VOLUME 3: CHAPTER 180 – SOAR TO FREEDOM (ELKS CLAN) (1/2)

A man clad in black spoke to the swordsman beside him. He did so while watching the fierce battle occurring before his eyes.

“So that’s Ryutanu the Strong Arm. He’s probably the last power of the Elks Clan.”

The black-haired swordsman from the Red King Clan had his mouth hidden by a muffler. His aura was so sharp it seemed he could kill with killing intent alone.

The black-haired swordsman, Shunrai, glanced at the man clad in black for a moment before looking back at the man fighting like a savage lion.

“No wonder the assassins couldn’t finish him off.”

“…Weren’t you the one who said to inform you if we find a strong foe?”

The assassin from Webrus’ Dagger was implying that they simply chose not to finish him off.

Shunrai wielded his scimitar on his shoulder and snorted.

“Have the small fries withdraw. Everything within my reach will be cut.”

For a moment, a fierce smile could be seen through his muffler.

The assassin narrowed his eyes and gave the signal for the lower members to change their encirclement.

“…Are you certain?” A voice from the shadows asked.

The assassin nodded. “If he fails, then that’s that. Besides, I want to put the Red King Clan in my debt.”

“As you command.”

Like the sea parting, a path opened up before Shunrai. At the end of that path was a man covered in both the blood of his foes and his own. He had buried countless foes with his axe, but its blade was already worn out and coagulated blood could even be seen sticking on it.

“You…” Ryutanu exhaled as he glared at the swordsman before him.

Shunrai replied with a sharp glare of his own. “The name is Shunrai. I’ve come to this lands in search of the strong.”

Shunrai fixed his grip on his scimitar and lowered his center of gravity.

“Name yourself and that shall be considered your last words.”

Ryutanu recognized the black haired swordsman who named himself Shunrai. He was a warrior responsible for slaying many of his fleeing comrades.

“Die!”

Ryutanu swung his axe in anger, but Shunrai dodged it as if he were dancing, then Shunrai took a step in, and with the scimitar over his shoulder – a scimitar that could easily cut iron by itself, and with Shunrai’s skill anything, be it black steel or diamond – slashed toward Ryutanu.

Unfortunately, Ryutanu’s stance did not break even after missing with his axe, and he immediately punched toward Shunrai with his tekko[1].

“Ho.”

Both of those attacks were brimming with fury. Ryutanu’s axe missed, but the attack he sent with his tekko cracked the earth. Although it was only a little, seeing that made Shunrai raise his brows.

“The anger is real, but… you haven’t lost your calm, huh.” Shunrai smiled in admiration and jumped back.

The fact that he was able to make such a big gap between him and Ryutanu made it apparent that he was no small fry.

But Ryutanu couldn’t withdraw from this fight. Behind were the remaining members of the Elks Clan. No matter how strong the enemy, he had to keep on fighting.

As he gradually closed in on the enemy, he suddenly accelerated and yelled. “Don’t look down on the commanding officer of the Elks Clan’s shock corps!”

Sounds of metals clanging resounded and sparks erupted like the buzzing of the dark of the night.

“…Hmm. As expected, that swordsman isn’t normal.”

While the two warriors fought each other, the assassin from before calmly watched them and analyzed their respective prowess. Ever since forming an alliance with the Red King Clan, the Dagger of Webrus has had many opportunities to see the strength of the Red King Clan up close.

The Red King Clan was a large organization with many clans under it, but despite that, the adventurers under Brandika’s direct control had a might far beyond their peers. The assassin has already seen their strength many times, but he still can’t help but be shocked each time.

Being afraid of the assassin clans or the mid-sized clans was normal for weaklings.

Fighting an enemy head on would result in many casualties, but if an assassin were to be used instead to knock down the center pillar of the opposing organization, one could effectively neutralize it. That was exactly how the Dagger of Webrus operated.

From the assassin’s perspective, the weakness of the Elks Clan was their lack of members and a person powerful enough to to move them away from a beaten track. Even their clan leader, Touri, was only at the level of a human.

But the person fighting before his very eyes now felt like someone who has abandoned his humanity. It was both enviable and hateful, but the assassin would never show those emotions on his face.

Although the Elks Clan did not have a warrior possessing absolute strength among their ranks, they still managed to champion over a couple of fights in the east. They owed that to their leadership and efficient application of what little power they had.

It was an organization that inspired strong trust from its members, making it difficult to create a traitor within. Gathering information was difficult too. If the Dagger of Webrus could just find out the situation inside, they would surely find a way in, but alas… Another extreme example is the Red King Clan that had many clans under it.

Because of the above reason, as far as Webrus’ Dagger was concerned, the Elks Clan was their nemesis.

But one day, something happened and for some reason, the efficiency that the Elks Clan was so proud of suddenly dulled. Webrus’ Dagger never let their guard down around them, so as soon as that slight change in balance appeared, they knew.

The Elks Clan fought with the Red King Clan in that state, and obviously, they lost.

“The Elks Clan is over.”

As Ryutanu the Strong Arm fell, the swordsman, Shunrai, wielded his blood-smeared scimitar over his shoulder.

As the assassin muttered to himself, he suddenly heard the sound of laughter accompanied by screams. With his heightened hearing, he could tell whose screams those belonged to. It was his men.

“The remnants?”

But why now? He asked himself, but no answer came, only the sight of blood splattering from one corner of their encirclement as his comrades fled for their lives.

[1] – CLICK HERE TO SEE A TEKKO, NO THIS IS NOT A REFERRAL LINK

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