บท 10: 10 - Prey or Predator?

The metallic scent of blood mingled with the humid air of the forest. Darian faced Rygar, raising his sword. His eyes, once brimming with the confidence of an experienced warrior, now faltered under the predatory stance of the young Doldia.

Rygar moved forward, low and fluid like a predator stalking its prey. He feinted a strike with his sword to Darian's left, aiming for the mercenary's abdomen, but at the last moment, he twisted his torso and slashed toward Darian's neck.

Darian's blade rose to block, its steel glinting under the sunlight filtering through the trees. The clash rang out in the clearing, but the strike was a decoy. In the same motion, Rygar planted his foot and spun, releasing his sword in mid-air in a North God-style technique, and delivered a devastating kick to Darian's stomach.

The mercenary leader was hurled backward like a stone, flying several meters before crashing against a tree. The wood groaned, and Darian collapsed to his knees, coughing and clutching his abdomen.

Rygar caught his sword as it fell, his gaze fixed on his target. Before he could strike again, a commanding voice broke through the tension:

"Rygar! Don't advance alone!"

Fendrel, wounded, clutched his severed arm while shouting with effort. His voice stirred something within Rygar, briefly pulling him back to rationality. Rygar blinked, the world around him realigning.

Quickly, he reached Fendrel's side and cast healing magic to stop the bleeding. He lamented his lack of advanced healing magic, which could have reattached the arm if the wound were fresh. He tried pushing the limits of intermediate healing magic, but to no avail.

While Rygar paused to regain focus, Darian staggered to his feet, still clutching his pained stomach.

"You're as impressive as ever, Rygar," Darian spat, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Why, Darian? Is there a good reason for this? Are they threatening the rest of our group?" Fendrel asked, hope evident in his voice.

"The rest of the group is safe, secured somewhere," Darian replied. "I don't have time for a melodramatic explanation—we're short on time, after all."

Before Fendrel could respond, the remaining five Black Frost mercenaries began to encircle him and Rygar.

"But if you need a summary," Darian continued, "it's about always living in your shadow—being weaker, slower, less talented. When we formed our adventurer group, you were the undeniable leader. When the woman of my dreams joined, she chose you."

"Call me crazy, or whatever you want, but this job pays more than we've earned in all our adventures combined—enough for me to live in peace with Erina and the others in the north. Without you. But don't worry, our friendship was real. I'll make sure they know you died a hero." His tone was cold, but the emotion in his eyes betrayed him.

Fendrel crumbled, his last hope crushed mercilessly.

"How touching," one mercenary sneered, sharpening his blade against his hand. "Let's wrap this up, kid."

The sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves filled the air. One by one, the Dedoldia warriors emerged from the shadows. Gyes led the charge, sword in hand and a deathly glint in his eyes.

"Rats like you should never have entered this forest," Gyes said, his voice low and menacing.

Hontar appeared beside him, his fists clenched and his claws already stained with the blood of earlier battles. More Dedoldia warriors emerged, surrounding the mercenaries with deadly precision.

"Why didn't they attack our bases? Isn't that what Zenn told us?" one mercenary muttered, his gaze darting nervously.

"Something went wrong…" another replied, but before they could act, Gyes raised his sword and shouted:

"Advance!"

The battlefield erupted into chaos. Gyes charged first, targeting two mercenaries with surprising speed. He swung his sword in a horizontal arc, forcing them to retreat. Before they could recover, he roared, releasing a Howling Magic that stunned them. Seizing the opening, he struck diagonally, his blade slicing through one mercenary from shoulder to chest.

Across the clearing, Hontar fought with raw power and precision. He punched a mercenary in the face, breaking his nose with a single blow. When another tried to attack from behind, Hontar spun, grabbing the man's arm and snapping it before slamming him into the ground with his claws.

In the center of the battle, Rygar regained his confidence. Leaving the unconscious Fendrel in a safe spot, he rejoined the fray.

He moved like a blur, using earth magic to create small protrusions under his enemies' feet, throwing them off balance before striking. One mercenary tripped and fell, and Rygar pounced, driving his sword into the man's throat in a diagonal slash that spilled blood onto the forest floor.

Another enemy, wielding two daggers dripping with poison, approached. Rygar backed off, watching the man's swift movements. Using wind magic to boost his speed, he dodged an attack, spinning to the enemy's back. With a sharp movement, he whispered a spell: Wind Blade. The magical slash tore through the mercenary's body, leaving him screaming on the ground.

Despite the Dedoldia warriors' advantage, the Black Frost mercenaries were no ordinary foes. Two of them, masters of the North God Style, fought side by side. Their blades moved in swift, precise arcs, cutting down Dedoldia warriors as they advanced.

One of them targeted Gyes, who blocked the strikes but was slowly pushed back by their relentless assault.

"Rygar, with me!" Gyes called out as he fended off a series of rapid attacks.

Rygar noticed the mercenary pressing Gyes, his blade moving with practiced precision. Gyes was forced to retreat step by step, and the mercenary, confident, surged forward for a decisive overhead strike.

Without hesitation, Rygar charged to assist. He conjured earthen spikes beneath the enemy's feet, forcing him to leap to avoid the attack. The brief pause gave Gyes enough time to recover his stance and strike, but the mercenary easily blocked it, spinning to deliver a quick blow to Rygar's side as he closed the distance.

The impact was weaker than expected, as Rygar caught the strike with sheer force. He countered with a kick to the enemy's knee, causing him to stagger and creating an opening for Gyes to unleash his Howling Magic. The spell hit directly, disorienting the mercenary, who clutched his ears as the deafening sound reverberated.

Also stunned, but already accustomed to the magic's effects, Rygar seized the moment of vulnerability and dealt the final blow. He leapt forward, his blade slicing cleanly through the mercenary's neck. The opponent collapsed to the ground, his sword clattering against the stones.

As the remaining mercenaries struggled to hold their ground, one of them, scanning the battlefield, realized what was happening.

"They knew everything... We were deceived!" he shouted, eyes wide as he looked at Darian.

But Darian was as bewildered as the rest. Even so, he raised his sword and snarled:

"It doesn't matter. Keep fighting! Fendrel is injured; we can still turn this around!"

Despite his words, the tide of battle had shifted in the Doldia's favor. Every move reminded the intruders that the forest was their home, while the mercenaries were unwelcome invaders. One by one, the enemies fell to claws, swords, and magic.

Soon, another of the Black Frost Five was slain, Lonar, the guard captain, driving his blade into the man's chest. Darian and the remaining three mercenaries began retreating, their bodies covered in cuts and bloodstains.

However, as they fled, one of them left an opening, which Lonar confidently exploited. But it was a feint. As his blade was about to strike, a hidden dagger flew, embedding itself in Lonar's eye. Rygar watched in horror as his ally fell, the knife lodged in his skull, his eyes glazing over in pain. Something primal stirred within Rygar.

The growl that escaped his throat was deep and feral. His eyes locked onto the fleeing enemies, and his fists clenched until his nails drew blood. He no longer thought. Rage clouded his mind. He could only feel.

"Do not pursue! We've already taken down most of them; this is our victory!" Gyes declared.

The hurried footsteps of the fleeing mercenaries echoed through the clearing, snapping branches and crushing dry leaves. Lonar's body lay motionless on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Rygar dropped his sword and knelt beside his fallen friend, already knowing it was too late.

"Lonar..." he whispered, his voice heavy with pain and anger.

A Doldia warrior placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Rygar, we—"

But he didn't hear. A deep roar tore from his throat as he sprang to his feet, his gaze fixed on the retreating mercenaries. His beast instincts took over, and his mind was consumed by a single thought: hunt.

He sprinted into the forest, his senses heightened by his fury. Every heartbeat of the enemies ahead drummed in his ears, calling him to battle. His magical eyes pulsed, capturing every movement, every labored breath from his prey.

Rygar extended his hand, summoning earth magic. The ground beneath one mercenary surged upward, forming a pillar that slammed him into a tree. The impact was brutal, and before the man could recover, Rygar was upon him.

Without hesitation, Rygar drove his claws into the man's chest, tearing through light armor. With a feral motion, he ripped upward, rending flesh and metal. The mercenary crumpled, gasping, until a final slash across his throat ended him.

Farther ahead, another mercenary turned to face him. This one wielded a longsword with refined technique, likely trained in the North God Style. He advanced, delivering swift, precise thrusts, but Rygar dodged each strike with instinctive movements.

The mercenary attempted a horizontal slash, but Rygar deftly closed the distance, twisting his arm and slamming him into the ground. Rygar grabbed his neck.

"You're not escaping."

With sheer brute strength, he snapped the man's neck like a twig.

By then, the Doldia warriors had caught up to him. Gyes roared, unleashing his Howling Magic, sending shockwaves through the forest. The remaining mercenaries staggered, disoriented by the impact.

But Rygar felt the shockwave too, though to a lesser degree. His body tensed, and his mind, already frayed by the frenzy, betrayed him. He turned toward Gyes, his glowing eyes filled with unbridled rage.

All he registered was the pain caused by the magic, and Gyes became a target.

Before anyone could react, Rygar lunged at his ally. He struck with his claws; Gyes dodged instinctively but still suffered a deep slash to his neck, narrowly avoiding a fatal wound. Another warrior tried to intervene, but Rygar spun, elbowing him into a tree with bone-cracking force.

"Rygar! Control yourself!" shouted Hontar, his father, stepping between his son and the other warriors.

Rygar growled low, advancing with claws raised. Hontar didn't back down. When the strike came, he sidestepped, but not enough to avoid it entirely. Rygar's claws tore into his left arm, blood dripping down the older warrior's forearm.

The sight of his father's blood momentarily froze Rygar. His breaths came in ragged gasps, and his eyes flickered between fury and shock.

"You're not an animal. Control yourself, Rygar!" Hontar said firmly, his voice steady despite the pain.

Sanity flickered back into Rygar's mind, albeit briefly. He stepped back, staring at his bloodstained claws and the wound on Hontar's arm. The sound of the fleeing mercenaries, however, pulled his attention again.

He was not in control—his rationality teetered on the edge. He was afraid—afraid he might kill someone if he stayed. I'm in control now, he told himself, but hadn't he said the same before?

"Don't follow me."

Before anyone could stop him, Rygar darted into the forest, chasing after the enemies alone.

---

The remaining mercenaries had regrouped, with Darian leading them. They chose a clearing surrounded by dense trees—a favorable spot for an ambush.

"He's coming," Darian said, gripping his sword tightly.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? Two of us are already dead!" one of the Black Frost Five whispered.

"He's seen your faces. He's six years old now and already a monster. What happens in ten years? Do you want to live the rest of your life waiting for him to come for your head?" Darian retorted.

"How do you know he'll come alone?" another asked.

"The kid's been half-crazed lately, but it's just a chance. If he brings others, we'll continue retreating."

Rygar emerged, running into view, his breathing heavy and his gaze fixed on the group. The three mercenaries took their positions, while others hidden in the trees waited for the right moment to strike.

"Finally alone, are you?" Darian taunted. "Did you finish off your friends back there?"

Rygar's instincts screamed that something was wrong. He tried to stop, but it was too late. Arrows rained down from above. He used wind magic to deflect most, but one grazed his shoulder, and another embedded itself in his leg. He roared, snapping the arrow shaft before charging forward again.

Darian advanced with two allies. One of them, a swordsman skilled in both the North God and Water God styles, unleashed swift, fluid strikes. Rygar dodged as best he could but was struck on the flank by a shallow cut. Reacting quickly, he used Earth Magic to conjure a column of stone, forcing his opponent to back off. However, another mercenary attacked from the side, leaving Rygar surrounded on all fronts. His eyes sharpened like a predator's, his ears catching even the faintest sounds.

The battle dragged on. Rygar possessed extraordinary vitality, but even he was beginning to feel exhaustion setting in. Sensing danger behind him, he spun around just in time, his heightened senses alerting him to an incoming strike. He cast his Howling Magic to gain a brief respite, but the mercenaries were prepared. Covering their ears, they pressed forward, and a diagonal sword slash tore across his back, leaving a searing pain that clouded his mind.

Driven by pure survival instinct, Rygar retaliated with a sonic blast to his right, using the recoil to launch himself in the opposite direction. He collided with one of the mercenaries, the impact leaving him disoriented. He knew he was at a severe disadvantage, his body moving on sheer willpower as he desperately sought an opening.

Rolling to the side, he contemplated using large-scale magic, but his dwindling mana made the idea impossible. He felt his reserves nearing depletion, forcing him to conserve what little he had left.

Rygar stumbled, his body battered and covered in cuts and bruises. The taste of iron filled his mouth, and blood trickled down the side of his face. Breathing heavily, he remained defiant, his eyes blazing with both fury and determination.

The three remaining mercenaries surrounded him with calculated precision. Darian stood at the front, his sword poised, while the other two flanked Rygar with deliberate steps.

"Still standing? Impressive," Darian sneered. "Now that I think about it, wasn't your elven master's name Verdia? Verdia Solarion? If you survive, you might find an unpleasant surprise waiting for you." His cold smile cut deeper than any blade.

Taking it as a provocation, Rygar flexed his knees, shifting into a defensive stance. He used Water Magic to clear the blood obscuring his left eye and activated his magic eye to track their subtle movements.

One of the mercenaries made the first move, lunging with the Longsword of Silence, a Sword God technique. Rygar countered with Earth Magic, creating a slight elevation beneath the enemy's feet, causing him to stumble. Seizing the opportunity, Rygar lunged and slashed diagonally with his claws, carving deep into the man's shoulder.

The second mercenary wasted no time, launching a concealed North God attack from behind. The strike was devastating, but Rygar managed to raise a stone wall just in time. The force shattered the barrier, throwing him backward.

Rygar collided with the trunk of a tree, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Before he could recover, Darian advanced, his blade gleaming with lethal intent. Rygar felt the cold grip of death as he sensed no escape. In desperation, he unleashed Fire Explosion, an advanced fire spell, at point-blank range.

The flames engulfed Darian, but the sheer force also sent Rygar hurtling backward. The forest clearing was illuminated by the explosion, and the shockwave scattered the other mercenaries. Rygar landed hard, rolling across the ground, his body now covered in severe burns. Smoke curled from his charred skin as he rose, his monstrous physique the only thing keeping him standing.

Darian emerged from the flames, limping and bleeding from multiple wounds. His leather armor was scorched, and half his body and face were burned beyond recognition, but he refused to fall.

"You're a monster, kid," he rasped.

Grinding his teeth, Rygar invoked Mud Magic, turning the ground beneath his enemies into a quagmire. The unstable footing caused two of them to lose their balance. Using Wind Magic to propel himself forward, Rygar targeted the swordsman blending the Sword God and Water God styles. With a precise strike, he tore the man's throat open before he could recover from the mud.

The body fell with a dull thud. Rygar turned to the next enemy, who had already escaped the quagmire. This mercenary employed advanced North God techniques, delivering a series of rapid, heavy strikes. Rygar dodged as best he could, but one slash caught his shoulder, cutting deep.

Ignoring the pain, Rygar executed a risky grappling maneuver, slipping inside the mercenary's guard. He locked the man's neck in a leg hold while grabbing his sword hand with raw strength. With one sharp motion, Rygar finished him with a lethal claw to the throat.

Now only Darian remained. Both combatants were bloody, exhausted, and on the brink of collapse. Darian, unable to escape, leaned on his sword for support.

He smirked. "My team's at the training grounds, 500 meters that way," he said, pointing in a specific direction.

Rygar stood silent, his breaths ragged as rage consumed his thoughts.

"I thought I'd fail to kill Fendrel, and he'd end me, but I never imagined dying at your hands," Darian muttered, gazing at the overcast sky.

Rygar advanced, picking up a fallen sword from the ground.

"I wasn't lying about your master," Darian continued, his voice faltering. "The leader of our group, the North Saint Kalinóski, was sent with a secondary mission to capture elven slaves. But his primary mission is to assassinate Verdia Solarion. Seems your master upset the wrong people."

"Is that true?" Rygar growled.

Darian coughed violently, blood staining his lips. "Yes. They're probably arriving as we speak. If you leave now, you might already be too late. But hey, tell Fendrel I'm sorry, will you?"

Rygar said nothing, staring at Darian as he knelt in defeat. Lifting the sword, he brought it down, severing the man's head in one clean motion.

---

With his mana almost depleted, Rygar used what little he had left to heal his most severe wounds. He headed to the location Darian had mentioned, freeing his captured allies. Healing Marla, the healer, he gave her instructions.

"Tell my parents: 'I'm heading to the elven village. A North Saint is targeting Verdia. Protect our home. I'll return.'"

Without waiting for a response, he turned and disappeared into the forest. He paused briefly, blood dripping from his hands, his mind still burning with the heat of battle. Darian's words echoed like a relentless drumbeat in his head.

Looking back in the direction of his tribe, he hesitated. The fear of harming those he loved gnawed at him. He left his message and moved forward without hesitation, running through the dense woods. His silhouette faded into the night as his mind focused on one goal: saving Verdia.