The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 107



Only Krnovel

Episode 107. Atala’s Judgement (10)

A ray of light split the moment of time and cut through the air. A brilliant dividing line was drawn in the spectators’ eyes. The moment when the fierce thunderbolt converged on the one-armed warrior’s face.

Flash – !

A dazzling blue flash came first. Perun countered with his hook, but it was not enough to overcome the shock of the wall. The lightning sparks exploded in a spurt, and the warrior’s spirit was thrown far away, followed by a rough roar of thunder.

― …

As the ringing subsided, Perun, lying on the dirt floor, began to sob.

“Huh, huh… … .”

Phagejijik –

The skin was burned in places, blood vessels had burst, and red marks like the veins of leaves were clearly spreading. A spark of electric discharge rose above the charred hooked hand. The audience was astounded by the majesty of the weapon, which seemed to be a literal manifestation of lightning.

Perun clenched his teeth and barely managed to get up again, leaning on his trembling knees.

“In the meantime, you have forged a new weapon… … . It is truly impressive in power… … . What is the name of that sacred weapon…?”

A soft reply came back.

“’Thunderbolt’.”

A name that grants the special effect of ‘thunderbolt’, which inflicts a powerful electric attribute attack. Kadim gave that name to the salmon yesterday as ‘the one who gives names’. Thus, the throwing axe was practically reborn as a throwable lightning bolt.

Besides, giving it a new name didn’t make the ‘return’ effect disappear.

Kadim reached out and took the axe, then immediately threw it back down.

――――――――― Holding your hand – !

Flash – !

A flash of light flashed. Perun barely managed to block it again, but it fell back to the isolation wall, making his defense in vain. Only after the discharged current dissipated and the dust spread out in thick clouds did the angry roar of lightning follow.

― …

Lightning strikes twice.

Exclamations of trembling and fear spread out.

“Oh my god… … .”

“Oh my, Remillion… … .”

It was unknown how a non-magician could perform such a mystical feat. However, the audience was certain of one thing. After being struck by lightning so repeatedly, the ‘Indomitable Fighter’ would surely be burned to a pulp like a lump of charcoal.

That confidence was wrong.

Even though he was brutally slammed into the wall and his skin was completely blackened, the warrior did not fall. Instead, he breathed out a faint smoke from his teeth and his eyes shone brighter than before.

“Whew… … .”

Crackling, crackling – !

I was already unable to stand. My muscles should have burned and shriveled and collapsed long ago. Still, Perun did not give in. Drawing on his inhuman mental power, he stood firmly on his own two feet and took a step forward.

As befitting the nickname he received while fighting as a gladiator, ‘the indomitable fighter’.

“It was a great combo… … Master Daejeon… … . Blocked… … Absolutely… … Blocked… … It’s not the same… … . But, still… … Fight more… … Is there… … .”

In Kadim’s eyes, it seemed like nothing more than foolish stubbornness. He glared at the warrior who was covered in wounds with cold eyes.

“You are being cruel. How can a guy who has already lost all his weapons and can’t even speak properly want to fight any longer? “Stop your useless struggles and surrender.”

“That can’t… be… possible… . I… would… give up… the fight… . I’ve lost an arm… . I’ve already… given up… . I’ll never… . . . lose my life… .”

Perun trembled and lifted his half-broken hooked hand. Kadim narrowed his brows as a sudden suspicion occurred to him.

“Why didn’t you use the ‘Atala’s Divine Weapon’ earlier? Even if the aftermath wasn’t easy to deal with, you could have been safe for now.”

“That spirit, the spirit of… … the unclean being… … confront… … … … … spirit… … . How… … can I use it… … against… … his great warrior… …? Then… … I will lose the face… … to face Atala… … .”

A hollow laugh burst out. Even if I die, I will never die in shame to Atala, ra… … .

It was truly a great faith. It was to the point where I felt sorry for being called a ‘Great Warrior’, even though I had no faith at all. However, I was so moved that I did not intend to show mercy. Didn’t he declare with his own mouth that he would serve the fake Great Warrior until the end?

Hoo – ung, hoo – ung, hoo, hoo, tuck!

Kadim held the ‘Thunderbolt’ in his hand and gave one last warning.

“If you get struck by lightning from this axe one more time, you will surely die.”

“… … .”

“If you really want to get killed in this cheap battleground, don’t avoid it and return the blow to the axe. However, if you want to experience even the slightest meaningful death, do your best to avoid it.”

It wasn’t just a verbal threat. The muscles holding her ax were stretched heavily as if they were about to shoot at any moment.

But Perun did not tremble in fear or waver.

Instead, he had a faint smile on his face.

“Cheap fight… … Even though… … I have no regrets… … . My life… … The best opponent… … Since we competed… … .”

“… … .”

“I… … Philosopher… … dare to… Grand Master… … It was a great… … honor… … . I… … clashed with… … all my might… … Please… … do not… … have mercy… … .”

The eyes of the warrior who had prepared for death shone like stars in the wilderness.

The great warrior who acts as the agent for the sacrifice calmly faces that will.

He hurled the axe sharply as if pronouncing judgment.

Wedge – Liquid!

The lightning did not explode.

The ax only flew spinning on cool days.

Pararae larae larae larae rack, je-ang!

That was powerful enough, but Perun managed to block the final blow. The thick hook broke, the axe blade bounced back and cut his forehead deeply, and he lost his balance and fell heavily, but he was able to block it.

Whoo – whoo, whoo – whoo, whoo, whoo, tuck!

Kadim retrieved his axe and approached the fallen warrior. He lay dazed, his blood dripping. He looks like he’s wondering why he’s alive.

“… … ‘Thunderbolt’ can only be charged twice. If you attack in succession, it will take about half a day to recharge.”

That was not the answer the warrior was looking for. Perun asked in a thin voice.

“Why, you… saved me… … because I was afraid… .”

Kadim raised his gaze to the distant sky and answered slowly.

“Your choice to serve the wrong warrior was wrong. However… … This is a battlefield too poor for a warrior who would not yield to death to die.”

“… … .”

Kadim thought.

Interest did not give up until the end, so it was originally supposed to die here.

Nevertheless, interest can never be judged based on that mistake alone.

He cut off his own arm to survive, did not give up the fight even after losing his arm, and carried out his will to the end without giving in even to death. The traces of Lee Ja’s life were enough to earn the respect of the great warrior. This Hall of Corruption was an excessively low-class place for a warrior of this size to be buried.

So Kadim changed his mind and decided to let Iza live for now.

In the same way as when he saved the dead Duncan.

Sseure – geuk, sseure – geuk, sseure – geuk!

Kadim handed over the hilt of the Bloodthirsty Sword and repeatedly cut his own arm. The skin split endlessly, the Hydra tattoo regenerated the severed dermis and arm muscles. The red sword swallowed its master’s blood and offered it to the one holding the hilt.

Of course, Kadim did not offer mercy unconditionally. She had a mission to entrust to him.

“… … It’s not that I’ll save you with my life. I said I’ve come too far to turn back. However, those who have already walked a long way are bound to gain the strength to endure the long journey again.”

“… … .”

“Go on a long journey again. Find the battlefield that suits you. Cut down demons and monsters and continue the fight. Be sure to die with your fighting spirit on top of the Sisan Blood Sea. And when you reach the heavens and meet Atala… … “Stick that guy very hard.”

“… … .”

“This is the mission I entrust to you in exchange for a new life.”

If a guy like this grows up, he might even be able to give Atala a beating.

The body struck by lightning was completely cured. Perun blinked in bewilderment. Then, realizing that Kadim had shown him great mercy, he jumped up, fell to his knees, and pounded his chest.

“My body is your sword, and my soul is your axe. I swear on the name of the majestic Atala that you have entrusted me with this mission, and I will do it no matter what happens, Great Warrior… … .”

“… … .”

No, I told you to stab me, but I swear on that bastard’s name.

Suppressing a hollow laugh, Kadim nodded his head roughly. Perun shook his shoulders slightly, unable to contain his overflowing emotion. The sun’s rays scattered, and a yellow gust of wind resembling the wind of the wilderness flowed naturally between the two warriors.

Meanwhile, there was dead silence in the audience.

““… … .””

The audience could not understand at all. What on earth is happening on that dirt floor? I was just dumbfounded as I watched the miraculous scenes unfold one after another.

However, those who came to their senses late began to complain.

“What the hell are you doing, you punk! Why are you killing them all and then letting them live!”

Starting with someone’s blunt shout, the onlookers who had come in anticipation of a brutal slaughter, the drunkards who had had a drink, and the gamblers who had lost a lot of money to the demon slayer and were looking for something to complain about all began to hoot and holler.

“Yes, that’s right! If you win, you have to kill me! “What are you doing, demon slayer?”

“Are you considering us as barbarians? “Stop acting so merciful now!”

“It’s the power of the devil! The demon slayer used the devil’s sorcery to bring the dead back to life!”

“As expected, it was all about planning! It’s manipulation! This match is rigged! “Give me my money back!”

“Uuuuuu!! Woooooo!!”

No matter how spectacular there were, this ending was not what they wanted. ‘One loss’ in the arena must end in humiliation and death. The mud-like outbursts flowed in one stream and merged into one cry.

““Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!””

Even those who were sitting quietly were quickly swept up in the atmosphere. The cries of the opposition were drowned out by persistent noise. Tens of thousands of eyes longing for blood were shining with malice.

“The author was brought back to life by an unclean power! “You must never leave it alive!”

“The heavenly gods will curse! Hurry and kill me again, demon slayer!!”

““Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!””

A huge roar shook the entire arena. It felt like a riot would break out if we responded carelessly. No one in this world, not even the king of the arena, seemed able to settle this situation without shedding blood.

But Khadim dismissed the complaints without seeing any blood.

Parararararararararararararararararararae –

By throwing an ax straight into the audience.

“… … “Huh!”

“Ugh!”

“Ugh!!”

The gust of wind blew, and the spectators cowered in fear. However, the axe flew without splitting anyone’s head, and headed towards the gong that signaled the start of the game.

――――― Wow!!!

The gong broke, and a loud bursting sound erupted that made my eardrums ache. Everyone quickly covered their ears and fell asleep. Suddenly, the noise in the audience subsided.

Kadim pulled back the lightning bolt and slammed the bloodsucker into the dirt.

Bam!

“Anyone who is dissatisfied with the treatment, come forward and draw this sword. “It will give you a chance to defeat me and kill that warrior.”

““… … .””

Once again, the dead silence.

No one complained anymore.

Out of a crowd as large as grains of sand, not a single one.

A person who is not prepared to die trying to kill someone is an act of language that is never permitted by the rules of the wilderness. If we combined the courage and courage of the tens of thousands of spectators, it was only at a level that was less than that of one Atallain warrior.

Kadim turned his back on the cowards, casting a contemptuous glance at them.

The eyes that had been longing for blood became unfocused and rolled around on the dirt floor.

*

‘But… … This is a battlefield too poor for a warrior who would not yield to death to die.’

The moment he heard those words, Perun saw.

A scene that seemed to replicate the vision I saw when I lost my arm.

Kadim stood tall in the wilderness, his back to the sun. The yellow wind of the earth blew like a cloak over his shoulders, and his sparse tattoos gleamed like freshly sharpened blades. Lightning-bearing axes and blood-stained swords were in the warrior’s hands, eager to slaughter his enemies.

The intuition I felt at that time was not wrong. Kadim’s identity was once again driven into my mind like a wedge.

Atala, the great agent who carries out the will of the devotees on earth. The savior who will destroy rampant evil and lead us to a place where war and feasting never cease.

I face death at the hands of this great warrior.

I was filled with joy that made my heart explode and my muscles tremble. But that feeling didn’t last long. Her suffocating anxiety tightened her chest. Perun knew well how this vision ended.

Sure enough, just as imagined, the warrior’s skin cracked and red raw flesh was revealed.

Write-up, write-up!

Perun’s face turned pale.

But no. Nothing ominous enough to make your heart stop just by looking at it popped out. That flesh was just something that Kadim had cut off on his own arm.

‘… … ?’

Perun, who was confused, soon realized that Kadim had brought him back to life by sacrificing his blood.

The fantasy was just a fantasy. The great warrior was not the source of disaster, but a savior with the magnanimity to give even warriors who had abandoned him one more chance.

‘Be sure to die with your fighting spirit on top of the Sisan Blood Sea.’

I was given new life through the blood and flesh of the great warrior. I had committed a shameful sin, but I was given the opportunity to die gloriously. I was overwhelmed with a feeling that I could not express in words. I had to repay this favor. Even if the world split in two, I had to fulfill the mission that had been given to me.

Therefore, Perun, without hesitation, went to the camp of the ‘Indomitable Army’ and reported.

“I am leaving this place now.”

Atala warriors lined up with blades in hand, and a giant with wide eyes sitting in the center.

Agon’s angry horn furrowed his brow fiercely.

“… … What are you talking about, Perun? How did the match with the Demon Slayer go, and where did you put the weapons you lent me?”

“I am ashamed. I lost the game and all my blessed weapons were destroyed. However, they fell into the wrong hands and were taken by the one who forged them… … I wonder if this too is the providence of the Father of the Wilderness, Lord Goltaran.”

Thick veins bulged on Goltaran’s forehead.

It was a word with sharp bones. And Perun didn’t even call him a ‘great warrior’.

“What the heck… what nonsense are you talking about, Perun?”

“I think you, Goltara, would know better what I am talking about.”

“… … .”

“… … Thank you so much for everything. However, it seems I can no longer remain loyal to the wrong person. “I will now leave to carry out the mission entrusted to me by ‘Master Daejeon.’”

Perun turns his back and leaves without hesitation.

Just like that, one of my most trusted subordinates left.

A silence descended as eerily as the blade of a sword. Everyone was so flustered that they could not even think of holding on. The Atalain warriors belatedly looked at their leader’s expression.

“… … .”

Agon’s angry horn glared at the one-armed warrior with bloodshot eyes…

Bang – !

… … He immediately threw the helmet to the floor, covered his face with one hand, and crushed his temple.