The dig

The gates of Blackthorn Manor exploded inward.

Valerie practically carried Malcolm through the opening, one of his massive arms draped over her shoulders while Elias stumbled beside them, his robes scorched and streaked with blood.

"GRETA!" Valerie shouted, her voice cracking. "NOW!"

The manor seemed to hold its breath.

Joey, Cassandra, Taylor, and Crystal were already running before they consciously realized what was happening.

Joey rounded the corner first.

Then he saw Malcolm.

His stomach dropped.

The giant who had seemed almost indestructible only hours earlier barely resembled himself.

His enchanted armor had been split completely through along his left side.

The metal looked as though it had been struck by a siege weapon.

Blood soaked every inch of him.

His breathing came in wet, ragged gasps.

One leg bent at an angle legs simply weren't meant to.

His hammer was gone.

Malcolm had never been seen without that hammer.

Greta reached him a heartbeat later.

Everything stopped.

For the first time since anyone had met her...

Greta froze.

She didn't bark orders.

She didn't crack a joke.

She simply stared.

"...No."

It was barely above a whisper.

Valerie looked at her desperately.

"Greta..."

"No."

Greta dropped to both knees beside Malcolm with enough force to crack the stone beneath her.

Her enormous hands hovered over him, almost afraid to touch him.

"No, no, no..."

Joey had never imagined Greta could sound frightened.

She always seemed larger than life.

Unshakable.

Now...

She looked terrified.

Malcolm slowly opened one eye.

"...Hi..."

His attempt at a smile only produced another cough.

Blood splattered across his beard.

Greta immediately slid one arm beneath his shoulders.

"You stubborn mountain..."

"You... told me..."

He coughed again.

"...not... to die..."

Her jaw clenched so tightly Joey thought she might crack her own teeth.

"You don't get to make jokes."

"I thought..."

Another painful breath.

"...it was funny."

Greta closed her eyes.

Just for a second.

When she opened them again they glistened.

Joey wasn't sure he'd ever seen someone cry before they actually started crying.

"Harold!" Greta barked.

The AI responded instantly.

**"Emergency medical protocols activated."**

Hidden panels slid open throughout the foyer.

Medical equipment emerged from concealed compartments.

Bright white lights illuminated Malcolm.

Mechanical arms unfolded from the ceiling carrying scanners and surgical instruments.

Taylor gasped softly.

Crystal simply stared.

"...Your house has an emergency room?"

**"Several,"** Harold replied.

Greta ignored everything except Malcolm.

"Get Doctor Mercer."

**"Already en route."**

Elias stepped forward.

"He needs magical stabilization."

"I know."

"The wound—"

"I KNOW!"

Silence crashed over the room.

Greta immediately looked away.

"...Sorry."

No one said anything.

Valerie slowly removed Malcolm's ruined breastplate.

Everyone wished she hadn't.

The axe hadn't simply cut him.

It had crushed him.

Several ribs were visible.

Dark green veins spread outward from the wound like roots beneath his skin.

Taylor covered her mouth.

"...What is that?"

Cassandra stepped closer.

Her expression hardened.

"Venom."

Elias nodded grimly.

"Not ordinary poison."

Greta looked toward him.

"What kind?"

He swallowed.

"...Basilisk venom."

The room fell silent again.

Joey frowned.

"I've never heard of it."

"You weren't supposed to," Cassandra answered quietly.

"It attacks all life magical or otherwise"

Taylor looked confused.

"...Malcolm's human."

"No," Greta said softly.

Everyone looked toward her.

For several long seconds she simply stared at Malcolm.

Then she finally answered.

"...Not entirely."

Joey blinked.

"What?"

Greta gently adjusted Malcolm's arm.

"He has giant blood."

Crystal's eyes widened.

"...That explains a lot."

Greta nodded absently.

"His grandfather was one of the last Stone Giants."

Elias sighed.

"Basilik venom reacts violently with giant blood."

Taylor looked between them.

"So... healing magic?"

"Won't work."

Everyone turned toward Cassandra.

She knelt beside Malcolm, carefully examining the wound.

"The venom feeds on magical energy."

Joey frowned.

"So if you use healing magic..."

"You strengthen the poison."

Silence.

Joey looked back down at Malcolm.

"...That's not good."

"No," Cassandra admitted quietly.

"It isn't."

The front doors burst open.

An older man hurried inside carrying several heavy cases.

Gray hair.

Wire-rimmed glasses.

Calm eyes.

He took one look at Malcolm.

"...Move."

Everyone stepped back immediately.

Doctor Mercer knelt beside the unconscious giant.

He didn't panic.

Didn't hesitate.

He simply began working.

Minutes passed.

Scanners hummed.

Needles.

Bandages.

Strange glowing fluids.

Finally...

He stood.

Greta looked at him.

"Well?"

The doctor removed his glasses slowly.

"I can keep him alive."

Relief flickered across Greta's face—

Until he continued.

"But I can't heal him."

The relief vanished.

"The venom has spread too far."

Greta stared.

"There has to be something."

"There is."

Hope returned to everyone's faces.

Doctor Mercer hesitated.

"It's dangerous."

"Tell me."

"There are herbs that suppress Basilisk venom."

Greta crossed her arms.

"Where?"

The doctor met her eyes.

"...Inside Leviathan's territory."

The room became deathly still.

Even Harold remained silent.

Joey looked toward Malcolm.

The giant hadn't moved.

Machines now breathed for him.

Steadily.

Artificially.

Greta stepped closer to the bed.

She rested one enormous hand gently on Malcolm's shoulder.

For several seconds...

She simply stood there.

Finally she spoke.

Quietly.

Almost too quietly to hear.

"I should've gone."

Nobody answered.

Because everyone in the room knew exactly what she meant.

She blamed herself.

Joey looked toward Cassandra.

Through their bond...

He felt something he hadn't expected.

Fear.

Not for herself.

For everyone.

She met his eyes.

"We underestimated him."

Joey nodded slowly.

"No."

His voice barely carried across the room.

"We didn't even know what we were walking into."

Outside...

Rain began falling against the manor windows.

Inside...

No one spoke.

The reality had finally settled over them.

Leviathan wasn't merely another powerful enemy.

He commanded an army.

He possessed ancient magic.

His generals wielded weapons capable of felling giants.

And somehow...

He had let Malcolm live.

Not out of mercy.

But because he wanted this exact moment.

He wanted them to understand.

The war had already begun.

And they were losing.