Chapter 71

After falling into the forest, the only thing I felt was something hard, and it mostly turned out to be rocks.

I had faced sturdy beasts or monsters once in a while, but in those cases, their tough skin was a challenge.

It wasn’t so much about being as hard as iron; it was more like they were just too tough and thick, causing me a lot of trouble. But I managed to deal with those.

Even after stepping into civilization, I once bit into a steel sword made of iron and broke down a building.

However, the moment I hit Rize with my fist—her body looked like it was sculpted from rock—but the intensity was even more than that of rock.

If my body, imbued with the trait of the Steel King, was tougher, then what could I say? If someone else had punched it, their fist would have shattered long ago.

“Brother Sivar, your body is remarkably solid too. It’s only normal for a regular person’s fist to end up broken against yours.”

Rize seemed to feel that way too, as she wore a somewhat pleased smile. Her neatly arranged teeth were quite impressive.

If she were in saint mode, her smile would have been infinitely beautiful, but now she was in Gwonseong mode. Just smiling was enough to project an intimidating aura.

Especially for me, she resembled an unyielding ‘wall.’ No matter how much I hit it, there wouldn’t be even a scratch.

Given this situation, there’s only one approach: infuse it with magic power. I would use the condensation technique I learned before.

I clenched my fist tight and began to condense my magic power. Although it had been consumed by my red magic, the sensation itself was sufficient.

As I felt the magic power gathering in my fist, I thrust it toward Rize’s abdomen.

Bang!!

This wasn’t just a regular punch; it was an attack infused with magic. The chances of it landing must be high.

Even Hector had struggled against my punches; surely she wouldn’t come out unscathed.

“That was a spicier attack than before. Technically sound and with enough magic! Quite impressive!”

“?!”

She was completely fine. I was left in utter shock.

As I mentioned before, whenever her martial prowess manifested in the Soul World, it was mostly against demons.

She rarely wielded power against anyone who wasn’t a demon, and with Byzantium claiming neutrality, she rarely got embroiled in wars.

Moreover, with the added notion that she’s a hard counter against demons, she had received a strange evaluation. It seemed it would be difficult against a regular person.

‘Difficult, my foot…!’

Having hit her directly made me realize: it was all an underestimation.

The notion of being a demon’s natural enemy or whatever was meaningless. Rize’s body was just absurdly tough.

Thudthudthudthud!

I started to rain down blows in order to break through. Countless punches landed on Rize’s abdomen.

Unless the situation supports it, rapid-fire attacks rarely work out. According to Kara’s explanation, they aren’t very efficient and expend a lot of stamina.

It’s usually better to unleash rapid bursts on finishing hits or crucial moments. But when faced with a tough body like Rize’s—no, one that surpassed steel—this was my only option.

Like sharpening a blade on a whetstone, I planned to slowly wear down her defenses.

Boom!

After a flurry of punches, my last blow landed right in the center of her abdomen.

However, despite my efforts, Rize didn’t budge an inch. She still wore a relaxed smile on her face.

“Is this it? As I said earlier, you’re welcome to use a weapon.”

With her signature bright smile, Rize encouraged me. I could no longer remain static.

I shook my numb hands before stretching my left hand back. I then silently called the weapon’s name in my head.

Having played with it whenever I was bored, it should fly to me from this distance, as long as it wasn’t Hector or Kara.

Whoosh- Thunk!

Finally, I felt the familiar sensation in my hand: Ragnarok had flown into my grip.

“Oh, please… I hope the house doesn’t get wrecked again.”

Rod, who had been watching from a distance, clicked his tongue in discontent. I could understand his concern.

It seemed he was worried that Ragnarok, which I had kept at home as a precaution, could create a mess again.

Normally, I wouldn’t have needed to use it, so I left it behind. But to inflict some damage on Rize, I had to go for it.

‘What was Rize’s trait again? It’s a bit fuzzy…’

I was sure it was a trait equal to or superior to the Steel King. She might have possibly used magic or divine power.

I began to slowly infuse Ragnarok with my magic power. A faith character like her, at least in terms of Gulrak, had end-spec level equipment.

Lightning was an ability that challenged even the toughest bodies. So surely, this Ragnarok would willingly withstand my red magic.

Vrrr!

“Huh.”

As I infused magic into it, Ragnarok trembled lightly. Noticing its reaction, Rize’s expression shifted to one of seriousness.

Until now, she had carried a calm smile, but it certainly seemed like my magic would have an effect.

‘If she thinks it’s going to hurt, she’ll dodge on her own.’

Rize was stronger than me. Much stronger.

So she could objectively gauge the power disparity and would most likely make her own judgment.

If she sensed that this attack was dangerous, she’d dodge; if not, she’d stand still.

After pouring in enough magic power for the axe to withstand, I swung it straight toward Rize’s abdomen.

Until the axe nearly reached her abdomen, she simply stood still and didn’t dodge.

BANG!!

A sound far stronger than when I punched erupted all around us. At the same time, a shockwave radiated from the center of me and Rize.

Thank goodness it was a clearing devoid of anything around; my hair was blown violently, indicating a strong gust.

The shockwave was the kind produced only when great forces collided. I instinctively closed my eyes but gradually opened them again.

“Really….”

The axe had penetrated Rize’s abdomen. The situation was drastically different from when I had punched her moments ago.

“Really… what a magnificent strike!”

The issue was that it hardly sank in. It barely pierced through the skin and into the muscle.

Blood flowed, staining Rize’s clothing red, but that was it. Whether to call this a wound was questionable.

“To think you could injure this flesh! Even such a mark is truly impressive!”

It seemed even this tiny injury surprised Rize. Seeing her praise me as if she were proud confirmed that.

But seriously, what kind of body is this, that this is all it takes? It’s downright absurd.

“No. Why?”

I couldn’t help but voice my disbelief. I glanced at the axe stuck in Rize’s abdomen.

With a face filled with satisfaction, Rize pulled the axe out from her abdomen.

As soon as she did, her wound gradually healed. Her toughness as well as her regeneration power had far surpassed human limits. Rize was definitely a cut above the ordinary person.

“I have traversed for decades on pilgrimage, facing numerous hardships and trials. That process was akin to how a blacksmith tempers metal. My lacking ‘body’ was thus honed.”

As she began to explain, touching her already healed abdomen, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of pilgrimage she had been on to acquire such a body.

Her beliefs were quirky enough to understand to some extent. But this… surpassed all comprehension.

“Consequently, it was as if I transformed, like a bird breaking free from its egg. In the Eastern Empire, we call this ‘Hwan-gol-tahl-tae’.”

“… …”

“The heart of a support character. A body forged through Hwan-gol-tahl-tae. Finally, the union of magic and divine power. The result of all this tempering is precisely this!”

As Rize struck a pose to show off her muscles, every muscle in her body moved dynamically.

Her pectorals bulged like the Pacific Ocean, and veins popped up throughout her muscles, evoking an instinctual ‘awe.’

“Brother Sivar, your body and spirit are perfect. That’s why you were able to injure mine. However, your spirit is still lacking. If you were to control that spirit, you would not only break my body but gain a powerful shield as well.”

I stumbled back instinctively. The insanity radiating from her made me retreat without even realizing it.

The wilderness instinct and whatever else—it all felt bizarre in this atmosphere. With it, the words used to describe Rize in the Soul World came to mind.

‘A creature molded by God…’

It’s said that extremes meet; Rize was the ‘weapon’ created to contend against demons.

“Now, it’s my turn. As I’ve emphasized repeatedly, there won’t be any direct strikes.”

Just as I was stepping back, Rize spoke up. Realizing that my resolve had fully wavered, she stepped forward herself.

All I wanted to do was turn my back and run away. There’s nothing shameful about fleeing.

Sometimes, it’s necessary to recognize one’s limits and flee. It’s one of the mindsets learned from the wilderness.

“Berserk is triggered only upon facing a near-death crisis. So keep your eyes wide open.”

BANG!

But before I could even think of that, Rize clenched her right fist and approached me.

Just as I hastily turned to flee, her voice reached my ears first.

“This is the vivid ‘death’.”

The two things that filled my line of sight were:

BOOM!!!

Rize’s massive fist rushing towards my face, and the notification that read [Berserk is activated!]

It was such a clear ‘death.’

Time seemed to slow down. Even with my Berserk activated, I was thoroughly aware.

Even as Rize’s fist approached, I couldn’t even close my eyes.

My body had stiffened, and my mind was a void.

There was only one thought that pierced through the silence, and that was the ‘death’ that almost drained all the blood from my body.

Thud-

“… …”

“… …”

Rize’s fist gently brushed against the tip of my nose. It came rushing toward me like it was prepared to kill me with a single blow, yet it was only the lightest contact.

Just that touch made my legs feel like they could give out at any moment. Somehow, I managed to hold on, but I felt I would collapse with just a nudge from anyone.

[Berserk is deactivated!]

The system filled my vision, but I didn’t care. Actually, I couldn’t care less.

What filled my sight now was Rize’s fist. I couldn’t fathom how a fist could be as large as my own face.

“What do you think, Brother Sivar?”

Her voice came from behind her fist. Hearing it made me realize.

“What does it feel like to return from the brink of death?”

Rize was so incredibly strong that words could hardly capture it.

While I struggled to even speak, she slowly withdrew her fist.

As she withdrew, light gradually returned to my face, which had been overshadowed.

“You can do it too, Brother Sivar. Humans inherently possess beast-like traits, so even with Berserk, they can surpass it without much trouble.”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Perhaps it was because I had just skirted death; my heart began racing wildly.

In the meantime, Rize extended her hand toward me instead of her fist, offering a bright smile.

“You’re human, Brother Sivar. So, please don’t worry too much.”

She must be in Gwonseong mode right now, yet why did she feel like a saint?

I had no idea why.