Chapter 265

Chapter 265

Thwack! Thud! Brawk-!

Two entangled monsters swung their fists at each other, intent on delivering a death blow.

The punches and kicks that split the air were eerily similar in form.

Though they had the twisted forms of monsters, they utilized the same martial arts techniques.

Crash!

Deflecting each others attacks,

Bang!

Their fists, infused with a red energy, crossed paths,

Swoosh-!

Then both were engulfed in a red aura, making them even more intimidating.

...

Kuilan stared in astonishment, mouth agape, at the spectacle of martial arts on display that was far superior to his own.

"Whats with you? For someone looking like that, youre pretty good, huh?"

Lunared remarked, a satisfied grin on his face.

It was the first time hed seen a descendant employ the martial art hed developed to such a high level. Lunared was genuinely elated.

Then, the wolf monsterKureharesponded in a muffled voice.

"I am the Sect Leader."

"What?"

"I am the forty-third Sect Leader of the Leaf Tribe."

With a swift motion, Kureha crossed his fists and bowed briefly.

"It is an honor to meet the founder. Though I never expected the founder to be... such a monstrous mess."

...

After a moments silence, Lunared burst into hearty laughter and lunged forward.

"Why dont you take a look in the mirror first, forty-third?!

The two wolf-monsters frenziedly exchanged blows. But as if on cue, they both simultaneously retreated,

And then they assumed identical stances.

Both firmly planted their feet, crouched low, left hand forward in a parrying position, right hand balled into a fist at chest level.

With a demeanor suggesting they were about to unleash their deadliest move, the two monsters locked eyes.

Kuilan, having watched from the side, had an inkling about the lethal posture they were in.

Thats when the wolf monsterKurehastole a fleeting glance at Kuilan.

Then, he gave a subtle nod.

Almost as if to say, Watch and learn...

Whoosh-!

In the next instant,

The two wolf-monsters, charging with a powerful step forward, vanished from view.

They were moving so swiftly it seemed as though theyd disappeared from the world.

Having leaped through space, the two wolf-monsters thrust their fists at each other.

Lunareds fist aimed for the very center of Kurehas chest,

While Kurehas fist targeted Lunareds left chest.

Secret Technique.

Heart-Cutting Windwolf.

Boom...!

Neither evaded. Both delivered their fatal blows right into each others chests.

Blood spewed simultaneously from the mouths of the two wolf-monsters.

However, whereas Kureha grimaced in evident pain, Lunared chuckled triumphantly.

"You fool! You learned the technique wrong! The Heart-Cutting Windwolf aims for the soul core, not the physical body! Aiming for the heart and not the soul core?"

...

"Moreover, Ive already lost that heart! My other heart is on the opposite side! Your aim was off from the start!"

Pain evident on his face, Kureha began to waver, leaning onto Lunared as if to collapse.

Lunared laughed, confident in his victory,

"...No. I aimed correctly."

Crunch!

Kureha lunged, biting deeply into Lunareds throat.

Dark blood surged. Desperately latching on, Kureha gulped down the blood of Lunared.

What the hell is he doing?!

Annoyed, Lunared forcefully shoved Kureha off him. Kureha stumbled back, a look of malevolence on his face.

After a high-level martial arts duel like that, and now he resorts to this kind of lowly act...

Lunared looked at the trail of dark blood that connected from his throat to Kurehas mouth and clicked his tongue in disgust.

So this was his last-ditch effort...

...?

What Lunared saw next was incomprehensible.

From his neck wound, a continual stream of dark blood was escaping.

Panicking, Lunared tried to stop the flow with his hand, but the blood kept seeping through his fingers. It traveled through the air and-

Was sucked directly into Kurehas mouth.

What the...?!

"Ever since becoming a werewolf, Ive come to understand,"

Kureha, even while half-destroyed and nearing death, smiled slyly.

"My organs twisted and rearranged. Pushing aside the human heart, a new wolf heart emerged."

...?!

"The left side is the wolfs. The right, the humans."

Kureha pointed to the left side of Lunareds chest.

"I intended to destroy your wolf heart. Even if it was already shattered, it wouldnt matter. I wouldve struck it all the same, just in case."

"My wolf heart...? Why...?"

"To strip you of your control over the werewolfs blood."

Thick dark blood gushed out of Lunareds throat like water.

His strength rapidly faded. Facing this unfamiliar phenomenon, Lunared trembled in shock.

"What have you done, bastard?!"

"Its to bear it in your stead."

"Lets save our reunion greetings for later. We have more pressing matters to discuss."

"Thank you."

Passing Godhand, I stood in front of the old man.

He was old and frail, with snow-white hair.

Although he looked like an average human, his eerie crimson eyes were as fierce as those of a monster.

"Are you Lunared?"

I scoffed.

"Youve lost your luster, Wolf King."

"...

Gazing up at me with his lips tightly sealed, Lunared suddenly pleaded, Spare me.

I narrowed my eyes, irritated.

"What?"

"I said spare me."

His audacity made me glare at him.

With a voice that was shockingly powerful for his frail frame, Lunared roared, "Now that the Wolfs curse is gone, I am a complete human!"

He thumped his chest, pointing to the heart within.

"This human heart beating inside me is proof."

"..."

"If you are the commander of this frontline, protecting humans and killing monsters! Then kill that monster beside you! And save me, a human!"

Desperately, Lunared pointed to the monster lying on the ground... to Kureha.

Kuilan, who had been holding Kureha, gritted his teeth in anger.

"..."

Ignoring my silence, Lunared continued, "I too am a human that you should protect, Player! Please spare me!"

"...You have a point."

He may have been resurrected from the dark depths of Lake Kingdom, but indeed, with the Wolfs curse gone, this old man was biologically a complete human.

However,

"But you are a monster."

I declared.

"I guarantee it. With utmost certainty, I can say, Lunared, you are not human. You are a perfect monster."

"Why?"

Lunared growled, On what basis do you differentiate humans and monsters on this frontline?!

"Its very clear."

I leaned in closer, staring straight into his eyes, and spat out the words,

"Its me."

"...?!"

"I am the rule of this frontline."

I had struggled for a long time.

I had hesitated for a long time.

But what I learned from this defense battle was,

Principles. Rules. Standards.

I had always been a good-natured player, loyally following the predetermined lines.

This time was no different. I tried to fit within a rational framework of principles and standards.

How naive.

Such a gullible fool.

"Thanks to you, Lunared, Ive realized. Seeing you exploit loopholes and attack, I now understand the essence of this game."

Theres a famous saying in card games.

The reason games have rules is to exploit whats not defined by the rules.

"Ill stand above the rules."

"What...?"

"I am the principle. I am the standard. I am the law."

No longer will I be bound by the rules of the game.

I will bypass the rules, twist them, establish them, and control them.

"Ill change the world according to my rules. So whether someone is human or a monster, Ill decide."

I concluded coldly.

"Youre a monster, Lunared."

"..."

"You will die."

Immediately after,

"Pff, pffhahahahahaha!"

Lunared held his stomach and laughed.

With his body shaking uncontrollably, he seemed on the verge of departing from this world from the sheer force of his laughter. The surrounding heroes hesitated and backed away due to his eerie outburst.

With a frown, I asked, "Why are you laughing, monster?"

"Do you not understand even after declaring it yourself, human?"

After pausing his wild laughter,

The old man, once the Wolf King, glared at me and retorted, "Its because of the mindset of a tyrant!"

"..."

"You think youll become the standard? You think youll become the law? Countless rulers have desired just that! No matter the circumstances or reasons, they all believed in their goodness, making themselves into iron-willed leaders, thinking they would bring about a utopia!"

"..."

"But the result was always a tyrant! Without a single exception! From ancient times until now, not even one!"

"..."

"Do you truly intend to become that as well, human?"

"Yes."

I replied immediately.

"If standing above the rules for the sake of victory is what you call a tyrant..."

Taking a deep breath, steadying my heart,

I said,

"Ill gladly become a tyrant."