Puppet Master Chapter 36: Chapter 36: The Battle of Giants

Read chapter 36 of Puppet Master by PeName on NovelPedia.

Controlling “Berserker” to keep Zyron occupied, Tris retreated while preparing his next magic. The moment he gained distance, he could feel the negative effects of the black aura weakening. 'So it only has a strong influence within a certain range… In that case, I need to attack while keeping my distance.' Of course, Zyron understood his own weapon’s properties well—he wouldn’t let Tris escape so easily. He unleashed a powerful strike toward Berserker. The puppet was blasted backward, its feet carving deep trenches into the ground as it slid. Taking advantage of the opening, Zyron drove his blade into the earth. Immediately, three pillars of black energy erupted from the point of impact. They slithered through the air like serpents. One intercepted Berserker as it rushed back in. The other two curved around and shot straight toward Tris, who was still preparing his magic. Facing the incoming attacks, Tris remained calm and continued casting. “Boom!” A violent impact rang out. The black pillars were blocked by a powerful barrier that appeared instantly. Near Tris’s feet, a circular disk glowed with intricate magical patterns. It was a defensive magic item once owned by Veylor. A single-use tool that created a fixed-area barrier—flawed, but incredibly durable. Perfect for protecting a Mage who needed time to cast. Seeing his attack fail, Zyron turned his focus to Berserker, aiming to destroy it and eliminate one of Tris’s key assets. At the same time, he analyzed: ‘A magic that takes this long… Is it a high-tier attack? Or something that alters the terrain?’ To be safe, Zyron began preparing both defensive magic and mobility options. ‘Come on… show me what else you’ve got.’ Fighting with minimal support and no magical reinforcement, Berserker’s condition quickly worsened. But it had already fulfilled its role—it had bought Tris the time he needed. “Combine!” Tris shouted, releasing his magic. The transformation began. A deep, ominous rumble echoed from the ground. Then, the earth shattered. Rocks and soil surged toward Tris, gathering into a rising mass. It piled higher and higher, as a growing tower centered around him. More and more earth converged, shaping itself— Legs… Torso… Arms… And finally, a small head. The result: a colossal stone giant over ten meters tall. Its sheer size radiated overwhelming pressure. Tris stood embedded in the center of its chest—his lower body buried in stone, only his upper half visible. Zyron observed and analyzed: “Impressive. I doubt that thing is just some ordinary Golem. Planning to use it as your puppet?” The way Tris controlled the giant felt eerily similar to Zyron’s own fusion technique. "With someone who has a puppet also in the shape of a Golem, why don’t you come here yourself and judge?" - Tris replied from above. “Oh, I’d be delighted.” Zyron waved his hand and retrieved another item from his spatial ring. It took the form of a massive white tiger—its fangs and claws sharp enough to tear apart a grown man. Zyron leapt onto its back. Five threads of magical energy extended from his fingers, connecting to the beast. The tiger came to life, rising onto all fours. Zyron now resembled a knight riding his war mount. Except instead of a horse, it was a ferocious puppet beast— And instead of reins, ethereal magical threads guided it. Despite the size difference, the aura Zyron radiated atop the tiger rivaled that of the stone giant. “Both your puppets are truly unique,” Tris admitted sincerely. Even as enemies, he couldn’t deny it— Zyron fully deserved his position as leader. A foe worthy of using every trick, every dirty tactic, just to gain even the smallest advantage. A brief silence fell. Then Tris struck first. A massive fist descended toward Zyron and his mount. Its scale made it seem as if the mountain itself was collapsing overhead. The tiger accelerated and dodged. When the punch hit the ground— “BOOM!” A catastrophic shockwave erupted. The mountain trembled as the surrounding terr