"H-human!"
Ulguc screamed towards me as I fell to my knees.
"I-I'm fine, kid! Stay back!"
As I was responding to Ulguc, the wrappings that covered my brand slipped off.
"G-God dammit!"
The Brand of the Unforgivable was out for all to see. However, Ulguc and Thor simply looked at the marking with confusion.
"Huh? What kind of tattoo is that?"
The goblins outside also began to converse with each other. They also seemed to lack knowledge of the significance of my brand.
"You fools!"
Brolx's shout silenced the noisy murmurs between the goblins.
"Do you not know the shape of the Dark Markings? On this human's flesh is the Brand of the Unforgivable! And that means you are Baxter the Branded, the one who unsealed Lord Ira!"
Everyone gasped at the revelation.
"This man is Baxter the Branded?!"
"I thought he would be bigger..."
"He doesn't look very threatening..."
"Not to mention he is a Null!"
"How could one of the Forsaken undo the power of Chronos's Tongue?"
As the goblins' constant questions, comments, and rants came in one after the other, I managed to use the chance to get off my knees. I glared at the Chief of the Shin Tribe, my anger and patience reaching the boiling point.
"That's right...I'm Baxter the Branded. The one who freed your master, the Demon King. Now that you know that...how do you feel?"
Brolx asked, "What do you mean?"
I continued to talk in a mocking tone.
"You are all just monsters created by the Demon King for the sole purpose of war. Now that he is back, do you feel nothing but joy? Do you think that with your master back, the Realm of Ocaleveth will finally belong to the monster race?"
The Chief of the Shin Tribe was at first silent, but then she responded to my sarcastic question with a calm and mature tone.
"I speak for the Shin Tribe when I say we feel nothing but pity for Baxter the Branded. And while our people are grateful for Lord Ira's return, we want nothing to do with his war."
"Oh? Is that right?"
"Yes, as you stated before, our people were created to be Lord Ira's minions. After he was sealed away by the Hero of Light, the goblins and orcs left the Dark Lands and formed their own tribes. We built homes, customs, and practices, and have celebrated our freedom for centuries. While we do see Lord Ira as our god, the Shin Tribe has no desire to waste their lives in another pointless war.
"When word of Lord Ira's release spread, some of the goblin tribes returned to the Dark Lands of their own free will to fight for their master, but the goblins of Drogmaria simply wished for nothing but to live on their own terms."
"I see...does that mean you guys are against the Demon King?"
"Did you not hear me?" Brolx growled at me. "We still worship Lord Ira as our god! However, we are no longer the mindless servants we were in the past! And the Shin Tribe wishes to be free!"
The Chief of the Shin Tribe then aimed her axe at me.
"Baxter the Branded, you will lose your life here today. Not because we desire the reward but to avenge our brothers who you have slain!"
After hearing her words, I let out a sigh. I dropped my previous attitude and matched Brolx's seriousness.
"I understand your point of view. If I were a leader of a tribe that is so close like family, I would also take it upon myself to try to avenge the lives that were lost. However, I will say that I do not regret killing those goblins from before. They tried to kill and rob, but I gave them the chance to leave with their lives, but they persisted. In the end, their deaths were their own fault."
"Be that as it may, the Shin Tribe has its rules. Your blood will be spilled."
"You've spilled enough of my blood..."
I removed my precious bag from my shoulders and dug my entire right arm into it. Three seconds later, I pulled out a dagger that was made from a jawbone with an intimidating-looking black blade coming off of it.
Brolx pointed at my dagger and stated, "That is a very bewitching blade, but do you truly think such a measly little knife can defeat me?"
"Tell me, Chief Brolx…do you know what a Wendigo is?"
I displayed the dagger, showcasing the jet black metal that rang out with an intimidating hum.
"The Wendigo is a demon that is known for devouring flesh and souls. It was one of the most grotesque and powerful monsters I had ever faced. I had to use my entire arsenal to beat it. And when I did, I created one of—if not THE strongest weapon in my arsenal…The Shard of Greed."
"Shard of Greed?"
"This blade was made from the bones and blood of the very Wendigo I killed…its evil magic courses through this weapon…"
"T-the Wendigo's power…"
Brolx instantly realized what I had meant and began to swear.
"Y-you fool! You don't mean—"
"That's right, while wielding this blade…"
As I gripped the hilt of the Shard of Greed, my entire body changed like the sky would when time shifts from morning to night. My hair turned silver while my skin had become jet black with white, bone-like markings, skeleton. Even the Brand of the Unforgivable had turned from black to white.
"I harness the power of the Wendigo!"
"A-are you an idiot!?" Brolx shouted. "Not even high-class wizards would dare try to control a Wendigo's power! You could lose your very sanity and become a Wendigo yourself!"
"Maybe so…but hey, since I'm a Branded, I have nothing to lose. The world hates me and wants me to die, but I'm not just going to roll around and let it happen. I'm a warrior, I will fight and keep on fighting until someone defeats me…"
My eyes flared, and I screamed so loud that I was sure my voice reached the heavens.
"AND NO ONE HAS DEFEATED ME YET!!"
Even though one of my arms was rendered useless, I launched my entire body at the female hobgoblin like a cannon. The moment our blades clashed, a powerful shockwave erupted from the inside of the cage, knocking down the goblins who were outside.
I put my entire weight into my one arm, pushing the blade against Brolx. The force was enough to make Brolx bend her knees.
The first time since the fight started, I finally started to see Brolx struggle. Sweat was pouring down her forehead, and she was gritting her sharp teeth as she was trying her hardest to push me off. But I would not relent.
Even the sand below our feet lost its color and heat. It looked as dark as dust and was as hard as stone.
Brolx was the first to notice the strange transformation of the sand below her.
"W-what is happening to the ground!?"
Looking back at it, I did not notice what was happening, nor did I really care. My mind was fully focused on the fight. The Shard of Greed released its dark aura, and my body began to feel heavy.
"YEEESSS!!!!"
I was filled with intense adrenaline, my heart beating like a reckless drum. After being launched by Brolx's attack, I planted my feet onto the wooden bars of the cage and propelled myself towards her. I don't know how I liked, but I must have acted insane due to my uncontrollable laughter…and the fear written on Brolx's face.
My speed had increased dramatically, and I was able to counter every attack of the Chief of the Shin Tribe. The small dagger, which Brolx had long ago mocked, was able to block her battle axe and chip away at the expensive and great metal.
At that moment, even with one arm, I felt invincible. Despite the heaviness in my body, I moved like I bore no weight at all.
"HOW?!"
I remembered hearing Brolx scream.
"WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS STRENGTH?!"
I answered honestly.
"The Blade bestows upon me the ruthlessness of the Wendigo…I have now become an Avatar of Blood and Guts."
Then, after one successful parry, the Chief of the Shin Tribe was wide open. With one quick slash, I sliced off Brolx's right arm, making the limb that held her weapon fly into the air and crash into the hardened sand. I then sliced across her chest, leaving a big gash that traveled all the way down her stomach. The wound released a fountain of blue blood, and Brolx vomited some out before she fell over.
As the goblins outside the cage were yelling in worry for their leader, I stood over the hobgoblin with a triumphant smile.
"I told you...that I would pay you back for my arm, bitch..."
Right on cue, my head started to feel as if it was splitting in two, and an obnoxious ringing blared through my eardrums.
"D-dammit…the drawback is even worse than before…"
As my consciousness started to fade, and the last thing I saw before darkness took me was Ulguc running towards me in slow motion.
I let out one last sigh of relief before I went to sleep.
"Glad you're okay, kid..."