novelraw Chapter 80: Borzoi vs Maxwell
Chapter 80: Borzoi vs Maxwell
The sound of bone cracking echoed through the battlefield.
The deer did not even have time to react.
Borzoi’s fist had already buried itself into its skull, and in that instant, everything ended. The massive body trembled once, its limbs locking, its eyes losing the madness that had filled them just moments ago.
Then it collapsed.
Heavy.
Lifeless.
Dust rose around it as the ground accepted its fall.
The boar let out a furious roar, its rage reaching a peak as it witnessed the sudden death of its counterpart. It charged without hesitation, its entire body driven by nothing but instinct.
Borzoi did not step back.
He turned.
His remaining hand clenched.
And with a single motion, he struck again.
The impact came just as brutally.
The boar’s momentum worked against it. Its own charge became its undoing as Borzoi’s fist met its head head on. The force traveled through its skull, through its spine, through its entire body.
The roar cut off.
Its massive form lifted slightly from the ground.
Then it dropped.
Still.
Silent.
Dead.
The battlefield fell quiet.
No movement.
No sound.
Only the faint rustle of wind and the distant murmurs of those who had witnessed everything.
Maxwell stood frozen.
Frazanna beside him did not move.
Behind them, the Holy Knights looked as if their understanding of the world had just been overturned.
"That..."
One of them tried to speak.
But the words would not come out.
Maxwell swallowed.
His eyes locked onto Borzoi.
That strength...
Before anyone could speak again—
A voice echoed within him.
That man...
Maxwell stiffened.
His expression changed instantly.
The voice was familiar.
Old.
Calm.
And filled with certainty.
He is the reason.
Maxwell’s breath slowed.
Master...?
The voice continued.
I am certain.
Maxwell’s eyes narrowed.
Certain of what?
A pause.
Then—
He is the cause of the disturbance in this continent.
Maxwell felt a chill run through him.
He looked at Borzoi again.
The man stood casually, as if nothing had happened, as if he had not just crushed two powerful beasts with his bare hands.
The beasts...
Maxwell’s thoughts sharpened.
You mean...
Yes.
The voice inside him grew firmer.
The abnormal behavior.
The unnatural growth.
The constant rampage.
All of it...
A brief pause.
I believe it traces back to him.
Maxwell’s heart beat once.
Hard.
But why?
His question carried confusion.
Why would they do that?
Silence followed.
Then—
I do not know.
The answer came without hesitation.
But I am certain of one thing.
Maxwell focused.
What?
He is involved.
The certainty in that statement was absolute.
Maxwell exhaled slowly.
His gaze hardened.
Then there’s only one way to confirm it.
He stepped forward.
Frazanna noticed immediately.
"Maxwell?"
He did not answer.
He walked straight toward Borzoi.
The guard knights tensed.
"What are you doing?"
One of them asked.
Maxwell stopped a few steps away from Borzoi.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then Maxwell broke the silence.
"I want to fight you."
The words were clear.
Direct.
Borzoi raised a brow.
"...What?"
Maxwell did not hesitate.
"I want to fight you."
The repetition carried no change in tone.
No uncertainty.
Borzoi stared at him for a moment.
Then let out a short laugh.
"You’re serious?"
Maxwell nodded.
"Yes."
Borzoi scratched his head slightly.
"Why?"
Maxwell held his gaze.
"I want to test something."
Borzoi’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What kind of test?"
Maxwell paused.
Then answered.
"I need to confirm something."
Borzoi tilted his head.
"About me?"
"Yes."
Silence stretched between them.
The guard knights watched carefully.
Frazanna remained still, her eyes moving between the two.
Borzoi exhaled.
"You’re strange."
Maxwell did not respond.
Borzoi looked at him again.
Longer this time.
Then shrugged.
"Fine."
The answer came casually.
"But not here."
Maxwell nodded.
"Agreed."
He turned slightly.
"To somewhere else."
Borzoi smirked faintly.
"Follow me."
The guard knights looked uneasy.
"Senior Borzoi..."
One of them spoke.
But Borzoi waved his hand.
"It’s fine."
He glanced at Maxwell again.
"I’m curious what he was planning."
Maxwell did not react.
Frazanna stepped closer.
"Be careful."
Her voice was quiet.
Maxwell nodded once.
"I will."
He turned to the others.
"Stay here."
The Holy Knights hesitated.
"But—"
"That’s an order."
They fell silent.
Maxwell and Borzoi began to walk.
Away from the gate.
Away from the town.
The distance grew.
The sounds faded.
The presence of others disappeared.
Until—
They were alone.
Far enough that no one else could interfere.
Borzoi stopped.
"This is far enough."
Maxwell stepped forward.
His expression changed.
The calm he had shown earlier vanished.
Replaced by focus.
Serious.
Unyielding.
He spoke.
"Are you and your people responsible for what is happening to the beasts?"
Borzoi’s brow furrowed.
"What?"
Maxwell did not repeat the question.
He moved.
Without warning.
Light gathered in his hand.
Then—
It exploded outward.
A beam of pure energy shot toward Borzoi, fast and precise.
Borzoi’s eyes sharpened.
He moved.
But more attacks followed.
One after another.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Explosions echoed as the light magic struck the ground, tearing through the area with force.
Dust rose.
The air trembled.
Maxwell did not stop.
His attacks continued.
Relentless.
Focused.
Each one aimed to overwhelm.
To test.
To force a reaction.
The battlefield filled with light.
Blinding.
Destructive.
The ground cracked under the impact.
The air shook with each strike.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Then—
Silence.
The attacks stopped.
Dust filled the air, thick and heavy.
Maxwell stood still.
His eyes fixed on the center.
Waiting.
Watching.
He’s not dead.
The thought came naturally.
The ground beneath him trembled.
Then—
It broke.
A figure emerged.
Borzoi rose from the earth, dust falling from his body as if it meant nothing.
His expression had changed.
Gone was the lazy arrogance.
In its place—
Something sharper.
More dangerous.
He looked at Maxwell.
"You want to kill me?"
His voice carried a hint of something darker.
He cracked his knuckles slowly.
Then spoke again.
"Then so be it."
...
Far away.
Inside the mansion.
Clay slept.
Peacefully.
Or at least—
That was how it appeared.
His breathing was steady.
His body relaxed.
The room was quiet.
Nothing disturbed him.
Until—
His eyes opened.
Suddenly.
Without warning.
His upper body rose slightly.
His gaze unfocused for a moment.
Then sharpened.
"...Huh?"
He looked around.
The room was the same.
Nothing had changed.
And yet—
He felt something.
A strange feeling.
Unclear.
Uncomfortable.
He frowned.
What is this...
He rubbed his face slowly.
Then looked forward.
At nothing.
At the empty air.
"Why do I feel like..."
He paused.
His voice quieter now.
"Like I’m going to be implicated in something big?"
Silence answered him.
No voice.
No system.
Nothing.
He stared for a moment longer.
Then exhaled.
"Ah..."
He lay back down.
"Probably nothing."
He closed his eyes again.
And this time—
Sleep returned.