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Lichter’s vision wasn’t clear at all. Blood flowed sluggishly, and his head felt fuzzy due to the lack of oxygen. Lights flashed in the back of his eyes, and it took everything he had just to stand.

Yet, none of these could suppress his seething rage. It was like boiling magma, rising up from an endless reservoir, filling up every nook and cranny of his being.

“Haaa…! Haaa…!”

Lichter clenched his back teeth so hard that he felt as if they would shatter at any moment. The two beings faced one another. The Wearer of Death titled its head cockily, as if not understanding the meaning behind Lichter’s passion.

However, it wasn’t as if one could expect understanding or pride from a Demon.
Without any prior notice, the black goat spewed forth flames from its mouth, aiming straight at Lichter.

The cone shaped flames radiated with a frightening heat. The air around them shimmered like a mirage.

However, Lichter was nowhere to be found. Lichter, hunched low and prodding his four feet against the scorched cobblestone pavement, resembled a beast. He hadn’t dodged on pure reflex, he had anticipated it.

Lichter’s wild intuition had reached its peak after his survival instincts were pushed to the limit on the brink of death. This was neither something he himself wanted, nor some skill he had at last mastered. It was merely a brief display of inhuman power brought on by a perilous circumstance.

“HAAA!”

The black goat took a half-step back to evade the kukri knife’s uncontrolled swing. It then used its trident to stop the following attack.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!!”

Their battle to the death had begun. The Wearer of Death skillfully maneuvered its long spear in the face of Lichter’s wild slashes. Lichter’s current attacks lacked composure, making them fairly easy to deal with.

An Upper Rank Demon’s eyes were more than enough for such attacks, even if they weren’t as capable as Seletina’s. Indeed, the speed of Lichter’s swings had never been higher, and the power behind each one was remarkable. That was definitely not the kind of display someone who was close to death would put on.

Even a foolish Demon, however, could see through the strikes of someone who’s head wasn’t in the right place, whose swings were governed by sheer impulse, and who used his weapons without intent.

It was a fact that Lichter had been able to slay one of the Wearer of Deaths, however, he’d done so at the expense of his body. The enormous scar running across his chest was clear proof of that.

Lichter clicked his tongue. He was tired of being played around with. This led to frustration building up alongside his anger.

The black goat was having fun playing with this human. However, despite the seemingly spectacular engagement, it was no longer a fair fight. It was akin to a bullfighter ducking and dodging the advances of a raging bull.

(I won’t let it look down on me.)

Lichter’s left kukri knife let out a sharp sound. Aiming for the black goat’s throat, the blow was intercepted by a jet-black trident, emitting white sparks.

(If I’m not strong I’ll lose everything.)

Without pausing, the right kukri knife sliced through the air, still pursuing the black goat’s throat. The Wearer of Death drew a circle with his trident and deflected Lichter’s blow with the bottom part of the trident.

“What?!”

Lichter could feel his arms losing all of their strength. The knife, once wielded with ease, left his hand and sailed through the air.

(I must become strong.)

The next moment, a lightning-like sensation erupted deep inside his skull. His vision spun without end.

“U-Urgh…!”

He hadn’t really been hit by lightning, however, Lichter could clearly feel his blood dripping down from the wound on his cracked head. Lichter rolled several meters away on the cobblestones, managing to suppress the wound and realizing he had been struck by the Demon’s spear.

The taste of gravel and iron invaded Lichter’s mouth. He weakly spat out and staggered to his feet.

(I-I’m the one who takes… I’m-)

It was the endless hatred, anger, and thirst for power that sustained and awakened his body, which was on the brink of death. As his vision flickered and began to clear up, Lichter slowly began to regain his composure.

His expression was slightly different from before. It would be more accurate to say that he felt an out-of-body experience, as if he was able to observe his raging self from a bird’s-eye view.

The calm Lichter dived into his muddled memories. He began to search for the thing that was fueling his ferocity. For the reason behind his anger and his hatred towards the Demons.

He ought to have been able to hold his composure until he’d said goodbye to Seletina, but instead…

(J-Just why am I so angry… Ah…)

Lichter recalled the moment before he had lost his reason. It was the moment when the Wearer of Death had unleashed hellish flames upon the young children living in Ulbdor.

Those children had failed to escape and ended up becoming victims to the black goat’s prolonged torture. This easily brought back the horrible events Lichter had witnessed as a child, forcing him to lose his reason.

“Tieck…”

The blood-soaked Lichter muttered with trembling lips. This name belonged to his brother, his only blood relative.