Ch.315Provocation

Valentin showed his bewilderment. Even human Masters couldn’t block a Champion’s attack with one arm. They could only deflect it with a weapon or dodge it. Even if they did block it, they would at least be pushed back by the force.

However, the left arm that blocked his attack didn’t budge at all. The black gauntlet that collided with his claws didn’t have even a single crack.

No matter how much strength he applied, the result was the same. It felt like he was facing another Champion.

‘This strength. It can’t possibly be human…! Could the rumors be true?!’

Valentin’s mind raced.

He had heard it before. A rumor that among the Empire’s knights, there was one being with strength surpassing even Werebeasts. He had thought it was an exaggerated story, but the evidence was right before his eyes.

Were Eater, Aishan-Gioro.

“Why don’t you get pre-cooked? Makes it easier to eat you, you know.”

Haschal, who had blocked the claws with Frosting, bared his teeth at the black wolf.

The beast’s scent grew stronger.

—-

Valentin broke into a cold sweat. Even Valentin, who prided himself on being able to handle any human Master, couldn’t be confident in defeating her. The woman before him was nothing short of a monster in his eyes.

Despite having limbs that were like twigs compared to Werebeasts, she possessed an inexplicable, monstrous strength that surpassed even Champions.

A suffocating bloodlust that was gradually rising. And then, the clothing she wore.

“That coat, what on earth are you wearing…!”

Valentin growled as he withdrew his blocked arm. He hadn’t noticed from a distance, but now facing her directly, he too could immediately tell.

That the coat this woman wore wasn’t just ordinary animal hide.

A cloak that retained the original shape clearly, as if the fur had been skinned and draped directly.

The beast’s arm was still attached near the shoulder of the thick fur coat, and the head with only the snout remaining covered her face like a hood.

Valentin’s nostrils flared.

Between the faint scent of chemicals and the strong female odor was the distinctive beast smell unique to Werebeasts. There was no doubt.

What this monster was wearing was undoubtedly the flesh of his kind, skinned alive!

“What, want one too? It’s really warm, you know. I hear it’s all the rage in the Empire right now?”

Haschal grinned and pushed back the hood she had been wearing, revealing her face.

Above her snow-white smile, blue eyes blazed with hostility.

Valentin stepped back half a step with a disgusted expression.

A Werebeast skin coat—it was such an abnormal idea that it evoked fear.

Even those who ate humans had never thought of making clothes from human skin.

“Why that expression? You should be happy. It proves Werebeasts have some use after all.”

“Bullshit…! No, wait. Wait…! Then perhaps, the familiar scent I’ve been smelling is…!”

Valentin exclaimed in shock, his mouth gaping wide.

Seeing his reaction, Haschal smiled with satisfaction, confirming her suspicion.

‘This beast must be close to Boris. Brothers, perhaps?’

He was a black wolf Werebeast like Boris, and his face resembled him quite a bit.

That’s why she had specifically chosen this Werebeast as her first opponent. Just in case.

“Familiar scent? Oh, you mean this? You know this one, don’t you?”

Haschal slightly lifted the shoulder armor she wore under her coat.

The tanned black lining revealed itself. Though considerably tattered from the fierce battles, the Champion’s fur still emitted an elegant luster.

Valentin stared at her blankly. A very familiar scent wafted from the cut and sewn pieces of hide. Now Valentin could identify the smell. Though nothing of the original form remained, he couldn’t fail to recognize his family member’s flesh.

His brother, Boris Ivanov, was there. In a terribly miserable state.

“…Brother.”

The wolf Werebeast muttered weakly.

He knew his brother had died. He had heard that Boris had been entrusted with the dangerous mission of circumventing the northern wall to infiltrate the islands, and had died during the island uprising several months ago.

That was also why he harbored resentment toward Rurik.

Island infiltration—whatever Boris’s reasons for following the order, to Valentin, it seemed no different from a suicide command. And that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

Still, he thought his brother had died fighting valiantly. He had heard that tens of thousands of Imperial citizens had lost their lives in the island uprising.

That’s why he had suppressed his discontent toward the king… but he never imagined they would reunite like this.

“What, he was your brother? I should thank you then.”

Haschal smiled broadly and fluttered her shoulder armor playfully.

“I’m making good use of your brother. Thank you. It’s a bit worn from rough use, but it’s still very warm?”

“How dare you…!”

Valentin ground his teeth and growled. A dark red emotion—a mixture of hatred, disgust, and anger—boiled up, making his head feel like it was burning.

Even Oleg’s warning to beware of the Were Eater no longer came to mind.

“I’m sure our Boris is happy to see his brother after so long. Right?”

Haschal brought the edge of the armor to her lips and cleared her throat lightly.

“Hmm. It’s been a while, my brother! You’ve grown so much. While I’ve gotten so small.”

Valentin’s eyes widened at the voice that followed.

A deep, rough voice as if Boris himself was speaking. It was an outrageously blatant mockery.

“What the hell are you doing…!”

He was so consumed by hatred that he couldn’t even maintain his usual respectful speech. No, it would be more accurate to say his speech was completely blocked by boundless hatred.

Groans that couldn’t form into words flowed between his jaws. His entire body trembled with rage.

“Still, I’m glad we could meet like this. It’s all thanks to Lady Haschal who made me into a fur coat!—See, even Boris says so! Isn’t that great!”

Haschal kissed the armor and grinned. That was the final blow.

Valentin’s reason flew away.

“I’ll kill youuuuuu!”

A ferocious roar like a scream. The wolf Werebeast with crazed eyes charged at the Were Eater.

Haschal’s smile deepened.

—-

– Whoosh!

A heavy sound of air being cut pierced the atmosphere.

The black wolf went berserk. In his frenzy, Valentin swung his halberd like a beast with rabies.

The axe blade, filled with hatred, shattered walls and floors, carving deep scars all over the fortress walls. Scattered fragments swept across the area.

However, unfortunately, Valentin’s attacks weren’t causing any harm to the opponent he so desperately wanted to tear apart.

No matter how much he swung, thrust, and pressed with his halberd, he couldn’t reach her.

The Were Eater was avoiding all his attacks just by moving slightly!

The sense of powerlessness fueled his anger. Valentin, even more enraged, howled fiercely.

‘Full of openings, as expected.’

Haschal caught the fragments flying toward her with her coat and smiled with satisfaction.

The provocation had worked perfectly. As she intended, Valentin had completely lost his reason.

Anger is an emotion that gives strength to its owner, but anything excessive becomes harmful.

Though Valentin himself didn’t notice, his attacks, blurred by rage, were excessively simple and linear.

Slashes swung recklessly under the influence of emotion were mere flailing that didn’t even pose a threat to Haschal. As his movements grew larger, so did his openings.

Her right hand gripped the hilt of Durandal.

“Ah. Come to think of it, your brother was delicious!”

“Shut up!”

Haschal drew her sword and ran toward Valentin, licking her lips as if savoring the taste.

“He was a bit tough, but you’d be amazed if you tried it?”

She had never actually eaten him, but what wouldn’t she say to provoke an enemy and disturb their composure? Especially when the effect was this clear.

“I saved some. Want me to give it to you? Boris would be happy too!”

“You devil woman!”

Anger beyond limits. Valentin gripped his halberd with both arms and swung with all his might. With enough force to shatter even steel in one blow.

A slash with all his strength, without thinking of the consequences. Beyond the axe blade falling like thunder, his neck was clearly exposed.

Haschal smiled like a ghost. His body full of openings, his empty nape seemed to be crying out to be cut. Her sword absorbed the hero’s karma.

【 Defying Fate 】

Compressing time, the hero’s slash extended at an unbelievable speed.

A blue-silver flash cut through the beast’s neck.

Valentin’s consciousness was severed.

—-

Meanwhile, the two Champions left at the base of the wall were running toward the gate, covering their heads with shields.

“Those crazy bastards, are they planning to break down the gate with their bare hands…?”

“That can’t be possible… right?”

The soldiers positioned above the gate looked with trembling eyes at the polar bear and elephant Werebeasts charging toward them.

They were enormous even for purebred Champions. So much so that it seemed they might be able to break down the gate without a battering ram. The beasts following them were also all larger than other Werebeasts.

Of course, in reality, it wouldn’t be that easy.

Since Faelrun’s soldiers had no intention of going beyond the walls in the first place, the gate was now firmly closed.

Still, looking at those huge figures, they simply couldn’t feel at ease. The soldiers swallowed dryly.

Eventually, the Werebeasts who reached the front of the gate raised their weapons.

Most were armed with heavy weapons like two-handed hammers, but the weapons of the two Champions at the front were completely different from their subordinates’.

The polar bear Werebeast, Vasili, cracked his gauntleted fingers, while Viktor didn’t even draw his weapon.

His weapons were three curved swords. Not suitable for breaking down a gate.

“It’s big… Well, would you like to go first?”

“That would be good.”

Facing the gate, Vasili twisted his body and pulled his right hand back behind his shoulder instead of raising a weapon. Like Rurik, he was a warrior who believed his two hands were sufficient weapons. Though not to the extent of Rurik, who went around without even wearing armor.

“Kuwooooooo!”

With a massive roar, the polar bear’s fist slammed into the gate like a battering ram.

The steel gate dented with a thunderous sound.

“Hm… it’s sturdy.”

While Vasili lightly flexed his wrist, Viktor, who had been standing at a distance, lowered his upper body slightly while stomping his feet.

He too was a warrior who didn’t need weapons to break down walls. Just in a slightly different way from Vasili.

“Uooooooo!”

With a battle cry, Viktor ran toward the gate.

With a body weight more than twice that of other Werebeasts, the ground sank with each step, causing snow to burst up.

Vasili stepped aside slightly, avoiding Viktor who was charging with his shoulder forward.

If he were hit by that charge, his bones would be shattered and he would be thrown back pathetically, rolling on the ground.

Finally, the elephant Werebeast, running at full speed, rammed into the steel gate like a cannonball.

A sound like a mountain collapsing echoed.