Ch.1221Changing Situation

Kuguugugung…!

The earth screamed and convulsed.

Mountain peaks split diagonally and collapsed like landslides, while underground water burst from the torn ravines, forming waterspouts that spiraled upward.

‘…One wrong step and I’d lose my life right here.’

Turangkai, perched on a floating rock, couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Minutes. Only a few minutes had passed since the battle began, yet the ground below was already so horrifically damaged that its original form was unrecognizable.

The forest of demon trees had vanished without a trace. Mountain peaks remained as pitiful stumps. The ground was split, collapsed, and overturned, leaving nowhere to stand.

It looked as if a full-grown adult had thrown a tantrum and rolled around on a sand castle built by children.

“Space severing…? What a troublesome ability…”

One of the culprits behind this devastation, the giant Bergelmir, growled as he stood up using a broken rocky hill as a staff.

He knew well about Caljarat, the Last Orc, but this was the first he’d heard about the orc possessing the power to cut through space.

Fortunately, he had discerned the power contained in that slash just before it reached him. Had he tried to block it with his axe as originally planned, both he and his weapon would have been cleanly cut in half.

“I’ve never heard you possessed such power.”

“I just learned it!”

From the collapsing ravine, Caljarat leaped out like lightning and swung his greatsword again.

– Kwajijijik!

Once more, a space-cutting slash tore through the air, carving a crack-like wound in the void as if through broken glass.

“So it’s swordsmanship, not an innate power?”

“You seem to be talking more than usual. Getting scared?”

“Hardly.”

A slash that armor couldn’t block. But Bergelmir quickly twisted his body sideways to avoid it.

The slash that could kill even giants and dragons in a single blow merely cut through empty air and dissipated uselessly.

“What is there to fear? Space cutting is meaningless if I simply avoid it!”

If it had been “Sky Cutting” preceded by time-stop, there wouldn’t have been time to dodge, but Caljarat’s attack merely extended the reach of his sword—essentially just a simple space-severing slash.

To block it would require an equal space-manipulating power, but to avoid it, one simply needed to move out of its trajectory to let it pass harmlessly.

“Still, I’m impressed. I never thought someone could implement such high-level spatial manipulation through mere swordsmanship rather than magic.”

Having dodged the severing slash, the giant dug his axe into the ground and unleashed a tidal wave of rocks and soil toward the orc who had leaped into the air.

Such a crude attack couldn’t wound a demigod-level orc, but forcing him to dodge would momentarily stop his greatsword.

“Cheap tricks…!”

As expected, when Caljarat saw the brownish-gray wave filling his entire field of vision, he stopped his sword and kicked off the air to throw himself sideways.

“Hey, monkey! Are you just going to watch? If you’re going to show up, do something!”

“I am doing something, orc!”

At Caljarat’s command, Turangkai grimaced and stretched his hand toward the wave of soil. His power to control rocks seized the stones within the soil mass.

– Kururururu…!

The wave stopped abruptly, then suddenly changed direction, shooting the rocks toward Bergelmir like a meteor shower.

“Pathetic!”

But to an armored giant, this was merely stone-throwing.

Bergelmir didn’t even bother to take a defensive stance, letting his armor absorb all the rocks as he rolled forward to charge at Caljarat.

– Pagagagak!

The rocks shattered upon impact with his armor. Surrounded by a cloud of stone dust, the giant swung his axe like a storm and asked:

“So tell me, who exactly taught you that technique?”

Saying he “learned it” meant it wasn’t an innate power of a demigod, but a technique anyone could learn and master.

For magic, this would be natural, but cutting space with mere sword swings was so extraordinary that even a giant who had lived thousands of years was curious enough to ask in the middle of battle.

What genius swordsman had discovered such a technique and taught it to this orc?

“Ha! As if you’d understand even if I told you!”

Of course, Caljarat had no intention of answering. His goal was to kill Bergelmir and steal his power, not to send Bergelmir after Haschal to make them fight each other.

“Fair enough. Then I’ll bury it with your corpse!”

“I told you already—try it if you can!”

Their conversation ended there.

“KROOOOOO!”

“UWOOOOOO!”

After that, only roars and thunderous sounds engulfed the battlefield that had become ruins.

‘Damn it, how did I end up in the middle of this hellscape?!’

Along with the anguished lament of the unfortunate monkey who had not yet become a monster—and didn’t seem likely to become one—a godless monkey.

And.

“Is that Caljarat and… the exile Bergelmir? Why are they fighting there?”

There were others watching the battle between the two monsters—no, between two monsters and one monkey—from a distance.

This was only natural.

A battle between demigods, unless deliberately contained, was like a natural disaster that ravaged everything around it. Unless one was exceptionally insensitive, how could anyone not notice such a calamity happening in the neighboring area?

“Does the reason really matter? This seems like a good opportunity to wait until they finish and then devour the winner.”

This was precisely why solitary demigods typically avoided clashing with each other.

When demigods fought, even the victor usually ended up severely wounded, and in such a state, they would be helplessly hunted down by hyena-like beings who arrived late to the scene.

“KRAAAAP!”

Of course, Caljarat didn’t care at all. If he were the type to worry about such aftermath, he wouldn’t have been called a mad battle maniac in the first place.

If some opportunist attacked him in his weakened state after the fight, he would simply fight and win again. That was Caljarat’s way of thinking.

What if he couldn’t win and died? Well, then he would just use a soul imprint to resurrect, like this time.

Wasting the souls of his kin wasn’t something Caljarat felt entirely comfortable with, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make to become stronger.

His kinsmen who had become fuel for the imprints might feel differently, but that was how Caljarat saw it.

That’s why he went around picking fights with anyone, just like this time.

“…Unfortunately, we don’t have time for that. Have you forgotten what He commanded?”

For once, luck was on Caljarat’s side.

Those watching the battle between Caljarat and Bergelmir were currently busy carrying out orders from their master.

Therefore, they couldn’t afford to leisurely wait for the battle between the two monsters to end.

“You mean finding and making contact with that crazy monster who defeated three demigod-level beings? Isn’t that too vague? How are we supposed to find—”

“That’s why we need to move quickly, not waste time here.”

Their orders were to locate and make contact with the crazy monster who had simultaneously faced three demigod-level powerhouses, killed at least two of them, and routed the third.

In other words, they were instructed to find and meet with Haschal, who had vanished.

—-

Anyone with an ear for rumors knew.

Recently, a mysterious powerhouse had appeared in central Naraka, targeting only minor races or solitary demigods.

This had been serious news for the targeted minor factions for some time, but factions of considerable size hadn’t paid much attention to the rumors.

Though this person seemed to be causing quite a stir now, those who rampaged indiscriminately usually disappeared quietly before long.

Even if they didn’t die and came to attack them, if they only targeted minor factions or individuals, their skill level was predictable and could be dealt with.

Until now.

However, if this person had fought three demigod-level powerhouses simultaneously, killed two and defeated one… that was a different story.

It meant the subject of the rumors wasn’t just some troublemaker, but a monster among monsters whom no single faction could oppose.

In other words, the major factions of central Naraka, who had only been wary of each other until now, could no longer dismiss this threat.

Apart from the bloodthirsty behavior, this was a powerhouse with unclear purpose and identity, who definitely couldn’t be stopped by any single faction.

The various factions of central Naraka, now convinced that this troublemaker—Haschal—was such a being, began to move hurriedly as if their feet were on fire.

– Whoever it is… if they attack, we can’t stop them alone. We need shield bearers to die in our place.

Some judged they couldn’t handle it alone and sought to form alliances or coalitions with other factions.

– For such a powerhouse, perhaps joining hands would be better…

Others gave up on hostility altogether, trying to appease and cooperate with or exploit the opponent.

– She’s grown that strong…? We should prevent her from growing further, but… for now, we can’t touch her.

And some, already knowing her identity, quietly built their strength while considering the gap between themselves and her, instead of making futile moves.

The shock Haschal delivered to various races and powerhouses began to greatly distort the stagnating political landscape of central Naraka.

Meanwhile, she had already retreated with the forces of the Naga-Rock Monkey alliance to a hideout near the eastern region for quiet recovery.