The Vichy tribe was an enormous people, their total population sizable. But each dispersed sub-tribe was relatively small. The one in front of them now had no more than a hundred members in total.
Coupled with the previous attacks by Seaweed Blade, this Vichy tribe was now on the brink of extinction.
As they traveled, the group saw a few scattered Vichy structures, but they were empty. The entire island seemed shrouded in deathly silence.
The Vichy tribesmen guiding Ur and the others felt a growing sadness in their eyes. Though the Vichy were accustomed to harsh environments and familiar with life and death, witnessing such devastation still filled them with sorrow.
Perhaps the only consolation was that the perpetrators who had destroyed their tribe had been brutally crushed.
As they neared the center of the tribe, their pace quickened. If before they had feared Ur might harm their tribe, that concern was now entirely gone.
Most Vichy settlements were built underground. In this glacial world, subterranean dwellings offered warmth. This particular Vichy settlement had been carved into a natural circular canyon. The tribesmen dug cave dwellings into the ice walls, both to shield themselves from the icy wind and to hide from the island's savage beasts.
Ur and the others followed the Vichy guides, sliding down toward the canyon below. But the moment they touched the ground, a white light brimming with magical energy suddenly shot toward them.
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
Jangsen reacted first. Seeing that the attack could harm Pasfield, he leaped into action, delivering a punch toward the white shockwave.
Bang!
The two forces collided, cancelling each other out.
Ur closed his eyes briefly, sensing the situation. He suddenly reached forward with his right hand, fingers spread, magic surging in his palm, then clenched sharply.
"Lava Magic, Giant Lava Claw!"
A massive, intricate, deep-yellow magic circle appeared. Black-and-red lava claws erupted from it, seizing a figure hiding behind the rocks ahead and bringing them before Ur.
"Wha? Hey! Let me go!" The figure clearly hadn't anticipated Ur's strength. The sudden grab sent them struggling.
The young boy, with short black hair and otherwise ordinary features, spat and cursed. "You bandits… damned thieves! Destroying homes isn't enough—you want to wipe us out too?"
Ur frowned. He looked at the black-haired boy, who appeared ordinary in looks, and asked slowly, "Who are you?"
"Bah!" The boy spat defiantly. His expression was stubborn and unyielding. "You want my name? Foolish! Not a single word will I give to you damned robbers…"
Bang!
Before he could finish, Ur's fist slammed into his stomach, bending him painfully in half. The boy spat out a mouthful of bitter fluid.
A tough kid… spitting?
Ur's eyes glimmered with dangerous light. Grabbing the boy by the neck, he slammed another fist into his stomach.
The boy groaned, his eyes nearly bulging. Yet he still managed to glare at Ur, stubbornly declaring, "Y-you… you'll never get any information from me—cough, cough—"
Ur lightly patted the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry. From the moment you struck me, your death was already sealed. As for any information… that's irrelevant."
The boy: "...??"
Wait, is this script a little off?
Ur's words sent the black-haired boy into instant panic. Though he had acted defiantly, he had never intended to die!
And hadn't the guild told him that as long as he was captured but didn't reveal secrets, he still had value and wouldn't be killed?
Damn!
The boy's face went pale. He desperately tried to gather magic to break free from the Giant Lava Claw, but with his strength, escaping was at best a daydream.
Besides, Ur was standing right next to him!
Bang!
The boy barely managed to concentrate a bit of magic, and Ur's fist smashed into him, instantly dispersing the gathered energy.
The boy tried again.
Another punch from Ur.
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Pasfield and the remaining Vichy tribesmen could no longer bear to watch.
Too cruel. Too brutal. Too inhuman.
Even Jangsen squinted slightly. Old age softened his heart; he could no longer stomach such a scene and could only listen to the screams.
"Stop!"
Just as Ur was enjoying himself, a sharp, angry voice rang out from the side. Immediately, the ambient magic surged violently, and golden light flooded the entire canyon.
Jangsen's pupils narrowed. He instantly appeared before Pasfield.
This magical wave was unlike the previous ones. Even he had to be cautious.
Ur glanced back and saw a figure glowing with astonishing golden energy, rapidly charging toward him.
Ur's face remained calm. Casually, he positioned the Giant Lava Claw, holding the black-haired boy in front of him, placing the boy at the very front.
The figure releasing golden magic's expression instantly changed.
"No!" With a shout, the person hastily altered the magic's trajectory. The massive golden beam narrowly grazed Ur, smashing into an ice wall and creating a huge crater with a deafening crash.
Ur calmly rubbed his eyes, irritated by the flash of golden light, then slowly fixed his gaze on the approaching figure.
The figure, affected slightly by the spell's redirection, looked a little pale, but his eyes burned with fury, clearly enraged by Ur's underhanded tactics.
Yet, when his gaze met Ur's, both froze.
"It's you!"
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Next Chapter: Familiar Faces
Next Next Chapter: Not Ruthless Enough
Next Next Next Chapter: The Great Demon King