Strength is Innate
"Strength is something you're born with," Lustran roared savagely.
"A pathetic human like you, so full of arrogance. I'm one of the Demon King's corps commanders—do you really think a worm like you can do anything to me?"
"Of course. I already slaughtered the griffin that moron Beibaros brought with him."
At the mention of Beibaros's name, Lustran's face twisted in an instant.
"Fuck... so you're the Hero. But don't lump me in with that brain-dead piece of shit. That bastard didn't earn his commander spot through strength—he schemed his way up with cowardly tricks."
"Oh? So you're different, huh? Should I get my hopes up?"
"Insolent bastard... I'll rip that mouth off you."
Lustran kicked off the ground he stood on and leaped into the air. In a flash, he soared skyward.
"Shithead, you think attacking from above changes anything?"
Capier didn't budge an inch from his spot on the ground, standing perfectly still.
"Looks like I don't even need the Holy Sword for you. Dumbass."
"Shut your mouth!"
Lustran's body plummeted toward the earth amid a ferocious gust of wind.
-Kikikikikiking
Soon, a chilling clash rang out as the Hero's sword met his claws. But even in that moment, Capier spoke with a relaxed expression.
"Hmm... so you've been bullying others thinking this level of power makes you hot shit?"
"F-fuck... what the hell is..."
Lustran had always been confident that no one could match his raw strength. Sure, his claws had been sliced by the Hero's sword, but he'd chalked it up to the blade's sharpness, not the Hero's superior might.
But Lustran's assumptions were dead wrong.
"H-how... how do you have... that kind of power..."
To block the sword, Lustran was summoning every ounce of strength in his body. If he faltered here, that blade would slice straight through his gut, bisecting him in seconds.
"How am I this strong? I'm just born that way, you idiot."
"Got some special trick up your sleeve? Some divine revelation or bullshit? Don't talk crap. I'm just stronger than you. You're fucking weak, aren't you?"
-Ting
Lustran barely deflected the sword and retreated swiftly backward.
-Parr...
He stared at his trembling hand. It shook violently, like a broken vibrator.
'Recoil from using too much power at once?'
Lustran tried to rationalize it that way, but he quickly shook his head and corrected himself. Overexertion should only make his arm shake, not his entire body. His heart pounded wildly, and a chilling sensation prickled his skin with goosebumps.
'Not recoil from power. Fear. Fear of death.'
Lustran admitted the true nature of his emotion. He was undeniably terrified. He acknowledged the man before him, who crushed him with overwhelming force, driving him to despair.
"Hey, Hero. How about a deal?"
"You think you're in a position to negotiate?"
"...Fine, then a request."
"Fuck off, you shit. I'll rip that arrogant mouth first."
-Slash
Capier surged forward in an instant, slicing Lustran's arm. But the wound wasn't deep—Lustran had twisted away with all his might to flee.
-Tadadadak
Lustran ran. With every bit of strength, in the opposite direction from his enemy. He fled desperately. Even against the Demon King, he'd fought with pride, but his instincts screamed not to battle this man.
So he ran. Away from him.
But what the hell was this?
"Fuck... how..."
Capier yawned boredly right in Lustran's path. He'd fled with everything he had—how had the Hero caught up so fast? And he'd started running first.
"Fuck, everyone attack!"
In his desperation to survive, Lustran decided to throw his comrades into the meat grinder. He didn't expect them to beat the Hero—hundreds would mean nothing against that monster. They'd be wiped out in no time.
'And he hasn't even drawn the Holy Sword yet... fuck, how is this possible...'
Word of the Hero's power had reached him. He'd heard about slaying the griffin and nearly killing Beibaros. But Beibaros was the weakest corps commander, right? That's why he'd underestimated the Hero. 'How strong can he really be, even powered up?'
But now he had to admit it. The Hero carved through monsters at impossible speeds, charging straight for him like he held some massive grudge. His eyes locked solely on Lustran, unwavering even as he shattered skeletons and gutted ogres.
"F-fuck... p-please... spare me..."
Plunged into abject terror, Lustran panicked. His legs shook, his heart thundered, cold sweat poured. He knew the man wouldn't listen, but as he ran, he begged for his life like a dog. The distance was too great for the Hero to hear his whispers, but it didn't matter. The pleas leaked out from his primal instincts, not meant for the Hero anyway.
"All knights, listen up!!"
As countless monsters swarmed the Hero, slowing him slightly, Laterion's shout rang out.
"Cover the Hero!"
"Waaaaah!!"
The knights, who had been watching, charged forward at Laterion's command. What had been a duel between Hero and monsters now tilted overwhelmingly with the knights joining in.
Laterion struggled to rise from his unmoving body, determined to join the fray.
At that moment.
"Don't move. If you push it and get hurt worse, you might never hold a sword again."
Capier approached briefly amid the chaos.
"I am the Knight Order Captain. I fight for the king. His Majesty ordered us to exterminate these monsters, and I must obey."
"They'll all die anyway, even without you."
"That doesn't mean I can sit idle. I can still move. A commander can't hide in the back barking orders while his men fight!"
"Stubborn bastard. Fine, do what you want. But if you join the front, I'll pull out of the fight. Let your men handle it."
"Wh-what..."
"Deaf? Leading the knights is the captain's job—you. But I'm the Hero. Without the king here, I'm his proxy. That's what a Hero is. Yet you're defying me. I don't need undisciplined troops. If you insist, I'll bow out here."
"Urgh..."
Laterion wrestled with inner conflict. It wasn't worry for the Hero—he'd survive. But if the Hero withdrew, the knights would be slaughtered. The tide had finally turned in their favor; without him, it'd be a massacre.
Still, he couldn't abandon his men to fight alone from the rear.
"Hero, I beg you. Let me fight. This is my decision alone—please just protect the knights. My life doesn't matter..."
"Haa..."
Capier eyed the knight captain with exasperation.
-Thwack
His figure vanished. Moments later, a dull thud echoed.
-Thump
-Thud
Capier had chopped Laterion's neck, knocking him out.
"Dumbass. Not a bad guy, though."
The Hero muttered and returned to the battlefield. He bellowed,
"Knights, listen up! Your commander, the Knight Order Captain, just got knocked out by the enemy! Command of the field now falls to me."
The knights listened even amid the fighting.
"Changing tactics now. Everyone, fall back in formation."
A ripple of unease passed through them, but they retreated while fighting, reforming ranks.
At their forefront, Capier shouted again.
"Watching you fight, you don't inspire confidence. I'll take point—follow me. You lot handle the stragglers in the rear."
Capier raised his razor-sharp sword and charged the Demon King's forces.