The Undead Giant turned, its gait shambling and ponderous, footfalls pealing like falling stones. Its thick torso bristled with the curve of stony muscle, its hunched back laden with candles driven into its flesh, and its forearms gleamed with long, wicked blades in place of hands, that wept dark tears along their keen, silver edges. It tilted back its head upon that broad stump of a neck, its thunderous voice ringing out in a resonant cry.

Or'do nodded to me, grinning as he dashed in beneath the shadow of its outstretched arm, his fists trailing ribbons of dark fire. He dropped to his knees and slid between its hulking legs, outstretched hands scarring its calves, blistering its flesh and sundering bone. It turned to pursue him, yet immediately staggered as I rammed an iron fist into its lower back, throwing it to its knees with a sharp crack!

Or'do turned on his trailing foot, his leg bending with ominous power, his fist drawing back, nocked as surely as any arrow. He lunged, his entire frame blurring into a band of darkness, his hand shedding black tears that charred even stone, that melted the earth in his passing. He materialized before the bowed monster, and before its radiant eyes had registered his sudden arrival, his glowing fist was passing through its solar plexus, crunching through sinew and bone like both had little more resistance than dampened paper. Or'do twisted on his planted left foot, tearing the beast's heart from its calcified throne, and holding it triumphantly overhead.

The Giant fell, and burst apart in a flare of light. Once more had we cleansed the Dark, yet far more of its servants remained. So be it. I had no regrets; whether imprisoned here, or striding to long awaited freedom, as long as it was at my comrade's side, I would never again look bleakly upon the world. Fear yearned to freeze me, yet the warmth of his company was far too great for me to ever again feel cold.