After enduring eighty-one tribulations, the three finally broke through the dimensional barrier teeming with monsters and successfully arrived outside the volcanic mansion. However, they were utterly exhausted, and as they looked at the two nearly four-meter-tall little giants standing guard on either side of the entrance, despair filled their eyes.
Black Cat wished to cure cancer, but he cherished his life more. After all, there was still time before the cancer spread to an irreversible stage. If he rushed forward to fight the two little giants now, he would likely be killed on the spot.
Just as the three were debating how to bypass the two giants and enter the volcanic mansion behind them, the neighing of warhorses sounded from behind.
Turning around, they saw four heavily armored cavalrymen riding tall horses and holding banners leading the way. Behind them followed two rows of ten soldiers. Further back was a massive, coffin-like carriage pulled by two three-meter-tall mountain demons.
These two mountain demons had their chests gouged out, and huge steel nails pierced their bodies. Long chains attached to the nails connected to the carriage, and as the two mountain demons moved, the coffin-like carriage followed.
At the very rear of the convoy were another four heavily armed heavy cavalrymen.
Upon seeing Bai Qisheng and the other two standing in the middle of the road, the leading cavalryman suddenly accelerated, stopping his horse abruptly before them. Beneath his black iron mask, a pair of cold eyes stared out.
"Lowly mortals, move aside at once! The great Duke Spence must pass through here."
Black Cat, being hot-tempered, crossed his arms and retorted cheekily, "And if we don't? What will you do? Cry and go back to your mommy?"
Facing Black Cat's provocation, the knight showed no emotional fluctuation. He drew the knight's sword from his waist, the blade pointed directly at Black Cat, and said, "Either move aside, or die."
Black Cat was about to retort, but Daina quickly stepped forward to mediate.
This was no joke. The opponent had already drawn his sword and was clearly not kidding. Moreover, they were all physically and mentally drained from their battles to get here. How could they possibly be a match for these heavily armed knights? It was best to avoid confrontation.
Daina smiled apologetically at the knight. "Apologies, we'll move, we'll move right away."
With that, she forcefully pulled Black Cat and Bai Qisheng aside, clearing the path.
Seeing this, the knight captain didn't press the issue further and led the convoy forward.
Soon, the convoy reached the two giants. Sensing the presence of outsiders, the two giants, who had been kneeling, awoke from their slumber and slowly stood up. Beneath their burlap cloaks were aged, cracked faces.
The fully awakened giants let out beast-like roars at the convoy, and then a fiery orb nearly two meters in diameter coalesced in their hollow chests.
Observing the approaching fireball, the leading knight captain showed no fear. He calmly drew his knight's sword, inscribed with runes, and swung it fiercely.
A flash of cold light streaked across the air, and the incoming fireball was cleaved in half by the knight captain.
"Mere strays who are lucky to be alive, how dare you bark so loudly again. How laughable."
With that, he urged his warhorse forward, and the horse neighed as it charged towards one of the giants.
Seeing such a tiny human dare to charge at him, the insulted giant roared in anger. He raised his right hand, wreathed in fire, and his fist, the size of a sandbag, slammed down towards the charging knight captain.
Just as he was about to be hit, the knight captain, seated on his horse, exerted a sudden burst of strength and vanished from the saddle. The next moment, he appeared in mid-air, landing on the giant's arm.
Using the giant's arm as a stepping stone, the knight captain took several swift steps to reach the giant's face. With a swift stroke of his sword, in a flash of lightning, the giant was decapitated. A geyser of blood erupted, and its enormous head rolled to the ground, its bell-sized eyes filled with disbelief.
Even in death, it couldn't comprehend how such a seemingly weak human could instantly kill it. Not only the slain giant, but the other giant was also astonished. However, killing one giant wasn't enough for the knight captain.
Before the headless corpse could hit the ground, the knight captain, still standing on its body, forcefully pushed off with his legs. He leaped into the air again, drawing an arc, and swung his sword at the other giant.
With his companion's corpse not yet cold, the remaining giant naturally wouldn't be careless. Instead of attacking the knight captain in mid-air, he retreated several steps, creating distance.
But just as the retreating giant prepared to use ranged fire magic to wear down this powerful human, he felt a sharp pain in his right calf. Looking down, he saw a human wielding a sharp sword had somehow appeared behind him and silently stabbed his calf.
Compared to the knight captain, this warrior's skills were much inferior. Even though he had tried his best to dodge, he was still kicked a hundred meters away by the enraged giant, crashing violently into the mountainside.
Logically, anyone receiving such damage would surely be dead, crushed into a pulp.
But unexpectedly, the person smashed against the mountainside not only survived but pulled himself free from the rock face. As if unharmed, he picked up his weapon from the ground and charged towards the giant again.
Meanwhile, the knight captain was encountering trouble in his battle with the giant.
The two giants at the entrance of the volcanic mansion were already strong. As giants, they possessed incredibly tough physiques. Furthermore, their prolonged presence near the volcanic mansion had given them a strong affinity for fire magic.
Even though the knight captain managed to kill one instantly, it was only thanks to his rune weapon and the opponent's underestimation, leading to a surprise attack.
What's more, these two giants possessed a terrifying secret technique called "Power Inheritance."
This secret technique could only be performed with the willing consent of both parties and required extremely precious materials, but its effects were very significant.
As the name suggests, when one of them died, the remaining one could inherit fifty percent of the deceased's power.
It was simple and brutal.
And so, the giant who inherited fifty percent of his companion's power grew significantly stronger, unleashing fire magic without restraint, making it impossible for even the knight captain to get close.
Just as Black Cat and Daina were contemplating whether to offer assistance, the guards from the convoy intervened.
The ten guards and eight knights engaged the giant in a fierce battle. Even under the giant's fire magic, which severely limited their movement, these eighteen individuals cooperated with incredible synchronicity, as if they were one entity.