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

say much as he only looked at

several seconds, he tried to understand what

things that didn't happen, and

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

he truly lack the ability to understand something that is even

what a Ruiner is," Shang

"But you-"

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

what a Ruiner

for a bit longer in confusion, but eventually,

to challenge the

called

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

"A weak Tribe dies."

weak Tribe will

trying to become the strongest is someone that brings

is trying to

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 that,

Will he become a Ruiner?"

"Yes," the barbarian answered.

are on the top, it's all or nothing unless you step down

it was

looked at

is step

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

the eyes of the barbarian

said with an

noted the reaction with interest. "Is a weakling worse than

"A Ruiner has power."

can go back

"A weakling is worthless!"

eats food but doesn't bring

enemies but doesn't fight

must leave

watched the angry

other barbarian weakling,"

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

"Why?" Shang asked.

was stronger," the

were, would the other

barbarian looked at Shang again

not stronger,"

but if you were," Shang

am not stronger," the barbarian answered

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

barbarian looked at Shang with furrowed brows

"I didn't win!"

a

hypothetical?!' he thought

Shang said as

you are not stronger than

to

barbarian looked at Shang with furrowed brows, and Shang could even see some anger and disdain in his

can

"Yes," Shang answered.

his lying position. He was still injured, but he

bit taller than Shang, and he looked

are stronger than me?" he asked in a dark

his chin in

as soon as I