Mortal Plains, Kien's P.O.V

  ...

  As I passed the threshold into my smithy, I went straight to my bed and without much ceremony passed out. My dreams were a montage of Noble and Eldritch's days, visions of forging and of a meeting with the Honorable Tyrant flashed before my eyes in a dreamy daze. I saw the eyes of a women, vaugely familiar yet completely foreign, she dispersed into the sands of my dreams. Eventually I stirred as I felt myself awake, a slight sheen of sweat pervaded my body like a fitted sheet.

  Yawning I stretched my arms as I did, slowly I got up, realizing In my haste to sleep I had neglected to remove my armor. The random aches that paired with wearing armor to bed did not abide even after leveling up and gaining abilities that far out shadowed any pre-system human.

  Remembering the Elderessa instructions I made my way to our normal training grounds. As I walked I saw the Giants utilizing a mixture of mundane and magical skills to erect a mural of several male and a few female figures. By their shared crown with the Giant King, I pieced together that it was for their past leaders. The land around the Palace was filled to the brim with landmarks and various cultural heritage sites that grew by the day. They even redirected the lava river, no doubt an elaborate task just so that they could move their old islet fortress within distance of the palace. Looking down as I descended I saw the Elderessa waiting patiently. When I made it within range I shouted to her.

  "Elderessa, I'm here!" I said feeling a sudden burst of whimsy. Smiling at her she gave me a small nod, before gesturing me to sit down.

  "Okay now for the rest of the week, until well until the day—" I cut her off as I blurted out.

  "I want your opinion should I still go through with the whole kill the adults, leave the kids? I don't know..." I trailed off.

  "Don't tell them I said this, but yes, you weren't their to see the travesties we committed both upon the Yeti and ourselves, and unlike you, our choice was not between them and the potential future of your own species, it was between them and our greed and prejudice, the others will not speak of it but before the the Yeti and ogres arose we had a whole caste of Giants, same blood same race, who we shunned, they bore the heaviest weight of our sins against the others, as not a single of their descendants live today, the older ones will do as they have done, a few may break from their habit of hate and scorn but most will and cannot do so, let our descendants remember us how we wanted to be remembered and not who we actually where, please?" The Elderessa spoke with a bevy of insight but also sadness.

  "Their is another way... I have a domain up in the Divine realms if those that fall in battle in a few days from now wish it, they could live up their?" I asked hesitantly.

  "Hmm, we as a people never explored religion beyond veneration to certain ancestors, so I must ask what would living up their mean?" She asked.

  "Well, they'll live up with my Divine half or would it be third? Eh, semantics, anyways they'll be living with divine me, they get to overlook and occasionally speak with their descendants during moments of uncertainty, though that requires their descendants to be faithful to me, otherwise they would love up their for as long as I don't die completely which would be, labor intensive, and I would gain worship from them which would help me out" I said trying to give a pitch for the afterlife to a culture that never had one.

  "Hmm, I will bring up the possiblity, and no doubt some will take you up on that offer, mainly doting parents and such" she replied after a moment of thought.

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  "Now, though off from such dreary topics, for the rest of your time under my mentorship I will you the ways of melding your magics and your arms together instead operating them as separate entities" she changed the subject as she launched into her lesson. As always she tried to get me to fix my 'mistakes' before giving me the tips and theory before once again making flail about trying to use it.

  Her primary pieces of advice was to use my magic to strengthen my weapons and armor, as I found out reinforcing metal was substantially easier then warping it with magic. Next she gave me some ideas for [Floramancy] and the other abilities from my [Fungal Magus] class.

  ...

  I battled a giant golem being puppeted by the Elderessa. For this exercise I had no armor on, no weapons, and couldn't use magic or boosting skills or traits like [Strength of the Underlands] or [Fungal Exoskeleton]. So now I was battling the golem significantly weaker, my fists manged to still damage the magically reinforced rock but everytime the damages were fixed before they could be accumulated.

  "Okay Stop, what is going on inside that head of yours? Elderessa asked scoldingly.

  "Uh, I'm in fisticuffs with a giant magical boulder?" I stated it but the look she gave me made state the last bit like a question.

  "No! Boy use your legs for the Ancestors sake!" She stated her voice raised slightly.

  "Okay, okay! Ill use my legs" I replied placating her as I resumed my stance, I heard her mutter something about children and their lack of thinking

  "Begin!" She stated and this time I turned my I placed my left foot behind me and tyrned my right foot to the side and with surge of strength slammed a rough roundhouse kick into the Golems lower ankle and the stone gave way under my kick dealing significantly more damage then my punches had been doing.

  ...

  Few Days From Now...

  The morning before the battle

  ...

  My days had melted together a mix of strange dreams, forging, practice, and apprehension. A part of me felt weird and although the Elderessa and Anastasia tried to soothe me, they had distinctly foreign and somewhat alien code of morals. What was considered the universal code of morality on Earth wasn't universal turns out. While slavery was thankfully considered grotesque, murder and thievery were more socially acceptable and sometimes revered. It probably helped that most mortals knew were they were going to end when they died.

  However I still sincerely hoped that I could change the universe in that regard, but it was hypocritical. On Earth we killed each other all time, the First world in general didn't care as long as we didn't see it everyday. To say that Earth was some as shiny beacon of morality felt egotistical, but for all it's flaws I hadn't seen much to say otherwise. With the notable exception to the small part of Paradox Eldritch had seen.

  Rousing myself from my thoughts I resumed eating my stew, the Giants were saying their last goodbyes to their loved ones. All but a few of the Giants had 'sworn' allegiance as my followers on the condition that I best them in combat.

  Noble would probably be happy about the company and the Divinity, although he already had some their. Eldritch was still reviewing and comprehending the Crystal of the fallen Arch-Duke, he had reached about 10 percent last time I checked. Apparently he could bond it now but if he got to a hundred percent before doing so he would gain a significant boost in potential power. So on he studied.

  Meanwhile me and Elderessa laid the foundation for a cohesive battle style, essentially I would use [Geomancy] to control the Battlefield and for massive attacks, [Floramancy] for restraining stronger enemies and killing weaker ones, and my weapons to do most of the direct damage in order to have a longer period of magic use rather then feast and famine of all out powerful attacks.

  The Elderessa had crafted it immediately after finding out I technically had unlimited Endurance, though I could still get mentally and emotionally drained.

  Last night the Elderessa had made a decision also, rather then turn to stone she had ascended after pledging to me. It was a solemn moment for the Giants as she was the eldest amgost them. However not long after ascending she already figured out how to whisper advice to her direct descendants.

  Sitting up, I moved on to my last chore before the fight, I felt a momentary weakness inside myself I felt a little sick, tired of the constant bloodshed, but I wasn't even within view of the finish line.

  I had to pack up everything, and help Anastasia, making sure everything was accounted for, the Statue of Kaihao, the metal ingots, and other stuff, my golem suit, assorted weapons. Finally with the Puppets lined up round the pile of supplies I was ready...