Reborn into Beast Tamer Clan with Monsters-Only Affinity
Chapter 91: Lullaby for the dead

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Lullaby for the dead

Axelius now stood at the center of the arena, right in front of the watching crowd. He raised his arms slowly, let out a long yawn without shame, and stretched his back like he had just woken up from a nap.

In front of him, standing straight with narrowed eyes, was a familiar girl — one of the twins who had ambushed him during the earlier part of the trial. Her expression was sharp, her hands clenched, and her pride clearly wounded.

"You just got lucky earlier," she said coldly, stepping closer. "This time, everyone will see how weak you are. They’ll laugh at you."

Axelius blinked slowly. He reached a finger to his ear and wiggled it lazily like he was trying to clean it out, then blew the dust from his finger as if her words didn’t even reach him.

The girl’s face turned red in anger.

A knight then approached from the side, carrying two training swords. The girl stepped forward first, snatching her sword with confidence and stepping back to her position.

Another knight came and handed the second sword to Axelius. He accepted it with one hand, tested its weight, and gave it a lazy swing — then another — and another. The blade sliced through the air easily.

"Now I miss my katana," he whispered under his breath.

Owen, resting above Axelius’s head, bounced up and down in excitement.

"Oh! Oh! Let’s go make a katana! Katanas are way cooler than these clunky swords!"

Just then, the horn blew — its sound echoing across the wide trial field. It was the signal that the battle had begun. The girl’s face darkened. She glared at Axelius, who was still talking to himself, swinging the sword like a bored child.

’He doesn’t even look like he knows what he’s doing...’ Her anger boiling, she lowered her stance, ready to strike first. Her feet moved fast — the ground kicked behind her as she rushed in with a sharp cry, raising her sword to land a heavy blow.

But before the blade could reach Axelius—

Murmurs began to rise from the crowd.

"That’s Axelius Dravenhart...?"

"I heard he never even trained before..."

They whispered louder and louder. "...Didn’t he live like a shut-in for years?"

"What do you expect? He’s the weakest of the Dravenhart bloodline, Talentless."

As the girl closed in, sword raised and ready to strike him down, Axelius slowly lifted his gaze — his sleepy eyes now showing a glint of something sharper.

As the sword of the girl rushed down toward Axelius, "Hah... This time, he’ll fail."

"He won’t last even one swing."

But then—

CLANG!

The sound of steel clashing echoed loudly. The girl’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Axelius stood there, his blade raised in perfect form — blocking her attack effortlessly. But more than that—

Gasps rang from the crowd.

"What...?!"

"Did he just block that?"

The girl eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest, breathing hard. Sweat formed on her forehead as her thoughts spun in confusion.

’What just happened? How? I didn’t even see his hands move...!’

Axelius slowly opened his eyes more, the sleepy look gone. He muttered quietly, voice low and cold.

"I will never forget how to use a blade..." His fingers tightened on the hilt. "...Now. Let me see you bleed."

A sudden chill crawled up the girl’s spine. Her legs moved on instinct as she backed away quickly, putting distance between them. Her chest rose and fell sharply as fear crept into her.

Far in the distance, her eyes locked onto someone else — a figure watching from the crowd. That person didn’t speak, but simply mouthed the words,

"Do it."

She gritted her teeth and nodded. ’No... I won’t lose like this...’ Pushing the fear away, she rushed forward again, blade ready.

Clang!

Axelius blocked it again.

Clang!Clang!

Again and again, their swords met, but not once did her attacks break through. Every strike she sent was stopped with perfect timing, Her arms started to ache, but Axelius still hadn’t even taken a full step forward.

A strange pressure wrapped around her.

’This can’t be...’

It was then she realized something terrifying. With every clash of their swords, every step she took, every swing she attempted—

Axelius was singing softly. His voice was low, almost playful.

"You reach for me with fingers cold,

But I’m the warmth you’ll never hold,

In this waltz of blood and breath

I serenade your dance with death."

Her eyes widened again, panic growing. She tried a new pattern—hit, step back, circle, strike from below—but every time, the singing followed.

"Dance for me in the moonlight fire,

Ash and Bone. My dark desire.

One by one, I end your dread,"

The audience could feel something was wrong. Their earlier laughter and mocking whispers had died down. Murmurs of confusion and shock replaced them.

The girl jumped back again, panting, her sword trembling slightly in her hands. Axelius stood there, still relaxed, still unreadable — but his presence now loomed like a shadow, like something dangerous hiding behind a lazy smile.

The clash of blades had slowed, but the girl’s breath grew heavier with each second. Sweat ran down her back, and her arms ached from the weight of her sword. She watched Axelius carefully, trying to find a pattern, a weakness, anything at all—

But there was none Then, Axelius tilted his head and sing the final notes of the song. letting out a small breath... and began humming again.

"This is... my lullaby for the dead."

The moment the words left his mouth, everything changed.

The lazy posture vanished.

His body moved like a shadow breaking free—no warning, no stance, just pure speed and control. In one breath, he vanished from view, and the next, he was in the air, sword raised above his head.

Gasps and shouts burst from the crowd.

"He’s flying—?!"

"No, that’s a leap—!"

"So fast—!!"

The girl’s eyes widened in terror. Her instincts screamed at her to block. She raised her blade up with all the power and precision she had, setting her stance perfectly to guard from above.

But that was exactly what Axelius wanted. Just as her sword pointed to the sky—

Axelius vanished again.

"W-What—?!"

He had twisted midair, dropping low instead of striking down, rolling like a wind-slash. Her eyes jerked downward, too late.

He was beneath her.

A flash of silver.

Her body moved to dodge, but the blade had already passed — not on her skin, but close... too close. She flinched as strands of her hair floated in the air in front of her eyes, dancing like feathers before they touched the ground.

Silence.

The girl collapsed to her knees with wide eyes, panting hard. Her sword hit the dirt beside her.

"I—!! I surrender!"

Her voice cracked as she shouted.

"I surrender!!"

It echoed across the training grounds, clear for all to hear.

"D-Did you see that?"

"V-VICTORY... GOES TO AXELIUS DRAVENHART!!"

And through all of it, Axelius simply stood a few steps away from her, spinning the blade once around his fingers, before gently placing it down on the ground like it meant nothing at all.

He turned his head slightly and yawned again.

"That was a good warm-up."

Then he scratched the back of his neck like he was still half-asleep.

Owen sat in Axelius head muttered, "Geez, Your singing that again."