[ IP ] The Earth Colossus

`` I remember the first one, you know.'' 
 
 `` The one before all the others; the original. Indeed, tis strange, to imagine that once each nation did n't have Hunters to deal with them, or even large armies to fight when they had no Hunters. No, certainly, this was a time when vassals had their own land to protect.'' 
 
 His protege nodded eagerly, as he sat near the fireplace, drying off and listening. 
 
 `` It crested the horizon,'' the old man said, his wizened brow furrowing like a plowed field in planting season, `` and it was massive- bigger than anything I or my fellow knight had seen- Ser Bering, yes, Ser Tithian Bering. The first one killed in these horrid Titan Wars. We were a mere two on horseback against this massive beast, this monstrous thing that threatened to destroy Hanzi and continue on to the rest of the region.'' 
 
 His protege, now focused on drying off his weapons, continued to listen, if a bit distracted. 
 
 `` We rode forwards, our swords in hands, our mounts fearful but ready. They were good horses, quick, strong. We rode up to it to draw it's attention, waved our swords. Shame that I was n't more of a mage, to be honest, your generation is nothing but..'' 
 
 The young trainee was no longer paying attention, his weapon now his entire world. It seemed as though it was time to stop telling this story and get to the point. 
 
 `` We lost to it. Badly.'' 
 
 `` So why tell me this? I know you rallied everyone, brought them all together. Formed the Hunters. Then you all eradicated the Titans. There's a few, very strong ones left, so you left. We killed the rest. Why bother with starting at the beginning.'' 
 
 The old man sighed as he looked out the window. 
 `` That Water Titan? The first of a new wave. I tell you the beginning,'' he said, his voice pockmarked with sorrow and death, `` so you can avoid the end.''
