Vol. 15 - Ch. 40 - Ultimate Clan Battle - Main Event (7/10)

While Ryuushin and the others were fighting it on the arena floor in their four giant golems against nine enemy Clan Houses –

"Ah! Halt-sama!!"

"...Yeah. Looks like we've got company."

Tina and Halt, up in Familia's control room floating high above the arena, both sensed the intruder.

"Whoa, seriously? They actually broke through my barrier."

Whoever this was had not only flown all the way up here but had actually punched through the barrier the strongest sages had set up. He managed to get inside Familia's grounds.

"I believe it must be him.”

"Yeah, gotta be. Honestly, I can't think of anyone else."

Halt started stripping off his jacket, getting ready to head out.

"Are you perhaps considering a counterattack?" (Leaffa)

"Halt, please be careful." (Luna)

"Oh well, it’s Halt we’re talking about so he’s gonna be fine, meow." (Merdie)

Leaffa and Luna sounded worried. Merdie, still watching the brawl on the arena floor, barely glanced over as she waved him off.

"Should I come with?"

"I can fight too!"

"I can go as well."

Shiro, Sylph, and Undine could tell this visitor was seriously strong, so they offered to back Halt up.

"Nah, I got this. Stay here and protect everyone."

"Hmm, understood."

"Got it!"

"Halt-sama... please be careful."

"Thanks, Tina. Alright, I'm off!"

With that, Halt teleported straight to their uninvited guest.

──＊＊＊──

"Finally decided to show your face, huh?"

The hulking ogre-man standing in front of me didn't even flinch when I appeared out of nowhere. He just greeted me with this calm, steady voice.

His name's Gale Vermillion.

Apparently, when the world split East and West, he came out on top as the West's strongest. Tina's the East's strongest, for the record, and now this guy had literally come to pick a fight with our clan.

"Thanks for waiting so patiently."

I already knew Gale landed on our turf by punching through my barrier with nothing but his bare fists. Turns out the "world's strongest" title isn't just for show.

"You the one in charge here?"

"Yes. I’m Halt Ernol."

Gale stared at me for a long moment.

"What's your level?"

"Uh... one?"

"Figured."

He practically slumped his shoulders in disappointment. I guess he's got some kind of skill that lets him see other people's stats.

"I'll give you some advice. Go get Tina Harivell. Now. You're not worth my time. And if you piss me off, I'll start trashing this place."

He looked genuinely annoyed, but sorry there's no way I'm letting Tina fight.

"She's pregnant with my kid."

"...What?"

"So yes, pardon, but I can’t let her fight."

"W-wait a second, what the heck? Tina's carrying your child? Is that true?! Is that why a weakling like you—level one, the lowest of the low—is the master of a clan this huge?"

Gale probably thought I'd done something to Tina, forced her into this, and was using her power to run Familia.

And, I mean, he's not entirely wrong?

Tina did acquire the land for Familia. She did arrange the builders for the Clan House. The fact that we live this comfortably is because of the massive fortune she earned.

When you think about it... I'm basically Tina's kept man, aren't I?

"Hey! Snap out of it! Go get Tina Harivelll. Now. If she's pregnant, I won't fight her. I just want to talk."

"Oh, sorry. Well, since you came all the way up here... how about fighting me instead?"

I let some of my mana leak out as I said it.

"I'm kinda curious about that 'strongest' title myself."

"...You've got a stat-falsification skill, don't you? No way a level one has mana reserves like that."

Gale shifted into a combat stance. Guess he finally acknowledged me as a legitimate opponent.

"Figures. You teleported here, after all."

"Yes. I can't tell you the secret to my strength, but I'll say this. I'm not just a level one."

I wrapped myself in my magic suit and summoned Hakoku to my hand.

"Oh, and these buildings? They're stupidly sturdy. So don't hold back—wreck whatever you want."

"Interesting. You want my full power? Hope that's not just bravado."

Mana started pouring off Gale in waves. The pressure he was putting out was unlike anything I'd ever felt from a human before. It should be at least demon-class, maybe even stronger than some lesser gods.

Dude's probably maxed out at level 300.

"Coming at you now. Make this fun, will you."

And then the world's strongest charged straight at me.

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