Archvel stood still.


    After the intensity of his tests, he knew he needed time to process what had happened, to understand and internalize the changes fully.


    He stepped back into the meditation chamber, a dimly lit room at the heart of the Dark Archive Temple.


    Sitting cross-legged on the cold stone floor, he took a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting his mind settle.


    Calm yourself. Focus.


    The breath left his body slowly, deliberately, as he concentrated on the flow of energy within him. He could feel the difference—his body wasn’t the same anymore.


    The transformation wasn’t just magical; it was physical.


    The bones, muscles, even his internal organs—they had all been altered in ways that were far more profound than a simple enhancement spell.


    "Physical change is far different from magical augmentation."


    Archvel whispered to himself,


    "Magic affects the soul, the mind. It’s tied to willpower and focus. But this… this is something else entirely. This is a change in my very essence, my DNA itself."


    He clenched his fists, feeling the strength within them, then let them relax.


    "If I don’t master this, if I don’t make it a part of me… it might end up controlling me instead."


    He visualized his body and its changes as a vast web of connections, each one pulsing with life.


    The Giant’s physical attributes were now part of his being, but they needed to harmonize with his mind and soul.


    Only then would he truly wield this power without hesitation or loss of control.


    Time passed, though Archvel wasn’t sure how much.


    His focus was so deep, so absolute, that the outside world seemed to fade away entirely. Until a sudden sensation jolted him back to reality.


    <hr>


    A sharp, mental tug pulled him from his meditation—a signal from one of his skeletons.


    Archvel’s eyes snapped open,


    He extended his senses outward, connecting with the network of Skeleton Servants that patrolled the perimeter of the Dark Archive.


    The feedback came almost instantly: one of his skeletons had been destroyed. The others in the vicinity reported the cause—two massive figures moving through the forest, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Giants. Two of them, moving steadily toward the temple.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Archvel frowned, standing up quickly.


    "Giants? How unusual, and two of them? This isn''t a coincidence."


    He reached out to the remaining skeletons near the perimeter, silently commanding them to observe and report.


    Through their shared vision, he saw the approaching figures.


    They were massive, one and a half times the size of the Giant he had just used in his ritual.


    Their skin was a deep gray.


    They were armed—one carried a crude but massive stone club, while the other wielded what appeared to be an uprooted tree.


    "They’ll reach the temple in about ten hours," one of the skeleton sentinels reported in its hollow, echoing voice.


    Other than Sentinels and Undead Level Two creatures, other servants cannot estimate the arrival time and report it.


    Archvel nodded to himself.


    "Enough time to prepare,Still…… why are they coming here? And how did they even know this place exists?"


    He paced the chamber for a moment, considering his options.


    They were resilient creatures, capable of enduring tremendous damage and possessing monstrous strength.


    <hr>


    "All sentinels, report to me immediately."


    Archvel commanded through his telepathic link to the sentinels.


    "Begin fortifying the temple. Reinforce the main entrance and prepare defensive positions. I want traps set along their likely path of approach."


    The skeletons responded in unison, their voices hollow but resolute.


    "As you command, master."


    He turned toward one of his sentinel skeletons.


    "You," Archvel said, pointing at the sentinel. "Go to the site where the first skeleton was destroyed. I want a detailed report on what happened there—signs of battle, magic, anything unusual. Move quickly."


    The sentinel bowed its head slightly before marching out of the chamber, its footsteps echoing down the stone corridors.


    “Two giants... Why now?" he muttered to himself.


    "Is it mere coincidence, or is something drawing them here? The only reason I can think of that they are related to “The Giant” I have fought with.”


    He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers.


    <hr>


    Hours passed as Archvel and his skeletons worked to prepare the Dark Archive for the impending battle.


    The entrance to the temple was reinforced with heavy stone slabs.


    Archvel stood at the center of the preparations, his mind focused and sharp.


    He issued commands with precision.


    Yet, even as he worked, his thoughts kept drifting back to the approaching giants.


    "They’re more than just mindless brutes."


    “It is more than likely that they are at least level three magical creatures.”


    “Same as the Giant, I have killed.”


    He clenched his fists, a flicker of anger crossing his face.


    "If they think I’ll be an easy target, they’re sorely mistaken. My physical capability right now should let me use my magical spells even more..."


    “With a good strategy, I can deal with them...”


    As the tenth hour approached, Archvel stood at the entrance to the temple, his sentinel skeletons flanking him.


    In the distance, he could hear the heavy footsteps of the giants, the ground trembling beneath their weight.


    The sound grew louder with each passing moment, until the two massive figures emerged from the treeline, their glowing eyes locked on the temple.


    Archvel smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Let’s see if you two are as powerful as you look," he muttered, his voice dripping with defiance.


    He raised a hand, dark energy swirling around his fingertips.


    The time for preparation was over. Now, it was time to fight.