Drugged, Max's body, having consumed Orca-roid, was in a grotesque state. His massive frame and bloodshot eyes were so monstrous that one could believe he was a troll from legends, with bulging purple veins coursing across his skin.

Such was Max's aura of intimidation that no one dared to approach him recklessly.

"What the hell is that? Bloody hell!"

Even Frederick, who prided himself on being a veteran, was no exception. In this situation, only Erich knew what was going on with Max.

'An overdose of Orca-roid.'

If taken in moderation, orca-roid was a drug that, though not without harm, could enhance one's physique and physical abilities beyond human limits.

However, if someone overdosed even once, they experienced a brief surge of power that utterly transcended human limits.

But the reason Erich was so wary of Orca-roid was its side effects.

'His body is collapsing.'

To others, Max probably seemed simply stronger, but to Erich's eyes, he could see Max's body slowly deteriorating.

That was the bane of Orca-roid—a narcotic that, no matter how little one took, would eat away at flesh bit by bit.

In the end, the side effects built up in the body, turning users into mere husks of themselves, serving as the first step in the weakening of the Watch.

And among its effects, overdose brought about the worst prognosis.

The side effects of Orca-roid were only belatedly understood, but the fact that overdosing would kill a person soon after had already become common knowledge.

"Frederick, have the men slowly fall back. Right now, he doesn't see anything—if anyone moves suddenly..."

As they say, words can bring things to pass.

–KWAANG!

Like a bolt of lightning, Max shot toward a squad member who had turned to retreat. He grabbed the fleeing man's leg and swung him violently.

–KWADEDDEUG!

"Kuaaaaaagh!"

The squad member's screams echoed out. Max had merely shaken his leg, yet it snapped like a twig.

No one could move, frozen in terror by the sight. However, Frederick seemed to grasp what Erich was getting at and directed an order to the terrified soldiers.

"... Move calmly."

–KWADEDDEUG.

As the monstrous Max trampled the fallen squad member, Frederick and the others slowly retreated.

But all the while, Erich sensed that Max's body was still mutating. In other words, as time passed, Max was only growing stronger.

–CHWAAAK!

–KRAAAAAAH!

Before anyone realized, Erich's sword flashed before Max. Max let out an agonized roar, a scream more beast than human.

–CHWAAK!

A bead of blood spattered from Erich's cheek. Max's thick claw had just barely missed. But Erich pressed the advantage, swinging his sword toward Max again.

–KWAANG! KWAANG!

Max's now-massive fists struck the spot where Erich had been, shaking the earth with the force, but Erich narrowly dodged and landed precise hits on Max.

–CHAAK! CHWAAK!

Violet blood splattered onto the snow. Yet as Erich swung his sword, he had a strange sensation.

'The wounds are closing. Regeneration?'

Erich recalled, before his return, seeing several people who had overdosed on Orca-roid. But regeneration? None of them ever displayed such an ability.

At best, most would only have their wounds heal a bit faster. Yet before him now, Max's regeneration was on a wholly different level.

–KRAAAK!

Next, Max's thick fist seized Erich's sword. Violet fluid dripped down, but Max, seemingly immune to pain, was unfazed.

"Hup!"

Using his body weight, Erich twisted through the air, breaking free his sword from Max's grip.

A breathless exchange ensued—every blow from Max promised instant death, while no matter how many times Erich cut him, Max's undead body regenerated.

Even worse, his flesh was incredibly tough.

Trading blows with Max, Erich mentally measured his remaining aura. His aura was replenishing, if only slowly, as he fought.

If he could gather enough aura, as he had done moments ago when he cut down Artur, he could bisect Max.

But accumulating that much aura took time. Erich's condition was still nowhere near what it had been before his return.

'Is this a battle of endurance?'

Even though the northern cold was such that even spilt water would freeze, sweat beaded down Erich's cheek as he swung his sword.

Back-to-back battles—first against Elder Barbarian Artur, now Max—made Erich acutely aware of his need for greater physical strength.

–CHWAAAK!

Sticky, warm purple fluid splashed onto Erich. In that instant, he recalled a memory from his past.

An undying body impervious to sword blows. A single slip leading to fatal, instant death.

It reminded him exactly of his fights against the undead.

"All squad members! Ready to throw!"

But in that moment, he sensed movement from the rear. The instant Frederick's shout rang out, Erich understood what he was aiming for.

"Throw!"

A flurry of spears flew toward Max and Erich. Expecting this, Erich quickly evaded as soon as he sensed the soldiers readying for it.

Then—

–KRAAAAAAAAAH!

Max howled. His back was now bristling with the thick spears like a hedgehog. Even with his regeneration, he could not extract the spears already embedded.

Worse still—

–KRAAAH!

As his flesh regenerated, the spears did not come out but instead stuck fast, hindering his movement.

'A good idea.'

Dodging Max's renewed attack, Erich snatched up a spear that had missed its mark.

–SHEEEEAK!

The spear Erich threw pierced Max's body much faster than those thrown by the others.

–KRAAAAAAAH!

Max howled in agony. But because Erich's spear had been hurled right through, it was lodged so deeply that Max could not dislodge it without help. Frustrated, Max thrashed even more violently.

Seizing the opportunity, Erich closed in and drove another spear into Max.

–PUSHUK!

'His movements are slowing.'

Erich realized that Max's attacks were growing slower than before. The earlier menace was gone.

Clawing at the air, Max now stood in a pool of his own spilled fluids.

The ground was stained violet.

But at that moment, Erich sensed something off.

–KADDEDEDEUK!

Erich narrowly blocked Max's attack. He deflected it with his sword, but it was rare for an enemy's blow to get that close.

'... His eyes?'

Max's red eyes had reverted to their original state. Unlike a moment ago when he seemed crazed, he seemed to have regained some sanity.

Something else caught Erich's attention then: the pools of violet fluid Max had splattered all over.

This was Orca-roid mixed with Max's blood. But if the Orca-roid was spilling out, that meant—

He was losing his power.

–KANG! KAGANG!

Erich thrust his blade through a gap in Max's defense. Max, groaning in pain, staggered back a few steps.

"... Kuh."

"Your senses are back? If you surrender now, I might just let you live."

"...."

But Max seemed less talkative than Erich expected. Instead, with hostility flashing in his eyes, he glared at Erich.

The next moment, Max suddenly turned his back to Erich.

–PAAAK!

"!?"

"What the—?!"

Max leapt away from Erich in a single bound, almost as if flying. Was Orca-roid capable of boosting physical power to such an absurd degree?

Though momentarily startled, Erich quickly did the math in his head—if Max kept fleeing at that speed, could he catch him?

But with all the spears still stuck in Max's body, they were sure to impede his movements. If that was all he had, perhaps Erich could catch up.

Then—

"Huuuuup!"

Mid-leap, Max took a deep breath,

"Puuuuu!"

His body swelled, taut muscles forcing out or shattering the embedded spears.

Then, whirling around, he charged at Erich faster than before.

'He wasn't trying to run!'

Erich readied his sword and advanced. In a flash, his blade swept toward Max.

–CHWAAAK!

Max's arm was severed. But it was just one arm—Erich's blow had missed its mark since Max's speed was greater than expected.

"Th-this bastard!"

Bleeding and missing an arm, Max barreled through the ranks of squad members. Those struck by him bounced off as if hit by a rampaging beast.

"Urgh!"

"Stop him!"

Frederick shouted to the men. But at that moment, Max leapt skyward between them, flying off like a bird.

"Damn it, the man's not a grasshopper! What do we do? Pursue him?"

"... You expect me to chase a guy who literally flies? Besides, as outpost chief, I can't just leave my post."

"So we just let him run, after all this hell?"

"Not necessarily."

Erich pointed his sword toward the path Max had fled—the ground was stained with Max's violet blood.

"He may be fine for now because of the drugs, but soon he won't be able to move. With such a clear trail left behind, even a blind man could follow him."

"Hm, you have a point."

Frederick nodded, then gestured to Sergeant Kurz, who was in better shape than most.

"Pick out whoever's still standing and go after him. Don't engage—just track."

"Yes, senior Frederick."

Kurz selected several soldiers and set off in the direction Max had disappeared.

"Tend to the wounded and gather the Barbarians. It might not count as evidence, but after reporting to the commander, the outpost captain will have some excuse to leave his post."

"Understood."

Frederick accepted Erich's decisions without protest. Indeed, given the circumstances, Erich's judgment was the best possible.Though they had destroyed the Barbarians, the squad had not come through unscathed.

Several soldiers would clearly need a long recovery, and others were severely injured as well. Frederick himself, having fought four Barbarians, was bleeding from several places.

'... Not that I'm much better.'

Erich glanced at his injured shoulder. For the first time since returning, he had taken a real wound. He hadn't noticed while fighting, but now, he felt his bones creaking.

His gaze then fell to the drops of violet blood on the ground. Capturing a man like that was pointless; he wouldn't talk.

The fact that he swallowed a lethal dose of Orca-roid, fully intending to die with everyone here, made it clear enough.

Instead, Erich, at the very last moment, had used his remaining aura to make a different choice than chasing Max.

Erich let a slow smile curl on his lips, convinced that those traces would lead him to a solution for this incident.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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