Chapter 213: The Final Battle (5)

 

I stood in the center of the horde of monsters, staring at Krund.

 

Now that I had come this far, I could see it more clearly than ever.

 

I had been waiting for this moment my entire life.

 

It was a curse that had settled on me since Adam Hyung’s death at Krund’s hands.

 

But now, I realized I wanted to face Krund for reasons far beyond that.

 

Beyond protecting the domain, I wanted to witness the end of this wretched war.

 

The war that had begun when I was 17 years old.

 

A war that had uprooted and transformed my entire life.

 

I parted ways with Sien, joined a mercenary band…

 

Though I eventually met comrades who became like family, as well as Ner and Arwin, who became family, the journey was fraught with unbearable hardship.

 

These thoughts solidified every time I talked with my wives.

 

I even came to understand this through Gale’s advice.

 

I had no aspirations for wealth or glory.

 

Expensive food, grand homes, estates, and servants meant nothing to me.

 

Such things only became burdensome obligations to endure.

 

If this war had never broken out, perhaps I could have lived that life.

 

Not as a noble or leader, but as a simple head of a family, caring only for my loved ones.

 

“...Haah.”

 

Even though the battle hadn’t truly begun, I resolved myself.

 

Once this was over, I would live the life I had longed for.

 

“...Berg...”

 

Krund whispered my name.

 

I frowned at the fact that he even knew it.

 

He continued.

 

“You seem to be living well… A nobleman now, married and all...”

 

“...”

 

“It must have been your reward for severing my arm and stopping me from reaching the Demon King.”

 

Krund lifted his left arm as he spoke.

 

Below the wrist, only a blunt scar remained.

 

“I held on this long with one thought—to kill you...”

 

Krund whispered, saliva dripping from his mouth.

 

“With the intent to bring you endless suffering… If not for you, I could have protected the Demon King...”

 

I replied to him.

 

“...I’ve been waiting too.”

 

“Don’t think you’ll die easily. I’ll destroy everything you hold dear. After defeating you, I’ll let you live just to see me crush your domain and family.”

 

I chuckled softly.

 

Gripping my sword tightly, I responded.

 

“...Try it.”

 

-Boom!-

 

We charged at each other simultaneously.

 

The distance between us closed in an instant, and we began trading blows.

 

From the very first clash, the attacks aimed to decide life and death.

 

Each time Krund’s sharp strikes came at me, I endured the electrifying sensation that pricked my skin.

 

Though I despised fighting, perhaps I had become addicted to this nerve-wracking thrill.

 

With every swing of my sword, I steadied my breathing against the vibrations traveling through my hands.

 

Through these subtle tremors, I could feel that his attacks weren’t as sharp as they once were.

 

Only when the blade delivered a clean impact could it be called a well-executed strike—something Adam Hyung always reminded me.

 

-Thwack!-

 

As I swung my sword, I drove a kick into Krund’s torso.

 

He was thrown back, skidding far into the distance.

 

As the first exchange ended, he loosened up and spoke.

 

“You fool. All I need to do is buy time.”

 

“...”

 

“Look around you. See how things stand.”

 

As he said, we were surrounded by the horde of monsters.

 

But contrary to his words, the situation didn’t faze me.

 

“You should look around.”

 

I told him.

 

At my words, Krund glanced subtly at our surroundings.

 

The members of the Red Flames group were forming a massive circle around us.

 

They were shedding their blood to ensure the monsters couldn’t interrupt our battle.

 

“Until you die here… my comrades will hold the line.”

 

I said to Krund.

 

He snorted derisively before charging at me again.

 

Following Gale’s teachings, I angled my sword to reflect the sunset light into Krund’s eyes.

 

Although he didn’t flinch, his reactions began to slow.

 

“...Petty tricks...!”

 

I unleashed everything I had learned against him.

 

Even instincts I had honed in the slums were awakened once more.

 

The weight on my shoulders, the promises I made to my wives, and even the burning desire for revenge against Adam Hyung’s killer—all of it was poured into this battle.

 

We exchanged dozens of strikes.

 

Neither of us allowed a decisive blow to land.

 

It was a grueling war of attrition, draining our stamina with every exchange.

 

I noticed the scars covering Krund’s body.

 

There were many wounds I hadn’t inflicted.

 

They seemed to be the marks of his relentless journey, from the far side of the kingdom to this place.

 

Krund, like me, seemed to be driven by vengeance alone.

 

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, there was a certain resemblance between us.

 

He lost the Demon King, and I lost Adam Hyung.

 

Krund was reputed to possess strength greater than the Demon King’s, and I had come to be known as the strongest swordsman after the Gale and hero lost their powers.

 

Krund ran across plains alone, and many speculated that I, too, was a warrior of Solitude.

 

And now, we both carried a burning desire for revenge against each other.

 

…Perhaps, this fight truly was unavoidable.

 

The more we clashed, the more I felt that way.

 

How long had we been fighting?

 

At some point, we both stepped back to catch our breath.

 

“Haah… Haah…”

 

As I gasped for air, I took in the situation around me.

 

The group members were still holding the massive circle, ensuring no monsters interfered.

 

Baran, Gale, and Shawn were at the forefront, fulfilling my request without hesitation.

 

Krund sneered at me amid the chaos and spoke.

 

“…Do you still think you can win?”

 

“...”

 

“The sun will set soon. Your kind—humans—won’t be able to see a thing in the dark.”

 

I steadied my breathing and responded.

 

“You sure do talk a lot.”

 

Then, without delay, I charged at him again.

 

Krund wasn’t wrong.

 

Once night fell, we’d be at a severe disadvantage.

 

Relying on moonlight alone would leave too much hidden from view.

 

I knew this was Krund’s provocation.

 

He was waiting for me to act recklessly, trying to end this fight quickly.

 

But I also couldn’t entirely ignore his taunts.

 

I steeled myself and began attempting even riskier attacks than before.

 

.

.

.

 

Darkness slowly descended.

 

The wounds I had inflicted on Krund were increasing.

 

It was clear that Krund was not as formidable as when I first encountered him.

 

Whether it was because he had lost his left hand or had exhausted himself traveling here, I couldn’t be sure.

 

But the problem was, that’s as far as it went.

 

I still hadn’t landed a decisive blow to end him, and Krund’s sharp attacks continued relentlessly.

 

One mistake on my part, and my life could be forfeit.

 

I was caught between the confidence that I could win and the anxiety that time was slipping away.

 

Krund seemed to harbor a similar mix of emotions.

 

“Graaaah!!”

 

The screams of my comrades grew louder around us.

 

Gale and Baran held their ground without faltering, refusing to show weakness to Krund, but the situation was undoubtedly worsening.

 

The sun had long disappeared below the horizon.

 

For now, we could only rely on the fading twilight and the rising moonlight.

 

Gale repeatedly tried to join me to help, but the situation wouldn’t allow it.

 

If the circle we had formed broke, we would all be swept away together.

 

It was a delicate balance, a tightrope walk.

 

I steadied my resolve once again.

 

“…Hoo!”

 

This was a moment that called for the most daring of attacks.

 

I pushed off the ground and charged at Krund.

 

I exploited his habit of always countering my attacks with his right hand.

 

-Boom!-

 

Krund blocked my sword and swung his right hand through the air in retaliation.

 

-Whoosh!-

 

Instead of retreating backward to evade, I leaped upward, soaring over his arm.

 

His claws barely grazed the small of my back as I passed over him.

 

The sound of the air being sliced grazed my entire body.

 

As I descended, I swung my sword, aiming for his neck.

 

-Slash!-

 

But Krund twisted his neck with animal-like reflexes, narrowly avoiding the strike.

 

-Shhhk!-

 

The attack missed by a fraction of a second, leaving a long gash across his cheek instead.

 

-Thud thud thud…-

 

“...”

 

Krund retreated, touching the blood streaming down his face.

 

I exhaled deeply, convinced that if I continued this momentum, I might have a chance.

 

“Guhhh!!”

 

But at that moment, a familiar voice groaned nearby.

 

Both Krund and I instinctively turned toward the source.

 

Shawn.

 

Having fought the fiercest battles, Shawn was the first to falter.

 

From the very start of this fight, Shawn had been bleeding from his head.

 

It was only natural that his stamina was failing.

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

As my gaze met Krund’s, I immediately knew what he was thinking.

 

For someone who had survived the slums, his intentions were painfully obvious.

 

-Boom!-

 

Krund and I sprinted toward Shawn at the same time.

 

But I was slightly behind.

 

“Shawn!!”

 

At my shout, Shawn snapped back to his senses.

 

He raised his sword to face the approaching Krund, but… it was already too late.

 

I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to run faster.

 

Was this how Adam Hyung felt when he protected me?

 

-Clang!-

 

“Guhh!”

 

At that moment, Gale intercepted Krund.

 

Using the time Gale bought me, I closed the distance to Krund.

 

-Slash!!-

 

But Krund acted just a split second faster.

 

Through the opening created by Gale’s destabilized stance after protecting Shawn, Krund delivered a devastating blow.

 

-Thud thud thud!!-

 

Blood burst from Gale’s body as the attack landed.

 

Holding my breath, I swung my sword at Krund with unmatched speed and power, aiming to end this once and for all.

 

Krund dropped to the ground and crawled away to evade my attack.

 

Standing in front of Gale to shield him, I shouted, “Gale!”

 

“...Ugh… I’m fine,” Gale replied, clutching the fresh wound on his body.

 

Adam Hyung’s last moments flashed vividly in my mind, and I felt my emotions begin to stir.

 

Perhaps sensing my turmoil, Gale spoke again.

 

“Berg, I’m not just saying this to reassure you. I’m really fine. I avoided a fatal blow… I just… don’t think I can keep fighting.”

 

“...”

 

His candid admission lent more weight to his earlier reassurances, but that didn’t change the situation.

 

Losing Gale was causing the tide of the battle to shift drastically against us.

 

In war, the balance of power can tip in an instant, and that was exactly what was happening now.

 

Krund began to steady himself, chuckling darkly.

 

“I’ve won…” he whispered.

 

His face was triumphant, brimming with smug satisfaction.

 

“You’ve lost, Berg.”

 

As if to confirm his words, the world around us grew darker.

 

Looking up, I saw clouds beginning to obscure the moon.

 

The remaining twilight had already faded, leaving the sky awash in deep purple shadows.

 

Krund’s face began to vanish into the encroaching darkness.

 

“It’s over. Just listen to the screams around you,” he taunted.

 

‘Graaaah!’

 

‘Aaaaaagh!’

 

‘Get up! Don’t just lie there!’

 

The cries of my comrades echoed around me, forcing the grim reality closer.

 

“...”

 

Defeat loomed over me more heavily than ever before.

 

Only now did I realize just how dark the battlefield had become.

 

It was a miracle to see anything at all in this pitch blackness.

 

At the same time, I felt the morale of my comrades beginning to waver.

 

Even if my own resolve remained steadfast, the odds were undeniably turning against us.

 

-Boom!-

 

I heard Krund charging at me again.

 

In the darkness, his attack was nearly invisible.

 

I relied on sound, instinct, and fleeting glimpses to block his strike.

 

Behind me lay Gale, sprawled on the ground. I couldn’t afford to retreat even a step.

 

Holding my ground under such conditions felt like fighting with one hand tied behind my back.

 

“Berg! Don’t make a foolish choice!” Gale shouted from behind me.

 

But I couldn’t back down, not until Shawn helped Gale retreat to safety.

 

Krund was relentlessly exploiting my vulnerability.

 

Having decided that he couldn’t win this fight outright, he seemed intent on targeting my people instead.

 

‘Kieeeeek!’

 

A monster’s shriek rang out, suddenly much closer.

 

Glancing quickly to the side, I saw that even the defensive line the Red Flames group had created was crumbling.

 

Through the breach, a monster lunged straight at me.

 

-Slash!-

 

Twisting my body mid-battle with Krund, I cut down the charging beast.

 

“Vice-captain!” Shawn’s voice rang out behind me this time.

 

I felt a sharp pain as if something had clamped down hard on my leg.

 

Another monster, hidden in the darkness, had bitten into me.

 

“Ugh!”

 

I quickly slashed it down as well, but Krund’s next attack followed immediately.

 

His heavy blow threw me off balance, and I staggered backward.

 

As I fell, I swung my sword in a sweeping arc around me, desperately trying to hold my ground.

 

A few of the lurking monsters were cut down in that desperate sweeping strike.

 

I quickly regained my balance and stood up.

 

“…Ah.”

 

At that moment, I braced myself, anticipating Krund’s next move, now hidden in the darkness.

 

-Thud!

 

A searing pain pierced my stomach.

 

A wave of scorching heat swept through my body, leaving me breathless.

 

Krund emerged from below, whispering in a chilling voice.

 

“…Don’t die.”

 

Blood gushed out of my mouth, warm and thick.

 

“I want you to see everything you love suffer.”

 

****

 

Ner carefully rose from the bed, her movements slow and deliberate.

 

A heavy silence hung over Stockpin.

 

It seemed everyone was engaged in prayer for the fallen comrades who had left.

 

Looking out the window, Ner’s fevered gaze met the quiet night.

 

She still couldn’t bring herself to fully believe that Berg had gone off once more.

 

Though she was the one who had ultimately let him go, an overwhelming fear now gripped her, tighter than ever before.

 

She knew this was the most dangerous battle Berg had ever faced.

 

He had reassured her before leaving, claiming that he had never lost a fight…

 

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t lose for the first time.

 

“...”

 

Ner’s body trembled uncontrollably with fear.

 

She couldn’t tell if it was the cold, her weakened state, or the sheer terror taking hold of her.

 

Parting with Berg and losing him to death were two entirely different things.

 

If they parted, she would be consumed by endless pain and regret…

 

But at least, from afar, she could still see his face. There would still be a chance to make things right.

 

But death? Death left no chances.

 

It was the end.

 

The man she loved would slip away to a place beyond her reach.

 

Ner trembled ceaselessly, her body shaking even as she shut her eyes tightly and pulled the blanket over herself.

 

She felt that only Berg’s return would put an end to her fear.

 

Only her one true partner in this world could ease her breath again.

 

“Please… come back...”

 

She slowly raised her head to the sky.

 

Looking at the emerging moon, she whispered again, as if the light might reach him.

 

Surely, somewhere, Berg was looking at the same moon.

 

“…Come back, Berg…”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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