6 Journey Begins

Hours after their talk of their respective past Leo and Eli were still walking on the same road.

"How long does this path go? Leo said sounding irritated.

"Hmph for a man who loves battle so much, you have no stamina." Eli who had returned to her icy cold expression.

Leo answered slightly mad, "this isn't about stamina Eli! This is about the boredom that's accumulating within me. If you haven't noticed the time we left the village was during sunrise now it's almost sunset. How long does it take, just to travel to another village?!"

"Calm down will you! How can you expect to travel just this one continent if you can't even travel from one village to another?"

Leo took a deep breath and answered "Yeah your right. Sorry about that, I was just a little excited that's all."

The two continued walking when suddenly they felt a tremor. "What is this an earthquake? No this is.."

As Leo was trying to discern the source of the trembling, Eli commented "I smell blood. Lots of blood, There's a battlefield up ahead." Leo showed a vicious grin, while Eli sighed "We're going right?"

"What kind of question is that Eli? The only path is straight ahead! Even if there is a battlefield we could only go forward right!"

Leo started brimming with battle spirit while Eli sighed more "I already knew, you were this kind of person."

Leo started sprinting forward and Eli followed. Even as Leo sprinted forward at full speed Eli was able to follow with ease. It would seem that Eli and him have almost identical physical capabilities. So the only reason Leo won was because Eli seemed to be flustered. If they fought on even ground it would've been a more spectacular battle.

As Leo was smirking at his own thoughts Eli pointed out "Were here." Leo looked at the area of the battlefield. It was a great plain similar to where he met Rain. On the field were figures that looked like humans in appearance but completely different. The difference was they were five meters tall.

"Those are giants! They are even bigger than what I have read in books." Eli looked amazed at the scene. The giants were wearing full plated body armor as they ran across the field carrying large axes and hammers. Some were even holding slings. Hundreds upon thousands of giants where there. Every time they stepped on the land, they made the ground tremble and altogether it was as if the whole world was shacking.

The entire field that the eye could see was full of them, if one were to throw a needle it would never reach the ground. That was how large and numerous the giants were. All of them were heading toward a fifty meter wide and thirty meter high wall. The wall seemed to be made specifically to withstand a siege of giants. It was a fortress to ward of giants, and from the fortress a rain of arrows came falling down.

There were even vines entangling the giants. The giants in retaliation were trying to open a hole on the walls. Sometimes due to the strength of their attacks an archer at the wall would fall.

When an archer falls, one of the giants would catch the falling archer and eat him. Due to the distance Leo and Eli couldn't determine what race the archers were, they could only see the giant chewing on the dead body. It was obvious to the two that the giants do not view the ones inside the fortress as enemies, they were their food. Eli looked disgusted at the sight.

"Even we vampires stopped feeding on other races centuries ago. Yet these giants show such savagery."

Watching this scene made, Leo's countenance changed from bliss to anger. "To defile the body of your opponents. These giants are nothing more than wild beasts!" Out of anger Leo drew his twin blades and jumped toward the middle of the battlefield. He landed on one of the giant's shoulders and from there he sliced its throat.

The giant fell flat on the ground. Leo who was using the giant's back as a platform, started to shout at the top of his lungs.

"HEY YOU GIANTS! HERE'S SOME FOOD FOR YOU! TRY TO TAKE IT WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! OR ELSE THIS FOOD OF YOURS MIGHT DEVOUR YOU INSTEAD!"

The giants seeing their dead comrade as well as hearing Leo's taunts, started screaming. Every one of them who heard Leo started to charge toward him. What filled their eyes was not anger for their fallen comrade. What filled their eyes was the hunger to devour Leo. Pointing chaos at the giants Leo did a sweeping motion. Seconds later the charging giants who were on the path of the sweep were slashed in half.

Leo did the same move twice. Hundreds of giants died in an instant. Though it seem to be a one sided battle, in reality it was not so easy. Leo was already breathing heavily, the battle he started hasn't even lasted three minutes but he was sweating as if he fought for a whole day.

Leo who was breathing heavily whispered his outrage "So this is my limit in using chaos." Leo who was panting still moved onward using his normal swordsmanship.

"You guys may be bigger, but your bodies are the same as a human. As long as I know that I can still fight."

†

Eli using her scythe was cutting down the giants. "Damn that idiot! Who knew that he would be such a hot head. By now he might be reaching his limit. Using that sword like that. Even though he told me it drains too much of his stamina." Eli was traversing the battlefield looking for Leo, while the giants surrounded her.

"Eternal glacier" Eli chanted spell words. The giants surrounding her were all encased in ice. Even Eli same as Leo was starting to sweat profusely "I'm reaching my limit. Damn where the hell is that idiot!"

†

Leo's sight was hazy, his breathing was difficult.

'Damn! It seems like I let my anger get the best of me.' As Leo thought this, his sword swings were getting dull. He was losing his speed and accuracy.

"Is this it? Will I die at the hands of these fools?" Leo knelt, his left leg was unable to support him anymore. Though I say they are fools, their pretty strong fools. The giants seeing Leo down and weakened charged at him. Each one of them started fighting to see who gets to eat Leo.

†

Eli was finally able to find Leo. He was kneeling down using serenity to support him from collapsing. There were several hundreds of dead giants behind him, as expected of him. While Eli was thinking of what to do next, she noticed that there were giants fighting one another in front of Leo.

'They seem to be killing one another just to eat Leo. Why? A while ago it was whoever was nearest that got to eat.' Eli shook her head. No this isn't time to be worrying about that I need to help Leo.

†

Leo's wounds started healing faster than a normal human. This was another of serenity's blessings to its wielder. Though the wounds were healing the fatigue he gained was still intact.

'Even if all of my wounds were to heal I still won't be able to do much.' Leo started thinking of every possible way to survive, until he heard a familiar voice.

"Hey you idiot! What the hell were you thinking?"

"I'm glad you're alive Eli." Eli looked at Leo irritated.

"Whose fault is it!? That I was dragged into a situation where I could die!" Leo scratched his head as he answered, "well sorry, I just got a little angry."

Eli looked at Leo full of suspicion "a little? Well I'll scold you later. We better get out of here while their fighting against themselves." Eli supported Leo so he could stand.

The nearest safe place would be near the walls of the fortress itself where arrows kept on raining down on the giants. Both were thinking the same thing. So when they decided where they were heading they moved as quickly as they can. The giants finally noticed that their prey were escaping.

The giants stopped their quarrel for the moment to capture their prey. Leo clicked his tongue "damn! They noticed too soon. Eli can you still fight?"

Eli shook her head "At my current condition I'm only able to walk."

Leo pushed Eli aside "no other choice then. Eli you go on ahead! I'll hold them back." What was shown in Leo's eyes were not despair but that of delight, as he said those words.

Eli regained her posture after being pushed and summoned her scythe. "You're really an idiot aren't you!? You looked far more tired than me. How the hell! Can you hold them back!?"

"What are doing Eli!? If you stay as well, then both of us will get eaten!" Leo shouted next to Eli, his face showed a bit of anxiety, but Eli didn't back down.

"Are you telling me to survive on my own? Then you really are an idiot. Didn't I give my life to you already? Haven't you promise to help me on my journey to find a new home? The fate of my life is tied to yours. So how do you expect me to run away?!" Hearing that Leo was taken aback by what Eli said.

"Y-you're right I'm sorry. Let's do this together then." Both were ready to take a final stand when suddenly the gates of the fortress opened. A wave of beautiful horsemen came out. The horsemen had pointy ears and cat like eyes they wore silk robes instead of armor. Most of all be it men or women all of them were exceptionally beautiful. They carried bows as weapons and on their waist were two short swords. "Those are elves! Elves came to help us!" Eli sounded excited at seeing the unexpected helpers.

†

An hour ago inside the fortress. One of the Sentries reported to the commander of the fortress. The commander of the fortress was a tall elf wearing a green silk robe. His brown hair was long for a man, and like all the other elves he was extremely handsome.

"What is the situation?"

"Sir! Outside the fortress. There seems to be a human boy and a half vampire girl."

"What! Why would a human and a half vampire pass through this battlefield? It's regretful, but even if we send a rescue squad, they would be long dead, by the time we arrive."

"No! Actually sir that was what I came to report. That human and half have actually started slaughtering the giants."

"What!" The commander started running toward the edge of the fortress where the sentries were stationed. All of the sentries were looking at the battlefield in amazement as if they saw something unbelievable. The commander glanced at the battlefield. What he saw was truly amazing.

A human child who looked no older than sixteen was fighting five meter tall giants using only two short swords. In every slash he made a giant fell. He even challenged the seven meter ones who are said to be the most violent. Yet even those fell to his blades.

The half on the other hand was dancing with her scythe, she too manage to fell many giants. Several hundreds have died by their hands alone. Everyone who was stationed there were looking mesmerized by their battle prowess.

Just when they thought that these two alone could repel the attack of the giants. One of them stopped attacking. It was the human boy. It seemed like he reached his physical limit. The commander realizing the situation as reality started issuing orders, to save the two who recklessly fought the giants.

†

The elves were greeted by the giants' hammers and axes. Most of them were able to avoid the onslaught but the others weren't so lucky.

The elves weren't fighting back all they did was moved to the direction of Leo and Eli. They didn't care as the others were killed and eaten. They just kept on moving toward Leo and Eli.

Upon reaching the two the one clad in a green silk robe approached. "There is no time for explanations. Just know that we have come here to save you two." Leo and Eli looked at each other and nodded. Each one rode with one of the riders.

"All men retreat to the fortress." Upon securing Leo and Eli they retreated back to the fortress. As they rode forward they saw a formation of giants blocking the gates. "They can actually do a proper formation. Pretty impressive for idiotic giants, but blocking our way and forgetting what's behind you was a mistake!" A hail of arrows rained down at the giants blocking the path to the gate. "Now quickly open the gates!"

†

Upon arriving inside the fortress Leo and Eli collapsed from exhaustion. Only a quarter of the men who were in the rescue squad survived.