Chapter 103
To retrace memories from long ago is like picking out a single star from among those that fill the sky.
Even so, there are stars that shine brightly, while some can only be known by their faint presence.
The memory of Katan's martial prowess in Erich's mind was deeply imprinted, so much so that it was not easy to forget.
However, when he compared the powerful Katan he had witnessed before his regression to the Katan before him now, Erich realized that the present Katan was in a greater prime than when he met him before his return.
Behind him, there were also several barbarians whom Ungrim had turned into headhunters.
But if you compared the flow of aura within their bodies to Katan's...
It was like comparing a puff of breath to a typhoon. One thing was certain, at least: Katan was not a "manufactured" mass-produced headhunter.
The intense aura exuding from him was on a completely different level than those small fry.
'The Katan I met before regression was much older than this.'
An older barbarian rarely submits to a younger one.
While an elder might bow their head to a chief, that's due to traditional and customary authority.
But even considering that, Katan's expedition was definitely unusual.
Elder-level barbarians, both because of custom and their own status, almost never join an expedition as subordinates under a younger barbarian.
'There weren't any elders under Grossnak, who just died, for instance.'
In that sense, Katan before regression was very much an outlier. He had positioned himself as a subordinate under Ungrim, who was much younger.
Moreover, at that time, he'd been ambiguously old—not quite an elder—and yet, even in his prime as he was now, he'd still been under Ungrim's command. Erich let out a scoff.
[They say you meet your mortal enemy on a narrow bridge. But I'm not keen on being someone's nemesis, you know?]
[... Nemesis? Who are you talking about?]
[Your eyes went sharp the moment you heard my name. Weren't you itching for revenge?]
[Kehaha! Do you think I wanted revenge for my son?]
[... That wasn't it?]
Erich narrowed his eyes. A father who loses his child should howl tears of blood. To burst out laughing in front of one's enemy, that was unsettling to Erich.
But as Katan wiped the spit he let out from laughing, he continued with a lingering grin.
[The boy died because he was weak, revenge is pointless.]
[Hmph, what a bloodless, heartless barbarian.]
[I have twenty sons anyway. What difference does losing one brat make?]
Erich's eyes widened. He'd known the man was crazy, but...
'He's got some stamina, having twenty sons.'
In the meantime, his strength (beyond human) caused a stir among the barbarians.
—... As expected of Katan.
—A man among men...
Are they really admiring him for that? Did they not hear what this guy just said about his dead son?
Ever since arriving here, Erich had thought, 'The society of barbarians isn't so different from that of civilized people'—that notion now met a severe obstacle.
'Perhaps a barbarian is a barbarian after all...?'
Katan continued speaking.
[All I ever expected was a fight with you. Yurtan was the strongest of my sons. You beat that Yurtan without a scratch. How could I not look forward to this?]
[This guy is twice the maniac I thought.]
Katan's eyes showed no wavering. He bared sharp fangs in a wide, toothy grin.
[So, before I kill you all... any last words?]
[There's something I want to ask. Will you answer me?]
[Hmm, depending on the question.]
[Is Ungrim cooperating with the dead?]
[The dead...?]
Katan let out a low humming sound. He rolled his eyes, then replied.
[I don't know about things that complicated.]
[That wasn't complicated. Are you just slow in the head?]
[I lend Ungrim my fists. In return, he grants me wisdom. That's all there is between us. The rest is Ungrim's business.]
Erich let out a low sigh. As single-minded as he was, he really was completely in the dark.
But Erich thought of his next question—the kind to which this brute might answer, but was nonetheless important.
[Then, do you not worship the Goddess? Neither do your subordinates. I thought you people once couldn't live without her.]
Katan glanced at Erich with crossed arms, as if surprised, then curled his lip as though finding it interesting.
[Those who face uncomfortable truths make one of two choices—avoid, or confront. We simply chose the latter.]
[... So you're not much help after all.]
[The fake Goddess will be forgotten. Just like those who worship her.]
Despite that, Erich picked up a few things from his words.
'Whether or not it's true or just propaganda, there's definitely something hidden about the Goddess. There must be an uncomfortable truth for the barbarians...'
Erich thought that uncovering that secret would provide a clue as to why the barbarians sided with Ungrim.
After all, that was probably why Ungrim had been able to move so many barbarians.
Then, Hrung-ga spoke up.
[You insult the Goddess? Such a... tear him to shreds...! He may not be a guardian warrior, but Katan is a renowned one. Erich, grant me a chance.]
[What are you talking about? We'll do this together.]
Hrung-ga blinked.
The reason Erich had previously given Hrung-ga a chance at a one-on-one duel was because it'd help Hrung-ga's confidence—and, Erich had calculated he could win.
But if you compared Hrung-ga now to Katan, it was like a child versus an adult.
There was no reason not to attack together; why go alone? One honorable duel was enough—there was no need for more.
Soon, Mikhail also stepped forward.
"I will join as well."
"Sir Mikhail, you must preserve your strength and aura at the rear."
"... Me?"
Mikhail frowned. Seemingly, he couldn't understand why their strongest force was being sidelined.
But Erich already knew. Unlike other barbarians, killing Katan wouldn't make Ungrim's forces retreat.
"When Katan is killed, their morale will actually soar, and they'll all rush us at once. Only you, sir Mikhail, can stop that."
"... Hmm."
Mikhail slowly nodded. He was aware there were subordinate commanders among them, so it was a reasonable plan.
Of course, all of this depended on Erich and Hrung-ga being able to take Katan down themselves. Erich quickly added:
"... Still, if it looks like either of us is about to die, do step in."
"Heh, I'll do that."
Mikhail, in agreement, stepped back. Now, in this narrow valley, three men glared keenly at one another.
Katan. And Erich and Hrung-ga.
—Tat!
Erich's body shot forward in an instant. Before he knew it, his sword slashed diagonally before Katan.
—Kagagagak!
His aura-infused blade sparked against Katan's forearm. It seemed unbelievable, but Erich wasn't surprised—he'd somewhat anticipated this.
Katan's body in the future had been nearly impregnable. Even in old age, he had been like that; how much more so now, in his prime?
The impact, as if striking a stone, ran up Erich's hand with a jolt.
—Uuuuung.
But at that moment, Erich's eyes flashed vermillion. He saw massive streams of aura flowing through Katan's forearm where blade met flesh.
—Shiiik!
Erich laid his blade flat and swept it wide along Katan's arm. But Katan leapt back with beastlike reflexes.
And then Hrung-ga's massive club came thundering in. Just as before, a blade-sharp chill whistled off the club.
Since Erich had broken Katan's stance, that club should have been unavoidable.
But—
—Kwaaang!
Hrung-ga's eyes widened in shock. Katan, despite his bent waist, blocked the club with his palm. Not only that—he even matched strength against it.
Naturally, there was no reason for Erich to sit and watch their test of strength. Twisting his posture, he thrust his sword again, aiming straight for Katan's heart.
—Kang!
But Erich's blade bounced right off—Katan had quickly reinforced his chest with aura.
Katan then used the spring of his bent waist to pop up again.
—Pat!
Following that force, he dropkicked both Hrung-ga and Erich.
—Kwaaaang!
[Kuek!]
Hrung-ga, struck dead on in the chest, skipped like a stone across the ground.
Erich managed to block it with his sword, but still felt pain in his grip from absorbing Katan's attack.
Katan, having swatted both of them away, showed an eerie smile.
'... Truly impregnable.'
But the skirmish hadn't been for nothing. A drop of blood ran down Katan's cheek, breaking the line of his smile.
—Tok.
Katan's brow shot up, as though he were genuinely surprised to be wounded.
A satisfied smile followed.
[... Impressive. Khakhak! Even I can be wounded, it seems.]
As Katan laughed, Hrung-ga rose, clutching his stomach.
[... Monstrous. But your attacks seem to work.]
Yes, Erich's attack had worked—but only because he'd struck where Katan hadn't expected it.
'If I strike where his aura isn't concentrated, I can pierce him.'
That was something he'd known even before his regression.
Still, knowing it didn't make it any easier. Katan's combat sense was downright animalistic. To land a hit, his attacks always had to be unpredictable.
Katan bent his knees, planted both hands on the ground like a beast—
—Paaang!
The ground where he had been dented as Katan shot forward. Erich swung his sword toward the charging Katan.
—Kadeudeuk!
But his sword only sliced air and struck the valley wall. Katan had already sprung to the side wall.
—Kwaaang!
Dodging Hrung-ga's swinging club, Katan lunged back toward Erich.
Katan's moves were bizarre—clinging to walls, attacking, rebounding off the ground at odd angles to hurl himself again. Where his fingers dug into rock, it scattered like sand from a loaf of bread. It was strength beyond human.
Even Erich could hardly respond to such unpredictable moves. It was like dealing with a cockroach.
"Kgh!"
Erich did have a way to sense Katan's intent—the threads of killing intent that revealed his next move.
However, Katan seemed to see right through even that, shifting his killing intent between Erich and Hrung-ga as he liked.
Reading those threads only made Erich's thoughts more tangled.
Eventually, Katan forced Erich back and leapt at Hrung-ga, raising his fist.
—Piiing!
He couldn't contain all the aura surging from his body; Katan's eyes flashed amber.
The aura coursing from his fist solidified as if gripped—
—Kwaaaang!
—and slammed Hrung-ga into the ground, club and all.
[Kuhuck!]
Katan, having delivered a terrifying blow, was forced to break off instead of finishing Hrung-ga as Erich's blade shot toward him.
Erich calmly watched Katan. The brute seemed to be enjoying himself.
'... He's too fast for counter techniques. Even his killing intent thread can't be read. The worst.'
But the grip of Erich's sword clenched—all that could be heard was a tense crack.
Right now, the only way to land a hit on Katan was—
—Fwooooosh.
Gradually, Erich's blade began to burn with the flames of his aura.
At the same time, the auramite embedded in the blade resonated, holding back aura that threatened to scatter—
Dragon Fang's blade glowed a deep crimson.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn, Katan is a tank...
The power of friendship is needed to beat him...
(ㆆ.ㆆ )