"A Troll Kingdom?" Kael repeated.
He knew about giants—after all, they existed in the stories he'd heard—but trolls were new to him. He'd never encountered that name in this world before.
"Yes. The Troll Kingdom," the King said heavily.
"Like us, trolls are massive. Some of them are even larger than giants."
He drew a slow breath, as if forcing himself to stay calm.
"The Troll Kingdom produces little of its own. They raid our lands for food, tools, and supplies. We have been enemies for generations. War after war has been fought over this land."
"Both sides have won and lost over the years," he continued.
"But a few months ago, a human wizard appeared in the Troll Kingdom. That wizard used vile magic to abduct our children. They're using them as hostages to extort supplies from us."
"I agreed at first," the King admitted, jaw tightening.
"I couldn't risk the children's lives. But they grew greedier. Now they demand ten times what they asked for originally. If this continues, our kingdom won't survive."
His voice dropped, tight with restrained fury.
"And the worst part is this: the children are being held somewhere unknown. Because we are giants, we cannot move without being seen. We can't infiltrate. We can't sneak. We can't even search properly without the entire countryside noticing."
He clenched his fist.
"They've also placed explosive collars on the children. If they see us attempt a rescue, they may detonate them."
Silence hung over the hall.
"That is why I thought of human wizards," the King said at last, gaze fixed on Kael.
"You are small—but you wield powerful magic. Perhaps you can slip in where we cannot."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Can you do it?"
Kael nodded without hesitation.
"If it's a rescue, I can do it. No problem."
For anyone else, it would have been an impossible mission. Even Kael from a few months ago would have struggled. But he'd recently gained a new character card—one that gave him options he hadn't had before.
"Really?!"
The Giant King and Queen both looked stunned, then openly relieved. Over the past months, they'd asked more than one powerful wizard for aid—only to be refused every time. No one wanted to gamble their life on a mission that required fighting giants' equals while protecting dozens of terrified, panicking children.
Trolls were as large as giants. For an ordinary wizard, defeating a single troll was difficult enough. Fighting many—while keeping children alive, quiet, and out of harm's way—bordered on impossible.
The King understood that better than anyone. That was why he'd ordered families into the capital. If the trolls pushed further, he'd been prepared to fight to the death—even if it meant risking the children—because he was a king. He had to protect his entire people, not only a few.
So hearing Kael's calm confidence felt like the first breath of air after months underwater.
"Yes," Kael said simply.
"If the children are still alive, I should be able to bring them back."
"That's great… that's truly great," the King said, unable to hide his excitement.
"Kael," the Queen added quickly,
"tell us what you need. As long as the children return safely, we will provide anything you ask."
Kael thought for a moment.
"A map of the Troll Kingdom, and every scrap of information you have—routes, patrols, terrain, anything. I'll study it and make a plan. As for you… prepare to receive us when we return."
"Don't worry," the King said, teeth grinding. The anger he'd been swallowing for months flickered in his eyes.
"We will be ready."
Soon, Kael was escorted to a guest room to rest.
Calling it a "room" felt ridiculous. It was larger than a sports field. The "bed" alone was the size of an Olympic pool. Kael stood there for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
Later, servants delivered the map and the kingdom's records.
When Kael saw the stack of papers, his eyelid twitched. A single sheet was taller than he was.
He took one look at the mountain of text and made a decision on the spot. Reading all of this would take weeks—and he'd probably read fewer books in his whole life than what was sitting in that pile.
So he unfolded the map instead.
The Giant Kingdom and the Troll Kingdom were roughly the same size, separated by a vast river. Each side controlled its own bank. After only a few minutes, Kael had a basic outline of a plan.
The key issue was locating the children. But giant children weren't exactly easy to hide. If the trolls were holding them, they would need a secure, guarded location.
The most likely place was the Troll Royal Palace.
I'll rest today and move tomorrow night, Kael decided.
He climbed onto the enormous bed and stared at the distant ceiling. In a giant's room, everything made him feel like an intruder from another world. Even their drinking cups were large enough for him to bathe in.
That night, while Kael slept, frantic knocking shook the door.
"Kael! Kael! Wake up! Something happened!"
Kael's eyes snapped open.
"What is it?"
Bang!
The door swung wide. The Giant King charged in, panic written across his face.
"It's bad," the King said, voice strained.
"Kael—more children have been taken!"
Kael frowned.
"What? Weren't the families brought into the city for safety? How could children be abducted from here?"
"I don't know," the King said, breathing hard.
"But witnesses swear the children walked away on their own. Like they were… in a trance. I've already sent people to chase them."
Kael's expression cooled.
"I see."
He swung his legs off the bed.
"I planned to move tomorrow night, but it looks like I'm working now."
"Full-Body Take Over: Ulquiorra Cifer!!"
Kael's body shifted.
His clothes reformed into a white, high-collared jacket lined in black. A white hakama settled around his legs, held by a black sash, with a sword tucked at his waist. Black socks. White shoes.
His skin paled. His eyes sharpened into a cold green, dark tear-like marks running down his face. A white horned helm formed along the left side of his head.
He stepped onto the windowsill.
"Encierra: Murciélago!"
Buzz!
The air darkened as if night itself had thickened. A violent surge of spiritual power burst outward. Black rain fell—pure energy given form.
Then the rain stopped.
Kael changed again.
A long white robe draped over him. A helmet crowned with two horns settled into place. His black hair lengthened, the tear marks deepening. Most importantly, massive black bat wings unfurled from his back.
For an instant, he looked less like a wizard and more like a demon.
The pressure rolling off him made even the Giant King instinctively tense.
"Your Majesty," Kael said, voice calm and cold,
"I'll retrieve the children tonight. Stay here and prepare to receive them."
He moved to the map and tapped a specific location.
"Tonight?" The King swallowed, then forced himself to nod.
"Alright. I understand."