Chapter 52
Chapter 52: The Beast Within
Ruby emerged from the shadows, quickly assessing the situation.
“Where’s Rteo?”
“It seems he’s dead.”
“…I see, that’s how it is.”
Her eyes narrowed fiercely.
Anger boiled within her, yet she did not underestimate her opponent.
‘So strong…’
Ching was among the mightiest she had ever faced.
Only a few who dared invade her paradise, Rubitorium, could match such strength.
‘Bill and Mori are… in danger.’
She made a swift judgment… and a decision.
“Everyone, fall back and block the surroundings. You might get caught up in this.”
Bill and Mori respected her decision.
“As you wish.”
“Don’t die; we need to spend today’s earnings.”
With a smile, she bid farewell to the disappearing Bill and Mori, then slowly tuned into her inner rage.
“You seem quite calm. Weren’t you close to the dead one?”
“We might have been, perhaps. But you…”
Ruby asked with narrowed eyes.
“Do you wish we were closer?”
“Heh… Yes. I hoped you were precious to each other.”
This man kills for fun, not survival—a fool swallowed by pleasure.
His face already bore a full grin, pondering how to ‘cook’ her.
Chilling—
A dangerous foe.
Let no one die.
That’s why her master, Faust, had warned Bill, the leader of their group.
‘Should I run?’
Bill and Mori had moved far enough away, and Ching was unaware of their identities.
She could easily flee from the fight…
“Planning to run?”
“…”
“Well, I guess you wouldn’t want to entertain an old man. How about this?”
Ching unfurled a rolled parchment from his bosom.
“A missive I received recently. If you want the church’s information…”
She made a mistake, voicing her question out loud.
“…The church?”
She clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late.
“You don’t know the church? Ha… You’re unrelated to the East, then. What a nuisance… Did you come because of those fools who died at my hands in Chechelin?”
“…”
“If you won’t answer, then just die.”
Whoosh!
Ching’s muscular body lunged at Ruby. His right hand stretched out, while his left prepared the same technique he used on Mori.
Crash!
Ruby kicked away the ominous palm and transformed her hand.
Crack…
She moved to grasp Ching’s throat, but…
Snap!
“Got you.”
Crunch!
“Aaargh!”
Ruby kicked Ching away as she felt her arm bones shatter.
“You’re softer than I thought. Make it more fun for me.”
Whoosh…
The wild power hidden within her instantly fused the broken bones.
A regenerative power surpassing trolls.
“Amazing. I thought you were completely shattered.”
Whooosh…
[Ruby’s innate ability: Inner Beast activates.]
[Ruby can transform parts of her body into a werewolf’s. The effect maximizes when the full moon rises.]
[Ruby’s innate ability: Flesh Weaponry activates.]
[Ruby cannot wield weapons in her Inner Beast form.]
[Each successful attack extends the duration of Ruby’s Inner Beast, and a kill significantly increases it.]
Ruby transformed her arms and legs into those of a werewolf. Fortunately, the full moon hung in the night sky.
‘Tonight is the full moon.’
The sudden transformation strained her body. Without preparation, the full moon could completely strip her of her sanity, so she had to buy time.
Boom!
Ruby and Ching clashed instantly.
Bang!
Bang!
They exchanged blows at incredible speed.
Yet, upon closer inspection, most of Ruby’s attacks were caught and deflected by Ching’s hands.
A master with decades of training.
The warriors from the culturally and ideologically different East had infiltrated the Aslen Empire solely through their martial prowess.
Crash!
Suddenly, one of her legs was caught.
Whoosh!
Ching slammed her down with all his might.
Boom!
Ruby tumbled and twitched.
“How pathetic.”
“…”
“Maybe I’ll exterminate your clan right here today. …Or not? Even if you’re not the last, I’ll send the rest of your kin to the afterlife someday, hahaha!”
Ruby stood up again upon hearing those words.
I must… survive.
You, above all, must live…
For our sake… live on for tomorrow.
Ching’s words brought back memories she had long suppressed.
“…Enjoying yourself?”
“Of course! I hope you do too. Enjoy your impending death.”
Ruby smirked.
“Yes, I shall enjoy.”
Creak…
Crack…
It was time.
Her body began to transform into a complete werewolf.
Crack…
Creak…
“Oh…”
Ruby didn’t particularly like this form.
Crunch…
Her snout protruded, and her head grew several times larger.
Growl…
[Ruby uses the Full Moon Beast.]
[In Full Moon Beast form, all physical abilities are greatly enhanced.]
Her clothes tore apart, and the beast’s fur took their place.
Growl…
Ruby crouched slightly. Ching looked on, delighted.
“Now that’s more like it…”
Zing!
Ching froze in place, maintaining his posture.
Gush…
Blood flowed from his right ear.
The missing right ear was in Ruby’s hand.
“…Huh.”
Thump!
A few taps on the temple, and Ching’s bleeding stopped.
“Finally ready to face me?”
Ching’s words were calm, but he had lost sight of that last strike for a moment.
His heart began to race.
He was thrilled to meet a worthy opponent.
He was already a monster.
[Ching activates Bloodstream Explosion.]
[The blood carrying his Qi moves rapidly, temporarily elevating his state of being.]
It’s a power difficult to sustain for long.
A unique strength of Ching, tailored for short, decisive battles.
Throb… Throb…
Veins bulged on his face.
“Let’s do this!”
Boom!
Boom!
Two monsters collided.
Bang!
Bang!
With every punch Ching threw at Ruby, it seemed as if the space itself was erased by the tremendous shockwaves.
Ruby instinctively dodged the shockwaves, but each slight touch shredded and erased her flesh.
Growl…
“Training a dog is quite simple!”
Whoosh…
Smash!
His fist hammered down on Ruby’s head like a mallet.
Crack…
Ruby’s skull felt like it would shatter from the impact.
Roar!
Instinctively, she bit into Ching’s shoulder.
“You’re truly a beast! Heh…”
Ching wanted to hear this beast cry out.
Was it a cry of human despair or a beast’s roar?
Smack!
He struck Ruby’s throat and readied himself again.
Ruby stepped back and then charged at Ching once more, realizing that distance only made the fight harder.
Smash!
Smash!
Even this wasn’t disadvantageous for Ching. To him, Ruby seemed like a newborn with the body of a veteran.
Overflowing with power, but clueless on how to use it. Her trajectory was clear, her intentions readable.
A fight like solving a problem when you know the answer.
The exchange continued.
Bang!
Bang!
Easily caught and flipped.
‘Ah, an opening!’
With all his might, he channeled power into his palm, aiming for Ruby’s abdomen.
“Die, you beastly brat.”
As he spoke, their eyes met.
‘…Huh?’
In Ruby’s eyes was not instinct or despair, but a sliver of reason.
Something was wrong.
Swoosh!
Ruby’s hand, snake-like, entwined Ching’s outstretched arm.
Yes, just like the move Ching had used on Ruby before.
“Could it be… you?”
Ching’s martial arts, but with a werewolf’s body. The destructive power was different.
Spurt!
An arm was torn off, and blood gushed out.
“The one to die…”
Ruby caught Ching’s ankle, lifting and slamming him to the ground.
“…is you.”
Boom!
As the dust settled, Ching’s body lay lifeless, everything above the shoulders gone.
“Heave… Heave…”
The werewolf’s infamy wasn’t just for its iron-like body but also for its innate combat intelligence.
If you can’t kill a werewolf completely, you’ll be perfectly slain instead.
Now just a legend, but for Ching, unfortunately, that legend continued today.
Slither…
Ruby transformed back into her human form, now naked.
Flutter…
A large robe was provided for her to wear.
“Ruby, we must leave this place! The commotion was too great.”
It was Bill’s voice.
“…Yes!”
Ruby left Ching’s body, checked the authenticity of the note, and departed.
Bill, Mori, and Ruby gathered to examine the note’s contents.
Ching, time to join us. Romwell seems to be on your tail. Baron Zariel is also getting tired of cleaning up after you. A messenger from the church’s main body will visit within a week…
“…The church?”
“Ching mentioned it. The church… Anyway, he asked if you wanted information about the church.”
“The content is unclear… Hmm.”
“So, Baron Zariel was the backer. What’s his angle?”
The group continued reading the note. The rest was just dates and locations for the rendezvous, nothing more.
“We must inform Lord Faust.”
A letter containing the note’s content was tied to a bird trained by the Dark Elf Queen Ariel and sent to Faust. Days later, a reply reached them.
Bill’s expression darkened as he read the response.
“What does it say?”
At Mori’s question, Bill replied.
“…We must leave this place immediately.”
* * *
The news Bill delivered was interpreted instantly.
“Ruby hunted Ching?”
Luck was on her side.
No, it was more than luck; it was fate.
Ching was one of the bosses in Act 2 of the episode.
Weaker than Kal Kurso in personal combat, but when the detestable trio joined forces, they were stronger.
Ruby had cut off such a creature’s breath. Perhaps she was stronger than I had thought.
‘No, it was purely good fortune.’
If compatibility hadn’t played its part, it would have been Ruby, not Ching, lying lifeless.
It’s largely my fault for wielding our intelligence personnel too aggressively. But since everything turned out well, should I call it a happy ending?
‘…No.’
The part about the church in the note Bill passed on. After recalling the origins of the unpleasant trio, I understood the situation precisely.
“The Blood Church.”
The information about the Blood Church, which unfolds long after the trio is defeated. In Act 2 of the episode, we only deal with the Eastern warriors spreading evil…
It seems the Blood Church, which appears later in the story, is moving much faster than expected.
Why? It traces back to that night.
“Damn the Ves Church.”
The upcoming fate changed that night after helping the Ves Church eliminate Baron Grimhall.