Chapter 156: He is back!
Somewhere high in the sky, half-shrouded by drifting clouds, a creature observed the chaos below with an expressionless gaze.
His eyes—avian and unblinking—narrowed like a hawk’s, pupils slicing through the distance as they locked onto the figure of the nightmare creature ravaging the land. Cold, analytical, devoid of emotion. This silent watcher was none other than Ricky.
He had been following the trio’s every move since they first entered the area, his presence concealed for reasons known only to him. There were rules—unspoken threads he chose not to pull just yet.
Then, a scoffing voice crackled beside him like kindling tossed into a flame.
"What a weakling! Can’t even take down a ghost spider."
Ricky didn’t turn to acknowledge the speaker. He didn’t need to. His silence said enough. Still, beneath that still exterior, a flicker of irritation rippled through him. For the first time, he began to wonder if bringing this one along had been a mistake.
Hovering a short distance away from him floated a towering figure—almost as tall as the transformed Darius. He had a wild mane of blazing red hair, eyes glowing like smoldering coals, and skin like tempered bronze—muscles pulled tight like forged iron cords. A living furnace, his presence radiated oppressive heat.
This was the Flaming Giant.
The very same one who had laughed in Ricky’s face when he first stepped foot into the Trial of Selene Veylor.
But that was then.
Now, things had changed.
Now, the Flaming Giant was shackled—not by chains of iron or flame, but something far worse.