In Voldhom, The simple Gunderman giant Bolo plays with string as his manager, the dwarfish Twillo, arranges a fight with a savage bear for the pleasure of King Arvenger. When the bear is released, Twillo begins to plan a melody on his flute, which sends Bolo into a frenzy and he squeezes the bear to death. 200 miles away, Conan's carousing is interrupted by a bar fight with the Berloff brothers and easily dispatches them, impressing the fighter manager Grendl, who recruits Conan as his new champion. He tells Conan how King Arvenger forces towns to send fighters against Bolo, wagering their tribute against the giant, with the victor given the golden statue known as the Monika. Nobody has ever beaten Bolo, though. Conan takes on all challengers until he is matched with Bolo, and while the si