Chapter 4- Zaboru Renkonan Vs Oswald Hoek
The air was thick with tension as Zaboru and Oswald squared off. Oswald stood proudly in his magically enhanced leather armor, the faint glow of enchantments pulsing across its surface. In his hands, he gripped a wickedly sharp axe, the runes etched along its blade humming with Sharp Magic.
"Heh, freak," Oswald sneered, his lips curling into a smirk. "You think taking out a couple of my guards makes you a big shot? Let me educate you on reality—I'm in a whole different league than those idiots. Do you even know who I am?" He puffed his chest out, the arrogance rolling off him in waves. "I'm Oswald Hoek, a graduate of the prestigious Arcanum Academy. That's right—the greatest wizarding school in the land! You'll regret crossing me, you pathetic little insect!"
Zaboru didn't flinch, his expression cold and calculating. Of course, he knew Oswald wasn't like the fodder guards he had dispatched earlier. This man was a proper fighter—dangerous, skilled, and equipped to kill.
He could see Oswald's confidence, his belief in his own superiority. And yet, Zaboru could also see through it. Oswald was strong, He was a proper fighter—disciplined and dangerous. But Zaboru had faced far worse in the past.
In his previous life, in the cutthroat virtual world of Rising Life, Zaboru had clashed with countless opponents. He wasn't just a survivor—he was a conqueror. He had dueled over a hundred thousand combatants from players to NPCS , many of them powerful battle mages, each with unique spells and styles. His victories weren't born of luck; they were the result of a razor-sharp intellect and combat genius honed over endless battles. Even when he lose , he still learned something from them. Against Oswald, Zaboru felt nothing but confidence.
With a crooked grin, Zaboru tilted his head mockingly. "The Arcanum Academy, huh? Sounds fancy. So that's where they send pigs like you? Must've been their biggest mistake letting you graduate. Can't even control a few lowly slaves, and you dare talk big to me? Hah!"
Oswald's face twisted in rage, veins bulging on his forehead. "I'll make you beg for death, you freak!"
With a roar, Oswald lunged forward, closing the distance with unnatural speed. His enchanted armor amplified his movements, and his axe swung in a deadly arc aimed to split Zaboru in half.
Zaboru sidestepped at the last moment, the axe carving into the floor and sending shards of stone flying. Without missing a beat, Zaboru countered with a swift low kick aimed at Oswald's legs.
But Oswald's free hand glowed, a shimmering blue shield enveloping his body. Zaboru's kick was deflected with a dull thud.
"Physical Body Barrier," Oswald said with a smirk. "Did you really think you could touch me, freak? Pathetic!"
The barrier rippled as Oswald began casting a spell with his free hand. A blade of wind materialized, razor-sharp and humming with power.
"Take this—Wind Blade!" Oswald hurled the spell, forcing Zaboru to twist his body and dodge.
Zaboru stepped back just in time, the blade missing him by a breath. But then Oswald do followed up attack The force of Oswald attack swing tore through the air, leaving a deep gouge in the floor.
Seizing the opening, Zaboru launched a front kick at Oswald's face. But once again, the shimmering blue barrier nullified the attack.
Oswald grinned wickedly. "Is that all you've got? You're pathetic!"
Zaboru didn't respond. His mind raced as he analyzed Oswald's movements and mana usage. The barrier was formidable, but it wasn't invincible. Every time Oswald activated it, he burned through his mana reserves. And Zaboru was an expert at exploiting weaknesses like this.
Oswald raised his hand to cast another Wind Blade, but Zaboru struck before the spell could be completed. Coating his legs with internal energy, Zaboru dashed forward at blinding speed.
With a straight punch infused with Strike Breathing, Zaboru's fist connected squarely with Oswald's jaw. The blow sent Oswald staggering backward, his head snapping to the side. His barrier hadn't deployed in time—he had been too focused on casting. Though his enchanted armor absorbed some of the impact, the pain was evident on his face.
"You… bastard," Oswald growled, wiping blood from his lip.
Zaboru smirked. "What's wrong, pig? Didn't they teach you how to fight without your little shield?"
Oswald roared, his anger boiling over. "You're DEAD, you freak!" He swung his axe furiously, his movements a blur as he poured more mana into his attacks. His free hand remained ready to deploy the barrier at a moment's notice.
But Zaboru was relentless. He danced around Oswald's attacks, weaving and dodging with ease.
"What's wrong?" Zaboru taunted. "Can't hit me? Some 'elite' Arcanum warrior you turned out to be. Did they teach you to hide behind spells like a coward?"
Oswald's frustration mounted with every failed strike. He poured more mana into his attacks, but his swings grew sloppy, his breathing labored. Zaboru's grin widened. He knew Oswald's mana reserves were running dry.
"You're slowing down, pig," Zaboru said. "What's the matter? Out of breath already?"
"SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"
Zaboru grin and answer "As gentlemen like myself , i can't afford to hit a bitch right?" Oswald head fummed with rage then Oswald roared."FUCK YOU LITTLE SHIT!" In a desperate move, he abandoned his barrier entirely, channeling the last of his mana into enhancing his physical strength.
Big mistake, Zaboru thought.
Dodging Oswald's frenzied charge, Zaboru weaved in close. His fists glowed with internal energy as he unleashed a devastating combination.
"Time to beatdown PIG!"
Left hook. Right hook. Left. Right. Again and again.
Each strike was infused with Strike Breathing, the energy amplifying the force behind every blow. Oswald's face twisted in agony as Zaboru's fists pummeled him relentlessly.
One. Two. Three. Four.
By the fifth punch, Oswald's cheeks were swelling.
Six. Seven. Eight.
By the eighth, blood sprayed from his mouth, his groans of pain echoing through the room.
Nine. Ten.
With the tenth punch, Oswald's face was a swollen, crimson mess. He squealed like a pig, his pride shattered as Zaboru's fists battered him into submission.
Breathing heavily, Zaboru stepped back. "It's not yet over! , take this!?" he muttered he wasn't done yet.
Gathering the last of his internal energy in his right hand, Zaboru delivered a final, devastating straight punch. His fist glowed with an intense aura of Strike Breathing and Coated Internal energy as it connected with Oswald's swollen face.
BOOM!
The impact sent Oswald flying across the room, slamming into the wall with enough force to crack the stone. He crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth, his body battered and broken, his cheeks red like monkey ass, all of his tooth are gone
Zaboru stood over him, his expression cold and unyielding. "Time to learn your place, pig."
Oswald could only gurgle weakly in response, his once-proud figure reduced to a pathetic, defeated wreck.
Zaboru then approached Oswald and mounted him. Oswald's face was full of fear as he begged for his life. "P…uh l–please, I… gibb…e you m-m-m… money," he tried to mutter gibberish. Zaboru's eyes were cold as he steeled his mind, preparing for his first kill. Oswald was scum on earth. When he died, the world would become a better place, but that didn't change the fact that Zaboru would become a murderer.
"Time to die, Oswald."
Zaboru focused his remaining internal energy into his fist, then punched Oswald so hard that his head impacted with the floor, killing him instantly.