Chapter 38

Hector has the same flaw and identity as Kara: the ease of using violence.

It’s not that he loves violence like a madman; it just means he prefers brute strength over intellect.

This doesn’t change much even after founding Tartar; he merely cultivates “patience” a bit more.

He hasn’t completely shed the savage persona. After all, old habits die hard, and Hector is trying to hold himself back as much as possible.

“So you’re just going to swing an axe out of nowhere?”

I momentarily fumbled at Hector’s ambush but managed to snap back to reality.

The problem was that the reality I returned to was the sky—yes, I was airborne. One hit from him sent my body flying far away.

How much strength did he use to break through the ceiling like that? I already knew Hector had strong muscles.

But experiencing it in real life is completely different from what I’ve seen in games. Except for Porori, I’ve rarely felt this kind of shock.

Whoooosh—

As my body soared like a star in the sky, gravity began to pull me down.

Feeling my descent, I looked down. I could see the forest below, indicating how far I’d been hit.

“I don’t know how to fall safely!”

Thanks to this situation, I gained some valuable insight. I steadied myself in the air and aimed for a soft landing.

Given the long time I spent up there, finding my balance wasn’t too difficult. After this duel, I ought to learn how to fall properly.

*Boom!*

As soon as I landed, Hector made a loud entrance right in front of me.

As he landed, the ground shook slightly. It seems he carries quite a bit of weight, just as his appearance suggests.

Then he loosened up his body and extended his right hand toward me.

“Consider that hit just now a consequence of messing with my daughter. I’m a dad, too.”

*Thwack!*

As the words left his mouth, an axe-hammer hybrid weapon, Ragnarok, appeared in his hand.

The ability to summon weapons isn’t limited to just Ragnarok; it’s possible with magic.

However, the cost isn’t trivial, and few can pull it off. Tartar is able to do this thanks to its masters.

“You must have heard, but those with red eyes possess a berserk trait. When berserk is activated, they gain tremendous power temporarily but destroy everything around them indiscriminately.”

“…”

Hector’s description rings true. Monsters and beasts with berserk traits in the Soul World usually wander alone.

The reason they travel solo is simple; once berserk activates, they kill anything and everything—friend or foe.

Due to this, there’s a hypothesis suggesting that berserk is a form of ‘disease,’ but nothing has been clearly confirmed.

“Well, let’s see if you’re the same. First, I need to see your skills when you’re sober.”

As Hector said this, he began walking slowly toward me. I readied myself and silently waited.

Hector is a step below Rod in strength. Considering Rod is at the top, that makes Hector incredibly strong.

To fight him in the Soul World, I need to meet specific conditions, which have already been set from the beginning. So, I found that a bit unsettling.

“Still, I know at least how to fight…”

Hector’s combat style is similar yet different from Kara’s. While Kara focuses on skill and agility, Hector is heavy and powerful.

In terms of raw physical specs, he’s likely superior to me. My only saving grace might be my stamina.

I know his strength is over 150. It’s best not to engage in a strength contest.

*Thud!*

As I pondered Hector’s abilities, he charged at me at impressive speed, arms spread wide.

His movements might have appeared slow, but his speed was oddly quick. I urgently moved my legs.

*Whoosh!*

As I dodged to the side, he enveloped me like he was going to eat me. He was still wearing the Ragnarok on his back.

Immediately, I punched into the gaps of Hector’s side. A classic body blow I learned from Kara.

*Bam!*

It sounded as though a rock had been hit. Unlike during my duel with Kara, I didn’t hold back on my strength.

No matter how much I held back, Hector is several times stronger than me right now. That’s an objective fact.

“Not bad!”

Hector shouted as if completely unfazed. Then he smashed my face with a fist the size of my head.

The speed was lightning-quick, likely to showcase his much higher stats. I barely managed to avoid it by turning my head.

Dodging was my best option since I couldn’t retaliate fast enough.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!* *BAM!*

The problem was that he came at me with a flurry of punches. In less than a second, he threw more than five punches.

These weren’t light jabs; they incorporated his waist and shoulder strength. Each hit felt heavy and powerful.

*Thud!*

I managed to dodge them all, but for the last punch, I had no option but to raise my arm to block.

“Ugh…”

Even blocked, it felt a bit numbing. I was fairly certain he hadn’t even used lightning.

But there was no time to think. As I blocked with my arm, I drove my fist toward his jaw.

*Thunk!*

It felt as though he let me hit him intentionally, and as my fist collided with his chin, his head jerked back. I didn’t see this as an opportunity.

For some reason, moving in closer seemed dangerous. My instincts were screaming at me.

In the wilderness, trusting that instinct had always kept me out of danger.

So, I hopped back. Just in time, Hector’s hand barely swiped past my nose.

“Hmm. Not falling for it.”

As I expected, it was a trap, and Hector said that with a perfectly composed face. The grin on him mirrored Kara’s.

If my wilderness instinct warned me, just how dangerous was it? I probably took a solid hit.

In the Soul World, there are things you must not let happen against Hector. One is ‘grabbing.’

Not in a technical sense, but just plain grabbing. I had done that to Kara.

Think about it. If that big guy bear-hugged me, my bones would crush, maybe even turn to powder.

“You’re not saying that this is all you can do, right?”

Just like a Tartar native, he knows how to provoke. I charged at him without responding.

The only thing feasible right now was a punching fight. I had no weapons, so I was limited.

If that’s the case, he could’ve at least given me some time to prepare. Of course, I still had a few tricks up my sleeve.

Not for holding back, but for when the real fight begins.

“Don’t waste time with unnecessary thoughts!”

*Smack!*

Hector lightly caught my punch before I could react. I thought I was quick, but he caught it too easily.

No matter how hard I tried to pull free, it was useless. Unless I used magic, I couldn’t overpower him.

*Whoosh!*

Then he spun around once and threw me effortlessly.

I took a time to realize I was flying instead of recovering my balance in the air.

*Crash!*

Soon enough, my body collided with a tree, splitting it in half as it stood upright.

That tree was pretty thick, yet one throw shattered it.

It was evident how tremendous Hector’s strength was and how fragile my body felt in comparison.

“Enough of this pointless fencing. I want to see your true self,”

Hector urged me as he stepped closer. I spat out the sawdust in my mouth and glared at him.

He was right; this back-and-forth was meaningless. All his techniques would be neutralized.

In the end, I had no choice but to dive into the fight I was most confident about.

*Snap!*

So I grabbed the tree that had toppled down and swung it toward Hector.

*Crash!*

The sound of splintering wood echoed as the tree exploded on impact, and the sensation reverberated through my hands.

Wood was flying everywhere like sawdust, but I didn’t care and stared straight ahead.

It seemed effective enough, as Hector was slightly staggering.

Without hesitation, I charged forward and swung my fist.

*Whoosh!*

But my fist missed. Hector had ducked just then.

Looking down anxiously, I caught a glimpse of him grinning.

‘Danger…!’

*BAM!*

My wilderness instinct screamed as Hector jabbed me in the side with an axe I hadn’t noticed he had gripped.

The kind of pain I hadn’t felt since my battle with Porori coursed through me. A hardened body didn’t mean a thing against this.

His power was enough to penetrate that body. Plus, he had Ragnarok aiding him.

*Swipe!*

Hector withdrew the Ragnarok from my abdomen. I grimaced and stepped back.

Looking down, I saw red blood staining my clothes. I’d liked those clothes quite a bit.

“Now my outfit matches the color of my eyes.”

Hector jeered, casually draping the axe over his shoulder. I glared back at him, grimacing.

I soon healed with ‘Regeneration,’ but it didn’t mean I felt any less angry.

Had that strike landed on my neck, I’d have been in serious trouble. My abdomen wasn’t any different.

If it were anyone else, being hit that hard could’ve easily resulted in being split in half.

“…you.”

“Yeah?”

“Phew.”

Let’s put this petty brawl aside for a moment. I said that to Hector and activated my internal magic.

Using magic is simple. It’s like tensing your muscles; you just need to channel strength inside.

You might think that’s ridiculous, but it’s the only way I can explain it.

“Now it’s a little…”

Before he could finish, I was on the move. With every muscle activated, the distance closed in an instant.

In an oddly slow motion, Hector’s eyes widened as we faced each other.

*Pow!!*

My fist landed squarely on his face. His massive frame, which had previously remained unmoving, flew far away.

Using magic significantly boosts your stats. You could mainly sum up the two of them.

However, my output with the ominously strong Red Magic was off the charts.

Which means I could indeed match up against him while using Red Magic.

*Crash!*

Hector’s body, sailing through the air, collided with the dense trees. Given his size, the trees crumbled like toothpicks.

Of course, that wasn’t the end of it. If it were Hector, he wouldn’t receive serious injuries from that.

I started gathering magic in my hands, and they began to take a reddish form.

“Yeah. I should’ve done this from the start.”

Shortly after, Hector casually stood up from the fallen trees. And I must emphasize, he only cleared away the trees.

He brushed off sawdust and dirt clinging to his body before gazing at me. His green eyes glimmered with glinting intrigue.

“I thought you were some kind of beast…but…”

“…”

“Is that your real weapon?”

Hector asked, expressing his curiosity. He must’ve noticed the shape my gathered magic had taken.

My hands were enveloped in deep red magic, resembling a beast’s ‘claw.’

Having lived in the forest and experienced different hunts, I fashioned weapons myself.

But those weapons broke at the slightest chance. Therefore, I often resorted to bare-fisted fights.

In anticipation of such situations, I created these claws. To hunt down what I could.

“By the way, that red-hued magic looks familiar…”

Regardless of Hector mumbling, I flung my arm up from below.

*Slash!*

As I swung my arm, five trails of magic shot toward Hector.

Not only were they fast, but each one also contained enough sharpness to cut through rock.

“Gah!”

*Crackle!*

Seeing my magic streak toward him, Hector swung Ragnarok fiercely.

The sound of wind bursting echoed as a blue lightning shroud burst forth from his weapon.

*Boom!*

My attack was neatly halted by the lightning veil. However, it was merely a precaution, so I wasn’t too disappointed.

What’s more noteworthy, however, is that Hector started to use magic. He needed magic to use lightning.

Once the veil faded away, I charged in like a bullet. Hector greeted me with a sly grin.

*Whoosh!*

As soon as we closed the gap, Hector swung the axe down toward my shoulder.

Normally, I should avoid such an obvious attack, but…

*Crash!*

I didn’t dodge. The axe’s blade embedded deep into my left shoulder, letting blue lightning seep in.

Hector’s eyes widened in surprise; it seemed he hadn’t expected this. I was aiming for just this outcome.

*Grab!*

Before he could retrieve the axe, I gripped the handle tightly to make it hard for him to take back.

Considering Hector’s strength, this would mean little. But what I required was just a fleeting moment.

*Thud!*

In that brief hesitation, I gave him a strong punch square in the face. Simultaneously, he was sent flying backward.

Naturally, the axe that had been lodged in my shoulder fell, slicing through as it dropped, but I didn’t mind.

*Crash!*

Hector plowed through a few trees as he flew, and it felt as if the entire forest was about to be cleared.

I hastily healed my wound where he had struck me with the axe and leaped high into the air.

Then, I dove toward Hector, who lay sprawled on the ground.

*BAM!*

Unfortunately, my hand struck nothing but the ground. He rolled away just in time.

But my offensive wasn’t over. I rushed in fiercely, using my steel-like resilience.

*Slash!*

Continuing with claw swipes of magic, five gashes appeared on Hector’s chest.

While I ignored defense, it made his defense meaningless.

I dodged deadly hits while accepting minor ones in order to counterattack.

This was the way I’d survived in the woods and a major reason I could boost my regeneration to its limit.

*Crash!*

Once again, an axe blade found its way into my left side. But it didn’t stop there.

Hector twisted his arm and waist, making me spin around from the force.

*Boom!*

He slammed me into the ground. I rolled away hastily before the follow-up strike got me.

*Smash!*

As expected, Hector stomped down hard on the ground. If I had gotten stepped on, my head would’ve burst.

I got up and took a few quick steps back. Hector’s axe crackled with lightning.

*Drip drip drip drip-*

Blood oozed from my side, further staining my shirt red. Now, there was more red than white showing.

Although I’d been struck twice in the side, I didn’t care one bit.

I had plenty of magic, my stamina was intact, and I was used to pain.

I healing my wounds right away and charged at him again.

“Ugh!”

Hector swung his axe down towards me with both hands. Naturally, it was charged with blue lightning.

I didn’t evade but stood my ground instead. And by doing so, I didn’t mean I’d give in.

*Thwack!*

I only grabbed the axe handle before it could come down. But I couldn’t ignore this cursed axe.

Some fight bare-fisted while others wield weapons like this one. It was outright unfair.

*Crackle! Crackle!*

As soon as I gripped the axe, a powerful jolt of lightning surged through me. This was nothing compared to Kara’s.

It was almost on par with Porori’s lightning. Surely a blessing from the god of destruction, Gulrak.

“Ughh!”

“Urrgghh!”

I strained to hold back the forced muscle contractions as I pushed through. Hector gritted his teeth and pushed back.

When both of us utilize our magic, our strengths are somewhat similar. However, the positioning favored Hector’s side.

What that meant, nonetheless, was that his axe was gradually coming closer to my head. If this continued, my skull would be split in half.

As the axe neared dangerously close, I forcibly twisted my body to sink it into my shoulder instead.

*Thud!*

I followed up with a punch. But it was excellently stopped.

Hector blocked my fist with his hand, as if he wouldn’t allow me a second chance.

His other hand was occupied gripping the axe to retrieve it. Thus, he had no free hand to counter.

*Smash!*

Hector’s tough forehead collided with mine. I responded, seeing signals that he was about to headbutt me.

Our hard heads collided, sending my head spinning a bit.

“Ughhh…”

It appeared Hector fared worse than I did, taking a staggered step back.

Luckily, it seems my forehead was tougher than his.

Regardless of that…

*Silence!*

I did what needed to be done. Before Hector regained his wits, I swung my magic claws.

Once again, deep gashes were marked on his chest.

While he was accumulating wounds, I maintained perfect healing.

*Crash!*

For the umpteenth time, the axe blade sank into my abdomen. Simultaneously, I felt myself flying backward.

No, I was genuinely soaring through the air.

*Crash!*

Like Hector before, trees toppled like dominoes, falling helplessly apart.

Without having time to feel the pain, I quickly rose. Then I suddenly noticed a throbbing pain in my side.

Turning my gaze to the side revealed Ragnarok still lodged in my abdomen. Seemed I’d tossed that aside too.

“Now I understand. That insane regeneration ability. That’s what allows you to pull these crazy stunts.”

At that moment, Hector spoke in a serious tone. I kept my gaze ahead without pulling out the axe.

A strange air filled the atmosphere. My wilderness instinct sent warning signals.

*Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!*

As the dust settled, I caught sight of Hector.

Instead of wrapping lightning just around his arms like Kara, he was draped in lightning all over his body.

His eyes shone with blue lightning, glimmering like an aura. He had truly transformed into the ‘God of Thunder.’

“If that’s the case…”

This was wise enough to declare Hector’s true potential, the Destroyer King.

With his body covered in lightning, he wouldn’t just break everything around him but was also the one closest to reaching the heavens, just behind Rod.

“I’ll strip your regeneration of purpose.”

Hector slowly raised both arms. Seeing this, I haphazardly yanked the axe from my abdomen and charged in.

As he revealed his full strength, I felt it—I knew for certain what my wilderness instinct warned me about.

It screamed to me that I was no match for him.

*Boom!*

As my magic claws aimed to pierce his body, Hector’s arms swung down towards the ground.

*BAM!!*

Surges of lightning erupted, demolishing the entire forest around us.

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