Chapter 45

The so-called ‘barbarians’ were nomadic people that relied solely on their own skills to live. Ska’dur was the one who started the movement centuries ago. After so many years, the movement had grown to a few hundred people.

Life as a barbarian was difficult.

At the start, you lacked knowledge of many things and had meager skill levels, resulting in a low quality of life. Your food, clothing, equipment, tools, and other things were the worst they could be. If you persisted, this problem would slowly disappear as your skill levels grew, but most people gave up before they reached that point.

Barring a few extreme barbarians who lived as hermits, all barbarians traveled around the Innate Dimension as a group. Generally, they camped outside Rifts for 2-3 weeks before moving on, making it hard to know their current location. Thankfully, Ska’dur was a figure of paramount importance, so the military kept tabs on his movements.

When Keith asked his Dad for help, Markus found it interesting and decided to tag along. As Markus had explored most of the Innate Dimension, he simply opened a portal to the location closest to the tribe.

Once Keith stepped through the portal, he found himself deep in the wilderness. There were no signs of human civilization for as far as the eye could see. Grass grew up to his waist as foliage blocked his path in every direction while the buzzing of bugs and calls of various critters filled the air.

As Keith tried to figure out where he was, Markus summoned a griffin large enough to carry three people and said, “Hop on.”

A moment later, the griffin soared into the sky with a mighty flap of its wings. Shortly after, Keith spotted a large camp next to a Rift’s barrier. The buildings ranged from crude wooden huts to well-made cobblestone lodgings. From this, Keith saw the difference between the barbarian’s skill levels.

Markus controlled the griffin to land outside the camp before unsummoning it. As they approached, Keith noticed the tribe had cleared out the surrounding land to plant crops. There were even a few pens housing animals like pigs and chickens. Interestingly, someone had paved the campground with cobblestone. All in all, the camp wasn’t as primitive as Keith thought. Everything was nice and orderly.

When they entered the camp, Keith observed that no one cared about their arrival. From young teenagers to the elderly, they were all engrossed in their work. One boy tried to improve his tailoring skill by weaving clothes while a middle-aged woman hammered away at a metal bar on an anvil. No matter who Keith saw, they were all focused on a task. Nobody was slacking off and was trying to make the most of their time.

Markus gave Keith an amused glance. “They’re hardcore, huh?”

“It’s pretty impressive,” Keith nodded as he looked around. “I couldn’t do it.”

Markus remarked, “It’s easier if you’re raised like this. I tried living with them when I was around your age and couldn’t last more than a few months before craving the city life.”

“Hmph.” A gruff voice came from the side. “A few months, you say? I recall you quit after only a few weeks.”

Markus’ face lit up as he turned and saw Ska’dur walking over. “Haha, why fuss about the small details, old friend?”

Ska’dur’s eyes narrowed as he suddenly withdrew a metal table and two seats from his inventory before giving Markus a provocative smile.

“Same as always, huh?” Markus grinned as he sat down across from Ska’dur. The two stared at each other as they got into position for an arm wrestle. After a few seconds with no movement, their muscles abruptly tightened simultaneously. Caught unprepared, a shockwave knocked the observing Keith back a few steps as the ground cracked in every direction, resembling a spider’s web.

Ska’dur felt extremely depressed when he saw he couldn’t beat Markus after using 80% of his strength. Every time they saw each other, Markus grew stronger while Ska’dur stayed the same. Fifty years ago, Ska’dur only needed to use 20% of his strength to win. Twenty years ago, 50%. Ten years ago, 70%.

It had been over two centuries since the last time Ska’dur made a noticeable improvement in his stats and skills. It wasn’t that Ska’dur felt jealous that a person centuries younger than him almost caught up in strength. What made him depressed was seeing Markus grow year after year while he remained the same.

The truth was the Innate Dimension could only offer so much, and Ska’dur had exhausted all means of growth available to him. That was why he started living as a barbarian. Since he couldn’t improve his combat skills, he might as well spend time learning trade skills.

Ska’dur thought of these things as he increased his power output to 85%. Only then did he push Markus’s hand against the table and win. Markus didn’t feel sad over his defeat as he stood up and smiled, “Satisfied?”

“Mhm.” Ska’dur put away the table and chairs, then glanced at Keith as he asked Markus. “What are you here for? I thought you’d be busy running all over the place preparing for the grand event.”

“You aren’t wrong,” Markus said and gestured for Keith to come over. “You’ve met my son, Keith, right?”

Ska’dur stared at Keith briefly before nodding. “Runt, I see you’ve been working hard.”

“U-uh, yessir.” Keith felt a little anxious when standing before the eight-foot-tall man. He needed to crane his neck up just to make eye contact.

“So?” Ska’dur glanced back at Markus.

Keith gulped before saying, “Sir, I was wondering if I could duel Rhea.”

“Hm?!” Ska’dur suddenly glared at Keith with a hostile expression, much to Keith’s confusion. “You think you’re good enough for my little angel because you’re a little handsome? Scram, you aren’t qualified!”

“Uh.” Keith froze from the unexpected response. Why did Ska’dur suddenly look at him like they were mortal enemies?

Markus clutched his stomach as he stifled a laugh. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding….”

After listening to the reason why Keith wanted to duel Rhea, Ska’dur calmed down and released a sigh of relief. “Oh, that’s why. I thought you were after my little angel’s heart.”

“Why would wanting to duel someone mean I’m trying to date them?” Keith was utterly confused. Was this some tradition in the barbarian community he wasn’t aware of?

“Hmph!” Ska’dur spat a fat piece of phlegm on the ground. “My little angel is so outstanding some so-called geniuses fell in love with her. Rhea got pretty fed up with their advances and set up a rule that anyone who could beat her in a duel would become her boyfriend. None of those ‘geniuses’ have beaten her since. Before my little angle, they’re just a bunch of trash.”

Markus and Keith glanced at each other. Both were amused to learn Ska’dur was THAT type of parent.

Ska’dur looked at the sky and calculated the time. “Rhea should return from the Rift soon. Why don’t I cook up some ribs in the meantime?”

Markus’s expression brightened. “Do you still have that special sauce?”

“The spicy one?” Ska’dur nodded. “I should have some in storage.”

Markus licked his lips in anticipation as he and Keith followed Ska’dur into his self-made home.