After researching Alterra, one of the most interesting finds was Garan. They heard about his accomplishments before in another war, where he alone defeated various enemies far above him in level, connections, and experience.

There was even a popular children’s game that was inspired by it.

According to Valov’s research, which had taken a long time and cost a lot of money and resources, the quality of his element also spiked during this time.

A number of scientists and alchemists in Hassen wanted his body, and they claimed it did not matter whether he was alive or dead, though it was better if he were alive; after fighting with him, they knew it’d be difficult to do so.

As for what they wanted to do with his guy’s corpse, these Hassen powerhouses did not know, nor did they care.

The rewards sounded amazing, though, and there was even a promise from the Lord.

That was to say, when they figured out the secret of this guy’s power and managed to replicate the ’technology’, then the people who managed to subdue him would get the priority to receive the power!

Who wouldn’t be energized?

Of course, at this time, Garan had no idea what they were thinking. He just saw the remaining enemies targeting him with more frenzy and desperation.

Garan’s jaw clenched, feeling the mana inside him already mostly drained, but he knew standing still would be even worse for him. He knew he had to finish this fight soon, or he would lose.

He jumped up and summoned a massive amount of metal spears and ice spears, and stabbed them. He accurately targeted their weaknesses and their already existing wounds.

This attack was layered with extra penetration effects as if it were a passive, ignoring a lot of the already-failing defense equipment of some of them.

While many survived due to their level, equipment, and skill, none came out unscathed.

Everyone who could move lunged at him together, consuming all their remaining consumables, ready for the final explosion of force.

The fire users threw flame throwers endlessly while the others attacked him from tricky angles.

Garan used all the potions he had as well, including the buff potions. As he killed and as he was injured in turn, Garan was steadfast in his attacks. He did not mind being mobbed like this. He’d rather these bastards be as far away from his people as possible from his own people.

He did not call for reinforcement either, knowing they were more needed elsewhere. Further, if they were here, he wouldn’t be able to attack indiscriminately.

He had already tested his limits. He knew that he could hold these people back. Perhaps killing them all might be a long shot, but what was important was keeping them here. Ideally, forever.

Such was the current state, a few hours of fighting later.

The people still standing against were two level 38 swordmasters and one level 40. Despite the massive level differences, the damage to their bodies was no less than that of the man in front of them.

Garan was already struggling to stay up, but he knew he was losing consciousness soon.

Then he felt a surge of wood power on the side, and he knew that it was his wife.

Something snapped in him, and the remaining energy inside of him flowed out.

Without thinking, he let out another burst, freezing the enemies. He did not have the time to check as he desperately wanted to go to his wife.

However, he overestimated his stamina and remaining strength. He had not been able to move past ten meters when his knees buckled, and he fell face down.

....

Minutes ticked by in this desolate area without many signs of life other than Garan’s. The enemies had been killed or even dismembered, and the remaining had frozen to death.

Except for one.

It was a level 38 fire user who had managed to heat up his body just in time before the freeze reached his heart, killing him. Although melting the surrounding ice took time, he managed to do so, his eyes fixed on the bastard on the ground.

He gasped in pain as every muscle screamed in agony. All of his equipment had now broken, and his life was in the single digits, and a push could kill him.

He also realized that there was a spike of metal embedded in his leg, collateral damage from an explosion of metallic spikes.

The fire user hatefully dragged his body to Garan, intent on killing him. He was determined to stab this bastard at least a hundred times!

He did not care as much about his dead companions as about killing him to get revenge for humiliating him!

The fire user was determined to drag the bastard’s body into his space and then display it back in Hassen. He’d cut off his limbs, feed the unnecessary parts to beasts, and also gain his power.

He’d also take his wife and children, torture them to death for years, and also take over this place he guarded so desperately, torturing everybody there, and only then would the seething hatred barely calm down!

The fire user used all his remaining strength to get to him, rushing, as if afraid that something could happen that would stop him from completing his mission. It was just his instinct.

Immediately, when he was close enough, he raised his sword over Garan’s neck, jumping up to close the distance as quickly as he could.

However, before he could stab down—

ROOARRR!

His body froze, and then—

SLASH!

He looked down and saw a sharp humanoid hand with claws through his chest, now holding his barely beating heart.

The fire user quickly lost blood and the remainder of his already draining energy, falling down lifelessly to the ground.

Bam!

An injured Gochi appeared, dragging himself to the area as well. He headed to Garan and saw he was still breathing, and only then did he allow his knees to buckle.

Thank goodness