Chapter 83: Debt 83 - New Epic Weapon and the Skill of an S-Rank Archer

Ryan calmly observed the assassin-class knight.

Despite the use of Mana Burn, it hadn’t had a significant effect on him.

Now that he was an S-rank with such high attributes, it felt like little more than an insect bite.

Ryan didn’t respond immediately as he took in the assassin’s expression.

’This gives me an idea of an S-rank’s battle power, but I’m well aware that William was stronger than these guys. And there must be many others out there with even greater power.’

Ryan glanced over at Mirian’s fight.

She was maintaining her distance; every time she attacked, she moved swiftly to reposition herself far beyond the reach of the ogre-faced warrior.

"Stop moving, you bitch! Is running all you know how to do!?"

"Shut up! I don’t want to be anywhere near you. Your face is disgusting."

’I think she’s fine without any help for now...’

Ryan turned his focus back to the assassin.

’In that case, I’d better finish this and get back. I hope everything is all right over there.’

"Hey, holy knight. Your name was Billy, right?"

The knight clenched his fist tightly around the hilt of his sword.

"Billy is the one who was killed by that woman."

He pointed his blade at Ryan.

"Hey, don’t blame me. Your names are just similar."

"I am Tommy! Remember it, because it will be the last name you hear before I kill you!"

"Yeah, yeah. But before that, Knight Tommy... would you mind telling me how many others came with you?"

"Are you trying to size us up? And do you really think I’d tell that to a goddamn heretic?"

"Could you stop calling me that? I’m not a fan of religious labels, you know? It’s really annoying."

’If I’m not mistaken, that sword of his is an epic, isn’t it? I think...’

"Ha! And what else would you expect me to call an adventurer who dared to free a vile demon? Besides, looking at all this disaster, there’s no doubt it was caused by you."

The assassin knight took several steps forward.

"After I’m done with you and that woman, we’re going to destroy everything. The elves, the demi-humans, and the demons you protect so much will all be punished with death."

Ryan gestured in response.

With his finger, he began pointing at several spots where the corpses of the Principalities from the kingdom of Demon King Rigal lay.

"Are you blind? Looking at that, does it really seem like I’m protecting demons?"

As Ryan spoke, he stowed his boomerang into his magic inventory.

Without taking his eyes off the assassin knight, he continued.

"You see... I am the King of these lands. And you, as well as them, are invading without my permission. You caused disasters. You killed..."

Ryan brought his fists together and activated the skill of his gloves. Orange fire began to glow intensely.

He started moving forward while continuing to speak.

"So, as expected, I must punish the invaders. I don’t care if they are humans, heroes, demons, or people from your sect. Anyone who dares to set foot in my territory with hostile intent..."

Ryan vanished from the assassin’s sight.

The holy knight spun to the right, seeing nothing, then spun to the left.

No one was there, either.

"Will die." The murmur resonated from behind the assassin knight, finishing the sentence he had left hanging.

When the knight turned as fast as possible, Ryan was already behind him again.

Bang!

Cough, cough, cough.

He twisted his head back, blood spilling from his mouth.

"You... bastard... how... can you be so str...ong?"

Ryan’s fist had pierced through his back and punched out of his chest.

Ryan withdrew his arm, leaving a gaping hole in the assassin knight.

The blood on Ryan’s gloves evaporated instantly in the heat of his flames.

The knight collapsed to the ground.

Ryan took the short sword from him.

’I’ll analyze it later, but this is the first epic weapon I’ll be able to use.’ He stowed it in his magic inventory.

Then, he began walking toward where Mirian was fighting.

The axe-knight’s armor was heavily worn and broken.

"It seems Mirian’s speed is far superior to his, even if he is S-rank. I expected more from them," he murmured as he walked.

Mirian was standing on one of the branches of a tree.

The knight launched a long-range attack that began slicing through the ground. When it struck the tree, it split it down the middle.

The attack didn’t stop there, leaving a massive trench in its wake.

Mirian, who had dodged it, shouted at the knight.

"Hey! Would you mind launching that attack again?" she asked while still in mid-air.

Upon landing, the axe-knight was euphoric. With a scowl, he attacked again, this time with even more power.

’What is she trying to do by provoking him?’

Mirian was now standing a few meters away from where the attack had hit. She shouted again.

"Thanks! That huge trench... well, it’ll serve nicely as a place to bury all of you. Otherwise, this place is going to start stinking even worse!"

"Dammit... who do you think you are, you heretic woman? Do you really think you’ll win?"

"Ah, sorry. Haven’t you noticed?" Mirian pointed. "Your partner is already dead. You’re the only one left."

The knight turned. Upon seeing the body of his friend, his body staggered for a moment.

His shoulders began to tremble.

"Damned heretics..." he muttered.

His fists tightened around the axe.

Then, he pulled an object from his pocket.

’A relic?’

"Twins Earth!"

Mirian leapt back, performing a backflip.

Beneath her, right where she had been standing, two massive fists made of earth slammed into each other.

"That was close!" she uttered, beads of sweat on her face.

As she landed, earth fists began emerging from every direction.

Mirian dodged.

One, two, three jumps.

"Bow Mastery." When Mirian spoke those words, her bow suddenly lit up.

She began to run.

The earth fists slammed down, but none reached her.

’She’s faster and more agile now.’

The next Twins Earth attack wasn’t aimed at her; instead, it blocked her path.

"Stop moving so much, you damned heretic!" The knight arrived from behind, his axe ready to strike.

"Ghost Arrow!"

Mirian jumped backward, pushing off the earthen wall created by the Twins Earth that had blocked her path earlier.

Hovering above the knight, she aimed her bow.

The knight was about to jump to attack her, but he stopped and dodged.

"Rain Shot!" The arrows flew directly toward where the knight stood.

But there was no impact; they simply disappeared.

’What happened?’

The knight began to spit up blood. Mirian landed on her feet atop the earthen wall. She kept her aim on the knight while her arrow glowed with a faint light.

The knight fell to his knees.

He leaned on his axe.

"What did you do, you damned heretic...?"

"There’s no need for you to know. You’re about to die anyway."

"This won’t end like this..."

Cough, cough.

He spat blood. Numerous arrows had pierced him from behind.

"When they find out we failed, our people will come..."

"Drill Shot!"

And before he could finish his sentence, his head vanished along with half of his torso.

"Blah, blah, blah. I’m not interested in hearing your last words."

Mirian took a massive leap and landed a few meters away from Ryan.

She clasped her hands together behind her back, holding her bow there as well.

And walked up to him.

"Ryan! It looks like we’re done here," she said with a wide smile. "Did I do well?"

"I already knew you were strong, but even so, you’ve surprised me. Good job, Mirian!"

He placed his hand on her head and stroked her hair.

She didn’t wait any longer and hugged him.

"Do you remember what you told me before we started fighting?"