The Unexpected Firebrand

I am Helter, the swordsman.

Currently, with a burden on my back, I’m cutting down foes at the village entrance!

“Hey, hey, hey! Are you all idiots? A whole mob of you can’t even defeat two people, and you’ve all got perfectly functioning limbs! Even a cripple like me can’t stand to watch this anymore.”

‘Honestly, having this noisy teammate isn’t without its benefits.’

‘They’ve offered excellent ideas and can even serve as a verbal combatant during a fight.’

“Argh, argh, argh!”

“Brother, wait for orders!”

‘Another minion, unable to restrain themselves, charged forward.’

“Martial Skill—Decapitation.”

‘My hand rose, a horizontal slash followed, and a head tumbled to the ground.’

“Wah, wah, wah! Another poor fellow bites the dust! Are you even trying? Let me count… that’s twenty-seven now! Ya hahaha! Aren’t your captains or anyone coming to rescue you? There’s not a single competent fighter among you!”

“Damn it…”

“Calm down, charging in is suicide… but I just can’t hold back!”

“That beast on his shoulder…”

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

‘Three more were bisected by my blade.’

“Is that all? Is that all? That’s thirty now, ha ha ha ha! Come on, all of you, charge together! We’re not scared in the slightest!”

‘It felt as though their insults were about to burst into song.’

‘Still, this momentum was excellent.’

‘With so many enemies drawn to us at the village entrance, Lu Ren and the others should be safe.’

‘However, I had relaxed a little too soon.’

“Get out of the way!!!!!!”

‘A fireball shot out from the crowd with a whoosh!’

‘What was that?!’

‘I swiftly raised Black Lion horizontally to block.’

Clang!

Sizzle!

‘I was thrown several meters back, my shoes even sparking against the ground.’

“So powerful…” I muttered, a silent gasp.

“Huh? What’s going on?!” Aironi exclaimed, still reeling.

“Finally!”

‘A red-haired man, clad in a crimson robe, emerged dramatically from the dissipating fireball.’

“I’ve finally found you! I’ll avenge my elder brother! No one is to step forward! His head is mine!”

‘Elder brother? Avenge which elder brother?’

‘Was this guy just another minion?’

‘That seemed unlikely, given his imposing aura!’

“Hey! Big dummy, are you alright?” Aironi asked me.

“I’m fine… just a little surprised by his sudden appearance.”

“Can you beat him?”

“Hard to say…”

“What? Hard to say?”

‘As Aironi and I conversed, the man erupted into maniacal laughter.’

“Hee ha ha ha ha! Helter, the fallen great swordsman! I’d recognize you even if you were reduced to ash! Finally! Finally! Ya ha ha ha! Ya ha ha ha!”

‘He then calmed himself, exhaled a breath, and snapped his fingers, instantly igniting a blazing inferno.’

“Who is he? Do you have a grudge with him?”

“I don’t know, I have grudges with too many people…”

“Seeing your bewildered faces, do you truly not know who I am?! Argh!” he roared.

‘He then charged forward, once again coalescing into a fiery orb.’

CRASH!

‘A metallic clang! My Black Lion had actually been shaken!’

“A guy made of fire? Could it be…” Aironi began, but before he could finish, he was thrown back by the powerful impact.

‘I failed to catch him.’

“What was it?” I turned to ask him.

‘But he had hit his head and passed out.’

“Damn it, who is this guy?! He’s so strong!”

“Go, Big Brother!” “Well fought!” “Avenge us!”

‘The surrounding minions were shouting “Big Brother” at him…’

‘Could it be…’

“Hey!”

‘The fiery mass suddenly shot into the air.’

“What are you spacing out for?!”

‘He then spun downwards with a kick, the fierce flames swirling like a top!’

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

‘Damn it! It’s so hot!’

‘This force was too much for one hand to bear!’

‘Conveniently, with Aironi having fallen, my other hand was free to assist.’

“Hey!” I called out to him amidst our standoff.

“Ah! Have you remembered who I am now?! Ya ha ha ha ha!”

“Could it be that you’re just a minor captain of this bandit organization?!”

‘Before my words had even finished, the man lost his balance mid-air.’

‘He crashed to the ground in surprise right before me, face-first, his flames extinguishing instantly.’

“Huh?” He lifted his head. “Are you looking down on me?!”

“No, I admit you’re very strong. These days, few can force me to grip my sword properly…”

‘The last time I had to use both hands on my sword was during my match against the Hero.’

“You are looking down on me, after all!!!! My rage is boiling over!!!!”

‘Oh my, his hair was literally on fire…’

“I’ll show you, you beast, just how powerful I am!”

‘He swiftly stood up. “Blazing Tornado!”‘

‘He shifted his feet, beginning to spin rapidly in place, forming a considerable vortex of flame!’

‘How formidable… I felt the heatwave engulf me!’

‘I could sense the fury in his emotions at this very moment!’

‘This was clearly not a technique that could be mastered overnight!’

‘To think even a minor captain could be this powerful! This was bad!’

‘Wouldn’t Demonflame be even stronger?’

‘Lu Ren was about to face a formidable foe!’

“Blech, blech, blech!”

‘The flames extinguished once more, and the man squatted on the ground, retching.’

“Hold on, hold on, just let me finish throwing up, and I’ll get right back up… Blech! This move really is impractical! I won’t use it next time, blech—”

‘Alright, I had overestimated him.’

‘Nevertheless, caution was still warranted.’

‘It would be best to finish this quickly and regroup.’

“Alright!”

‘He cracked his neck, stood up, and snapped his fingers, sending sparks of fire in all directions.’

“I won’t be careless again! I’m coming for you, you damn swordsman!”

“Come on, Fire Man!”

‘A passionate battle was about to erupt!’

‘Who would emerge victorious?’

‘It felt just like an arena match!’