IBHJ Chapter 817

The screams of dying men mingled with fierce battle cries as waves of soldiers hurled themselves against the giants. Crimson spears pierced deep into putrid flesh, releasing gouts of steaming crimson blood. Unfazed by the gore drenching their weapons and armor, the humans stabbed into the giants again and again with savage expressions beneath their silver helmets.

Mighty clubbing blows from the giants crushed men into broken, oozing pulp. Soldiers were flung through the air trailing streamers of blood, bones splintering on impact. Severed limbs littered the ground, still weakly grasping spears. Disemboweled fighters staggered forward with entrails dragging, using their last fading strength to ram their spears into the giants' hides one more time before collapsing.

Across the battlefield, the giants' shouts rang out as they adjusted their tactics.

"Hold back on the offensive! Strengthen our defenses!" commanded one of the generals.

Another giant chimed in, "We need to hold out for one more day. If we can survive until tomorrow, we'll have the upper hand."

"Tomorrow will be the humans' last chance. We can outlast them!" declared a third giant, pounding his fist against his chest in a display of confidence.

The giants slowed their momentum, halting their charge into the depths of the human army. They formed a defensive line, their shields raised and weapons at the ready, prepared to weather any assault the humans might launch.

One of the generals turned to Bergelmir, his voice filled with concern. "Great Bergelmir, what do you make of this? The humans' strategy seems... peculiar."

Bergelmir raised his head, his brow furrowed. "I don't like it," he growled, his voice low and cautious. "This can't be their full strength. It's too weak. There's no way they believe they can stop us with just this."

The other commanders looked to Bergelmir, understanding dawning on their faces. He was right. There was no way mere humans, even heroic spirits, could stand on equal ground with the giants in direct confrontation. The humans were skilled warriors, but the giants' sheer size and strength gave them an overwhelming advantage in head-on battles. But if victory through direct means was impossible, why would they...

Bergelmir frowned. "Hmm, If I were in their position, I would attempt to assassinate Surtr while he constructs the path to the black ring."

"Ohh!" one general after another nodded, their eyes widening with realization. "That makes sense. I think so too."

"I understand the logic, but surely that's impossible. How could a human assassinate the king?" one general asked.

Another nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "Not only would they have to get through our army's defenses, but they'd also have to contend with the four Origin Wheels in the king's hands. It's an impossible feat for a human."

Bergelmir turned his head, his eyes locked on the general. "You think it's impossible?"

He calmly addressed the group, "Do you all agree that it's impossible?"

The generals hesitated, mulling it over for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"So, you all think it's impossible..." Bergelmir said, his voice trailing off. Then, with a hint of a smile, he added, "Honestly, I think so too."

Bergelmir's words left everyone stunned. They stared at him, their mouths agape, trying to comprehend the implications of his statement.

He added, "And that's exactly why they'll do it!"

One general frowned, "But how would they even attempt to assassinate the king?"

As Bergelmir was about to respond, a thought struck him. "They could transform themselves and sneak into our army as giants during the chaos of battle. In fact, they might have already infiltrated our ranks!"

The generals exchanged glances, realizing the possibility. A chill ran down their spines at the thought of the enemy hiding among them, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. "Great Bergelmir, what should we do?"

"That's just one possibility I've mentioned, not even a tenth of it. We can't overlook any potential scenario. From now on, no one goes near Surtr..."

But then, he paused, pondering for a moment. "But if we do that, it would leave Surtr vulnerable... We can't risk leaving him unprotected."

Bergelmir's plan was met with a chorus of agreement from the generals. They understood the gravity of the situation and the importance of protecting Surtr at all costs.

After a moment of contemplation, he turned to face the group. "This approach isn't safe either. They might have other ways to infiltrate... Let's do this instead. You," he pointed at Surtr's assistant, "take the most trusted royal guards and protect Surtr."

"Understood, Great Bergelmir!" Surtr's assistant nodded, turned on his heel, and left with 3,000 of the most elite royal guards in tow.

Another general spoke up, "What about the rest of us, Great Bergelmir?"

"The rest of you will stick together to fend off the human army's final assault tomorrow. This way, if one of us is replaced by them, the others will be there to stop it," he explained.

He added with a sense of finality, "Tomorrow will be the last day!"

...

"The moment we've been waiting for is finally here..." Skadi sighed.

Shirou turned to Skadi, "But it's worth a try, don't you think? Hel took a chance and tried to overthrow you, so I took a chance and saved you. And now, we're taking another leap of faith."

Skadi pondered for a moment, her brows furrowed in thought. Then, she nodded, a charming smile gracing her pretty face. "You're right. We've faced countless obstacles to get here, and we'll face this one together, just like we always have."

Just then, Artoria walked in, her footsteps breaking their moment. Skadi glanced at her, a flicker of something indiscernible crossing her face. She quickly composed herself and turned to Shirou, her voice low. "I should get going. There are preparations to be made." With that, she turned and left, her footsteps fading into the distance.

Artoria watched Skadi's retreating back, falling silent. A sense of apprehension settled in her heart, a nagging feeling that she couldn't quite shake off. She fidgeted with the pommel of her sword, trying to find the right words to express her concerns.

"What's wrong, Artie?" Shirou looked at her curiously, noticing the troubled expression on her face. "Is something bothering you?"

She hesitated for a moment, then mustered up her courage and asked, "Your Majesty, does Skadi have something against me?"

"What makes you think that?"

"If she doesn't dislike me, why does she leave every time she sees me?" She felt like Skadi was giving her the cold shoulder, but she couldn't recall doing anything to offend her. "Did I do something wrong? Did I say something that upset her?"

"Maybe she's just shy," he suggested, offering a reassuring smile. "Skadi can be a bit reserved at times, especially around new people. Don't take it personally. I'm sure she'll warm up to you in no time."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "By the way, Artie, is everything ready?"

At this point, Artoria's demeanor turned serious as she nodded and said, "Everything is ready, my king."

"Then let's head out." Shirou swung his cape and strode out of the military tent with Artoria. Cold snow fell from the sky, blanketing the earth in a fresh layer of white. He stepped onto the pristine snow, where a highly skilled squad of a hundred men had already assembled.

Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Lamorak, Gareth... the Knights of the Round! As Shirou approached, the Knights raised their heads, their eyes locked on the king who had once led them to glory.

Shirou held Caliburn in his hand as he stepped forward, emanating a holy aura. On his forehead, the mysterious runes of wisdom glowed faintly, making him appear even more divine. He stopped and looked at the assembled Knights of the Round, his bright, piercing eyes taking in each of them. In a deep voice, he said, "Everyone, the time has come. We'll strike fear in our enemies. Our swords will sing, our arrows will fly. Prepare your weapons and let's make the enemy tremble. Today, we are the hunters, and the hunt has begun."

As soon as he finished speaking, the others tightened their grip on their weapons. They didn't shout or cheer like ordinary soldiers. Instead, they contained their passion, their eyes burning with determination.