Chapter 266:
In fact, Otto wanted to fight against Bathory as well.
She was the strongest and most powerful of the Lords, and as such, she would be a worthy opponent.
However, for the sake of Bagram's growth, Bathory was an opponent that had to be conceded.
Bagram had not been stripped of his Lord status, and his potential was still very much alive.
If Bagram were to win the duel against Bathory, he would gain a massive amount of experience and undergo remarkable growth.
Just as Bagram's skills had significantly improved from obtaining the Holy Relics of Chawchaw and Astra's Axe, defeating Bathory in their duel represented a tremendous opportunity for further growth.
That's why Otto had conceded Bathory to Bagram.
“Are you sure this is okay?”
Camille asked Otto.
"Bathory is a formidable opponent. Bagram, as he is now…"
“I know.”
Otto nodded in agreement.
"That Bathory is much stronger."
"Then why are you leaving Bathory to Bagram? Wouldn't it be better for me to…"
Camille, having made significant progress during the Thunder Mountain campaign, was feeling confident.
Of course, he couldn't compare to Bathory, but he believed he had a decent chance of victory.
“No.”
Otto shook his head.
“Bagram should take this one on himself.”
“But….”
“Win.”
Otto spoke with a tone full of conviction.
"This duel will inevitably end in Bargram's victory."
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“I just know.”
"…..?”
“And Bargram has the mindset and sense of purpose to win, no matter what.”
“Hmm.”
“The attitude he brings to the duel is different. That's why he can't lose. The whole world is smiling at Bagram, so there's no way he would lose just because there's a difference in skill.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“It's Luck, Luck.”
"….?"
"Who is strong and who is weak? Of course, it’s important. But a fight isn’t all about skill. It’s influenced by various factors like condition, situation, mindset, compatibility, etc. It’s bound to be divided by these factors unless there’s an overwhelming difference that can’t even be compared."
“I understand what you're saying.”
Camille agreed with Otto.
From experience, he knew that sometimes luck could play a role in a life-and-death duel.
However, the reason Otto was so confident in Bagram's victory was not solely based on that.
‘He will win 100%.’
According to the information Otto knew, the duel between Bagram and Bathory was destined to end in Bagram's victory.
One hundred percent.
No matter when, where, or how they fought, it was ‘destined' for Bagram to win against Bathory.
At least at this moment.
So Otto trusted Bagram and quietly sat on a nearby rock to watch the duel unfold.
Just in case.
While being prepared for any unforeseen ‘variables.'
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Contrary to Otto's expectations, the duel between Bagram and Bathory unfolded as a dominating one for Bathory.
"This filthy beast!"
“Chiiik!”
"Where do you think you're going!"
"Chwik, chwik!"
“How dare you!”
“Chiiik!”
“To me the King!”
“Chwiiiiik!!!"
“Dare to Attack me!”
“Chwiik!”
Bagram was thrown far away.
Bathory's sword swing was truly powerful.
Surprisingly, the destructive force of Bathory's sword was greater than that of the Astra axe wielded by Bagram.
*Shhh!*
Moreover, Bathory was utilizing the Aura Blade, a privilege of the strong, making Bagram's defeat inevitable.
Astra's axe's electricity barely countered the aura blade, but even that could only do so much.
"I'll kill you first."
Bathory swung her sword, closing in on Baghram.
“I will kill Otto de Scuderia as well.”
“Chwiik!”
“How dare you, you filthy beast!"
Bagram could barely hold on.
Bathory overwhelmed Bagram in every aspect, both in skill and experience.
Bathory, who had wielded a sword since childhood and was now entering middle age with a wealth of experience, showcased exceptional skill.
"Chiik! Chwiik!"
A pained scream escaped from Bagram's lips.
Before long, Bagram's body was stained a deep red.
Although he had not sustained any fatal wounds, he was covered in minor cuts, bleeding profusely from all over his body.
To those watching from the sidelines, it seemed as if Bathory was filleting Bagram like a piece of fish.
In reality, it was indeed like that.
“How long do you think you can hold on!”
“Chwiiik!"
"You filthy beast!"
“Chwiiik!”
"How long do you think you can hold out?"
“Chiiik!"
Bagram was unable to seize the initiative even for a single moment and was pushed back unilaterally.
And then.
*Slash!*
Bathory's sword cleaved straight through the center of Bagram's chest.
*Squurrrtt!!*
Bright red blood sprayed up, and Bagram flew several dozen meters, rolling across the snowy field.
The blood of Bagram stained the white snowy field red.
“Kuck! Kuukk!"
Wounded fatally, Bagram coughed up blood and writhed in agony.
*stomp* stomp*
Bathory strode toward the fallen Bagram.
“You.”
Bathory turned to look at Otto.
“I will slit your neck after I slaughter this animal.”
“Well.”
Otto scratched his ear as if he didn't want to listen.
“I don't think you're in a position to say that now."
“Huh?"
“Look over there.”
Otto pointed over Bathory's shoulder.
“……!”
Bathory watched in disbelief as Bagram slowly pulled himself up.
She had never expected Bagram to get back up after being mortally wounded.
"Chwik… The Thunderhoof Clan… will not fall… Chwik… Never… can we… fall… Chwiik…."
Although fatally wounded, Bagram's aura had changed as he rose to his feet once again.
*Crackle!* *Bzztt!*
The electric current emanating from Astra's axe had also become incredibly strong.
‘Berserk.'
Otto immediately recognized the change in Bagram.
In fact, the mana control technique Bagram had mastered was designed to activate a specific trigger when combined with Astra's axe.
Berserk is a technique that increases one's combat power by at least three times when one's health drops below a certain level.
Additionally, the regeneration of life force accelerated significantly, allowing him to recover almost instantly from severe injuries.
In other words, Bathory was the one who awakened the latent power of Berserk within Bagram.
"Yes, that's it."
Otto nodded and smiled as if he had expected it.
The primary reason for his confidence in Bagram's victory was the manifestation of Berserk.
“Chwiiik…."
Bagram emitted white steam from his entire body as he raised Astra's axe high.
"We Orcs… Chwik… are not… Chwik… livestock for humans!!!"
At that moment.
*FLAAAAAASSSHHH!!!*
A blinding white flash enveloped the world.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
More than a dozen bolts of lightning struck Bathory.
“Aaaaaaah!”
Bathory let out a scream.
“Chwwiiiiiik!!"
Bagram charges at Bathory with terrifying momentum, swinging Astra's axe like a mad man.
*CLAANG!*
*BANG!*
Astra's axe slammed down on Bathory with tremendous power.
“Chiik!”
Bathory hurriedly raised her sword to block Bagram's attack, but it was insufficient.
The Bagram that had unleashed Berserk was not the same Bagram that had been knocked around a moment ago.
Currently, Bagram is the sole Orc Lord, the ruler of the Uruk Plains and the only one who overpowers Bathory in strength.
“Chwiiik!”
Bagram shouted as he continued to attack Bathory.
*Clang!* *Bang!*
*Thwack!*
Astra's axe relentlessly struck Bathory's sword.
And then.
*Crack!*
Bathory's sword shattered into pieces.
It had been destroyed by the destructive force of Astra's Axe, wielded by Bagram.
“T… This is ridiculou.. …."
Then.
Wham!
Astra's axe came down, striking Bathory on the top of her head.
"……!"
Bathory's movements came to a halt.
Not only did Astra's axe split her head vertically, but it also cleaved down to her chest.
"…….!"
"…….!"
"…….!"
The knights of the Erzsebet Kingdom were so shocked by this unbelievable sight that they froze in place.
They never imagined that Bathory, who had maintained the upper hand throughout the duel, would lose so utterly and easily.
*Thud!*
Bathory's corpse crashed into the snow.
*Thump!*
At the same time, Bagram collapsed.
“Huff…. Chiik…"
Bagram gasped for air, using Astra's axe as a crutch to steady himself.
It was a victory that was only won by triggering Berserk, after being out of breath and being beaten to a pulp.
So it was only natural for Bagram to struggle.
“Well done.”
Otto approached Bagram and extended his hand.
“Chiik..!”
Bagram grasped Otto's outstretched hand and rose to his feet.
“Thank you… chiik… so much.”
Bagram expressed his gratitude to Otto.
"Thanks to my friend… Chwik, we won. Now we Orcs…"
“No.”
Otto shook his head.
“It's not over yet.”
"Chwik, chwik? What do you mean? We killed the wicked human King. Chwik. Now we Orcs…"
"I'm sorry to say, but this is just the beginning."
“Chwiik…?”
"Quite literally, this is just the beginning."
Otto pointed to Bathory's lifeless body.
“Chwiik?!”
Bagram was taken aback in shock.
*Whooosh!*
A swirling black hole had formed, swallowing Bathory's corpse.
“W-What the hell! Chwiik!”
“She'll be resurrected soon.”
“Chik?”
“She'll reappear many times stronger than she is now, as the Evil Undead Queen of Corruption.”
Otto said dryly.
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Originally, the one-on-one duel between Bagram and Bathory was merely an event in the mid-section of Bagram's scenario.
Having obtained Astra's axe, Bagram was meant to trigger Berserk in this event, guaranteeing a 100% victory over Bathory.
But that was not the end.
As is the case with all 100 Lords, Bathory has her own Holy Relic.
[Corrupted Heart]
Corrupted Heart.
Spew forth thy rotten blood.
– Ancient Dark Sorcerer
Description: An evil heart created by an ancient dark sorcerer.
Originally a solution in a syringe, injecting it into a blood stream infects the heart with the Curse of Corruption.
The Curse of Corruption virus lies dormant, only becoming active when the user dies.
However, if the user takes their own life, the Curse of Corruption virus becomes inactive.
Category: Holy Relic
Rating: ★★★★
Effect: Upon death, the user is resurrected as a corrupted being after being transported to a safe location.
Prior to the start of the entire scenario, Bathory was infected with the Curse of Corruption virus.
In other words, it is a Holy Relic, but not an object rather, it is a virus that lies dormant within the heart from the very beginning.
After her defeat in the duel with Bagram, Bathory is transported to a safe location and will be reborn as the Corrupted Queen with a corrupted heart within days.
Afterward, the Corrupted Queen would face off against Bagram, who would become the Orc Lord, and the scenario would continue.
In other words, the fated confrontation between Bagram and Bathory was just beginning from this point onward.
“She'll soon revive.”
"Chwik? Is that really true?"
“Yes.”
Otto nodded.
"The fight against the Erzsebet Kingdom is just beginning. So quickly subdue the Raging Wolf Clan and take control of the Uruk Plains. After that, establish a kingdom and become the Orc lord. Only then can you confront the Erzsebet Kingdom."
“I see, Chwiik.”
Bagram accepted Otto's advice.
The thought of Bathory being resurrected loomed large.
The fight against the Erzsebet Kingdom was far from over.
Thus, Bagram had no choice.
It was Bagram's destiny to become the Orc lord, strengthen his forces in the Uruk Plains, and ultimately face the resurrected Corrupted Queen with increased power.
** ** **
TL/N:
**BGM Theme and Video Extra (Does not affect Story if not unlocked)
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