Dandolo's Last Resort

The thunder rumbled like the roar of an Ancient Deity from the heavens, furious at the giant's sacrilegious act of climbing Mount Olympus.

The Lava Giant clenched both fists and smashed them together. Scalding lava immediately burst from its enormous pores. Wearing this layer of molten armor and bathing in thunder, it ignored the damage entirely and charged forward in great strides.

The Greek soldiers atop the walls and towers turned pale with fright, their legs trembling. The expedition to Sicily had drained Constantinople of its elite forces. Facing such a formidable enemy, they could scarcely muster any courage.

With a resounding boom, the entire wall shook.

These harbor walls were nowhere near as sturdy as the Theodosian Walls. Had a blue barrier not appeared to absorb most of the force, that blow might have brought them down.

Just then, a clear, soaring chant rose from Eve's lips.

Her voice was beautiful. Even amid the rolling thunder, it carried far, like a Siren singing at the top of her lungs in some old legend. The sea dragon watching nearby immediately answered with a series of hisses.

It opened its mouth several times, trying to breathe deep-sea dragon breath at the Lava Giant. Though it never ultimately did so, it still left the Lava Giant feeling as though thorns were pressing against its back, afraid to attack with all its strength.

Eve was socially anxious, but she had often helped Anna feed her young sea dragon in the past. She knew how to communicate with dragons.

This chant was her asking the sea dragon why it would not attack its mortal enemy.

Bela III sneered. "Captain Dandolo, you'd best keep your beast under control. It doesn't have to join forces with my men, but at the very least, don't let the