Lion and the Devil: A Battle of Fate

Raiv spoke firmly, his eyes blazing with anger, as he faced Howard, who seemed to be enjoying the display of his dominance.

"You're crossing the line, Howard. You took the bags, the lamps... even the donkey. It seems you no longer distinguish between what's yours and what isn't."

Howard chuckled coldly, crossing his arms.

"And what's the problem with that? In this world, nothing is given… everything is taken. What you can't protect doesn't belong to you in the first place."

He added:

"Do you still believe there are limits that can't be crossed, Raiv?"

Raiv's jaw tightened slightly, and his breathing slowed as he stared at Howard, unable to find an immediate response. His grip loosened slowly, his eyes carrying a troubled glint, as if he was experiencing an internal struggle he didn't want to reveal.

Howard spoke in a booming voice, breaking the turmoil that had gripped his opponent:

"How about we settle this with a duel?"

"A duel?"

"Yes, the winner takes everything. It's a fair way, isn't it?"

"Boss! We're leaving!"

But Howard raised his hand with a decisive gesture, commanding everyone to stop.

"Wait... we have a duel here."

The mercenaries exchanged glances before goober the wretched broke the silence with a quiet but disapproving voice:

"A duel? With whom? These guys can barely stand."

Ricardo, the youngest among them but the smartest, whispered to Valka, who was watching the situation in astonishment:

"The boss is choosing to fight himself... and in a fair way? That's not like him."

Valka stared at Raiv and whispered back:

"The unnatural thing here... is that golden one."

"He's a beast... just like us."

Klaus and Janemba finally felt they were allowed to move their heads. They turned slowly, and when their eyes fell on their father, they saw his face—calm, confident... carrying that look they had always known, the look of a man ready to do anything for the honor of his colony... and for their honor.

He was staring at them, but the bright light behind them made it hard for him to fully distinguish their features. Yet, there was no doubt in Raiv's heart—he knew that, no matter what, they would always stand to protect him.

"Alright, Raiv... tell me, how do you want to duel me?" he said mockingly, then continued, counting on his fingers one by one: "Sword? Dagger? Hammer? Scythe? Axe? Or maybe a spear?"

"With my fists only.... Because I don't kill a man."

Howard's followers burst into laughter, their laughter echoing in the air as if it were a perfectly orchestrated mockery. The dumbest in the group laughed so hard he almost choked, while some others exchanged looks of surprise, unsure if Raiv was serious. The rest remained silent, watching the situation intently, analyzing what might happen.

But the laughter didn't last long—THUD!

A powerful stomp from Howard shook the ground beneath them, as if it were a silent threat. The laughter stopped immediately.

"Shut up, you fools!... How many times have I told you? Don't underestimate any warrior!"

Everyone froze in place, in a state of disbelief, unable to comprehend that Howard was taking this seriously.

At that moment, Raiv took a step back, then, without saying a word, took off his torn shirt and threw it toward Klaus, who caught it quickly. He glanced at his father's wound for a moment, then tied it tightly around his shoulder with care.

"Go and fetch a torch, and look for Alucard."

His words were clear, but Howard interrupted with a gruff voice:

"No, what do you mean... that won't happen until the duel is over!"

Raiv replied in a formal tone:

"The boy they're looking for might be in a pitiful state, if not already dead. We don't have time... this fight might take a while."

Howard laughed roughly:

"Haha, I like your confidence, but don't worry, they won't even have time to reach him after I defeat you."

At that moment, Giovanni threw a torch into the air, and Janemba caught it with a swift motion.

Klaus asked him worriedly:

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes. Hurry and look for the boy."

They exchanged one last glance, then took off without hesitation. Raiv didn't even look into their eyes, which they didn't need anyway. They knew it meant only one thing—that he was serious, and they had to carry out his orders without question. The man they had always considered their only life...

With confident steps, Raiv moved forward, passing through the grass, then stopped in the middle of the open space, where nothing stood between them. Howard stepped back slightly, as if testing the ground beneath his feet, before letting out a short laugh and asking mockingly:

"So... just your fists?"

Raiv raised his fists, planting his feet firmly on the ground, his muscles tense, veins bulging, and the way he breathed... everything about him was silent, but it declared one thing—he would not back down.

Howard charged into the space between them like a wild beast. There was no slowing down, no waiting, no pulse—just pure momentum. Raiv suddenly dropped low, dodging a thunderous punch from Howard, then used his position to launch a low strike toward Howard's knee. But Howard jumped at the last moment, spun in the air, and kicked Raiv directly toward his injured shoulder. Pain exploded in his body, but he used the momentum to twist his body, deflecting the impact to maintain his balance, and fired a quick punch toward Howard's jaw, hitting his face. Howard retaliated by pushing Raiv back with a direct kick to his chest, momentarily cutting off his breath. Howard seized the opportunity, bent down, and drove his knee into Raiv's stomach, wrapped around his waist, then lifted him off the ground and threw him with force!

Raiv slammed into the tree violently, but before Howard could follow up, Raiv rolled to the side and stood up quickly, barely catching his breath. The pain in his shoulder throbbed, but he ignored it.

Howard came again, charging with his fast and heavy punches, and Raiv shifted his hand position in an instant, opening them like blades, ready to pierce his opponent's defense. He moved lightly, dodging the blows while analyzing the rhythm of Howard's attack, who seemed never to tire.

Raiv waited for the right moment, and when Howard finally raised his leg to deliver a devastating kick, Raiv didn't retreat but instead charged toward it. He took the blow to his stomach, his body compressing upward from the violent force, but he was ready—with his hands open like blades, he struck swiftly toward Howard's knee.

His hands hit just below Howard's knee with enough force to nearly break it. Howard felt a shock of pain shoot through his leg, stumbling for a moment as he cursed Raiv angrily. But he didn't stop, and with all his strength, he drove his fists vertically toward Raiv's head, trying to end the fight with one blow.

But the pain in his knee disrupted his balance slightly. The strike was powerful, but it didn't land with deadly precision. Raiv tilted his head at the last moment, feeling the hot air brush past his face, and immediately seized the opportunity—

He drove his head toward Howard's jaw, hitting it directly with speed, sending a wave of shocking pain through Howard's skull. Howard staggered for a moment, giving Raiv the chance to retreat with unsteady steps, his shoulder throbbing with pain and his leg barely supporting his weight. But his eyes remained locked on his opponent, who kept cursing and shouting, imposing an unspoken rule of silence on his mercenaries.

The veteran warriors watched intently, analyzing every move, while the others were caught between astonishment and fear, surrendering to the excitement of the moment. Even Casper, who never let go of his wine, stood rigid, staring at the astonishing scene, unaware that wine was spilling from his bottle onto the ground.

"Movement, Noble, Raiv... Unfortunately, I fight whoever clashes with me directly... And now you're giving me lessons?" Howard said, spitting blood with every two or three words.

Then he stepped forward... "I want to try those lessons."

"Instinct to learn?" Raiv thought to himself.

"Here it is in front of me... The fist."

"Wait, why didn't he follow up? He stopped... No, then it came back quickly, very quickly, heading towards my direction!"

Raiv dodged it skillfully, but his weak and exhausted steps made him less agile.

Howard initiated the attack, using his body this time—no punches, no kicks—just a full-on charge towards Raiv, trying to tear through his chest. Yes, he expected Raiv to dodge it... but!

Howard spread his arms like an eagle swooping down on its prey, while his right hand took the shape of a poised claw.

With a quick thrust, it pierced Raiv's chest, but it wasn't fatal... just a deep wound, as if he had been attacked by a fierce bear. The worst part was that Howard's dirty nails could easily cause an infection that might weaken him to death.

Raiv retreated slightly, but Howard didn't give him a chance to catch his breath, instead surprising him again with a swift vertical kick.

Raiv tightened his leg muscles and jumped, grabbing onto a sturdy tree branch, using the height to deliver a sudden scissor kick towards Howard's face... but this beast's instincts know no bounds!

He blocked the strike with his wrist joint, sending a shockwave of pain through Raiv's body.

Howard pulled his leg forcefully and threw him away, making him hit the ground with a violent twist.

But Raiv didn't give up... He clenched his legs tightly, got up quickly, and now he had reached his limit!

Howard let out a loud laugh, a ridiculous laugh but one filled with madness.

"Aaaaaah! Don't think too much when you're in the middle of a duel!"

He moved forward with strange movements, even more insane this time, as if the pain had driven him into a frenzy. He no longer fought as usual; he had become a beast freed from any logic, every step a mix of randomness and destructive force.

Raiv reset his stance, his breathing heavy. He clenched his teeth tightly and muttered under his breath, "Damn... damn..." He felt his body beginning to betray him...

Howard caught him off guard with a direct punch. Raiv didn't try to dodge it, as if it were an inevitable blow. Its force exploded through his body, pushing him back. He fell to the ground, screaming in pain. The bleeding was worse than ever, his vision blurred, and the hot blood boiled in every cell of his body. He barely managed to stand up.

Howard looked at him seriously, his voice unexpectedly calm.

"You're a great man, Raiv... you're the lion here."

Then everything changed.

"Get ready, you bastard!"

Howard clenched his fists, every muscle in his body stretched to the limit, charging himself with immense anger. He charged wildly. At the same moment, Raiv also moved, despite all the pain, despite his wounds that barely kept him standing. He faced Howard with a crushing fist of his own, as if two mountains were colliding without retreat.

The exchange began.

Fist after fist, two direct blows, each one capable of knocking down any other man. Their faces were shattered, the bones in their cheeks nearly cracking, punch after punch, as if their features were being erased...

Raiv fell to the ground, half-dead. He had reached his limit.

As for Howard, he remained standing for a moment, stunned by what had happened. Then, as if the shock seeped into him, his knees buckled to the ground. His body could no longer endure; he couldn't comprehend it yet.

"What kind of human is this... to punch with such strength while wounded?"

He placed his hand on his face, no longer feeling it, as if he had lost a part of himself. The pain was like electric shocks striking his skull. Then suddenly, his body began to tremble, and his stomach turned on him. He spat blood, feeling a painful tremor in his head.

Then he screamed, "Intervene, you fools! Help me up!"

Four of his men stepped forward toward him, hesitating for a moment. They saw something they had never seen before—Howard the Great, the man who couldn't be defeated, trembling before them, unable to stand on his own.

Then, he burst into a terrifying laugh, a laugh he had never let out before. It was immense, insane...

"Aaaaaah! Raiv! You're a man!"

"You're the winner! We respect you!"

Valka smiled, her eyes glowing with excitement as she watched the scene, as if witnessing the birth of something new, a moment that flipped the scales of their mercenary world, a pivotal turn in their leader.

One of the men holding Howard hesitated:

"Do we move?"

"You fool..... let me study his face more and more."

Then he whispered:

"We'll meet again, Golden Lion."

"Move now. He's won."

He pointed to the torches. "Place them in front of him; he needs warmth. Bring the goods closer to him."

Without hesitation, they carried out his orders, while Howard clung to his comrades, leaving the scene. Finally, they merged into the darkness.

Heading toward it.