Shadows Of Deception

Shenlog soared high above the battlefield atop his mighty dragon, its massive wings cutting through the air like blades. Below him, chaos reigned. The giants advanced relentlessly, their towering forms crushing everything in their path. Shenlog's dragon roared, a thunderous sound that echoed across the battlefield, and unleashed a fiery Dragon Flame Blast. The searing inferno surged downward, engulfing several giants.

The flames roared and danced, licking at the giants' massive frames, but as the fire cleared, it was evident that it had done little more than char their skin. The giants continued their advance, one of them raising a colossal hand and swiping toward Shenlog and his dragon with immense force.

Shenlog pulled the reins hard, his dragon banking sharply to evade the attack. The gust of wind from the near-miss sent dust and debris spiraling into the air.

"Persistent bastards," Shenlog growled under his breath. "But you won't hit me that easily."

On the ground, the giants stomped forward, their colossal feet crashing into the earth with devastating force. Rookie sentinels, scrambling to dodge the massive feet, found themselves overwhelmed.

One sentinel, pinned beneath a shadow as a giant's foot came down, cried out in despair. "I… I don't want to die! Someone, please—!"

Another sentinel shouted, "Tell my wife I… love—" before the ground beneath him erupted in a sickening crunch.

One young recruit, trembling and clutching his sword, whispered to himself, "Gods, protect me… please…" His prayer was cut short as a massive foot slammed down, silencing him forever.

Blood pooled across the battlefield as the giants' advance crushed not just bodies but spirits. The air was thick with cries of pain and desperation.

Jingwei, atop his massive toad, leaped into action. His toad bounded from one giant to another, its massive legs pushing off the ground with thunderous force. As they landed on a giant's shoulder, Jingwei planted a small, glowing toad in front of its face before leaping away.

BOOM!

The toad exploded, shaking the battlefield.

"That's gotta hurt," Jingwei muttered as he landed on another giant and repeated the process.

BOOM!

Another explosion rocked the field. Yet, as the smoke cleared, Jingwei's confidence wavered. The explosions had left only minor burns on the giants' hardened skin.

He landed at a safe distance, scanning the field. The sight before him made his stomach churn. Rookie sentinels lay scattered, their cries for help echoing as the giants trampled over them.

"Dammit," he cursed, his fists clenching. "We're losing too many."

Amid the carnage, Cade's sharp eyes locked onto a young sentinel frozen on the ground, his face pale with terror. A giant loomed above him, its foot raising high to deliver a crushing blow.

"Move!" Cade yelled, but the rookie couldn't hear him, paralyzed by fear.

Cade's hands extended, his fingers slicing through the air as a crimson liquid surged forth.

BLOOD MANIPULATION: BLOOD RAZOR.

The blood shot out like a whip, racing across the battlefield with precision. The sharp tendrils slashed cleanly through the giant's leg, severing it at the knee. The massive form toppled backward with a deafening crash.

The blood didn't stop there. It coiled around the rookie, lifting him off the ground and dragging him to safety before curling around the giant's body.

The sharp edges of Cade's blood technique sliced through the giant's torso, shredding its massive frame into pieces that fell to the earth with a series of BOOMS.

Cade set the rookie down gently. "Next time, don't just stand there. Fight or flee, but don't freeze."

The rookie nodded, his eyes wide with gratitude and shock. "T-thank you, sir!"

High above, Shenlog watched the chaos unfold. His eyes narrowed as he saw the giants continuing their relentless march, crushing everything in their path. He tightened his grip on the reins and shouted across the battlefield, his voice amplified by his dragon's roar.

"Everyone, fall back to me! Regroup now!"

The sentinels, bloodied and battered, began retreating toward Shenlog's position. Cade and Zach blurred through the chaos, cutting down any stray giants blocking the path. Jingwei and his toad leaped to the rear lines, providing cover for the retreating forces.

As the last of the sentinels gathered, Shenlog's dragon hovered above, its massive shadow casting over the battlefield.

"Listen up!" Shenlog bellowed. "I'm about to fry these bastards to bits, and I don't want any of you getting caught in the flames. Stay back unless you feel like being roasted alive!"

The sentinels, though weary, cheered at their commander's determination. Shenlog grinned, his dragon letting out another deafening roar as it prepared to unleash its full might.

The battlefield stilled for a moment, the giants regrouping and towering over the shattered terrain. The clash was far from over, but for now, the free world's defenders held their ground.