Chapter 26

Delman, known as Caliban’s Master Knight and the third of the five Great Swords, was in a very good mood. This was because, on this recent expedition, he had killed Khlkan, one of the eight chiefs, and rumored to be quite strong among them. Of course, the method he used to kill Khlkan was something that neither Caliban nor the barbarians would ever acknowledge. He had challenged Khlkan to a duel, then, when Khlkan came out alone, Delman used hidden soldiers, various traps, and poison to kill him.

Even though Caliban and the barbarians were at war, they always respected each other’s honor in battle, making Delman’s actions outrageously dishonorable. However, instead of feeling guilty for his deceit, Delman smiled with the thought that he no longer had to give up his third position to Deus, one of the newly entered five swords. With that thought, he slaughtered all the barbarians who were present at the scene, leaving no one alive.

This would have been impossible for him alone, but the numerous soldiers he had stationed outside, so they wouldn’t witness the duel, made it achievable. Delman had successfully earned merit, and now all that was left was to return and report his accomplishments. As he made his way back to one of Caliban’s forward bases, he saw something that stopped him.

He saw it.

A man with red hair matching the symbolic power of fire stood with a tense expression. He and his Red Flame knights were staring at the base, or what used to be the base. The place had become a wasteland. The gray earth was smeared with red blood, ruins lay scattered, and thousands of corpses littered the ground as if they were nothing. However, what drew all their attention wasn’t the ruins but the man standing in the middle of it all.

Wearing the barbarian’s signature leather clothing, he stood proudly at the center of the ruined base. As Delman turned to look at him, the man also turned his gaze towards Delman and started walking toward him. At a glance, it seemed like the man was inviting his own death, as Delman had not only a hundred knights but also countless soldiers by his side. No matter how strong this barbarian chieftain was, he couldn’t handle such a large force alone.

Yet, despite recognizing the overwhelming odds, Delman’s expression was filled with tension. The first reason was the state of the base, now reduced to ruins, and the second was the aura.

Although Delman had committed a dishonorable act, he was still a sword master, someone who could cut off a mountain peak with a single slash and claim the lives of dozens of barbarians with one stroke. And as such, he could clearly sense the extraordinary aura emanating from this man.

And then...

“Are you Delman?”

The man’s voice echoed, a voice that didn’t sound human, and just hearing it for a moment shook Delman to his core. Delman quickly regained his composure and instinctively raised his aura blade as he responded:

“Who are you?”

“Then answer me, Delman. Why did you desecrate the sacred and honorable duel?”

“What?”

“Answer me. Why did you sully the great and holy duel, the honorable fight between two warriors?”