Chapter 266

Theo momentarily doubted his ears.

Although he didn’t fully understand why Harald was doing such a thing, he knew for certain that Harald wasn’t the type to make empty boasts.

Especially since Theo himself had personally felt the overwhelming strength of another king of the Beastlands, Viper.

If he’s capable of such feats, it’s not impossible. But then, how long has Harald been in the Beastlands?

The vast expanse of the Beastlands would surely have echoed with the thunderous sounds of battle if Harald had clashed with a king of the Beastlands.

“How long have you been here?” Theo asked.

“Hm, quite some time. The battle with that thing took over a week,” Harald replied casually.

It was already the fifth day since Theo had entered the Beastlands, and he hadn’t sensed any trace of such a fight. This meant Harald had been here for at least two weeks.

How many could survive that long in the desolate Beastlands?

If I could enlist his help when fighting Viper…

Theo couldn’t help but wish for someone who could deliver a decisive blow amidst Viper’s relentless onslaught. And here stood a warrior who had already slain one of the kings of the Beastlands.

Meeting someone of this caliber in the Beastlands was a stroke of fortune, and Theo couldn’t let the opportunity slip away.

Our interests might align. Should I make the offer?

After making up his mind, Theo’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Harald.

“Stop beating around the bush and just say what’s on your mind,” Harald said, his voice tinged with amusement.

“Is it that obvious?” Theo replied with a faint smile.

“When you reach my age, you start noticing things. So, what is it that the young successor of Ragnar wants?”

Harald’s eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Theo, the weight of his gaze heavy and evaluative.

He seemed prepared for battle if negotiations took a turn for the worse.

“Before I proceed, what would you do if our goals happened to align?” Theo asked cautiously.

“Hmm? I doubt we’d want the same thing…” Harald trailed off.

“I want Viper’s Bloodstone,” Theo interrupted, deliberately cutting him off to gauge Harald’s reaction.

If he shows any signs of being shaken or if our desires overlap…

Theo prepared for the possibility that this very cave could become a battlefield. His grip tightened on his right hand, ready to draw his sword at a moment’s notice.

“Then it’s fortunate,” Harald replied nonchalantly. “All I want is a trophy.”

Harald’s expression, demeanor, and even the aura around him remained unchanged, devoid of even the slightest fluctuation.

Is he just that good at hiding his emotions, or is he truly uninterested?

Harald’s easy agreement felt almost too convenient, sparking further suspicion in Theo’s mind. He had expected a long negotiation, perhaps even resistance. For a man of Harald’s caliber to accept without any additional demands only deepened Theo’s doubts.

Is this really the right choice?

Suspicion gnawed at Theo. He knew Harald to be a man of sound judgment, someone who wouldn’t undervalue himself.

“Why the hesitation?” Harald asked.

“It’s nothing. Your decisiveness just caught me off guard for a moment.”

Even though Theo couldn’t completely dispel his doubts, the potential rewards outweighed the risks of the partnership.

He steeled his emotions and extended his hand.

“If your aim is to hunt the kings of the Beastlands, I know where Viper is. I want your help in the fight.”

Theo wasn’t offering his hand because he fully trusted Harald. Rather, it was because Harald, as a veteran survivor of the Beastlands, was worth keeping close—if only to watch him carefully.

And I’m curious to witness his skill.

Opportunities to observe and fight alongside a master of the Azure Gold Axe techniques were rare, and Theo wasn’t about to let this one slip away.

“Fine. Then I’ll take the by-products, and I’ll leave the Bloodstone to you,” Harald said after a brief moment of calculation.

Harald’s rough, weathered hand clasped Theo’s smaller one.

Is this why he wields an axe? My hand isn’t small, yet it feels like a child’s compared to his.

Theo felt an immense flow of mana through Harald’s hand—wild, destructive, and dangerous.

As expected, he doesn’t trust me fully either.

Theo hadn’t hoped for mutual trust. After all, it was a two-way street in situations like this.

“Harald Van,” the man introduced himself.

“Theo Ragnar,” Theo replied.

With introductions complete, they each returned to their respective positions, as if by mutual agreement.

You must have sensed something in me as well.

Theo couldn’t help but think they might be on the same wavelength.

This is going to be an exhausting partnership.

***

The night deepened, and the howls of the beasts began to dwindle.

To think that a boy who barely looks of age could radiate such presence.

Harald, who had awoken earlier, was sitting and gazing at Theo, who remained seated with his eyes closed, as if in meditation.

Most people would cower and tremble under the oppressive aura Harald naturally exuded.

But Theo, despite his youth, had boldly stood his ground and even returned the pressure in kind.

He’s even trying to probe into my thoughts with a calm approach.

Had it been some amateur attempting the same, Harald wouldn’t have exchanged more than three words with them before splitting their skull in two.

But Theo Ragnar is a different story.

Harald didn’t need an introduction to know who this young man was.

Among all the warriors across the continent, there was only one person of Theo’s age capable of radiating an aura comparable to his own.

Father!

A voice rang in Harald’s mind, pulling him into a foggy haze of memory.

As the faint light of dawn filtered into the cave, Harald stared at the dying embers of the fire and imagined his daughter’s face.

Being close in age to Theo, her image felt particularly vivid today.

Working with him would certainly make things move faster. Just wait a little longer—I’ll be there soon.

He watched the final embers burn out, the faint trails of smoke rising as the last crackle of the fire faded into silence.

“You’re up early,” Theo said.

Theo’s sudden awakening coincided with the cessation of the crackling embers, almost as if he were a machine reacting to a trigger. His movements were precise as he packed his belongings and stood, not at all resembling someone who had just woken up.

Do you strive for perfection?

Even in moments of rest or wakefulness, Theo exuded a sense of discipline that revealed the kind of life he must have led.

That’s why someone so young possesses such strength.

When Theo finished preparing, their eyes naturally met.

“How far can you extend your senses?” Theo asked suddenly.

Harald couldn’t suppress a booming laugh that echoed through the cave.

This kid really is something else, thinking about combat right from the start.

His laughter reverberated off the cave walls, crashing against Theo’s eardrums like a thunderclap.

In the Arena of Darkness

A suffocating tension filled the air.

The branches swayed, emitting a ghostly rustling sound. Every step Theo took seemed to stoke a growing rage in his chest.

Finally, he arrived at the same place as before—a battlefield resembling an oval arena, scarred with deep craters and shattered trees.

Dried blood clung to the ground, and Theo’s steps faltered as he gripped his sword tighter.

The biting wind whipped past him, its icy fingers tangling his hair and seeping into his skin. The chill seemed to scream at him to regain focus, snapping his mind into sharp clarity.

As Theo blinked, a sudden clang! rang out.

“You’ve come.”

A tentacle, aimed precisely at Theo’s heart, shot forth with deadly speed.

Theo barely managed to draw his sword in time to deflect the strike, the tip of the appendage stopping mere centimeters from his chest.

To say it was effortless would have been a lie—he had barely blocked it in time.

Creak, creak.

As if mocking him, Viper emerged from the shadows, its form a writhing mass of ominous, flickering darkness.

Theo could feel its gaze locking onto him instinctively.

Creak, creak, creak!

Viper’s piercing voice tore through the air, echoing across the Beastlands. Unlike before, it didn’t charge recklessly but seemed to be preparing something.

A chilling sensation crawled over Theo’s skin as the darkness above thickened, shrouding the battlefield.

Is this one of its skills?

The oppressive aura grew sharper and more menacing, as if Viper were amplifying its power with some kind of buff.

I have too much at stake to be afraid of this thing.

Viper’s aura surged, the writhing darkness thrashing wildly before it lunged forward, launching a relentless assault.

The flurry of attacks was pure instinct, its movements fueled by a primal urge to kill. This time, the speed had doubled, each strike a lethal blow.

Even when Theo deflected a tentacle, more would rush in, undeterred by the recoil.

The ferocity of the onslaught left no room for counterattacks, the relentless pace nearly freezing the flow of time itself.

But Theo made no attempt to find an opening for retaliation.

No need to reveal all my skills just yet.

None of the attacks even managed to graze his clothes.

Theo was deliberately leaving gaps, taunting Viper by exposing vital points for fleeting moments, only to deflect its strikes with near-impossible speed.

He repeated this over and over, fully aware of Viper’s capabilities from their previous encounter.

Creak?

Viper let out a confused sound, its relentless assault failing to land a single blow.

Theo, meanwhile, continued to bait it, pretending to stumble or look startled, feigning openings that invited more attacks.

As one of Viper’s tentacles grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood, Theo put on an expression of mock panic.

The sight of blood seemed to ignite Viper’s excitement, its dark form quivering as it prepared a decisive strike.

Now!

With a thunderous roar, Theo unleashed the dragon’s heart, his mana surging like a raging storm.

At that moment, from above, a massive axe descended like a meteor, aimed directly at Viper’s head, carrying the unstoppable force of a collapsing mountain.