Caldrik attacked.
It was expected—but his speed was still higher than usual opponents of his level.
I parried.
12 Steps of the Storm + Storm Step.
He deflected the first three steps, but on the fourth he already shifted into a counterattack. I was pushed back slightly.
Interesting. He is strong.
His fighting style was unusual:
his left blade focused on fast, sharp movements driven by wind,
while his right blade delivered powerful fire-infused strikes.
I allowed myself to be pushed back slightly.
I needed to draw the fight away from potential witnesses. No reinforcements would come.
And I couldn't run—civilians would be endangered.
—I thought.
I parried again using 12 Steps of the Storm, then transitioned into a counterattack, accelerating my momentum.
The second and third strikes missed.
The fourth was blocked.
The fifth missed again.
The sixth forced him to retreat several steps.
The seventh and eighth were barely blocked.
The ninth strike cut deeply into his left shoulder.
Caldrik roared.
— You little bastard, I'll kill you!
At that moment, his aura changed.
I felt an unfamiliar energy in his hand.
Weak. Strange. Ominous.
A vile god?
There was no time to think.
Earth Wall 1★.
Since it is the first moon, its effectiveness is increased by about 11%.
I began casting.
But he already charged forward.
His blades were now covered in blood-red energy.
I retreated sharply.
The rhythm of the battle shifted.
My Earth Wall only partially formed—and was instantly shattered by two strikes.
This god is unfamiliar. That means Caldrik is only a novice or follower.
That explains his strength… and why he killed that family.
But it doesn't explain why he acts alone.
The wall fully formed—but it was already too late. One of his strikes broke through again.
Caldrik had grown significantly stronger.
It didn't matter. The reward would only increase.
His fighting style became more aggressive and reckless. The result of overusing divine power—he was losing control.
I barely managed to keep parrying.
Blazing Storm 5★. Burning Steps 4★.
He decided to finish the fight.
Caldrik's blades were filled with elemental energy—fire in the right hand, wind in the left.
He crossed them.
In the next moment, the ground beneath him exploded as he launched himself forward.
Everything was amplified by a red aura.
There was no time for an Earth Wall.
Stone Rain 1★.
Even if I take damage, I have to injure him.
Our blades collided for an instant.
Then I was sent flying backward.
That level of power cannot be withstood in my condition, even with earth aura reinforcement on my blade and legs.
But my stones were already in motion.
He staggered.
Three projectiles hit: right shoulder, left leg, abdomen.
Not deep—but enough to slow him down.
My right wrist was fractured.
I will survive.
He was slowed.
But his mind was already gone.
He charged again—no reason left, completely consumed by that power.
Such a strange god…
Normally divine power should not consume the mind so quickly.
But that is not my problem.
Stone Rain 1★.
Two missed. One hit his right leg.
I retreated, barely managing to move.
I never thought Storm Step could be used like this.
Another Stone Rain.
Three missed.
We were both at our limits now.
Even in berserk state, his body was deteriorating under the power. And the god's blessing seemed to be burning out.
Another stone hit—left leg, just above the foot.
He slowed even further.
My mana was nearly depleted. I needed one more minute.
But there was no minute.
We continued retreating and attacking, both barely holding on.
Then I decided to end it.
12 Steps of the Storm + Storm Step + Stone Rain.
Final strike.
He blocked my blade, but three stones still found their mark.
He staggered back.
And in that moment, I thrust upward.
The blade pierced his heart.
But his arm was still moving.
There was no time to pull the sword out.
I exhaled.
And he fell.
Dead.
---
I retrieved my sword and his weapons. Both blades were inscribed with runes—worth roughly 2,000 low-grade mana stones.
Not bad.
Though I have no use for them right now.
I found the key to his room, but there was nothing inside—the building was nearly destroyed.
Later, the village elder arrived: a one-armed old man with a first-rank aura core.
I see. Without an arm, his aura path is effectively closed.
I showed him my academy student badge.
"So you are a student of the Imperial Capital Academy… Please wait. The Inquisition will arrive soon. I saw who you fought."
The elder was polite.
"Yes, of course."
---
Two hours later, the heretical Inquisition of the Church of the Holy Light arrived.
High rank.
The inquisitor was a man around 35 years old, muscular build, about 185 cm tall, with short coal-black hair and a diagonal scar running across his face.
"Hello, Lord Viren. You may call me Inquisitor Raphael."
"Hello, Inquisitor Raphael. Do you have questions for me?"
"Yes. Although I received a report, I need to understand exactly what you encountered. The information may be incomplete."