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

barbarian didn't say much as he only

seconds, he tried to understand what Shang had

didn't happen, and

the man said. "You know how barbarians live. You are

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

what a Ruiner is,"

"But you-"

know what a Ruiner

what

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

is someone weak that tries to challenge the

called Ruiners?"

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

weak Tribe will turn to

weak barbarian trying to become the strongest

to destroy

that, the barbarian turned silent again

being the most powerful

leader loses? Will he become a

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

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

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

barbarian looked at Shang

is step down?" he

strongest, but you don't want to

these words, the eyes of the barbarian became

with

"Is a

"A Ruiner has power."

Ruiner can go back

"A weakling is worthless!"

weakling eats food but

brings enemies but

leave

watched the angry

the other barbarian weakling,"

and the barbarian looked away again as he continued lying

"Why?" Shang asked.

thought I was stronger," the

were, would the other barbarian be

at

not stronger," he

but if you

the barbarian

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

with furrowed brows for

"I didn't win!"

the first time in a long while, Shang actually got

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

as

know that you are not stronger

do you want to become

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

you saying you can teach me?"

"Yes," Shang answered.

up from his lying position. He was still injured, but

taller than Shang, and he looked

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

scratched his chin in

he was severely beaten and disrespected, as soon as I even slightly challenged his power, he got