Chapter 35 Berserker (3) Rowan struggled to his feet, picking himself out of the wreckage, the damage he sustained rapidly healing. He felt the surrounding air pressure increasing, and he was covered in shadows, his sight detected a massive rock the size of a car hurtling down towards him. He could barely raise his hands to shield his head before he was smashed into the ground. Rowan's arms went numb as the rock shattered itself against his body, and his body was mangled into pieces, but his shell contained all the pieces of his body and he rapidly healed, his only concern was his head, if it was crushed, then he was done for. Thinking how lucky he was for the shock absorbing properties of his shell, he knew the only reason he was in this fight was because of the protection it's offered. Pushing himself out of the broken rocks, he rapidly picked himself into a crouch and when the next rock came, he vaulted forward, dodging the projectile. "Where the hell, is it getting rocks?" Rowan screamed in exasperation, before his sight showed him piles of large rocks just below the ground, they were at least twenty feet down, but the giant made it look deceptively easy for it could easily reach below and collect the impromptu missiles. He focused deeply on the movement of the giant. He would need to anticipate the next moves, or he was going to be played like a fiddle, or the next lucky strike would end him. Aware that time was of the essence, he pushed his concentration into overdrive. Presently, Rowan did not feel fear. Instead, what he felt was a heightened sense of things. His sight detected Maeve picking herself from the small crater her body made, she did not appear to be seriously injured, Rowan bared his teeth and pushed his focus to overdrive as he raced to get close to the giant, so he could deliver a killing blow. These creatures possess cunning, or at least in this Giant form, they now fought with a sense of purpose. The giant was wary of Rowan getting close, it must have seen the manner Rowan had dispatched the first two, and now it kept its distance and hurled heavy rocks at him. When Rowan got too close, it began to smash the ground with two heavy misshapen limbs, vibrating the grounds so much Rowan's insides became scrambled. From the destroyed ground, it picked pieces of rocks and threw it at the disoriented Rowan, who was barely dodging. Knowing he had to break this stalemate, his mind ran through different methods. Currently, Rowan knew he had no feasible method to get closer to the giant. He regretted not having a range attack weapon like a bow. He could not risk throwing his swords at a very wary giant. If he missed the chance to take down this giant, it would fall to near zero. Rowan heard a shrill whistle, and a hammer flew out from behind him. Maeve! Clearly, she had been analyzing the battle and took the optimal decision. The heavy hammer impacted on the head of the giant, flinging a large gout of yellow blood into the air, it roared in anger. Nevertheless, the Giant was bent backward from the blow, but its two legs on the ground were like two infernal towers attached to the grounds. For something so large, it was remarkable how limber it was. Rowan knew the strength and tenacity of these creatures could not be judged with common sense. For it devoured two other giants, and this creature must have Rift state capabilities. A second flying hammer slammed into the disjointed left knee of the Giant. Maeve flew out from the mist, her appearance that she meticulously kept in perfect order was in disarray. Her hair was loose and floating in the winds, her eyes shone with the brightness of rage. Her uniform was torn and Rowan could swear she had gotten bigger. Unlike the giant, her growth was symmetrical and perfect. She still managed to appear elegant even at eight feet tall! Picking up one of the fallen hammers, she attacked the other knee, on her lips, words that appeared like chanting and music came forth, and her Hammer began to glow green. "Anihuruhdda, Guardian Of The Green, Grant my weapons your favor!" With a battle cry, she struck the leg of the giant, there was a flash of bright light and a green spike grew from the point of contact where the hammer touched the leg. It pierced through the leg and rooted itself in the ground, the spike grew and with a harsh cracking sound, it transformed into a tree. Maeve collapsed on one knee in exhaustion. The giant howled mournfully as it attempted to rise, the root from the tree continued to spread up the limbs, piercing its flesh and driving the giant to the ground. The roots of the trees were like countless spears, as they pierced through the giant, and feasted on it flesh to grow. The tree grew green and lush and held, in its roots, a howling Giant. Rowan was amazed at her capabilities, if Maeve broke through his shell and used this technique on him, he was a goner. He turned to the incapacitated giant, who had begun to slowly fight against the tree. Yet, the Giant must be exceptionally nutritious to the tree, for it grew faster and pinned all the limbs of the giant to the ground. Except for the red vein waving in the air like an enraged serpent, the giant could no longer move. Seeing his chance, he raced towards it. The red vein must have had a way to detect enemies, and it began to whip itself at him, but its movement was sluggish, the tree must have drained much from this Abomination. Sidestepping the feeble whipping of the wriggling red vein, he reached the neck of the Giant and with two quick slices, he cut deeply into it. It struggles seized, and its soul was his. Rowan took a while to gather his thought. This battle was getting more complicated, he had to be prepared for unexpected eventualities. He would rather not be caught flat-footed again. In the battlefield, that would most likely lead to his death. He heard crunching above him and looked up. In a short while, the tree that grew from the giant leg had borne fruit. They were red and resembled apples, they carried a delightful fruity aroma that seemed to clear the air. The fruit appeared delicious if one could discard it, grew on a pile of Mutated flesh. Clearly Maeve did not care, for she had climbed the tree and was munching on one, as her body began to shrink back to her normal size. Sensing his gaze, Maeve had the decency to blush, "That ability is tied to a contract I made with a Nature Spirit, it makes me famished my lord." She looked away and muttered, "Plus they are delicious." Rolling his eyes, Rowan said, "I am promising you a hearty feast after this nightmare is over, but before then we have people to rescue and Abominations to kill." Rowan waited for her to fish her hammers and ran to the dwindling sounds of battle ahead. Rowan looked at Maeve, "These swords are not that effective against these giants. Do you have a bigger blade or a hammer that I can wield?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖 Maeve running beside him replied, "I do, my lord. I have heavy mace, cudgels, and clubs. If your present form grant you great strength, you can choose from my selection." Rowan nodded, he could see the battle ahead clearly, and their fights had drawn attention, plus the bright beacon behind them drew cries of excitement from the crowd ahead. "These Giants are clearly smarter." Rowan said, "To keep an element of surprise, give me the weapons, the moment we clash with them. Be ready!" "Yes my lord. I shall be." Maeve smiled, this battle was bringing out the inherent nobility and power inside Rowan, and even with all the disasters happening, she was glad she was witnessing this growth.