Chapter 17: Welcome To Galios
"That was...unexpected. It seems this one does possess gifts for combat, after all," Blythe remarked with a small sigh of relief, looking up at the capybara.
It seemed like the giant was out of commission, laying there motionless on the trampled trees.
Gael brushed the capybara's fur before finding it suddenly shrinking down, rapidly returning to its previous size, "—Huh?"
Without any reaction of its own, Pucha simply started feasting on the luscious grass beneath it.
"So, you can change size, bud?" Gael remarked while petting the head of the herbivore. "Thanks for the help."
"What an interesting system you possess, Gael. It's certainly unique even among your peers," Blythe remarked with a smile.
"Thanks, I guess? I'm not all that used to it yet," Gael said, standing back up as the capybara stayed by his side.
A slap to his back sharply came as he was greeted by the laughter of the warrior.
"That's Master for ya! So reliable!" Florentine claimed.
"Uhhh...Thanks? Don't think you needed to slap me for that," he mumbled.
Onwards through the dense reaches of the forest, the path was led by Blythe, who navigated with her bronze compass. Through a parade of trees, crossing a rampant river, sneaking by imposing bears, hours of hiking went on before—
"We made it," Blythe claimed, stepping past the tree line.
It was hard to tell before following, finding the foliage obscuring the sight beyond the forest at last. Stepping through the bushes was like stepping into a different region.
"This is Galios...?" Gael wondered.
What sat in the near distance was not the simple, medieval kingdom made of stones and bricks he expected. It was a fortified colossus of a kingdom, surrounded by silver walls that stretched to the clouds.
"Seriously, isn't that overdoing it?" He questioned, looking in awe at the impossible tall, vast walls
"Galios shares its continent with giants. The one we encountered was a runt—some are taller than the walls of most kingdoms," Blythe explained. "That's why Galios has adapted."
"That's a scary thought," he mumbled, following along.
The forest led out into a road stretching to the front gates of the imposing walls.
It was difficult to even see the exterior of the kingdom as mere barriers, more like the entirety of the north was that silver, pristine material.
The outskirts of the capital city were filled with craters in the grassy plains, with stretches of scorched land.
"Looks like this place has seen battle," Florentine observed.
Gael noticed the same, though it didn't stop Pucha from trying out the grass as it trotted alongside him.
"Galios is in constant war with the giants. This road tends to be pretty dangerous, actually. We'll be safe, though," Blythe assured, leading the way as she casually walked along the gravel road.
"You sound pretty confident in that," Gael said, glancing to the side.
In the distance, a mile away at most, the tall trees parted as a massive frame emerged. It put the giant he encountered prior to shame; the towering figure shrouded in shoddy, leather armor rivaled a radio tower in height.
"Another one—?!" Gael called out.
"Hah! Look how big that guy is!" Florentine excitedly claimed, raising her hammer.
It stomped right for him, each downfall of its mighty feet causing the entirety of the plains to rumble. Yet, as he looked over at Blythe, she hardly seemed concerned.
"Just standby," the silver-haired girl assured.
"For what?—" Gael asked.
The air flexed, feeling his ears "pop" as a shock wave silently erupted, followed by a burst of blinding light before—FWOOOM.
A massive impact struck the spot the giant marches upon, erupting in smoke as the force of it spread out in a gust.
"Holy shit—!" Gael let out, feeling bits of dirt and pebbles pelting his skin.
From the cloud of dust, it was hard to decipher anything before it faded, finding no sign of the giant. All that was there was a scorched imprint on the field, nothing left of the colossus.
"It's gone?" Florentine questioned.
Blythe pointed up towards the unseen peak of the walls, "Thank the Annilatory Cannons up there. The pride of Galios' Impenetrable walls."
"That was from a cannon...? What the hell was it shooting?!" Gael questioned.
An answer wasn't given as he continued onward, following the road. All he could do was hope those cannons weren't pointed at him.
'I almost feel bad for the giants. Seriously, this place has some WMDs,' he thought.
Arriving at the front gates, the sheer scale of the impenetrable walls was all the more daunting. Tilting his head back, all he could see was that sleek, silver surface running up for miles and miles, past the clouds.
"I didn't think to ask until now, but...will they just let us in?" Gael asked, staring at the gates.
It looked as fortified as it could be, with layers of steel protecting the entryway into the kingdom's walls. Flags with a two-headed dragon waved in the wind, hanging from the foremost layers of smooth steel.
"That won't be a problem," Blythe assured him.
Though she said that, he found himself simply standing there, waiting in silence for a minute, staring at those walls before—the gates began to part.
To his surprise, they were welcomed directly by a march of ironclad soldiers and a man leading them. It was the foremost figure that took his attention, watching the man dressed in obsidian armor with an azure cape stop in front of them.
The stranger didn't look to be older than middle-aged, though possessed pale, bountiful hair like that of a lion's mane.
"You have arrived safely, Lady Peonyvale. Praise Sangara," the tall, snowy-haired man greeted, firmly saluting hand over his heart.
"Thank you, Sir Grandhield," Blythe returned the greeting.
From the way they spoke, it was a bit odd to him, as though Blythe was already planning on coming to Galios.
He found himself in front of the gallant figure, who stood an entire head over him with a broad, sturdy physique.
'This guy would get drafted number one overall in the big leagues,' he thought.
"I am Van Grandhield, General of Galios' Ironclad," the lion-like man introduced himself, extending a hand.
Being right there with him, he could see the heterochromic eyes of the general; the left like a fiery jewel, while the left was of frost.
"Gael," he gave his name, accepting the man's hand.
It immediately felt as if he stuck his fingers into a bear trap as his hand was squeezed. If his body was as it was just a day prior, there was no doubt every bone would've been crushed to powder.
"Ha-ha! Now, you're a sturdy one, aren't you?" Grandhield laughed before letting go, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
Gael waved his hand with a wince, trying to laugh it off as well, "...Yeah, you were trying to break my hand?"
"If I did, I would've had our best healers in the kingdom restore it, worry not. It's how I test the men I meet–if they are worthy of respect," Grandhield explained to him with a smile as though it were a normal line of reasoning.
Florentine seemed to beam as though it were a game, stepping up as she extended her hand, "I'll take you up on that! The name's Florentine!"
"Oh? A female warrior of your size is certainly a wonder!" Grandhield laughed before accepting her hand.
Almost immediately, Florentine's complexion reddened as she began to sweat, though managing to endure the crushing handshake of the general. Gael felt a bit of confidence seeing as he handled it better than the huffing warrior, once more hearing that ear-piercing laughter from the eccentric man.
"Welcome to Galios, Outlander. I am sure you will find it much to your liking."
The introduction to the impossibly vast kingdom was presented as the boisterous general turned around, waving his hand for them to enter the gates.