[You will die, Betrayer! Whether by our hands or the ones you love!]

[You cannot win!]

Ryuji''s arms felt like lead. He lifted his axe while watching the ogre lift its massive two-metre piece of wood thicker than Ryuji''s thighs together, a very primitive club with sharp nails sticking out from the edge.

Its strength is clearly greater than a normal enemy. Even Ryuji wondered if he could take this blow with his current body—maybe even at his best. He might falter.

Though his attributes seemed high, when fighting against Velvet, Ryuji received a wake-up call. After all the amount of magic, Ryuji could see swelling from the ogre''s arm made him feel a sense of oppression.

*Woosh!*

With a tremendous swing, the ogre''s arm swished the huge log like a twig, creating a low groan as it approached Ryuji and Alicia.

Ryuji remained patient. Although certain death seemed close at hand, he knew to block this he should use everything he could!

His eyes narrowed, converting all his rage into defensive attributes, reducing his damage taken to a mere ten per cent! However, he remained focused on the ogre''s arm and the incoming club, maintaining his defensive stance.

BANG!

Ogres were creatures of violence and raw power. This blow caused Ryuji''s entire body to quake and tremble, his organs and bones jittering like a wooden drawbridge in a storm.

"Ugh... Kuha..." Blood, crimson and thick, bubbled from his white teeth, intense pain greeting his abdomen and left arm.

Without a moment to think, the ogre looked at its club a shocked look before it lifted once again, this time an overhead strike with both hands...

All the ogre needed to do was slam down, and his victory should all but be confirmed.

Ryuji should have been terrified, fearful of his imminent death. However, his lips curled into a twisted smile, blood pooling between them, born and trained as a warrior and then given the class of berserker.

He could be said to mirror the ogre.

The ogre stepped forward, its weight crushing the stones that broke Ryuji''s fall, while behind him, the gentle muttering of prophecies and strange stories came from Alicia''s lips while the southern wall started to light itself from the left to where she read.

''I have to keep fighting!''

Ryuji always followed his choices through. His hand grasping the blood-drinking axe tightened, only this time, he would not defend!

There was only one enemy, the huge club aimed at his skull. The force of the first blow made the ogre step back enough his swing would miss Alicia.

He shot into action and slashed upwards, the blade of his axe cutting through the ogre''s thigh, causing the beast to stagger, the momentum of his club shifting further to the left as it fell forward with a loud bang.

*Thud!*

A pain throbbed through his body full of bruises, but his adrenaline and excitement wouldn''t allow him to stop now! The ogre seemed stunned as it fell, now face first in the rocks as Ryuji started to gather his strength, knowing that more could be coming.

Ryuji held his axe high, the counterweight doing most of the work as it slammed down.

Alicia didn''t know why she kissed Ryuji. It wasn''t like she loved him, but neither was it because of the strange warmth and feeling that flowed into her body when she kissed him, either.

It was like something inside her sort, whatever was inside him regardless of her thoughts, leading her to kiss him with little thought.

"Haha... of course you help, give me a moment and let''s leave this place."

"Nn..."

—Level Up

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Status

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Name: Ryuji Vincenzo

Title: Deathbringer (Kobold), Murderer (Human)

1st Class: Berserker: Lv.16

2nd Class: Demon Lord: Lv.8 (Hidden to Others)

Rage: 0/120 (0 Reserved) [40% damage resist] [50% Fire Resist]

Rank: C / S (Hidden)

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Attributes-----------—

Strength: 72 - 74 (+13)

Agility: 39 - 40 (+5)

Stamina: 38 - 39 (+3)

Grit: 75 - 77 (+10)

Intellect: 59 - 74 (+13)

The change in his intellect felt like it showed itself most when fought the ogre. In the past, he fought only using his muscle memory and superior abilities.

However, against the ogre, he used his mind, waited and avoided the blow with an attack at the right moment.

Ryuji was growing.