Chapter 35: Demosha to Beric

The knight held his sword and looked around. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand the current situation. It was as if Ian and his lackeys had blended into the Tianli clan so naturally.

"Beric, can you handle this? You're not going to die today, are you?"

"Yeah, get lost. You die instead."

"Your mouth is loose, so you must be in good condition."

"Hey, Mr. Knight of Brats! Give Beric a good beating! Wake him up. Otherwise, I'll kill you."

"Ha ha ha! So, the knight will die either way? That's too unfair."

"Ah, that's right. You're correct."

Surrounded by the Tianli clan, watching Beric and the knight, it felt like being a dog in an arena. The knight, seeing Ian sitting next to Kakantir, was certain something was wrong. He had to report this situation to Derga.

"Spit!"

Beric spat and firmly gripped the sword hilt. Although he had easily deflected the knight's attack earlier, it was because the knight had been complacent. Beric turned to Ian and asked,

"But Ian! How will you send the reply if this guy dies?"

"There are plenty of sturdy kushires. Don't worry, just take care of your neck. If you die, I die too."

"Sure, sure. That's right."

Is sending the reply really the problem?

He could just ride a kushire himself. With Ian's words, Beric grinned and took his stance. As Kakantir had said, a battle without the will to kill was boring.

"Go easy on me. I won't attack you seriously."

"Your tone is crude!"

"That's my charm!"

Clang! Clang!

Beric leaped up, the sand beneath his feet. The sword's trajectory, slicing through the air, was invisible. The knight methodically blocked Beric's attacks.

"Uaaaaah!"

Screech!

The sound of clashing blades was bone-chilling. The Tianli clan watched with interest, chiming in occasionally.

"Knight! Kill him! Kill Beric!"

"Hahaha! Look at him, he's already exhausted."

"No, he's not!"

At first glance, it seemed they were cheering for the knight, but Ian and Beric knew better.

Kakantir had told them.

"Go! Beric!"

"Let's see you roll!"

The true path of a warrior is to advance towards death.

They both hoped Beric would become a true warrior.

"You're like a mad dog, charging without a beginning or end."

"Is that a compliment?"

Smack!

"Ugh!"

The knight, who had been defending, saw an opening and struck Beric's chest with his elbow. Beric's face hit the sand, and he clutched his chest, gasping for breath.

"Oh, he got a good hit."

"Beric! Get up!"

"Tsk tsk. I knew he was a troublemaker."

Ian chuckled. As Beric fell, the Tianli clan's reactions turned hostile. The knight, seeing no point in wasting time, tightened his grip on his sword.

The target's neck was exposed.

Whoosh!

Just as the knight's sword was about to reach Beric's neck, Beric twisted his body, threw sand at the knight, and punched him.

Smack!

"It hurts like hell!"

Smack! Smack!

The fight was turning into a brawl. The knight glanced at the sky. The sun had fully risen. At this critical moment, he had no reason to play around with Beric.

"Don't be annoying!"

Clang! Clang!

But the problem was that Beric wasn't an easy opponent. Every time the knight thought he had him, Beric would counterattack, making the knight both frustrated and surprised.

"Uaaaaah!"

"Haah!"

Their battle cries erupted simultaneously. Their swords clashed, aiming for each other's hearts.

Thud!

Finally, the sword was stained with blood.

The knight's precise attack pierced Beric's side. Blood dripped from the blade. The knight twisted the hilt, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Uaaaaah!"

"Phew. You're good, but that's it."

"Ugh! Uaaaaah!"

"I'm busy."

The knight's attack felt like being gutted. Beric grabbed the blade with his bare hands, and blood streamed down in multiple streams. As Ian involuntarily frowned, the Tianli clan muttered menacingly.

"You brat, if you're going to kill, do it properly."

A battle without respect is just mockery, and that was what they despised the most. Beric, seeing stars, shook his head and looked at his wound.

"...Damn."

He clenched his teeth and tried to pull out the sword. The more he tried, the deeper the knight pushed. The blade eventually pierced through Beric's body and emerged from the other side.

Smack!

The knight kicked Beric's body, sending him rolling. He then approached Ian, while Kakantir watched indifferently.

"Ian Brats, we don't have time."

He drew a dagger from his belt. Unlike Beric, this would be enough for Ian. As he took each step, the surroundings grew silent. Only the sandstorm made a mournful sound.

"Your death will prove Derga Brats' innocence. Die with honor."

He raised the dagger. Ian's gaze shifted from the blade to behind the knight. The knight, sensing something, hesitated and turned around.

"Huh."

Beric stood there, his head tilted back as if possessed by a demon, but his legs were steady. He pulled out the sword from his side in one swift motion.

Squish!

Blood spurted like a fountain. There was no part of him that wasn't covered in red. Beric slowly lowered his head and muttered weakly.

"...I'm not... done yet, you bastard."

"Enough already..."

Sssss.

At that moment, the knight felt a familiar yet strange aura. It was the same feeling he had experienced during battles with monsters, when the knights' leaders had shown their power.

Sssss.

Beric's hair, which had been gently swaying, now whipped violently. The sand trails on the ground looked like waves.

"I give back two for every one I receive."

"Damn! You're really annoying!"

"Knight, use this."

Kakantir, smiling, offered his sword. The knight's sword, which had been stuck in Beric's side, was on the ground. Without hesitation, the knight accepted it and charged at Beric.

Sssss.

"Even if I die, I won't die alone! I'm a damn bastard, and I'll watch you die before I do!"

"Shut up!"

Beric leaped up with explosive force. Ian noticed his eyes, which glowed with magic, just like when Ian had infused him with mana. Only his eyes shone brightly in his bloodied face.

Clang! Clang!

"Uaaaaah!"

"What the... hell are you... doing..."

Beric attacked with incredible speed. The knight, barely managing to dodge, eventually bled. The force of Beric's attacks was incomparably heavy.

Blood splattered with each sword swipe. No one knew if it was Beric's or the knight's.

"Dieee!"

Thud!

Beric's attack pierced the knight's shoulder in one swift motion.

Time seemed to stop. The knight, trembling, pushed the blade with his other hand, but...

"Uaaaaah!"

Like the knight had done, Beric put his weight into the attack. He pulled the sword towards his heart, widening the deep wound. Blood gushed out with each breath.

"A... this..."

"Haa... haa..."

Beric clenched his teeth and pressed his knee into the knight's neck. The sword, which had been stuck in his shoulder, slid out and pointed upwards, then pierced the knight's neck without hesitation.

Thud!

"Ah, damn... really..."

And he fell to the sand.

Beric, clutching his aching side, curled up. The crowd, which had been silent, erupted in cheers and encouragement.

"Beric! Well done! This disrespectful guy!"

"Yeah, a fight must be fought to the end!"

"You're better with a sword than I thought. Beric, can you stay conscious?"

"Ah, don't talk to me. It hurts too much..."

"No whining! Just a little blood."

"Hey! Move him. Where's the healer?"

Kakantir watched the commotion with a faint smile. He then bowed to Ian and whispered, looking genuinely satisfied.

"Now I understand why Sir Ian brought him."

"I didn't bring him; we came together."

"Haha. Right. You truly embody the virtues of a warrior. Beric is no ordinary man."

"Where else will you find someone with such a foul and stubborn personality?"

The sandstorm raged, and the question about his latent abilities was brushed off by Ian. He approached Beric and crouched down.

"Beric, try to stay conscious."

He snapped his fingers in front of Beric's face, who frowned and tried to bite Ian's finger.

"Hey, stop it."

"...This really hurts."

"Looks like it. Good job."

The latent abilities of a magic swordsman began to awaken. The magic Ian had infused was gradually taking effect. Beric, trying to bite Ian's finger one last time, fainted.

"Move him."

"Sure. We need to stop the bleeding too."

"Wow. Is he sleeping or unconscious?"

"With a hole in his stomach, he's not sleeping. He's unconscious."

The Tianli clan