SFRW-Chapter 146

Ch. 146 Sword God From The Ruined World

—GROOOOAAAR!  

The Black Tiger’s roar made even the surrounding air tremble.  

Its sheer presence alone was close to that of a sub-boss monster.  

A mere beast exuding an aura reminiscent of a sub-boss monster?!  

The S-rank Indonesian Heroes stared at it with disbelief.  

“That… makes no sense!”  

Soliaman gulped dryly, his hairs standing on end at the sight of the Black Tiger.  

And that wasn’t all.  

The chieftain riding atop the Black Tiger was no ordinary foe either.  

The massive greatsword made of bone gleamed with a sharper killing intent than any steel blade.  

When they first clashed with the primitive tribe, the Indonesian Heroes had underestimated them.  

Their grotesquely large builds and weapons—crude bones scavenged from who-knows-where—made them seem like easy prey.  

That’s why they thought they were nothing special.  

They even believed that the nine S-rank Heroes who arrived later could easily handle them.  

But reality was completely different.  

Their massive builds were no longer a weakness when mounted on the Black Tiger that emerged from the rift.  

The bone armor and weapons, which looked like they would shatter upon impact, were unnaturally durable—so much so that they doubted if it was really bone.  

And the sheer weight behind their attacks was strong enough to numb the hands of even A-rank Heroes.  

Speed, strength, agility.  

And the Black Tiger’ cooperation on top of that.  

The combat prowess of the primitive tribe, which the Indonesian Heroes had dismissed, wiped out half of the vanguard in an instant.  

Even the nine S-rank Heroes who arrived late couldn’t turn the tide—the tribesmen were just that strong.  

“Tama!”  

At Soliaman’s shout, Tama quickly approached.  

“So now you finally decide to move, you bastard?! Damn it!”  

The fight was already over.  

Were they planning to slaughter the retreating enemies for show?  

Though it felt petty, the chieftain’s overwhelming presence made Soliaman and Tama swallow hard.  

—GROOOOAAAR!  

The giant Black Tiger roared again.  

Its bestial cry radiated a pressure rivaling that of a monster’s fear aura, and in the next moment, its massive body moved like lightning.  

“Dodge!”  

Soliaman shoved Tama aside while hurling himself in the opposite direction.  

—BOOOOM!  

The spot where they had stood moments ago exploded as if a bomb had dropped, the ground flipping over and dirt spraying everywhere.  

The Black Tiger had closed a distance of at least 50 meters in a single leap—a sight that left the other S-rank Heroes stunned.  

—WHOOSH!  

A bone greatsword cut through the dust, aiming straight for Soliaman.  

He swung his jungle blade to block, but—  

—CLANG!  

“Guh…!”  

Soliaman’s body was sent flying helplessly backward, his grip torn open as his palm turned crimson in an instant.  

—GROOOOAAAR!  

—THUD!  

“Ugh!”  

Meanwhile, Tama was sent rolling after barely managing to deflect the Black Tiger’s attack.  

The chieftain, unfazed against two S-rank Heroes, stood firm.  

“□□□□□□□□□□!”  

The chieftain raised his bone greatsword and barked something in an arrogant tone.  

It sounded like he was declaring that these opponents weren’t even worth his time.  

“Tama! Soliaman!”  

“Haaah!”  

The other S-rank Heroes rushed in at once.  

Some unleashed sword energy, others threatened the Black Tiger with split blades, while one sent a condensed blue magic blast straight at the chieftain.  

The combined assault of S-rank Heroes from all directions was not something that could be ignored.  

Just as it seemed the Black Tiger and chieftain would be torn apart—  

—GROOOOAAAR!  

The Black Tiger roared again and slammed its front paws into the ground.  

—BOOOOM!  

Another explosion flipped the earth, sending dirt flying.  

At the same time, the chieftain’s greatsword swung in a wide arc.  

—CRACK! CRAAASH!  

The powerful magic enveloping the blade deflected every single attack from the Heroes.  

“……!”  

“……!”  

The Heroes staggered back, exchanging bewildered glances.  

This was a joint attack by S-rank Heroes.  

Even a Boss Monster would’ve taken heavy damage—yet it had been completely blocked.  

Rather than wounded pride, their confusion grew: How were they supposed to fight this?  

If the chieftain were the only enemy, it wouldn’t have been a problem.  

But the primitive tribesmen were watching with bloodthirsty eyes, ready to pounce at any moment.  

The best option was to capture the chieftain.  

That alone would crush the tribe’s morale.  

Even if it didn’t, they could retreat afterward and regroup with other Heroes for a final, life-or-death battle.  

Casualties would be heavy, but at least they could resolve this crisis themselves.  

Yet none of them had the confidence to make that choice.  

The chieftain stood there, relaxed, as if daring them to try—and his demeanor crushed the S-rank Heroes’ resolve.  

‘Should we risk our lives?’  

‘Can we even capture him?’  

‘Will he even let us retreat?’  

‘If we fail here, we’ll be wiped out.’  

‘An uncertain fight is just recklessness.’  

‘Today’s not our day! We should retreat!’  

The Indonesian S-rank Heroes all had different thoughts.  

But one thing was clear—none of them had true confidence.  

—Hmph.  

As if seeing right through their hesitation, the chieftain smirked viciously.  

The S-rank Heroes’ faces twisted in humiliation, yet still, none dared to move first.  

If you won’t come at me, then I’ll come at you.  

As the chieftain raised his greatsword, the Black Tiger bared its fangs, as if to shake their very souls.  

—GROOOOAAAR!  

Just as the Black Tiger’s roar shook the battlefield—  

Seo Do-jun, who had been watching from high above, finally made his move.  

—SKREEEEEEEEEEE!  

Casserian’s cry drowned out the Black Tiger’s roar.  

The Black Tiger’s pupils dilated rapidly as it looked up at the sky, sensing a fear aura far stronger than its own.  

A massive shadow descended at terrifying speed.  

The chieftain, too, was stunned.  

“□□□□□□□□□□!”  

He shouted something incomprehensible.  

But Seo Do-jun didn’t care. He gave Casserian a warning:  

“Don’t kill it.”  

With that, he lunged straight at the chieftain.  

Seeing Seo Do-jun falling toward him, the chieftain swung his greatsword.  

Having effortlessly blocked the S-rank Heroes’ combined attack, he was brimming with confidence.  

I’ll send you flying faster than you can fall!  

Seo Do-jun swung his sword in response.  

—CRACK-SHOOOOOM!  

The impact was so loud that the onlookers had to cover their ears.  

The chieftain’s massive body was sent flying sideways.  

Seo Do-jun’s body also veered off course, but he landed gracefully.  

Meanwhile, Casserian—having lost its rider—lunged at the Black Tiger, viciously gripping its nape with its talons.  

—GROOOOAAAR!  

The Black Tiger thrashed wildly, its strength nearly breaking Casserian’s grip.  

—SKREEEEE!  

Casserian spread its wings to stabilize itself while slamming its other claw into the Black Tiger’s back.  

—CRUNCH!  

Its sharp talons pierced deep into the Black Tiger’s hide.  

The Black Tiger writhed in agony, but Casserian refused to let go, flapping its wings and slamming the beast into the ground repeatedly to drain its strength.  

Everyone watched, dumbfounded, at the brutal struggle between the two beasts.  

Meanwhile, the chieftain—who had been sent flying—staggered back to his feet.  

“□□□□□□□□□□!”  

He roared, calling for his tribesmen’s aid.  

But Seo Do-jun was faster.  

Capturing the chieftain was key to seizing control.  

Seo Do-jun wasn’t the type to fear the tribesmen’s retaliation.  

But this time, he wanted them to stand down peacefully.  

“Let’s make this quick.”  

The chieftain’s face lost all composure under Seo Do-jun’s cold gaze.  

He knew instinctively—this was an opponent he couldn’t defeat.  

His only thought was escape.  

His eyes darted left and right as he gripped his greatsword.  

“Tch.”  

Seo Do-jun clicked his tongue in disdain.  

Pathetic. He won’t even fight seriously when his life’s on the line.  

—CLANG!  

‘What kind of bone is this hard?’  

Seo Do-jun’s eyes fixed on the chieftain’s greatsword.  

He hadn’t struck with full force, but the blade had endured a significant amount of magic.  

Any normal sword would’ve shattered—yet this one remained intact.  

‘The size is perfect… and it absorbs magic well too.’  

Greed flickered in Seo Do-jun’s eyes.  

The chieftain’s face stiffened at his gaze.  

“□□□□□□□□□□!”  

His furious shout was unintelligible, but the meaning was clear:  

Don’t even think about taking my sword.  

Seo Do-jun smirked and swung again—but this time, something was different.  

—CLINK!  

His blade, which had overpowered the chieftain earlier, was now repelled weakly.  

Why?  

The question flashed in the chieftain’s eyes—just before Seo Do-jun spun like a top and delivered a picture-perfect spinning kick straight to his face.  

—CRACK!  

With a scream, the chieftain’s massive body lurched sideways. Still, he swung his greatsword to keep Seo Do-jun at bay.  

—CLINK!  

Seo Do-jun parried and closed the distance.  

His fist buried itself in the chieftain’s twisted brow.  

—CRACK!  

The chieftain’s head snapped back, and Seo Do-jun drove another fist into his exposed throat.  

—THUD!  

Gagging in pain, the chieftain could only watch as Seo Do-jun delivered the final blow.  

—SWISH!  

The chieftain’s head flew clean off.  

His massive body collapsed backward with a heavy thud, ending the battle.  

Seo Do-jun wrenched the greatsword from the chieftain’s death grip.  

When he channeled magic into it, the blade absorbed it like a sponge.  

‘What the hell is this bone made of?’  

He stared in awe at a weapon that outperformed even his own sword.  

—SKREEEEE!  

While Seo Do-jun was distracted, Casserian let out a victorious cry atop the battered Black Tiger.  

Seo Do-jun frowned.  

“…You went overboard.”  

The Black Tiger wasn’t dead, but its body was drenched in blood.  

Casserian, expecting praise, shrank under Seo Do-jun’s glare.  

—Skreee…  

Its cry weakened under its master’s murderous gaze.  

Shaking his head, Seo Do-jun approached the primitive tribesmen, who were still in shock from their chieftain’s death.  

Resistance?  

There was none.  

That was the nature of primitive tribes.  

Those who completely crushed their leader were not to be challenged. If they had that kind of courage, they would’ve become chieftains themselves.  

Every tribesman averted their eyes when Seo Do-jun’s gaze fell upon them.  

Fear and terror radiated from them.  

“Are you from South Korea?”  

Soliaman approached cautiously, speaking fluent English.  

“Yes.”  

At Seo Do-jun’s reply, Soliaman bowed deeply, his eyes filled with gratitude.  

“Thank you for your help! I am Soliaman!”  

Following his lead, the other Indonesian S-rank Heroes rushed forward to express their thanks.  

“What should we do with them?”  

Seo Do-jun relayed Chairman Na Tae-hwang’s orders verbatim.  

Even if communication was impossible, they were still human. The World Hero Association intended to interrogate them—to learn who they were, where they came from, and what their purpose was.  

For now, Indonesia would have to detain them.  

“Understood. I’ll contact them immediately.”  

“Ah, one more thing.”  

As Soliaman was about to call the Association, Seo Do-jun stopped him.  

“I’ll be taking those.”  

His gaze was fixed squarely on the Black Tiger.  

When no reply came, Seo Do-jun looked at Soliaman.  

“Problem?”  

His sharp eyes seemed to ask: Are you going to stop me?  

Soliaman glanced at his fellow S-rank Heroes for support.  

A few clearly understood but pretended not to, avoiding his gaze.  

‘…Cowards!’  

Soliaman’s face twisted in frustration.  

The Black Tigers are stronger than most monsters.  

And since they were beasts, they could theoretically be tamed. Of course, it was impossible not to covet them.  

He exhaled quietly and asked:  

“Do you plan to take all of them?”  

He hoped Seo Do-jun would at least leave some behind—maybe then they could negotiate.  

But Seo Do-jun’s reply left no room for bargaining.  

“I’m taking every single one.”  

Soliaman’s mouth snapped shut.  

‘What do I even say to that?! Hey, you bastards, say something! Are you really just going to stay quiet?!’  

His furious gaze swept over his comrades, but they only shook their heads, as if to say: This is a fight we can’t win.