The group slowly made their way out of the Valley of Echoing Cries, leaving behind the cursed ruins, the screaming darkness, and the castle that still haunted their thoughts.
For the first time in what felt like forever… the air no longer smelled like blood and decay.
A narrow stream flowed beside them, its water crystal clear as it moved gently over smooth stones. The morning sky had turned bright blue, and golden sunlight poured across the valley floor. Birds chirped in distant trees, and the cold wind carried the scent of grass instead of rotting flesh.
It almost didn't feel real.
Noah walked silently at the front of the group while Barry followed behind them with slow, heavy footsteps that made the earth tremble slightly beneath his massive body. Johann limped beside Anna, still holding his injured leg every now and then.
Even after everything they had survived…
The peace felt unnatural.
Almost suspicious.
Then suddenly—
Perfidus pointed ahead excitedly.
,,Perfidus: There! Just a little farther and we're finally there!"
Everyone lifted their heads.
Far beyond the fields, enormous stone walls stood proudly against the horizon.
Johann's eyes widened.
,,Johann: Holy… shit."
The closer they got, the larger the walls became.
At first they had looked like tiny gray lines in the distance.
Now they towered over the land like mountains.
Massive watchtowers rose from the walls every few hundred meters, each armed with giant ballistas and iron cannons pointed toward the wilderness outside the kingdom.
Flags danced in the wind above them.
Actual civilization.
Actual safety.
Noah felt something tighten in his chest.
Hope.
Real hope.
Not survival.
Not running.
Not hiding.
Hope.
The roads became cleaner as they approached, and patches of colorful flowers grew along the fields near the walls. Farmers could even be seen in the far distance working safely outside under armed guard.
It felt impossible after everything they had seen.
No ash.
No corpses.
No screaming monsters.
Just life.
Johann stared around in disbelief.
,,Johann: This place actually exists…"
,,Anna: It's beautiful…"
Even Heinrich looked speechless.
But suddenly—
One of the giant ballistas atop the wall slowly turned toward them.
The loud creaking of wood and chains echoed across the field.
Everyone froze.
,,Heinrich: Uh… why is that thing aiming at us?"
Perfidus looked confused.
,,Perfidus: I… I don't know. They've never done that before."
More movement appeared atop the walls.
Soldiers rushed between towers.
Cannons rotated.
Then distant voices suddenly shouted toward them.
Panicked.
Terrified.
,,Soldier: HEY! RUN! GET AWAY FROM THAT THING BEFORE IT KILLS YOU!"
Anna blinked in confusion.
,,Anna: What thing?"
The group quickly looked around.
Nothing.
No monsters.
No movement in the fields.
Then Perfidus slowly turned toward Barry.
And his face dropped.
,,Perfidus: They… they mean your giant."
Johann immediately frowned.
,,Johann: Barry?! Are you serious?!"
,,Noah: Yeah, but how are they supposed to know he's friendly?!"
Before anyone could react—
,,Soldier: FIRE!"
THUNK.
A gigantic ballista bolt launched through the air like lightning.
Barry reacted instantly.
With shocking speed for something his size, he raised one massive arm and knocked the projectile away before it could pierce his chest.
The bolt crashed into the ground nearby with enough force to crack the earth.
,,Heinrich: WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?!"
The soldiers atop the wall began reloading.
Cannons shifted.
Tension exploded across the field.
Noah's mind raced.
If Barry attacked back—
Everything would turn into a massacre.
Then Noah suddenly stepped forward.
,,Noah: I have an idea."
He quickly turned toward the others.
,,Noah: Everyone raise your hands. Barry too. Make it look like we surrender."
Johann blinked.
,,Johann: You think that'll work?"
,,Noah: It has to."
Noah slowly raised both hands into the air.
One by one, the others followed.
Even Barry slowly lifted his massive stone arms upward.
The soldiers on the walls hesitated.
The second volley never came.
Then the giant gates beneath the wall slowly opened with a deafening groan.
Several armored soldiers on horseback rode out toward them at full speed.
Dust kicked into the air behind them.
The riders quickly surrounded the group in a circle before dismounting with weapons drawn.
Steel swords pointed directly toward Noah and the others.
One soldier nervously kept staring at Barry the entire time.
,,Soldier: Captain Finn… what do we do?"
The man at the front stepped forward.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
A scar across his jaw.
Sharp blue eyes filled with distrust.
Captain Finn.
His hand rested firmly on his sword as he looked between the group and Barry.
,,Finn: I hope you people have a very good explanation for why you're bringing a monster to our kingdom."
Perfidus immediately stepped forward.
,,Perfidus: They saved me! I only wanted to bring them to—"
,,Finn: Silence."
Perfidus instantly stopped talking.
Finn didn't even look at him.
,,Finn: I wasn't speaking to you. I was speaking to them."
Noah slowly lowered one hand.
,,Noah: Our village was destroyed by monsters. We met Barry during our journey. He isn't like the others. He fights against Karag."
Several soldiers exchanged nervous glances.
Finn narrowed his eyes.
,,Finn: That creature is a Titan Golem. A young one."
He slowly looked up at Barry again.
,,Finn: Creatures like that do not stay tame forever."
His voice became colder.
,,Finn: Trust me. Once it fully matures… it will kill every single one of you."
Barry simply stood there silently.
Almost sadly.
Noah stepped forward again.
,,Noah: No. You're wrong."
Finn's eyes locked onto his.
,,Noah: Barry chose to protect us. He's saved our lives more times than I can count."
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Only the wind moved across the open fields.
Finn studied them carefully.
Their wounds.
Their exhaustion.
Their fear.
These weren't invaders.
They looked like survivors.
Finally, Finn exhaled slowly.
,,Soldier: Captain… your orders?"
Finn remained silent for another moment before answering.
,,Finn: In the name of King and Queen Kal…"
The soldiers immediately straightened.
,,Finn: …you will be brought before them for questioning."
Johann quietly muttered under his breath.
,,Johann: Great…"
Finn pointed toward Barry.
,,Finn: The Titan Golem, however, will remain under guard until their Majesties decide your fate."
Several soldiers tightened their grip on their weapons nervously.
,,Finn: Follow us."
The group slowly lowered their hands.
Then, under heavy guard, they began walking toward the gates of Kalburg.
As they approached, the massive doors slowly opened wider.
And the moment Noah stepped inside…
His breath caught.
The kingdom was enormous.
Stone roads stretched between hundreds of homes.
People filled the streets.
Children laughed.
Merchants shouted from colorful market stalls.
Smoke rose peacefully from chimneys.
Life.
Real life.
After so much death…
It almost felt unreal.
And somewhere deep inside Noah's exhausted heart—
For the first time in a very long while—
Hope began to grow stronger than fear.