Elian Ward always thought attacking Blunderbore, the Giants' capital, was a laughably insane idea. Now, he was part of the force attacking it and wasn’t laughing. And it truly was insane. Each one of them participating in the attack knew that.
But they also all knew they had no choice. It’d be the beginning of the end for humanity. That was why the Council of the United voted to send humanity’s strongest heroes to stop the ritual.
Elian was strong but far from the strongest and shouldn’t have been part of the attack. He wasn’t a hero either. At least, he never thought of himself as one. But if everything went according to plan, he’d be the most heroic hero in all of history.
The earth trembled as another of the Giant King’s elite guards fell. Flying debris dinged off Elian’s barrier as he treated the wounded.
“Stay still, Yanira,” said Elian, holding his glowing green hands over her. Emerald tattoos curling in the runes of Sirona surfaced on his skin. “I’m doing the best I can.”
“Elian…” Lady Yanira of the Mist Barrier coughed up blood. “Do-don’t bother…” She looked down at her body. Everything past her abdomen was gone, entrails strewn across the ground. A swing of the Giant guard had caught her.
She would be dead if not for Elian. His Melded Greater Boon of Lasting Relief allowed him to match the abilities of the most adept healers and was the reason the Council let him join the assault despite lacking in the firepower aspect. Boons, abilities granted by deities to their chosen, were akin to miracles. But they had limits. Elian couldn’t reconstruct Yanira’s lower half because he had expended too much energy during the course of the attack.
Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes. “Le-let me die. Re-remove… pain. Heal others.”
Elian knew he should move on. If he successfully pulled off his plan, her death wouldn’t have happened. But he couldn’t bring himself to leave her after all the years they’ve fought together. Yanira was one of the earliest friends he made after getting yanked from Earth and thrown into the world of Fellenyr.
Yanira touched his cheek. “You were always… so unwavering. Go.”
“Rest now,” Elian said, weaving her into a deep sleep before he withdrew his healing magic. He left her as she breathed her last.
All of this will never happen, Elian reminded himself as he jumped over a severed Giant leg and joined the push into the castle of Giant King Gogmagog.
He called up the Covenant with the Gods, a magical display only visible to the specific person that showed their attributes, Boons, and Curses. It was akin to the stat table of RPG games on Earth. Just like checking his pocket several times for his wallet before he left his apartment—Elian hadn’t been in his apartment on Earth for almost fifteen years—he always checked and rechecked the Covenant to make sure there actually was a plan. He never trusted that Timekeeper not to withdraw his Boon suddenly.
Elian Ward | Human | Level: 228
Health: 136,000/136,000
Energy: 951/66,550
ATTRIBUTES:
Attack Power: 220,245
Magic Power: 0
Armor: 53,119
Magic Resilience: 35,702
DIVINE BESTOWAL:
Melded Greater Boon of Lasting Relief III
Melded Greater Boon of Abundance and Famine III
Melded Greater Boon of the Enduring Circle III
Greater Boon of the Timekeeper’s Secret Gift III
Greater Boon of Seven Sorrows III
Greater Curse of the Berserking Abyssal Eye III
Lesser Boon of the Final Throne III
Lesser Curse of Tranquil Corrosion II
I’m unwavering because of this, Elian thought as he focused on the Boon from the bastard Timekeeper who yanked him from Earth and tasked him with saving the humans of Fellenyr.
Greater Boon of the Timekeeper’s Secret Gift
For a great sacrifice of your present and future, the way to the past is opened after you death. A hundred Favors and half of your improvements, so demands the Timekeeper. Along with your mind from the future, you can bring a Greater Boon or Greater Curse with you to the start of your journey. Forbidden from sharing knowledge of this gift, your tongue is tied lest you destroy the Timekeeper’s work.
The conditions set by the Timekeeper’s Boon severely weakened Elian despite him working much harder than the next guy. All of his attributes gained were halved, not to mention he had to start from level one though already an adult. Everyone should applaud him for reaching this far despite the massive challenges.
And that wasn’t all.
Each level rewards the person with a Favor Point. Elian had to set aside a hundred of those for the activation of his time travel instead of progressing his other Boons or Curses. Not to mention he had to invest Favor Points into the Timekeeper’s Secret Gift itself to make it a Greater Boon and lessen its penalties. It was much, much worse before.
So many attribute points were eaten away by this Boon. The Favor Points of a hundred level wasted.
Or not.
Everything would be worth it once Elian returned to the past. This was why the deaths of friends and allies never hit him as hard as they should. He was going to save them all anyway.
He always kept note of important events that transpired and studied the Boons and Curses that’d best suit the situation once he literally restarted his life on Fellenyr. Too bad that there was a restriction from being able to tell others that he had a reset button or he could’ve brainstormed much more. Nonetheless, he was confident in his plans. He chose the Greater Curse of the Berserking Abyssal Eye to bring back with him.
Greater Curse of the Berserking Abyssal Eye
Attack Power multiplied by eight. For every thousand points of Attack Power, increase the multiplier by one. Magic Power reduced to zero. The Abyssal Eye curses your body to never feel the touch of healing from any deity. The efficacy of all potions that touch your lips will be cut in half.
Boons and Curses—Elian would always say they were almost the same because they both granted benefits at a cost. Slight differences in obtaining them, he conceded. Boons were also generally less harsh. Even the Timekeeper’s condition was mild for the price of resetting the world.
In comparison, what the Abyssal Eye imposed on him was much more burdensome and dangerous.
A healer who couldn’t heal himself, that was Elian Ward. After all the time and sweat he paid to gain favor from two gods and merge their gifts for the much-coveted Melded Greater Boon of Lasting Relief, people thought him crazy or stupid for approaching the Abyssal Eye for its Curse. But he needed the massive increase of Attack Power to change early key events that’d certainly affect the future. He wasn’t going to waste years as a weakling like before.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Trust in me, Yanira, Elian thought. Everyone. Trust in me.
He’d make sure to prevent their deaths in the next timeline. He’d personally take care of this damned Giant King.
Elian insisted on joining this mission because he couldn’t get information about the defenses of the castle and about Giant King Gogmagog anywhere else. He was certain no one would survive this attack to return and share what they’ve learned. This was a suicide mission, a last-ditch attempt of humanity to survive.
As the heroes cleared floor after floor of the castle, descending deeper and deeper into its bowels, Elian committed its guards and defenses to memory. The next time they’d attack this place, he promised none of them would die. Maybe some. They lost two-thirds of their number fighting from the walls of the city up to the castle gate. And they continued to dwindle.
“Can we take on the Giant King?” asked Reuben the Faint Wind. He looked around, probably counting those remaining and thinking the same as Elian. Forty-seven of them left.
“We have to,” was the curt response of Marcus of the Iron Walls, their de facto leader after the Great Hero Salvinor died outside the castle.
Any more discussions were cut short because they arrived in front of towering doors. The doorway was wide enough to fit a human-sized castle through. Not really surprising because this was built for Giants. The problem was that the doors were made from faewyrm bones, resilient to magic, and secured by layers of warding runes of the Elder Giants. Beyond them must be the place where the ritual was held.
“Are there any Runebreakers still—?” Marcus began to say when a low rumble made everyone tense up.
The doors slowly swung open. The darkness beyond looked like a monster’s maw, inviting them to come inside with the promise they’d never leave.
“The Giant King mocks us!” shouted Witchblade Maria.
“Saves us time too,” Elian mumbled under his breath.
“Let us enter.” Marcus sent flying light orbs ahead as he passed through the doorway. As the rest of the group followed, he ordered formations and preparations. “Don’t slack in your detection. Spread light. We don’t want to be caught by an ambush.”
But there was none. No traps or Giants lying in wait to attack them.
Their group wandered into a room so vast they couldn’t see the walls or the ceiling despite the spells they cast. It might as well be a cavern with no end. Each of the hundreds of pillars holding up the dark ceiling was bigger than the towers of the Iron Walls.
“WELCOME, HUMANS!”
A forceful wave washed over Elian and his comrades. Some of them fell on their knees. A couple outright fainted. Migraines suddenly plagued Elian as he tasted bitterness at the back of his tongue. Just hearing those two words, he knew they could never defeat the one who had spoken.
From the shadows stepped forth the biggest Giant that Elian or any of them had ever seen, standing twice taller than the castle guards. They barely came up past the Giant’s ankles. Wearing regal attire and adorned with jewelry boasting gems the size of a wagon, there was no doubt that this was Giant King Gogmagog.
“I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR REACHING THIS PLACE,” said the Giant King. “YOU TINY CREATURES NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME.”
None of them could respond to the Giant King. Only a few of their group remained standing straight on their feet. Most wobbled. Others were on the ground.
Elian bent over as he vomited. The world spun. He fought for focus.
What did he learn about the Giant King so far? Nothing! He couldn’t pass out now.
“Yo-you’re going to die!” Marcus found his voice and fought the Giant King’s overwhelming pressure. The last knight of the Iron Walls conjured dozens of golden spears in the air in a blink and sent them flying to the Giant King.
Inspired by Marcus’ bravery, the others snapped out of their paralysis. They shouted in defiance of the unbeatable foe and used the last of their strength to attack. Even Elian joined in, desperately seeking the weakness of the Giant King.
But there seemed to be none.
They couldn’t even singe his clothes, their spells stopped by an invisible wall. Someone tried to attack the barrier with his swords, only to be shocked by powerful lightning upon contact.
I don’t know how to beat this guy! Elian raged in his head. They had traveled so far and fought through hell only to discover nothing useful.
No matter. There was a next time. And the next, and yet another next after that. He could rely on the Timekeeper’s power to endlessly retry this until he won.
“ENOUGH!”
Marcus exploded into fine red mist. Elian didn’t see what happened. Some of them started to flee; their screams were cut short as they died in a blink. Those who stayed pressed on with the fruitless attack, bursting and dying one by one as Marcus had.
Elian stopped fighting.
I’ll avenge all of you, was his only thought.
Twelve of them left.
Now, eight.
Five.
Three.
Elian nodded at Reuben the Faint Wind before closing his eyes to receive his fate.
Silence.
No more screams. No more explosions. The only sound he could hear was his breathing.
Elian opened his eyes to the last of the glowing orbs of Marcus flickering out of existence. But he didn’t need to cast any skill for light because the gems worn by the Giant King shone brightly.
The floor was painted red with the blood of Elian’s comrades. He couldn’t make out anything recognizable from the gore. Even the pieces of armor they had worn were pulverized. The monster responsible for the massacre remained unmoving where he stood, an amused look on his face high above.
“DO YOU KNOW WHY I LEFT YOU ALIVE, HUMAN?” asked Giant King Gogmagog.
“No…” Eli pushed on his knees and straightened himself to look up at his colossal enemy.
“EACH ONE OF YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS WAS AFRAID. THEIR BRAVERY OVERCAME THEIR FEAR. BUT NOT YOU. I SENSE NO FEAR IN YOU.”
“Someday, the one who’ll defeat you will come!” Elian shouted, his lungs struggling to push out air. It’ll be me, he added in his head. He activated the runes inside his armor, preparing to detonate his surprise.
“YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE YOUR OWN WORDS DESPITE FACING CERTAIN DEFEAT. I WONDER WHY…” The eyes of the Giant King turned gold with inscription of burning red surfacing.
What was the Giant King doing? Elian made sure to remember every stroke of the inscriptions though his vision was hazy. The symbols might hold a clue to the Giant King’s magic. He’d research them in the next timeline.
“Humanity… never gives up!” Elian stepped forward though his legs felt like lead. He flitted in and out of consciousness with one thought left—put even just a scratch on this colossal bastard before dying.
“AH… I SEE. AN INKLING OF YOUR PLAN, I HAVE.”
The Giant King must be talking about the bomb that Elian carried. He couldn’t have known about Elian’s Timekeeper’s Boon, could he?
A few more seconds. Whether the Giant King killed him or the bomb exploded, Elian would be on his way to the past. None of the Giant King’s nonsense would stop him.
“I PRAY FOR MY ANCESTORS TO CURSE YOU!” rumbled Giant King Gogmagog. A mountain of a shadow loomed behind the Giant King. “MAY YOU SURVIVE TO WATCH THIS ALL UNFOLD ONCE MORE BUT BE POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING.”
“Wha-?”
"I BID YOU, GOODBYE.”
And Elian exploded.
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Elian stirred as sunlight danced on his eyelids. He blinked to adjust his eyes and looked up at the bright sun of Fellenyr, gold with occasional strings of green that were said to be good luck. He felt the soft grass below him as he pushed himself to sit up.
Just like the previous time, he was wearing a plain shirt and shorts. His last moment on Earth was buying groceries.
Looking around, he beheld a familiar sight he hadn’t seen for so long. The house of old man Wendell and his wife stood across a plot of freshly tilled soil. Their barns were further beyond. The rolling hills to his left were where groff roamed. And behind him, there was the tree with that awful-tasting fruit. He tried eating it before and ended up puking the whole night.
“I’ve returned to the past! It worked!” Elian cheered. He was concerned for a moment back there that the Giant King had a way to stop it.
He balled a right hand into a fist. Angry red tattoos of different eye designs appeared on his arm. The Curse he designated to bring was also here. Excited to test it, Elian punched the tree for revenge, expecting the bark to break.
But the tree was unharmed.