Baru

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Chosen Successor and First Contest

The Grand Elder chose Baru as his successor after searching for someone with both intelligence and strength. He considered Baru cleverer than many adult tribesmen, though still impulsive. As the tribe’s young chieftain, Baru faced Andrew in a weapons contest watched by the Grand Elder and Captain Clayde, who wagered on its outcome 3 4.

Andrew redirected Baru’s iron staff with tai chi principles and disarmed him. Rather than concede, Baru underwent a berserk transformation. Andrew put aside his saber, deflected Baru’s punch with Taiji Fist, and threw him more than ten meters. The Grand Elder conceded the match and ordered Gleiter to knock Baru unconscious and carry him away 3 4.

Andrew’s Stay at the Keli Tribe

When Andrew’s family sought refuge with the tribe, Baru helped welcome them and showed them their assigned stone house. He remained convinced that Andrew’s earlier victory had depended on a trick and repeatedly challenged him over the following month. Each encounter ended in defeat, including a bout in which Andrew’s lightning battle-qi left him numb. Andrew nevertheless encouraged him to pursue the barbarians’ own gift for strength 8.

First Independent Expedition

Baru accompanied Andrew when he left the tribe’s hunting party to seek more dangerous training in Mogan Forest. Andrew initially objected because Baru was the tribe’s future Grand Elder, but Baru insisted that the tribe did not need a coward as its leader. The Grand Elder permitted the expedition and secretly followed to protect them from genuine danger 9 10.

Their expedition nearly ended in disaster against a wounded Iron-Armored Boar. Distracted by discovering that Andrew could cast magic, Baru failed to support his attack. He then struck hastily at the boar’s heavily armored head and lost his staff. Andrew saved him from being gored by severing the beast’s hind leg, after which the Grand Elder killed it 11.

The Grand Elder praised Baru for facing the beast but warned him that his lapse in concentration had been fatal in nature. After returning to the tribe, Baru requested permission to train alone in Mogan Forest, determined to prove himself 11 12.

Three Years of Training and Return

Baru remained in Mogan Forest for three years without returning home. When Andrew encountered him again, he was fighting a larger, unwounded Iron-Armored Boar. After an hour of repeatedly striking behind its ear, Baru broke through its defenses and drove his staff into its head. Despite winning, he was disappointed that the battle had not brought the breakthrough he sought 18.

Andrew then concealed his identity and attacked him, using vibrations through the iron staff to demonstrate the application of strength. Baru seized on that insight and became a high-level warrior during their clash. Exhausted and injured, he believed he was about to die until Andrew removed his disguise. Once he understood the purpose of the fight, Baru sincerely thanked him 18 19.

The two returned toward the Keli Tribe in a race, which Andrew won by riding Golden Tiger. Baru was briefly discouraged to learn that Andrew had subdued an eighth-level magical beast, but renewed his determination to catch up after Andrew encouraged him. Later, he stood beside the First Elder and silently watched the Lance family depart the tribe 19 20.

Andrew’s Duel with Baird

When news reached the Keli Tribe that Earl Lance had challenged the Saint-level warrior Baird, Baru initially doubted the Grand Elder’s identification of the earl as Andrew. Further reports confirmed it, and Baru anxiously questioned whether Andrew could win. The Grand Elder reassured him that Andrew was mature and unlikely to act without confidence 55.

By this time, Baru’s strength had surpassed the Grand Elder’s. Recognizing both his growth and his suitability for leadership, the elder encouraged him to travel, temper himself, and watch the duel. Baru resolved to become the first Saint Warrior in the Keli Tribe’s history and lead the tribe to greatness 55.

Baru attended the duel outside Kaobis City, carrying his iron staff. When nearby spectators recoiled from him and insulted him as a barbarian, he quietly sat down to wait rather than retaliate. Andrew’s revelation of Saint-level strength stirred his fighting spirit, and after Andrew killed Baird with a single saber strike, Baru reaffirmed his determination to keep pursuing him and eventually become the strongest warrior on the grasslands 56 57.

Andrew’s Wedding

Baru attended Andrew and Han Yue’s wedding in the imperial capital. Andrew was surprised and delighted to see him and personally welcomed him into the residence, while Howard and the rest of the family were also pleased to reunite with him six years after leaving the Keli Tribe. The honor Andrew showed him surprised nearby nobles, some of whom looked down on Baru’s barbarian identity 58.

The Muhan Tribe’s Threat

Baru and the Grand Elder visited the Lance family for Herbert Lance’s one-month celebration. Although warmly welcomed, their expressions revealed the Keli Tribe’s troubles: the elder appeared worried, while Baru looked prepared to face death. Andrew questioned them privately and learned that the expanding Muhan Tribe intended to attack the Keli Tribe 71.

When Andrew proposed intervening, Baru warned that a human’s involvement in an internal grassland conflict would unite the grassland experts against him. The Grand Elder supported this warning, explaining that even tribes that fought one another would cooperate against human interference. Andrew nevertheless chose to confront the Muhan Tribe, arguing that its expansion also threatened his Lance Duchy 72.

Appearance

• Early stature: Already a head taller than Andrew during their first contest 4.
• Berserk form: His body swells until he stands nearly two meters tall; his fist is described as being as large as Andrew’s head 4.
• After reaching seventh rank: Nearly two meters tall even outside the earlier transformation scene, with a physique capable of smashing through rocks, trees, and vines while running 19.
• At the Kaobis City duel: A tall young man with abundant body hair, visibly distinct from ordinary humans. He wears hemp clothing and carries an iron staff on his back 56.

Personality

Baru is intensely competitive and initially struggles to accept losing to someone physically weaker. His pride and temper can make him reckless: he transforms rather than concede his first match, and later attacks the masked Andrew angrily when he feels dismissed. Nevertheless, Andrew regards him as honest and simplehearted 4 8 18.

His perseverance becomes his defining strength. He spends three years training alone after the disastrous boar encounter and continues to regret endangering Andrew. Even when he believes death is imminent, he refuses to beg for mercy. By their reunion, he can acknowledge Andrew’s achievements with genuine pride while still aspiring to surpass him 12 18 19.

Over the following years, Baru becomes markedly more mature. The Grand Elder judges that his caution, steadiness, thoughtfulness, and ambition are sufficient to make him an excellent tribal chief. Although Andrew’s rapidly growing strength is difficult for him to accept, his generous nature prevents that frustration from becoming jealousy 55.

His restraint is evident when he ignores hostile spectators’ insults at Kaobis City. He remains ambitious despite the widening gap between himself and Andrew, aspiring both to surpass his friend and to become the Keli Tribe’s first Saint Warrior. His warning against Andrew’s intervention in the Muhan conflict also demonstrates awareness of the wider political consequences of accepting outside help 55 56 57 72.

Abilities & Skills

Barbarian Strength and Recovery

Baru possesses the barbarians’ natural physical advantages 3 18.

• Can challenge a human fifth-level warrior while still short of fifth rank himself 8.
• Possesses at least two thousand jin of strength at the peak of the sixth rank 18.
• Recovers more than half his fatigue shortly after his prolonged battle with the Iron-Armored Boar 18.
• After reaching seventh rank, runs through forest obstacles by smashing them aside with his body 19.
• Eventually surpasses the Grand Elder in strength, though no exact later rank is given 55.

Berserk Transformation

A barbarian transformation that greatly increases physical strength at a substantial cost 4.

• Baru’s transformed punch carries at least a thousand jin of force, comparable to a fifth-level warrior’s power 4.
• The transformation clouds the mind, can prevent recognition of friend and foe, and damages the body 4.
• Increased strength does not overcome Andrew’s superior force-redirection techniques 4.

Staff Combat and Strength Control

Baru develops from a forceful staff fighter into a precise combatant capable of comprehending the application of strength 3 18 19.

• Repeatedly strikes the same point behind an Iron-Armored Boar’s ear several hundred times to breach its armor 18.
• Combines evasive movement with counterattacks against the much larger beast 18.
• Recognizes vibration as the key insight demonstrated by Andrew, enabling his seventh-rank breakthrough 18 19.

Magical Beast Knowledge

Baru knows Mogan Forest’s beasts well enough to advise Andrew during their expedition 10.

• Identifies the Black-Blood Centipede and explains that its severed remains can survive for two hours and launch surprise attacks 10.
• Identifies an Iron-Armored Boar from Earth Spikes and explains its earth armor and unusually strong defenses 10.
• Recognizes the significance of the boar’s concealed neck wound as an opening for attack 11.

Leadership and Grassland Affairs

The Grand Elder considers Baru’s mature judgment and ambition sufficient for him to become an excellent tribal chief 55.

• Understands that the Keli Tribe’s long-term development depends on its own leadership rather than solely on Andrew’s protection 55.
• Recognizes that otherwise rival grassland tribes unite against human interference, and warns Andrew that intervening against the Muhan Tribe could make every grassland expert his enemy 72.

Equipment

• Iron staff — His principal weapon, used in his first contest with Andrew and throughout his forest training. During their later encounter, it is described as an inch thick. He continues carrying it when he travels to watch Andrew’s duel outside Kaobis City 3 10 18 56.

Relationships

• Andrew Lance — Rival, close friend, and sworn-in-spirit brother. Their repeated contests develop into mutual trust; Andrew saves Baru’s life, helps him reach seventh rank, and encourages him not to abandon his ambitions. Baru remains free of jealousy despite Andrew’s growing superiority, watches his duel with Baird, and attends his wedding, where Andrew personally welcomes him. When the Muhan Tribe threatens the Keli Tribe, Baru warns Andrew of the danger of intervening in grassland affairs 8 11 19 55 56 57 58 72.
• Grand Elder / First Elder — Mentor and the leader who selected him as successor. Holds Baru to a higher standard because of his future responsibilities, protects his first independent expedition, and is delighted by his eventual breakthrough. Later acknowledges that Baru has surpassed him in strength and matured into a suitable tribal leader, encouraging him to travel for further tempering. They visit the Lance family together amid the Muhan Tribe’s threat 4 10 11 20 55 71 72.
• Lance family — Former guests of the Keli Tribe whom Baru helped settle into their new home. Howard and the others warmly welcome him at Andrew’s wedding and again when he visits with the Grand Elder for Herbert’s one-month celebration 8 58 71.
• Gleiter — Tribesman ordered to subdue and carry Baru away after his berserk defeat against Andrew 4.

Notable Quotes

“The Keli Tribe doesn't need a coward for a grand elder!” 10

“You're right. To become strong, I need that kind of determination. Besides, we're brothers, and I'm sincerely proud of what you've achieved! But I'll catch up to you soon!” 19

“One day, I will become the first Saint Warrior in the history of the Keli Tribe and bring the tribe to greatness!” — Internal vow 55

“You're very powerful now, but you're human, after all. This is an internal matter of our grasslands. Once you get involved, every expert on the grasslands will become your enemy...” 72

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