Knight: Becoming King of the World

’Why wasn’t I born into an Earl Clan?’

A bitter smile touched the corners of Ailia’s mouth. It was a smile of helplessness, of powerlessness, yet a smile was all she could offer.

She knew such a thought could never become a reality.

The gap in their statuses was an insurmountable chasm, one that had invisibly decided their fates.

Ever since Ailia had decided to become a handmaiden, she had been taught to be loyal to her duties. Her life and future seemed to have been arranged long ago.

But when she entered the Bro Clan as an allied retainer, her long-dormant heart began to stir once more.

Whenever she heard of Henry’s bravery on the battlefield, or the wisdom and decisiveness he displayed when making decisions, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of envy and longing.

She longed to stand by his side, to share in those moments with him, and not just be a head maid who supported him in silence.

Ailia sighed softly. ’All these thoughts of mine are just unrealistic fantasies.’ The gap between her status and Henry’s made her desires seem especially futile.

Perhaps being able to accompany Henry like this was already the best arrangement she could ever hope for.

She carefully adjusted her posture, making sure not to disturb Henry’s rest. Ailia’s gaze fell once more upon the hand that was tightly gripping a warhammer.

’The master is under too much pressure. He even holds his weapon while he rests... Those damnable enemies!’

Ailia didn’t know who these enemies she spoke of were, or what they looked like. In any case, anyone who opposed Henry was an enemy.

In the small, warm space, Ailia’s thoughts drifted far away.

She imagined herself strolling with Henry across the grasslands of Westwood Laine, or dancing with him at a banquet. The images were impossibly distant, yet they brought her a strange sense of comfort.

These fantasies could only ever be fantasies, but she still cherished every opportunity she had to be by Henry’s side.

’Perhaps fantasy is the most blissful, and yet most helpless, gift the heavens give to people.’

Ailia gently stroked Henry’s forehead and smiled. He was sleeping peacefully. Her eyes were filled with tenderness.

As Henry’s breathing grew steady, the atmosphere inside the carriage became serene.

Her gaze rested on his hand, still gripping the warhammer, and she prayed silently, hoping that Henry would be safe and that he would overcome his trials.

Henry’s dream once again pulled him into that desolate, blood-red land.

Henry’s right hand tightened. ’As I thought, the hammer came with me. Its power must come from Khorne.’

’I wonder if I can bring both the hammer and the axe next time. It’s a shame I can’t sleep at all in that black armor, or I’d try wearing it here.’

The moment he found his footing, he felt that familiar, oppressive presence. The red-skinned demon was still there. It had already sensed his arrival and, catching his scent, came roaring toward him.

Henry gripped his warhammer, ready for battle. He was still pissed about being kicked from the "server" last time.

The demon was at least four meters tall. It looked as if it had no skin, its flesh and blood completely exposed. The throbbing blood vessels and muscle fibers were a terrifying sight.

The skulls hanging from its neck were likely a symbol of honor.

’Looking at this big guy, his junk is probably thicker than my forearm... that is, if demons even have junk.’

However, the red-skinned demon’s strength far exceeded his imagination.

Henry had originally planned to take this big red fellow’s head and hang it around his own neck, to let it know how it felt to have your head taken as a trophy. Instead, a single punch from the demon sent him flying four or five meters before he slammed into the ground.

Its enormous fist came crashing down like a meteor. Henry only had time to raise his warhammer to block, but the force of the impact was more than he could bear.

He felt as if he’d been hit by a stampeding, fiery bull. His body flew backward uncontrollably and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Henry felt a wave of dizziness. The world spun before his eyes, and the demon’s maniacal laughter echoed in his ears.

He struggled to get up, but the pain wracking his body made his movements sluggish.

Seeing his vision suddenly spin, Henry was dumbfounded.

’Wait, I was sent flying?’

’Huh? Aren’t I at the second Life Level?’

After crushing rookies for so long, Henry had inevitably grown a bit cocky. Underestimating his enemy like this was a mistake.

He watched the red-skinned demon approach step by step. Each footfall made the earth tremble, as if the very wasteland feared the demon’s power.

Using his warhammer for support, Henry struggled back to his feet.

’I don’t know if I’m a spiritual body or a physical one right now. I feel like I’ve been beaten to pieces, but somehow I’m not dead. All I can feel is excruciating pain. So strange.’

’Could it be... that I can’t die in this place?’

Henry glanced at the demon, whose fist was about to smash into his face. He felt no fear, only the will to fight.

’Are you kidding me? Who cares if I can die or not, its fist is right in my face!’

Even if he couldn’t defeat the demon in this dream, he was going to make damn sure it knew what pain felt like!

The red-skinned demon seemed to sense Henry’s will to resist. A flicker of surprise showed in its eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a cruel grin.

It charged up a punch, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Henry.

BAM!

Without a doubt, "Air" Henry was launched into flight once more!

An unyielding fire burned in Henry’s eyes. He faced the red-skinned demon, and though the pain made it nearly impossible to stand, his will was more resolute than ever.

The demon’s fist rushed toward him again with a sound that tore through the air. Henry barely managed to turn aside, trying to evade the fatal strike.

However, the demon’s power was too great. Even though Henry avoided a direct hit, the wind from the punch still knocked him to the ground.

He felt his organs churn and his bones shift beneath his skin. The pain was so intense he almost lost consciousness.

Using his warhammer to prop himself up, Henry laboriously got to his feet again. Every breath felt like he was inhaling fire. He swung his warhammer, and each time it struck the demon’s body, it scraped off a large chunk of flesh.

But the demon remained unfazed. ’Is the gap between us really this big?’

The demon’s attacks were like a torrential storm. Its punches inflicted extreme pain on Henry, but his warhammer also continued to leave gashes on the demon. It was a back-and-forth exchange, of a sort.

He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but Henry’s senses seemed to be heightened by the extreme environment.

He could clearly smell the smoky, fiery odor from the demon, the foul stench of blood, and the scent of decay. The combination of smells was almost suffocating.

Finally, the demon’s punch sent Henry’s warhammer flying. The weapon spun through the air before landing on the bloody ground in the distance with a dull thud.

Henry’s Two Hands were numb, but he still didn’t give up. He met the demon’s attacks with his fists, and every collision made his arms creak.

The intense pain paradoxically made Henry lose the sensation of pain. This feeling of numb resignation left him feeling a little helpless.

Finally! The demon seized its chance. It clamped its enormous hand on Henry, who had been wriggling like an eel to dodge. A pair of huge hands grabbed Henry’s neck, lifting him off the ground!

Henry’s feet kicked desperately in the air. His Two Hands beat and clawed, trying to break free from the demon’s grasp, but its strength was too immense. Henry’s efforts seemed futile.

The demon’s power was far beyond what Henry had imagined. He couldn’t even guess the demon’s Life Level.

A sense of suffocation washed over him like a tide. Henry’s consciousness began to blur, and his lungs felt like they were about to explode, desperate for fresh air.

Black spots started to appear in his vision. His strength was fading away, bit by bit.

’Is this the real world or not? Why does it feel like I’m really about to die?!’

’What the hell is happening!’

In the last moment before he lost consciousness, a desperate strength surged through Henry.

Using the last of his energy, he lunged forward and bit down hard on the flesh of the demon’s hand!