionally, crescent moon shapes and abstract twilight symbols rippled across the mantle’s surface, fleeting and mysterious like reflections in water.

Verdant cast a glance at Duskfang, his voice steady yet tinged with urgency. "Your mantle seems heavier than usual, don't overdo it."

Duskfang smirked faintly, though pain lingered behind his expression. "The weight of twilight isn’t a burden—it’s a promise. Let’s give this giant something to remember."

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Verdant positioned himself, his Verdant Lance thrumming with energy as he prepared to unleash his most powerful move—his third stroke, a devastating technique he rarely used unless all hope was on the line.

Duskfang gave a single nod before gliding to the side, his mantle swirling behind him like the trailing smoke of an extinguished flame.

The Earth Giant King’s footsteps grew louder as it approached, each step shaking the heavens and the earth alike. The three Magians were specks compared to its colossal size, but they didn’t falter.

“This is it,” Verdant muttered under his breath, his lance glowing brighter than ever.

Duskfang’s voice cut through the air, low and steady. "For Bask. For our people. Let’s make every second count."

The Earth Giant King’s colossal form marched forward, each stride sending shockwaves through the land.

High above, Verdant and Duskfang hovered, their spirit weapons pulsing with energy. The air was thick with tension as they prepared to unleash their combined might, their very lives on the line to delay the titan’s advance.

The Verdant Lance shimmered, its venomous light growing brighter with every second. Duskfang’s Dusk Mantle swirled with an eerie grace, its twin sickles poised to strike.

But then, without warning, an immense pressure surged from the south—a presence so overwhelming that it made both Magians falter in midair. Their instincts screamed danger, and for a fleeting moment, fear clawed at their resolve.

“Another calamity?” Verdant muttered, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the source of the disturbance.

Duskfang’s gaze followed, his expression grim. "Something’s coming… but from the south? Could something else have crawled out of that accursed hole?"

As the pressure grew stronger, the sky seemed to ripple like a disturbed pond. A shadow appeared on the horizon, growing larger with each passing moment. Suddenly, a deafening roar split the air, its sound like grinding stone and crashing mountains.

Then they saw it—a titanic Stone Dragon, its gargantuan wings slicing through the air with thunderous beats.

Its massive body, carved as if by the hands of ancient sculptors, glimmered with an otherworldly sheen. The dragon’s form was closer to a wyvern, its forelimbs fused with its wings, but there was no mistaking the raw power it exuded.

The chest of the Stone Dragon radiated with an intense pink glow, emanating from a crystalline core embedded deep within its body. The core pulsed like a heartbeat, sending waves of energy rippling outward.

The very air around the dragon seemed to hum with its power, creating an almost tangible aura of majesty and destruction.

And atop the dragon’s head stood Magian Stone, his figure dwarfed by the colossal creature yet commanding all the focus. His robes billowed in the wind, his stance unwavering, his eyes sharp and filled with unshakable confidence.

The energy of the Stone Dragon radiated in sync with his own presence, as if they were extensions of one another.

Duskfang’s mouth fell open, his usually cool demeanor shattered by the sheer awe of the sight. "By the Ancients…" he whispered. "He actually did it. He made it work."

Verdant’s face lit up with a rare expression of pure elation. "The Stone Dragon… it’s really flying. He found a way to power it. With this… with this, we can turn the tide!"

The Stone Dragon let out another earth-shaking roar as it soared closer, its enormous wings sending gusts of wind that bent trees and kicked up dust in massive swirls. The crystalline core on its chest shone brighter, bathing the battlefield in a pinkish glow that seemed to banish even the Earth Giant King’s oppressive aura for a moment.

From atop his mount, Magian Stone’s voice rang out, clear and commanding. "Verdant! Duskfang! Stand ready! Together, we will hold the line for Bask!"

The two Magians exchanged a glance, their hope rekindled like a flame roaring to life.

“This changes everything,” Duskfang said, gripping the shifting edges of his Dusk Mantle more tightly as he readied his sickles.

Verdant nodded, the Verdant Lance in his hand glowing brighter than ever. "With Stone and the dragon, we might just stand a chance."

Below, the Earth Giant King slowed its steps, its hollow eyes locking onto the Stone Dragon as if recognizing a worthy opponent. It let out a guttural roar, its ancient voice reverberating across the land, and raised its massive fists in challenge.

Magian Stone’s voice echoed once more, filled with resolve. "For Bask! Let’s show this monster what the power of our land can do!"

The battle was about to begin, the clash between titans set to decide the fate of Bask. The three Magians, united by their desperation and hope, prepared to unleash everything they had against the ancient husk of the Earth Giant King. And with the Stone Dragon roaring beside them, it felt, for the first time, like they had a fighting chance.