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Chapter 281: Barbarian King (2)

Mystery moved through Bayern\'s body, coursing through his veins, filling his muscles, reinforcing his bones, and strengthening his limbs.

"Body enhancement, huh,"

Ketal muttered with interest.

The King of the North, Bayern, was strengthening his body through mystery. In itself, it was a rather simple technique, one even a third-rate weakling could perform.

However, one couldn’t even dare to mention third-rate witnessing Bayern\'s current enhancement.

His writhing body held power on a different level than before.

The ground cracked just from the added force in his step as he controlled his strength.

Crack-crack-crack-crack!

And just like that, the earth split apart.

His power was like the concentration of countless beings, compressed into a single existence.

It was almost like a manifestation of the very concept of power.

‘Is that really possible?’

Ketal was perplexed.

Having mastered some mystical arts, he knew well that simple body enhancement had limits.

It was a basic use of mystery, so naturally, it had restrictions.

Soon, Ketal realized the reason.

"You\'ve poured everything into your body."

A hero-class warrior could use mystic arts to impose their will on the world.

Queen Karin of the High Elves controlled the air, while the ancient dragon Ignisia could shake the laws of the world with mere words.

As a hero-class warrior, Bayern could manipulate the world in the same way.

Yet, he chose to give up that power of world manipulation.

Instead, he focused everything on his own body.

Bayern declared,

"I am the ruler of the North, the King of Barbarians."

The one who possessed the greatest power in the world.

His ability to interfere with the world’s laws had transformed into pure physical enhancement.

His ego had twisted his authority.

"So, it’s possible to do it that way too,"

Ketal murmured in amazement.

[What a monster... In theory, it’s possible, but to actually do it... In all the records I’ve seen, there has never been a hero-class warrior who transformed their power like this.]

The holy sword was just as astonished.

It was a distortion born from Bayern\'s stubbornness about himself.

"How is it?"

Bayern asked, after catching his breath.

"Incredible,"

Ketal nodded.

"It won’t be easy unless I fight you with everything I\'ve got."

"That’s the highest praise,"

Bayern grinned, showing his teeth as he grabbed his axe.

"Then, let me personally experience your sincerity."

Crunch.

With those words, Bayern disappeared from sight.

he barbarians, who had barely managed to keep track of his movements until now, completely lost him.

‘He’s fast,’

Ketal marveled, moving his body swiftly to counter.

With all his strength, he swung his axe.

Boom!

Axes clashed, shattering the space between them and shaking the surroundings.

"Kyaaah!"

"Ugh!"

The barbarians, who had been watching with death in their eyes, couldn’t hold on any longer and fainted, flying backward.

Darkul hurriedly grabbed them and dragged them to safety.

From a distance, they barely managed to observe the arena.

"What in the world…"

Power collided.

The earth cracked, and the sky distorted from the overwhelming force.

‘Is this really human strength?’

Darkul’s comprehension had long since been exceeded.

Boooom!

Axes crashed again, sending deafening reverberations.

Both warriors’ arms were knocked back from the impact.

Bayern immediately reinforced his arm, swinging his axe as if he intended to split the world in two.

You can block it or dodge it.

But if you dodge, it means I\'m stronger than you.

The attack carried that sentiment, and Ketal, laughing, responded in kind.

Boom!

The axes clashed again.

Neither man stopped.

They collided and collided, neither taking a single step back.

Their power split mountains and parted seas as it continuously clashed.

It was truly a scene of savagery.

There was no technique or skill, only a pure clash of raw strength.

It was a battle to prove who was the strongest.

Boom!

With the collision, their arms were flung backward.

Bayern took advantage of the rebound, spinning his body and putting even more force into his axe.

Ketal met the challenge, stepping forward and pouring power into his arm as he swung his axe.

Clang!

The clash was the strongest yet.

Both Ketal and the King were pushed back three steps.

"You\'re strong!"

Ketal exclaimed.

He couldn\'t underestimate him.

A moment of carelessness, and the King’s axe would strike his body.

‘Even among our tribe, there aren\'t many who could face him!’

It was truly astonishing power.

Ketal bared his teeth in delight.

‘How thrilling. How fun!’

To think he could experience such a pure clash of strength outside of his tribe.

Ketal was starting to enjoy himself.

Bayern, putting more power into his legs, accelerated forward, his axe pressing in.

Ketal raised his axe to block.

Kakakakak!

Bayern didn’t let up, taking more steps forward as he tried to push Ketal back.

Ketal realized it then.

Right now, Bayern was challenging him to a contest of strength.

"...Ha!"

Ketal couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

How long had it been since he met someone willing to engage in a contest of strength?

He couldn\'t even remember.

It had been an incredibly long time.

"Fine! I’ll take you on!"

Overcome with excitement, Ketal laughed heartily, pouring strength into his arms.

Squeeeeak!

The result was immediate.

Bayern, who had been fiercely pushing forward, began to be slowly pushed back.

Bayern’s expression changed.

"...Ugh!"

Crack!

Realizing he was losing the contest, Bayern leaped backward, his face stiff.

‘I was pushed back.’

The barbarians watching from afar erupted in cheers.

"Oooooooh!"

"The King! The King was pushed back!"

"Ketal! The great warrior!"

They screamed Ketal\'s name.

Bayern, who had been frozen, let out a hollow laugh.

"Hahaha. What a bunch of miserable fools. After all the effort I put into leading those idiots, now they want to hand everything over to you. I can\'t stand the sight of it."

"You know barbarians are bound to disappoint the more you expect from them."

"That\'s true."

Bayern squinted his eyes with a sigh.

\'...Strong.\'

In fact, he wasn\'t paying attention to the barbarians\' cheers at all.

He was merely trying to distract himself from the shock.

\'I\'ve been overpowered by sheer strength.\'

Bayern had given up the power to interfere with the world and focused solely on physical enhancement.

As a result, he had no special abilities.

Once he was outmatched in raw strength, it was over.

\'...I do have a trump card.\'

But this was just a simple duel.

Unless he was fighting an opponent he intended to kill, he couldn\'t use it.

But the same applied to his opponent, so the conditions were equal.

Yet, he was being pushed back by Ketal.

\'However!\'

Even so!

Bayern, ignited by the will to fight, charged forward.

Ketal welcomed him with open arms.

Clang!

Axes clashed.

Realizing he was outmatched in strength, Bayern tried to win with technique. But Ketal, having survived countless battles, had no reason to be outdone in skill.

Clang!

Ketal countered Bayern\'s swinging axe.

Pretending to block it, he easily deflected the blow.

"Ugh!"

Bayern\'s axe buried itself into the ground.

The earth trembled and seemed to collapse.

Ketal grabbed Bayern\'s arm and slammed him down.

With a groan, Bayern crashed into the ground.

Ketal then brought his axe down on the fallen Bayern.

In a panic, Bayern raised his axe to block it.

Boom!

The ground caved in.

Gripping his axe with both hands, Bayern barely managed to defend himself, letting out a hollow laugh.

"I lost."

If they were fighting purely with their bodies and the opponent was stronger, there was no way to win.

It was checkmate.

"I commend you. It\'s rare to find someone with strength like yours."

Ketal genuinely praised him.

To endure this much in a duel with him was something only a handful of barbarians from the White Snowfield could do.

"Thanks for the compliment."

Although it could be seen as an insult, the king accepted the praise sincerely.

If a warrior of this caliber praised you, it was something to be proud of.

Ketal kept his axe buried in the ground and looked toward the distance.

The barbarians, thinking the fight was over, were running toward them with cheers.

"It must have been tough leading those idiots."

"Now it will be your burden to bear."

"No."

Ketal smiled faintly.

"You still have more work to do."

"Hmm?"

Bayern made a puzzled face at the sudden statement.

At that moment, Ketal released his grip on the axe.

Clang!

Ketal’s axe flew through the air.

He slid backward as the axe embedded itself in the ground far away.

"...What?"

[What? You?]

"Incredible."

Amidst the confused voices, Ketal spoke with admiration.

"The final blow you delivered was truly remarkable. Not only did the axe fly away, but I fractured my wrist. I can’t continue the fight. It’s your victory."

"Huh?"

Bayern\'s face showed utter confusion.

It was understandable.

Just moments ago, he had been overwhelmed, on the verge of defeat.

But now Ketal had suddenly let go of his strength, retreated, and declared defeat.

"What are you...?"

"Oh, ooooohhh!"

Before Bayern could question it, a roar erupted.

"Ohhh! Our king!"

"As expected! We believed in you!"

"Only you can lead us!"

The barbarians who had approached without him realizing were now shouting at Bayern.

Realizing what was happening, Bayern\'s face twisted in displeasure.

"...Wait. You..."

"I told you, you have more work to do."

Ketal chuckled mischievously.

* * *

The barbarians had seen Bayern get slammed down by Ketal and assumed the battle was over, so they had rushed forward.

But since they were quite a distance away, they couldn\'t fully grasp the situation.

From their perspective, it looked like their king had turned the tide with a final, secret move.

Their king had triumphed over a formidable opponent.

The barbarians praised their king.

"Our king! We believed in you! We knew you would win!"

At those words, Bayern\'s face twisted in frustration.

When he was being overwhelmed, these same barbarians had been shouting Ketal\'s name.

Now, they were changing their tune as easily as flipping a hand.

But there was no time to argue.

Bayern, still confused, looked over at Ketal.

"You, you...?"

"It’s your victory, my king."

Ketal smiled faintly.

"You will remain the king of the north."

Hearing that, Bayern\'s eyes widened.

The confusion disappeared, and his gaze steadied.

"...I understand."

"Ooooohhh!"

"Our king!"

The barbarians roared.

That night, the city erupted in celebration.

They had witnessed the power of a great hero.

And their king had defeated a mighty foe.

The barbarians had every reason to be excited.

They raised their cups, praising both the king and Ketal, who had pushed the king to his limits.

Even Darkul, unable to sleep, roamed the city, thrilled by the fight beyond his understanding.

Meanwhile, the two main figures of the night, the king and Ketal, quietly drank in a small building.

Ketal glanced around the interior and murmured.

"This place is too humble for a king."

"You know what those idiots want. They desire a symbol of barbarism. If I, their king, stayed in a fancy place, it wouldn\'t set a good example."

"That’s true. Anyway, they sure are demanding."

"Indeed, they are."

Bayern and Ketal complained about the barbarians.

As the king\'s light laughter faded, his expression changed.

"Now, I’ll ask."

"You are the victor. As the defeated, I’ll answer anything."

The king\'s eyebrows twitched at that response.

"Why did you intentionally... No, wait."

Bayern, who had been about to say something, shook his head.

"There’s something I should say first. I haven’t properly introduced myself yet."

With calm eyes, the king spoke.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you. From the coldest place in this world, the White Snowfield. The king of the ash-gray barbarians there."

* * *

"So you knew."

Bayern had realized that Ketal was from the White Snowfield.

That fact didn\'t surprise him.

From the moment he first saw Ketal, Bayern had been startled by his ash-gray hair.

He had eyed him with suspicion.

And when Ketal introduced himself, that suspicion had turned to certainty.

Bayern spoke.

"I was completely sure when I faced your true strength. No one in this world could possess such power. But inside there, it\'s possible."

"What a strange way of speaking."

As if he knew about the situation inside the White Snowfield.

Ketal narrowed his eyes.

"You. You’ve been inside."

Bayern responded with a bitter smile.

Ketal’s eyes darkened.

"Have you seen ‘us’?"