Barbarian in a Failed Game

Chapter 274. Ancient Times (2)

“Karyan…?”

“Hm? Did someone badmouth me? My ear suddenly feels itchy.”

Coincidence or not, as soon as Khan uttered his name, Karyan stuck a finger in his ear and scratched it. Khan flinched, watching Karyan’s reaction. If anyone could pull off such bizarre behavior, it would be this eccentric, monstrous individual.

“Hmm. There’s no way those ancient dragons would talk behind my back just because I dealt with a lizard… Could it be those stupidly large ones? Nah, they’re too dumb to gossip. Damn, too many suspects to consider.”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Karyan had noticed anything specific, though he muttered some strange things. Criticizing his descendants for being dull-witted, as if he were any better.

“Well, I guess I’ll find out who it is soon enough.”

Leaving behind a casually threatening remark, Karyan shifted his focus to the red egg in the distance—the entity presumed to be Esperus.

“Wow, I’ve never seen such a huge egg. Makes me want to roast it someday.”

The Scion of the Arch Demon was an entity capable of turning Midland into hell solely by its presence. Already, the sky had turned blood-red, resembling the Blood Domain’s sky.

Even before such a transcendent being, Karyan remained utterly nonchalant. It was the attitude of someone who never doubted his own strength and superiority.

“Hey, big egg. How long are you planning to just sit there and look tough?”

His crude taunt made him seem like a mere thug. Such a trivial provocation shouldn’t have elicited any response from the Scion of the Arch Demon…

『Impressive. To think there would be someone like you in Midland.』

‘Why is that even working?’

Khan stared in disbelief at the exchange between the human and the demon. What was more astonishing was the polite tone of Esperus. It reminded Khan of the first dignified individual he met in the Blood Domain.

Whether aware of Khan’s thoughts or not, Yoro stood immobilized, eyes fixed on Esperus.

『I had perceived you as a God-like presence. How can someone like you exist with the strength akin to a highest-ranking God despite having the essence of a mortal?』

“Of course, it’s because I’m damn exceptional. If ordinary folks could comprehend a genius, would that still be a genius?”

It was a response that would make anyone grimace. Had Khan been part of the conversation, he would have called Karyan insufferable countless times.

ut Esperus maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, even offering a courteous smile.

『Haha… Ordinary folks, you say. That’s quite the amusing term. It’s the first time I’ve heard it since becoming aware of my own existence. However, I must concede. I’ve never encountered someone like you, hence my inability to comprehend.』

Ssss.

As Esperus laughed, the eyelid-like wrinkles on his form twitched. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying this encounter, and Karyan, who could read emotions, appeared incredulous at this.

“This bastard, are you mocking me? You invade and laugh? Ridiculous.”

『Ah, my apologies… Indeed. It’s a bit improper to chat extensively between an invader and the invaded. I just realized that now. Perhaps. I assume you are the ruler of this dimension. What will you do?』

“What do you think I’ll do.”

『Will you fight me? Or will you accept the Blood Domain’s invasion? Personally, I recommend the latter. I find you extremely fascinating… I would love to keep you nearby and converse in various ways.』

Though polite, the words were dripping with arrogance—befitting of the Scion of the Arch Demon. Karyan scoffed, his face reflecting sheer incredulity.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

『Excuse me? Kidding? I am genuinely extending my goodwill to you. Killing a being like you, who houses the strength of a highest-ranking God within a mortal shell, would be a loss on a trans-dimensional level. Honestly, I’m not even confident I could subdue you alive.』

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

In that instant, the atmosphere on the battlefield plunged. All due to one man. Karyan’s emitting battle spirit.

“If we fight, it’s obvious I’ll win—!!”

Boom!

Ground upheaved, and thunderous noise tore through the air as the clash unfolded. Esperus’s massive form quaked from the impact. No, the land around him was upheaved and reversed, forming a small basin as the terrain completely transformed.

“Interesting, you can withstand that?”

Karyan smirked, retracting his fist. It was then that Khan finally grasped what had happened. Karyan had stomped the ground and punched Esperus. There were no complex skills or profound techniques involved. Compared to a back-alley thug’s punch, Karyan’s seemed crude and unrefined.

It was just that the power behind it was beyond comprehension. Another deafening explosion echoed, and the ground collapsed entirely.

『Ugh!』

For the first time, Esperus let out a pained groan. The upper part of his form erupted in a spray of blood.

“How’s that? Too spicy for you?”

Karyan grinned, having managed to injure the Scion of the Arch Demon with mere punches.

‘What is this…?’

Khan’s eyes became grave as he observed the collision between these mythic beings. He couldn’t understand how Karyan could muster such power. No, he understood the method.

Just like Khan, Karyan was focusing his entire body’s strength into a single point with each strike. But the question was how this alone could push back a monstrous being like Esperus.

From what Khan could see, Karyan’s physical strength wasn’t that much greater than when Khan used the Giant’s Strength. Yet the actual power difference was as vast as the gap between heaven and earth, leaving Khan puzzled.

『…I cannot comprehend. How can a mortal like you freely wield ‘that power’ so effortlessly?』

“Didn’t I tell you already? It’s the difference between a genius and an ordinary fool—!”

‘That power…? What power is he talking about?’

Boom!!

This time, Karyan leapt into the air and slammed Esperus in the face. The impact of a single kick had transformed the battlefield into something unrecognizable. The ground around Esperus had turned into undulating hills due to the upheaval.

By now, the minions and soldiers that had filled the battleground had fled, avoiding the mythic clash. The two beings, however, paid no mind.

“Do you still have the mental capacity to boast about winning against me?”

『Haha. It appears I underestimated you as a being…. But you have yet to change my mind.』

“What? You haven’t had enough beating yet…?”

Boom…!

Crash—!

From the hole where Karyan had landed a blow, a transparent arm streaked out, covered in entwined red veins, and sent Karyan flying. It looked grotesque but didn’t seem to carry a special power that Karyan couldn’t counter.

Yet, Karyan didn’t defend and was sent crashing through several hills he had created, only stopping after planting his hands into the ground. He left a long furrow in his wake and wiped the blood trickling from his forehead with his sleeve. His eyes narrowed sharply.

“What the hell is this?”

『Did I not say? You haven’t done enough to change my mind. You are extraordinarily powerful for a mortal, wielding an uncontrollable power. However… you cannot exercise the abilities of a transcendent. Unfortunately…』

Esperus stated calmly with a tinge of amusement.

『Blood flows within your body, and my power over blood can affect you as well. Can you possibly fight against me when your body does not obey you?』

“Damn it….”

Hearing Esperus’s words, Karyan’s face first showed a look of frustration, but it quickly shifted to a savage grin.

“For the first time in a while, I’m getting excited…!”

Before he could finish speaking, Karyan’s figure vanished. Immediately, Esperus’s arm exploded, and the pools of blood scattered across the battlefield began to take shape under his influence.

It was the moment when the two mythical beings were about to clash in earnest. Just as Khan was about to imprint Karyan’s fight in his memory,

Rumble…!

The scene in the memory started to crumble along with an inexplicable shaking, as if screaming that recreating the battle between these mythic beings was impossible.

『Looks like the memory is transitioning.』

When Khan regained his senses, their point of view had shifted to that of another person, and the background was now the familiar blood-red sky of the Blood Domain.

『Hahaha…! To think I would lose to a mere mortal.』

The voice of the owner of the memory was none other than Esperus, who had just been in combat with Karyan. This memory likely depicted the time when Esperus, having been defeated by Karyan, escaped back to the Blood Domain.

‘It’s disappointing I couldn’t see the rest of the battle, but… there were still gains.’

The true purpose of examining Yoro’s memories was about to unfold. Khan brushed aside his disappointment and focused on the ensuing scenes.

『Even stabilizing this collapsing body is requiring considerable effort. It will take quite some time to fully recover….』

Esperus’s voice sounded curiously cheerful as he spoke. Did the encounter with Karyan leave such a deep impression on him?

“…….”

Khan briefly contemplated asking Yoro what it felt like, but seeing the grave atmosphere, he restrained himself and continued observing Esperus’s memory.

And then,

『If my siblings target me while I am reconstructing my body, I will be in quite a perilous situation. It is also dangerous to remain as I am….』

Esperus’s monologue, spoken as he moved with unstable steps, came to a close. A bit shocking but somewhat anticipated truth came to light.

『I will tear apart my collapsing body and soul, birthing a new entity. The spirit, imbued with power, will form its own body and become the new Monarch of Blood Domain in my absence. The crumbling flesh will be reborn in a weakened state but will remain immortal within the reach of the Blood Domain’s influence.』