Reo snatched a fistful of Garm's hair, jerking his head up with a vicious tug before smashing it down onto the table with a bone-rattling thud.
The sound ripped through the dead-silent tavern, making everyone flinch hard. Garm let out a choked groan as blood splattered across the wood, staining it red.
Reo leaned in close, his crimson eyes blazing with a fury so cold it could freeze fire.
"You want me to stake my companion?" he hissed, his voice dripping with menace.
Before Garm could even twitch, Reo slammed his head into the table again.
Crack.
The wood shattered under the brutal force. "Is that what you said?" Garm's groans morphed into pitiful gasps, but Reo wasn't done—not even close.
His fingers dug deeper into Garm's hair as he yanked the man's head up again, forcing his battered face to meet his glare.
"I don't risk the people I care about," Reo said, his voice slicing through the air like a blade. "And you think I'd stake her on the likes of you?"
He smashed Garm's head down again, the table shaking under the savage hit. "You think I'd let someone like you even get close to her?"
The tavern turned into a tomb, the air so thick it choked the room. Every eye was glued to the chaos unfolding, hearts pounding in their chests. The only sound was the sickening, relentless thud of Garm's skull against the table. Reo's voice roared louder, each word a hammer driving the point home.
"You want to spend the night with her?"
Thud.
"You can't even stand for five minutes in front of me!"
Thud.
"You think you're tough? You think you're strong?"
Thud.
The other adventurers were statues, paralyzed by dread. One gripped a chair so hard his knuckles turned bone-white, shaking like a leaf. Another stumbled back, legs trembling, desperate to escape the nightmare playing out.
Reo didn't even glance their way. His eyes burned into Garm, whose fight had melted into ragged, broken breaths, barely clinging to consciousness.
Reo wrenched Garm's head up one last time, locking their gazes. "Look at me," he growled, his voice low and lethal.
"You think you can show me death?" His red eyes stabbed through Garm's crumbling spirit like a spear. "Do I look like I'm afraid of death?"
Garm's bloodshot eyes bulged with raw terror as he stared into Reo's abyss. Those eyes weren't just furious—they were hollow, stripped of mercy, radiating a chilling calm.
They belonged to a man who'd don't care about death and laughed in its face. Garm's body quaked, his breath stuttering as his last shred of bravado burned to ash.
With a final, ruthless shove, Reo let Garm's head crash onto the table, the dull thud echoing like a death knell. Blood streaked the wrecked wood as Garm slumped forward, his hulking frame a broken heap.
Reo stood tall, his icy stare sweeping over the remaining adventurers like a storm cloud ready to strike. It was the gaze of a wolf among sheep.
"Leave the compensation," Reo commanded, his voice steady but crackling with power. He jerked his chin at their fallen leader. "And take your trash with you."
The three adventurers flinched like they'd been whipped. Their trembling hands scrambled to yank coin pouches from their belts, hurling them onto the table in a frantic mess.
One, half-ready to bolt, stammered a shaky, "Y-yes, sir." They tripped over each other to drag Garm and the others out, their panicked steps echoing as they fled toward the door.
The tavern sat in stunned silence, the air buzzing with tension. Every soul in the room was locked on Reo—the boy who'd crushed a giant and turned the tavern's loudest brutes into whimpering wrecks.
Reo's gaze softened as he turned to Liana, who sat calmly finishing her meal, unruffled by the bloodshed.
A voice boomed in his head.
[Congratulations on defeating enemy stronger than you]
[Your Stats has Increased.]
[STATS
STRENGTH: 29 → 31 (+2)
ENDURANCE: 24 → 26 (+2)
DEFENSE: 24 → 27 (+3)
SPEED: 33 → 36 (+3)
STAMINA: 25 → 29 (+4)]
[Remaining Stats Unchanged.]
Reo scooped up the two coin pouches and marched to the counter, where the old tavern owner and young server stood frozen, eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.
He slapped one pouch down, his voice cool and firm. "This should cover the damages. And pack some food for the road."
The young server snapped out of her daze, hands shaking as she nodded fast. "Y-yes, of course!" she blurted, bolting to the kitchen. She rushed back with a tight bundle of bread and dried meat, wrapped in cloth, nearly dropping it as she handed it over. "Here… thank you."
Reo gave a curt nod. "Appreciate it." His tone was flat but not cruel. He glanced at Liana, who stood by their table, her plate empty, her stance rigid.
He slung his bag over his shoulder and headed for the door.
"You're a slow eater," he said, his voice light but edged.
Liana blinked, thrown off by his calm. "I-I'm sorry, young master Leo!" she said, clutching her bag as she raced to catch up.
The tavern stayed hushed, every eye tracking them like they were ghosts. The air thrummed with shock as the crowd swapped nervous glances, all thinking: Who is that boy?
Outside, the night air bit with a sharp chill, the town settling into darkness. The sun was long gone, and lantern light threw jagged shadows across the stone streets.
They walked in silence for a stretch, Liana's steps quick and shaky behind Reo, her hands gripping her bag tight. At last, she spoke, her voice trembling. "Young master… I'm sorry."
He shot her a look, eyebrow raised. "Sorry? For what?"
Her fingers dug into her bag. "Because it's my fault… you had to fight those men because of me. If I wasn't here—"
"Enough." His voice cut her off like a whip, sharp and final. It wasn't harsh, but it stopped her dead.
"I don't tolerate anyone disrespecting you. What they did… they begged for it." He turned his eyes back to the road, his tone easing just a touch.
"Besides, you're not the problem. You're why I got to crack some skulls."
She stared, baffled. "Crack some skulls?"
Reo shrugged, casual as ever. "Strong fights don't come around often. That one was decent."
Her eyes widened in horror. She shook her head fast, voice cracking. "Young master, please… don't say that. I don't care what happens to me, but I can't…" She faltered, her voice a whisper. "I can't watch you die again."
He stopped cold, turning to face her. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, unyielding. "I won't die again," he said, his voice iron. "Not for you, not for anyone. So stop worrying."
Liana froze, breath caught in her throat. His eyes held a fire she hadn't seen before—a promise carved in stone. Slowly, she nodded, her voice a ghost. "Okay."
They walked on, the steady beat of their steps cutting through the quiet. In the town square, Reo's eyes snagged on a small stall glowing under a flickering lantern. An old woman stood behind it, her table lined with simple, sturdy trinkets.
Liana followed his stare, curious. "Do you see something you like, young master Leo?"
Reo stepped over without a word, scanning the goods. His gaze locked on a plain silver chain. He picked it up, turning it over with a hunter's focus.
The old woman smiled, her voice warm. "That one's simple, but strong," she said. "A fine choice, young man."
Reo nodded, tossing a few coins her way. He took the chain, pulled a small, plain wedding ring from his pocket, and slid it onto the chain. He fastened it around his neck, the ring settling heavy against his chest.
Liana watched, her curiosity darkening into unease. She wanted to ask about the ring—what it meant—but the shadow of grief in Reo's eyes as he touched it silenced her.
Reo turned to her, his face calm again. "Let's not waste time. We'll miss the carriage," he said, voice steady as he started walking.
Liana nodded quick, falling in step. Her questions burned, but she swallowed them down.
—
Three hours after Reo's fight, the Ironholt adventurer guild hummed quietly under lantern light. Dren, the scarred party leader, stared at a hand-drawn portrait of Reo, his face a storm of anger and confusion.
He glared at the three adventurers who'd seen the brawl. "Is this a joke? How'd this kid break Garm's bones?"
One said nervously. "Thought he was just a kid, but he's a monster. Fast—smashed Garm's head like it was nothing."
Dren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What'd you do to piss him off?"
They hesitated. Dren's eyes narrowed, and he shouted, "Speak!" one guy muttered, "We teased a woman with him."
"You deserved it," Dren spat, tossing the portrait on the table. Mira, a sharp-eyed tracker, approaches, sat across with a drink. "What happened?"
"These idiots got wrecked by this kid," Dren said, pointing at the sketch. Mira's eyes widened. She stood fast, staring at the three. "This guy beat you?" They nodded. "Impossible," she said.
Dren frowned. "Why?"
"He's dead," Mira whispered. "Reported lost in Elder grove Forest. Found his body parts last week."
Tor scoffed. "We saw him alive, breaking Garm."
Mira bolted to the guild counter, grabbed a portrait from the receptionist, and returned. She slapped it beside the first. Both showed the same face—one with short hair, one with long. "Leonhardt Caulem," she said. "Missing in Elder grove. Guild confirmed him dead."
Shock silenced them. Dren's hand froze over the portraits. Kell paled. Mira's jaw tightened. "I'm telling the guild master," she said, snatching both sketches and storming off, leaving the group stunned.