Berkman, the Butcher.
His deanor always bore the hallmark of madness, his actions whimsical and movents seemingly haphazard.
This often led to minor blunders, especially when he was toying with soone weaker than himself, his casual ruthlessness all the more highlighted.
Yet, his true strength lay in overcoming such flaws.
Escaping from the Empires Black Dragon Knights and surviving was a feat managed by only a rare few, excluding outliers like Sinchang and Mary Diana.
It was in the midst of such a mont that Kraush raised his hand.
Following a spell activated from his hand, Biancas hairpin, once stolen by Berkman, returned to him via the Black Hood technique.
Kraush ticulously secured the hairpin in his pocket.
Upon raising his head, there stood Berkman, annoyed and rising from the snow after having been knocked down, yet unhard by the blow.
Had Bianca not been his captive, Kraush would have inflicted instant death with his aura-wrapped sword; Berkman was a formidable enemy regardless.
To kill him, it would require injecting the maximum amount of aura, and Berkman would have promptly detected and defended against it.
Surprise attacks were only effective amongst equals.
It was far too risky to gamble in Biancas captured state.
Hence Kraush was forced to choose the Short Power technique, effective yet non-lethal, a surefire way to separate Bianca from Berkman without detection.
Though missing the opportunity to strike lethally was disappointing, knowing that Bianca was safe was all that mattered.
Who are you? Why do you interfere with my affairs?
Berkman spat out harshly, his words twisting with dissatisfaction.
Enough chatter.
Right now, all Kraush wanted was to take Bianca and return to Hardenhartz.
He longed to treat her wounds as soon as possible.
Here and now, he was the only one capable of aiding her.
Crimson Gardens crow couldnt transport Bianca, and Ebelasque was bound by the unspoken laws of the world eroders.
Therefore, showing his back to Berkman while fleeing could lead to dangerous consequences.
So, Kraush decided that he must defeat Berkman then and there.
After striking soone down, the youth today are truly savage.
At that mont, as Berkman spoke, his shadow scattered.
Youre making lose my temper!
Suddenly, Berkmans axe ca whirling and slashing towards Kraush with bending force.
Clang!
In a fleeting instant, Kraushs sword filled the void, blocking Berkmans axe.
So fast.
His intuition barely kept pace with the attack.
Furthermore, judging by the sheer aura alone, Berkman was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of expert level.
Becoming a kin of a world eroder, he had surpassed his own limits.
Kraush had only recently matured to an expert of the mid-rank.
The difference in level was unmistakably apparent.
Ah, you blocked it!
Clang, clang, clang!
Berkmans axe was swung several more tis in rapid succession.
Each ti, Kraushs sword quickly filled the space, parrying the blow.
It was a blunt sword.
Still, a blunt swords rit lays in its ability to withstand the opponents full strength.
Being outweighed in pure strength, Kraush had to keep retreating, unable to take advantage of the swords spatial control.
Keep blocking! Just try and stop !
Berkmans characteristic taunting remarks burst forth in a light and dismissive tone, befitting a street thug rather than a warrior.
However, contrary to his lightness, the axes blows were enormously heavy.
Kaang!
Another clash sent Kraushs blade flying open from the impact.
Berkmans eyes flashed, grasping the opportunity.
With one hand freed from the axe, Berkmans fist hurtled straight at Kraush.
Crack!
The distinct sound of impact resounded.
However, there was an unexpected turn of events.
Ugh?!
The grunt ca from Berkman, the one who had unleashed the punch.
The explanation was straightforward.
Anticipating Berkmans action through intuition, Kraush too had swung his own fist towards the initiating punch.
Short Power.
The techniques effect was confird as it pierced the exterior to deliver an internal shock, creating fractures in the bones of Berkmans fingers.
Kraushs left fist also suffered from the impact, despite the successful execution of Short Power.
Without it, Kraushs fist alone would have been broken.
Arghhh!?
Berkmans scream echoed as his bones cracked.
Kraush was not free from pain either.
He too had endured the impact, experiencing a bone-cracking sensation just as painful.
Yet Kraush instantaneously channeled strength into his sword, revealing his advantage in this aspect.
Swoosh!
His sword sliced through the air, grazing Berkmans side.
Though aiming to pierce his gut, Berkman reacted just in ti to avoid a fatal wound.
Between the spurts of blood, Kraushs blue eyes glead sharply.
He was accustod to pain.
He had endured far worse than this minor discomfort.
A simple fracture in his hand could not inhibit his movents.
Im getting a hold of the rhythm.
His thinking accelerated, and Kraushs concentration peaked.
Successive punches followed by the sword strikes had Berkman wobbling.
Humans tended to shrink when feeling pain, including Berkman.
So, Kraush seized the mont, explosively surging his aura.
The energy seeped between the muscles in his arm and surfaced along the sword, painting it a vibrant blue.
Ignis.
At his beckoning, the blue aura transford into blazing flas.
Whoosh!
The flaming sword surged towards Berkman, the sudden wall of fire catching him off-guard.
And Kraush ticulously exploited that opening, intent on wounding Berkman at least a little.
Damn it, irritating as hell.
Yet, had Berkman been solely reliant on such tactics, he would never have stood against Charlotte prior to his regression.
Bark!
A sharp, brief bark emanated.
Kraush recognized it as a sign.
The sounds echoed, and the surroundings began to change color.
Where once there was a snow-filled mountain range, now it was being painted over in hues of red.
Dusk set in, and from all around, the sounds of barking resonated.
Kraushs vision was engulfed in red.
His senses then started to reel uncontrollably.
Illusionary Bind.
Differing from Berkman, who saw the environnt clearly, Kraush was trapped in an Illusionary Bind, the world around him becoming distorted.
This technique layered aura over his opponents senses with sound, entangling them within.
Once caught in Berkmans Illusionary Bind, Kraush would be rendered oblivious until the bitter enda dreadful thod indeed.
Feel like dying now that youre trapped?
As Kraush remained motionless, ensnared in the illusionary effect post-assault, Berkman let out a taunting laugh.
However, the laugh didnt match the panting of Berkman, who slowly gripped his axe.
He had realized that he was in more peril than anticipated when Kraush had pressed the attack.
A young childs appearance, not matching his phenonal strength and aura.
Having underestimated his opponent as a weakling to be easily subdued, Berkman now found himself with fractures in his left hand and a sword wound on his right side.
Given the situation, Hardenhartzs search parties were likely soon to arrive.
It seed prudent to end this quickly.
Bark!
He let out another bark, and his own senses subtly shifted.
The pain from his hand and the wound from the sword dissipated.
By casting illusions on himself, he removed the pains that could hinder him in the imdiate fight.
Thus, he stepped forward thodically, gripping his axe with deliberate caution akin to a hunting hound.
Having resorted to Illusionary Bind, Berkman now considered Kraush to be a serious threat, warranting his full attention, and no longer underestimated him.
The epithet of Butcher rang true as Berkman began his real hunt.
That movent, following my axe since a while ago, is no ordinary movent.
Even amid the Illusionary Bind, Kraush might still be able to counter.
Therefore, Berkman swung his axe in a wide arc, his target surprisinga tree trunk.
Crunch!
The tree fell instantly towards Kraush, and Berkman kicked off the ground, heading straight for Bianca.
That was the mont.
Crack!
Kraush split the falling tree and swiftly launched an assault.
Berkman, barely avoiding the sword approaching his face, glared at Kraush with bulging eyes.
In Kraushs eyes, red waves rippled, a certain sign of being affected by Illusionary Bind.
But Kraush had intuition.
He possessed a counterasure against Berkmans illusionary technique.
Berkman let out a half-defeated, half-mocking laugh.
Haha, you little dog!
It was the first ti in a while that Berkman had felt a shiver of genuine fear.
Kraush had been waiting patiently, his fangs hidden, until just before he struck.
He was baiting my overconfidence all along.
Kraushs gaze settled on Berkman.
His bearing as he looked straight at him seed unbothered by the Illusionary Bind, almost as if he was outside its influence.
Now it was clear.
This man was not re prey.
He was a formidable opponent entitled to a fierce battle, an equal nace, a predator in a struggle for dominance.
Clang!
The sound of the axe clashing with the sword resounded fiercely throughout the forest.
Kaga-Kang! The fight for power between the axe and the sword kicked up sparks.
Observing this, Berkman leaned in aggressively, opening his snout.
If you dont stop , I will gouge out that girls eyes, cut off her fingers and legs, and stuff them into her mouth.
Those were Berkmans provoking words, ant to unsettle Kraush.
Yet Kraush remained unflinching, his expression unchanged even in the face of such taunting.
Seeing this, Berkman beca certain.
This guy, he seems unaffected by the Illusionary Bind!
Even if he didnt know how Kraush penetrated the illusion, his senses were certainly not fully normal.
If that was the case, the advantage would tip towards him.
Kraush had the handicap of the lingering effects of the Illusionary Bind and had sothing to protect.
In contrast, Berkman needed only to attack.
With the advantage on his side, Berkmans axe beca a storm from every direction.
Kraushs sword narrowly parried each strike of Berkmans axe, but with each blow, Kraushs body began to give way.
And that wasnt all.
The illusions of Berkmans axe began to mingle in the fray.
Welcoming War Axe.
The true onslaught began, a myriad of illusory axes rained down upon Kraush.
Though Kraush had perfectly counteracted the Illusionary Bind with his intuition, he couldnt fully negate the aftermath.
As evidence, the injuries continued to multiply across Kraushs body.
Argh, eugh.
Ebelasque, watching from a distance, bit her lip tightly.
She hesitated as she watched the two engage in combat.
Kraush was the benefactor who had returned her heart.
Trade or no trade, even she had a code of honor.
She did not want to watch Kraush die just like that.
Should I step in? But if I do, that man will target . No, not just ; hell decide Kraush is complicit and target him too.
Behind Berkman, who had beco a kin of the Butcher, was the world eroder Mad Dog.
Should he start targeting both her and Kraush, it would be a situation without escape.
Mad Dog was among the strongest of the world eroders.
And true to his na, he was relentless.
Once he sets his sights on a target, he wont let go until theyre torn to shreds.
Thus, she helplessly paced back and forth, unable to intervene.
Boom!
In that mont, Kraush took a heavy hit from Berkman and tumbled to the ground.
Though he got up quickly, the assault left him covered in more wounds.
Upon seeing this, Ebelasque jumped to her feet.
No, it cant be.
Even if it ans death later, dying here would render everything aningless.
[Do not intervene.]
The voice resonated in her mind.
It was none other than Crimson Garden speaking.
Ebelasque was perplexed.
Do not intervene? Does she not see Kraush dying?
[Just watch.]
Crimson Gardens voice ca through once more, filled with certainty.
[The boy said he will win on his own.]
It was Kraushs own declaration.
Thus, as his ntor, she must trust him and watch over him.
[Trust in the boy who returned your heart. He is a stubborn one, acknowledged by .]
With the last ssage, Ebelasque slowly took a seat on the ground.
Really, if he dies, Ill just resurrect him as a corpse.
She muttered, hoping that such a asure would not beco necessary.
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