บท 52: Duel (1)

"He's right! We better wait for this man to wake up. Furthermore, let me handle this, Vincent. I'm sure you know why I suggest it." Nicholas's solemn expression directed at Vincent, caused the latter to snort in response.

"We should do it this way, then," A feminine, cold voice supported his decision.

She then turned her head to the man near the beast's corpse.

"You already done?"

"Yes, ma'am!" the man replied in response.

He could feel his heart in his throat, and a sudden chill invaded his body. In addition, when he shouted in response, he had to shut all his senses to force the two words out of his mouth.

While his eyes were closed, and after he sensed that Eliza's cold glare disappeared. He finally heaved a sigh of relief. He picked up the leather bag, a width bigger than him, he placed it on his back, while both of his hands firmly gripped the handle.

His face reddened as he tried to force out all the strength in his body, and use all the power in his lower limbs to walk toward them. He walked at a snail's pace.

Although anyone saw his struggle, no one tried to help him. They felt that the one who first moved his feet should be the one who would be the talk of their gossip tomorrow. The other hunters only lower their heads and tried thinking something to dismiss these thoughts of helping him.

"Ha? Why would anyone not bent on helping him?" Clover felt puzzled by this hunter's group behavior.

No one replied to him, and after dozens of seconds of silence. It was Eliza who opened her mouth, while her center of attention at the arrow penetrated her hands, as she tried to take it out.

"Never mind about that. We can still wait. But first, what are you?"

"What do you really mean about that?"

Clover, although hated that anyone tried to ask him a dumb question, and he felt annoyed as the center of whole attention in response, he had to reply to her and maybe there was a misunderstanding happening.

"I know that you are a human. But I could feel that you have experience killing a beast alone, and that's why I ask. What did you experience in this vast jungle?" Eliza asked with gibberish speech.

She was gritting a bandage for who knows where it came from. As she tied the bandage on his hands, she tried to put pressure on her bloody hands. Furthermore, her breast was covered similar to the bandage she bit.

It took Clover breaths of time to process Eliza's statements, which he immediately understood after.

"If that's what you mean, then I encounter two beasts, and their strength is similar to what you all have just defeated." Clover unpretentiously blurted, as if the beasts he encountered doesn't mean much to them.

Of course, anyone misapprehended what he said, causing them to feel anger boiling in their head. Vincent, who was a hot-headed personality immediately erupted when he heard Clover's explanation. He turned his head immediately with a fierce glare, and as he was about to scrutinize Clover from head to toe.

He noticed a deep claw scar laid out on Clover's torso. He hasn't given much attention to it earlier, since he knew that any man who had to survive through this jungle alone have marks to prove their strength.

He also had one on his cheek, and almost all of his body was covered with scars. That's why he always wanted to expose the scar with his bare naked body and rejected all the clothing that the human settlement offer to him.

He explained that he rather wear what his comrades wore, which made the hunters cry filled with pride and responsibility. They promised themselves not to be burdened by their leader anymore, and some even personally declared vows in front of their leader who roared at them in response.

"Hey! Let's battle are we?!"

He didn't even finish his sentence, as soon as he walked back to his hammer and picked it up. He immediately dashed towards Clover with his hammer ready to slam in response.

"Ah!"

All of the hunter scream in response. They were startled that a battle beyond their league happened right before their eyes. They immediately looked to Clover whose expressions were unsightly.

After they observed Clover who seemed to be, as harmless as a sheep. They immediately thought that it was over, and even believed that he would be crushed by their leader's hammer in the process.

They closed their eyes and prayed to every one of the gods they knew of, to save Clover from dying. As they scrutinized Clover from head to toe earlier, they noticed that he seemed to be young and feel with vigor, and there was still a future awaited him.

He seems to be on his eighteen, which was still young to them. They even felt pity for him, as they made their conclusions from the large Claw carving on his body. They couldn't help but envisions Clover's experience through this death forest, and that only deepened their impression of him. Such a brave young man, These were the thoughts in their head.

Furthermore, Clover, as they believed that he was only alive due to his luck. They immediately thought that his luck should have run dry, and was now getting his karma from the hammer of their leader.

Eliza and Nicholas, However, thought otherwise. They watched the battle unfold in their very eyes, with their faces tranquil, and they didn't immediately jump to conclusions about whoever would win. They believed that presuming who would win could lead to misguided, and would be considered to be a disrespect to both sides.

One could never know what would happen in the future, even if one had a glimpse of it. The fact that even they would feel doubt if what happen in the future was accurate, and would have a hard time believing unless they see the result with their own eyes.

And so, it was still useless, and would only grow the anxiety in their hearts if they wanted to have someone win the battle.

As anyone in the battle has different thoughts. Vincent felt thrilled to which his every strength draws out in response. While Clover was feeling annoyed and grumbled along the way. His hands gripped the rapier's hilt and tried to envision what he should implement in this battle.

Whether he should dodge or block with his rapier sword, which idea seemed unfeasible considering that his enemy's weapon was a huge hammer. Although he didn't know if his rapier sword could withstand the might of the hammer, he doesn't want to bet on it.

He only have just received his strongest weapon thus far, and he also made a vow to himself not to be careless. If he had done a reckless thing yet again, he better discipline himself, then.

Vincent, seeing that the man he was about to attack, was immersed in his own thoughts. His smiling face turned solemn, feeling that the man before him not taking him seriously. He changed his form slightly to force out more power through his body, and he wanted Clover to feel regret about his nonchalance towards him.

Timed seemed to be slow, as Clover was closing his eyes, while Vincent dashing towards him with two meters away from the former. Vincent's aura when he attacked was very terrifying, and anyone felt it, causing them to be soaked with sweat. They knew that their leader was angry and was now taking this fight too seriously.

'It's over for that Man… He should be more careful in his next life.'

All of the hunters, except Vincent and Eliza, have the same thought popped into their minds. They really felt hopeless about Clover's life and death situation, and as they landed their gaze on Eliza, and specifically on Nicholas, they hoped that two of these should stop their leader.

But seeing them only watched on the sidelines, and having a frowned expression painted on their face. They only shook their heads and were slightly surprised at how cruel these two people were to the kid.

As they closed their eyes, seemingly wanted not to witness a bloody scene that may have happened before their eyes, and were afraid that would cause them trauma. They waited but all they heard was silence.

They didn't hear a booming sound echoing throughout the forest or a splashing sound that was caused by a flesh getting destroyed by their leader's weapon.