Pretty Insane

The street trembled under the weight of the giant's steps, each one a slow, deliberate drumbeat of destruction. Alulu stood firm, war hammer in hand, his breath steady but his mind racing. The giant was relentless, his strength seemingly endless, and every swing of his massive sword threatened to tear the very earth apart.

But Alulu wasn't alone for long.

A sharp whistle cut through the chaos, followed by the clatter of armored boots against the cobblestones. From the far end of the street, two figures emerged, their silhouettes framed by the flickering firelight of the ruined town. They moved with purpose, their medieval armor gleaming despite the soot and dust that filled the air.

One of them, a tall man with a broad chest and a helm adorned with a plume, called out, his voice clear and commanding. "Hold your ground, stranger! Reinforcements have arrived!"

Alulu glanced toward the newcomers, his eyes narrowing as he assessed them. The man wielded a longsword, its blade etched with runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. Beside him, a shorter figure—though no less imposing—held a massive shield and a mace, their armor equally ornate.

Heroes, Alulu thought. The realization was both a relief and a curiosity. Heroes in a sphere like this? It added another layer to the puzzle.

The giant roared, the sound shaking the very ground beneath their feet, and charged forward, his sword swinging in a wide arc toward the heroes. Alulu moved to intercept, but the swordsman raised his blade, a shimmering barrier of light forming in front of them just as the giant's sword struck.

The impact sent sparks flying, but the barrier held.

"Get ready!" the swordsman shouted, his voice steady. He turned his head slightly toward his companion. "Shieldbearer, to the left!"

The shieldbearer nodded, moving with surprising agility despite the weight of their armor. They circled to the giant's left, their shield raised high as the mace gleamed with an inner light.

Alulu took the cue, dashing to the right to flank the giant. The heroes weren't just strong—they were coordinated, practiced. He could work with that.

The giant, momentarily stunned by the barrier, snarled and swung his sword down toward the shieldbearer. They raised their shield, the metal clanging loudly as it absorbed the blow, the ground cracking beneath their feet from the sheer force. But the shieldbearer didn't waver.

Alulu moved in, the war hammer dissolving as he summoned his katana. The blade thrummed in his hand, feeding him the giant's next move. He could see the slight shift in the giant's stance, the way his weight adjusted for the next attack.

Now.

He surged forward, the katana slicing through the air toward the giant's exposed leg. The blade cut deep, drawing a bellow of rage from the massive creature. The giant swung wildly, trying to swat Alulu away, but Alulu was already gone, moving back to avoid the retaliation.

"Keep the pressure on!" the swordsman called, his longsword glowing brighter as he channeled energy into it. He slashed upward, a wave of light arcing from the blade and slamming into the giant's chest.

The giant staggered, his movements slowing as the combined attacks began to take their toll.

The shieldbearer advanced, their mace swinging in a brutal arc that caught the giant's knee. The impact sent a shockwave through the giant's leg, forcing him to drop to one knee with a grunt of pain.

Alulu didn't let up. He darted around the giant, his katana flashing as he aimed for the giant's other leg, trying to cripple him further. The blade bit into flesh, and the giant roared, his balance wavering.

The swordsman moved in tandem, his longsword striking again and again, each blow accompanied by a burst of radiant energy that seemed to sap the giant's strength. The shieldbearer remained a constant presence, blocking the giant's desperate swings with their shield, their mace striking with precision.

The fight was turning. The giant, once an unstoppable force, was faltering under the combined assault.

Alulu felt the shift, the tide turning in their favor. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. "Don't let him recover!" he shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.

The heroes responded in kind. The swordsman drove his blade deep into the giant's shoulder, twisting it as the energy surged, forcing the giant's arm to drop. The shieldbearer's mace crashed into the giant's chest, each hit forcing the massive creature lower.

Alulu saw the opening—the giant's head lowered, his defenses crumbling. He dismissed the katana, summoning his war hammer once more. The weapon materialized in his hands, its weight familiar and comforting.

He sprinted forward, the hammer raised high. The heroes saw his intent and stepped back, giving him the space he needed.

With a roar of his own, Alulu brought the hammer down on the giant's head. The impact echoed through the street, the shockwave rippling outward. The giant's eyes widened, his body convulsing before collapsing to the ground, the sword slipping from his fingers as he lay motionless.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

Alulu straightened, his breath heavy, the war hammer dissolving as he lowered his hands. His gaze shifted to the heroes, who now stood watching him, their weapons lowered but still at the ready.

The swordsman nodded, a faint smile beneath his helm. "You fought well, stranger. We owe you our thanks."

The shieldbearer stepped forward, their voice steady. "This city owes you a debt. But who are you, to wield such power?"

Alulu met their gaze, his expression unreadable. "Just someone passing through," he said, his voice quiet but firm. He looked down at the fallen giant, then back at the heroes. "And what about you? You're more than just ordinary fighters."

The swordsman sheathed his blade, the glow fading. "We are the protectors of this city. And it seems our paths have crossed at a crucial time."

Alulu nodded slowly, his mind already racing with questions. The fight was over, but the mystery of this sphere—and these heroes—was just beginning.