"...!"

"What was that?"

"Huh? There’s someone there!"

The centaurs were absolutely surprised upon hearing a huge explosion in the middle of their settlement, and more than that—seeing an individual suddenly appear from it!

The suddenness of the impact left them frozen for a brief second, their heavy hooves shifting uncomfortably on the shaking ground. The Centaurs were prepared againts massive siege forces or an army of invaders marching across their open plains, but they didn’t anticipate that the sky itself would dropp a single entity into their very core.

A huge crater was created, and in the middle of it--a pale individual stood.

"I’m here to talk to the chief."

That person said without an ounce of fear in his voice.

His tone was entirely monotone. It was as if he were simply entering a tavern to order a drink rather than standing in the center of an elite warrior tribe’s territory.

Anyway, immediately—the centaurs around regained their composure—

FWISH!

And they aimed their huge and long weapons at the pale individual—Verc.

The initial shock vanished from their expressions, replaced instantly by the seasoned battle instincts of a race that had ruled the western forest for generations. Their long ears pinned back against their heads as their large upper bodies twisted to face the crater, their movements completely synchronized.

The heavy iron tips of their spears and the thick, polished blades of their broad axes glinted sharply under the sunlight, forming an unbroken ring of deadly points directed straight at Verc’s chest.

"..."

Verc just looked at them, unflinching.

He remained perfectly still in the center of the pit, his crimson eyes tracing the circle of weapons with an expression of mild curiosity. He didn’t even bother to lift his hands into a defensive posture, leaving his arms loose at his sides as the heavy points converged on him.

He didn’t think that any of them could hurt him.

His physical capabilities had reached a point where the natural speed and power of regular monster tribes felt entirely predictable to his enhanced senses.

And if they did hurt him—he thought that he could just consume some blood and regenerate fast.

Verc was really starting to think and act like a vampire.

The cold, detached confidence that defined the ancient race had fully taken root in his consciousness, altering his tactical perspective until mortal danger felt like nothing more than a minor equation to be solved.

"WHO ARE YOU?!!"

One of the centaur warriors surrounding Verc exclaimed, demanding answers from him.

The voice was a booming baritone that echoed off the high wooden walls of the surrounding buildings, filled with a mixture of intense irritation and caution. The speaker was a large vanguard fighter positioned at the front of the circle, his massive chest heaving with a deep, authoritative breath.

"My name is Verc—the ruler of the south-east forest."

Verc stated. He thought that if he introduced himself as a ruler as well; then meeting the chief would be easier.

"What are your intentions of coming here?"

The warrior spoke again and asked that.

His grip on his long spear tightened, his large hind legs tensing against the dirt as he kept his eyes locked onto Verc’s pale face, waiting for any sudden movement that might signal an attack.

"Uhh, well..."

Verc scratched his head at this question.

He let out a dry, slightly awkward chuckle, his casual demeanor completely breaking the tense, dramatic atmosphere that the centaur vanguard was trying to maintain.

But after a while, looking around and seeing the hostile looks on him of the centaurs—he just smiled and let out a sigh.

The rows of eyes staring down at him were filled with an unyielding pride and an absolute refusal to negotiate with an unannounced visitor who had broken through their perimeter so violently.

’Haaa... I guess it can’t be that easy.’

He said that in his head, but deep inside; he was smiling in excitement.

He realized that diplomacy was completely useless when dealing with strong and prideful monster tribes. The only language that would truly register with them was the exact same raw force they always use.

"..."

Verc looked back at the warrior who asked him a question, then with a confident look on his face—

"I’m here to conquer the centaur tribe and bring you all under my rule."

He declared that.

"..."

The centaur warrior he was talking to immediately frowned hearing that, so does the others around.

An oppressive, angry silence fell over the immediate square, the sheer audacity of the statement causing several of the younger hunters to let out low, warning snarls from the back of the crowd.

They can’t believe a lunatic who came alone unannounced would be so bold to say that in the middle of their village no less.

To stand inside the heavily fortified heart of the western master’s domain, completely surrounded by dozens of fully armed elite cavalry units, and demand their complete submission was a level of insanity they had never witnessed in their entire history.

The warrior Verc was talking to calmly parted his lips, and while his weapon still pointed at the pale trespasser—

His expression turned completely cold, any lingering curiosity about the identity of the intruder vanishing as he recognized the statement as an act of absolute war.

"Kill him."

He ordered that with a cold look on his eyes.

S W I I I S H—!!!

At the centaur warrior’s order; the heavy and long weapons pointed at Verc tore the air as they attacked him!

The simultaneous thrust of nearly fifteen heavy spears and halberds created a terrifying, synchronized rush of iron, the sheer velocity of the strike aiming to close every single avenue of escape within the crater!

They all have the intention to cleave him to pieces!

The centaurs pushed forward with their full physical weight, utilizing their height advantage to drive the metal points downward with enough momentum to pierce through even thick steel armor plates!

"..."

Verc placed his hand on [Moon Blade]’s handle that was on his waist, then with a single movement—

TIIIIIING—!!!

He drew his weapon and parried all the incoming attacks!

The sound of the silver steel meeting the mass of iron weapons was a single, explosive chime that echoed violently through the open space

"!!!"

The centaurs were surprised by this, they were confident with their strength.

The recoil of the parry traveled up their long shafts, forcing their wrists to twist awkwardly as their weapons were violently pushed off their intended trajectories.

Seeing that a person much smaller than them was able to deflect all their attack at once—they were taken aback.

Their massive lower bodies shifted slightly to regain their footing, their eyes wide with a sudden surge of disbelief as they looked at the lone individual who hadn’t even retreated an inch from his spot.

And before they could properly assess the situation and respond—

Verc lowered his blade slightly, the silver edge completely unmarked by the massive collision as he looked up at the startled vanguard.

"Just remember that you attacked first."

Verc muttered that, a small smile on his face.

*****

BAM!

With a sudden, explosive push from his heels, Verc rushed into the horde of the centaur—he was surrounded but he disregarded that and went offensive!

"HE’S COMING!!!"

The centaurs didn’t back down, of course.

Their ancestral pride and extensive military training overrode their initial shock, their heavy hooves stomping the earth as they adjusted their positions to counter the sudden charge.

And once again—SWOOOOSH!!!

They swung their weapons.

The long halberds and broad axes came down in a chaotic, overlapping grid of steel, attempting to construct an unyielding wall of sharp edges that would intercept his rapid advance.

FWOOSH~!

But Verc just avoided it all this time, not even slowing down one bit!

He twisted his frame between the descending shafts with minimal, fluid adjustments, his body sliding through the narrow gaps between the blades with the effortless grace. His feet barely touched the dirt as he maintained his maximum forward velocity, completely bypassing the reach of their long weapons.

"MOVE!"

But before he could even reach one of the centaurs—they dispersed!

TAAK!

The warriors directly in his path didn’t try to lock shields or engage in a stationary strength contest; instead, their hind legs pushed off the ground in a perfectly timed backward leap, expanding the circle instantly to deny him a target.

And like trained soldiers; they went into a quick battle formation!

Their coordination was completely fluid, a product of decades of joint drills and collective warfare across the open plains. The moment the front line opened up, the adjacent units shifted their angles, their massive bodies rotating with a terrifying precision that showed zero structural hesitation.

"Huh?"

The formation allowed them to keep Verc trapped and encircled, surrounded by the Centaurs!

They maintained a calculated distance that perfectly utilized the length of their spears while preventing Verc from closing in to use his shorter blade.

’Well, this is interesting...’

BAM!

Everytime Verc tried to go one direction to escape the formation, the centaurs there would step back—then the warriors behind him would launch an attack; directed at the back of his head!

SLASH! TUUNK!!!

Verc was avoiding and blocking the attacks, of course.

It was a continuous, rolling trap of shifting positions. The moment his momentum carried him toward the edge, the targets would recede like a wave, while three heavy lances would instantly thrust forward from his blind spot, aiming to impale his skull from behind!

Though, instead of panicking, Verc smiled.

"..."

The intricate tactical nature of their movement didn’t frustrate him; rather, it provided a refreshing change from the simple, unorganized brawling of the lesser forest monsters he had encountered so far.

The adrenaline he was feeling, the excitement—it was getting rid of his boredom.

And then--BAM!

Verc rushed in again.

And as usual--SWIIIISH!!!

Several spearheads aimed at his head followed him.

FWIP!

Verc twisted his body in the air, and avoided some of the long weapons of the centaurs.

Still, some are going to hit him at this rate... Though, without breaking a sweat—SLASH—TIIING!!!

He swung his blade and deflected them all again!

The [Moon Blade] moved with blinding velocity, executing a rapid, dual-strike deflection that shattered the iron tips of the incoming spears, sending the broken pieces of metal flying across the area!

"If it’s too repetitive, then of course I’m going to figure it out."

Verc said.

Then he didn’t give them a single second to reorganize their defensive lines!

Tap-BAM!

The moment his boots touched the ground, he channeled a massive surge of mana directly into his legs and jumped forward!

"Gurgh! He’s here!"

Verc slid beneath the guard of a massive axeman.

Then--BAM!

Using the flat of his blade, he smashed the warriors right-front knee inward!

"GAAAAARG!!!"

THUD!

The centaur let out a sharp cry as its leg buckled, its entire massive frame collapsing sideways into the adjacent warrior and completely disrupting the rolling rotation of the defensive circle.

"Someone got hit!"

"He broke the formation, move quick!"

With the rhythm of the formation shattered, Verc capitalized on the opening with absolute ruthlessness.

"Like I’ll let you!"

He ran forward trying to escape the encirclement.

But the centaurs were calmer than he had expected--they ignored their comrade that fell, then in unison--WHOOOOSH!!!

They all drove their weapons forward, trying to poke a hole on aything that was in the middle of their formation. This time--Verc had really no way of escaping the attacks.

’Ah, so I lost againts their coordination and battle formation in the end...’

He thought, looking at the sharp weapons coming at him.

Then, all of a sudden--

"I guess it’s time to get serious now and use my skills."

FWIIIISH~!

[Black Scales] covered Verc’s whole body!

TIIIINK!!!

And with mana reinforcing every scale; they blocked all of the centaur’s weapons!