“Rending Bite.”
The formless wind took shape. Mighty wolves threw back their heads and let out chilling howls, then began to run at Efdiram’s command. The grass flattened in their wake, leaving an endless trail across the vast plains.
“Beric! You know what?! I never really hated you!”
Efdiram drew her own sword and ran with the wolves, her golden eyes blazing with an indescribable emotion.
“But why?! What is Bariel that you would—!”
Swoosh!
As Efdiram leaped, her robe billowed out. The jaws of the wind wolves opened wide, their trajectory matching her sword. The killing intent was palpable, a clear intention to strike a fatal blow in a single move.
Chaaeng!
Beric parried her sword, taking a step back, then continuously sliced through the heads of the wolves. The wolves shattered into gusts of wind, the sharp blades of air tearing at his skin. But Beric just grinned, protecting only his face.
“Hey! Fuck, that’s my line! Bariel has so much fucking delicious food, so why would you choose to eat that crap?!”
“How can you not know that it is the natural order to live as you were born?!”
“Cut the crap! Then you should have compromised to some extent! When Ian offered to let you manage the north, you could have just played along!”
Chaeng! Clang! Shriiik!
A brutal exchange of blows followed. If either’s strength faltered or their focus wavered for even a moment, the other’s blade would surely graze their neck. The two of them gritted their teeth and glared at each other.
“Because I despise the fucking arrogance of the empire acting like it’s the center of the world, that’s why I refused. Who are they to draw lines across the lands of Gaia?”
Screeeech!
The blades ground against each other with a hair-raising shriek. Beric felt Efdiram’s strength begin to wane and pressed his advantage, pushing forward forcefully.
“You can think that way. But—!”
Chaeng!
BOOM!
Efdiram detonated a sphere of mana, and Beric stumbled back, shaking his head to clear it. He was now covered in grass and dirt.
“Isn’t it natural for the stronger side to create order? If you’ve got a problem, then win.”
“Indeed, Beric. Your head will bring a new history to the Atan tribe, so I must. And then, I will bury the head of that bastard Ian Hielo alongside yours.”
At Efdiram’s provocation, Beric’s expression turned cold, as if she had crossed a line.
“Efdiram. I never really liked you.”
“Is that so? What a shame!”
“Especially when you say shit you don’t even mean!”
Chaeng! Clang!
The two charged at each other again, swords swinging. In the blink of an eye, three or four blows landed like lightning. But this time, something was different.
Zzzzing!
Zing!
Beric’s black sword reacted to his mana, growing hotter and hotter. And on the final clash, an enormous explosion erupted.
KWAAANG!
“……!”
Efdiram’s sword shattered. She reflexively threw up a barrier. The destructive heat was lethal, threatening to melt everything. Her fears were realized. One side of her barrier broke, and a sharp tongue of flame pierced her abdomen. Her body crumpled.
“How about it? Your hair get a bit more curly?”
“…I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch.”
Everything around Efdiram was burning, leaving her the only thing standing. Through the acrid smoke, Beric approached, tying back his hair.
“Sorry, but I don’t have time for this.”
“……”
Blood gushed between Efdiram’s fingers. She looked up at Beric and gave a bitter smile. At the sudden change in her expression, Beric’s eyebrow twitched.
“You don’t know, do you? The joy of living as you were born.”
“Cut the bullshit.”
“Watch closely. Okay?”
Efdiram reached out and dragged over a nearby monster corpse. Without hesitation, she began to drink its blood, then tore off and chewed a chunk of its flesh. She was like a beast in human form. Beric watched quietly, wondering what trick she was trying to pull. Efdiram wiped her blood-soaked mouth.
“This is what happens when you follow the natural order, you idiot.”
The bleeding from her abdomen was visibly stopping. Efdiram’s complexion and breathing stabilized, and the fatigue of battle seemed to wash away completely.
Beric, at a loss for words, slung his sword over his shoulder.
“Do you know what that means?”
“Yeah. It means I have to kill you without giving you a chance to recover. I’ll say my goodbyes in advance. Farewell.”
The monsters pouring down from behind them were the life force of the Atan tribe. But the same held true for Beric.
“…You wanted to be strong, didn’t you?”
“……”
“You wanted to fight, to kill, and ultimately, to become a true predator! I know what identity makes you who you are! Because I was the same!”
Beric lowered his sword for a moment and thought. It was true. As Efdiram said, he had wanted to be strong. He had enlisted as a boy soldier in Bratz not just to survive, but because he wanted to be strong. In that environment, the violent clashes disguised as survival had been a breath of fresh air, but—was that really because of his Atan nature?
“I like to eat. But—”
The beginning of his desire for strength. It wasn’t a survival instinct, but…
“To protect them.”
“What?”
His family, from his father’s violence— His family again, from robbers— Ian, who had said he needed him— And trying to save himself, who just wanted to live— That was the beginning of this desire.
“It was because I wanted to protect them. That’s the reason I can’t choose the Atan, and why I can’t leave Bariel.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Because I just realized that the path to true strength isn’t living for myself, but for others.”
Swoosh.
Muttering this, Beric raised his sword high. “Thanks. For teaching me something good before you go.”
“Ha. Go where? You think I’m the one who’s going anywhere?”
Zzzzing!
Zing!
“Unless you’re on Ian’s level, it probably won’t work on me.”
“Beno!”
“Huh?”
Efdiram spread a magic circle and shouted. Beno, her right-hand man.
Beric turned to see a man who had suddenly appeared right in front of him. Their eyes met. Cold, impassive, and unlike Efdiram, filled with a deep-seated loathing. Beric reacted instinctively, blocking the attack.
Kwaaang! Kwang!
Boom!
Unlike the mage Efdiram, Beno was a Magic Swordsman. In other words, he was skilled in swordsmanship and specialized in offense. His sword, in particular, was less a form created by mana and more like mana being freely transformed. The proof was in the erratic forms it took, aiming for Beric’s neck.
“Whoa, hey now!”
“How dare you, a traitor to your own kind.”
“Get your facts straight, you bastard! When were we ever on the same side?”
“Rending Bite.”
Shwaaak!
Efdiram joined the fray, once again summoning the wind wolves. Against a normal person it might have been different, but it was tricky for Beric to handle both of them alone. Beno could draw mana from Efdiram, and the sea of monsters was like a stamina potion.
“Hey, I’ve got Ian on my side!”
“Shut up, Beric! This is your last chance!”
“Die.”
Sling!
Beno’s sword precisely cut Beric’s right arm. It felt like the tendon had been severed. The black sword shattered and flew away, and Beric stumbled, losing his balance.
Shriiik!
Then, Beno’s sword cleanly pierced Beric’s abdomen.
“……!”
Thud!
As the mana sword vanished, a hole large enough for an arm to fit through was left in Beric’s stomach. Beno looked down at him and pressed his foot on Beric’s head.
“You will die.”
“Agh, you son of a bitch, you really—”
“Unless you lick the blood of a monster, you will die.”
Beno’s voice was laced with mockery. Go on, resist, deny it all you want. Call us beasts. No matter what you do, the fact that you are also Atan will not change. The more you deny us, the more you deny yourself.
“Beno. That’s enough.”
“Yes, understood. Are you alright, my lady?”
“Yes. Where are the others?”
“They are coming.”
Ruuuumble!
Beric, lying on the ground, rolled his eyes to look at the hill. Atan, mixed in with the monsters, were running down excitedly. They must have had a party along the way, as they were all drenched in blood, each holding a black sword that pulled monsters toward it.
“Over here!”
Efdiram waved cheerfully, and the Atan roared in response.
Twitch. Beric, still prone, turned his gaze forward again. A chunk of a bisected monster lay within arm’s reach.
‘Should I eat it?’
Should I eat it, heal my wounds, and kill all those bastards?
No, no, no. He couldn’t die here, but he didn’t want to eat that either. That’s just how it was. He felt that if he ate it, he would somehow be unable to return to Bariel.
“Ah.”
The pain began to sharpen, his organs churning as if demanding action. Beric’s fingertips twitched. His hand unconsciously reached for the monster.
Just then—
RUMBLE!
FLASH!
A bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of them from the clear sky. Efdiram hastily created a barrier, and Beno shielded her.
Sparkle, sparkle. Beric, who had flinched at the blinding light, immediately recognized what it was and grumbled.
“…Took your fucking time.”
CRACK!
Thunder, from a cloudless sky. Only one person could make that happen.
“Old maaaan!”
KWAGAGANG!
It was an instant, the time it takes to blink. Efdiram couldn’t believe her eyes. Standing before her, holding lightning in his hand, was Jeirutt.
When did he get here? No, more importantly, what is that in his hand? It was a mana sword, just like Beno’s, but his form exuded the overwhelming presence of a descended god.
“Lady Efdiram!”
“Damn it!”
Crackle!
FLASH! Jeirutt silently brought the lightning down, seeking to shatter the barrier. Efdiram held on, but blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and she was finally thrown back along with Beno.
Swoosh!
Jeirutt, sword in hand, glanced at Beric. …You stupid mutt.
“I don’t recall teaching you to go out and get beaten.”
“Fuck, you ever heard of being outnumbered?”
“Get up. For the dignity of the Imperial Royal Guard.”
“Ah, yeah. Dignity. That’s nice.”
Jeirutt took something from his robes and tossed it to Beric. It was one of Akorella’s Mana Amplifier Potions. He had taken one just in case, but he never thought he’d have to use it the moment he arrived.
Thud! Thump!
And then, his Royal Guard comrades landed steadily behind him. The members formed a line, facing the torrent of monsters head-on. Jeirutt turned his back to them and shouted.
“All units!”
“All units!”
Thump!
“From this moment, we will reclaim the northern zone. Annihilate the Atan and the monsters. Let not a single life pass you.”
Zzzzing! Zing!
The Royal Guard placed their hands on their chests in the imperial salute. The heartbeats they felt beneath their palms were strong.
“This is an order from His Majesty the Emperor. Those who block Bariel’s path will be decisively eliminated. Remember. We are the heart of Bariel.”
“We obey your command!”
“We obey your command!”
Tap, tap, tap!
The Imperial Royal Guard simultaneously created their mana swords and charged toward the monster horde. They would stop the flood of monsters and kill every last Atan! Among them, Bersabe also charged at full speed with a mighty war cry.
“Hyaaaaaah!”
“Hold them back! Everyone! With all your breath!”
“Cut down the Atan first!”
“It’s the palace dogs! Kill them! Uhaha!”
“If we kill them, this world is ours!”
The battle began in earnest in the rear, and another clash erupted at the front. Beric downed the potion in one gulp, then tore his clothes and tied them around his abdomen.
“Let’s go for round two, you bastards!”
“Beric, your sword?”
“My sword? Don’t know, fuck!”
The black sword lay shattered and cold. Is he planning to fight bare-handed? No matter how stupid the mutt is, that’s—
Zzzzing! Zing!
“……!”
From Beric’s hand, a red greatsword, as massive as his own body, erupted into existence. It was not his black sword, but Beric’s own mana sword, revealed to the world for the first time.