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 like when I have never

barbarian didn't say much as he only looked at Shang with

several seconds, he tried to

was speaking of things that didn't happen,

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

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

know what a

"But you-"

what a Ruiner

me what

barbarian looked at Shang for a bit longer in confusion, but

Ruiner is someone weak that tries to challenge the

are they called Ruiners?" Shang

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

weak Tribe will turn to

to become the strongest

to destroy

silent again as Shang scratched

being the most powerful is akin to threatening

loses? Will he become a Ruiner?" Shang

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

on the top, it's all or

assumed that it was fine for a leader

looked at

is step down?"

the strongest, but you don't want to lead anymore and give the

these words, the eyes

with an

"Is a

"A Ruiner has power."

go

"A weakling is worthless!"

weakling eats food but

weakling brings enemies but doesn't

must leave or

watched the angry barbarian

the other barbarian weakling,"

barbarian looked

"Why?" Shang asked.

thought I was stronger,"

you were, would the other barbarian

at Shang again in

not

if you were,"

not stronger," the barbarian answered with furrowed

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

looked at Shang with furrowed brows for a

"I didn't win!"

first time in a

understand the principle of a hypothetical?!' he thought

said as he stood

are

you want to

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

you can teach

"Yes," Shang answered.

stood up from his lying

bit taller than Shang, and

say you are stronger than me?" he asked

his

as soon as I even slightly