The slaves held beneath the headquarters of the Reben Knight Order had finally been freed. Now, Caron stood in the front courtyard of the knights' headquarters, facing his new allies.0

"Caron Leston! Friend of warriors! The Black Axe Tribe will never forget its benefactors! I, Utula, will help you free the slaves here!" Utula, the giant, pounded his chest as he shouted in excitement. 0

Utula stood at nearly two and a half meters; he was already imposing, but Caron knew that was already a reduced height. Underground, Utula would easily have been over three meters tall. Once outside, however, he'd shrunk himself to blend in better.0

It was a technique Caron was seeing for the first time. Curious, he asked how Utula managed it.0

"It is a technique to compress muscle and bone! Every adult of the giant tribes must learn it. If you wish to know, I will gladly teach you," Utula answered, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His voice seemed odd to human ears, but at least they could communicate, and that was what mattered.0

"I will prove myself as a great warrior!" Utula declared again, his booming voice echoing through the courtyard.0

Caron let out a small sigh, casting a glance at the beastfolk woman standing beside Utula.0

Her name was Adina, and unlike the giant, her condition was far worse. While Utula's regenerative abilities as a giant had allowed him to recover quickly from his restraints,...0