CH 15: THE CHURCH

The longhouse bustled with energy. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meats and the hum of strategizing voices. Ace, Troy, and Sheldon sat with Bjorn and the other village elders, poring over the details of their invasion plan.

"The enemy's numbers outweigh ours," Bjorn admitted, tapping on the map. "But their size is a disadvantage. They're not as well-organized as we are, and they don't know these lands like we do."

Ace leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Then we hit fast and hard. No drawn-out battle. If we strike quickly and decisively, we won't give them a chance to regroup."

Troy, leaning back with his arms crossed, smirked. "I say we let them overestimate their strength. Draw them out, make them confident, and then crush their spirits when we strike at their heart."

Bjorn nodded thoughtfully. "Both strategies have merit. We'll combine them. A small group will lure their forces into a trap, where our main force will wait to ambush them."

Sheldon, who had been silently analyzing the map, pointed to a narrow mountain pass. "This choke point here—if we can funnel them through, their numbers won't mean anything. We can set up defensive formations and pick them off."

Bjorn grinned, his respect for the trio growing. "Wise words from young warriors. It's settled. We'll begin preparations immediately."

Just as they finalized their plans, the doors to the longhouse swung open, and the recon team returned. Covered in snow and exhaustion, they were greeted with cheers and relieved smiles.

"Welcome back, brothers!" Bjorn bellowed, embracing the leader of the team. "You've done well."

The leader, a grizzled giant named Orin, nodded. "The enemy is as you said—sloppy and overconfident. They have no idea what's coming."

With the plans set, the village erupted into celebration. Long tables were dragged out into the snowy square, piled high with food and drink. Fires crackled in every corner, and the air was filled with laughter and the sound of clinking mugs.

Ace, Troy, and Sheldon found themselves in the middle of it all. For the first time in weeks, they allowed themselves to relax.

"This is... nice," Ace admitted, leaning back with a fist full of sweets. "Feels good to not be fighting for once."

Troy smirked, carving into a massive haunch of meat. "Don't get used to it. Tomorrow, we're back in the thick of it."

Sheldon chuckled softly. "Enjoy it while it lasts, then."

As the night wore on, the villagers began to gather around the trio. One by one, they offered their thanks, raising their mugs in toasts and sharing tales of their bravery.

"You're not just allies," Bjorn said, raising his tankard. "You're family. From this day forward, the Bloodstone Village will always remember your names."

The boys exchanged glances, a rare moment of pride and humility passing between them.

The boys departed the giant village flanked by Magelda and a contingent of towering warriors. The massive figures moved with a surprising grace, their footfalls shaking the earth but their movements coordinated like a seasoned battalion. Their sheer size and strength promised devastation on the battlefield, and the boys felt a swell of confidence knowing they were no longer alone.

"This feels different," Troy said, glancing at the rows of giants marching behind them.

"Yeah, having an army with us makes things less... dire," Sheldon admitted.

Ace smirked, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Don't get too comfortable. The Church of Light isn't going to let us waltz in with this kind of force without putting up a fight."

The army's first obstacle was the chasm, now lined with jagged ice formations after the earlier battle with the ice wyrms. The rope bridge was gone, reduced to splinters hanging in the icy wind.

Magelda, walking at the head of the group, raised her hand, halting the army. "The bridge is destroyed. We'll have to improvise."

Several giants stepped forward, carrying massive logs and planks. In a matter of minutes, they constructed a sturdy ice bridge, their hands working with the precision of master craftsmen.

The boys crossed first, followed by Magelda and the rest of the army. As they moved across, the chasm rumbled, and shards of ice shot upward.

"What the hell are these things?" Sheldon shouted.

The giants reacted swiftly. Armed with enormous frost-forged weapons, they struck down the wyrms as they emerged. One giant, wielding a hammer the size of a boulder, slammed it into a wyrm, shattering it instantly.

Ace, Troy, and Sheldon joined the fray, their attacks cutting down any wyrms that got too close to the bridge. Troy's Solar Eclipse incinerated a cluster of wyrms in one massive explosion, while Ace's Severance cleaved through another wave with precise, flaming strikes. Sheldon summoned a series of amalgamations, smaller but nimble, to harass the wyrms and drive them back into the chasm.

Within moments, the battle was over. The army continued forward, their morale high after the victory.

The frozen forest was just as foreboding as before, but this time, the giants' presence gave the group an air of invincibility. Their massive forms seemed almost too large for the dense trees, but they pressed on without hesitation.

The forest soon revealed its hostility as the trees came alive once more, their icy forms twisting into humanoid shapes.

"Living trees again," Troy muttered, cracking his knuckles. "This'll be fun."

Magelda raised her axe, its edge gleaming with frost. "Giants, charge!"

The ground shook as the giants surged forward, their weapons smashing through the icy creatures with brutal efficiency. One giant tore a tree-creature in half with his bare hands, while another crushed one underfoot.

Ace, Sheldon, and Troy fought alongside them, their attacks weaving between the larger movements of the giants. 

Sheldon Pierced through the heads of many of the creatures before dashing to the next group.

Ace and Troy worked in tandem, their coordinated attacks leaving no room for the enemy to regroup.

Despite the forest's initial aggression, the overwhelming force of the army soon turned the tide. The creatures fell back, retreating into the shadows.

"We're making good progress," Ace said, his blade still glowing with residual flames.

"Too good," Sheldon muttered. "This feels... off."

The plains stretched out before them, a vast expanse of snow and ice glittering under the sunlight. The Church of Light's golden spires were now visible in the distance, a beacon against the bleak landscape.

The army moved forward cautiously, their previous victories not diminishing their vigilance.

Suddenly, the snow beneath their feet erupted. Massive beasts, their fur white as the snow, emerged in droves. These were no ordinary creatures—they were war beasts, their bodies enhanced with golden sigils glowing with divine energy.

"The Church of Light has sent its pets," Magelda growled. "Prepare for battle!"

The giants formed a defensive line, their shields raised as the beasts charged. The boys positioned themselves at the front, their weapons ready.

Ace darted forward, his dagger igniting as he slashed through one beast's flank. Sheldon's amalgamations swarmed another, their combined efforts overwhelming the creature.

Troy stood firm, meeting a charging beast head-on. He caught its horns with his gauntlets, his muscles flexing as he forced the creature to its knees. With a powerful uppercut, he sent it flying, his demeanor calm and collected throughout.

Magelda fought with ferocity, her axe cleaving through multiple beasts in a single swing. The giants followed her lead, their strength and coordination proving too much for the beasts.

The battle was brutal but brief. The beasts, despite their enhancements, couldn't withstand the combined might of the army.

As they finally approached the open prairie leading to the Church of Light, the atmosphere grew tense. The air felt heavy, as if charged with unseen energy.

Magelda raised a hand, halting the army. "Something's not right," she said, her eyes scanning the horizon.

Before anyone could react, the ground beneath them exploded. Blinding light erupted from hidden glyphs, and the Church of Light's forces emerged from concealed positions. Paladins in gleaming armor, priests chanting spells, and more war beasts poured into the battlefield.

"It's an ambush!" Sheldon shouted.

The giants roared, their formation tightening as the battle began. The prairie became a chaotic warzone, with light magic clashing against the raw strength of the giants and the boys.

Ace leapt into the fray, his Severance attack carving a path through the paladins. Sheldon summoned more amalgamations, each one tailored to counter the Church's forces. Troy fought with unmatched power, his gauntlets crushing armor and sending enemies flying with every strike.

Magelda led the giants with precision, her axe a whirlwind of destruction.

The Church's forces fought back with equal fervor. Their magic created barriers of light, and their war beasts proved even more dangerous than before.

Despite the ambush, the boys and the giants held their ground. The battle raged on, the outcome uncertain as the prairie became a battlefield drenched in light and shadow.

The battle on the prairie roared like a storm, both sides clashing with the intensity of forces fighting for their very survival. The air was thick with the tang of metal, sweat, and the acrid stench of burning grass. The Church of Light's forces, bolstered by divine magic and sheer discipline, were a fierce match for the raw strength of the giants and the boys.

The tide of battle shifted when two figures emerged from the Church's ranks: the captain of the paladins, a towering man encased in golden armor that shimmered like the sun, and a high-ranking priest, draped in intricate white and gold robes. The priest's smirk was sharp and unsettling, his hands glowing faintly as he flexed his fingers, strings of golden light weaving around him like a puppet master preparing his stage.

The paladin's booming voice echoed across the battlefield. "You will fall here! The light does not yield!" With a flash, he launched himself into the fray with breathtaking speed, punching through the giant front lines with devastating force. His fists were weapons unto themselves, each blow cracking the air and sending even the massive warriors of the giants stumbling backward.

Magelda's voice rose above the chaos. "Ace, with me! He's mine!"

Ace nodded, his blue flames licking at the edges of his long dagger. "Got it!"

Meanwhile, the priest stepped forward, his golden strings whipping out to latch onto fallen soldiers. The strings wrapped around their bodies, pulling them upright with a sickening jerk. "Rise, my dear pawns," the priest said with a grin. "The light hasn't forsaken you yet!"

The reanimated soldiers charged, their movements erratic but relentless. Troy and Sheldon stepped up to meet them.

"Sheldon, back me up!" Troy shouted, his tone calm yet commanding.

Sheldon nodded, conjuring amalgamations to intercept the undead soldiers. His constructs fought with precision, holding the line against the swarm as Troy's gauntlets blazed with black fire. Troy moved with calculated confidence, his fighting style stoic and deliberate. Each parry and strike sent enemies flying, his strength seemingly effortless.

The priest chuckled as he raised his hand, golden strings snapping through the air like whips. "Oh, you think you're strong, do you? Let's test that, shall we?"

Troy narrowly avoided a string that sliced through the ground like butter. He responded with a heavy punch, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. "You talk too much."

"Oh, I'm just getting started," the priest sneered. He flicked his fingers, forming a web of blazing light that spread out, trapping Troy and Sheldon inside.

The golden web burned with an intense heat, forcing Troy and Sheldon to keep moving to avoid being seared. The priest stood at the center, his strings dancing like a symphony of death. He flicked his wrist, and one of the strings lashed out, cutting through one of Sheldon's amalgamations as if it were paper.

"Come now, don't disappoint me!" the priest taunted.

Troy stepped forward, his demeanor unshaken. He raised his gauntlets, the black flames roaring to life. "Let's see if your strings can handle this."

He lunged forward, parrying the golden threads with his gauntlets before retaliating with a crushing blow. The priest was quick, his strings forming a shield of light that absorbed the impact.

Sheldon took the opportunity to summon Memory Conjure, and the knightly figure of Lancelot appeared, charging at the priest with a blazing red sword. "Fracture Red!" Sheldon called out, the knight's sword slicing through the air toward the priest.

The priest clicked his tongue, forming a bubble of golden light. The bubble exploded on contact with Lancelot, disintegrating the construct in a flash. Sheldon staggered, the effort draining him visibly.

"You'll have to try harder than that!" the priest said, laughing.

Troy took advantage of the moment, closing the distance with a thunderous uppercut that shattered the priest's shield. The priest stumbled, his arrogance replaced with a flicker of annoyance. "You're persistent, I'll give you that," he muttered, blood dripping from his lip.

The golden-armored paladin strode forward, radiating confidence as he cracked his knuckles. His sheer presence caused the surrounding battlefield to tremble. Magelda gripped her massive war axe tightly, her knuckles whitening under the strain. Ace stood beside her, his blue flames flickering along the edge of his dagger, his third eye glowing faintly.

"You two think you can challenge me?" the paladin said, his voice steady but laced with amusement. "You're nothing but insects trying to challenge the sun."

Magelda growled, stepping forward with her axe raised. "We'll see how much you can boast after I've crushed your ribs, shiny boy."

The paladin smirked, his stance relaxed yet poised. "Come and try."

Magelda exploded into motion, her massive form deceptively fast as she swung her axe in a wide arc, aiming to cleave the paladin in half. He dodged effortlessly, sidestepping the blow with precision. Ace followed up immediately, darting in from the side with a slash aimed at the paladin's neck.

The paladin spun, ducking under Ace's blade while delivering a sharp jab to his ribs. Ace grunted as the force of the blow sent him stumbling back.

"Too slow," the paladin said, sidestepping another overhead swing from Magelda.

Magelda pressed forward, refusing to let up. Her axe whistled through the air in powerful, sweeping strikes, each one aimed to crush or cleave. The paladin dodged and weaved through her attacks, his movements almost lazy in their fluidity. With a sudden burst of speed, he ducked under a swing and drove his fist into Magelda's stomach.

The blow echoed like a hammer striking an anvil, and Magelda gasped as the wind was knocked from her lungs. She staggered but quickly recovered, using the momentum of her stumble to swing her axe in a low arc. The paladin leaped over the strike, landing with a spinning kick aimed at her head.

Magelda raised her forearm to block, the impact sending her sliding back several feet. "Damn it! He's too fast!" she growled, spitting blood onto the ground.

Ace rushed in again, his dagger coated in roaring blue flames. He feinted to the left before lunging for the paladin's exposed flank. The paladin pivoted, catching Ace's wrist mid-strike and twisting it with a brutal efficiency. Ace cried out in pain but retaliated by unleashing a burst of flames from his dagger, forcing the paladin to release him.

"Clever," the paladin admitted, brushing soot from his armor. "But not clever enough."

Magelda and Ace regrouped, exchanging a quick glance. Magelda's breathing was heavy, but her grip on her axe was steady. "He's not invincible," she said. "We just need to keep pressing him."

Ace nodded, his third eye scanning the paladin's movements. "I can see his patterns. We need to disrupt his rhythm."

They charged together, coordinating their attacks with precision. Magelda swung her axe in a brutal overhead strike while Ace darted in from the side, his dagger a blur of blue fire. The paladin dodged Magelda's strike, parried Ace's blade with his gauntlet, and countered with a spinning elbow that clipped Magelda's jaw.

Magelda staggered but used the momentum to pivot and slam her axe into the ground, sending a shockwave of dirt and stone toward the paladin. He leaped into the air, avoiding the blast, but Ace was already waiting for him.

Ace lashed out with a flaming kick that caught the paladin mid-air, sending him crashing back to the ground. The paladin rolled to his feet, his armor singed but otherwise unharmed. "Impressive," he said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "But you're still out of your league."

The paladin charged forward, his fists glowing with golden light. He unleashed a flurry of punches, each one faster and more powerful than the last. Magelda and Ace struggled to keep up, their defenses barely holding against the onslaught.

Magelda swung her axe in a desperate arc, but the paladin caught the blade with his bare hand. With a roar, he wrenched the weapon from her grip and tossed it aside. Before Magelda could react, he delivered a devastating punch to her chest, sending her crashing to the ground.

Ace's third eye flared as he stepped forward, his dagger held low. The paladin smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Finally, a proper challenge."

Ace sheathed his dagger, raising his fists. "Let's see how good you really are."

The two clashed in a blur of motion, trading blows with ferocious intensity. The paladin's punches were like thunder, each one carrying the weight of his divine power. Ace dodged and parried, his movements growing more fluid as his third eye analyzed every attack.

The fight became a brutal ballet of fists and footwork. Ace ducked under a right hook, countering with a sharp jab to the paladin's ribs. The paladin retaliated with a spinning kick, which Ace narrowly avoided by dropping to the ground and sweeping his leg out in a low kick.

The paladin stumbled but recovered instantly, launching himself at Ace with renewed aggression. The two grappled, their movements raw and primal. Ace's agility and adaptability began to shine as he found openings in the paladin's defenses.

The paladin growled, stepping back and drawing his longsword. The blade ignited with a glowing aura of yellow light, its radiance blinding. "Enough games," he said.

Ace unsheathed his dagger, his blue flames roaring to life. His third eye scanned the sword aura, and in a moment of clarity, he mimicked it. His dagger was enveloped in a similar aura, but with blue flames instead of golden light.

The two charged at each other, their weapons clashing in a spectacular display of light and fire. Sparks flew as their blades met, the air around them distorting from the heat and energy.

Ace's movements became more aggressive, his strikes relentless and animalistic. His agility and ferocity overwhelmed the paladin, who struggled to keep up. Ace's third eye glowed brighter, pushing him into a trance-like state where his instincts and skills melded perfectly.

The paladin roared, swinging his sword in a desperate arc. Ace sidestepped the strike and retaliated with a devastating slash that sent the paladin reeling.

With a final, powerful swing, Ace unleashed a massive air slash coated in blue flames. The attack cleaved through the paladin's sword and armor, splitting him in half. The battlefield fell silent as the paladin's body crumpled to the ground.

Ace stood over the fallen foe, his breathing heavy. The trance faded, and his third eye dimmed. He blinked, shaking his head as the adrenaline subsided.

"Well, well," the priest said, his tone mocking as he flicked his wrist, animating another fallen soldier with a burst of golden strings. "Tell me young warriors, are you going to die quickly or are you going to entertain me for a bit longer?"