The air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke. Bodies littered the ground outside the Rusty Pike, the once-bustling tavern now a battleground. The mercenaries of Iron Fang, who had ruled Redbrook with iron fists, lay slain at Yuuto's feet. But the battle was far from over.
A chorus of heavy boots echoed through the night as reinforcements arrived. Dozens of mercenaries—some carrying swords, others wielding axes and crossbows—poured into the square. Their eyes burned with rage, their weapons drawn.
At the head of the group stood Garrik, the leader of Iron Fang. His massive frame was clad in battered steel armor, his face twisted in fury. A blood-red war axe rested on his shoulder, its jagged edges glinting under the dim lanterns.
"You've made a grave mistake, boy," Garrik growled. "You think killing a few weaklings makes you a king? You're just another corpse waiting to drop."
Yuuto wiped his blade against the sleeve of a dead mercenary. "You talk too much."
Garrik snarled. "Kill him."
The battle erupted.
---
The mercenaries charged, their shouts filling the square. Yuuto darted forward, his enhanced reflexes allowing him to weave through their ranks like a shadow.
The first enemy—a swordsman—lunged. Too slow. Yuuto sidestepped and sliced through his abdomen, spilling his guts onto the cobblestones.
Another came from the left, swinging a massive club. Yuuto ducked, then thrust his sword through the man's chest, twisting the blade before ripping it free. Blood splattered his face, but he didn't stop.
Selene moved beside him, her twin daggers flashing in the dim light. She was fast, ruthless, her blades cutting throats and piercing hearts with brutal precision. A mercenary tried to grab her from behind—she twisted, drove her dagger into his eye, and let him drop like a sack of meat.
The mercenaries hesitated. They weren't fighting a man—they were fighting monsters.
"D-Damn it! Surround him!" one of them shouted.
Five men rushed Yuuto at once.
He reacted instinctively, his body moving as if guided by an unseen force. He parried the first strike, using his momentum to drive his elbow into another's throat. A third enemy raised a sword, but Yuuto kicked him in the kneecap, shattering bone, before finishing him with a clean decapitation.
One of the remaining two aimed a crossbow—Yuuto saw it too late.
The bolt whistled toward him—
CLANG!
Selene deflected it with a dagger throw, saving him.
Yuuto gave her a quick nod of thanks before lunging forward and impaling the crossbowman through the heart. The last mercenary turned to flee—Selene caught him by the hair and slit his throat open.
Their bodies hit the ground.
The square was now painted red.
---
Yuuto exhaled, his breath heavy but controlled. That was the last of them—except one.
Garrik, The Blood Axe
Garrik stood motionless, gripping his axe. His expression was unreadable, but his knuckles were white against the hilt.
"You think you've won?" Garrik muttered. "You don't understand, do you?"
Yuuto tilted his head. "Enlighten me."
A dark grin spread across Garrik's face. He raised his axe, and a wave of crimson energy erupted from its blade. The ground split apart, sending cracks through the stone streets.
Yuuto's instincts screamed at him—this was different.
A Skill.
[Berserker's Wrath: Blood Surge]
Garrik's body bulged with unnatural power, his muscles expanding. His veins glowed red, his eyes turning bloodshot. He let out a roar, the very air trembling from the force of it.
Selene's expression hardened. "He's using a skill-enhancing artifact."
Yuuto grinned. "Good. A real challenge."
---
Garrik charged, his axe a blur. Yuuto barely dodged, rolling aside as the weapon tore through the air—the impact shattered the ground, sending debris flying.
Without missing a beat, Yuuto counterattacked, slashing at Garrik's side. The blade bit into flesh, but Garrik didn't even flinch. Instead, he grabbed Yuuto's sword mid-swing with his bare hand, stopping it completely.
"What—?"
Garrik's fist crashed into Yuuto's chest, sending him flying straight through a wooden stall. The impact knocked the air from his lungs. Pain flared in his ribs, but he pushed through it.
Garrik was faster, stronger, and nearly indestructible in this state. A prolonged fight would be dangerous.
Yuuto wiped the blood from his lip and smirked. "Alright. My turn."
[CP Available: 10]
He accessed Creation, pouring CP into his sword.
[Enhancing Black-Steel Longsword…]
A golden glow enveloped the weapon. When it faded, the blade had transformed—sleeker, sharper, deadlier.
[Weapon Enhancement: Bloodbane Acquired]
→ Inflicts true damage to berserker-type foes.
Garrik lunged again. This time, Yuuto didn't dodge.
He met the charge head-on, parrying the axe with a precise deflection. The force nearly shattered his grip, but he held firm. Then, in a flash, he drove Bloodbane straight into Garrik's gut.
A scream tore from the mercenary's throat. His enhanced body twitched, spasmed—the enchantment on the blade was working, devouring his berserker state from within.
"You… bastard…" Garrik gasped.
Yuuto twisted the blade deeper. "You talk too much."
With one final push, he ripped the sword free, severing Garrik's torso in half.
The mercenary captain's upper body hit the ground with a wet thud, eyes wide in disbelief. His axe slipped from his twitching fingers.
Silence.
Then—
[You have gained a Binding Chance.]
---
Yuuto sheathed his sword, stepping over Garrik's corpse. Redbrook was his.
The town's people slowly emerged from hiding. They knelt before him—not just in gratitude, but in fear and respect.
Selene approached, wiping her daggers clean. "Well," she mused, "I think you just became Redbrook's new ruler."
Yuuto smirked. "That was the plan."
His eyes flickered toward the Iron Fang's main hideout—an old stone fortress on the outskirts of town. No doubt it contained gold, weapons, and information.
It would be his next target.
Because this was just the beginning.