Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

Kieran's understanding of this particular class, despite having seen it in action in the past, wasn't the best.

Most of the battlefields unfortunate enough to bear the presence of the True Berserker were razed to the ground, ending as swiftly as the conflict arose.

Of course, this didn't always ring true.

However, before Kieran could intuitively collect information on the class, he was struck down by his illness, forcing him to prematurely end his career with Zenith Online.

Hence, Kieran's interest in the class proceeded unquenched.

Now, it was clear he'd experience a proper demonstration—perhaps a demonstration that exceeded the prowess of the player fortunate enough to obtain the class in the past.

Naturally, flames of intrigue erupted in Kieran's mind as he watched, but also retreated. The retreat resulted from a sweltering, toxic, and overall uncomfortable heat that appeared out of nowhere.

An unusually colored flame carrying the properties of death, corruption and corrosion displaced the resurgent murky air, threatening to retaliate with a vengeance.

Sadly, this retreat was detected by Agrianos.

"Aye, you little twerp, who permitted you to retreat? Are you scared by this little kitty-cat?!" Agrianos commented.

Although his voice was low, it was clear and deep, like a resounding thunderclap in a raging thunderstorm following the destructive flash of lightning.

'Kitty cat?!' Kieran inwardly exclaimed. His eyes widened and his mind became riddled with disbelief.

In what way was this beast before him a kitty cat?! If Kieran had to guess, this monster was at least on par with a peak Awakened Being. Sadly… he was in no position to glean information on the beast.

A powerful ocular ability was needed to identify the beast's true identity.

Though, another important thing Kieran remembered was the absence of information symbolized a need to immediately vacate the premises and run for dear life!

However, what he witnessed next left him astonished.

A sweltering beam of nefarious flames cut through the atmosphere, discharging from the lion's mouth at baffling speeds.

Yet Agrianos remained in his spot, resolute, unwavering and unconvinced.

Before the expected finale of doom could arrive, Agrianos' silver blade suddenly took a new appearance, one so enthralling Kieran couldn't extricate his gaze from the sight.

The sight made him wish his eyesight and ability to perceive were better.

In the time it took to blink, a deadly exterior, mesmerizingly gruesome in nature, coated the weapon. Its size was no different, but it looked like a weapon that could only be welcomed by the gates of hell.

Then, as soon as this swift change occurred, Agrianos hurled the blade toward the beast. A seemingly innocuous throw turned out to be more frightening than a waking nightmare, leading Kieran to stare unblinkingly.

The sky seemed to be permeated in red, transforming into a sea of blood as a torrent of bloody energy overwhelmed the beam of nefarious flames.

By the time the sea of red vanished from the sky, all that remained of the colossal lion was its paws. The rest of its body was eviscerated, dominated and consumed by death as if it never existed.

"A kitty cat, I tell ya," Agrianos commented.

Amazement—inexplicable amazement. That was the emotion Kieran felt as he laid eyes upon Agrianos' subtle smirk.

'Was that a skill? If so… what the hell was that? Blowing a monster, which could pose a challenge for most people, to smithereens in one strike. Absolutely unthinkable!''

Kieran couldn't wrap his mind around the depth of Agrianos' power no matter how hard he tried.

If Scar's future abilities surpassed that of a Mythic or a High Mythic NPC, just what would Agrianos be labeled?

"You're just a freak," Kieran mumbled.

In response, Agrianos laughed heartily.

"That is correct. But, let me tell you this young fool. It pays to be a freak! Those deemed aberrations are typically the individuals heavily relied upon in times of need. At that time, the freak holds all the power to wield as they see fit. So, if the cost of being an aberration is being held with fear in the eyes of others, then so be it—it's a fitting sacrifice.

If any sacrifice at all."

Initially, Kieran opened his mouth, but abruptly closed it since he had no words to retort Agrianos' comment.

After all, his words were the complete truth with zero room for contention.

Kieran had witnessed many times when the weak or less fortunate pleaded to the freakishly strong for assistance.

In fact, Kieran had experienced something like this firsthand. When he was first approached by Golden Brigade, its position amongst the Behemoths was precarious and in jeopardy.

Though this was more than a year from now, Kieran reckoned the current Golden Brigade was probably heading down that path. He was their knight in shining armor, so to speak.

Sometime later, Kieran clenched his fist as he considered Agrianos' perspective.

Eventually, Kieran nodded in agreement. "You're not wrong. Those who are looked at as freaks generally become the last bastion of hope. A highlight of humanity's paradoxical thought process."

"Hoh? Correct but cynical, kid. Humans are a strange, strange race. Unworthy of trust, barely worthy of praise," Agrianos said in response.

'The way he speaks… why does it sound as if he's not a human? Is he not?'

Skeptical, Kieran analyzed Agrianos, looking for stark contrasts to answer his question. If there were any glaring discrepancies, then it was clear that this unimaginably strong man was not human.

However, Kieran failed to detect anything. Why did he assume he could? What good would his inferior observational abilities do here?

"Looking pretty hard, kid. Are you particularly interested in anything?"

"Human… are you… human?" Kieran asked, cautiously prancing about this desire to know.

"I'm a Barbarian. A broad generalization of my people… but you can consider us somewhat abstract compared to typical humans. I suppose the term sub-race would suffice."

Agrianos' admission made Kieran sigh in relief, but it also made him feel somewhat silly. 'How did I forget that? There were rumors that the Wildes was home to a strange race.'

Kieran's thought process was suddenly severed and forcibly extricated by a power Agrianos wielded. The paws seemed to decay and rot as all of the essence embedded within was seized.

It was evident that Agrianos had entirely devoured its essence.

This led Kieran to question Agrianos' class.

If Scar was a Blood Fiend, then was Agrianos one himself?

"What you have witnessed thus far is a mere prelude. I intend to open your eyes. Hopefully you don't disappoint in the end. We move."

With that, Agrianos walked deeper into the Wildes without deactivating the strange technique that coated his weapon. A crimson trail lingered in the air as the greatsword's blade scarred the air.

How sharp did it need to be to cut something as intangible as the concept of air itself?

Kieran truly didn't know the answer to the question, but he aspired to reach this state. Could anyone in this world contend against this level of strength? Maybe. But Kieran wasn't privy to such presences.

Just like he didn't know that an individual like Agrianos existed.

Soon enough, a strange question popped into Kieran's mind. 'Could he be a god of sorts? Is it possible that his power touches upon divinity?'

Meanwhile, Agrianos would occasionally glance in Kieran's direction. 'Though he's easily amazed, from what I can tell, he wouldn't be a terrible decision. He needs to cultivate a poised composure if he's to handle the tribulations of a True Berserker.'

Their path required the ability to pierce forward and become a vessel of mayhem, but also understand that they couldn't be replicated without dire and almost calamitous implications.

As he traversed the open and rocky terrain of this treacherous expanse, Agrianos reduced his presence. His attention was vested in the rapidly appearing glows in the distant tenebrous background.

"Ah! This time there are more kitty cats. But there are also doggies and birdies. I suppose these ancient bones of mine need a bit of a stretch."

As he said this, a spiral of blood that seemed to immediately take on a gaseous state manifested before swiftly picking up around Agrianos. The current scene depicted a crimson war god heading into battle without the slightest resignation or fear.

There was only the will to raze and destroy that radiated in his cold, profound eyes.

A single finger lifted from the hilt of Agrianos' greatsword, the action gathering a large amount of the bloody mist. In that mist, Kieran found colors that represented powers beyond his understanding.

The fusion of these strange powers gave birth to an orb, from which many spiked and absurdly dense chains surged. Each and every opponent that attempted to desperately escape after feeling this dreadful aura was rendered immobile, screeching and wailing in bloodcurdling pain.

Globs of alarming blood floated motionlessly in the air after that, growing marginally larger amidst the wails. At the peak of this cacophony of pain, Agrianos slashed his sword, his lackadaisical action embodying his unshakeable might.

Then, an incredible scene was seared into the deepest and most impressionable recesses of Kieran's mind. The globs of blood turned into proper blades, leaving gaping holes after impaling the bodies of these scared beasts.

'Swiss cheese!' Kieran screamed out in his mind.

These hole-ridden bodies looked no different from that funky cate.

That everlasting impression was something Kieran would probably never forget. Was this what the True Berserker Class entailed? The ability to overwhelm his opponent, turning his body into his means of destruction?

Was a True Berserker outfitted to become an unsurvivable force? Was this the pinnacle Kieran failed to see within Impulse?

After his display of might, Agrianos turned toward Kieran, who responded with an audible gulp. If he could drool, he perhaps would, but his throat was unusually parched, perhaps an effect of the crimson mist that emitted a bizarre heat.

Clearly the ruler of this bloody domain, when Agrianos inhaled, the mist and the blood blades dissipated, joining with his body. For a moment, the demonic eye nestled in the assortment of horns shimmered as if awakened.

But it returned to a state of dormancy in an instant.