Before Jamie's very eyes, the Director, once a figure of composed and calm authority, had transformed into a colossal were-elephant. With tusks as sharp and formidable as ivory spears and a mighty trunk capable of toppling walls, he surged forward. He shoved the fallen giant aside with a mighty thrust, but he didn't stop there. With thunderous strides, he advanced against the remaining giants, attempting to breach the shattered section of the city's wall.

The giants retaliated fiercely. Massive fists swung like battering rams and enormous tree branches wielded as clubs came crashing down with earth-shaking force. Yet, none of their assaults seemed to hinder the Director's relentless advance. Each blow he took was met with a defiant roar; his thick, gray hide absorbed the impacts as he plowed forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Use the were-elephant as a shield! Attack the giants with spears. Aim for their legs!" shouted some of the seasoned soldiers, their voices strained yet commanding over the din of battle.

However, their orders were often drowned out by the agonized cries of the fallen. Many soldiers lay wounded, some missing limbs, others struggling to stand. One man writhed on the blood-soaked ground; his leg severed when a giant had swung a massive tree trunk. Another lay motionless, his body twisted unnaturally after being struck by a giant's colossal hand.

Amidst the carnage, pockets of soldiers braved the fray to reach their fallen comrades. They hoisted the injured onto shields used as makeshift stretchers, dragging them away from the heart of the battle. Their efforts were twofold, not only to provide desperately needed aid, for the healers could mend even grievous wounds if life still lingered but also to clear the battlefield. Bodies and debris littered the ground; with collapsed walls and shattered homes strewn about, every obstacle made the already perilous fight even more treacherous.

"We'd better head to the Lower Quarter," Thomas urged, his face grim beneath a sheen of sweat and soot. "They won't be able to fight without us."

"You're right," Jamie agreed. There was little more they could do here, and the streets were descending further into chaos with each passing moment.

Just as they turned to sprint toward the Lower Quarter, the ground beneath them jolted violently. The unmistakable tremor of a giant's landing reverberated through their bones. Whirling around, they saw one of the giants had vaulted over the weakened wall, its massive form towering above the nearby buildings.

The director grappled fiercely with two giants near the shattered gate. Yet despite his valiant efforts, the situation grew more dire by the moment. Another giant had broken through the defenses. With each passing minute, the threat of the city's defenses collapsing entirely loomed greater.

"Hold it back!" one of the guards bellowed, desperation edging his voice as he rallied a cluster of weary soldiers. They rushed to intercept the giant barreling down the main avenue, their spears and shields raised in a defiant but frail wall meant to divert the behemoth from the vulnerable homes that lay behind them.

But before they could reach their mark, the very ground beneath their feet convulsed with a deafening explosion. A blinding flash lit up the street, followed by a shockwave that knocked many off their feet. When the dust and smoke began to clear, a gruesome sight was revealed. Half of the giant's massive form had been obliterated, torn apart in a visceral eruption of flesh and blood that spattered across the cobblestones and nearby buildings.

"The first shot from the Arcane Tower!" the captain shouted triumphantly to those around him, his face illuminated by the fiery glow from the distant blast.

Jamie whipped his gaze toward the colossal spire that dominated the city's skyline. High atop the Arcane Tower, he could see torrents of mana converging, swirling into a seething nexus of raw energy. The uppermost levels pulsed with intense heat, casting a radiant aura as if a captive sun blazed within its walls.

"Let's move!" Jamie's voice rang out over the clamor of battle as he turned sharply. "With that weapon, they'll handle the others. We need to minimize the damage that giant can cause!"

Thomas nodded. Together, they sprinted down a side alley that led toward the Lower Quarter. The narrow passageways echoed with distant screams and the sounds of destruction, their only guide to the rampaging giant.

Emerging from the shadows of the alleyway, they were met with a harrowing scene. The giant loomed ahead, a monstrous silhouette against the smoke-laden sky. With each swing of its massive arm, it reduced homes to rubble, the structures crumbling like sandcastles beneath the relentless blows of the makeshift club it wielded.

Near the giant's feet, Aldwin darted back and forth. He shouted taunts and swung his short sword, aiming for the creature's legs in a desperate attempt to draw its attention. A short distance away, Camille was kneeling on the debris-strewn ground, one hand pressed tightly against her side.

"Are you all right?" Jamie called out urgently as he rushed to the elf's side, his eyes scanning for visible injuries.

"I'll manage," Camille replied through gritted teeth, her breaths shallow and strained. "He caught me, but it's just a graze." A trickle of blood seeped between her fingers, staining her armor.

Jamie glanced at the crimson streaks trailing down her side. "That doesn't look like just a graze," he said, concern deepening in his voice.

She gave a terse nod, attempting a wan smile. "I've had worse. We can't stop now."

"And the others?" Jamie asked, casting his gaze around for the new recruits who had been with them.

"They're down... over there," Camille gestured weakly toward the far end of the shattered street. Her eyes reflected a mix of pain and worry. "They're in bad shape. Took a direct hit."

Jamie followed her gaze and caught sight of Dieter and Holz lying amidst the wreckage, their forms unnervingly still.

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Before he could react, the ground shuddered violently once more. The giant let out a thunderous roar, swinging its massive club and demolishing another cluster of houses. The sound of timbers snapping and stones crumbling filled the air, mingling with the distant cries of anguish.

"Do you have any magic left?" Jamie asked urgently, his eyes fixed on the towering giant that loomed over the shattered streets.

"Only [Fire Hands]," Camille replied, her voice strained but steady.

"It'll have to do," Jamie nodded, assessing their dire situation. 'Thomas can't use his new skill without bringing down the city itself. Aldwin's attacks aren't causing enough damage, and my strikes barely affect it at all.' He weighed their limited options, his mind racing. 'Perhaps [Fire Hands] is our only chance.'

He turned to his companions, determination hardening his features. "Thomas, we're going to bring the giant down," he declared. "Camille, as soon as we've got it on the ground, you use [Fire Hands] on its face."

He paused, scanning their faces for any sign of hesitation. Seeing none, he continued, "Are we all in?"

Both nodded, resolve mirrored in their eyes.

Without wasting another moment, Jamie led the charge toward the giant. As they sprinted across the debris-littered street, he explained further to Thomas, "I need you to aim your [Reap] at the back of the giant's leg, right near the heel."

"Right," Thomas replied, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. "Though I'm not sure it'll be enough to sever the tendon."

"It's better than nothing," Jamie replied grimly. "We have to try."

"We do," Thomas agreed, his jaw set.

Drawing his twin daggers, Jamie quickened his pace, weaving through the remnants of collapsed buildings. He darted past Aldwin, who had his short sword stuck in the giant's leg.

Aldwin's eyes widened in surprise at Jamie's sudden appearance. "Focus on bringing him down!" Jamie shouted over his shoulder.

"Understood!" Aldwin called back, pulling his sword with all his strength.

The giant finally seemed to notice the gnats at its feet. Jamie and Aldwin's persistent attacks had become more than mere irritants. Letting out a low, rumbling growl, the creature began stomping with increased vigor, its massive feet cracking the cobblestones with each step.

Jamie narrowly dodged a descending foot, the wind from the giant's movement whipping past him. He slashed at the creature's ankle, his daggers leaving shallow cuts that oozed dark blood.

"He's slowing down!" Aldwin observed.

"Keep at it!" Jamie urged.

With the giant's attention fixated on the two of them, it failed to notice Thomas positioning himself behind it. Thomas waited, muscles coiled, for the perfect moment to strike.

As the giant lifted its foot once more, preparing to stomp on Jamie, Thomas sprang into action. He raised his sword high, the blade gleaming. Channeling his strength, he brought it down in a swift, diagonal arc.

[Reap] he shouted, invoking his skill.

As Thomas's sword descended in a powerful arc, a shimmering blade of energy emanated from its edge, slicing through the air with a sharp, resonant hum. The slash connected with the back of the giant's leg, and for the first time, their relentless foe bore a deep wound. The impact wasn't enough to sever the limb entirely, but it was sufficient to cleave the tendon completely.

A thunderous roar erupted from the giant as its strength gave way. The colossal creature wavered, its massive frame teetering before collapsing forward. The ground quaked violently as it crashed onto the cobblestone street, the deafening noise echoing through the narrow alleys and rattling the windows of nearby buildings.

"Camille!" Jamie shouted, seizing the moment. The elven witch nodded sharply. She sprinted toward the fallen giant, her movements a blur of grace and precision.

"Fire Hands!" she invoked, her voice clear amidst the chaos.

Flames burst to life around her hands, the air shimmering with intense heat. As she reached the giant's head, she leaped onto a fragment of shattered masonry and pressed her scorching palms against the creature's coarse, weathered face. The flames intensified, dancing fiercely as they engulfed the giant's face.

An acrid smell permeated the air, the unmistakable scent of burning flesh. The giant's eyes widened in agony, a guttural scream tearing from its throat. "GUAAAAAAAH!" The sound was a raw, primal wail that resonated deep within the chests of all who heard it.

The giant thrashed wildly, its enormous arms and legs flailing as it struggled against the searing pain. Each convulsion sent tremors through the ground, threatening to topple the surrounding structures already weakened by the battle.

"Watch out!" Jamie cried, his voice laced with urgency as he saw one of the giant's massive arms swinging toward them in a desperate swipe.

Thomas and Aldwin, sensing the imminent danger, darted to the left, barely evading the sweeping limb. Jamie, acting on instinct, veered to the right, his boots skidding on the debris-littered street as he sought to avoid the colossal arm.

But in his haste, Jamie failed to notice that the giant was gripping a makeshift weapon, a torn tree trunk. As he dodged, he found himself directly in its path.

The giant swung the massive club with surprising speed. Jamie's eyes widened as the shadow of the weapon enveloped him. Before he could react, the tree trunk connected with devastating force, striking him.

Time seemed to slow as the impact hurled Jamie through the air. The sounds around him flooded his senses. The crunch of bone, the rush of wind, the distant cries of his comrades. He collided with the crumbling front of a nearby building; the stone wall gave way under the force. Debris rained down around him as he collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving ground.

Pain exploded in his head, a searing agony that pulsed with each heartbeat. Jamie tried to call out, but no sound escaped his lips. He gasped for breath, but his lungs refused to fill, each attempt yielding only shallow, ragged inhalations.

Warmth trickled down his forehead and into his eyes. Blinking against the blur, he reached a trembling hand up to touch his face, his fingertips coming away slick with blood.

He felt a chilling numbness spreading through his limbs, his body betraying him as sensations faded. Only the excruciating pain in his head remained, anchoring him to consciousness.

Around him, the world began to distort. The edges of his vision darkened while the center sharpened with startling clarity. Cracks formed in the fabric of reality, spiderwebbing outward like fissures in a glass pane. The sounds of battle grew distant and muffled as though he were submerged underwater.

'What... is happening?' Jamie thought, his mind struggling to grasp the surreal disintegration unfolding before him.

The fractures widened, pieces of the world peeling away to reveal an infinite void beyond. Light and shadow twisted together, spiraling into an abyss that threatened to consume him.

Overwhelmed, Jamie closed his eyes, surrendering to the encroaching darkness.

Silence.

Then, gradually, new sensations emerged. A steady hum, the faint echo of footsteps, the putrid smell of piss.

Jamie opened his eyes slowly. Gone were the ruins of Hafenstadt, the smoke-filled sky, the distant cries of the wounded.

He glanced down to find himself dressed in a crisp, tailored suit, the fabric smooth beneath his fingers. In his right hand, he held a smartphone, the screen illuminated. His sister's name and number were displayed.

"Am I... back?" he whispered, disbelief coursing through him.

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