Ch.107Chapter 107. Great Chieftain (3)

# Chapter 107. The Great Chief (3)

“Ugh! Huk! Hoah! Kuk!”

Kanto, beaten to a pulp by Asha’s crab kung fu, collapsed on the floor. It was the end of a ten-minute struggle.

Still, this time was a bit better. Kanto seemed to have recognized his problem and showed better movement. It looked like he was regaining his sense of fighting humans.

Not wanting his axe to be grabbed, he moved faster and more cleverly this time, putting some pressure on Asha, but eventually his axe was caught, distance was allowed, and he was one-sidedly beaten.

I suppose it’s quite remarkable that he still firmly gripped his double-bladed axe and wouldn’t let go even after all that.

“Ptui! Damn it!”

Kanto spat out blood-mixed saliva and stood up again on trembling legs. I could feel the fighting spirit that had filled his eyes gradually disappearing.

Not calling Emma, Kanto’s wife, was the best choice. The sight of her husband getting thoroughly beaten wouldn’t be good for either the fetus or the mother.

“Do you want to continue?”

“…”

Kanto silently glared at Asha while breathing heavily. It seems his spirit wasn’t completely broken yet.

Hmm. Let me give him one piece of advice.

“Don’t be obsessed with the axe. You’re not a lumberjack.”

“…The axe, you say.”

Kanto looked at his double-bladed axe with complicated eyes. I know there’s a special story behind his double-bladed axe.

It was something his father, the previous chief, had passed down before dying. He left behind a dying wish to “take care of the Blue Moss Tribe and Paya,” or something like that.

For Kanto, that double-bladed axe must be a medium symbolizing his bond with his father and their final promise.

On top of that, he probably thinks not letting go of one’s weapon is a warrior’s pride… This isn’t just Kanto’s thinking; it’s a thought all barbarian warriors share.

To win, he first needs to break that useless stubbornness.

“Did I bestow upon you the blessing of the axe?”

What Kanto needs right now isn’t the pride a warrior should have or memories of his father, but a mindset that doesn’t obsess over weapons.

Kanto has the soul of a berserker. This isn’t a metaphor. He really has a blessing with that name.

[Berserker’s Soul: Slowly increases strength, speed, and stamina as combat continues. Slightly increases stats with each enemy killed. The latter effect is permanent.]

It’s not just kill stacks. It also has the effect of making the user stronger the longer they fight.

He doesn’t need to finish his opponent with one axe strike. If he endures until the end, victory will tilt toward Kanto.

“…I can still fight more!”

Kanto, with eyes weary from fatigue, stood before Asha again with renewed vigor. Even as another man, I have to say he looks quite cool at times like this.

“Yah!”

The fight started again, and the same pattern repeated. Kanto swung his axe, and Asha dodged, grabbed the axe, and pulled it toward herself.

This time, Kanto’s response was different. When his axe was grabbed, he let go and quickly moved to embrace Asha’s waist.

Oh, is he trying some wrestling-like physical combat this time? Not a bad judgment.

Asha’s shell-covered body was as heavy as it was hard. Her lower body was also relatively weak compared to her upper body, so once knocked down, it would be quite difficult for her to get up again.

If he could just knock her down like that, he could definitely drain some of her energy.

Of course, Asha wouldn’t go down easily. She twisted her body and created distance again. Then she threw a jab to lightly check Kanto, with very powerful movement.

“Yaaah!”

Kanto dodged the checking jab and charged in. His face was swollen from being beaten so much earlier, but his eyes were no less fierce than those of a battle-hardened warrior.

Kanto grabbed Asha’s waist again. This time, he held on tight as if he wouldn’t let go, even interlocking his fingers.

Asha’s two shell-covered fists mercilessly pummeled Kanto repeatedly, but he endured with his eyes wide open.

“Uryaah!”

After several minutes of physical struggle, Asha’s body fell over with a thud.

Wow, he actually succeeded. His perseverance is truly protagonist-level.

“I, I won! I wooon!”

Kanto jumped up, raised both arms, and shouted in triumph. This guy’s eyes are glazed over. How exhausted must he be?

“I won… ugh.”

Having used all his strength to knock Asha down, Kanto collapsed with dilated pupils. Asha, who had been struggling, had already gotten back up.

“…”

Well, let’s count it as a win. He achieved his goal anyway.

What Kanto needed was human combat skills, or rather, superhuman combat skills. He must have gotten some sense of it from this fight with Asha.

I just hope Kanto, an original member, becomes the Great Chief.

***

A week later, the long-awaited Great Chief tournament began. Spectators of all ages gathered around the arena.

Watching fights is always the most fun. I ordered everyone to take a break from their work and enjoy today.

“Yah!”

“Hiyah!”

The chief candidates showed off various techniques and engaged in combat on the arena. Some wielded giant animal bones like clubs, while others fought imitating animals.

But the highlight of this tournament was undoubtedly the match between Kanto and Isaac.

“As expected, you’re my final opponent.”

“I look forward to our match.”

Kanto and Isaac stood in the arena. Both had easily defeated their previous opponents.

“I’ve heard you’re the strongest in the tribal alliance. Ah, except for Guardian Lakye, of course.”

Kanto, who had smiled at the first remark, frowned at the next.

Kid, why are you getting upset when it’s not even wrong? You’d fly away with one potential punch from Lakye.

And even excluding Lakye, he’s not the strongest. There are so many units stronger than Kanto.

Maybe he’s ‘the strongest in the tribal alliance, excluding the Stone Giant, Tuntuni, Asha, and Guardian Lakye.’

Looking at it that way, he’s just a mediocre guy.

Isaac, wearing black-painted armor, put on his helmet. It was a helmet with two small horns on the head.

It was armor he hadn’t worn when fighting his previous opponent, with a design that strangely resembled a bat or demon.

“It’s the pitch-black armor!”

“Black Knight Isaac!”

“Even demons tremble at the sight of that armor!”

“Black Knight! Black Knight! Black Knight!”

The civilized people made a fuss seeing Isaac in full armor. As expected of the civilized people’s superstar, he has a title.

Speaking of which, a black knight with a bat helmet. Reminds me of a certain superhero from Earth.

“Hmm!”

Kanto raised his man-sized double-bladed axe with a flash. It wasn’t an attack, just a performance.

“Armor Destroyer!”

“Demon Slayer!”

“Chief of the Blue Moss Tribe!”

“Master of the Double-Bladed Axe!”

“Berserker of the Tribal Alliance!”

The barbarians, who had been quiet when the civilized people were making a fuss over Isaac earlier, went wild.

Unlike Isaac’s unified “Black Knight,” Kanto’s nicknames weren’t consistent. This mediocre guy has so many titles.

“Black Knight! Black Knight! Black Knight!”

The civilized people chanted Isaac’s nickname in response.

“Berserker! Berserker! Berserker!”

And the barbarians finally unified Kanto’s nickname as Berserker.

It feels like a sports day. Whatever happens, just don’t get too immersed. It’s okay to have a sense of belonging on days like this.

“Let me show you a thing or two!”

As always, Kanto charged first. He moved at motorcycle-like speed.

Let’s see how Isaac, with normal human physical abilities, deals with Kanto’s attack.

The eye part of Isaac’s helmet, which covered his entire face, flashed.

Along with that, the armor made a strange sound and began to cling to Isaac’s body, then moved at a speed matching Kanto’s.

“It’s armor that operates with magic stones. I heard it failed mass production due to excessive capital requirements, but it seems he managed to obtain one somehow.”

Harry, the explainer, opened his mouth at the right timing.

So that armor is like a powered suit. He must have used that equipment to exert superhuman strength and catch demons.

“Kut!”

Kanto stepped back. Isaac’s thrust, after avoiding the axe, had sharply aimed for his vital point.

Shushushuk-!

Isaac overwhelmed Kanto with dozens of thrusts in a short moment. It was like the movement of a fencing athlete, and white smoke rose from the gaps in his armor whenever he moved.

Magic stones are ultimately like electronic devices. When the battery runs out, the function stops. If Kanto endures well and leads it to a long battle, he will win.

Kanto seemed to know this too, as he moved passively and went on the defensive. He blocked the sword with his iron axe handle while looking for an opportunity.

Hmm. How should I put it? They’re both impressive, but…

After seeing fights between level 7-8 powerhouses like Lakye, Asha, and Princess Dina, watching these men’s duel feels somewhat lacking.

Of course, people were cheering as if they were watching an amazing match.

“Ooooh!”

“There it is! The Gale Thrust that only the leader of the Black Blood Knights can use!”

“Flawless skill!”

“Chief Kanto dodging all of that is even more impressive!”

Hmm… is that so?