The mood changed as the Barbarian elder, Artu, lightly swung his greatsword.

—Whoooong!

With a chilling sonic boom, the surrounding snow was swept away.

'He's gotten faster.'

Erich's original plan had been to capture Artu, then interrogate him about his connection to Nicholas.

But—

Even just now, they had been evenly matched, and now Artu had become considerably stronger, enough that it would be difficult to subdue him without using the 'eye'.

Thus, Erich decided to use the power of the 'eye'.

'I wanted to test how far I could go without using the eye. A shame.'

—Fwaaash!

Cutting through surrounding Barbarians and Watch members, Artu charged at Erich at blinding speed.

—Kagagagak!

Artu's greatsword clashed against Erich's sword. But unlike before, Erich's blade slid down along Artu's greatsword.

—Chaaaak!

In a flash, Erich was at Artu's side. Blood spurted from a deep gash in Artu's thick thigh.

The Barbarian's bloodshot brow furrowed again. He seemed unable to comprehend the situation.

And once more—

—Kagak! Kagak!

Artu's attacks rained down on Erich. But each time, the greatsword missed Erich by a hair, while Erich's sword abruptly changed course, leaving wounds on Artu's chest and shoulder.

[... Th-this bastard!]

Artu was most definitely faster and more powerful than before, which even Erich felt firsthand—his hands almost numb with every clash against Artu's greatsword.

But—

—Woom.

A peculiar crimson light shone around Erich's eyes. Then, his vision warped, the whole world appearing as if painted in oils.

'... Coming in diagonally.'

In that landscape, Erich could see what needed to be seen. Artu's gaze, the movement of his muscles—all of them telling Erich where the attack would come, where the next step would fall.

A Swordmaster's "eye" was not simply about using aura. Rather, the true meaning of the "eye" was that, as soon as it opened, it sharpened one's battle intuition, skipping through layers of perception built by the five senses.

Thus, erasing unnecessary senses and seeing only what was needed—that was the power of the 'eye'.

—Kagagagagak!

Again, Erich's sword crossed with Artu's greatsword, slicing through the big Barbarian's clavicle.

—Chaaaak!

A wound far deeper than before. Artu staggered backward several steps.

'Even using aura only gets me this far. Tough, indeed.'

Blood dripped around Artu, staining the white snow red. His breath came hard, visible in the cold.

But Erich didn't think this experienced Barbarian would go down so easily. Barbarians were always stubborn. He'd once seen one still struggling fiercely even after both legs were severed.

Let alone a Barbarian elder.

Perhaps sensing Erich's thoughts, Artu wore a strange smile.

[So, I thought something was off. You're 'one who has opened the eye'.]

Erich understood even without explanation. Achieving the level of Swordmaster was not exclusive to the Empire.

Barbarians, too, had those akin to Swordmasters. The names might be different, but every Barbarian knew what such beings were.

—Woom.

Moreover, Erich had just raised the output of his eye by using aura, making the crimson glow all the more obvious.

Artu's gaze changed; the red in his eyes faded, replaced by a peculiar heat.

All around, barbarians and Watch members were tangled in fighting—stabbing, being stabbed, screaming amidst melted, slushy snow.

"Kraaaagh!"[Keugh!]

But the advantage lay with the Watch. Frederick was now facing his fourth Barbarian, surpassing the promised three, and Sergeant Kurz had bested one and moved to reinforce another front.

This was possible because the Watch had surrounded the Barbarians.

Of course, the Watch was not overwhelmingly dominant. They, too, had injured, some close to being combat-ineffective.

Yet the Barbarians' situation was even worse.

Artu, too, must have sensed this. Still, Erich felt the elder's fighting spirit only rising.

[A long time ago, I once challenged someone who wielded power like yours.]

Artu was fastening his wounds with leather as he spoke.

'... Should I attack now? No, let's wait a bit longer.'

Erich had no reason to rush. Cutting through Barbarian muscle and breaking the bone beneath required potent aura, and generating that would need a moment to recover.

Artu might have similar intentions, but a brief chat would not hurt.

[Was the man from the Watch?][No, he was of my own kin. You lot wouldn't know, but beyond the Great Wall, past the vast forest to the north, live monsters in the truest sense.][... North?]

Erich's brow twitched. The north. He recalled the terrifying being that had dwelled there before his regression—the only one capable of breaking through the Great Wall before the undead appeared.

Could the 'monster' Artu spoke of mean that being?

Artu curled his lip, tightening the leather strap. The bleeding stopped, and, brandishing his greatsword at Erich, he continued.

[I suffered my only defeat there. That place swarms with ones like you. Maybe if I beat you, I too will reach that realm.]

The fighting sounds around them ceased. All eyes—both the last Barbarians and the Watch who had been aiming their swords—were fixed on Artu.

Naturally. The pressure now pouring from him was immense; anyone present could feel it.

—Clank.

With the sound of adjusting his grip, Artu's form suddenly disappeared.

And then—

—Woom.

[Hrgh!]

Artu was suddenly in front of Erich, swinging down.

'...!'

Even with the 'eye', Erich couldn't catch Artu's movement just now. The massive Barbarian's prepared strike was that fast and threatening.

—KWAANG!

'Not easy.'

Erich barely blocked the attack, but instinct told him that, if this continued, the elder's greatsword would push through and cleave his shoulder open.

'Capturing him alive... is impossible. I was arrogant.'

His decision took only a moment.

Finally making up his mind, Erich's forearm swelled, veins bulging. From his hand up his arm, it felt as if his flesh was burning.

Then, in the next instant, both of Erich's eyes flashed brilliantly. For a brief moment, a crimson afterimage glimmered in both eyes, visible even in the surrounding light.

Strange vitality spread through him, coloring his sword blue. Artu's eyes went wide at the sight of that wavering blue energy.

—Shyiik!

Erich's sword, which had been blocking the greatsword, whipped up toward the sky.

[Kgh!]

Erich's sword cleaved Artu's greatsword in half. Losing balance, Artu's body lurched forward.

Then Erich's blade once more cut a line from Artu's shoulder down through his side.

—Chaaaak!

Artu trembled for a moment. But finally, his body was split in two and toppled to the ground.

—Thud.

Erich frowned. Rather than joy at victory, an unpleasant pain spread along his side.

'Even in that split second, he tried to counterattack me.'

Next to Erich, Artu's broken greatsword fell. As expected from a veteran Barbarian, he'd anticipated his sword might be broken, and had swung the remaining part at Erich mid-attack.

Of course, the attempt was off-balance and not very threatening.

At most, it might leave a bruise. But the Barbarian elder's tenacity truly was impressive.

The first formidable opponent since Erich's regression.

"... Damn it, I don't even know what I just saw."

"Frederick. Heard you got three."

"This'll soon make four."

Frederick replied, breathing hard. Two Barbarians remained. But, seeing Artu fall, they seemed to have lost the will to fight.

[Ar-Artu is down...][... Impossible.]

Erich saw a familiar look on their faces—fear. The terror one felt when faced with overwhelming strength. Erich smirked.

'A shame, but I'll have to capture these guys and wring out their link to Nicholas.'

Prisoners who have already tasted fear are easy to handle. Erich had learned that from experience.

They wouldn't know as much as the elder, but some information could still be extracted.

Erich gripped his sword and slowly approached them.

[D-don't come!]

The Barbarians, forgetting the Watch were closer, pointed their greatsword and axe at Erich. But frightened dogs were never scary.

[I have no intention of killing you. As long as you answer my questions.][...]

With hazy eyes, the Barbarians looked at one another. It wasn't common, even for them, to find someone in the Watch who understood Barbarian speech.

But then, the next moment—

—Chaaak! Kwaduk!

[Keugh!][Khrgh!]

Just as they tried to speak, the Barbarians collapsed with a groan. Small daggers were embedded in the backs of their necks.

—Thump.

Behind the fallen Barbarians, a large man stood.

"... I thought you would try to run. Wasn't your aim to report to Nicholas?"

"...."

It was Max, the subordinate of Nicholas whom Erich had seen before. He had not joined the fight, merely watching, so Erich hadn't paid attention.

'To think Nicholas would have a man with such skill under him.'

Max's movement just now had been too quick for Erich to react. Granted, the distance had been far, but even considering that, Max's skill was more dangerous than expected.

He looked silently at the fallen Barbarians, then quickly scanned the surroundings with rolling eyes.

"Frederick, keep him from escaping. At this point, we need to at least catch him."

"Leave it to me."

Frederick signaled the members to spread out wide, blocking off Max's escape routes.

But Max only watched their movements coldly, pulling something from his pocket.

—Swik.

'... What is that?'

Max quickly brought it to his mouth. But Erich wasn't about to let him get away with any tricks under his nose.

—Kaaang!

Erich leapt at him, sword clashing with Max's. Now that he knew Max was no ordinary soldier, he wouldn't lose track of him.

But—

—Kaang! Kang!

Max barely managed to block Erich's attacks. Of course, he was nowhere near the elder's level, but for a Watch member, Max's ability was considerable. Comparable, perhaps, to Frederick.

The downside was that if Erich had aura left, he could use the "eye" to subdue Max at once, but with no aura remaining, it would not be easy.

—Chaaak!

Then, Max kicked at the snow, scattering it to gain distance and dumped the item into his mouth.

—Jjang!

'... Too late?'

Erich brushed the snow off his eyes and stared at Max. If the intent was to take his own life to prevent trouble for Nicholas, there was nothing Erich could do now. Max had already swallowed it.

But Max, dropping a vial, began to drool and tremble violently.

"Seize him!"

Frederick shouted. Members charged at Max from all directions. But Erich, sensing something off, shouted urgently.

"Wait! Fall back, everyone!"

At that moment, the members charging at Max were hurled in all directions. Without being struck by a blade, the sturdy Watch members were sent flying and crashed into the snow.

"Keugh!"

"Kraaaagh!"

Max's body twisted. His already-massive frame grew even larger. His face turned purplish, veins bulging grotesquely all over.

Only then did Erich's gaze fall to the vial Max had swallowed. Where it lay, the remaining purple liquid stained the white snow.

'Orca-roid.'

Repeating the word to himself, Erich realized. Max hadn't tried to commit suicide—he'd intended to take everyone here with him.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Damn, is Max Nicholas's son?【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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