Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Chapter 87- Back home

Thunder roared, lightning tore through the sky, and the earth trembled beneath the sheer force of Austin’s magic. His axe gleamed above his head, gripped tightly in both hands as he locked onto the next giant.

**SQUELCH**

The blade tore through thick, unyielding flesh, splitting the monster’s skull clean in two. Dark blood gushed as the towering beast crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Huff… Huff…” Austin’s breaths came ragged as he watched the blackened pool spread beneath the fallen giant. His own blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, and sweat made his grip on the axe slick, but there was no time to rest.

**THUMP THUMP**

The ground trembled under the relentless march of more giants, their massive frames looming like moving mountains. There was no hiding from them. No escape.

Austin tightened his grip, his stance firm as he lifted the axe with one hand. He locked eyes with the next beast—a hulking, ten-foot brute with unnaturally long arms stretching toward him, eager to crush his skull.

But before its fingers could close around him—

He vanished.

The giant’s grasp closed on nothing but air.

*SPLURT*

A deep, gaping wound appeared across the monster’s stomach. Austin had already passed it, his axe dripping with fresh blood.

“They’re too slow…” he muttered, barely sparing it at a glance.

The beast howled in pain, twisting with rage. It swung its enormous arm, aiming to obliterate him in a single blow.

Austin leaped away, just in time.

**BOOOOOM**

The force of the strike shattered the rocky ground where he had just stood. A second slower, and his head would’ve been nothing but pulp.

‘…they are monstrously strong.’ Austin wasted no time. The moment the giant’s arm crashed into the ground, he lunged forward. His axe, slick with blood, became an extension of his body as he swung—

*SLASH*

The beast’s knee split open, black blood gushing as it let out a guttural roar. Before it could stumble, Austin twisted his body and drove his axe upward—

**CRACK**

The blade buried deep into the monster’s ribcage. He yanked it free just as another giant came crashing in from the side, its massive fist descending like a hammer.

Austin kicked off the wounded giant’s body, flipping backward as the ground where he stood exploded into dust and rubble.

Before his feet could even touch the ground and he could finish the giant—

*WHAM*

Another giant swiped at him in mid-air.

Austin twisted, barely avoiding the blow as the wind pressure sent him hurtling sideways. He landed hard, rolling across the battlefield before digging his axe into the dirt to stop himself.

He looked up. Three more giants were already charging.

A grin tugged at his lips.

“Come on, then.”

He twisted the axe over his head, the lightning charging up, before he swung the axe in an upper arc, sending streams of lightning toward the group.

**JOLT**

The lightning struck the giants, slowing them down but not completely stopping them.

Austin clicked his tongue, before he lunged forward, his form becoming a blur as he heard towards the three, intending to behead them.

When suddenly,

**BOOOOM**

“Khuk!” A loud reverberation arrived from the left, sending an airborne Austin flying away.

*Dhak*

Austin landed on the ground, rolling away because of the force.

“Shit….this is madness…” He couldn’t believe the strength behind that clap was so intense that a sixty-kilogram man was hurtled away.

Austin slowly opened his eyes, as he saw more than seven giants approaching him.

He looked at the current points and found he was still five points short.

“Can’t give up now…” Austin pushed himself off the ground…but then, he felt dizzy. He has lost quite some blood and he has been hit a few times by those shockwaves.

The giants were closing in—seven of them now, their towering frames blocking the storm-lit sky.

He didn’t have time to fight them all head-on.

His fingers curled into fists as he focused. The storm above rumbled in response. Lightning crackled along his arms, coursing through his veins, rekindling his body with raw energy. He exhaled sharply.

Then—he moved.

*CRACK*

A blinding bolt struck the ground behind him as Austin shot forward like a streak of light. Instead of heading for his axe, he dashed toward the giants, weaving between their massive legs before skidding to a stop.

“Over here, you ugly bastards!”

Raising both hands, he slammed his palms together.

**KZAAAAAAP**

A surge of lightning exploded outward, arcing between the three closest giants, stunning them in place. Their enormous bodies convulsed under the electric shock, their limbs locking up for a crucial second.

Those three who were struck, stumbled back and set the others, off balance.

That was all he needed.

Without hesitation, Austin twisted mid-step and launched himself toward the injured giant—the one with the deep gash in its stomach. It had barely recovered, still hunched over, its breathing ragged.

Perfect.

Austin vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing just above the giant’s hunched form.

His form was blended in the dark night, his Shard appeared in his hand, and his eyes held nothing but immense blood lust.

“**KHRUAAANGH**”

The giant tried to swat Austin away. However, Austin summoned his Axe and plunged into the arm of the giant, sending a thunderbolt down its arm.

“*KHRUUOG*” The giant, howled, however, Austin gave the beast another reason to cry,

**SQUELCH**

Austin dug his Shard deep inside the wound, extending the blade to pierce it through the giant’s back.

**THUMP** **THUMP**

All the giants were rushing toward him, faster than before.

“RETREAT!” Austin barked, just as he felt the giant’s movement coming to a stop.

**BLINK**

An illumination engulfed him, and before the giant could have captured him, Austin disappeared.

°°°°°°

*Thud*

Valerie and Sebastian instantly stopped their horses and jumped toward Austin as they saw the blond Prince falling to the ground.

“Austin!”

“Young master!”

They both panicked as they reached the boy who was breathing heavily and looked pale.

Valerie couldn’t discern what happened so suddenly when she saw her Lord being all fine just a moment ago.

Austin looked at the two, as he whispered, “I might have pushed myself a little there …sorry,”

“No, young master, we can understand,” Sebastian spoke. His young master wasn’t much used to long journeys since, in the past, he mostly traveled in carriages.

“You went through a battle and got injured, so it’s understandable,” Valerie added, a frown of concern on her face.

Looking at the butler, she said, “I will ride with him” She would have suggested staying a little longer so he could get rest, but remembering the urgency of the matter, the only comfort she could provide was to ride the horse with him.

“Yes, that would be the best option.” Sebastian nodded before he lifted Austin from the ground and headed toward Valerie’s horse.

Valerie took out a thin and long shawl from her bag before she climbed the horse and wrapped it around herself and Austin—binding them strongly together.

Austin’s face was resting against her bosom, the scent of her hair wash and her natural scent made him feel calm.

He glanced up and found the girl looking down at him before she whispered, “Sleep peacefully, my Lord. I will keep you safe.”

She took his breath away.

“…okay.” Closing his eyes, he fell asleep.

———-**———

The next time Austin opened his eyes, it was already afternoon.

He looked up and found Valerie still riding the horse without an ounce of fatigue on her face even though he had his weight on her.

“Val, I am awake now,” Austin called out, but,

“I think you should remain hidden, my lord,” Valerie responded, and that made him frown.

Austin looked around and found they were going through familiar streets, “Why are we going in through the back side?”

This was, undoubtedly, the backside of the capital. Austin has traveled through this path, especially after he awakened his Shard. He usually used this route to go hunting.

“The front side is heavily guarded, soldiers are everywhere, that’s why Sebastian suggested using this route.”

Austin nodded, “He is-” he paused when suddenly he felt Valerie shivering.

Looking up, he found the girl blushing, as she said, “P-Please don’t move your face…i-it distracts me….”

Austin took a strong gulp as he realized where his face was resting, “…sorry, I won’t.”

As such, for the rest of the journey, Austin and Valerie traveled in silence.

After moving for another ten minutes, they finally reached the backside of the palace.

Austin, with Valarie’s help, untied himself from his fiancée. Sitting face to face with her, he uttered, “Thank you for carrying me.”

Valerie smilingly shook her head, “Nothing to thank me. As your partner, it’s natural for me to take care of you.”

The duo looked into each other’s eyes, the glimmer of fondness they both shared.

“Young lord, we should get going.”

Hearing Sebastian’s words, Austin heaved a sigh, before jumping off the horse.

It’s time to discover what in the seven world is happening in Eryndor.