Chapter 315

Valentin showed a look of bewilderment. Even those who called themselves masters of humanity couldn’t block a Grand Warrior’s attack with just one arm. At best, they could deflect it with a weapon or dodge it. Even if they managed to block it, they would at least be pushed back by the force.

However, the left arm that blocked his attack didn’t budge an inch. The gauntlet that clashed with the claws also showed no signs of damage.

No matter how much strength he put into it, it was the same. It felt like he was facing another Grand Warrior.

‘This power… It’s impossible for a human to have this! Could the rumors be true?!’

Valentin’s mind raced.

He had heard rumors before. Among the Empire’s knights, there was said to be one who possessed strength beyond that of a beastman. He had dismissed it as an exaggeration, but now the evidence was right before his eyes.

The Beastman Devourer, Ai-shan Gi-or.

“You should’ve been pre-cooked a bit, huh? Makes it easier to tear you apart.”

Ha-shal-leur, who had blocked the claws with her Ice Blade, bared her teeth at the black wolf.

The beastly stench grew stronger.

—

Valentin broke out in a cold sweat. Even he, who prided himself on being able to handle any human master, couldn’t be sure of victory against her. To him, the woman before him was nothing short of a monster.

Limbs that, compared to a beastman, seemed like mere twigs, yet possessed incomprehensible strength that surpassed even a Grand Warrior. The suffocating killing intent that slowly rose from her. And then, the clothing she wore.

“That coat… What on earth are you wearing?!”

Valentin growled as he pulled back his blocked arm. From a distance, he hadn’t noticed, but up close, it was unmistakable.

The coat she wore wasn’t just simple animal hide.

A cloak that retained the original shape of the beast it was skinned from. The thick fur coat had the beast’s arms still attached near the shoulders, and the head, with only the snout remaining, draped over her face like a hood.

Valentin’s nose twitched.

The faint scent of chemicals, mixed with the strong musk of a female, and the distinct beastly odor of a beastman. There was no doubt.

What this monster was wearing was undoubtedly the skinned flesh of her own kind!

“Why, want me to make one for you too? It’s super warm. It’s all the rage in the Empire, you know?”

Ha-shal-leur smirked as she flipped the hood she had been wearing back, revealing her face.

Her blue eyes burned with a chilling light above her bright white smile.

Valentin took a half-step back, his expression one of disgust.

A beastman skin coat? The idea was so grotesque that it evoked sheer terror.

Even those who ate humans had never thought of making clothes out of human skin.

“Why that face? Aren’t you happy? It just proves that beastmen have their uses too.”

“Bullsh*t…! Wait, hold on…! Then, the familiar smell I’ve been sensing…!”

Valentin’s jaw dropped in shock.

Seeing his reaction, Ha-shal-leur’s smile widened with confidence.

‘This beast, he must be close to Boris. Brothers, perhaps?’

He was a black wolf beastman, just like Boris, and their faces were quite similar.

That’s why she had chosen him as her first opponent. Just in case.

“Familiar smell? Oh, you mean this? You must know this guy, huh?”

Ha-shal-leur lifted the shoulder armor she wore under her coat.

The black lining, tanned and polished, revealed itself. Though it had become quite tattered from the fierce battles, the Grand Warrior’s fur still gleamed with a smooth luster.

Valentin stared at her blankly. The smell that wafted from the cut and stitched hide was all too familiar. Now, even Valentin could recognize the source of the smell. Though it bore no resemblance to its original form, he couldn’t fail to recognize the flesh of his own kin.

His brother, Boris Ivanov, was there. In a horrifically mutilated state.

“…Brother.”

The wolf beastman muttered weakly.

He had known his brother was dead. He had heard that Boris had died in battle during the capital’s turmoil a few months ago, while undertaking the perilous mission of infiltrating the capital by a large detour around the northern wall.

That was also why he had harbored resentment towards Ryurik.

Infiltrating the capital? Valentin couldn’t fathom what Boris had been thinking, but to him, it seemed no different from a suicide mission. And indeed, it had turned out that way.

Still, he had thought that at least his brother had died fighting like a warrior. He had heard that tens of thousands of Empire citizens had lost their lives in the capital’s turmoil.

So he had suppressed his grievances against the king… but he had never imagined they would be reunited like this.

“What, was he your brother? I should thank you then.”

Ha-shal-leur grinned widely as she playfully flapped the shoulder armor.

“I’ve been making good use of your brother. Thanks. It’s a bit tattered from rough use, but it’s still super warm, you know?”

“You dare…!”

Valentin gnashed his teeth and growled. A mix of hatred, disgust, and anger boiled up inside him, his head feeling like it was on fire.

Even Oleg’s warning to beware of the Beastman Devourer no longer crossed his mind.

“Our Boris must be happy to see his brother after so long. Right?”

Ha-shal-leur brought the edge of the armor to her lips and let out a light, mocking cough.

*”Mmm. Long time no see, little brother! You’ve grown so much since I last saw you. Meanwhile, I’ve shrunk down to this size.”*

The voice that followed made Valentin’s eyes widen.

It was as if Boris himself was speaking—a deep, rough voice. It was a blatant, cruel mockery.

“What kind of sick joke is this…!”

He couldn’t even bring himself to use honorifics anymore. No, it was more like his words were completely choked by boundless hatred.

A guttural growl escaped from between his teeth. His entire body trembled with rage.

*”Still, it’s good to see you like this. All thanks to Lady Ha-shal-leur, who turned me into this lovely coat.”*

“Hey! Look, even Boris is saying it like this! Nice one!”

Ha-shal-leur smirked as she adjusted her armor. That was the final blow.

Valentin’s sanity flew out the window.

“I’ll kill youuuuuuu!”

A roar of madness, like a scream. The wolf beastman, with his eyes rolled back, charged at the devourer.

Ha-shal-leur’s smile deepened.

—

– Whoosh!

A heavy sound of air being sliced echoed through the atmosphere.

The frenzied black wolf. Valentin, in his rage, swung his halberd like a beast with rabies.

The axe blade, filled with hatred, smashed through walls and floors, leaving deep scars across the fortress. Fragments scattered everywhere.

But, unfortunately, Valentin’s attacks didn’t even come close to harming the one he wanted to tear apart.

No matter how much he swung and thrust his halberd, he couldn’t land a hit.

The Beastman Devourer simply moved slightly, dodging every single one of his attacks!

The feeling of helplessness fueled his anger. Valentin roared even more fiercely.

‘Just as expected, full of openings.’

Ha-shal-leur smiled confidently as she deflected the flying debris with her coat.

The provocation had worked perfectly. Just as she intended, Valentin had completely lost his mind.

Anger is an emotion that gives strength to its owner, but too much of anything is harmful.

Valentin didn’t realize it, but his attacks, blinded by rage, were overly simple and straightforward.

Slashes driven by emotion and swung recklessly were nothing more than flailing to Ha-shal-leur. Each movement was full of openings.

Her right hand gripped the hilt of Durandal.

“Ah, by the way, your brother was quite delicious!”

“Shut up!”

Ha-shal-leur, now with her sword drawn, licked her lips and charged at Valentin.

“A bit tough, but you’d be impressed if you tried it!”

She hadn’t actually eaten him, but to provoke and disrupt her enemy’s composure, she’d say anything. And it worked like a charm.

“I saved some for you! Want it as a gift? Boris would be thrilled too!”

“You demonnnnnnn!”

Rage beyond limits. Valentin swung his halberd with all his might, a strike powerful enough to shatter steel.

A full-powered slash, without a thought for what came next. Beyond the thunderous axe blade, his neck was wide open.

Ha-shal-leur smiled like a ghost. His body, full of openings, seemed to beg for the blade. Her sword carried the legacy of a hero.

【Reverse Heaven】

Compressing time, the hero’s slash extended at an unbelievable speed.

A blue flash sliced through the beast’s neck.

Valentin’s consciousness faded.

—

Meanwhile, the two great warriors below the fortress walls were running towards the gate, shielding their heads.

“Those lunatics, are they seriously planning to break the gate bare-handed…?”

“That’s impossible… right?”

The soldiers stationed above the gate watched with trembling eyes as the polar bear and elephant beastmen charged towards them.

Even for pure-blooded great warriors, their size was immense. It almost seemed like they could break the gate without siege weapons. The beasts following them were also much larger than the other beastmen.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

The soldiers of Faelun had no intention of leaving the fortress, so the gate was firmly shut.

Still, looking at those giants, it was hard to feel at ease. The soldiers swallowed dryly.

Soon, the beastmen reached the gate and raised their weapons.

Most were armed with heavy weapons like two-handed hammers, but the two great warriors at the front were different.

The polar bear beastman, Vasily, cracked his knuckles, and Viktor didn’t even draw his weapon.

His weapon was three curved blades—unsuitable for breaking gates.

“Big guy… Want to go first?”

“That sounds good.”

Facing the gate, Vasily twisted his body and pulled his right shoulder back. Like Ryurik, he believed his own hands were weapon enough. Though he didn’t go as far as Ryurik, who walked around without armor.

“Groooar!”

With a heavy roar, the polar bear’s fist slammed into the gate like a battering ram.

The steel gate dented and groaned.

“Huh… It’s sturdy.”

As Vasily shook his wrist, Viktor, standing a bit away, stomped his feet and lowered his stance slightly.

He too was a warrior who needed no weapon to break walls. Just a slightly different approach.

“Uoooooh!”

With a shout, Viktor charged at the gate.

His weight, more than double that of the other beastmen, caused the ground to sink with each step, and a blizzard erupted around him.

Vasily stepped aside to avoid Viktor’s charge.

If he got caught in that, his bones would shatter, and he’d be sent flying.

Soon, the elephant beastman, at full speed, crashed into the steel gate like a cannonball.

A deafening explosion, like a mountain collapsing, echoed through the air.