Chapter 29: Charge of the Black Knights

“What is this?”

Choi Kangjoong was watching the scene through Kai’s eyes.

It was intriguing.

Why was the Death Spirit heading this way?

“Fool!”

Count Pabelus, who had emerged from underground, was furious.

If she died, no one knew what would happen to the Death Spirit. It could drift far away or suddenly vanish.

Flutter.

The Death Spirit struggled to flap its wings.

Yet its speed was considerable.

Even Dielka, the Dark Elf, couldn’t keep up.

Eventually, the Death Spirit crossed the line formed by the warriors.

Ignoring death, Dielka pursued.

Count Pabelus stopped at a considerable distance.

The Death Spirit perched on Lutal’s scythe claws.

“Damn it.”

Dielka halted.

She didn’t dare approach the monster the Death Spirit was resting on.

If she got any closer, she’d likely be torn to pieces by those long scythe claws.

Though not particularly large, the monster’s presence was overwhelmingly oppressive among the countless creatures.

“Of all places, to sit on that thing’s claw.”

Dielka slowly drew her sword.

Lutal’s black eyes stared back at her.

The Death Spirit pecked at the scythe claw with its beak.

It didn’t seem like an attack, but more like feeding.

“What is it doing?”

Curious, Choi Kangjoong quietly observed.

The exhausted Death Spirit began to recover.

It even grew in size.

From sparrow-sized, it expanded to about the size of a hawk.

“It must be absorbing the mana released as the source energy in its muscles was consumed.”

Life Essence and Death Mana were high-level mana types that couldn’t be easily refined. That was why Life Spirits and Death Spirits held such a dominant status.

Source Energy was an even purer force.

Therefore, the residual energy left over after its use was comparable in status to Life Essence or Death Mana.

It was the perfect condition for the Death Spirit to absorb.

“Can you understand me? I don’t intend to be hostile. If you return my spirit, I will leave quietly.”

Dielka attempted to negotiate for now.

She didn’t expect any positive response whatsoever.

Casting wary glances all around, she searched for an escape route after retrieving the Death Spirit.

Choi Kangjoong hesitated.

Should he return it or dissolve it all in the digestion furnace?

The Death Spirit spread its wings.

Death Mana radiated outward.

At first, it seemed like an attack, but it wasn’t.

The Death Mana didn’t affect Lutal at all but gathered on Lutal’s scythe claw.

“What is it doing? Want to try an Aura Blade?”

“Krk.”

An Aura Blade formed on Lutal’s scythe claw.

Unlike normal Aura Blades, its color was dark.

Infused with Death Mana, it seemed deadlier than a regular Aura Blade.

“So it’s a Death Mana buff.”

“Krk.”

“Let’s call it Death Blade.”

The Death Spirit’s buff didn’t end there.

The Death Mana spread widely and clustered on Apocalid’s scythe claw.

“A wide-area buff.”

Though not as potent as Lutal’s, Apocalid’s attack power significantly increased.

After about ten uses, it would be consumed, but meanwhile, even Scouts could easily kill Orcs.

“That’s pretty useful.”

The Death Spirit rubbed its head against Lutal’s arm.

Dielka was dumbfounded.

It felt like having her own sickly child taken away.

“What are you doing? Come back!”

The Death Spirit reluctantly returned to Dielka.

On her hand, it shrank again into a chubby form.

Dielka tensed up.

Choi Kangjoong decided to help her.

The Death Spirit seemed likely to assist in the upcoming battle and didn’t appear malicious.

The Dark Elves wouldn’t have risked their lives for her otherwise.

Moreover, if the Dark Elves rallied around her, the mighty Dark Elf Pirates’ power would weaken.

It would undoubtedly benefit the Enterprise Union, which was threatened by demons, monsters, pirates, and all sorts of dangers.

“It was pitiful too.”

What must it feel like to survive by a comrade’s sacrifice?

If left as is, she would end up in the same situation as her past self.

“Do I have to talk to her directly again?”

Choi Kangjoong’s heart pounded.

Dielka, beautiful like Iselin but with a decadent allure, gave off an atmosphere so imposing even a shut-in wouldn’t dare speak to her.

“Damn it. I guess I need to create an Apocalid that can use telepathy.”

Choi Kangjoong donned his armor.

His unsettled heart calmed somewhat.

“Let’s go.”

He opened a Gate and moved toward the Hydra Sea.

The scenery changed, and Dielka appeared with wide eyes.

“I am Outer Mind. I will help you.”

“You say you’ll help us?”

“Yes. You have to survive. Call the Dark Elves here.”

“What is your purpose? Are you after the Death Spirit as well?”

“No. I pity you.”

Dielka was deeply shocked.

Dark Elves were known throughout the dimensional sea as ruthless.

Being discriminated against and expelled by strangers was normal.

But to hear someone say they pitied them and wanted to help—that was a first.

Rather than feeling bad, she was moved.

“Call them quickly. The Immortal Demon and the Orcs have begun to move.”

“Th-thank you.”

Dielka wiped her tears and contacted her comrades underground.

They gathered around her, half doubting, half hopeful.

“They say we’re being protected…”

“They seem emotionless…”

“Is there another motive?”

“If there was, they would have killed us already.”

“What should we do now?”

The Dark Elves looked to Dielka.

“We were told to stay here quietly, so for now, that’s what we’ll do.”

“What if they lose? They don’t look like many.”

“Then…”

It was the first time Dielka faced such a situation, so she didn’t know what to do.

She answered with whatever came to mind.

“If that happens, I’ll help before then. Fix your gear and rest.”

“Yes!”

Right after the Dark Elves resolved themselves, a roar echoed from where the Orcs gathered.

-Waaaahhh!

If nearby, the noise would have ruptured eardrums.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The dimension filled with Orcs pressed against the dimensional boundary.

The Gate opened, and Orcs poured out.

“The Orcs have grown massively. This is great.”

Count Pabelus wasn’t standing still either.

He raised zombies from the Orc corpses and deployed Banshees and Dimension Ghouls.

In an instant, tens of thousands of undead forces were assembled.

Of course, their main strength was Count Pabelus, 500 Black Knights, and the Flash Golems.

“Stop the Orcs from advancing. Your goal is to break through there, kill Dielka, and capture the Death Spirit.”

Count Pabelus pointed to Apocalid.

The Black Knights saluted sharply and mounted their Ghost Horses.

Thud-thud!

The ground trembled.

Ghost Horses couldn’t produce such vibrations while floating in the air.

It was the Orcs.

1.5 million Orcs charged toward the Immortal Demon and Apocalid.

“Fire!”

The Dimension Ship fired the Hell Cannons.

Wisps, converted into shells, zigzagged through the air and exploded.

Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!

Although the accuracy was poor, the power was tremendous.

Each shot killed about a hundred Orcs.

“I’m flying! Fly!”

“Yaaahhh!”

“Kill them all!”

Orcs were launched at the Immortal Demon’s Dimension Ship using Orc Launchers.

The Dimension Ship fired Hell Cannons, and Banshees screamed, but the Orcs forced their way onto the ship.

One by one, the Dimension Ships began to fall silent.

“Retreat the Dimension Ship. We must keep a way to return.”

The Dimension Ships moved away from the dimensional boundary.

Orcs launched from the Orc Launchers fell into the dimensional sea.

Count Pabelus sent the Flash Golems first.

The Flash Golems crushed Orcs underfoot, clearing a path toward Apocalid.

Orcs swarmed like ants.

The corpses that made up the Flash Golems devoured Orcs, fusing into one being.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Flash Golems grew larger with each step.

As they approached Apocalid, Count Pabelus gestured.

The Banshees took position between the cavalry and Apocalid.

-Kiiiiiiaaaahhh!

Orcs clutched their ears and collapsed.

The soul-piercing screams were unstoppable.

Of course, they had no effect on Apocalid, who lacked a soul.

“Unusual creatures. But breaking through is what matters. Charge—!”

Leading the charge, Count Pabelus and 500 Black Knights accelerated.

The mana in their Ghost Horses fused with them.

The mana of Count Pabelus and the Black Knights combined to form a solid shield.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Mana bullets bounced off.

Even the Fighter Giant’s Kitin Cannon was ineffective.

Though Count Pabelus’s danger rating was only B-class, the charge led by him and the Black Knights was a form of grand magic.

It blocked enemy attacks while maximizing their momentum, breaking countless shields and shattering multiple dimensions.

Yeah.

It was impressive.

Even though it was a demon charge, it stirred something deep inside.

If it weren’t something that had to be stopped, Choi Kangjoong would have watched it all the way.

And destroying it even brought a strange sense of satisfaction.

“Fire Bio Torpedoes.”

Kuoongi’s back launched Bio Torpedoes that veered sharply in flight.

He invested ten shots at once to obliterate them.

The Bio Torpedoes, which only knew to fly and explode, broke through the dimensional sea and crossed the boundary.

Swooooosh!

A shield blocked the Bio Torpedoes.

But they didn’t explode, breaking through with their hard heads and powerful propulsion.

Count Pabelus looked up.

Huge monsters were falling.

“Damn it.”

Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!

A firestorm raged.

Black Knights and Ghost Horses were flung about.

Acid sacs burst, scattering corrosive liquid.

The hot acid doused Count Pabelus and the Black Knights.

Their armor melted, and flesh fell from the Ghost Horses.

If they had felt pain, screams would have filled the air.

Count Pabelus looked back.

Fewer than a hundred Black Knights followed him now.

The shield defending the charge weakened accordingly.

Kuoongi, Titans, and Cannon Giants fired Mana Cannons.

“Dodge!”

Normally, Count Pabelus wouldn’t have cared if the Black Knights were hit, but he shouted now.

Mana shells that pierced the shield struck the Black Knights.

The directly hit Black Knights became immobile, and those nearby fell over.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Mana Cannons concentrated on Count Pabelus.

A Ghost Horse fell first, and Count Pabelus leapt up, then landed.

“Krk.”

In front of him was Lutal, wielding four scythe claws.

Count Pabelus drew his greatsword.

“How many monsters like you have I hunted?”

Aura rippled from his greatsword.

It was no wonder he looked down on monsters when he could wield aura.

Vwoom.

Death Blades formed on Lutal’s four scythe claws.

Just brushing against them felt lethal, and Count Pabelus realized something.

Duke Akirif had completely misunderstood them.