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 seen other barbarians

as he only looked

to

of things that didn't

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

the ability to understand something that is even remotely

don't know what a Ruiner is," Shang

"But you-"

I still don't know what a Ruiner is," Shang interrupted

what a Ruiner

bit longer in confusion, but eventually, he

Ruiner is someone weak that tries to challenge the Tribe's

called

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

Tribe will turn

the

trying to destroy

that, the barbarian turned silent again as Shang scratched his chin

to be the most powerful while not being the most powerful is akin

Will he become a Ruiner?"

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

on the top, it's all or nothing unless

if the leader steps down?" Shang asked. He assumed that it was

at

step down?" he

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

hearing these words, the eyes of the barbarian became

with an angry

with interest. "Is a weakling worse than

"A Ruiner has power."

Ruiner can go back

"A weakling is worthless!"

eats food but

weakling brings enemies but

leave

the angry

other barbarian weakling,"

out of his sails, and the barbarian looked away again

"Why?" Shang asked.

I was stronger,"

the other barbarian

looked at Shang again in

not

if you

the barbarian

What I am asking is, theoretically, if you had somehow won. I know that you

barbarian looked at Shang with furrowed

"I didn't win!"

time in a long while, Shang actually

hypothetical?!' he thought with frustration. 'It's not even that

said as he

know that you are not stronger

to become stronger

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

can teach

"Yes," Shang answered.

he slowly stood up from his lying position. He was still injured, but he had

was quite a bit taller

than me?" he asked in

scratched his chin in

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