Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Law of the Jungle (2)
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Master.
The pinnacle that the vast majority of martial artists strive to reach someday. Their personal might truly makes them a one-man army.
Thus, the basic strategy against a Master is to counter with another Master.
Of course, even a Master is human in the end, so if you overwhelm them with numbers, they'll die eventually.
However, the cost to achieve that outcome—the death of a Master—is absurdly exorbitant.
To kill just one, you have to throw away at least ten thousand soldiers, and even then, you need luck on your side to barely succeed.
But would the faction possessing such a Master just stand by and watch?
"From that perspective, the Water King is actually fortunate. The forces under the Seven Beast Kings are pathetically weak compared to the Alliance."
However, if you have tens of thousands of troops and no solid backup behind them, the story changes.
That was exactly the case with the Water King. He was undoubtedly a Master,
but his forces were inevitably inferior compared to the Empire or the Alliance.
Cain judged that he could buy time by exploiting that weakness, right here at Sword Cliff.
Sword Cliff.
This place, also known as Sword Wall, was a natural fortress in every sense of the word.
Sword Wall served as the boundary between the interior and exterior of Renheim. Thanks to it, even when the outskirts were under monster invasion,
the interior remained relatively safe. Of course, even that was powerless against wyverns...
In any case, breaking through Sword Wall by force required at least several hundred thousand troops.
Therefore, Cain had stationed his forces here to buy as much time as possible.
'The Seven Beast Kings' forces aren't that large. If we garrison Sword Wall and defend thoroughly, even a Master won't move easily.'
It wasn't wrong.
No matter how much of a Master they were, trying to breach Sword Wall purely by force would incur devastating losses.
Besides, the beastkin forces were far smaller than the Empire's garrisoned army.
In other words, even if they won, it could spell the end of the beastkin race.
Of course, Cain had no intention of relying on such luck. Having learned complacency the hard way from past experience, he was more vigilant than anyone.
"Prepare the defenses thoroughly! The enemy might charge suddenly!!"
He had stockpiled rations in advance, kept the soldiers on high alert, and even positioned siege weapons.
With a natural fortress, a cautious commander, and elite troops, it was an impregnable stronghold.
Anyone could have held it off. If the enemy hadn't been a Master.
Kwaaaang!!
A blazing meteor of flames drew a savage arc and slammed into the walls in an instant.
All those preparations were rendered meaningless as Sword Wall's gates crumbled along with the walls. And all by a single beastkin.
The rubble of the collapsed walls was engulfed in flames. The revolting stench of burning flesh pierced Cain's nose.
Cain could only stare blankly at the unbelievable scene before him.
Kwajik. Crushing the debris, the monster that had toppled Sword Wall finally revealed itself.
Though its appearance was that of a boy, what dwelled within was no child.
The incarnation of burning fighting spirit, hotter than the fires of hell, now stood before him.
"Disappointing."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"I gave you three days. Yet you cower behind the walls like a coward, just watching..."
"What nonsense is..."
"Enough."
As if he didn't want to hear more, the boy cut him off with a firm voice. Soon, his arm began to burn.
Only one person could block that blazing fist of hellfire head-on.
Fortunately, Master Grandel's aura-infused blue slash barely intercepted the hellfire just in time.
But even that seemed difficult, as cracks appeared on Grandel's face.
"Kuh... Knights, forward!!"
Only because the Water King wasn't at full strength and Grandel was a powerhouse of his caliber could he barely block that one strike.
If not, they would have lost their lives long ago. As he said, the Water King clearly wasn't normal.
One arm was completely burned away, and blood poured endlessly from wounds large and small across his body.
"I can't understand it. Why fight so desperately when you're in that state?"
"If there is no tomorrow... all that's left is to burn today's final moments."
Cain was momentarily flustered by the Water King's cryptic words, but he soon grasped their meaning.
Thanks to the vivid blood trickling from the Water King's mouth. And at the same time, Morgana's hypothesis came to mind.
The Water King was clearly unable to move for some reason. Could that reason be...?
"You... are you dying right now?"
"Yes."
"How does a Master end up on a death timer...?"
"Such trivial matters don't matter. What matters is that I'm alive and breathing right now."
Only then did Cain realize the Water King's intent. The reason he attacked the fortress with full force despite the immense losses.
Simply to fight a worthy opponent.
Yes, that's what he wanted from the start.
But after three days of hiding behind the walls without fighting, just watching, he could no longer hold back.
Soon, the blazing hellfire swept away everything around it.
That was the last sight Cain witnessed. And then he opened his eyes again.
"......"
Thanks to Defeat Regression activating flawlessly once more. But even so, Cain's expression wasn't bright.
It couldn't be. A powerhouse who was a Master had come here prepared to die,
yet the Master dispatched from the Empire needed more time to arrive. In other words, he had to step up and buy time himself.
Abandoning the advantage of defending and going on the offensive? It was truly maddening.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days.
He had yielded a full three days from his remaining time. For a fight against a pristine foe, without regrets.
But the enemy just hid behind the walls, merely observing the situation.
"......Fine, if that's your answer..."
In the end, even his scant patience hit rock bottom. But just as the Water King was about to step forward himself.
Kwaang! Kwang!!
Lightning bolts and catapult stones suddenly rained from the sky, sending all the warriors beside the Water King flying.
"Heh..."
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
"Exterminate every last beastkin!!"
But it didn't end there. The firmly shut gates opened, and soldiers charged out with all their might.
Khan tilted his head at the sudden change. Had they changed their minds?
But it didn't matter. What mattered was this living, breathing moment right now!
Letting out a laugh filled with ecstasy, the Water King drew up his mana. Soon, his body ignited once more.
He planned to soar forth like a meteor and crash into the enemy, inflicting massive damage. If not for that voice calling him.
"Water King!!!"
Even from a considerable distance, that shout had the power to make even Khan flinch.
A thick killing intent that felt like blades slicing his skin. A murderous resolve to kill without fail.
Sure enough... Turning his head, he saw a man glaring at him from afar.
'Trying to lure me out openly to minimize their army's losses. Normally, I wouldn't fall for such cheap provocation, but...'
If he stood here as one of the Seven Beast Kings...
Khan would never have taken Cain's bait.
But not now. As a king who had burned everything for his kin, now with only this final life left.
At least for these remaining breaths, he would burn them where he desired.
Thanks to that, Khan flew toward Cain without a moment's hesitation.
Soon, the two leaders faced each other. After staring at Cain for a moment, Khan smirked and said,
"You're the same breed as me."
"How do you even arrive at that conclusion?"
"You abandoned the advantage of defense for offense. In the end, you're a beast... no, a predator like me."
Khan wasn't a fool. He naturally understood the benefits of defending.
Yet he chose offense. A strategically absurd choice, but one Khan could understand.
Yes, predators hunt by nature. How could they survive grazing like herbivores?
I was right. A fine worthy opponent to burn my last life with!
'What bullshit. He was about to come flying in and wreck the fortress himself if I didn't come out.'
From Cain's perspective, hearing it, it was utterly unfair.