The True Hecleus’s Style 3

“That stance…”

Having barely recovered from the agony, Berthe growled as he rose to his feet.

Regarding Doyun, he spoke.

“So it was Hecleus’s Style after all.”

“…”

Doyun remained silent.

“Keeping your mouth shut, are you?”

Berthe lowered his head, gazing downwards. Then, with his massive hand, he stroked the severely warped scales around his solar plexus.

“Very well. Stay silent until the end.”

A viscous, killing intent-laced aura rippled forth like a mirage, blanketing the battlefield.

“I’ll beat you to a pulp right before death, then take you to the Demon Lord’s castle and make you spill everything.

Raising his head, he bared his vicious fangs in a grotesque scowl, seething with rage.

“And I’ll hand you over to the Demon Queen to be tortured for information until you turn to dust… after you’ve revealed everything, she’ll bestow the most gruesome death imaginable, beneath her loins!”

“The Demon Queen Legion Commander? She’s still alive, I see. Lost interest after having sampled her already.”

“You’d do well to shut your insolent mouth if you have nothing worthwhile to say…!”

Berthe adopted a stance – the same pugilism stance as Doyun’s.

Meanwhile, the Necrotic Gardener was exasperated.

Including him, the forces occupying this fortress had been a formidable army capable of conquering Metapolis Fortress within mere days – more than sufficient to handle a single Hero. Over half the Demon Lord’s high-ranking officers had assembled here.

Yet they had remained idle, never doubting the Legion Commander’s victory. But the situation had taken an abnormal turn.

‘For that Berthe of all people to sustain such wounds…’

The Necrotic Gardener shouted in his aged voice.

“L, Legion Commander! Allow us to join the fray…”

“Keep your damn mouths shut!!!”

A dragon’s furious roar shook heaven and earth with its ferocious intensity.

That overwhelming aura caused the Demon Lord’s high officers to collectively flinch.

“Interfere, and you’ll all be executed! Stay put!!”

“Y, Yes!”

Having dismissed the potential interlopers, he fixed his gaze upon Doyun once more.

‘Needing reinforcements against a mere human, not even a Hero?’

Haineken had been an admirable opponent who would resort to underhanded tactics for a strategic victory. But not this vermin – he would not grovel before such an insect.

Berthe’s legs bulged as explosive bursts erupted from Doyun’s feet.

Recklessly committing to an all-out collision without holding back, each of them unleashed:

Hecleus’s Style – True Strike

True Hecleus’s Style – True Strike

Kwahaaahng–!!!

Like a bomb’s detonation, the concentric shockwave emanating from their clashing fists shook the entire area.

The earth cratered around them, forming a shallow depression.

The very ground and atmosphere trembled before the might of the continent’s paramount pugilism.

An aftermath so cataclysmic, it defied comprehension as a mere clash of flesh.

“…!!”

Not just Berthe, but all who witnessed it gaped wide-eyed in disbelief.

Haineken muttered in an entranced stupor.

“H, How is this…”

Yet none were more astounded than Berthe himself.

Despite his armor-like scales thickly encasing even his fingertips, the bones in his right arm reverberated with a jarring tremor.

Though Doyun’s Endurance was the lesser Level 8 compared to Berthe’s Level 9, and all his other stats like Strength, Agility and Mana paled in comparison.

His Localized Acceleration-enhanced arm combined with the superior True Hecleus’s Style had negated that difference.

Berthe realized through the stalemate of their fists.

“You, you…!”

The technique this human had just utilized.

It was undoubtedly Hecleus’s Style.

“How do you know Hecleus’s Style…!!”

At those words, even Haineken and the soldiers doubted their own ears.

“What…did you say?”

That Doyun could use Hecleus’s Style?

Locked in the exact same stance, fists meeting Berthe’s without budging an inch, Doyun growled savagely.

“Is this…”

The clenched left fist at his waist slowly unfurled with a creak.

“…Hecleus’s Style?”

Chill.

At the smoldering golden gaze, even the Armored Dragon retreated a step.

‘…Again!’

Feeling fear once more, this time prompting evasion.

Though still vastly inferior in power, Berthe’s draconic senses had glimpsed the blazing will in Doyun’s eyes.

The inextinguishable resolve of that paramount man who had transcended all others.

And having failed to anticipate the diminutive human instantly closing the gap, leaving an opening in his momentary lapse of instinctive caution, Doyun had capitalized on it.

“You.”

“…Hmm?”

Berthe turned towards the source of that voice.

There stood Doyun, unconsciously emanating a potent aura.

“That’s…!”

Berthe’s eyes widened at the sight of a human exuding such an aura.

Then, baring his vicious fangs, he grinned insidiously.

“As I thought… I’ll have to bring you to the Demon Lord’s castle…”

“You didn’t kill Hecleus.”

“What?”

Unable to comprehend Doyun’s words, Berthe furrowed his brow.

Towards that 3m colossal figure, the diminutive human form of Doyun slowly approached.

“You didn’t kill Hecleus.”

At those words, Berthe’s face contorted hideously.

“…What did you just say?”

The dragon growled lowly, savagely, like nails scratching the ground.

All present on the battlefield struggled to breathe amidst that densely oppressive aura.

But Doyun walked unfazed, completely at ease.

“He wasn’t the sort to spout drivel about death’s requiem or whatnot.”

“If you wish to die.”

Berthe too stomped towards him.

“Then say it again.”

And so, the two faced each other.

Glaring down at Doyun, Berthe peered into his eyes and recoiled slightly.

‘This guy… what is…’

Within those deep, dark eyes like the ocean depths.

An unfathomable, bone-chilling fury smoldered, beyond even his draconic senses could comprehend.

“The Hecleus I knew… in the 4 deaths I witnessed. In every single one of those moments.”

“Just what are you blathering about…”

“He left the exact same words.”

“…!”

Through his draconic intuition, Berthe sensed this was no idle lie.

Yet his instincts screamed at him not to listen to this human’s words.

“You damned reptile daring to sully that man’s legacy…”

Kwahng–!!

That massive, hammer-like fist swung forth.

Striking Doyun squarely in the temple, the fist left a powerful shockwave in its wake, upturning the surrounding earth.

A savage strike no human could possibly withstand.

“Im…!!”

But Doyun remained completely unharmed.

“Just what in the world are you, you brat!!!”

“My friend.”

Dark energy rippled around Doyun as he slowly, ever so slightly, pushed back that gigantic fist with his arms.

“Was not so weak…”

Hecleus’s friend, Enoch Razvolnic.

“As to fall to such paltry fists…!”

His eyes glistened with a golden radiance.