If one had to describe it, it would be a storm.
When the two giants, nearly thirty feet tall, bellowed at the human knights who had formed a blockade, their howls turned into a storm that barreled toward the humans.
The knights were frozen on the spot, withstanding the formidable sonic storm; their bones and flesh seemed as if they were squeezed, creaking agonizingly.
Normally, these knights of the Meipros family, baptized by battle, would not fear mere giants. Yet, at that moment, their faces betrayed sheer terror.
Kazi and the others struggled against the storm-like howls, their eyes wide with shock as they watched the towering guardians emitting such fearsome roars.
Even the expressions of Revin and Nipede had turned grim, one gripping a greatsword, the other clutching a staff, tension spreading through their bodies.
Among all present, perhaps only Reiger managed to maintain a calm, even nonchalant demeanor.
However, that could hardly be said for the young girl by his side.
The girl, clutching a gleaming golden sword and engulfed in the storm-like fury of the giants’ bellow, let out a feeble groan.
Without lifting a finger, the mere outcry made the girl realize that the foes before her were undoubtedly the most terrifying she had ever encountered.
For a young girl who had recently become a full-fledged Swordsman to feel utterly outmatched by an enemy that even a Sword Saint must approach with caution was only natural.
But the girl did not retreat.
Because a warm, large hand rested upon her shoulder, imparting courage.
"Actually, you needn’t have come up here."
Her master said so beside her, his expression unaffected by the raging howl, as tranquil as a gentle breeze.
Was it not natural for the girl to feel involuntary admiration and reverence deep inside her upon seeing her master ?
Yet the girl shook her head, declining her master’s kind offer.
"I am my master’s attendant; it is my duty to stand at the forefront," she declared with a resolute expression.
Liz no longer wanted to witness Reiger, her master, blocking danger on her behalf—it made her doubt the very necessity of her existence as an attendant.
The purpose of an attendant was to take on the enemy’s onslaught, to shield their master, to buy time for them to cast magic.
Until now, Liz had never fulfilled that role. Instead, she had been saved by her master, who stepped forward for her and even faced danger alone.
This was a gross dereliction of duty, beyond mere failure.
Liz didn’t want to feel the worry and sadness as before, so this time, she was determined to stand in front of her master and fight for him.
Reiger observed the glow in Liz’s eyes and the firmness on her tender face, and he smiled faintly.
Then, Reiger began to cast magic on the young girl.
With Reiger’s incantation, Liz found her body beginning to float.
Liz looked at Reiger with surprise.
But Reiger’s incantations were not yet over.
"[High-level All-attribute Enhancement], [Infinite Barrier], [Freedom], [Extraordinary Intuition], [High-level Resistance Enhancement], [Chaos Cloak], [Defiance], [Perception Boost], [High-level Luck], [Dragon’s Strength], [High-level Hardening], [Heavenly Spirit Energy], [Absorb], [Penetration Increase], [High-level Magic Shield], [Weapon Blessing], [Weapon Magic Enhancement], [Heart of the Lion], [Physical Weapon Resistance], [Sanctuary Blessing], [Sprint], [Acceleration], [Elemental Phase], [Earth Mother’s Power]———"
In the midst of rapid and precise incantations, myriad spells successively took effect on Liz, causing various magical lights to flicker around her.
The sight left not only the frozen Meipros family knights agape but also the solemn Nipede, whose eyes widened in disbelief.
"What, what is that...!?"
Nipede exclaimed in disbelief.
"Support Magic for enhancement? But how can there be so many...!?"
Having never seen anyone apply such a multitude of enhancement spells at once, Master Nipede became frantic.
Because magic was not something that could be stacked without limit. Applying various spells with different effects to a single entity often led to conflicts between the spells, with cancellation or even total ineffectiveness being common occurrences.
At least, that was Nipede’s understanding.
Especially so for operative spells that have a direct effect on oneself or others. Sometimes they might even cause unpredictable chemical reactions when applied simultaneously; therefore, it was unheard of to layer dozens of spells upon a single person in one go.
Yet Reiger did just that, and it appeared that the spells were indeed taking effect, enveloping Liz in a radiance of magical light and gradually elevating her presence.
This turn of events shattered Nipede’s world view once again.
Unaware of all this, Liz unconsciously closed her eyes, feeling the surge of power welling within her, almost convinced that she had become invincible.
Of course, that was an illusion.
Yet it demonstrated that Liz’s strength had indeed improved—and significantly so.
This surge of power ceased just as the two giant guardians began their heavy charge toward them.
Reiger’s voice finally reached Liz’s ears.
"Remember to breathe."
On hearing Reiger’s words, Liz almost subconsciously adjusted her breathing.
This was not the breathing that the girl was accustomed to, but the one she learned from her master after coming to the Meipros domain.
As the rhythm of her breathing changed on Liz’s form, a large amount of oxygen was also inhaled into her mouth, filling her lungs.
In that instant, Liz’s heart and lungs pulsed, and the flow of her blood suddenly quickened, bringing forth a new strength within her.
Feeling this power and sensing her own might at that moment, Liz lifted her eyelids and fixed her gaze on the giant charging at her with a roar.
The next second, Liz disappeared.
The girl hovering in mid-air stomped on the atmosphere with a force that shattered it, transforming into a streak of light that darted forward while drawing the sword she had been clutching in her arms.
The giant was still resonating through the air, unleashing a furious roar.
In response, Liz, like a nimble cat, flitted about while swinging the Moslo Sword in her hand.
"Love Breath·Third Form·Love Cat Rain!"
Golden slashes appeared.
They were slashes that covered an extremely wide area.
The slashes, as if copying Liz’s movements, swirled around like agile cats while cutting across the giant’s entire body, enveloping the giant’s massive bulk completely.
The golden slashes tore open the giant’s body, slicing through its limbs and every part of it, causing the giant’s flesh to be flayed in an instant.
For a moment, the giant didn’t seem to realize what had happened until a short while later, when it let out a pain-filled roar.
Liz successfully landed the first strike, wounding the giant guard, considered a formidable enemy, faster than anyone else could.
Everyone present at the scene gasped at that moment.
And including the three brothers Kazi, Axel, and Diego.
Amidst its howls of pain, the giant was thrown into a state of furious rage, ignoring the shock of the onlookers and launched a meteor-like punch at Liz, who had flown into the sky.
The enormous fist landed on a stone pillar nearby, shattering it instantly.
Boulders the size of rocks came falling from above, crashing down but failing to affect Liz, who swiftly dodged the giant’s punch with her rapid movements.
"Love Breath·Second Form·Love of Wandering Anguish!"
Liz continued with her strange, rapid movements, wielding the Moslo Sword, slashing through the air with whip-like, erratic trajectories.
"Pffcht!" "Pffcht!" "Pffcht!" ...
The slashes each hit the giant, as if invisible sickles scraped across various parts of the giant’s body, causing it to be flayed open once again.
The giant howled in pain, angered, roared and chased after Liz, who kept leaping back and forth like a cat.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" ...
The giant’s punches and spear-like swings landed nonstop where Liz had been just a second before, shattering the ground, walls, surrounding stone pillars, and debris that fell from the ceiling due to the vibrations, creating clouds of flying dust.
Liz engaged in a fierce struggle with the giant, leaving those who had never seen her in combat utterly astonished.
"She, she really is an Attendant of the Swordsman rank...?"
Nipede, who had speculated about Liz’s power before, felt his scalp tingle.
And if Nipede felt that way, it went without saying for the rest.
In the eyes of those unfamiliar with Liz, the girl was beautiful, stunning, even a goddess-like beauty that could be described as capable of toppling countries and cities.
They never knew that such a beauty could be so strong.
They never knew that this goddess-like beautiful girl possessed such power.
So, when Liz demonstrated a power that seemed to surpass all the knights present, and possibly even surpass Kazi, second only to the Sword Saints, everyone was stunned.
Only Reiger, suddenly smiled and began chanting magic.
"[Oh herald of the end, oh pristine white snow]."
"[As twilight approaches, summon the howling gale]."
He chanted the spell that he hadn’t uttered in a long time, letting his spiritual power surge as magic power.
"[The sealed light, the frozen earth]."
"[The blizzard that fills the skies, the threefold harsh winter—my name is Alf]."
This was one of the magics personally taught by the strongest Magic Guide of Oraley.
"[Frenzied Fimbul Winter]."