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.

looks like when I have never seen other barbarians

he only looked at Shang

to understand what Shang had just

didn't

you are a barbarian," the man said. "You know how

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

know what a Ruiner is," Shang

"But you-"

still don't know what a Ruiner

me what a

looked at Shang for a bit longer

is someone weak that tries to challenge the

called

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

weak Tribe will turn

barbarian trying to become the strongest

trying to

barbarian turned silent again as Shang scratched his

the most powerful while not being the most powerful is akin to threatening the entire Tribe. Because of

Will he become a Ruiner?"

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

means that as soon as you are on the top, it's all or nothing unless you step down

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

barbarian looked at Shang with

is step down?"

the strongest, but you don't want to lead anymore and give the position to someone else,"

after hearing these words, the eyes

with

reaction with interest. "Is

"A Ruiner has power."

Ruiner can go back

"A weakling is worthless!"

food but

brings enemies

must leave

watched the angry

the other barbarian weakling,"

the barbarian looked away again

"Why?" Shang asked.

I was

you were, would the other

looked at Shang again in

not stronger," he

you were," Shang

stronger," the barbarian answered

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

barbarian looked at Shang with furrowed brows for a

"I didn't win!"

the first time in a long while, Shang

understand the principle of a hypothetical?!' he thought

as he stood

are not

want to

Shang

saying you can

"Yes," Shang answered.

narrowed his eyes, and he slowly stood up from his lying position.

quite a bit taller than Shang, and he

are stronger than me?" he asked

his chin

soon as I even slightly challenged his power, he got