Destruction King (3)
BOOM! A tidal wave of lightning surged across the forest. Towering trees toppled like blades of grass, and dense underbrush scattered into powder.
A single strike. Hector had cloaked himself in lightning and slammed the ground, shattering the surrounding terrain into oblivion. It was a display of power that explained why he was called the Destruction King—why his infamy endured even after founding Tatar.
And Sivar had no choice but to take the full brunt of it. Point-blank.
CRACKLE!
"...!!"
Sivar's mouth gaped open as he was hurled backward. The agony scorched him inside and out. In raw power, it dwarfed the bolt Porori had unleashed. He might have blacked out if he wasn't careful.
Of course—Hector was far closer to Gulaak's blessing than Porori.
Crackle!
As he hurriedly regenerated, the sound of lightning grazing his ear rang out. Even mid-flight, Sivar craned his neck toward the source of the presence.
Hector stood beside him—he didn't know when he'd arrived. To reiterate, Sivar was still flying backward.
Hector gripped Ragnarok, freshly recalled, and brought it down from above.
THUD!
The sound was like chopping firewood, not flesh. Sivar's body slammed into the ground. Hector had aimed not for the neck, but the chest.
Yet the chest was perilously close to the heart. In other words, perfect for roasting it to a crisp with lightning.
No matter how tough someone was, a direct hit to the heart...
CRACKLE!
Death.
"Guh...!"
In that split-second barrage, Sivar's eyes flew wide. He could vividly feel his heart cooking under the bolt.
He wanted to thrash, but the electrocution had locked his body up. This was lightning far stronger than Porori's.
As consciousness faded, he reached out anyway.
Crunch!
His hand latched onto Hector's arm. He pushed back with everything he had.
The axe buried in his chest kept pumping current, but staying passive was idiotic.
Hector, unwilling to let the chance slip, slammed his palm down on the axe's thick back.
Was I wrong?
Hector pondered as he pressed on Ragnarok.
Maybe he'd misjudged. Sivar's life had hung by a thread, yet there was no sign of berserk.
Just desperate human struggling.
Animals did the same.
Knock him out, then...
Chill!
As he decided, an inexplicable dread hit Hector—not quite danger, more like unease.
His axe, pressed with full force, began to lift. Effortlessly.
Stunned, Hector glanced at Sivar's face.
"Grrr...!"
His already red eyes burned fiercer.
Hector jolted. This was berserk, no doubt. A telltale sign of red-eyed monsters or beasts.
It had taken time, but his hunch was spot-on.
CRACKLE!
"Nngh...!"
The moment he confirmed it, Hector maxed out both his strength and lightning output.
But Sivar shoved the axe away without budging. As if pain meant nothing.
Hector would be overpowered. He released the axe and retreated.
The lightning lingered even without it.
-RAAARGH!
The instant Hector backed off, Sivar rose and unleashed a guttural roar.
Hector shivered. It felt like facing a colossal beast from his youth—utter weakness before a true predator.
Shaking it off, he countered as Sivar charged.
To block the approach, he unleashed lightning from his hand. It had physical force; it should slow him.
"RAAH!"
"What..."
Wrong call.
Sivar barreled straight through the lightning, unfazed. Not even pushed back.
Like a pain-immune beast, he closed in madly and slashed with red-mana-cloaked claws.
SLASH!
His speed was several times faster than pre-berserk. Hector couldn't fully dodge, taking another gash.
Unlike before, Sivar hadn't created an opening—he'd just swung wildly, and it connected.
Meaning Hector couldn't evade even seeing it coming. Dodging half-assed led to clean hits like this.
BOOM!
Before Hector could react, Sivar raised both arms high and smashed down.
He barely dodged; the ground split instead. The quake shook the area like an earthquake.
Won't even knock him out...!
Each blow was devastating and swift. No openings for counter.
At least his rationality was gone—movements were wide.
Hector targeted that.
Crunch!
It worked. He dodged Sivar's swing and buried the axe in his gut.
Thud!
"Kgh!"
But he realized his mistake instantly. No stun—Sivar's hand plunged deep into Hector's arm.
His bulk meant it hit just below the shoulder, but that wasn't the end.
Crackle!
Sivar yanked back like ripping meat. Flesh and muscle tore off in chunks, bone barely exposed.
The mangled piece dangled from Sivar's mana claws.
CRACKLE!
Ignoring the brain-searing pain, Hector cranked his lightning to max, scorching Sivar inside out.
Slash!
Useless. Sivar ignored the shock and raked his claws—not at the arm, but Hector's face.
Hector jerked back on instinct, but too slow. The claws grazed his lips, shredding a cheek chunk and splitting one corner of his mouth.
-RAAAGH!
BOOM!
With a savage roar, Sivar tackled like a predator. Hector toppled helplessly, face wounded.
Size difference meant nothing. The body slam toppled his massive frame.
Sivar mounted him, axe still in his gut.
Thump!
Hector barely grabbed the incoming arms. Both locked, but he strained desperately.
What strength...!
Even holding was hell. Mana and lightning maxed, yet he couldn't shake free.
Escape techniques? He'd die first.
As they wrestled, Sivar acted first.
SMASH!
No options? Headbutt.
How hard to make that sound?
SMASH! SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!
It didn't stop. Sivar hammered headbutts relentlessly, like a maniac.
Headbutts wrecked foes but burdened the user. Rarely used.
Sivar didn't care—his body was a tool to kill Hector.
BOOM! Crunch! Crack!
The effect was immense. Hector's face, once enduring, began to pulp.
Nose crushed first, then shattered. Finally, facial bones cracked.
He maxed lightning to block, but Sivar ignored it.
CRACKLE!
Pain? Another headbutt.
Hector's consciousness faded.
Black out here, and death.
No one to stop Sivar.
Damn it... If only I'd...
All his mistakes. He hadn't expected berserk Sivar this strong.
Should've trusted and watched.
His impulsiveness brought this.
He'd faced death countless times without regret.
Now? Regret.
His daughter Kara's face flashed.
Is this it...?
Arm strength waned, freeing Sivar's hands.
-RAAAAARGH!!!
Sivar roared, seizing Hector's face to smash it utterly.
Tatar's king would've died by wild man's hand, but...
BOOM!
Something slammed into Sivar, bowstring-snapping him far away.
Hector survived, but was combat-ineffective. Face pulped, thinking impaired.
"Aigoo. Why poke a guy minding his business? Even a passing dog bites if kicked."
"Ugh..."
A shrill voice reached Hector's ears. Something herbal shoved in his mouth.
He chewed instinctively. Pungent aroma spread; pain ebbed. Vitality surged.
"Drug in human terms? Anyway. Lady said it's key ingredient—eat up."
"..."
A drug herb. Made sense for instant effect.
Mind clearing, Hector cracked open his swollen eyes and turned.
"...?"
What? A squirrel stood boldly before him.
A squirrel. Had death by Sivar summoned it? First he'd heard.
Slap!
"Snap out and get up, musclehead. You made the mess, you clean it."
"...What?"
Slapped by a squirrel, Hector muttered blankly.
What the hell?
"Grrr..."
Beast growl snapped him alert. No time for confusion.
Ignoring bone-deep pain, he rose. Sivar ahead, poised to kill—four limbs grounded, prowling predatorily.
"You're pretty strong by human standards? Not as much as the old man, though."
"..."
Hector hauled his exhausted body up, eyeing the squirrel. Dog-sized, arms crossed, standing tall.
Squirrel that size was weird; fluent speech weirder. Dream or reality?
One guess.
"...Spirit beast?"
Split lip mangled speech. Good teeth survived headbutts.
The squirrel—Porori—shrugged with his snarky tone.
"Close enough. Humans call me Ratatosk. That guy calls me Porori."
He pointed at wary Sivar.
Hector followed. Sivar still prowled on all fours, ready to pounce.
He's wary?
Fighting him? No caution, just charge—through lightning and axe.
Post-squirrel? Wary.
The squirrel alone, or numbers? Latter, Hector thought. He extended his hand.
The axe yanked from Sivar's gut and returned. No flinch from Sivar.
"That state? Won't stop till regen ends. Knock out at once, or beat near-death."
"...Talk like you've fought him."
"Have, a few times. Real pain in the ass."
Porori shook his head, loath to recall.
But reality hit. Lucky Hector landed big hits—nearly died, but worth it.
Crackle!
"Remember: one-shot KO or wait regen finish. Nothing else works."
"...Got it."
Porori's body crackled; Hector answered amid confusion.
What was this spirit? Academy had one? Knew Sivar well?
No time to ponder. Sivar lunged.
-RAAARGH!
BOOM!
Sivar smashed both arms down, red mana surging. Spiderweb cracks spread to Hector and Porori.
Both—beings—leapt back.
BOOM!
Cracks erupted crimson energy. Hector's blood ran cold.
Was Sivar human? Monster moves.
Thud-thud!
Sivar charged wildly. Quadrupedal bounds to bipedal sprint—faster, distance closed instantly.
Target: Porori. Not dying Hector; healthy threat.
Whoosh! Swoosh!
Crunch!
Mana claws slashed at Porori. Height diff aimed low; ground cratered.
Porori dodged easily, signaling Hector: Now.
Hector struck—open back.
Crunch!
Aimed low: ankle Achilles. Pain immunity didn't kill balance.
-RAAH!
Hit. Sivar ignored pain, but knelt one knee.
As he glared back, Porori struck.
Crack!
Jumped, lightning-tail whipped jaw. Sivar flew.
"Heavens!"
RUMBLE!
Porori raised arms; thunder roared.
BOOM!
Thick bolt speared Sivar's landing spot.
Hector joined.
"Hup!"
BOOM!
Axe to ground—thicker bolt.
Porori admired, elbow-nudged Hector's leg approvingly.
"You got heaven's favor too? Since when?"
"Long time."
"Yeah? Me too..."
Whoosh!
Porori's words cut off. Sivar hurled a felled tree.
Porori dodged nimbly; Hector didn't.
Thud!
Body wrecked, direct hit. Sivar's throw sent it far.
Porori alone. He tsked, grumbling.
"Useless..."
"RAAARGH!"
Sivar roared, charged. Porori evaded grab effortlessly.
Hard to notice, but slower now. Regen lagging.
Lagging regen meant end in sight. Hector's beatdown paying off.
Thwap!
"Huh?"
Passing under legs, Porori panicked—Sivar grabbed his tail.
Slower, yet caught it. Hadn't before.
But then Sivar swung him like a ragdoll—not punching, whirling.
BOOM! THUD! THUD!
Three slams, quick life-check.
THUD! BOOM!
Alive? Two more.
Porori embedded deep, but alive. Dazed shock sharpened mind.
Still, dumbfounded.
Sivar raised foot to stomp—
Crack!
Tree hit Sivar mid-air, like Hector's. Hector threw back.
"Alive?"
"Says you."
Porori dusted dirt, rose unfazed.
CRACKLE!
Sivar kicked off tree, charged. Tireless, but noticeably sluggish.
Hector could dodge visually.
CRACKLE!
Porori sensed end, maxed lightning. Hector matched.
They unleashed on Sivar.
ZAP!
-RAAAAH!
Broke through like before, but shambling.
Drained stamina, yet advancing, roaring—Hector shuddered.
End now.
Hector signaled Porori, cut lightning.
Sivar lunged. Faint mana claws raked Hector—slow enough to dodge.
Porori slipped between legs, whipped foot with lightning tail.
Crack!
Balance lost; knelt.
Perfect face angle. Hector full-power axed jaw with flat side—for KO, not kill.
Crack!
Sivar dropped.
Unharmed, he'd rise raging.
"Huff. Huff."
Hector panted, staring. Beastly fit perfectly.
Without Porori, dead.
All over...
"Grrr..."
"...Hah."
Not yet. Sivar stirred; Hector sighed.
Sivar lifted head, glared, worked jaw.
"Ptoo!"
Plink—a pristine molar.
Full swing, only one tooth broken.
"What're you doing, meathead! Hit him more!"
"What?"
Porori yelled, too late. Sivar bounded back.
Hector's delay inevitable—stamina, mana gone; drug worn off.
Creak—
Sivar gaped wide at them. Missing tooth regrown cleanly.
Whoooosh!
Red mana condensed in mouth—all remaining gathered.
Porori freaked, yelled at Hector. Rare panic.
"Hey! Prep something!"
"...At limit."
"Fucking useless! Don't start what you can't finish!"
Rumble!
Porori raged, arms skyward. Faint thunder gathered lightning.
Collision imminent.
Hector, no stamina to flee, watched.
Thud—
"Huh?"
"What?"
Sivar faceplanted gathering mana. No warning.
Both stunned. Passed out?
"That should do it."
Familiar voice from behind Sivar.
They looked.
"Hector, no hospital. Potions instead."
Sword Saint Lord stood, sword drawn.
Your Faith stat has risen!