~Chapter 16~

~Vol 2 Big man big giant~

~the world just got a lot bigger ~

“Madoxx, I can’t believe all that happened to you in these two years,” Eliza said.

“Yeah, it was difficult. And even now… without Melody, I wouldn’t have managed to get here. Not without all the help I had along the way,” I corrected myself.

We sat in the medical ward of the king’s castle in Veloria.

The room was massive, filled with beds similar to the ones in Liliths home.

“So… about Ola,” I said, lowering my head.

“You did all you could,” Eliza replied. “And I’m glad you made Magnus pay.” Her teeth clenched, her anger simmering. “It’s fine, Madoxx. I know she’s at peace now. Our friends are, too. They didn’t die in vain—you avenged them.”

“Yeah,” I said, though I didn’t feel convinced.

“If you’re going to talk so loud, please leave the hospital room. Patients are resting,” Nyssa snapped at us.

“No, Melody’s been awake this whole time,” I said dryly.

“Wait, what? How did you know that?” she said, springing to her feet.

I smiled. “How are you feeling?” I asked, glancing at her missing arms.

“I’ll be fine,” she said with a determined look in her eyes. “I can’t use my hands, but I’ll use my feet.”

Lilith walked in. “We scanned the area as you requested, and it’s true. Besides us, no one else survived. The kingdom is empty,” she reported.

“I understand,” I replied.

“And the surroundings?” I asked.

“Just outside Bountyreach, there’s a small village past where the dome once stood. We haven’t made contact yet,” Lilith added.

Athena and Zen appeared behind her.

“I understand,” I said, taking a moment to think. “We should make contact with them when we have the chance. But be cautious—there could be an attack from the Church or enemies we don’t know about yet.”

“Yes,” they replied in unison, then turned to leave.

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Lilith had regained her power after the barrier fell, and I’d used 100,000 imbued souls to heal Zen and Athena. For now, they were all we had as backup if we were attacked again. Though honestly, I was sure Lilith’s demonic strength alone could send anyone running.

“So, what’s the next step, Madoxx?” Eliza asked.

“We need to find a way to repair Melody’s hands. The world just got a lot bigger for us, but if someone can craft her new ones, I’m sure we’ll find them,” I said.

Melody nodded in agreagreemen "Thanks mad—”

Before she could finish, the Codex leapt from my dimensional storage, landing on the bed.

Melody and Eliza stared at it, wide-eyed.

It opened, glowing white as it flipped through its pages, one after the next, before stopping on one I’d never seen before.

I’d read the Codex countless times, but this… this was new to me too.

The page read Big Man, Big Giant, and there was an image of a towering man being worshiped by others like him in a forest lit by a massive fire.

I touched the page, and as I did, it glowed red.

I read aloud the name written beneath the title: Stormspire Plateau.

As soon as I said the name, the book vibrated violently. A bright white light burst from it, blinding us.

“What did you do, Madoxx?!” Melody shouted.

“Nothing, I swear!” I said defensively.

“Guys, I can’t see!” Eliza said, panicking.

“None of us can!” Melody snapped. “Madoxx first you let them take my arms and then you blind me ,whats wrong with you!" Melody shouted.

“What? No, I—” I replied, but I couldn’t even defend myself.

A massive rumble shook the air around us, and a warm sensation washed over my skin before we suddenly landed on something soft and wet.

It took a moment for our eyes to adjust. When they did, I saw a colossal tree—larger than anything I’d ever seen—stretching into the skies.

As I looked around, I saw more like it. We were in a massive forest in the dead of night, a forest ten times our size.

“Where are we?” I muttered. “What just happened?”

Before anyone could answer, a thunderous rumble spread across the land. Bang. Bang. Bang. Each step shook the ground, making us stumble.

“Hurry!” a voice boomed—louder than anything I’d ever heard.

We looked up and saw two massive creatures unlike anything I’d ever imagined. They looked human but had horns, bulging stomachs, and sharp, protruding canine teeth. Their thinning hair clung to oversized heads, and they were almost as large as the trees.

One carried a massive, injured deer—larger than anything I’d ever seen—above its head. The other had a colossal bow strapped to its back, a quiver full of arrows larger than us all.

Eliza and Melody stared, mouths wide open.

“What the hell is going on now?” I muttered, completely shocked.

They ran past us, shaking the ground with every step. Bang. Bang. Bang.

“Quickly!” I shouted, pointing toward a tree. “Run for cover!”

We bolted toward one of the huge trees and crouched beneath its massive base.

“Madoxx!” Eliza panted, her breaths uneven. “That was a huge monster person—with big teeth and horns! Am I dreaming, or—please, please wake me up!”

“Let me check,” Melody said, and before Eliza could react, she quickly headbutted her.

“Ouch!” Eliza screamed, glaring at her. “What is wrong with you?!”

“I guess you’re not dreaming,” Melody replied slyly, a smirk forming on her lips.

“Stop it, you two! This is not the time!” I said dryly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“We need to figure out what’s going on here right now before we literally get stomped out by some giant… thing!” I yelled.

“Calling me a ‘thing’ hurts my feelings, little one,” a deep voice rumbled from behind me.

I froze. Slowly, I turned, my heart pounding.

The tree—what I thought was just a tree—had a door built into its side. And peeking out from behind it was a huge giant.

He had deep wrinkles all across his face, his features looked aged and weathered. He looked old, it was hard to tell because most of his body was still hidden behind the doorframe.

“Wwwwww...hhhhhhhaaaaaaaaat?!” Eliza and Melody screamed.