Chapter 169: You Can Enter Whenever You Want, But… (3)

The eye-lights of the Liches flickered gloomily.

Markus had now become a puppet of darkness. In the end, the fate of those who served the darkness was nothing more than becoming a disposable chess piece.

*Boom!*

He intercepted the countless spells pouring in and immediately launched a counterattack. Loud explosions erupted incessantly in the sky above the battlefield.

Bafel, the Lich wearing the most luxurious robes and harboring the most ominous Demonic Energy, suddenly looked down at his own hands. The skeletal hands were pitifully gaunt.

Clearly, these hands had once been filled with Light, but for some reason, they now felt only wretched. Where had that brilliant Light, which used to soothe the depths of his soul, gone?

While mechanically repeating his attacks and defenses, Lich Bafel’s doubts only grew. He did not know why he was fighting, or even who he was fighting. His vision was blurry.

In the distance, the shimmering forms of his enemies sometimes looked like Light. At other times, they appeared as the deepest darkness.

The cries of the enemies pushing in aggressively sometimes even sounded like a sacred song.

‘How confusing.’

In his hazy state of mind, Bafel stopped thinking. He felt that if he thought just a little more deeply, he would discover a Truth he could not handle. And so, he turned his eyes away from the terrifying Truth.

It was then.

Suddenly, a movement of Mana was detected from behind. It was the characteristic precursor to space-movement Magic.

“Krah!”

The Liches turned around simultaneously and unleashed their spells. However, when the aftermath of the bombardment settled, there was no sign of an enemy, let alone a bloodstain.

At that moment, the skull of a Lich on the outer edge fell to the ground.

*Thud—*

Liches began losing their heads one after another without even knowing why. Yet, the one attacking them remained invisible.

It was as if ghosts were tearing through their ranks. Only after the Liches layered multiple detection spells did they find the culprit.

“Dear me. I was caught faster than I expected.”

Moritz, standing over a rolling skull, clicked his tongue. His body was messy with the red and yellow marks of the detection Magic.

No matter how much he hid his presence now, he was bound to be seen.

The eye-lights lurking everywhere flashed ominously.

*Vrrr—*

Dozens of Magic Arrays were drawn around him. He was surrounded by a concentrated bombardment from the Great Magic Family.

Moritz felt a chill run down his spine as he caught his breath.

Soon, the spells poured down. Flames, lightning, and wind rushed in fiercely, filling his vision.

*Screeeech—!*

Just then, Aaron and Gide, appearing on the Crying Bird, snatched Moritz up. It was perfect timing.

As he drifted further away from the Liches, Moritz looked back at the one wearing the most ornate robe.

‘Why is he just standing there?’

If that man had stepped forward, Moritz wouldn’t have escaped with his limbs intact. Watching the eye-light flicker gloomily, Moritz eventually shifted his gaze upward.

The Magic Arrays deployed by tens of thousands of Wizards were embroidering the sky.

“Whew… anyway, everything went according to plan.”

It was already too late for the Liches to stop that. Now, the only remaining issue was whether they themselves could safely escape the aftermath of that attack.

With the flight speed of the Crying Bird, escaping that wide-range bombardment was a distant hope.

“You worked hard, Young Master Moritz. We will head straight to the Saint!”

“Do not worry about what’s behind us.”

They would get out of here somehow.

*Caw—*

Aaron and Gide spoke as they leveled their lances.

***

The Stars of the Female Magician formed a symmetrical pattern around me. This power surging through my entire body was akin to reaching the limits of a human.

*Crrack.*

I infused that massive strength entirely into my sword and slashed through the Bone Sword of Mamon as if piercing it.

Looking into Mamon’s wide-open eyes, I moved the stars. Blood spurted like a fountain. Through the jagged flesh of the split monster, sharp, needle-like bones thrust toward me.

*Clang—*

However, those bones could not pierce the chains of Draupnir.

Just as I was about to cut the creature in two, I turned around. A hideous monster was rushing at me with its maw wide open.

*Slice.*

It was merely a fleeting shadow, an illusion created by Arahel that vanished with a single strike.

“I don’t even feel a sense of crisis from you two anymore.”

Amidst the scattered remnants of the illusion, I lowered my sword. Mamon and Arahel’s faces contorted fiercely.

It was laughable. The two who had been mocking me until now had lost their composure somewhere along the way. Conversely, I grew more relaxed as time passed.

‘Humans grow relatively fast. Especially compared to beings that live for a long time.’

Mamon and Arahel’s mistake was providing me with an opportunity to grow. In this place, I did not die even if I was killed, and my enemies did not die even if I killed them.

What more perfect training ground could there be?

Those born with complete power from birth likely never imagined this situation. Or perhaps they were just that confident in their own strength. It didn’t matter. The conclusion had already been reached.

[‘Please do not speak as if you have already won.’]

[‘You have only just acquired power similar to ours.’]

Mamon spoke as if spitting out the words. I couldn’t help but snort.

“Similar, you say.”

I looked around. Whether it was the sky or the ground, no intact terrain could be found because Arahel had manipulated it at will. Fighting in this illusion was inherently advantageous for them.

Even so, our power was neck and neck. If that was the case, what would happen if we fought in the outside world?

A Sword Saint’s power elevates further when pushed to the limit. In other words, Mamon and Arahel were no longer sufficient to serve as stepping stones for my growth.

What were they so resentful about? They remained silent, clutching their fists tightly.

“There is no reason to play with you anymore.”

I raised my sword. I didn’t even feel the need to draw upon the Power of Chaos. I simply layered Light along the blade and slashed through this false space.

A long line was drawn in the air following the trajectory of the sword.

*Crash—*

Soon, the illusion surrounding me began to shatter like glass.

[‘Kuhuhu….’]

[‘It was a good show.’]

[‘You were thoroughly beaten by Father, my younger siblings.’]

Leaving behind Kalgos’s voice as he chattered away, I closed my eyes. It was time to wake from the long, long dream.

***

*Rumble—*

It seemed a storm had begun to rage outside while I was asleep. As soon as I opened my eyes, the roar of the sky wailing pierced my ears.

*Slide—*

I pushed away the two monsters that had dared to lie down using my arms as pillows. As I tried to stand, a sharp pain shot up my spine.

The wounds I had received before falling into the illusion remained perfectly intact. Furthermore, there was an additional hole in my abdomen that I didn’t remember, so it was a miracle I hadn’t died from excessive bleeding.

But more serious than any of that was my mental state.

*Tremble—*

My sword hand shook uncontrollably. A destructive urge to swing my powerful strength to my heart’s content welled up.

My mind, worn down by countless deaths and killings, was manifesting a desire close to madness.

“…For someone called a Saint by the world, you have quite a dangerous look in your eyes.”

I turned around. Mamon, half-risen, was mocking me. Soon, Arahel also regained her senses and stood up. The two of them looked at the sky in silence.

“I really didn’t know things would turn out like this.”

The cracked sky was still tenuously maintaining its form. After spitting out a few words of lament, Mamon and Arahel lowered their gaze.

Following them, I looked down at the battlefield where the fierce fight was taking place.

*Rumble—!*

The cause of the continuous roaring was not a storm. It felt as if countless spells falling from the sky would fill the entire world.

I smiled slightly. I could feel a clear Light from the raining spells. The Liches, whose senses were blurred by the darkness, would never be able to survive that disaster.

“This is no time for you to be laughing.”

“A few of the humans you cherish are also in that mess.”

Of course, I saw them too. The trio enjoying a perilous flight while riding the Crying Bird.

Moritz was pulling the reins and screaming, while Aaron and Gide were striking down the spells falling toward them. Their faces were all pale.

“Are you just going to watch?”

“At this rate, they will be swept away by the magic.”

Arahel revealed her cruel sadism, saying, “If you beg on your knees, I won’t stop you.”

“It’s fine. They aren’t the type to die in a place like this. The only ones dying here today are you two.”

A short time, not even twenty minutes. I and the two monsters before me had spent that time very slowly. So now, I wanted to end this tedious confrontation.

“Can you face us with that body?”

“If you die here, that’s the end.”

As I aimed the Bad Bond at them to end the ill-fated relationship, only useless answers came back.

“Even after being together for so long, you still don’t know me well?”

Did they really think I would try to fight in this physical condition? I smirked and swallowed the Yeolma I had hidden in my mouth beforehand.

Immediately, the energy of life surged up my esophagus. The bones that had been shattered began to find their places. Torn flesh regenerated, and my worn-down mind gradually regained its reason.

“My sixth creation is quite capable. Unlike some people.”

The faces of those ‘some people’ slowly contorted.

***

I prepared for the final battle. I manifested and donned the Aura Armor and sharpened the brilliant Star of Yeo. Since this was the end, it would not finish easily.

“Come.”

I expected them to struggle until the very end. As expected, Arahel’s Demonic Energy flooded out as if to cover the entire area.

“Father.”

But for some reason, Mamon just stood still. What scheme was it this time? I waited for him to speak.

“You said that Brother Kalgos’s soul was bound to that sword.”

Mamon’s voice was strangely solemn.

“If I surrender quietly…”

“Would you take me in as well?”

The one who was shocked by those words was Arahel.

“Mamon!”

She glared at her younger brother, screaming.

Ho. This was quite a surprising situation.

“Why the sudden surrender?”

At my question, Mamon pointed a finger at the Bad Bond.

“I am driven mad with jealousy.”

“Isn’t that damn Brother Kalgos occupying the best spot alone?”

“Even though he died after running wild by himself!”

*Kuhuh—*

The giant inside the Bad Bond laughed mockingly. Of course, it did not reach Mamon’s ears.

“If you would accept me as well…”

“I have no reason to resist.”