The Regressed Mercenary's Machinations-Chapter 264: This Is a Real Life-or-Death Battle (1)

Ghislain shouted at the soldiers who were momentarily stunned.

"Get it together! Clear out the monsters around us first!"

The battle wasn’t over yet. Some of the monsters who had been targeting the soldiers were now turning toward the enemies behind them, charging at them instead.

The knights and hunters snapped out of their daze and began attacking the surrounding monsters. However, their faces were still pale with worry.

‘What just happened? Why is he spitting blood when he hasn’t even been attacked?’

‘Did we get hurt without noticing?’

‘And how are we supposed to handle that monster charging at us?’

Their minds were filled with unease, even considering the idea of fleeing.

Swish!

Kaor cut down a monster heading for Ghislain and spoke urgently.

“My lord! Are you afraid? What’s going on all of a sudden?”

Kaor was also becoming nervous. He had seen symptoms like these once before.

It was back when they faced the Blood Python. Ghislain had used too much of his power and had ended up unconscious for over a day.

‘Damn it! Is this just like back then? Did he push himself too far?’

But there was something different about this situation. Back then, Ghislain had entered the Blood Python’s body and suffered from its poison.

Now, it was as if he’d simply worn himself out. Kaor couldn’t accurately gauge how dangerous this situation was, since he didn’t know Ghislain’s full strength or the penalties he faced for using his power.

Still, seeing all the spears that had been flying around drop to the ground confirmed that Ghislain had truly exhausted himself.

Ghislain wiped the blood from his face and said, “I’m in a lot of pain right now.”

“...Then what about that thing charging at us?”

“You handle it. You can do it on your own.”

“How am I supposed to take on that thing alone?”

“Are you scared?”

“I’m not scared!”

“Then get out there and fight. I’m sure you can take it down. We don’t have much time. Move!”

“Graaaaaah!”

Thud! Boom! Thud!

The Twin-Headed Ogre advanced, throwing aside other monsters as it approached.

The knights and hunters gasped, stepping back in fear.

“Damn it, what do we do about that?”

“Are we all supposed to pile on it?”

“But what about the other monsters around us? If we focus only on that thing, we’ll get wiped out.”

An ogre was a monster no less dangerous than a king of the forests and mountains. Its strength and speed meant that a single hit could shatter a knight’s bones.

The Twin-Headed Ogre was even more fearsome, with greater intelligence and a massive frame.

If all the knights and hunters attacked it together, they might stand a chance, but more than half of them would surely perish.

They needed someone strong to step up and lead the fight.

Ghislain, having coughed up blood and fallen to his knees, was out of the question. The next strongest would have to take his place.

All eyes turned to Kaor.

“Why...why are you all looking at me?” Kaor stammered, visibly shaken. He knew he couldn’t defeat such a creature alone.

“Graaaah!”

The Twin-Headed Ogre was almost upon them, its presence so intimidating that even nearby monsters kept their distance.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

“Cough!”

Ghislain coughed up more blood and said to Kaor, “You’re the only one who can stop it! Go!”

Kaor’s resolve faltered. He had never seen his lord appear so weak. It was hard to believe.

Seeing Ghislain, usually as strong as iron, ask for his help struck a chord deep within him.

Kaor had rarely experienced someone relying on him like this—especially someone as powerful as his lord.

As a warrior, he couldn’t turn his back on such expectations.

“Alright! Leave it to me!”

“Graaaaaaah!”

Thwoooom!

The Twin-Headed Ogre swung its massive club. Kaor raised his greatsword to block it, almost losing his grip from the sheer force behind the blow.

“Gah!”

The impact rattled him to the core. He couldn’t win with sheer strength alone. Deciding to rely on speed, he withdrew and repositioned himself.

Thwoom!

“Ugh!”

But the next attack was frighteningly quick. How could something that large move so fast?

Clang!

Kaor managed to block it again, but this time he was sent flying back. The monster’s power and speed were beyond belief.

For a moment, Kaor thought he might die.

‘But I’m the only one who can do this!’

Other than Ghislain, he was the strongest here. If he couldn’t stop it, no one could.

It seemed that his lord had suffered internal injuries. To stand a chance against this massive ogre, they needed more space. First, he had to secure Ghislain’s safety.

Kaor turned and shouted, “Lord! Get back! Everyone, take the lord to—”

“Hey! Kaor’s taking on the ogre, so everyone focus on clearing out the other monsters! Move it!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

By now, Ghislain had picked up his greatsword and was knocking down monsters around him. The knights and hunters, reassured by his renewed activity, concentrated on the battle.

No one was even looking at Kaor anymore.

“...What the hell?”

Ghislain had lowered his core to the second stage. He couldn’t maintain the third stage any longer.

Even with the second stage, he could take on the Twin-Headed Ogre, but he chose not to.

This time, it was Kaor’s fight to win.

“Hey! If you’re fine, why doesn’t the lord just—”

Kaor couldn’t finish his sentence. The Twin-Headed Ogre was relentless, leaving him no chance to argue.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

Every block forced him back. He couldn’t just keep blocking. He had to evade and find an opening.

The area behind him was clear, thanks to the others. Kaor decided to retreat there.

“Graaaaaah!”

The ogre charged, determined not to let him escape.

“Damn it... How am I supposed to deal with this?”

The ogre’s club swung down, cutting through the air. Kaor focused all his attention and barely dodged.

Slish!

His greatsword sliced into the ogre’s side, but its thick hide only allowed a shallow cut.

All he’d done was make it angrier.

“Graaaargh!”

With alarming speed, the ogre attacked again. Kaor hastily blocked with his greatsword, but his stance broke.

Crash!

“Gah!”

The impact sent him sprawling across the ground. He couldn’t win at this rate.

‘I...I can’t do this. I just can’t.’

His usual tenacity and bravado faltered. He was used to relying on the overwhelming strength of Ghislain and his powerful companions.

But now, facing a truly formidable foe alone, he felt a cold fear seeping into his bones.

Thwoom! Thwoom!

The ogre’s attacks were relentless. Kaor focused solely on dodging, yelling out as he did.

“My lord! I can’t beat this thing! You have to take over!”

Suddenly, Ghislain’s voice echoed in his mind.

—If you want to grow, you need to fight for your life and win.

“Damn it! I already risked my life against Doncard and won!”

—That wasn’t enough. This is a real life-or-death fight.

“I’m not strong enough for this! Help me!”

—You won’t grow if you can depend on someone else to save you. Overcome this on your own.

“This is suicide! What am I supposed to do against an opponent I can’t beat?”

—You can win. That’s why I’m leaving this to you.

“Damn it! How am I supposed to do this?”

—You’re weaker than you were before you met me. Realize that, and do your best.

After those words, Ghislain fell silent, leaving Kaor to fend for himself.

Anger, frustration, fear, and humiliation flooded his mind.

But through it all, a single thought remained.

‘I am weak right now.’

Though he had grown stronger, he’d lost his edge, his tenacity. His rage, once fierce as a mad dog, had dulled under Ghislain’s guidance.

He used to fight tooth and nail to survive, but with strong allies, he’d let himself grow complacent.

Gritting his teeth, he felt the familiar surge of defiance rise within him.

‘I’ll kill it.’

Determination filled Kaor’s gaze. This was different from his fight with Doncard, which had been more about anger than resolve. Facing the Twin-Headed Ogre was a true life-or-death struggle.

This was a real fight for survival.

Crash!

Kaor’s greatsword clashed with the ogre’s club for the first time in a full-force confrontation.

Though he was still pushed back, something had changed. His spirit was stronger.

‘This will be my last battle.’

With that resolve, Kaor swung his sword.

Clang! Clang!

If he could dodge, he dodged; if not, he blocked. Wounds began to accumulate on his body.

Even if he managed to land an attack, it barely scratched the ogre, only serving to further enrage it.

“Graaaargh!”

The ogre’s roar was deafening. Kaor grit his

teeth and charged once more.

Crash!

The club struck his sword, sending it flying. Before he could recover, the club swung again.

Kaor raised his arm to block it, enveloping his limb in mana.

Crash!

Crack!

“Gah!”

The impact shattered his arm, the mana barrier proving useless. Blood seeped from his mouth as the force twisted his insides.

This would be the perfect time to give up, but Kaor only clenched his teeth harder.

His eyes blazed with madness.

“Die!”

Abandoning defense, he poured all his mana into his greatsword, determined to strike.

This single-minded focus drove his blade deep into the ogre’s thick hide.

Sliiiice!

The ogre’s chest split open, spilling blood.

“Graaaaargh!”

For the first time, the ogre shrieked in pain, wildly swinging its club.

Thwoom! Thwoom!

Its movements grew erratic, making it slightly easier for Kaor to dodge. He pulled back, biding his time.

He dismissed all thoughts except for one: dodge, block, strike.

‘A wall...’

Suddenly, he saw the Twin-Headed Ogre not just as a monster but as a massive wall, an obstacle standing in his way.

A solid, immovable wall that he could neither breach nor destroy.

But as he fought, his old resolve—the survival instinct he had long neglected—reawakened.

‘I'll break through this wall.’

Driven by that single thought, Kaor kept moving.

Clang!

The wall seemed unyielding. It felt like it wouldn’t even crack.

Clang!

Once more, he struck, but the wall remained firm, standing as if to say he could never surpass it.

Kaor laughed. Whether he overcame the wall or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that he kept moving toward it.

With each strike, he gained a fraction of understanding, a hint of clarity.

—I've taught you everything you were missing.

—You’ve glimpsed your own path, however crude it may be.

—Now, bring it all together. You can do it.

—Forge your own way forward.

Fwoosh!

Following Ghislain’s training, Kaor’s blade moved with newfound precision.

He felt himself reaching a state he’d only glimpsed while fighting Doncard, but this time, it was deeper, rooted in life-or-death experience.

Kaor’s sword finally found the ogre’s weak point, his newly discovered path leading him straight to it.

Slash.

‘I’ve done it...’

The wall still stood, but now it bore a long, deep scar.

It wasn’t much, just a scratch, but it was a start—a crack that might one day bring down the entire wall.

Fwoosh!

The illusion of the wall vanished, and Kaor’s vision cleared.

Covered in blood, he watched as the Twin-Headed Ogre fell, both of its heads severed, its body slowly collapsing.