Free Web NovelChapter 29: The First Titan Form
STEP STEP STEP.
Our horse’s footsteps echoed as we sped up our journey. "Because I want to return before night."
I muttered as I looked at the passing trees and some caravans which were coming from afar.
"Elmund did say that even behind these local bandits, some nobles or organizations are involved."
I tried to count the number of caravans and wagons, but they were far away.
"Seems like everyone is forced to follow this route, which has now become beneficial to many people."
I said while gritting my teeth. "No one... literally no one can mess with my territory."
"Faster!!!"
HUFF...
"Neigh!!!"
The horses neighed as we moved faster, and just after traveling for one hour, we finally reached the location.
"Or at least the last location where those bandits were seen," I muttered as I looked around and only saw a clear marking of a clearing, which made a curved road toward the forest.
"Even though many of these bandits took toll fees and left the merchants or caravans alone, but—"
I noticed bloodstains and saw some bones in the distance.
"Sometimes greed takes over their minds."
"This way," I ordered, then we started going deeper.
"That’s why it’s all about how many mercenaries you have, because if you look too weak, then forget about your money, even keeping your life is too much of a miracle."
"Halt!"
I raised my hand, and all ten Bronze Knights stopped.
"Black Ridge Marauders."
I saw five members in cloth and leather armor patrolling with crossbows in their hands.
I looked around and found that in the distance, more than ten carts were parked, and some dead bodies were buried nearby.
"Too brutal," I thought while continuing to observe.
After a while, I finally saw the tent area, where around ten people, all of them women, were bound by ropes, and a few bandits with cleavers were guarding them.
"Spread out."
I told them, and they silently moved and slowly surrounded the whole area.
"The information is that they have around 50 Iron Knights, which is definitely way too high for a normal bandit group, then 200 Body Tempering Realm members, which seems normal though."
I said after noticing some people come out from the main tent.
Soon all of them started laughing and shouting.
I tried to hear their voices, and after focusing my aether on my ears, I was able to hear them clearly.
"Damn brother, we have hit the jackpot this time."
A bald, one-eyed bandit said as he looked toward the prisoners.
The nearby bandits laughed loudly.
"With this haul, we won’t need to rob anyone for months."
"I am buying a new sword."
"Forget a sword, I am buying a woman."
Crude laughter echoed throughout the camp.
I followed his gaze, then saw a woman who have long dark-brown hair reaching her waist and bright blue eyes.
She looked mature and have an elegant beauty.
Her clothes are high-quality travel attire mixed with light protective armor.
She and the others have wounds on their bodies.
"Seems like a fight did happen."
I noticed, but seeing the number of bandits, I knew some quality would not make up for numbers.
I continued listening.
"But brother, can’t we taste them first?"
A thin but tall black-haired bandit who has a spear on his side said with a lecherous voice to the broad-shouldered and heavily built bandit who has dark brown hair and an ugly face.
Several prisoners immediately lowered their heads.
One woman trembled visibly.
Sophia clenched her fists so tightly that blood started dripping from her palms.
"This person seems to be their leader."
I thought while noticing a massive single-edged iron greatsword beside him.
I gave the hand signal to all Bronze Knights to save the hostages while I distracted them.
"Huff!"
I took a deep breath.
Though I have Bronze Knights and they are only Iron and Body Tempering Realm members, with this many numbers we can still end up in bad shape.
I took a quick look, then shook my head.
"No need for the 2nd armor or 2nd Titan form."
"But I definitely want to try my First Titan Form."
I muttered excitedly as I stood up and started walking toward them.
STEP STEP STEP.
Soon the patrolling bandits noticed me first.
"Stop, who are you?"
One of the bandits shouted and aimed his crossbow at me. freewēbnoveℓ.com
WHOOSHH.
As I didn’t reply, he released the bolt.
CRACK.
As he released the arrow, I caught it easily with my hand and crushed it.
Their faces changed instantly.
"W-What?"
"He caught it?"
The five patrolling bandits subconsciously took a step back.
The bandits in the center of the campfire also noticed the commotion and each picked up their weapons and started moving toward me, though the leader and the two close to him didn’t take me seriously.
"Nyx Ascension." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
I said in a normal voice.
BOOM.
A heavy pressure exploded from my body as the surrounding leaves and dirt were blown away.
Trees started shaking from the pressure, and the five patrolling bandits instantly backed away.
The camp suddenly fell silent.
My height slowly grew.
As my clothes ripped apart.
Seven feet.
Eight.
Nine.
And finally it stopped at ten feet.
My whole body is bound by blue-black chains, and the ends of them stretched back into the Void.
Now even their main leaders stand up because they could sense danger.
The prisoners also look toward me with hope in their eyes.
One woman whispered.
"A knight..."
Another silently began praying.
[Luke, those chains are stopping you from summoning and unlocking your Titan Form.]
I narrowed my eyes as I heard the System’s irritated voice.
"Then what should I do?"
I asked while the bandits started surrounding me.
[Use your ancient ritual words and summon it with your full willpower.]
I heard the System’s explanation, then took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second.
The bandits and their leaders narrowed their eyes.
"Did he get afraid?"
One of them asked, as if it didn’t matter that the person before him is ten feet tall.
The leader’s expression has already become serious.
His instincts are screaming at him.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
My eyes opened as I called my armor.
"Descend, Velzareth."
Soon a black armor materialized from the Void behind me with azure-blue runes covering it.
CLACK-CLICK.
It attached itself to my body and fit perfectly without a helmet.
---
Then I raised Voidfang toward the dark sky.
The surrounding bandits unconsciously took several steps back.
Even bandit leader expression became serious.
The forest fell silent.
No insects.
No birds.
No wind.
As if the world itself is listening.
Then I spoke.
"From the darkness beyond the world’s edge..."
RUMBLE.
The sky trembled.
Dark clouds gathered from every direction.
The stars vanished one by one behind an unnatural darkness.
A cold chill spread through the entire forest.
Several horses panicked and collapsed to their knees.
"W-What is happening?"
One of the bandits stumbled backward.
---
"Chains that bind the forgotten one..."
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
Massive blue-black chains wrapped around my body suddenly became visible.
Countless runes ignited across their surface.
The chains stretched endlessly behind me into a black void that had appeared in the sky.
As if they were connected to something far beyond this world.
The prisoners stared with widened eyes.
Several bandits instinctively lowered their weapons.
Even bandit leader’s grip tightened around his Blacktooth Cleaver.
---
Far beyond reality.
Beyond stars.
Beyond time.
Beyond the edge of existence itself.
Thirteen colossal Titans remained crucified within an endless void.
Each one large enough to dwarf worlds.
Ancient chains pierced their flesh.
Ancient armor sealed their bodies.
All of them remain as motionless, silent and forgotten.
Then my voice reached them.
---
"Shatter."
CRACK.
A single crack appeared upon the chains binding the dark-blue-haired Titan.
The sound echoed through eternity.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
More fractures spread.
The Titan slowly raised his head.
For the first time in countless ages.
His eyes opened.
Within those eyes—
Entire galaxies were born and destroyed.
---
Back in the forest—
Everyone froze.
The pressure descending from the sky multiplied instantly.
BOOOOOM.
Trees bent.
Leaves exploded outward.
Several weaker bandits collapsed to their knees.
Blood trickled from their noses.
"W-What monster is this?!"
One of them screamed.
---
"Awaken..."
The Titan moved.
Only slightly.
But that tiny movement caused the void itself to tremble.
The chains tightened violently.
Trying to suppress him.
Trying to drag him back into eternal imprisonment.
The Titan opened his mouth.
And released a silent roar.
A roar so ancient that even the sound doesn’t understand it.
---
"Nyx Titan."
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR.
The silent roar finally reached reality.
The sky shattered like glass.
Darkness swallowed the heavens.
Azure-blue lightning erupted across the clouds.
The void behind me expanded.
Everyone instinctively looked upward.
Their faces pale.
Their bodies trembling.
Even bandit leader took a step backward.
For the first time in years.
He felt fear.
True fear.
---
"Warden of the Void Path."
SHATTER.
SHATTER.
SHATTER.
The chains exploded.
One after another.
Across the void.
Across reality.
Across my body.
Fragments of blue-black chains scattered like dying stars.
The imprisoned Titan stood.
Free.
At last.
For a brief moment—
the entire world saw him.
A primordial hunter.
An ancient executioner.
A being born from the darkness beyond the world’s edge.
Then his body dissolved into countless particles of blue-black light.
And surged toward me.
WHOOSSSSH.
The light entered my body.
My height increased again.
Ten feet.
Eleven.
Twelve.
My physique became lean and predatory.
Long dark-blue hair flowed behind me.
Azure eyes burned like twin stars.
Black-blue runes spread across my skin and armor.
Void energy leaked from every breath.
Silence descended.
No one dared to move.
No one dared to speak.
Even the forest seemed afraid.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The world has become prey.
"Ahh..."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"Freedom."
-----
Far beyond mortal lands.
Beyond kingdoms.
Beyond worlds.
Several ancient eyes suddenly opened.
Some belonged to forgotten gods.
Some to beings older than history itself.
Their gazes pierced countless realms before locking onto the same source.
Silence followed.
Then—
"...A being from the Forgotten Era?" an ancient voice whispered.
Impossible.
The age of Titans had ended long ago.
A golden-eyed god slowly rose from his throne.
"No..."
His expression darkened.
"Something has awakened."
Across another distant realm, an ancient existence wrapped in endless stars opened its eyes.
For the first time in countless years—
surprise appeared on its face.
"The Warden of the Void Path..."
Then the connection vanished.
As though whatever had awakened refused to be observed.
And for the first time in ages—
Fear stirred within the hearts of beings who once believed themselves eternal.
----
[Chapter End]
