"Pay up your debt, Mr. Topun, unless you want everything you have destroyed," the bulky man said with no expression on his face.
"I will pay, I swear! I just need more time, Basm," Mr. Topun said, his body trembling before the giant figure in front of him.
Basm's inscrutable face suddenly filled with rage as he immediately grabbed Mr. Topun by the neck and lifted him high with one hand.
"No one, and I mean no one, owes me a debt and tells me to go away and come back later. Especially not insects like you. For that, you shall lose everything starting now." Basm raised his other hand, signaling his men to begin destroying the place.
"Scumbags… they're willing to ruin a man over a debt he didn't even—" the skinny man whispered into Eira's ear.
"Say what?" Eira asked, confused.
"About five months ago, Basm showed up with his gang. Seeing that this place was doing well financially, Basm and his greedy men wanted a cut. They forced Mr. Topun into an agreement: he would pay them 5,000 gold coins every month or else… this." The skinny man narrated.
Basm happily watched as he choked the life out of Mr. Topun. His joyful grin spoke volumes.
"Leave my father alone, you monster!" the woman beside Mr. Topun screamed.
At that moment, Basm and his men froze, turning their heads to gaze at a young black-haired woman. Basm looked at her with lust in his eyes and immediately let go of Mr. Topun, then said:
"Mr. Topun, you never told me you had such a beauty for a daughter. How about I make her my woman and we call this whole thing even, huh?"
"I'll accept any punishment you give me, just please, leave Fiaanara alone," Mr. Topun pleaded on his knees.
"Then why can't you guys do anything? I mean, he's a total d\*ck," Eira whispered to the skinny man.
"Have you seen his size? He's like seven times bigger than any man in this tavern. And not only that, he's a f\*cking mage. His fire magic is even comparable to a Rank C mage, and we're not even mages!" the skinny man whispered, waving his bony hand toward Basm.
"You have such a doting father, but he might be one of the stupidest people I've come across," Basm said, turning his gaze back to Topun with a big grin.
"If you want it that way, then fine. Have it your way." Basm whistled, signaling his men.
"What do you want, boss? Want us to beat him up?" one of his men asked.
"No, I just need two people to hold him in place, that's all," Basm replied.
Two men grabbed Mr. Topun by the shoulders, stretching him out in front of Basm's gigantic figure.
"It's very simple. You just need to survive six punches. Three for your daughter and three for not destroying your tavern completely. If you do that, I promise I'll leave you alone for now." Basm folded his massive hands into fists.
"Daddy, you don't have to do it! You won't make it!" Fiaanara cried out, terrified.
Mr. Topun didn't speak. He just forced a smile to calm his daughter.
The chatter in the tavern grew louder as people worried for the old man. They despised Basm for everything he had done to him.
Mr. Topun was a kind man. He gave food to the poor and always welcomed the homeless. His friendly and benevolent behavior drew people to him.
They couldn't forgive Basm for what he was doing, but they couldn't stand up to him either. His terrifying strength overshadowed their resolve. All they could do was watch and whisper curses.
"Bastard Basm, I hope you rot in hell."
"Useless oaf, he has magic and look at what he's doing with it."
"Please, Mr. Topun, don't die."
"If I had magic, I'd bury him ten feet under."
"Oh sh\*t, there's no way the old man survives a single punch from that behemoth," the skinny man whispered.
Eira's face flinched with disdain, anger, and sadness. Amid all the chaotic emotions, something triggered within her. Suddenly, her eyes lit up green, and she saw a holographic text above Basm's head:
[Name: Basm].
[Skills: Swordsmanship].
[Magic Abilities: Rank D+].
[Threat Level: S-tier].
Eira blinked, and the hologram disappeared. She didn't understand what she had just seen. She assumed it was a hallucination and quickly shrugged it off.
"Are you ready, Mr. Topun?" Basm asked, forming his hand into a fist.
"I'm rea—" Before he could finish, Basm's gigantic fist slammed into his face, leaving it deformed. He nearly collapsed.
Seeing his handiwork, Basm burst into laughter. His men laughed in mockery. After all, Basm loved watching his victims suffer.
"What's the matter, old man? Barely conscious, and we still have five more to go," Basm mocked.
He lifted the old man's head and whispered into his ear, "Just know, if you die before I land my final blow, the deal is off."
He punched again. This time, Mr. Topun's face became unrecognizable—broken nose, busted lips, sore eyes, and a cracked skull. His injuries were so severe he lost consciousness.
"Seems he passed out. What's the fun in punching a blacked-out old man? Now he won't even feel the pain. But oh well, a deal is a deal."
As he raised his fist for the third blow, a loud voice stopped him in his tracks.
"You dumb fatso! Useless ugly bastard! Have you no shame, beating up a defenseless old man?" Eira acted on instinct. She had had enough of this vile brute.
Everyone turned to Eira, eyes wide and mouths agape.
"What the hell is wrong with her? Has she gone mad?"
"There's no saving her now."
"Why would she do that?"
"She finally lost it."
Now fueled by adrenaline, Eira couldn't stop herself. She kept hurling insults at Basm:
"You have magic and you can't use it to help people? Instead, you're beating up a defenseless old man. What, your fire magic can't even boil my bathwater? No wonder you're so useless. Your mother must've dropped you on your head because she couldn't carry a monster!"
Basm was speechless. How dare a woman speak to him that way? Was he not feared? Rage overtook him. His eyes turned red, his face twisted in madness. Only one thought consumed him:
'Kill that b*tch'.
Eira's insane adrenaline rush finally ran out. She realized she had just mentally crippled the terrifying Basm, and now he definitely wanted to kill her.
"I didn't mean to say all those awful things. It was just instinct. I really didn't mean to mock you," Eira stammered, slowly backing away.
But it was too late. Basm had gone completely berserk. His own henchmen were terrified. He lunged at her, fist raised high.
With nowhere to run, Eira accepted her fate and closed her eyes.
A few seconds passed. She opened her eyes. She wasn't hurt. What happened?
She turned her gaze.
"Rodric?"
Rodric's left hand held Basm's right fist in place. Calmly, he pushed it aside, forcing Basm to stumble back two steps.
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
"He stopped Basm's full wrath with just one hand!"
"Such strength… he stopped Basm's punch like it was nothing."
"Basm finally met his match."
Basm came to his senses. Composed once more, he raised his hand and shouted to his men:
"Leave the old man. Bring me their heads."