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Jimmy's words left Seck deep in thought.
Was that truly freedom?
They survived, yes But survival was harsh and uncertain. When life itself was a struggle, what meaning did freedom even have?
And what was freedom, really?
Seck found himself unsure.
If they followed Jimmy, they would kneel to no one. They could farm their own fields, graze their herds, build warm homes…
For the giants, however, Jimmy took a different approach.
They were too valuable to leave outside his influence.
"Mag," Jimmy said bluntly, "they call you Strong Mag, Let's test that strength."
Mag thumped his massive chest proudly.
"Mag strongest."
Jimmy nodded.
"We compete, If you win, I'll take you somewhere safe far from the White Walkers."
"And if I win," he continued calmly, "you become my warrior. I'll still take you somewhere safe, There will be food, and shelter. Salt. Plenty of land to raise deer."
Mag's eyes gleamed.
"Fight?"
"Strength only," Jimmy replied.
Mag grinned.
"Fight!"
…
The contest was simple.
Jimmy stood bare-chested on a stone step, leveling the height difference between them Between them rested a massive tree trunk, thicker than a man's torso.
Jimmy pressed his chest against one end.
Mag pressed his chest against the other.
The rules were straightforward.
If Mag pushed Jimmy off the step, the giant won.
If Jimmy forced Mag backward until he stepped onto the platform, Jimmy won.
Word of the challenge spread through the entire camp before the log was even set in place.
A human challenging the strongest giant in the clan.
The spectacle drew everyone.
Mag himself was not technically the chief of the giants. But he was older than most, clever in his own way, and when danger came, the others naturally followed him.
Their entire race had dwindled terribly.
Barely six hundred giants remained alive. Fewer than sixty were young.
If Jimmy and Horus had not intervened against the White Walkers, they would have lost half their people and every mammoth they owned.
Giants were simple folk.
Jimmy had saved them, That alone made them willing to listen.
Ironically, the giants reached an agreement quickly.
They were willing to follow Jimmy.
The Free Folk, meanwhile, argued loudly among themselves.
Some even proposed seizing Jimmy and forcing him to lead them to this promised land.
That idea was quickly crushed.
"The fire eagle obeys him," someone pointed out. "How do you capture a man like that?"
"And he just saved our lives. Betray him now and we're no better than kneelers who break their word."
"Besides," another added, "he said we wouldn't have to kneel, If he lies, we can rebel later."
Even as they argued, Jimmy arrived dragging the massive tree trunk.
Thud.
He dropped it to the ground hard enough to shake the earth.
"Mag," he called. "Let's begin."
…
"ROOOAR!"
Mag strained forward with a thunderous roar.
The giant's muscles bulged, his entire body driving against the log.
And nothing happened.
Jimmy barely moved.
He had already measured Mag's strength earlier. Without enhancements, it was roughly equal to Jimmy's natural power.
Now?
"Ha!"
Jimmy pushed.
The enormous log creaked loudly as it began to move.
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
Mag roared again, digging his heels into the ground, but the log kept sliding forward.
Step by step.
Jimmy forced him backward.
With a final shove—
Crash.
The log dropped to the ground.
Mag collapsed onto the earth, breathing heavily.
He looked up at Jimmy with wide eyes.
"Jimmy… you dragon?"
Jimmy shrugged casually.
"A dragon? I've killed one."
Seck stepped forward at that moment.
"We discussed your offer," he said. "Most of the clans are willing to follow you."
Jimmy's words left Seck deep in thought.
Was that truly freedom?
They survived, yes. But survival was harsh and uncertain. When life itself was a struggle, what meaning did freedom even have?
And what was freedom, really?
Seck found himself unsure.
If they followed Jimmy, they would kneel to no one, They could farm their own fields, graze their herds, build warm homes…
For the giants, however, Jimmy took a different approach.
They were too valuable to leave outside his influence.
"Mag," Jimmy said bluntly, "they call you Strong Mag, Let's test that strength."
Mag thumped his massive chest proudly.
"Mag strongest."
Jimmy nodded.
"We compete, If you win, I'll take you somewhere safe far from the White Walkers."
"And if I win," he continued calmly, "you become my warrior. I'll still take you somewhere safe, There will be food. Shelter. Salt. Plenty of land to raise deer."
Mag's eyes gleamed.
"Fight?"
"Strength only," Jimmy replied.
Mag grinned.
"Fight!"
…
The contest was simple.
Jimmy stood bare-chested on a stone step, leveling the height difference between them. Between them rested a massive tree trunk, thicker than a man's torso.
Jimmy pressed his chest against one end.
Mag pressed his chest against the other.
The rules were straightforward.
If Mag pushed Jimmy off the step, the giant won.
If Jimmy forced Mag backward until he stepped onto the platform, Jimmy won.
Word of the challenge spread through the entire camp before the log was even set in place.
A human challenging the strongest giant in the clan.
The spectacle drew everyone.
Mag himself was not technically the chief of the giants But he was older than most, clever in his own way, and when danger came, the others naturally followed him.
Their entire race had dwindled terribly.
Barely six hundred giants remained alive. Fewer than sixty were young.
If Jimmy and Horus had not intervened against the White Walkers, they would have lost half their people and every mammoth they owned.
Giants were simple folk.
Jimmy had saved them, That alone made them willing to listen.
Ironically, the giants reached agreement quickly.
They were willing to follow Jimmy.
The Free Folk, meanwhile, argued loudly among themselves.
Some even proposed seizing Jimmy and forcing him to lead them to this promised land.
That idea was quickly crushed.
"The fire eagle obeys him," someone pointed out. "How do you capture a man like that?"
"And he just saved our lives. Betray him now and we're no better than kneelers who break their word."
"Besides," another added, "he said we wouldn't have to kneel, If he lies, we can rebel later."
Even as they argued, Jimmy arrived dragging the massive tree trunk.
Thud.
He dropped it to the ground hard enough to shake the earth.
"Mag," he called. "Let's begin."
…
"ROOOAR!"
Mag strained forward with a thunderous roar.
The giant's muscles bulged, his entire body driving against the log.
And nothing happened.
Jimmy barely moved.
He had already measured Mag's strength earlier. Without enhancements, it was roughly equal to Jimmy's natural power.
Now?
"Ha!"
Jimmy pushed.
The enormous log creaked loudly as it began to move.
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
Mag roared again, digging his heels into the ground, but the log kept sliding forward.
Step by step.
Jimmy forced him backward.
With a final shove—
Crash.
The log dropped to the ground.
Mag collapsed onto the earth, breathing heavily.
He looked up at Jimmy with wide eyes.
"Jimmy… you dragon?"
Jimmy shrugged casually.
"A dragon? I've killed one."
Seck stepped forward at that moment.
"We discussed your offer," he said. "Most of the clans are willing to follow you."
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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