Chapter 157
“Dravus?” grunted one of the warriors, stunned, before receiving a searing spear blow that forced him back.
Dravus didn’t reply. He simply struck with murderous efficiency, deflecting spears and piercing armor with icy ease. Every movement was precise, every blow delivered with the calculated force of an accomplished warrior.
The human mercenaries, too, froze for a moment at the sight of a Dravak fighting alongside them.
At the same time, sensing the strange situation, all the Dravaks retreated.
“What the hell is this?”
“A Dravak helping us?”
“I thought they all despised us?”
…
The murmuring continued until a Shibuya squad captain shouted:
“Stay focused!”
After all, since they didn’t understand the Dravaks’ language, they couldn’t sense when the situation was about to explode again.
If they reacted too late, it could mean dozens of lives lost.
But on the Dravak side, it was another matter entirely.
“Traitor!” screamed a massive Dravak in the native Dravak language.
His wings were disproportionately large and his scarlet armor was still splattered with the blood of Shibuya’s mercenaries.
Clearly, he was one of the Dravak leaders on this battlefield.
The latter split the earth with a heavy step, followed by several other Dravak warriors, their blazing gazes focused on their former brother-in-arms.
Dravius took a step back, his spear pointing downwards, but without showing any fear.
His mask of indifference contrasted cruelly with the unleashed rage of his own.
“Dravius, how dare you!” roared the massive warrior.
“Fighting alongside humans? Never has anyone in our tribe embarrassed us as much as you have!” then he spat contemptuously on the ground.
Another Dravak, younger but just as furious, pointed his spear at him.
“We thought you were one of us, Dravius! What’s your purpose in doing this? To become a dog of humans?”
The other Dravaks growled, their fury palpable. But Dravius remained impassive.
He wiped the blood from the blade of his spear with a calm gesture before answering them, his voice icy and sharp as a steel splinter.
“How can I still be loyal when a weakling steals my wife?” he said, his sharp gaze crossing every face in front of him.
The nearby Shibuya began to gather behind Dravius, enjoying the temporary peace.
But he couldn’t understand what the Dravaks were discussing among themselves, they could just see that both sides were particularly enraged.
“You’re just following the orders of a punk who profits from the shadow of his ancestors,” he continued in a scornful tone.
“Silence!” cut in the massive Dravak as he slammed his spear into the ground, causing a dull roar.
“You proud son of the sky of our tribe, you were born in our tribe, you grew up in our tribe, you ate our tribe’s resources!
“You even passed the warrior’s test!
“And above all, you swore loyalty to our tribe!”
“The only one you’ve betrayed is your heart, Dravius.”
The deafening voice of the regiment’s Dravak leader echoed across the surrounding plains.
Dravius gave a cold smile.
“Betray my heart, eh? I’d love to see your reaction when the chieftain’s son steals your women.”
An angry murmur ran through the ranks of the Dravaks.
“Or perhaps your wife is too ugly in Korran’s eyes for him to bother stealing her from you?” continued Dravius mockingly.
Maxime, who was standing a little way back and understood the Dravak language thanks to his contract, was amazed by his new mercenary’s elocution and, above all, his ability to provoke.
Hearing this, even people who silently supported Dravius couldn’t help but burst out in anger too.
“So, you choose death.” growled the giant Dravak, his tone almost solemn.
“For there is only one fate for a traitor. Prepare yourself, Dravius. We’ll show you no mercy.”
Dravius nodded slightly, his gaze becoming almost melancholy.
“I expected no mercy from you. Nor should you expect me to hold back my blows.”
The massive Dravak, whom Dravius had identified as Kaelor, one of the tribe’s most ruthless commanders, nodded to his men.
Three of them advanced, their shining spears reflecting the cold light of the battlefield. The others began to surround Dravius.
“It’s time for your insolence to end.” Kaelor growled as he approached, his wings spreading as if to impose his authority.
But Dravius, instead of being intimidated, raised his spear slightly, holding it with a calculated, almost mocking nonchalance.
“You think I’m the one who broke our loyalty. But look at you. Rabid beasts, blindly obeying a tyrant who hides behind his privileges. You’re the real traitors.”
One of the young warriors, excited, leapt forward.
“Dare to insult us again while you’re surrounded, you only ask for your own death!”
Dravius pivoted with disconcerting fluidity. His spear whistled through the air and disarmed his assailant in a flash, the sharp blade stopping just short of touching young Dravak’s throat.
“Don’t rush into a pointless death” he murmured, almost sadly, before stepping back without killing the young Dravak warrior.
The human mercenaries watched the scene with fascination.
Maxime shook his head; his new mercenary was still a little tender.
But that was normal, after all, he had rebelled against his own species and was now facing members of his family.
They’d all grown up together.
So it was only natural that he should still have feelings for his tribe, despite appearances to the contrary.
Kaelor, for his part, burst into a raucous laugh.
“Enough talk, Dravius. Show us if your words are worth as much as your strength.”
He made a sudden gesture, and two other warriors attacked simultaneously, their spears aimed at Dravius.
But Dravius was no mere warrior, and having been blessed with Maxime’s talents, his sense of combat had improved still further.
He dodged the first attack with supple movement and parried the second with frightening precision.
In a lightning counter-attack, he disarmed the first opponent and knocked down the second with a well-placed kick.
Kaelor watched, motionless, his eyes blazing with contempt mixed with a hint of admiration.
“You’ve always been quick. But speed won’t save a lonely man.”
“He’s not alone.”
Maxime’s voice, in Dravak language, surprised everyone, Dravius first.
He’d naturally learned it from the contract, without necessarily meaning to.
But if the master didn’t know his slave’s language, could he guess when he heard him inadvertently, whether he was complimenting or insulting him?
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One of the effects of a talent coming from an SSS-level God could naturally not involve such a flaw.
Simultaneously, Maxime entered the encirclement without fear, and stood in front of Dravius, although his body was only part of Dravius’.
From the Dravaks’ point of view, it was as if Dravius was the bodyguard of the young man who had just appeared.
But at least everyone could see that he was the person to whom the traitorous Dravak had now sworn fealty.
Langus and Kaite also penetrated the encirclement, and also stood by Dravius, each on his own side.
The Dravaks didn’t know Maxime, but they had already observed the fighting power of the other two humans, and it rivaled that of the Dravaks who had passed the warrior’s test.
However, the Dravaks burst out laughing, a hoarse, contemptuous roar that echoed across the battlefield.
Kaelor, his eyes sparkling with arrogance, took a step forward.
“Is this Dravius?” he thundered, gesturing at Maximus.
“This is the man for whom you betrayed your own blood? A fragile child, protected by his human minions?”
“He’s no better than Korran.”
The Dravaks knew very well that age in humans was generally an important indicator for estimating one’s power.
And they’d never seen anyone so young on a battlefield, so they assumed he was simply the son of a wealthy family come to experience the smell of a battlefield.
This assumption was even more likely to be true when they saw two powerful humans standing behind him.
Another Dravak chimed in, sarcasm oozing from his voice:
“Maybe this boy is a prince in their world. He must have rich parents to afford two powerful bodyguards.”
The laughter intensified, and some Dravaks pointed their spears at Maxime with obvious mockery. A young warrior sneered:
“Does he even know how to fight, or does he just give orders?”
Dravius felt a dull anger rise up inside him at these words.
For he had been defeated by this human in a duel!
So they were laughing at him too!
He took a step forward, his voice booming like thunder.
“Enough!” he roared, his icy gaze sweeping the ranks of his former brothers.
“You have no idea how powerful this man is.” He gritted his teeth, his wings quivering with emotion.
But Maximus raised a hand to calm his ally, an enigmatic smile floating on his lips.
“Let them say it, Dravius.” he said softly in Dravak, his words provoking another stunned silence among the warriors.
“They won’t understand until I show them.”
The Dravaks’ first reaction was to laugh at Maxime’s words.
“This little human is so arrogant and funny!”