Chapter 32 - If I Had to Die
The slavers' base was now a battlefield in ruins. The wreckage of collapsed structures, scattered flames, and debris covered the chaotic scene. At the center of it all, Rygar stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the enemies encircling him. His breathing was heavy—not from genuine exhaustion but as part of a convincing act. He had already noticed Gallus's extreme caution and needed to feign fatigue in everything he did to lure the man out.
He raised his sword, Tsukikage, its blade still emanating golden flames with each strike. Gradually, he was conjuring a tornado around himself, lifting the surrounding debris and causing a momentary uproar among the slavers. The wind roared, scattering shards of wood and metal into the air. But just as the whirlwind seemed to reach full strength, something changed. The flames enveloping his blade vanished abruptly, and the tornado began to falter, its winds becoming erratic and failing before causing any significant damage.
While pretending his mana was depleting, Rygar secretly channeled power into his left hand, preparing to unleash an extremely powerful Freezing Nova.
The standoff dragged on, and Gallus showed no signs of appearing. Rygar was already at a "disadvantage," fighting without magic against the warriors. Luckily, his superior speed allowed him to maintain the stalemate.
He's not taking the bait. I need something more, Rygar thought, adjusting his posture and purposefully letting one shoulder droop as though he were exhausted.
He raised his hand and attempted to conjure an earthen wall, something he often did to shield himself in close combat. This time, however, the magic faltered. The wall cracked and crumbled almost immediately.
The surrounding warriors attacked him with ferocity, while the Black Troll grew impatient, its massive axe slamming against the ground with a deep, menacing thud.
This isn't enough... I need something more drastic, Rygar thought. He realized he'd have to take some damage to truly convince them he was at his limit.
Taking a calculated risk, Rygar moved explosively. He lunged at one of the nearest warriors, a burly man wielding a greatsword. With a single swift motion, Rygar deflected the blade with his own and delivered a devastating punch straight to the man's chest. The blow shattered his armor, crushed his ribcage, and sent him flying backward, already lifeless. The scene was quick and brutal, leaving the remaining warriors momentarily frozen in shock.
But this move opened an opportunity for the Troll. With a roar, the enormous demon raised his axe and struck a vertical blow with all his might. Rygar spun his blue sword to block the attack, but the impact was monstrous. The force of the blow broke through his defense, throwing him backward like a rag doll. He was hurled into the wreckage of a destroyed wall, which collapsed around him.
The pain was real this time, but Rygar turned it into part of his performance. He tried to recover, pretending to cast another earthen wall to cushion his fall, but let the spell fail at the last moment. He hit the ground heavily, groaning in pain. Blood dripped from his forehead, and he trembled as if he were at the limit of his strength. "Hey, maybe I should try acting if being a warrior doesn't work out."