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"You're such a chicken," the giant captain said, his shoulders shrugging as he eyed Renet, who had declined his offer with a faintly trembling voice.

He hadn't expected this seemingly strong human woman to refuse, but it wasn't a big deal. After all, there was only one person he was truly after.

And if that one agreed, that would be enough.

"I'm in," said the male elf, nodding just as expected.

"And you?" The giant captain turned to Zion, his true target.

It had troubled him, the idea of discussing anything with a low-level human. It felt like it tarnished his self-respect.

He might look rough around the edges, but the captain took his status and level very seriously, refusing to mix with those he felt beneath him. So, if Zion, the gray-haired man, rejected his offer, he planned to deny him any form of consultation.

"Sure," replied Zion, a smirk spreading across his face at the giant's question.

Truthfully, Zion saw no reason to decline.

'I can see right through him,' he thought to himself.

The captain grinned, caught off guard yet again, but it looked like everything was going his way.

"You're tougher than you look," he chuckled.

Or perhaps just too foolish to grasp the gap in our levels. The giant kept that thought to himself, moving to stand directly across from Zion.

As soon as it was decided, a silent pressure filled the air, urging them to start right away, without any delay.

As this pressure grew, Renet, the elf man, and the somber-faced disciple of the monster naturally stepped back, creating a wider space.

"Are you worried about that human?" the elf man asked Renet, who was looking at Zion with fear in her eyes.

"He must be a friend of yours. But there's no need for such concern. That giant is more reasonable than you think. He won't kill or maim."

But he might leave a person bedridden for a while.

"What are you talking about? Who am I supposed to be worried about?" Renet looked at him, her face asking what he meant.

"Yeah... I'm worried. About the sparks flying my way."

"...What did you say?" the elf man asked again, confused at her mumbling, but Renet didn't respond.

"Don't use your sword." Suddenly, the captain, noting Zion's empty hands, plunged his own sword into the ground.

Thunk!

The enormous sword, more than two meters long, sank halfway into the ground with a simple shove. It was a demonstration of the exceptional physical strength typical of giants.

"You'll regret it," said Zion, who'd been observing the captain with a relaxed gaze.

"...What?"

"You're going to regret not using your sword."

To the giant who seemed baffled by his words, Zion repeated his statement kindly.

"Ha ha ha!"

The captain burst into laughter.

"You're even dumber than you look," he jeered, his eyes brimming with anger.

The captain couldn't stand being insulted, especially by someone he considered beneath him.

"I'll make you eat your words," he snarled at Zion.

He had planned to break just a limb or two, but Zion's words changed his mind. Now, he decided to beat Zion until he couldn't stand anymore.

Without wasting any more time, the captain lunged.

Kwaang!

He raced towards Zion, surprisingly quick for his hefty size.

'What a loud fellow,' Zion mused, calmly watching the oncoming giant.

At first glance, it seemed like a reckless charge fuelled by anger. But even at such speed, his breath remained steady and his steps were stable.

It was the precision of a practiced fighter, one who had trained to the point where each move became second nature. When combat skills become ingrained like this, the body often reacts faster than the mind, resulting in quicker, more efficient movements.

Most warriors trained this way, with amazing results. But Zion hadn't. In fact, he didn't have any set fighting style at all.

The reason was simple.

'Such form can distort everything else.'

Half a beat.

Just half a beat faster than when the giant took his last step to land right in front of him, Zion moved.

"....!"

Zion's precise action, timed perfectly with the giant's breathing, made the Captain's eyes widen.

Zion stomped on the giant's supporting ankle. Giants were stronger than humans and with their bodies honed to the extreme, a slight shake wouldn't knock them off balance. But that didn't matter.

All he needed was to strike a more crucial part at a sharper moment.

The giant lost his footing as his ankle twisted perfectly.

"Guh!"

The captain's face contorted in a mix of pain and shock as he started to tilt.

Before he could recover, Zion's fist connected with the giant's face once again, timed to perfection.

The shattering sound echoed as the Captain's head was slammed into the ground.

Had he lost consciousness just like that?

The giant lay motionless.

"....."

A hush fell over the scene.

"I did warn you about regret," Zion murmured, observing the fallen giant amidst the quiet.

"What in the world..."

A stunned voice escaped from an elven bystander, who stared at the unexpected scene with wide eyes.

An unanticipated situation was playing out before him.

He had perceived nothing extraordinary from the grey-haired man.

So how did this turn of events happen?

Sure, he might have underestimated the man's abilities, he could admit that.

But what astounded him more was this:

"How... how was he able to do that?"

The maneuvers the grey-haired man had displayed earlier.

He had flawlessly read the giant's movements and acted a half-beat quicker, entirely disrupting the giant's rhythm.

Such a feat was conceivable only when handling an opponent of inferior skill.

Against a formidable adversary like the giant now prone on the ground, he wouldn't have even attempted it.

"Predictable..."

In contrast to the dumbstruck elf, Renet regarded Zion as if this outcome were completely expected.

From the outset, this was the anticipated result.

This was Prince Zion, who had single-handedly wiped out the overseers of the succession ceremony and various monsters.

Furthermore, rumors swirled that he had recently faced off against Third Prince Enoch alone.

A mere giant stood no chance against him.

With this realization, the memories of the succession ceremony washed over her once again, filling her eyes with fear.

"Is this it? The end?"

A voice sounded from the side.

Having never heard the voice before, they all, including Renet, turned their heads towards the source.

"It ended far too quickly. No more battles? It was rather entertaining."

Was she now in her early thirties?

A stunning woman with striking eyes and white hair stood there, a cigar perched in her mouth.

'I was wondering when she'd make her appearance.'

With a slight nudge of his foot to the giant's head, Zion glanced at the woman, a spark of curiosity in his gaze.

Though it was his first time seeing her face, Zion had an idea who she might be.

There was only one individual who could make an entrance here now.

The Eccentric Healer.

"M, Master!"

As Zion had predicted, the Eccentric Healer's disciple, a young girl, was hurrying towards the woman.

"Why are you making such a fuss after just seeing me last night? Anyone would think we haven't seen each other for years."

"But, the giant lying over there kept pressing me about when you'd arrive..."

The Eccentric Healer, dismissing the whimpering girl with a casual hand wave, took in the individuals standing in front of the hut, Zion included.

"Hmm... quite a crowd this time."

With that comment, she drew deeply on her cigar and slowly began to walk towards the hut.

"You're all eager to get started, aren't you? The order... yes, you first."

Almost within the hut, the Eccentric Healer gestured directly towards Zion, her head and fingers still outside.

"Given that I received the recommendation from that giant, I suppose extending this courtesy is only fair."

With that, the Eccentric Healer delivered her statement and entered the hut.

'She certainly lives up to her moniker.'

Zion mused, staring at the hut she'd retreated into.

Zion was aware that the Eccentric Healer had arrived before his bout with the giant.

He had sensed her presence since then.

However, she had chosen not to reveal herself until the fight was over, preferring to observe.

And now, her latest words and actions.

Truly, the title 'Eccentric Healer' was befitting.

"Tell him to pen a favorable recommendation when he regains consciousness."

Chuckling softly, Zion relayed this to the others, assuming the unconscious giant wouldn't hear, and proceeded towards the hut.

'She seems rather competent.'

Zion mused as he observed the Eccentric Healer, who had been contentedly puffing on her cigar for a few moments without expressing a word, seated across from him.

At most, she appeared to be in her early thirties.

Such a youthful appearance indirectly testified to her remarkable healing prowess.

'If she's a close acquaintance of Ahmad Ozlima, then the Eccentric Healer must be fairly old herself.'

To Zion's knowledge, Ahmad was over 90 years old.

Hence, as a contemporary, the Eccentric Healer's age must be comparable.

But, to appear so youthful meant she was perpetually enhancing her body to maintain its prime.

'Can she mend this body of mine?'

Despite the woman's evident world-class abilities, Zion could not be completely sure about her.

What Zion needed to rectify was a congenital condition, a 'Heavenly Restrictment,' which he'd been afflicted with since birth.

If it couldn't be corrected, his Lunar Eclipse ability and further enhancement of his Black Star state would be significantly hindered.

Then.

"It's been some time since I've received a recommendation from Ahmad. That old man rarely sends any my way... He must've grown rather fond of you."

The Eccentric Healer finally broke her silence.

"I don't think he was particularly taken with me."

Zion retorted, recalling Ahmad's expression when he handed over the recommendation.

It certainly wasn't a smile.

"Then that makes it even more remarkable? It's truly rare for someone to make him do something he's not fond of."

With that comment, the Eccentric Healer, having set down her cigar, extended a hand towards Zion.

As Zion silently stared at her extended hand, the Eccentric Healer prompted him.

"Are you not here for a consultation? I need to check your pulse to assess your body."

"Shouldn't you inquire who I am and what I seek to mend first?"

Zion offered his right hand, responding to her prompt with his own question.

"I'm not interested in who you are. I'm here to provide healing. Your body will disclose what needs fixing."

In reply to Zion's question, the Eccentric Healer chuckled lightly and began to take his pulse.

A rejuvenating energy flowed from her touch, permeating Zion's entire body.

After what seemed like an extensive duration.

"You..."

The Eccentric Healer, who had at last concluded her examination.

"How in the world are you still amongst the living?"

She asked, her eyes wide with astonishment as she gazed at Zion.

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