'You've finally come?'

That was quite a strange choice of words.

"Were you waiting for one of us?" Kang Oh asked.

"One of you may defeat Talastrum's Demon." The Tuslam Champion grinned.

Kang Oh furrowed his brow. "Talastrum's Demon?"

"You don't know what it is? Then why did you say you wanted to challenge me?" The Tuslam Champion tilted his head.

"If I beat you, will I get the star-shaped token?" Kang Oh asked.

"See, you do know. That's the main key that unlocks the seal to Talastrum's Demon," he said.

'Seems like that demon is responsible for that frightening roar.'

Kang Oh had a lot he was curious about.

"I'll be honest. I don't know much about the demon. I just wanted to fight you."

And obtain the star-shaped token in the process.

He could decide whether or not he'd defeat the demon later.

"That works for me too. But it's been a long time since a challenger has come all the way here. According to the previous champion, it's been more than 100 years. So could you listen to my story first?"

Kang Oh, Sephiro, and Eder quickly exchanged glances.

'Let's hear what he has to say.'

'Let's listen.'

Sephiro and Eder seemed to say. Kang Oh slightly nodded his head.

"Can we sit down and listen?" Sephiro asked.

"Of course."

Kang Oh's party placed soft bear fur beneath them, sat down, and listened attentively.

"Long ago..."

He wasn't sure when exactly it was. What he did know, however, was that it was a long, long time ago.

A tribe with beautiful wings rebelled against the gods, and the God of Destruction punished them.

However, the God of Destruction was so powerful that he blew a hole in the wall that separated this world from another.

At that moment...

Beings from this other world came to this world. The being that would later be called Talastrum's Demon was one such being.

These monsters rampaged about, but were quickly dealt with by the gods and their followers. However, Talastrum's Demon hid deep within the Great Forest.

Time went by, the world quieted down, and the Primordial Gods went into a deep slumber. It was at this time that the demon began to act.

The demon realized just how powerful it was! The Great Forest's vicious monsters and beasts were no match for it.

At the time, the elves flourished within the Great Forest. After all, a primeval forest was the perfect place for elves to live in.

There was even a large elven city called Talastrum. Despite how many forces they had at their disposal, the Talastrum Elves were unable to stop the demon.

The elves' pride and joy, their Elementalists and archers, were ripped apart by the demon's bare hands, and countless villages were either destroyed or burnt to the ground.

In the end, the elves asked the Tuslam for aid. However, even the Tuslam were unable to contend with the demon.

One day, the demon attacked Talastrum, which would prove to be the final battle.

Countless elves and Tuslam were killed in the conflict. In exchange, the Tuslam Champion was able to seal the demon within his body. However, the seal wouldn't last for very long.

Then, a mysterious sage from the east said, "You can use this city to seal the demon for all eternity."

Left with no other choice, the elves and Tuslam sealed the demon within Talastrum. After all, they never knew when the seal would be undone.

They followed the sage's advice, and created a giant temple within Talastrum. Then, they sealed the Tuslam Champion within it.

"This temple will continuously sap the demon's power. It will take a long time, but... There will come a day where the demon will be killed for good."

That day, the elves and Tuslam made a promise, and safeguarded Talastrum. However, for reasons unknown, the elves left the city, leaving the Tuslam behind.

And as time passed, the elvish city of Talastrum turned to ruins.

"You've heard the demon's roars before, right? It makes those sounds whenever its strength is being drained. Anyhow, it was an interesting story, wasn't it?" The Tuslam Champion grinned.

"Yes." Kang Oh's party nodded their heads.

"But why haven't you killed it yourself after all this time?" Kang Oh asked.

It had been a long time since it'd been sealed away. The demon must've been weakened significantly.

If that's the case, then the Tuslam Champion should have no trouble beating it himself.

"The demon possesses an annoying ability."

"Which is?"

"It absorbs the life force of anyone it kills. From what I've heard, killing just one elf will restore it to full strength. That's why my ancestors weren't able to kill it, no matter how many status ailments or curses they applied to it."

In the past, Kang Oh had possessed the Phoenix's Feather. By using it, it would restore his HP, MP, and Stamina to full!

According to the Tuslam Champion, it seemed like Talastrum's Demon possessed the same ability. It just had to consume elves instead.

"Does this apply to the Tuslam too?"

"Yes. That's why the sage told us that neither the elves nor the Tuslam can enter the temple. If the demon absorbs either of us, then it would return to full strength and break the seal."

That was why the champion and the rest of the Tuslam merely guarded the temple.

"Then can we not enter either?" Sephiro asked.

"No, you can," the Tuslam Champion replied curtly.

"Excuse me? You just said..." Sephiro tilted his head.

'You just said we couldn't enter.'

"Talastrum's Demon cannot eat humans."

"So it can't absorb humans?" Kang Oh asked.

"To be more specific, it can, but it'll only restore a small bit of its power. It won't bring it back to full strength."

"That's why you've been waiting for a human to kill it?" Eder asked.

"Yeah. We've been waiting for such a long time. 100 years ago, the challenger didn't return. I don't know if this time will be any different."

Kang Oh recalled his first meeting with the Tuslam Champion. He had said 'You've finally come.'. Now he understood why he'd said those words.

"Do we have to challenge it? Can we choose not to?" Sephiro checked to see how he reacted. He didn't like to take risks, so he didn't want to do it.

"I won't force you."

"That's a relief."

"What will you give me if I beat it?" Kang Oh asked.

Kang Oh had the exact opposition disposition. He would do whatever if he was promised a huge reward!

The Tuslam Champion stroked his chin and said, "Hmm, I'm not sure. I hadn't thought about it. I think the challenger 100 years ago wanted our secret move."

"Weapon Bombardment!" Kang Oh's eyes gleamed.

Although it appeared like they were just throwing their weapons, Weapon Bombardment allowed the Tuslam to freely control their weapons and throw them with incredible power.

"Yeah, that."

"Anything else?"

Kang Oh was a greedy bastard. He would always push for more.

"I can also teach you our tribe's skills."

"I don't need those," Kang Oh muttered.

The Tuslam Champion furrowed his brow. "They're skills used by the most powerful of warriors."

"Anything else!?"

"Hmm. I'll need to see if you're strong enough to fight the demon first."

"Whatever you want."

Kang Oh had absolute confidence in his abilities. Thus, he had no reason to be intimidated.

"Can I stay out of this?" Sephiro stepped back.

"Oho!" Kang Oh widened his eyes.

'No way, mister!'

"Do what you want. Only one of you can go in, after all," the Tuslam Champion said.

"Only one of us?"

"Only one person can go through the seal. That's how it's set up."

Sephiro grinned. "Oh, is that so? I'm so disappointed. I'd really like to go, but... I'll have to leave this to you, Mr. Kang Oh."

"Me too," Eder quickly said.

"Ahem." Kang Oh stared at them.

'Why I outta...!'

Sephiro and Eder turned around, avoiding Kang Oh's scathing gaze.

"Let's see if you have what it takes. Follow me." The Tuslam Champion pulled a weapon from the display stand and left the tent.

Kang Oh's party followed him out.

* * *

There was a giant, circular arena built out of tough rocks and trees.

Once they entered the arena, the Tuslam Soldiers that'd been following them sat down in the stands.

Sephiro and Eder sat in the front row seats.

Gyaa!

Waryong's nostrils flared and it looked around. It didn't look guarded, but it seemed to not like the nearby Tuslam Soldiers.

Anyhow, Kang Oh and the Tuslam Champion stared at each other.

"Now that I think about it, I haven't introduced myself. I am the great Tuslam Tribe's Champion, Kuharap."

For an individual leading such a powerful tribe, he didn't seem that old. At most, he was in his mid thirties.

He had a sharp jaw, bright eyes, and a manly face. His shoulders were covered by soft bear fur, and the parts of his legs that he could see were lined with muscle.

Kuharap was more than 2 meters tall. Compared to the other Tuslam, he was neither short nor tall.

He wielded three weapons in total. Kuharap carried a sword; a double-bladed axe was strapped to his back, and a club hung from his waist.

The Tuslam Tribe made their weapons out of the bones of the Great Forest's monsters, but Kuharap's weapons were all made of metal.

"Kang Oh." Kang Oh briefly introduced himself and drew two of his demon swords.

Demon Sword Blood and Demon Sword Sarahoff!

He'd picked Blood due to Festival of Blood and Red Butterfly's Dance. And he'd picked Sarahoff for its Absolute Destruction and Frost Demon's Domain.

Kang Oh wasn't sure how powerful Champion Kuharap was, but this combination would allow him to react to any situation.

"C'mon," Champion Kuharap yelled arrogantly.

Kang Oh wasn't going to turn him down.

'Let's start strong!'

Kang Oh kicked off the floor and closed the distance. Then, he forcefully swung Sarahoff.

Transcendent Blade!

Swish.

His purple longsword came flying like a streak of lightning.

Bam!

Kuharap's body burst with shards of light. He looked slightly surprised, but only just 'slightly'.

He immediately counterattacked.

Whoosh!

Kuharap swung his blade, which emitted a 'whoosh' as it ripped through the air. It was a clear indication of how powerful his blow was.

'This much is nothing.'

Kang Oh knew where the attack would be coming via his Hyper Intuition, so he took a step back. He dodged it by a hair's breadth.

The tip of his blade almost made contact, but it ultimately missed. But right after, he let go of his sword.

Swoosh!

Something bizarre happened. Kuharap's blade twirled around in the air. It soared into the air and then plummeted to the ground, coming for Kang Oh's head like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

This was the Tuslam secret move, Weapon Bombardment.

Kang Oh tightly gripped Blood and forcefully swung it, deflecting the incoming blade.

Clang!

A sharp, metallic 'clang' rang out.

Kang Oh's hands tingled. As expected of Weapon Bombardment! The power behind it was tremendous.

However...!

That wasn't the end.

Kuharap drew the double-bladed axe from his back.

Weapon Bombardment!

"Tch!" Kang Oh leapt out of the axe's way. Then, Kuharap's sword came flying at him again.

Kuharap was skilled enough to manipulate two of his weapons simultaneously via Weapon Bombardment.

Kang Oh's heart raced as the sword and axe, which aimed for his blind spots with incredible power, came flying at him.

Red Butterfly's Dance!

With his doubled evasion, Kang Oh was able to avoid the axe and sword.

At that moment...

Kuharap pulled the club off his belt.

He was a fair distance away from Kang Oh, so if he wanted to hit him, then he'd need to get in close. In spite of that, Kuharap swung his club through the air. It obviously wouldn't hit Kang Oh.

Kang Oh briefly thought, 'What is he doing?', but soon widened his eyes.

"W-What the hell!? Is that a magic staff!?"

The club suddenly elongated, and came straight for Kang Oh.

Bam!

"Ugh!"

Kang Oh fell to the floor, and the violently spinning sword and axe fell from above.

Bam! Bam!