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 when I

didn't say much as he only

to understand what Shang

of things that didn't

the man said. "You know how

that

what a

"But you-"

but I still don't know what a

tell me what a

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

to challenge the Tribe's strongest," the barbarian

are they called

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

Tribe will

barbarian trying to become the

is trying to destroy

silent again as Shang

proclaiming yourself to be 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

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

barbarian looked at Shang

step

want to lead anymore and

after hearing these words, the eyes of the barbarian

said with an

reaction with interest. "Is

"A Ruiner has power."

Ruiner can go back and

"A weakling is worthless!"

weakling eats food

enemies

leave or

angry barbarian

the other

the barbarian looked away again as he continued lying

"Why?" Shang asked.

I was

other barbarian be

looked at

not stronger,"

you were," Shang

stronger," the barbarian answered

you had somehow won. I know that you didn't, but what if? What

with furrowed brows for a

"I didn't win!"

time in a long while,

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

said as he

you are not

you want to become

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

saying you can

"Yes," Shang answered.

eyes, and he slowly stood up from his lying position. He was still injured, but he had healed enough to

up, he was quite a bit taller than Shang, and he looked

are stronger than me?" he asked in

scratched his chin in

and disrespected, as soon as I even slightly challenged his