Chapter 100
With Hrung-ga's appearance, the warriors of the Bear Tribe stirred.
In truth, wasn't it this very guardian who was the root cause of this massive conflict?
However, since their battles had been ongoing, the warriors of the Bear Tribe were already well aware of Hrung-ga's strength.
Roanok quietly observed the situation. Above all, they had just encountered an enemy while in retreat.
If all of this had been orchestrated by the enemy, he needed to find a way out.
Soon, Hrung-ga shouted once more.
[Roanok, do you have no honor? After all your bellowing for my death, now you hide like a rat!]
Roanok's expression began to distort, little by little. At the same time, the Bear Tribe's warriors grew even more restless.
In particular, those questioning why he wouldn't accept the duel greatly irritated Roanok.
Finally, Roanok made up his mind.
If he couldn't break through these opponents, he'd have to face the monster lurking behind them again.
In that case, it was a wiser decision to fight straight through.
[Roanok, son of Kaphtok, is here! Hrung-ga, who cowardly stole the title of guardian warrior!]
Kaphtok, with his massive axe resting on his shoulder, strode forward. The two barbarians glared at each other, five paces apart.
[If you think I'll be as careless as Laboon, you're in for a serious mistake, Hrung-ga.]
[Don't worry. I'll send you to Laboon's side soon enough.]
In the moment of silence, the only sounds were the two barbarians scraping their feet as they measured the distance between them.
Then, someone's breath heralded the start of the fight.
[Hooop!]
― Kaaanng!
A huge iron mace and axe clashed, sending sparks flying. The two barbarians unleashed a ferocious assault on one another.
Not only the Bear Tribe barbarians but also the members of the Watch held their breath as they watched.
Each time their massive weapons collided, their bulging arm muscles grew even larger.
Yet, Hrung-ga was subtly pushed back with each clash, being flung farther.
[Hruup!]
― Kaaanng!
Erich opened his eyes and examined their aura. Overall, Hrung-ga had the larger quantity of aura, but Roanok's aura was explosively circulating within his body.
'... Interesting.'
But when it came to weapon handling, Hrung-ga was much more skilled. He was absorbing the impact skillfully, which normally should have been taken head-on.
However, the hands of both barbarians were already drenched in blood.
― Kl-clack!
The first to land a successful blow was Roanok. Hrung-ga tried to block the attack at a diagonal angle, but the mace came down and the axe blade dug into his shoulder.
Though not deep, pain creased Hrung-ga's brow.
― Hruup!
But, bending his knees for momentum, Hrung-ga knocked Roanok's axe aside with a rebound.
― Tchuap!
Hrung-ga then shoved his mace forward, splitting open the flesh on Roanok's forehead.
While Hrung-ga's wound was deeper since a blade was involved, it looked as if Roanok was more seriously hurt from the blood streaming down his forehead.
Roanok bared his fangs as he clenched his teeth, then lunged at Hrung-ga even more wildly.
― Kaang!
― Ka-aang!
Roanok, letting his rage take the reins, didn't let up on the assault. Hrung-ga received his attacks as calmly as he could.
But Hrung-ga sensed something odd. He realized that Roanok's attacks were getting faster.
Roanok's reddened upper body flushed even deeper as the speed of his assault increased.
[So you're nothing special after all, Hrung-ga! To think you beat Laboon!]
Roanok showed a vicious grin. The Bear Tribe barbarians cheered at the look of victory on his face.
But Hrung-ga, on the contrary, was growing calmer. Erich's lips curved upward.
'... He won't lose.'
Hrung-ga's flesh, sliced in several places, was steadily being forced back. Fueled by his momentum, Roanok pressed the assault.
But at that instant—
― Kwadddddd!
Hrung-ga's mace slammed aside Roanok's axe. For an instant, Roanok was caught off guard as his axe was forced away from his body.
A kick slammed into Roanok's stomach.
[Kuk!]
Roanok staggered back, clutching his belly. But his eyes narrowed.
― Tuduk, tududuk.
Blood dripped from his forearms. Roanok, who had no memory of allowing a hit, frowned in confusion.
Worse yet, the wounds had been cut with a sharp edge, as if savaged to pieces.
Hrung-ga, looking untroubled, spun his mace leisurely.
[You say you're a warrior on par with Laboon?]
[You bastard...!]
[With such pitiful strength, you demand the guardian warrior back from me? Laughable.]
[You have a lot to say for someone who was being pushed back just a moment ago.]
[I wasn't being pushed back. You just wasted your strength.]
Hrung-ga shot back coldly. Roanok couldn't understand what he meant. What had he wasted? Stamina?
As Roanok wondered, Hrung-ga continued.
[At least Laboon was strong enough to leave me on the verge of death. But you have only arrogance.]
[... Even if you mock me like that, it doesn't change the fact you cowardly landed a blow while his guard was down.]
A twitch flickered across Hrung-ga's brow. Roanok thought he'd properly shaken his opponent's composure.
But Hrung-ga slowly shook his head.
[The guardian warrior is the one who survived. That's what someone once told me. I believe it's entirely fitting.]
[What nonsense is that?]
[Because, dying with this much strength makes no sense.]
Roanok's eyes widened. He noticed a subtle distortion around Hrung-ga's mace.
A blade-like howling wind was swirling around the head of the mace. It wasn't large, but it was enough to rip human flesh apart.
― Ta-at!
Hrung-ga swiftly swung his mace at Roanok. With a grand arc, the mace swept through the wind and struck Roanok's axe.
― Chwarararak!
[Krrgh!]
Once again, the blade-like wind wrapped around Roanok's forearm, ripping it to shreds.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
On the third clash, Roanok let out an agonized groan.
[Uuurgh!]
Wounds gouged deep into his body by Hrung-ga's ability appeared everywhere.
Even if he hadn't been hit directly by the mace, just meeting weapons allowed the blade of wind to carve him up.
A difference in power so great that only someone with a similar ability could even compete.
Erich sensed that Hrung-ga's confidence had returned.
In fights between swordmasters or headhunters of similar skill, the crux was a battle of attrition.
Whoever showed the bottom of their aura reserve first would lose.
Roanok's mistake was that he didn't even know how much aura he possessed, and kept overpumping.
The result was massive aura depletion. Hrung-ga had barely used any aura, so he could drive Roanok into a corner while still fresh.
Hrung-ga was recalling many things. He remembered the last words Laboon had spoken before falling.
-... It's your victory.
In hindsight, Hrung-ga had landed a blow on Laboon thanks to a sudden awakening.
But even though Laboon had already possessed that ability, he couldn't finish off Hrung-ga.
Surviving meant being the guardian warrior.
To have such an ability and still fail to take the opponent's life was, in itself, defeat.
By contrast, Roanok—unlike the Hrung-ga of the past—did not possess the skill to withstand the opponent's ability.
It didn't matter whether it was carelessness or not.
What kind of warrior dies because he's careless before an ant?
Dragging his mace, Hrung-ga slowly walked toward Roanok.
― Krrrrrk.
The howling wind around the mace sliced through the air, chillingly sharp.
Bleeding profusely, Roanok slowly pushed himself up.
[... That doesn't make your cowardice any less.]
Hrung-ga did not reply. Instead, he swung his mace resolutely at Roanok, tearing through the air.
― Jjeooook!
As Roanok's weapon met the mace, he was shredded by the howling wind, a spray of blood bursting forth.
― Thunk.
Roanok, bloodied, collapsed where he fell. Hrung-ga murmured softly to the fallen Roanok, indifferent as to whether he heard or not.
[Be quiet. Weakling.]
Erich, watching, slowly smiled. At that, a commotion arose from behind the barbarians.
Even Mikhail had arrived to join them.
Erich fiddled with his sword, as if disappointed.
'Looks like there's no need to draw my sword at all.'
Having lost their chieftain so easily, the Bear Tribe all set down their weapons.
For barbarians, surrender felt like shame.
Perhaps it was because they'd lost their leader; perhaps terror of the approaching Mikhail from behind was too overwhelming.
Erich's gaze slowly drifted far off into the distance.
It was about time Grossnak succeeded in his ambush and routed the Ungrim's forces.
But there was one thing Erich was curious about.
He wondered what expression Grossnak would make, seeing that Erich had kept his own forces entirely intact. He was extremely curious about that.
***
Gullies and jagged rocks were scattered everywhere, topped here and there with bitterly sharp ice.
It was the kind of place where no one would notice even if there were an ambush, but now, blood and corpses were strewn all around.
Barbarians roamed among the dead, checking on their fallen kin for any signs of life.
― Kwajik!
Barbarians mercilessly smashed skulls without a hint of compassion. Then a barbarian with snow-white hair—Katan—grabbed someone's neck with a thick arm.
That someone was Grossnak.
Katan spoke calmly and quietly.
[Grossnak, descendant of the great wolf. Why give us so much trouble?]
[... S-shut up. I never intended to cooperate with those who blasphemed the Goddess.]
[Hmm.]
Katan pursed his lips thoughtfully. Why did these people not recognize Ungrim's righteous cause?
He truly could not understand.
Below, Katan watched the huge army of Ungrim move.
In tight formation, they marched and passed through the ravine in perfect order.
It was movement far too organized to be called a barbarian tribe.
― Byeok, byeok!
Grossnak, in agony, scraped his claws along Katan's forearms. But his skin was so hard it felt like scratching metal—Grossnak's claws just slid off.
Katan looked at Grossnak in contempt.
This foolish figure had requested cooperation from Ungrim. He'd claimed to support their cause, even suggesting they should repel the Watch who had come to this place.
But Ungrim saw through everything.
None of the northern tribes truly intended to cooperate with Ungrim's cause.
All of them simply wanted to deal with the others and become rulers of the North.
But Ungrim made no attempt to prepare for anything.
He simply made Katan his commander and sent forth his army.
[In any case, there is no one who properly understands Ungrim's will. It is a sad thing.]
Such lowly ambushes as these proved no obstacle to Katan.
Katan's grip tightened around Grossnak.
― Kwadduk!
With a chilling crack of breaking bone, Grossnak's limbs went limp. Katan muttered quietly.
[Kill the false Goddess and knock down the Great Wall. Is that so difficult?]
That was the cause Ungrim had preached. And so, they marched.
Beyond the Great Wall.
Into the land of the barbarians.
To spread their cause.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】