Sword God in a World of Magic

After a while, Shang walked over to the first barbarian that had been beaten up by the group and squatted down.

The barbarian's body was slowly recovering. He didn't have a warrior's body, but as someone at the Peak General Stage, he could still recover with quite some speed.

Right now, the barbarian wasn't moving as he kept lying on the ground in a fetal position.

Blood and dried spit were all over him.

"Why didn't you resist?" Shang asked.

For a while, the barbarian said nothing.

"I'm a Ruiner," the barbarian eventually answered.

Some more seconds of silence.

"Ruiners get beaten."

"Says who?" Shang asked.

This made the barbarian move his head and look at Shang warily.

"It is normal," he said.

"So?" Shang asked. "Does it mean that it's the right thing to do just because it's normal?"

The barbarian looked with confusion at Shang.

"It is known and normal," he said.

"It is how things are."

"This is what life is."

The barbarian turned away from Shang again while saying these things.

"It is your life," Shang said. "You decide what to do with your life."

The barbarian didn't look at Shang, but Shang could see with his Mana Vision that a confused expression appeared on his face.

Apparently, this barbarian had never heard of such a concept.

"I am a Ruiner, and Ruiners get punished," the barbarian repeated.

"What's a Ruiner?" Shang asked.

This piqued the barbarian's interest, and he looked at Shang again.

"You don't know what a Ruiner is?" he asked in shock.

Shang noted the barbarian's reaction. 'The word Ruiner seems to be common knowledge, but instead of doubting my words, he believed me and only asked for confirmation.'

'A normal human would think that I am mocking them. After all, who doesn't know what a Ruiner is?'

'But he believed me.'

'Sadly, it makes sense. The barbarians are raised to follow orders like slaves. The Mages don't want them to think for themselves.'

"I don't know what a Ruiner is," Shang said. "I left my home long ago, and I've been living in the wilderness ever since. I don't know much about how normal barbarians live."

The barbarian's expression became shocked and confused.

"But you are a barbarian," he said.

"How do you not know how a barbarian lives?"

"You are a barbarian. You must know how barbarians live. You are living as a barbarian," he reasoned.

know what a barbarian looks

much as he

tried to understand what Shang had just

of things that didn't happen, and that confused the

a barbarian," the man said. "You know how barbarians live.

lack the ability to understand something that is even remotely abnormal? What's so hard to

don't know what a Ruiner is," Shang

"But you-"

I still don't know what a Ruiner

me what a

longer in confusion, but eventually, he looked

to challenge the Tribe's

called Ruiners?"

strong leader makes a strong Tribe," the barbarian explained. "A weak leader

"A weak Tribe dies."

weak Tribe will turn to

barbarian trying to become the strongest is

trying to destroy

again

proclaiming yourself to be the most powerful while not being the most powerful is akin to threatening the entire Tribe. Because of that, the

the leader loses? Will he become

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

that as soon as you are on the top, it's all

leader steps down?" Shang asked. He assumed that it was fine for a

barbarian looked at Shang

is step

you don't want to lead anymore and give the

after hearing these words, the eyes of the barbarian

said with an angry

reaction with interest. "Is a weakling worse than

"A Ruiner has power."

can go

"A weakling is worthless!"

eats food but doesn't bring

brings enemies but doesn't

leave

watched the angry barbarian

the other barbarian weakling," Shang

the wind out of his sails, and the barbarian looked away again as he

"Why?" Shang asked.

was

other barbarian be

looked at Shang

am not

you

stronger," the barbarian answered with

not. What I am asking is, theoretically, if you had somehow won. I know that you didn't, but what if? What if

looked at Shang with furrowed

"I didn't win!"

in a long

understand the principle of a hypothetical?!' he thought with

said as he stood

are not stronger than

to become stronger

Shang with furrowed brows, and Shang could even see some anger and

can teach

"Yes," Shang answered.

his lying position. He was still injured, but he had healed

taller than Shang, and he

are stronger than me?" he asked in

his chin

disrespected, as soon as I even slightly challenged