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.

I know what a barbarian looks like

say much as he only

tried to understand what

didn't happen,

man said. "You know how barbarians live.

the ability to understand something that is even

don't know what a Ruiner is,"

"But you-"

what a Ruiner is," Shang

what a Ruiner

at Shang for a bit longer in confusion, but eventually,

someone weak that tries to challenge the Tribe's strongest," the barbarian

called

barbarian explained. "A weak leader makes

"A weak Tribe dies."

Tribe will turn

trying to become the strongest

is trying to

silent again

not being the most

if the leader loses? Will he

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

means that as soon as you are on the

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

barbarian looked at Shang

is step

want to lead anymore and give the position to someone else," Shang

after hearing these words, the eyes of the barbarian became

said with an angry

noted the reaction with interest. "Is a weakling

"A Ruiner has power."

Ruiner can go back and

"A weakling is worthless!"

weakling eats food but

weakling brings enemies but doesn't fight

leave

angry barbarian with

other barbarian weakling," Shang

his sails, and the barbarian looked away again as he continued lying on

"Why?" Shang asked.

thought I was stronger,"

were, would the other barbarian

looked at Shang again in

not

if you were," Shang

not stronger," the barbarian

know that you are not. What I am asking is, theoretically, if you had somehow won. I

Shang with furrowed brows for

"I didn't win!"

in a long while, Shang actually got

of a hypothetical?!' he thought with frustration. 'It's

as

you are

you want to become stronger

furrowed brows, and Shang could even see some anger and disdain in his

saying you can teach me?" he

"Yes," Shang answered.

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

he was quite a bit taller than Shang, and he looked down on

you are stronger than me?" he asked in a dark

his chin

beaten and disrespected, as soon as I even