That club was a gift from his brother, but he didn't know how to use it. That meant he was even stronger without it.
Nathanaël had learned many things in Nozras, and because of that, he understood just how terrifying Azraüs was, even among the warriors of all Nozras. He had fought him countless times during training. And what really scared him was Azraüs' club, which was a perfect shield on top of being a deadly weapon you should never take head‑on under any circumstance.
Nathanaël had seen enormous beasts literally get torn in half by that mace, even though it wasn't even supposed to be sharp.
So the day Azraüs told him he didn't know how to use it, it had shocked him deeply. That meant the club was more a catalyst than an actual weapon. Azraüs wasn't learning to wield it—he was learning to control his strength. And he had done it so well he had made it sharp without even trying.
If this club was a symbol of control for a warrior like him, Nathanaël was extremely afraid of what Azraüs looked like without control.
"The spear is the most used weapon in Nozras. We use it all the time for real one‑on‑ones. But I use the club in memory of my brother. Honestly, I'm better with my hands."
Those were the words Azraüs had told him that day. And now, he couldn't wait to see what this little big monster looked like with no restraint.
Azraüs charged at Zvrag without holding back. His fist tore through the air, creating such a massive pull that the wind began to swirl around his knuckles.
For the first time since the beginning of the fight, the chief of Dan's face showed a hint of emotion. And on that cold, harsh face suddenly appeared a trace of concern.
That one—he had to dodge it.
And suddenly, in a moment of panic, he saw Reno's shadow within Azraüs' silhouette. The ogre of Nozras at his best, even though he hadn't seen that monster in years. The smile on his lips and a presence full of madness, memories of a time when monsters ruled and only the strong survived.
The punch missed its target as the chief of Dan shifted aside quickly, but unfortunately for him, Nathanaël appeared right beside him, his own fist charged with aura.
He struck sharply with overwhelming force right on the skull.
Zvrag rolled several times before catching himself, digging his hand into the ground to slow down. A slight smile appeared on his face as he stood up from the small shock.
Since that day—the day a couple chased him out of the arena—he hadn't suffered that much. No one dared touch him. Even those who scoured the land looking for a name avoided Dan and its chief. He ruled Nozras without anyone disturbing him.
However, back then, he wasn't a false king but just a clan leader who had sat on the throne. He had reached the peak of Nozras. He, Zvrag, had held the title of the strongest in the land for a time. Yet the day he was overthrown, a couple stood before him. He had laughed so hard he'd gotten cramps, but then he understood his mistake...
**
"Are you Zvrag? I suppose you are. You're sitting in my place."
"It's my place, darling. You can sit next to me if you want, but not here."
"Oh come on, don't complicate things. Worst case, we both sit on it."
"Temporary solution. I accept."
A girl with golden‑blond hair tied in braids, with light brown skin. A figure that embodied grace, beauty, strength, charisma, and an unconditional joy of simply being there. On the other side, a man whose name was no longer even forgotten, Reno Gazor, the ogre of Nozras.
Zvrag smiled again.
"I see. I'll have to stand once more to show you who the new king is."
That day, the ogre had answered with a thumbs‑down.
"Dan already fell, idiot. You won't last either."
"We'll see about that...."
**
"Get up, wimp. The fight has only just begun."
The false king snapped out of his reverie as Reno's face still overlapped with that of his son.
He looked at the new duo while remembering the old one. Then he smiled again.
"We'll see about that...."
Azraüs charged at Zvrag without losing a second.
Zvrag gripped his staff with delight and began spinning it at incredible speed until it became almost invisible.
He blocked Azraüs' strike, which reverberated through the entire area despite the heavy sound of the winds.
The chief of Dan could see marks appearing on his weapon, which had accompanied him for a long time.
"Hang on a little longer."
He spun it again at full speed as Azraüs stepped back, but it was already too late.
The blow came at such velocity that Azraüs was certain he would be hit. However, Nathanaël stepped forward calmly. His eyes lit up under concentration. Sharpening his senses once more, he saw everything—the dust particles, the direction of the wind, the auras of all things around him, even the composition of his own body.
And with that, he saw the blow coming and caught the staff with both hands.
"Azraüs!"
He didn't even need to tell him. Azraüs had already reacted when he saw Nathanaël.
He struck Zvrag on the head but he didn't step back and forced Nathanaël to release the staff by shaking it so violently that he flew away.
He then struck Azraüs in the face, who countered with a powerful knee using his momentum. Zvrag didn't move back again. He followed up with another strike, this time at Azraüs' shoulder. Nathanaël returned to the attack and landed a strong hit to his stomach, but was met with a punch to the face in return.
And so the exchange continued—becoming a battle of raw strength, where the three exchanged violent blows, their bodies enduring by the sheer will of their blood. Nathanaël gritted his teeth like a beast, reinforcing with his aura every part of his body on the verge of being hit. Azraüs smiled like never before, feeling ecstasy rise with every blow as blood filled his face and body. Zvrag, the false king, the chief of Dan, the man who had once sat on the throne himself, endured the kids' attacks and returned them with an intense joy he had long forgotten—just as when he was a child himself…
**
Reno could see his opponent tiring, though he himself was in a pitiful state. He could barely walk straight, his body pierced in places as if cannonballs had struck him directly.
"You're going down soon, right?"
But he received a tremendous blow to the face, making him stumble.
"Never."
Suddenly, a golden-haired figure crossed his path. Zvrag received a circular kick square in the cheek. He staggered backward.
"I'll knock you down first."
The woman got back on her feet and went on the offensive.
"Rita, you shouldn't be exhausting yourself like this for your children."
"Go to hell."
Rita struck him again in the face. A powerful jab driving into him.
Yet Zvrag smiled.
"No doubt about it. If Nozras itself had a woman, she would be weaker than you. Rita, you are probably the strongest woman in history."
"Go to hell again."
Still smiling widely, Rita attacked again. However, Zvrag was faster. A quick straight strike flew at lightning speed. Rita saw the attack coming but couldn't properly dodge it; her cheek was slightly cut. Yet she hadn't given up. She grabbed Zvrag's outstretched arm…
**
Nathanaël saw an opening. He grabbed Zvrag's outstretched arm and locked it. The false king fell to the ground. Despite the weight difference, Nathanaël had managed to make him falter effortlessly, perfectly controlling his center of gravity and turning it against him. However, Zvrag hadn't taken any real damage. He was just in a bad position, and the strength in his arm completely prevented Nathanaël from twisting him further.
Azraüs seized the opportunity and slammed a brutal double-knee strike…
**
Reno then dragged Zvrag across the ground for several meters before throwing him onto his throne…
Nathanaël took the opportunity to land a straight punch to the stomach and a hook to the head. But Zvrag caught his fist at the last moment…
**
He asked Rita the same question he had asked Nathanaël.
"What name did your father give you?"
Rita replied,
"Obu."
Nathanaël answered,
"King."
Azraüs struck the false king one last time.
Zvrag, dazed, recalled his last memory with the couple...
**
"Was I defeated by the power of love? Ridiculous."
Rita looked down at him.
"You were defeated by my strength. Make sure you never forget it. Get off the throne now."
"I don't believe in love anyway."
Reno appeared at his companion's side.
"I'm not sure I understand you, Zvrag, but now it seems we've won. That's all that matters. We're the best."
"You were two. Cheaters."
"Yeah, but we're the best."
"I could have beaten you alone."
"I could have done it too."
**
The second defeat of his life had been dealt by the offspring of these people and a stranger. What a miserable fate.
"I see."
Zvrag remained seated, staring at the sky. He couldn't move a single muscle. So he simply chose not to try.
"Go. Head to the capital and return victorious. I'll be proud to have lost to the best."
Azraüs was completely broken. Like a doll that had been beaten. He ached all over, blood flowing here and there, though not excessively. The bodies of Nozras' inhabitants were extremely resilient. Only a Zvrag could injure them.
"I know. We will win, and we will reign over Nozras like Nozras did in the good old days."
And Nathanaël was there too.
"Stop talking as if you knew the good old days."
"Oh, Nathy, you ruined everything. Of course I know what the good old days are. It's our time."
"Yes...Yes, it is..."
The false king watched them without moving. Dan had fallen, and soon everyone would know. His time was over. He was no longer the master of his era. He had to leave room for the next generation.
"Pff. Ridiculous..."