Chapter 92 |
[EP.92] The Dark Lord, Agares
Beneath the black sky.
The Sky-Piercing Knight Order was running with tensed expressions.
Agares was an opponent they had to fight against, even risking death.
Though their primary goal was to buy time, they needed to hold out for at least two days, hence the tension.
Of course, Kraush at the forefront had no intention of just buying time.
‘It’s about time.’
He was solely focused on defeating their foe.
“Kraush, what do you know about Agares?”
“The moment the black sky began to appear, it also started to see us.”
The black sky was Agares’s eyes.
Underneath this black sky, the erosion species possess different powers.
Due to the effect of entering Agares’s domain, their size increases twofold, and their inherent demonic traits are strengthened.
“Also, we must avoid direct eye contact with it. If caught, we’ll start with visual impairment followed by a chain of curses.”
“You’re well informed.”
Lilish nodded slightly.
“Agares is a troublesome erosion species due to its inherent curse traits. This is the biggest reason I specifically brought you along.”
Lilish’s rational judgment was correct.
If Kraush hadn’t explicitly mentioned the curse, she might have considered it mere bravado and not brought him along.
Kraush knew this aspect of Lilish’s personality well, which is why he brought it up.
“Yes, I can nullify that curse.”
“…It’s not dangerous, is it?”
While it felt odd to be worried by Lilish, Kraush shrugged.
Sorry, but when it comes to world erosion, Kraush was more of an expert than even Lilish at this point.
The current state of world erosion was still something humans could confront.
“Then, what are our chances of defeating Agares if you nullify the curse?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
As Kraush confidently stated, Lilish slowly smiled.
“Pretty high.”
Yes, indeed. Assuming everyone survives, it’s a fifty-fifty chance.
However, Kraush didn’t go further. He figured Lilish would call it a fantasy.
“But as we agreed initially, we’ll focus on buying time.”
Kraush didn’t disagree.
He just knew naturally Lilish would also gravitate towards dealing with Agares.
“Lilish.”
At that moment, Darvian, who was running alongside, spoke up because darkness had appeared in front of them.
The same blackness that covered the sky was now spread out before them.
Lilish stopped running.
Continuing to run would be meaningless at this point.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
At Lilish’s command, the knights drew their weapons, exhaling the breath they’d been holding from the run and steeling their expressions.
“Here it comes.”
The moment Lilish spoke,
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The ground vibrated as if an earthquake was underway.
Simultaneously, numerous presences were felt emerging from the darkness.
“Focus solely on reducing the numbers of the erosion species under the black sky!”
With the knights’ spirited response, erosion species poured out from the darkness.
Their appearances varied greatly.
However, they shared one thing in common – eyes where eyes should not be, each sporting dozens of crimson eyes, and they were all stronger than before.
At least beyond what a peak expert could handle.
This was Agares’s sovereign command.
And dealing with them was paramount to bringing down Agares.
‘Each eyeball attached creature amplifies Agares’s power.’
Thus, those turned by Agares must be defeated.
The Green Wave Knight Order would take on this task once Agares fully emerged.
They were brought for this very reason.
With Agares yet to appear, Kraush positioned himself, Rain Thunder Prime at his waist, and prepared.
The moment he inhaled shortly, the Annihilation Erosion inside him ignited.
His body warmed naturally.
Warm heat slowly escaped his mouth.
Simultaneously, Kraush sprinkled black flames over the golden blade aura of Rain Thunder Prime.
Lioner morphed into a sword sheath.
The opening attack was set.
Intent on striking hard since they had to fight anyway.
Crack!
The black flames within the lightning sheath blazed more fiercely.
When the black flames reached their peak and the sheath of lightning roared, Kraush released the suppressed black flames.
Annihilation Erosion
First Form
Sky Annihilating Draw
Boom!
The released black flames engulfed the area.
Erosion species charging towards the black flames were all incinerated.
Those in the back row, though spared from the direct radius of Sky Annihilating Draw, suffered as the spreading black flames aggressively burned their bodies.
The black flames, born from Ignis, proved exceptionally effective in burning world erosion.
Surviving erosion species screamed and rolled on the ground.
The knights looked at Kraush, who stood amid the eroded creatures, in awe.
None among them could execute such a high-power strike.
Knights prioritize stability, and none would learn an attack that risks their body like Kraush’s.
Such disregard for safety etched the moment in their minds.
Kraush Balheim.
It confirmed he was a direct descendant of Balheim.
“What are you doing? Snap out of it! More are coming!”
Lilish’s reprimand jolted them back to reality, shaken by Kraush’s Sky Annihilating Draw.
The knights quickly returned to the fray as new erosion species emerged.
Despite killing so many with the first attack, the sheer number present was overwhelming.
Reducing Agares’s power by exterminating all erosion species seemed impossible.
“Kraush, making a big move, I see.”
Lilish, unsurprised by Kraush’s actions, commented.
She had witnessed him defeating Harphas.
Hence, she somewhat understood his combat style.
But understanding it and witnessing it firsthand were different matters.
‘An extreme high-output attack.’
She wanted to stop Kraush.
His techniques seemed reckless, not considering the future, as if there’s no tomorrow without giving his all today.
For now, it’s fine.
Kraush is young, with many days ahead.
However, the aftermath of today will scar the future.
‘Does he realize that?’
While slicing through an erosion species, Lilish glanced at Kraush.
Seeing him move through the erosion species was alarmingly precarious to Lilish.
‘…Is this also a result of being born into Balheim?’
Was Kraush’s desperate craving for power solely because of Balheim?
Lilish felt it wasn’t just that weighting down on his shoulders.
‘When we return.’
I’ll ask him.
Though she had neglected him to the point of not being able to call herself a sister,
Now was the time to speak as his sister.
Doing nothing means nothing changes, a realization she too had come to.
＊ ＊ ＊
Hours into fighting the erosion species.
The numbers seemed to decrease, then increase again, endlessly.
Thump!
The darkness trembled significantly for the first time.
Simultaneously, the stationary darkness expanded, enveloping the knight order.
“Green Wave Knight Commander! From now on, retreat while engaging the erosion species emerging from the outside!”
Following Lilish’s command, Green Wave knights hastily stopped fighting and started running outside the darkness’s domain.
There’s no chance of winning inside Agares’s darkness.
The darkness is like black rainwater.
Being inside slowly lets the curse within the darkness seep in, leading to destruction.
“Kraush.”
Lilish turned to Kraush.
Surviving within the darkness requires at least a master-level strength.
Kraush is at the peak of expert level.
So, Lilish inquired out of concern.
“It’s okay. You know what my skill is.”
Kraush reassured her, asking not to worry.
Ignis burns world erosion itself.
If the curse tries to infiltrate, burning it off is enough.
Of course, this requires continuously burning the interior with Ignis, a downside.
But Kraush didn’t mind.
He was already doing so.
‘If Belorkin had done the same back then.’
He wouldn’t have been cursed by the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
Kraush briefly scowled, recalling Belorkin.
He was too afraid to burn his body, ultimately meeting his fate.
[I’m going as far as here.]
Seeing the approaching darkness, Crimson Garden spoke.
Kraush nodded, aware even Crimson Garden’s crow couldn’t withstand Agares’s darkness.
“Just hang around and enjoy the scenery. I’ll be back soon.”
Kraush joked, and Crimson Garden sighed heavily.
[I should’ve made one of the knights my species.]
“Worried about me?”
[Worried my foot, I was curious about what foolish thing you’d do.]
Though Crimson’s attitude towards him seemed increasingly harsh, Kraush didn’t mind, feeling her concern.
[Come back safely.]
As Crimson flew away, Kraush, along with the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, was engulfed in darkness.
Within the pitch-black darkness.
Kraush, with the burning Annihilation Erosion, slowly surveyed his surroundings.
Light and sound vanished.
The darkness consumed everything.
All senses distort within this darkness, eventually leading to the vague question of whether one truly exists here and if one is alive.
Another curse of Agares’s darkness is the effect of oblivion.
People crumble within the oblivion of darkness, forgetting even to breathe and make their heart beat.
Of course, this was irrelevant to Kraush.
Any incoming dark curse was instantly burned away.
The same was true for other knights.
Using aura, they protected themselves from the curse within the darkness.
Though their aura continued to deplete, master-level knights had no trouble moving, except for restricted visibility.
[Kraush, can you hear me?]
At that moment, a voice resonated in Kraush’s mind.
It was Darvian Fenox, the vice-captain of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, utilizing his skill, Wicalis.
A skill that allows sharing one’s will with a designated group, even enabling sensory sharing, very useful for knight order operations.
[I’ll share our senses.]
With his sensory sharing, the locations of other Sky-Piercing knights become perceptible.
Thus, the Sky-Piercing Knight Order dared to enter the darkness without hesitation.
After a brief tingling sensation in his head, sensory sharing began, and Kraush could sense the positions of all knight order members without his sixth sense.
Indeed, in this aspect, the skill was undeniably useful.
‘It’s tempting, but.’
Not worth taking.
Taking everything that comes his way would reduce the talent pool, rendering the world unable to resist erosion in his absence.
He declined such an option.
“Kraush, can you hear me?”
“Yes, loud and clear.”
Then, Lilish, ahead, called out to Kraush.
The Sky-Piercing Knight Order was familiar with sensory sharing, but it was new to Kraush, so they accommodated him.
“Alright, in 10 minutes, Agares will arrive here.”
Fast.
Though Kraush didn’t know Agares’s exact motive for advancing, a collision seemed inevitable.
“Once we engage in battle, firmly locking Agares’s gaze is necessary to buy time afterward. We’re not fully aware of your power level. Can we entrust all personal judgment to you?”
A sound judgment.
Trying to force Kraush to fit into the Sky-Piercing Knight Order’s coordination would only cause friction since they haven’t trained together.
“Yes.”
So, Lilish granted Kraush the freedom to act independently.
Hearing Kraush’s response, Lilish raised her sword.
The blue aura that flowed along her sword blazed intensely enough to repel the darkness, serving as a guide for the knight order.
“Everyone, ready for battle.”
Once more, Lilish shouted, and red eyes began to appear over the surrounding darkness.
Screech!
A bizarre, screeching sound filled the air as something began to fall, and a figure approached from the distant darkness.
The face obscured by the black darkness wasn’t visible, but the horns protruding from the head identified the figure as a demon.
Furthermore, the long arms stretching from between the blood-red cloak were far from human.
As the figure walked, darkness dripped like ink.
Shivers ran down Kraush’s arms at just the sight, and he chuckled nervously.
Red eyes emerged over the figure’s black body.
With that, the surrounding darkness transformed into tangible blades, pouring down.
The 8-star erosion species, Agares.
The arrival of the Dark Lord.
