Chapter 914

Although his physique was nowhere near that of the nearly two-meter-tall Fang Clan chief, his aura was in no way inferior.

This was felt by both the human soldiers watching from the walls of Lundinium and the Queen's Army soldiers gazing into the distance.

"Didn't I say that back in Camelot?"

Shirou spoke with a calm and composed expression.

"Don't worry, one day I'll play with you..."

But not today, and you certainly don't want your blood to stain His Majesty's throne, do you?

That's what Shirou promised Woodwose in Camelot's throne room.

Now, it's time to fulfill that promise.

"So, let's have a match."

Faced with Woodwose's bewildered expression, Shirou clenched his fingers, stretched out his arms, and assumed a fighting stance.

That nonchalant tone seemed to carry a certain warmth, which even Woodwose could sense.

"Don't worry, I won't use weapons."

Shirou said this quietly.

"You must have been holding a lot of resentment towards me, right? This is a good opportunity to vent it all."

Don't worry, I will absolutely not use any weapons or Magecraft.

In this way, the power gap between you and me should be greatly reduced.

How about that? A fair deal, right? I went out of my way to accommodate you.

Although Shirou himself was completely unaware, to those who heard it, it was undoubtedly a complete mockery.

Even so, Woodwose remained hesitant.

He had already heard many tales of Shirou's recent martial prowess.

He knew very well how strong the man in front of him was.

But... without using weapons and Magecraft?

What a joke! Do you think you can beat me with your human body?!

No, this must be a conspiracy... He's plotting something...

Woodwose looked puzzled, Shirou looked at him and said...

Is this okay?

His voice was like hot air surging from the core of a star.

"Do you have the leisure to space out when you're facing me?"

Shirou unleashed his killing intent, and Woodwose instinctively jumped back, creating distance between them.

"What's wrong? What's wrong, Woodwose!"

Are you scared, Duke of Oxford!?

"Just as rumored, you really are a coward, Woodwose!?"

Upon seeing this, the spectators on the walls of Lundinium began to jeer.

Woodwose gritted his teeth.

Only he noticed how chilling the murderous aura Shirou had just exuded was.

Shirou walked straight over.

His steps seemed full of flaws, but he was simply walking towards Woodwose.

"Coo coo... coo, oh oh!!"

Woodwose made up his mind.

His fist struck Shirou's unsuspecting side cheek, knocking Shirou's head off—as was expected.

Shirou's figure disappeared.

The sight before him made Woodwose doubt his own eyes.

Then, a massive impact penetrated Woodwose's abdomen.

"Heave-ho."

Having completed his evasive maneuver, Shirou took a step forward and threw a punch.

"Gah!?"

Woodwose felt a surge of heat pass through his body.

The impact and heat did not remain inside Woodwose's body, but instead passed through with astonishing force.

He coughed loudly and took three steps back in a cold, defensive manner.

"Wow, that's impressive... My short-range attack only made you retreat this little distance?"

Shirou said.

"What... did you... do...?"

As Woodwose turned around, Shirou had already raised his clenched fist high.

"----!!"

An attack like an iron hammer came crashing down.

Although it's just a swing of the arm, it utilizes the strength of the whole body, combined with ancient techniques.

Woodwose raised his arms to defend himself, but Shirou's strike sent him crashing to his knees.

"Gahh..."

"It's about time you got serious; we're in the middle of a duel."

Shirou said with some disappointment, then launched his next attack without any mercy.

This time it was a slap.

Even though it was just a slap, it was imbued with a martial skill unheard of in the Fae Kingdom —it was swung out fiercely and struck Woodwose's cheek.

The Grand Duke of Heat Discharge rolled to the ground.

How could this be...? I was completely... defenseless...

"Waaaaaah!!"

There wasn't even time for regret; Shirou's chop landed on the tip of his nose.

As a torrent of blood gushed forth, Woodwose's nose emitted a chilling sound as if cartilage was being crushed.

The taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Shirou's high kick landed over Woodwose, so close it almost touched his nose.

"Gah!!"

A stunning impact.

If it were a typical Fang Clan, this attack could easily shatter the collarbone, shoulder blade, and shinbone.

Even so, Woodwose did not kneel down.

"Don't... don't underestimate me...! This is nothing..."

"I'm saying..."

Seeing Woodwose glaring at him fiercely, Shirou stopped attacking.

He stood with one hand on his hip, looking down at the other person.

"Reinek, you've become so much weaker than before! The name of a hero is now a disgrace!"

"!!!!"

Woodwose's eyes widened.

Am I weaker than my predecessor (Reinek)?

How is this possible...?

My predecessor perished in the battle against King of Mors, and I was born from his remains, becoming the strongest warrior of the Fang Clan, who defeated King of Mors and surpassed even the hero Reinek!!

Woodwose gritted his teeth, glaring at Shirou: "So you're also saying... I'm old?"

"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with age."

Shirou looked at him and said, "Look at you, you don't even use your claws when you're fighting, do you?"

"They're clearly wild animals, so why do they swing their fists like humans?"

That's because...

"It's because you abandoned your weapons, abandoned your rightful way of being, that you've become so weak."

Shirou said, somewhat bored.

Then he turned and walked toward the gates of Lundinium.

The outcome is already decided; there is absolutely no need to continue fighting.

If they know what's good for them, they should obediently withdraw their troops and go crying back to Morgan's side.

"Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh...!!"

The howl of a wolf came from behind Shirou, echoing throughout the sky above the entire battlefield.

Woodwose stood up and roared at the sky.

"..."

Shirou stopped and turned to look at the head of the Fang Clan.

"Oh oh, oh oh oh! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!!!"

Woodwose tore his expensive, luxurious dress to shreds.

Their rough movements resembled those of a wild animal.

However, what he truly tore apart was the wall of his heart.

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh--!!"

After Shirou exposed his inner conflict, Woodwose unleashed his pent-up anger with a roar.

The strongest native species in the Fae Kingdom, the Lung of the Planet (heat-dissipating organ), erupted like a volcano after hundreds of years.

Woodwose's muscles bulged, and his fur stood on end, swaying like flames.

This is not awakening, but rather reclaiming one's original, true self.

The ancient Fang Clan who witnessed this scene knelt down one after another.

They trembled as if in prayer, tears welling in their eyes.

--I'm back.

That was a figure they thought they would never see again.

--I'm back.

That image that the entire Fang Clan yearned for, that figure they followed.

Lord Woodwose, the strongest warrior, has returned!

"Not bad."

Unlike the imposing Woodwose, Shirou wore a pleased expression and held up one finger.

"But don't get me wrong... you're the challenger."

"Oh oh oh oh oh! Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!!!!"

Woodwose pounced on Shirou like a wild beast, using all four legs.