Confrontation - 1

Visgard, emanating a foreboding presence after seeing Cornio beaten, watched as Arnold dismissed his opponent's struggles with a nonchalant shrug.

"Let's have some fun with him, boss," one of Arnold's henchmen suggested with a malevolent grin.

They took pleasure in watching Cornio's futile attempts against Arnold's overwhelming strength.

"Relax. I'll leave him to you once I'm finished," Arnold said with a sinister chuckle, treating Cornio as mere entertainment.

Breathing heavily, Cornio lifted the sword he had taken from the fallen guards.

"You dirty beastman, how dare you mock me!" Cornio shouted, charging at Arnold, who remained calm and confident.

Arnold effortlessly blocked Cornio's swing with his bare claws with such ease and minimal movement.

"Kuhahahaha! How amusing. You dare attack me with such weak strength?" Arnold taunted with a malicious grin, deriding Cornio's efforts.

With a powerful kick, Arnold struck Cornio in the abdomen, causing him to stagger back and fall to his knees.

"Urgh..." Cornio groaned, enduring the sharp pain he received from Arnold's attack.

"I knew beastmen were strong, but I never imagined it would be this painful," Cornio thought, acknowledging the beastman's formidable power.

"Get up and entertain me more, you pathetic human," Arnold demanded, showing his dominance as if playing with an insect.

Cornio realized Arnold's arrogance wasn't just a facade; the beastmen's strength and instincts were very real and can easily back up their arrogant personality.

"I suppose I won't see her again," Cornio whispered, thinking of someone and was steeling himself for a final, desperate effort in front of such overwhelming opponent.

Suddenly, before able to get back up on his feet, a light tap on his shoulder made him pause. Cornio turned to see Visgard, the boy he had been protecting in this hellish place.

"Visgard, what are you doing here?" Cornio asked, completely surprised.

Visgard stood silently, his eyes blazing with determination meeting Cornio's gaze.

"I'll handle this," Visgard said confidently, his calm demeanor revealing an absolute resolve, showing no hints of fear against an overwhelming beastman.

With memories of his exceptional combat abilities returning, Visgard recalled the Heroic Sage's calculations of him from before.

"I get it now, why you said I'd win against him." said Visgard mentally.

[Sage: Yes, and with my recent calculations, there is almost 0% chance of you, losing against him.]

Visgard smirked in relief.

"You? Handle me? Surely you jest..." Arnold mocked, lowering his guard.

Visgard seized the moment. Arnold gasped as Visgard's fist suddenly appeared and connected, sending him crashing to the ground.

"You brat!" a henchman shouted, furious at Visgard's audacity to act in a cowardly method.

A single glance from Visgard froze the henchmen. Their instincts told them to stay away and to not interfere with the child standing before them.

"Such overwhelming killing intent from a mere boy," they thought, awestruck by Visgard's ominous presence.

Arnold, completely stunned and unable to react, barely had time to raise his head before Visgard's foot struck his face once more, sending him sprawling.

Another powerful kick left Arnold incapacitated on the ground.

The henchmen, paralyzed by disbelief, watched as their boss was overpowered by a child.

One could not hold it in and ignored his instincts, he then attempted a sneak attack but was swiftly dealt with by Cornio's sword.

Slicing his head with ease as blood showered from his neck while his head rolled onto the floor.

"It's unwise to attack a child from behind," Cornio said, his voice filled with disdain.

"Thanks, Cornio," Visgard said, his gratitude boosting Cornio's confidence despite knowing that he could react to the earlier attempted attack.

Sage had orchestrated this moment to boost Cornio's morale, knowing that confidence was crucial for Cornio to unlock his potential.

Sage had analyzed Cornio's state and notice that he was reaching the climax of unveiling his skill. Therefore, a boost in Cornio's confidence was required in order to hasten the process.

"I'll handle this last henchman," Cornio said, brandishing his sword.

"Yes, I'll take care of Arnold," Visgard replied, his gaze focused and determined.

Cornio marveled at Visgard's transformation.

The boy's newfound confidence suggested he had unlocked a powerful skill.

"It's as if he's a whole 'nother person." Cornio thought, realizing that such thoughts were unnecessary in their current situation.

They prepared for the next battle. Cornio engaged the remaining henchman, while Visgard charged at Arnold.

"You dare act so mighty? You're just a child!" Arnold roared, retaliating and bewildered by such occurrence.

As Visgard closed in, Arnold was baffled by his swift and precise movements. With minimal redirection of movements, In an instant, Arnold was disoriented and thrown to the ground, outmaneuvered by the boy's superior technique.

Visgard pinned Arnold, choking him with lethal intent.

Arnold, realizing his overconfidence had led to his downfall, sweated profusely, knowing his end was near.

"How did I become the prey?" Arnold wondered, but before he could react, Visgard twisted his neck, ending his life.

Cornio, having defeated his opponent, watched in awe as Visgard stood victorious.

"How is this possible? He defeated Arnold so easily," Cornio thought, amazed by the boy's strength.

From a distance, Tora and the others were stunned.

"I can't believe he took down Arnold alone," Tora thought, unable to grasp Visgard's power.

Tora knowing how powerful and brutal Arnold was, couldn't believe that such small kid could overwhelm Arnold with ease and minimal effort at that.

The slaves who watched from afar were distracted with Visgard's unpredictable triumph, as footsteps appeared behind, they showed no hints of concern due to their focus on Visgard's victory.

Suddenly, a group of armed slaves approached, their weapons drawn and were covered in blood.

Tora and the others finally noticed, but it was already too late to escape.

One of them glanced at Rika, and took interest in her after looking at from head to toe in such lustful manner.

"Kill them, but leave the girl," one of the slaves ordered with authority.

"Understood," the others replied, advancing menacingly toward Tora and the group with malicious grins stuck on their faces.

Tora showed fear, yet deep within him hides a sensible justice that couldn't be swayed by fear and oppression.

His duty to protect his friends overwhelmed the sense of fear he was feeling.

"This is bad. Everyone, get behind me!" Tora said urgently, trying to protect his friends.

Before the threat closed in, Visgard and Cornio arrived at Tora's side.

"This place is full of dirty people." Visgard uttered in disgust.

"I guess we'll handle this too, what a hellish place indeed." Cornio said, disgusted by the approaching slaves.

"Tora, you take the one on the right. Cornio will deal with the muscular one in the middle, and I'll handle the one on the left," Visgard directed calmly, his confidence showed superiority and authentic admiration from Tora's eyes.

Seeing Visgard's confidence and absolute resolve even with such small frame, boosted the hidden sense of justice within Tora.

"I must be brave just like him, I am a beastman, I will not falter from the likes of these dirty humans." Tora thought, drawing strength from Visgard's resolve.

Both sides confronted, while Rika and the other young slaves were faced with fear as another battle approached them and was about to unfold with such uncertainty of their side's victory.

But knowing Tora and the other two whom they saw earlier, dominating the beastmen, they all gulped and placed their faith in the three of them as they stood upfront with utmost confidence.

With renewed determination, Tora, Visgard, and Cornio were all prepared for the next battle against the armed slaves before them.

Unknowing of the chaos that continued to unfold in Grave Dominion.

Chapter End.