章節 4: Chapter 163
Towering at three meters while looking muscular and nimble at the same time, covered in white fur, and has wolf-like eyes—just like their name. Rather large for a White Wolf Tribesman.
Blood stains were painted across the hammer slung behind his back. Evidence that he slaughtered the magicians outside the cave.
'I can see why the fake Auten said they enjoy lively hunting game.'
Being the most notorious fighting tribe amongst the beastmen, the White Wolf Tribe treated humans like food or toys when faced with a significant opponent.
"Whoa, what the hell happened here? Shit went down!"
The White Wolf Tribesman looked around and clicked his tongue. Seeing the dark magicians on the floor, he looked very conflicted.
The giant was surprised, but not scared. Even after seeing close to fifty of his underlings dead or unconscious.
"Man, I wondered whose head that was, but it was Rolt's! Keke, unbelievable. Let's see… I guess the betrayal didn't work out."
As soon as he appeared, Enya pointed her wand with a stone-cold face. She no longer wanted to shudder in fear, determination fully evident on her face.
'You're going to learn a lot from this experience, Enya.'
If they could resolve the situation and safely return to Tikan, that is.
The beastman pointed at the two with exaggerated movement, as if he were in a play.
"You two kids! This is your doing? It must be cuz I'm never wrong. You induced mana overflow to all of them? Rolt said that there was a human magician who was crazy for overload spells."
Everyone knew that a magician going through mana overflow threw up blood and fainted.
The finger pointed at Jin and Enya had the girth of a steel bar. Instead of answering, Jin met eyes with him.
"Ha! Well, then. You're a little kid magician, and you dare look at me like that? It's alright to be a little scared."
Jin had immediately concealed his sword after beheading Rolt, causing the beastman to think that he was a magician. There was nothing good about telling the enemy that he was a magic swordsman.
Thanks to his decision, the beastman thought he and Enya were magicians.
"It won't be too late to determine that after I hear your name."
Jin spoke, and the beastman shuddered. Then, he clapped loudly before howling.
"Amazing! On a different level than the ones outside. I like you a lot. My name is Goltep Hafalep. It feels awkward telling you my name when our battle will end very quickly, haha."
After hearing the name, Jin internally sighed in relief.
'I thought he was Tuzard Raiker or Buteau Wenz because of his large body, but thank goodness.'
Tuzard Raiker and Buteau Wenz were famous warriors of the White Wolf Tribe for their massive bodies. In human terms, they were 9-stars and were still a hard fight for Jin.
Either way, he had never heard of Goltep's name. It was highly likely that his opponent was not some talented warrior.
Despite it not being Tuzard or Buteau, Jin couldn't just relax, since all White Wolf Tribespeople were born and raised for combat.
"Goltep Hafalep, you say. First time hearing it. I'm Jin Grey. This is Austin Grey. Well, don't you think you should be a little scared? We two wiped out your entire team."
"What do you mean, team? Other than Rolt, they were all just heads of meat to fill the numbers. Don't be proud of killing some of the peons."
The White Wolf Tribe was specifically covered in magic textbooks. It mentioned that they were difficult to injure with spells that were 6-star and below, and their fur had magic-reflective properties.
Hence, Jin and Enya didn't scare Goltep despite being in his 'very talented magicians' list. Goltep also assumed that the two acted fine but had depleted mana.
Since Rolt, Fake Auten, and over fifty other peons either suffered from overflow or were dead, Goltep could only make the conclusion.
"Well, since Rolt is dead, it'll be a little problematic if I just return. Hmmm…!"
Goltep grasped his forehead, then clapped his hands.
"Alright! I will make a deal. Your ability has been proven since you killed Rolt and the other meatball… How about this? Instead of being minced by my hammer, you will join the Kinzelo Group."
Jin's eyes widened.
"Kinzelo…? Isn't this the Dark Magic Association's cave?"
"Oh, uh, that's Kinzelo's, uh… What do you call that again? A branch of some sort. Only knights and warriors are part of Kinzelo, so the magicians are part of the Dark Magic Association."
He heard something interesting. Ever since the Seven-Colored Peacock identified Vishukel and Bouvard as affiliates of the Kinzelo Group, the organization became Jin's next target of interest.
'Now that I think about it, on my first mission during my cadet days, Quazito Truka also seemed to be affiliated with Kinzelo. And the Dark Magic Association, at that.'
The Kinzelo Group and the White Wolf Tribe…
What was their relationship? Along with the assumption that the entirety of the White Wolf Tribe might be a part of the Kinzelo Group, Jin felt that the organization was a bigger and more threatening force than he had initially thought.
Because there were at least nine more magicians over 8-star in the Dark Magic Association.
"In other words, you are going to become a part of the Dark Magic Association under the Kinzelo Group. You'll be perfect in Rolt's spot. I'll be seeing the leader soon too."
"Who's your leader?"
"I'll tell you after you join. Work with us. I think you guys have more worth than the trash over there. Especially you."
The beastman pointed at Jin.
"I just know you're made of good stuff."
"Dead Rolt over there said the same thing. I basically got invited twice. It seems Kinzelo is running low on people? I think you guys are picking people too carelessly and are giving out leadership positions like spraying water."
"There's always not enough people to fuck with the world. And you said this was the second time? There usually isn't a third chance. Your life is too young and too precious to lose yet. My mercy stops here."
Goltep's smile disappeared, and he began to emit waves of energy. Within his body, as soon his aura began to engulf his body, the cave's air got heavier. Enya glared at the beastman, and Jin raised his wand.
"Do you want to know what I answered when Rolt invited me to become his underling?"
"Speak."
"I can't work under someone weaker than me. That applies to you as well. If you want me in the organization, take me down. If I lose, then I will take your deal seriously."
Murderous intent grew in Goltep's eyes.
'His energy isn't anything normal. However, I don't feel any threat at all…'
Goltep drew his hammer.
Thud!
It was bigger than Luna's axe-sword, Crantel. Even though the hammer only lightly hit the ground, the cave rumbled.
"Your skill doesn't match your intelligence… I see now. However, as I already said, there will not be a third chance. No more chivalry, only punishment."
Wooooooom!
As soon as Goltep jumped into the air, Enya flinched and raised her wand. She was startled from losing Goltep from her wand's trajectory. Even a 4-star warrior wouldn't have been able to detect the speed.
A black silhouette flashed across the cave, instantly closing the gap. At minimum, a 6-star warrior would be able to barely react to such movement.
Boom!
The hammer fell onto Jin's barrier. From the strike, cracks traversed across it, and it broke to the second strike. For the third strike, Jin had to cast another barrier.
"Uwoooooooh!"
In the short moment that the first barrier broke, Enya shot wind shards. However, a 4-star wind spell wouldn't be effective against the beastman's fur.
On that note, Enya had the abilities and actions of a talented magician. Instead of the body, she went straight for the eye.
However, hitting a fast-moving target with magic was not an easy feat.
Goltep scoffed. He didn't even block the attack. Instead, he opened his mouth and ate the projectiles, which surprised Jin.
"As expected, the girl isn't much. Why don't you stop making the barrier and use that egotistical ass of yours, Jin Grey."
Ptoo!
Goltep spat then licked his lips. The spell didn't even leave a scratch in his mouth; his saliva didn't have blood mixed with it.
"Huh?! How'd he know I was a girl?!"
"Who're you tryna fool with that stupid disguise?"
"Everyone!"
"Which is why humans are pathetic. Anyway, move aside, side character. I want to see Jin Grey in action!"
Boom! Thoom! Boooooooom!
The speed of the hammer made it look light. Blocking with a barrier would no longer be possible.
'I guess acting like a pure magician was futile. I wished Enya would at least pop an eyeball before the real battle began.'
Like Enya, Jin also went for the eye. However, noticing that it was basically impossible, he didn't need to waste any more mana.
Moreover, as he examined Goltep's swings while in the barrier, he thought that playing defensive was no longer needed.
'Is it because I got stronger that he doesn't feel too threatening?'
Crash!
The moment the fourth barrier broke, Jin threw his wand away and unsheathed Bradamante.
Quickly ducking under a swing, he thrusted Bradamante forward. Thanks to his Mind's Eye, he could be certain that if he dodged the hammer, it still wouldn't hit Enya.
"Uwah!"
Enya ducked, covered her head, and screamed. Goltep got slashed by Jin from the unexpected swordsmanship.
Plop, plop.
From his thigh, blood splattered everywhere, and Goltep trudged to make distance.
"Shit! You were a magic swordsman?"
"Everyone falls for it."
Woooooooom!
Jin engulfed Bradamante in aura.
Goltep stopped momentarily, then, forgetting the problem, he covered his hammer with aura once more.
"I thought the decapitation on Rolt was too clean. So you did it with a sword instead of magic… But nothing will change, Jin Grey. Oh, there is one thing. I won't kill you. I have to show the boss."
Whip, ssst.
Jin twirled Bradamante in his palm and took his stance.
"I want to advise you to not lower your guard. It's been some time since I fought a White Wolf Tribesman. It'll be sad if it ends bitterly."
章節 5: Chapter 164
Crumble!
Every time Goltep's hammer fell to the floor, rocks exploded, and shards flew everywhere. Seeing the crater on the floor, Enya gulped, and Jin confidently dodged.
It was leisurely for Jin, but a little too close for comfort for Enya. It was unavoidable, since her eyes weren't adjusted to the movement of a 7-star.
"Brother!"
"Stay back, Austin."
Enya shouted frantically, but Jin felt a shocking feeling through his spine. He could feel his entire body shuddering.
Boom, crash, crack!
The massive hammer restlessly slammed on the floor and minced it. Every time Goltep recoiled for another swing, there was a sound of wind.
The hammer moved erratically. White Wolf Tribesmen held weapons before they even walked, and Goltep was a veteran who had over three hundred battles' worth of experience.
From the left to the right, right to the left, then left to the right again. The trajectory scarily chased Jin's dodges. The hammer danced through the air, basically summarizing all of the experiences from past battles.
There was flow amongst his movements as well. The swings were optimized to crush the opponent. Only high-achieving warriors wouldn't recognize the niche.
And Jin was one of those high-achieving warriors. No wonder his body was shuddering.
'Since when was dodging the enemy's attacks so exasperating?'
The only thing that had been successfully crushed during the thirty seconds of rapid swinging was the floor. The scattering rocks didn't even skim Jin.
'How long will you evade like a rat?'
Goltep wasn't dumb enough to say those words. From his sparkling sapphire eyes, astonishment grew.
"...Amazing!"
Stopping his swings, he looked into Jin's eyes. Goltep's breaths were the same as before he started swinging.
"Who are you? I have never heard of someone as young as you who rose to the main stage of warriors. Are you fooling people with your disguise?"
"Think whatever you want."
"I can no longer classify you as just any hunting game. You are worthy of sacrificing to Javier's Altar."
The greatest warrior in beastman history, the White Wolf Tribe's Javier. He was a figure of respect across other beastmen, but considered a god amongst the White Wolf Tribe.
There were only two reasons someone would sacrifice another to the altar. Either the enemy was strong enough to fight for honor, or they were a Runcandel.
Goltep thought of Jin as the former.
"I, Goltep Hafalep, will put the honor of the entire Hafalep Tribe to fight you. As compensation, bet your soul to Javier."
"It seems the Kinzelo group allows free religion."
"Of course. It's actually a great regime. It's a shame we won't work together."
Wooooooong!
Goltep's hammer grew, an inconceivably bright light shining on his serious face.
"So it's for real now. Well, if your shoddy swings were all you had, that would have been pathetic."
Another layer of aura engulfed Bradamante. Jin's eyes sharpened. He took a deep breath, and Bradamante made the first echo. The blade that remained stationary near Jin's face suddenly flew towards Goltep like an arrow.
It was fast.
Jin felt it, Goltep saw it.
Flash!
Following the trajectory of the sword, Jin pupils quivered.
Goltep raised his hammer.
Clang!
The sound wasn't that of a sharp weapon clashing against a dull weapon, but that of two dull weapons meeting. Goltep furrowed his eyebrows and prepared for the next strike. He could only hide his surprise.
'How? What kind of power is this?!'
It had a 7-star aura, but it was impossible for it to be a fully developed boy's aura. However, the moment he blocked the attack, he felt like his hands were ripping apart from the impact.
He overcame the weight gap and dominated close combat. After every strike, Goltep's image of Jin changed.
It wasn't the power of a 7-star knight. There was only one explanation for such a mysterious power.
"A Runcandel…!"
There would be no difference whether he knew about Jin's blessed bloodline or not. Jin didn't answer and continued to concentrate on his swings.
One sword diverted the direction of the massive hammer, throwing sparks everywhere. A light-bodied human making a White Wolf warrior stumble backwards…
The great Runcandel that he dreamed of becoming since his past life.
Jin had engaged in many battles since his regression, but there wasn't a day like this. Indeed, a Runcandel's fight had to be like this.
This one-sided. Every swing should make the opponent stumble, eventually making them kneel in fear.
'Making everyone in the vicinity quiver in fear just by holding my sword.'
That was what the Runcandels aimed for at the extreme. He felt like many messages hid within the shine of his blade.
"Kraaaaaaaaaah!"
Whoooosh! Shhhhhk!
Goltep stepped back and swung his hammer with all his might. He swung at full strength to force Jin to back off, fully knowing that he had less choices the closer the Runcandel boy got. His big weapon had immense destructive power, but it wasn't suitable for pushing away a close enemy.
'Do I dodge? Or do I deflect it?'
If he deflected it, he had to minimize the impact on his body. Even if he had the blessed body and 7-star aura, Goltep's full blow would still take a toll on his body.
'I'll take it.'
There was only one reason for ignoring the more efficient choice.
He wanted to enjoy his Runcandel name a little longer. To show that he was part of the clan full of monsters, the monster that shone the brightest, no longer a banished failure.
That he would never forget the miserable memories.
He suppressed his emotions that wanted to scream to the world.
Cliiiiing…!
The moment they clashed, he felt his body was floating from the impact. However, the impact from the blade traveled through his body, then just exited somewhere. Jin just backed off two steps.
Instantly, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. Blood from his throat climbed up his esophagus, and Jin repositioned himself.
Goltep was also managing his hammer. He, too, spilled blood, and he looked flimsy with two broken fingers.
If a Runcandel gave some skin, the opponent gave up bones. If a Runcandel fell into a little ditch, the enemy fell into a bottomless cliff.
Seeing Jin charge again, Goltep would only feel the defeat. Getting him off, pushing him away, hitting, or shouting; the boy would not let him gain any ground.
He blamed his lifelong weapon for the first time.
"God dammit!"
Still, Goltep prepared his hammer. He was a warrior. He had pride and honor and was a warrior who knew how to accept defeat.
As long as Javier's name was spoken, the battle wasn't over until someone died.
As if his broken finger was nothing, he continued to move the hammer violently.
However, he wouldn't last long. The moment Bradamante deflected the hammer, the suddenly mustered aura would cause a small congestion effect within his body.
Pant, gasp…!
Jin and Goltep's heavy breaths filled the surroundings. The blood from their mouths evaporated at the heat of the aura between the two weapons.
Clang! Ka-clang! Ting!
The scattering sparks and loud echoes made Goltep's desperate face look expressionless. His aura slowly extinguished, and Jin lowered his aura to adjust. There was no need to push it any more.
The victor was already determined.
"If I spare you, would you tell me information about Kinzelo?"
He didn't know whether he would meet another Kinzelo associate. There was Bouvard Gaston, but due to Kinzelo's massive presence, approaching him would be difficult.
"Puhuhu, you don't know much about the White Wolf Tribe's rules. Even if not in the Kinzelo Group, a snitch would only face death. And as long as we're in an honorary battle, there's no stopping, Jin Runcandel."
"I know that. However, life can be more valuable than some rules, so I asked."
"There isn't a coward like that in the White Wolf Tribe!"
"Then I won't ask if you would like to become a snitch. To your people."
"You seem nice for a Runcandel."
Clang!
Goltep began to squeeze the last bits of aura. For each instantaneous moment, he could muster a little more than what he had left.
The ability of warriors, gathering aura using the life force. Seeing the hammer burning with aura, Jin stepped back for the first time.
"Man, it was getting fun. But you're actually going for an efficient fight at the end?"
If he didn't fight him, burning away his life force was futile. If Jin dodged, then Goltep wouldn't have enough energy to even retaliate.
Jin shook his head.
"No, as a knight, like you, I show my respect. I salute your final moments."
He remembered his fight with Myuron Zipfel.
The moment he cut the Hell's Gate that the magician opened, and the place he went to when he lost consciousness, the barrier walling off an area…
'Cut.'
No one told him about it.
Like the ancient magic swordsmen of Runcandel, Jin murmured a spell.
'Cut, cut that…'
Whoooooosh.
From the body of the blade, darkness spread. The burning spiritual energy wrapped around Bradamante and made a figure of a blade.
"Whoa~"
Goltep let out sounds of admiration. Spiritual energy, the power that the first patriarch used to put Javier into eternal sleep.
Some White Wolf Tribesmen considered it a curse.
However, Goltep thought facing the same death as Javier was something glorious.
"Come forth, Jin Runcandel!"
'Cut.'
Jin muttered a spell and charged forward. Goltep swung his hammer down.
For a moment, both their faces glowed from the aura.
Slash!
Bradamante's dark blade swallowed the light and cut the hammer.
The hammer was perfectly split into two, falling to the left and right. From the gap between the two pieces, Jin was visible. Seeing Jin, Goltep flashed a grin.
Chhhhh…!
Half a beat later, Goltep's body split into two. Jin sheathed his sword and breathed deeply.
Looking towards Goltep's direction, Jin bowed before walking towards Enya…
"A great battle, Goltep Hafalep. I will remember your name."
…Along with some words of sympathy.
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