From the center of the Solar Ark, a crisp, lively voice rang out. Quinn Shepherd’s Jade Pendant floated gently from his chest, as if drawn toward the ship. Startled, Quinn’s heart skipped a beat—was someone calling him? He hurriedly turned toward the sound and saw the speaker: a colossal giantess, towering far above all the other giants aboard, her presence so immense she seemed like a living heaven-god. Quinn’s mind raced: Could this be one of the legendary Sun-Herders? Or perhaps the Sun Warden herself?
Her legs had already sunk deep into the hull of the Solar Ark, nearly up to her waist, yet even so, she stood more than a hundred zhang tall. Quinn’s gaze lingered on the way her legs seemed to fuse with the ship—was this how she commanded its power? He felt a strange mix of awe and concern, wondering at the cost of such strength.
She had four arms, two in front and two behind, each gripping a massive pillar. Chains coiled around these pillars, and those chains were the very ones tethering the black sun, suspended ominously in midair above the ship. Quinn’s breath caught: the sight was both awe-inspiring and unsettling.
Blazing flames engulfed her entire body, making her look like a living fire goddess. The sheer heat radiating from her made Quinn feel scorched just by looking at her; he instinctively stepped back, shielding his eyes. Yet, beneath the flames, he glimpsed exhaustion in her posture—a girl burdened by power.
Strangely, when Quinn saw her face, he realized she wasn’t a grown woman at all, but a girl even younger than himself. Despite her towering figure, her features were delicate and youthful, her eyes wide with fatigue and curiosity. Quinn felt a sudden kinship and smiled softly, resolving to treat her with respect.
But how could someone so gigantic possibly be a little girl? Quinn’s mind struggled to reconcile her appearance with her age. Just then, an ancient giant—her clan chief—approached, his gaze shifting between Quinn and the Sun Warden, as if weighing something important.
She looked utterly exhausted, gasping for breath in great heaving gulps. Quinn hesitated, uncertain whether to speak or wait. The silence between them was heavy, filled with the crackle of flames and the distant murmur of the Solar Ark.
"Senior, do you recognize this Jade Pendant?" Quinn asked, his voice respectful but tinged with hope. He held the pendant out, its gentle glow reflecting the firelight.
Quinn’s heart stirred. He quickly took off the Jade Pendant from his chest, stepping closer. The giant girl’s four hands released the pillars, and her body began to shrink. As she touched the pendant, flames flickered along her limbs, and her massive form contracted—until, moments later, she stood as a young girl, half a head shorter than Quinn, trembling slightly from the transformation.
"Senior?" Quinn repeated softly, concern in his voice. The clan chief’s face grew somber as he watched the Sun Warden, a shadow passing through his eyes. He murmured, "She does not have many years left…"