Chapter 233: Evolution and Goff
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 233: Evolution and Goff
Just as duels are fought under the Great Tribe Leader's banner in the Land of Glory, it was only natural that we had ways to test our strength in our own Brother's Land. Gark often clashed with Gara of the Goff Clan, and Hark frequently sparred with one of the Black Spear Clan's officers. Besides them, the other brothers constantly clashed to test their own strength.
Unlike myself, who could engage in a Sacred Battle where life and honor were on the line, Goff and I had intentionally avoided fighting. This was because neither of us wanted to establish one clan's dominance over the other.
Perhaps that was why Black Spear's expression seemed quite peculiar.
As Goff's eyes began to turn red, Black Spear slowly opened his mouth.
“The exact date and place…”
Goff cut in, finishing Black Spear's sentence.
“Now! Right here!”
As if he had already expected this, Black Spear began sending the other clan members back to the castle. It seemed he had decided it would be best not to let the other clan members know the outcome of the fight. I felt the same, as I had no desire for any unnecessary commotion.
“Since there is no banner, I will oversee this fight between two Green Skins. Taking each other's lives is forbidden, as are fatal attacks. I will overlook any blows I believe you can withstand. You will also refrain from using your unique abilities. If no victor is decided, or if I believe you two have become too agitated, I will intervene immediately.”
Goff and I nodded at the same time.
The Green Skins nearby were walking away slowly, as if they wanted to watch, but they quickly picked up their pace after a roar from Black Spear and Goff.
“I never imagined you would be the one to ask me first, Blood Dagger.”
“So it seems.”
I smiled at his words and looked at him. Muscles that looked ready to burst, a massive frame, and beyond that, an unidentifiable pressure. He was the perfect warrior among warriors. A perfect melee fighter who used an axe as his weapon. But to Goff, a weapon was meaningless.
‘I want to fight you.’
For some reason, the words Goff had once said to me came to mind. His eyes were growing redder. Naturally, a low growl, krrrrk, escaped his lips. Seeing him like that, I nodded.
He's serious.
He is absolutely serious.
It was a bit startling to do this at a work site, but the terrain was bound to change a little during the fight anyway. It might even liven up the road-clearing work. Black Spear watched Goff and me from a short distance away. After a brief sigh, he quietly opened his mouth.
“Begin.”
At the same moment, Goff launched himself toward me, an expression of amusement on his face.
There was no warning.
It felt like a great mountain was crashing down like a bolt of lightning.
“Kwoooooooar!”
“Pfft.”
I couldn't help but realize why those who faced Goff would just stare blankly or look bewildered as he approached. There was no room to dodge. As he closed the distance in an instant with his massive frame, there was nowhere to escape.
With his arms spread wide, it felt as if both my sides were completely blocked off. He closed in in an instant; the only way out was back. I knew full well that I would lose in a head-on fight. Even if I did retreat, it was obvious he would catch up in no time at that speed.
I could see him bringing his axe down with immense force. A blow that would kill anyone instantly. Watching this, I threw myself backward and drew Levatain.
Kwaaaaaang!
The ground that took Goff's attack in my place screamed as a deep crater formed, as if a missile had struck. Shards of earth flew and struck my body, but it only felt like a tickle. I could feel that my physical abilities had also improved.
He's strong.
“Levatain.”
In an instant, flames erupted and began to envelop me. Everything nearby melted as the massive blaze completely swallowed the surroundings.
Seeing that Black Spear wasn't stopping us, it seemed he was allowing this much.
The massive flames swallowed Goff whole, but the wind pressure from the swing of his axe blew the fire away. I had fought countless enemies, but Goff was the first to suppress my flames like this. I bit my lip hard and charged at him, sword in hand.
I wasn't stronger than him, but I was more agile.
Kwadeudeudeuk!
Our axe and sword clashed, but I skillfully deflected his axe. When Goff reached out, I naturally brought my sword to his arm, but absurdly, he was channeling magic into that very arm.
He was trying to take it with his sheer toughness.
It was confidence that he could withstand it. The blade sank into Goff's arm, but as expected, it didn't go all the way through. Blood splattered, but the excited look on Goff's face didn't change. In that moment, Goff's axe was aiming for my side. Seeing this, I drew my greatsword and crossed it with Levatain to block the axe.
The force of the block naturally sent my body flying in the opposite direction.
Kwagwaaaaaang!
My body crashed through the trees behind me, utterly shattering them, but of course, I took no damage. The moment I lifted my head, I could see his face approaching again. Feeling like I'd taken a hit, I immediately gripped my sword and began slashing at everything around me. I unleashed my magic in all directions, sending everything I'd cut down flying toward Goff, and his advance began to slow slightly.
Kwang!! Kwang!! Kwadeudeuk! Kwang! Kwadeuk! Kwajik!
As time passed, various sounds echoed out as the surrounding terrain was destroyed. Startled magical beasts could be seen fleeing in all directions. Each time the sword and axe clashed, a tremendous roar and a blast of wind pressure spread out. Just the impact of our clashing magic was enough to utterly destroy everything nearby.
“Kuwoooooooar!”
Goff's monstrous roar began to echo throughout the entire Forest of Mist. Goff had never formally learned how to wield an axe. It wasn't martial arts, but wildness itself. He moved as his instincts dictated.
Once again, I blocked his swinging axe with my greatsword. Since I'd been asked to refrain from using my unique ability, using both the greatsword for defense and Levatain was the most ideal approach.
The moment I took his attack, my feet were driven into the ground. I immediately melted the ground with heat and then attacked Goff's legs. Damage continued to accumulate, and blood splattered. He had no intention of backing down.
A single swing of his axe changed the terrain. Everything around us, be it trees or rocks, was cleanly sliced apart by the slashes I swung.
“Khahahahahaha!”
He was laughing. He was enjoying this fight. So was I. The corners of my mouth slowly began to rise.
What I realized while fighting was that Goff was far more agile than I had thought.
For someone with that build to be so agile—it could only be called cheating.
Fighting the strong was frightening, but it was always enjoyable. This time was no different. Although this wasn't a duel to the death, the tension was real. Taking that kind of attack head-on would be a fatal wound.
Kwajijijijik!
My arm, which blocked Goff's attack, was crushed, and Goff's left leg, which took my attack, became a bloody mess. Despite that, the fight didn't stop.
Perhaps thanks to my concentration being pushed to its limit, Goff's movements began to look slow.
‘It's here.’
It was the sensation that never failed to appear during battle. I dodged the descending axe by a hair's breadth. The aftershock of his magic remained, but I trusted my body. I thrust Levatain toward Goff's abdomen. At the same time, one of Goff's fists flew toward my face.
I can block it. It was a huge fist, but I succeeded in deflecting it by striking it with the hilt of my sword.
With a kwaaaang!, Goff's fist slammed into the ground. His chest was exposed, but his arm swung toward me again. I drove my greatsword into the ground and poured magic into it. As Goff's arm struck the greatsword, the sword flew into the air. I swung the sword, and Goff immediately dodged to his left. The large trees behind him fell.
We exchanged several blows on the spot, but I couldn't find an opening. While I can maintain this concentration, I have to seize the advantage.
“Kwoooooooar!”
“Dain!!!”
As I let out a battle cry and drew Dainsleif, I felt an immense killing intent. I immediately began to pull back. Goff did the same. At that moment, a large hole was bored into the spot where we had been standing. Looking like a sinkhole had just formed, I couldn't help but turn to the side with a slightly dumbfounded expression.
Black Spear had thrown his spear.
At the same time, I felt my head cool down a little. Looking at us, Black Spear opened his mouth.
“I believe that's enough…”
“Huu… huu… huu…”
“Krrrrrrrrrrk…”
I was panting heavily, and Goff was still growling. But it only took an instant for him to rein in his instincts.
The match was a draw, but I couldn't help but feel a little gloomy. If we had kept fighting, I probably would have lost. From the moment I drew Dainsleif, I was on a time limit. This was especially true against someone like Goff, on whom it was difficult to inflict a major wound. Goff, too, was looking back and forth between his hand and his injured foot, as if lost in thought. When I naturally looked around, a completely devastated landscape came into view, as if a massive bomb had been dropped.
I knew we were making a mess to some extent, but I never imagined it would be this bad. It looked as if the entire area had been completely swept away, except for the spot where Goff and I stood.
I spoke to Goff.
“Thank you for accepting my sudden request.”
“Krrrk… Same here. It was a good lesson. The work should go a little faster now.”
Shamans from the Black Spear Clan, who must have been called at some point, began to approach Goff and me. It seemed they were here to heal our wounds, so I sat down quietly. My arm and Goff's leg were quite severely injured.
As a green light enveloped our bodies, we slowly began to heal. The shamans were looking at Goff and me with eyes full of awe, which made me smile. Amusingly, the one who came to me was Black Spear's daughter, Shakara. I remembered feeling a bit awkward last time when she winked at me, and this time too, I felt her stealthily stroking my arm, which made me feel unnecessarily uncomfortable.
As expected, Green Skins are assertive.
“Are you feeling a little better?”
“I'm fine. Thank you, Shakara.”
The feeling that Black Spear's spear had landed closer to my side for some reason must have been my imagination.
Anyway, I smiled, and Goff also grinned as he looked at the surrounding landscape.
“You've gotten stronger.”
“You too.”
It was a rather satisfying feeling. Comparing this to when we clashed in the desert long ago, I could clearly see just how much stronger we had become. Black Spear watched Goff and me look at each other and smile, and he nodded. It seemed he had been worried it would turn into an emotional squabble. It seemed getting older made him worry about unnecessary things.
“Well then, I'll head back first. I have something else to do.”
When I said that, Goff and Black Spear nodded. I moved quickly toward the castle, thinking once more about my evolution. The fight just now had made me certain.
[ 1. Demon King of Lamentation, Weapon Specialist ]
[ 2. Lord of Supreme Demonic Weapons ]
[ 3. Seat of Sorrow and Despair ]
In my current situation, number three was the best choice.
I didn't hesitate and immediately thought of number three, and I couldn't help but be a little dumbfounded. Because a very interesting situation had just occurred.
“Customization?”
What came to mind was none other than an image of myself.