What was it for to abandon a name?
Even he himself did not know. A name might be something natural for someone. But at least, it wasn’t for him. He was nothing more than a mere monster.
Thus, he gave himself a name. And he was obsessed with that name. Yet, to the point of abandoning it himself. It had been focused on one single showdown.
So, he couldn’t fall here now. Ayanharr’s wounds healed in an instant. The flames rekindled in his broken heart. Instinctively, he realized.
This was the final fight that would burn away all his life. Even if he won here, there would be no turning back for him. Golden flames erupted from Ayanharr’s body.
“I think it’s about to get a little fun now.”
“Clara, good job. I’ll take it from here.”
“But, Commander…!!”
“Didn’t you feel it? That guy’s will.”
“…….”
For a single showdown. A being fighting with even his own life at stake. Though the roots were different, how could he, as a fellow warrior, dare to obstruct the fight of someone walking the same path?
“I pay my respects to your resolve, Togui.”
“……Togui.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, that’s my name……!!!”
To be called by a name by an enemy that would never return. Isn’t that the highest form of recognition? Ayanharr, no. Togui let out a massive roar. But it was not one of anger, rather, a roar filled with joy.
Hans was calmly facing a momentum that could make an ordinary person kneel. Even he thought it was strange. But he cut off his thoughts for now.
What mattered was the outcome of the duel. Soon, Togui and Hans clashed their weapons. Unable to withstand the shock of their collision, the ground shattered and debris flew.
The only weapon Togui regained was his fist. The overly honest baptism of his fists began to pour like a storm. It had the power to break the castle wall, yet Hans dodged them effortlessly.
‘My body is lighter than I thought. Plus, dodging is not difficult.’
Hans easily avoided all of Togui’s attacks, which had grown strong enough to smash ordinary Blood Demons from the front. Togui felt nervous for the first time. Still, his attacks weren’t landing.
‘Right, I was overwhelmed by this man.’
Even after losing in battle, swallowing humiliation. The reason Togui had stepped back willingly was actually quite simple. He was completely overwhelmed by his opponent. So, he had no choice but to follow.
Despite attacking with everything, all his attacks were effortlessly dodged. It felt like facing an insurmountable wall. He felt his hands and legs weaken, wanting to just sit down.
That was the feeling of powerlessness. But forcibly chewing through that feeling of powerlessness, Togui gritted his teeth and kept attacking. He wanted just that one win. But now, it didn’t matter.
“I actually wanted this to happen!!!”
Golden flames converged in Togui’s fists. The flames burned as hot as the sun, just like Togui’s heart. Before he knew it, Togui’s human face reverted back to a bull’s form.
‘His face changed? Did Togui go through something?’
Calmly assessing the situation, Hans regained his stance. Finally, Togui’s fist swung, targeting Hans’s head. Dodging that honest attack without any tricks, he lunged forward.
Avoiding Togui’s attack, Hans retaliated with a punch. It landed squarely in Togui’s solar plexus, dealing damage to him. Although Togui coughed up blood, he would not back down.
Instead, now considering it an opportunity, Togui moved his brutish hands to grab Hans’s shoulder. Deciding he could no longer run, Togui raised his fist again.
“Go all out, human……!!!”
In that moment, Togui, who seemed poised to swing his fist, froze. Not just Togui. Clara, watching the fight, and far-off Clarence too.
Only Hans moved. He slowly shifted his body. The first thing he confirmed was to forcefully push away Togui’s hand gripping his shoulder.
Fortunately, he was able to push Togui’s hand away without much difficulty. Regaining his freedom from Togui in an instant, Hans drew his sword. The Divine Sword that could even cut through dragon scales.
That Divine Sword pierced through Togui’s heart.
*
Togui wanted to grow stronger.
To become stronger than anyone and gain complete freedom. He struggled to break away from the instinct that monsters had to absolutely obey demons. And at last, he met that man.
[You and I both want to surpass our limits. Of course, that path will be very difficult. But there’s nothing we can do but try our best.]
He was planning something absurd beyond his own limits. While claiming to help him, he granted him power. It felt very similar to the Blood Demon he had only heard about.
But to be clear, he was not a Blood Demon. If he had been a Blood Demon, he wouldn’t have come up with such an absurd plan. In a way, he was a man who could be called Togui’s comrade.
[Are you going?]
[Yes.]
[You’re going to die there most likely, you know?]
[I don’t mind.]
[Then I won’t stop you.]
He probably expected this outcome. No, perhaps Togui himself had already anticipated that this would happen. Yet, Togui chose this path, even to the point of abandoning his name.
Still.
What Togui wanted.
It was just one thing.
“A match without regrets.”
Yes, he was already a dead man since that day. A life that was brought back by chance. In the end, he wished to die again fighting him. And now, that desire had been fulfilled.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yes.”
“You committed a deed that can never be forgiven. But….”
“…….”
“Before being a knight, as a warrior. I pay my respects to your resolve.”
Togui collapsed without uttering a single sound. But as if he had no more lingering attachments, he was smiling. Hans sighed and sheathed his sword.
“Commander! Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?!”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I could have handled this level easily….”
“How can I turn my back on a warrior’s resolve?”
In fact, Hans had been planning to keep watching. Perhaps due to the experience he had amassed until now. Even if Togui had awakened, he thought Clara could easily subdue him.
However, Togui’s shout had compelled Hans into action. He didn’t know why he was so eager for a duel like this. But the blood of a warrior, which had supposedly been nonexistent, boiled within him.
Hans quietly gazed at his hands. Ever since hearing the legend related to the Dragon Heart, something felt off. His fighting spirit was surging, and it felt strangely different.
“Commander! Let’s go back! We need to report to the kingdom!”
“Right, right.”
“While we’re at it, let’s loot everything we can.”
“Calm down.”
Hans reassured Clara while looking at Togui’s corpse. Perhaps because everything had been done, Togui’s body was slowly turning to ashes and disappearing. Not really knowing why.
Since it was a satisfactory death, it probably wouldn’t matter much. He sincerely hoped that next time, he could live a little better. Meanwhile, many people witnessed today’s battle.
Most showed respect for Hans’s power. But among them, there was one figure observing with a curious gleam in his eyes. The man who saw everything through the eyes of an invisible imp.
From a cliff far from the kingdom’s castle walls, he watched everything through the imp. And as he expected, the commander of the Royal Knights had the power befitting his name.
“I didn’t expect it when handling that pesky female. But a real monster has appeared.”
But thanks to that, it became easier to move. He smirked and withdrew the imp’s gaze. He had always found it displeasing. To be treated like this while they called themselves Blood Demons and True Bloods.
Yet, they named us mere low-class beings, fitting to handle trivial errands beneath them. Of course, most had no objections. In the demon race, it was purely survival of the fittest.
In a place where the strong took everything in hand through sheer force. So, he resolved to fight back in his own way. First, he took complete control of the nonsensical informant known as the imp.
If he didn’t provide any information at all, he’d be suspected. So he fed him just the right amount of information while withholding crucial details, causing damages. For example, the full power of the Royal Knights’ commander.
“Comprachico, Doppelganger, Parasite, and the hateful True Bloods as well.”
Information is only useful when it is 100% true. If you charge in believing only 70% of the information is true, the outcome is only destruction. And as expected, the forces of Blood Demons and True Bloods weakened.
The man’s lips curled into a wide grin.
All of this was for the sake of the poor like us.
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