317
Chapter 317
RUMBLE!
Normally, knights would have been knocked down by the Barbarians' powerful attacks, but the black knights instead pushed back with their own shoulders.
"ROARRR!"
Though the Barbarians let out battle cries and used their strength, they weren't able to push back when three black knights rushed at each of them.
That's when another black knight rushed in from behind and swung a sword imbued with an aura blade.
SLASH!
The dark red aura blade cleanly cut off the Barbarian's arm.
"HURTS!"
The Barbarian whose arm was cut off roared like an enraged beast but quickly regained his balance.
He bit down on his severed arm and swung his remaining arm wildly at the black knights.
The power of the aura blades concentrated with demonic energy easily tore through even the Barbarians' mighty bodies.
SLASH!
As sword wounds increased on the Barbarians' bodies, blood flowed from their previously wall-like physiques.
"Really Hurts!"
CRASH!
Just then, one black knight tumbled down from the earthen wall with twisted limbs.
At the same time, Zeke unleashed Sacred Light toward the black knights attacking the Barbarians.
BOOM!
The mace of light struck down hard on the black knights.
However, unlike regular Meins, the black knights' demonic energy didn't disperse from Sacred Light's power.
'What's going on? Is this power from the demon's seal?'
When Sacred Light proved ineffective, Zeke equipped Agamemnon's mask and raised a blade of purification.
A golden aura spread from Roland's blade.
The spreading golden aura enveloped the Barbarians.
Once they were imbued with purification power, the black knights' dark aura blades couldn't exhibit the same power as before.
When Zeke buffed them again with Healing and Infinite Stamina, the injured Barbarians regained their strength.
"ROARRR! NO LONGER HURTS!"
The Barbarians shouted battle cries as they charged at the black knights.
They seemed to handle the fight much more easily now, forcefully pushing back with their mighty bodies.
Zeke slowly approached the black knights while wielding Roland imbued with the blade of purification.
But then something flew toward Zeke.
SWOOSH!
A Knight Killer's bullet targeted Zeke's brow from afar.
PING!
The bullet couldn't penetrate Hersion's helmet and fell to the ground deformed.
Zeke instantly calculated the bullet's trajectory and speed to pinpoint the Knight Killer's position.
'Go eliminate them.'
Whenever he located Knight Killers, he ordered the ghost warriors he had on standby to kill them immediately.
They had to be eliminated to prevent knight casualties on the battlefield.
After scanning his surroundings once, Zeke raised Roland again and approached the black knights.
The black knights instinctively stepped back from the golden aura flowing from his body.
But then black smoke began flowing around the black knights.
HISS!
The black smoke containing powerful demonic energy blocked Zeke's golden aura and protected the black knights.
Zeke tried to burn away the black smoke reaching toward him by unleashing Sacred Light.
WHOOSH!
But though the smoke seemed to disperse, it kept returning to its original form.
Then something walked out from among the black knights.
'What is...?'
It was a mage wearing a grotesque black mask that completely covered their face and black leather clothing over their entire body.
The black-masked mage held a staff emanating dark energy.
When the mage swung their staff, the black smoke seeped into the black knights.
At the same time, even more powerful black aura blades surged from the black knights' swords.
The black-masked mage spoke while looking at Zeke.
"Target confirmed. Execute elimination."
Zeke realized the staff the mage held was an emblem imbued with the power of the Herald of Blood and Madness.
'The power that corrupted Hydra and the Giant Mountains with demonic energy seemed similar to this.'
While Zeke was recalling this, the black knights charged at him following the mage's order.
And at that moment, the black smoke spread to where Zeke was.
RUMBLE!
Zeke realized the black current containing demonic energy acted as a kind of barrier.
'So it weakens enemies while strengthening the black knights?'
Zeke raised the blade of purification again and emitted a golden aura.
The approaching black knights instinctively stepped back to avoid the purification power.
And he released purification power toward the spreading black smoke.
WOONG!
The black smoke dissipated when it touched the flowing aura.
The mage in the back swung his staff again.
As if creating dimensional rifts, the demon's staff continuously produced smoke imbued with demonic energy.
Zeke felt the power was several times more threatening when the black-masked mage with the staff was present compared to just the black knights alone.
'What if the Empire creates hundreds or thousands of these and deploys them to the battlefield?'
Most kingdoms on the continent would surely surrender quickly.
The smoke imbued with demonic energy was like poison to the Barbarians as well.
Zeke ordered the Barbarians to retreat and created a massive barrier with golden aura to prevent the smoke from reaching the West Gate.
'The mask's power seems to have grown stronger since meeting the Fairy King.'
His ability to use purification power had broadened compared to before.
Fortunately, the black smoke couldn't pass through the golden aura barrier.
Zeke raised Roland and pointed it at the black-masked mage while speaking.
"You - I'll remove that mask and find out exactly what you are right now."
At Zeke's words, the mage moved their staff and the black knights blocked his path while raising black aura blades.
At that moment, Zeke closed the distance with Shadow Step and lifted into the air.
He unleashed Dragon's Claw toward the black knights.
CLANG!
The black knights retreated in confusion from the invisible attack.
Zeke seized that opening and swung his sword.
WOONG!
The blade of purification unleashed sword strikes toward the black knights while emitting golden aura.
BOOM!
Following the golden aura, maces of light rained down on the black knights.
The black smoke dissipated from the intense purification power.
With the black smoke gone, the black knights had to take direct hits from the light magic.
Then the mage swung their staff to heal the damaged black knights.
The black knights who received demonic energy stood up again with perfectly healthy bodies.
Zeke felt bewildered by the situation that happened in an instant.
'So they can easily recover anytime with just demonic energy?'
As someone with the Healing Factor, Zeke knew well how terrifying such power could be.
Zeke felt he needed to try a different approach.
He stepped back and summoned Richmond and Vane.
Richmond and Babe, who had been blocking beasts in the outer areas, responded to Zeke's summon looking tired.
"HUFF HUFF... You called, Master."
"Ugh, I should have frozen all those damn beasts, how frustrating!"
Zeke spoke to Richmond who had rushed over urgently.
"Richmond, create a horseshoe-shaped bone wall between those guys and me."
"UGH, I worked too hard so I'm running low on power..."
Zeke immediately absorbed the corpses of beasts and monsters, then took out Bahamut and converted its power to transfer to Richmond and Bane.
WOONG!
Richmond and Babw, who received shared power from Zeke, instantly regained their energy and responded enthusiastically.
"Thank you, Master!"
"What should I freeze first?! Just give the order!"
Following Zeke's orders, Richmond created a horseshoe-shaped bone wall surrounding the black knights and mage, and Vane coated it with ice on top.
The Barbarians were amazed by the suddenly appearing barriers.
Zeke activated Defense Mode while recalling his fight with the Queen of Ice.
[Confirming Defense Area.]
[Updating area information.]
[Detecting corrupted energy within the area.]
[Defending against corrupted energy in conjunction with user's Sacred Light skill and Fairy's Blessing title.]
The black smoke couldn't approach when light gathered on the bone and ice walls.
The black knights and mage trapped inside the horseshoe-shaped barrier couldn't retreat.
Zeke had adapted Defense Mode for attack rather than just using it for defense.
Although executing Defense Mode consumed a lot of mana, there were plenty of monster and beast corpses around to replenish power through absorption.
Like when he fought the Queen of Ice, Zeke brought out his Guardians and positioned them on the barrier.
RUMBLE!
Horus, Idas, and Lynceus were deployed and attacked the black knights trying to come out of the horseshoe wall.
SWOOSH!
Idas and Lynceus shot arrows made of light towards the Black Knights, and red beams poured from Horus's eyes.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
However, the Black Knights who were struck by the Guardians recovered and rose again through the power of black smoke.
Zeke felt his mana rapidly depleting as he deployed the Guardians.
'I need to defeat the mage quickly.'
After leaving the Barbarians outside the barrier and the Guardians at the entrance, Zeke leaped into the air.
WHOOSH!
The blade of purification from Zeke's sword surged forth, radiating a golden aura.
He intended to sweep away both the mage and the Black Knights in one go.
As if sensing Zeke's intentions, the black-masked mage pointed their staff at him.
WOONG!
A strong resonance occurred, and the smoke filled with magical energy transformed into tentacle-like forms that rushed toward Zeke.
Zeke released his purification power, emitting a golden aura.
The black smoke that touched the purification power turned to ash and scattered.
The holy aura Zeke emitted was visible even from the autonomous district behind him.
He raised his sword and took the stance of the Infinite Sword Technique.
Zeke descended from the air, holding his sword as if to plunge it downward.
WOONG!
The golden aura imbued in Zeke's sword spread in all directions.
"HAAAAAH!"
With his battle cry, the secret technique of the Infinite Sword was unleashed.
Infinite Sword Technique
Third Form
Great Roc Emerges from Water
Zeke's sword-wielding body flew toward the black-masked mage like a massive golden bird.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The mage, pushed back by the powerful purification force, looked for a place to escape but couldn't flee due to the barrier.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
With no choice left, the mage raised his staff to resist the purification power.
The golden aura from Zeke and the black aura from the staff clashed fiercely.
At that moment, a message appeared before Zeke's eyes.
[The Herald of Blood and Madness gazes upon the Immortal.]
[They rage at the Immortal who constantly interferes with their servants' work.]
[The Herald of Blood and Madness attempts to directly attack the Immortal, accepting damage to their source.]
[The Herald of Blood and Madness's authority 'Blood Control' activates.]
[Blood will not flow in the Immortal's body for 1 minute.]
'The Herald of Blood and Madness used their authority directly?'
In that moment of surprise at the message, blood stopped flowing in Zeke's body due to the Herald's authority.
"UGH."
Zeke's face turned red.
With blood not flowing, neither his heart nor any organs received blood.
An ordinary knight would have died instantly.
But Zeke was none other than the Immortal.
The titles he had accumulated began to show their power.
[The title 'Glory of the Sea God' rejects the Herald of Blood and Madness's authority.]
[The title 'Radiant Light Knight' protects the user from evil energy.]
[The title 'Fairy's Blessing' protects the user from evil energy.]
[The title 'Divine Beast's Grace' protects the user's body.]
"HUFF!"
Before the minute was up, Zeke succeeded in breaking free from the Herald of Blood and Madness's authority, and blood began flowing in his body again.
Instead, the failed authority created a backlash, and the impact returned to the Herald of Blood and Madness.
[The Herald of Blood and Madness's authority 'Blood Control' has failed to activate.]
[The Herald of Blood and Madness cannot believe their authority didn't work on a human of the material world.]
[Direct damage is inflicted on the Herald of Blood and Madness's source.]
[The Herald of Blood and Madness's source develops cracks.]
RUMBLE RUMBLE!
Cracks gradually appeared on the staff held by the black mask.
CRACK!
At that moment, a dark red energy flowed from the staff.
[Unable to contain their rage, the Herald of Blood and Madness attempts to control energy directly while suppressing their source's wound to annihilate the Immortal's soul.]
In that instant, Zeke's eyes gleamed.
He took out Solomon's Ring from his inventory and immediately equipped it.
WOONG!
Zeke activated Solomon's Ring toward the dark red energy.
[Solomon's Ring's unique authority 'Seal' activates.]
As the message appeared, the dark red energy from the staff was absorbed into Solomon's Ring.
BOOM! BOOM!
When all the dark red energy leaking from the staff was sucked in, a symbol was engraved on Solomon's Ring and a message appeared.
[A portion of the fallen constellation Herald of Blood and Madness's source is sealed in Solomon's Ring.]