Chapter 174
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174
Kwoooosh—!
A torrent erupted, alchemized from thick, black mud.
Rumble—!
The deluge swallowed Amur like a tidal wave, surging across the earth to form a massive mound. In an instant, a mountain of sludge stood where there had been nothing.
“……”
I scratched my cheek, staring at the sudden transformation of the terrain I had wrought.
I had used alchemy magic to raise earthen walls or alter the landscape before, but this was the first time I had created a mountain by recklessly shoving this much mana into a single spell.
And the most important thing was…
‘Even after wielding this much mana, there’s no strain on my Mana Heart.’
I checked my body, searching for any sign of a backlash. There was no mana deficiency, no physical exhaustion. Instead, I felt a refreshing sensation, as if a long-blocked meridian had finally been cleared.
It felt as though I had been freed from the shackles that had bound my entire body since birth. I felt an infinite potential that transcended not only the curse on my flesh but the very limits of a human vessel.
Squeeze—
I stared at my blackened hands, then clenched them into tight fists.
‘I don’t think I can lose.’
It didn't matter if my opponent was one of the Twelve Honored Ones. With this much power coursing through me, the very concept of defeat felt impossible.
I gripped my fists tighter, staring blankly ahead.
Twitch—
The mound of mud I had created shuddered for a moment, then burst apart as if detonated from within.
Kwoooosh—!
As mud rained down like black soot, Amur walked slowly out from the center of the shattered mound.
Crack—
Amur cracked his neck and glared at me.
“Hmph. All flash and no substance. It’s no fun if you’re going to be that boring.”
Thwip—
Amur pointed a finger at me and muttered.
“Berserk Ray.”
Flash—!
A black light flickered at his fingertip, and a dark ray shot out with the speed of a laser.
‘Berserk Ray. The signature move of Amur, one of the Twelve Honored Ones. On hit, it deals damage equal to 30% of the target's max health, and it’s an instant kill for anyone below a certain health threshold...’
Information about the attack and its counters flashed through my mind, but…
‘Forget it. I don’t care.’
When you possess overwhelming power, countermeasures become meaningless.
Unlike usual, my thoughts began to blur, and my body started moving on its own.
And then.
Swoosh—
I reached out and blocked Amur’s attack with my bare hand.
The black ray split against my palm and scattered in all directions, like a current of water being parted by a stone.
KRA-KA-KOOM!
The scattered beams gouged deep scars into the earth wherever they touched, but I remained unscathed. My palm stung slightly, but that was the extent of the damage.
“……”
While blocking his attack with one hand, I reached out with the other and clenched it into a fist aimed directly at him.
The moment I closed my fingers…
Shhhh—
…the space around Amur’s heart distorted, and a black vortex manifested out of thin air.
“!”
Amur reacted instantly and dodged, but he couldn't evade the attack completely. His side was torn away by the spatial distortion I had unconsciously cast.
“Hmph.”
He didn't panic. He simply brushed at the wound with his hand.
Sssss—
Black smoke billowed up, filling the cavity, and the torn flesh healed without leaving a trace. Amur looked at me and muttered as if to himself.
“I see. So the Authority you possess resembles His as well? No wonder Gillean took an interest in you. However…”
Shhhk—
“I don’t like it!”
In an instant, Amur vanished.
But unlike before, I didn't panic. I simply turned around. Though I couldn't see him, I could instinctively track his every movement.
No. It was more than that. For some reason, I could perceive his location more clearly than if I were looking at him. It was as if he had been caught in a web of mana I had woven around myself.
I spun around and blocked a powerful punch from the Amur who had reappeared behind me.
CLANG—!
Amur’s fist struck my hand. My blackened palm absorbed the fierce impact without budging. It was a complete reversal from the beginning of the fight when his first punch had sent me flying.
“Hoh.”
Amur retracted his fist and unleashed a barrage of countless strikes.
PAPAPAPANG—!
Each of those attacks held enough power to shatter mountains and reshape the land. But I blocked them without difficulty, my hands moving with fluid precision.
Tatatat—
My body moved on its own, independent of my will. My hands, my feet—every movement lacked my conscious intent. But I knew that if I entrusted myself to this unknown instinct, I would win.
‘No.’
That wasn't it.
Winning or losing no longer mattered. Victory was merely a byproduct of the fight—a natural conclusion.
Rather, I wanted to fight the enemy before me more. I wanted to use this power and Authority to overwhelm my enemies, and then slaughter every last one of them. I wanted to make everyone submit to this near-infinite power.
Perhaps I could even make this entire world kneel at my feet.
Then and now.
‘I... am the one meant to reign.’
Impulses I couldn't comprehend flooded my mind.
In that moment.
CRUNCH—
As my will settled into my body, I poured my strength into my grip and caught Amur’s fist.
“……!”
Although my palm was much smaller than Amur’s massive fist, I stopped it dead in its tracks.
Tremble—
In fact, while I held him without effort, Amur’s large arm began to tremble as he strained against me. He looked down at me with cold eyes.
“……Your physical abilities have improved dramatically. Is it because you absorbed the demonic energy scattered around? Or…”
Thwip—
Amur stepped back and crossed his arms.
“Is this just the final flicker of a candle before it goes out?”
“……!”
Keuk—!
A sudden, agonizing pain flared in my heart, and I fell to my knees. It felt as if all the blood in my body had suddenly reversed its flow.
“Kuaargh!”
The agony was so intense it made me wonder if my Pain Synchro was even working.
A notification appeared before my eyes.
[Your body is collapsing due to the absorption of an excessive amount of demonic energy.]
[For your safety, Affinity will be forcibly lowered.]
Amur watched me writhe in pain, his voice calm.
“No matter if you share His bloodline, half of you is still just a pathetic human. You are not a vessel capable of containing that power for long.”
“Keoheok.”
I coughed up a mouthful of black blood and collapsed. At the same time, the demonic energy rapidly drained from my body. The formidable magic that had filled my being—the sense of omnipotence that made me feel like a god—vanished like a mirage.
Thud—
Amur approached me, grabbed my neck with a massive hand, and hoisted me up.
“Keok.”
He held me aloft and spoke.
“You are not the one we have been waiting for. But you are a decent enough substitute. You have the qualification of the bloodline, and for a moment, you possessed power comparable to my human form. Furthermore, the Authority you hold is essential for our great cause.”
Squeeze—
“However…” Amur tightened his grip. “You are not the only successor.”
Thump—
Amur released his grip, dropping me to the ground like a piece of trash.
“Get stronger. Strong enough that the other successors can’t devour you. If you’re still this half-baked next time, I’ll break your neck myself.”
Cough!
I clutched my throat, coughing violently as my body convulsed.
‘Dammit.’
I fumbled at my waist for the Azoth Sword, but the scabbard was empty.
“Looking for this?”
Amur held up the golden dagger. In his massive hand, the Azoth Sword looked like a toy.
Clink—
“Take it. It seems to be a blade that holds considerable magic.”
He tossed the sword in front of me.
“If you learn to handle this well, you might even reach the throne with that pathetic half-breed body of yours. Well, I heard your other half’s bloodline is quite renowned in the human world.”
My other half’s bloodline?
Even through the pain, I reacted to his words.
“……Are you talking about the Devalis bloodline?”
“Devalis? So you really didn't know. Don't you find it strange? There is no way a trash body like yours could belong to the bloodline of human heroes who have protected the Wall for generations.”
Amur dismissed my connection to the Devalis family as if it were an absurdity.
“Is... that so.”
I slowly lowered my head. I’d had my doubts before, but was it true? Was Roen not of Devalis blood? Then who…
A wave of drowsiness washed over me, threatening to erase my racing thoughts. The side effects of overexertion were finally claiming me.
Amur’s voice echoed dimly in my fading consciousness.
“Speak of the devil, here she comes. The rightful heir of the Devalis family and the Guardian of the Wall.”
Amur lifted his head and looked into the distance. A powerful magical presence was drawing near. It was Aslan.
At that moment, I finally closed my eyes.
*
After defeating the high-ranking demon, Aslan had followed the trail of dense demonic energy.
“……”
Arriving at the scene, she silently approached the fallen Roen and checked his pulse. Thankfully, he was still breathing, though his condition was dire.
Kneeling, Aslan slowly raised her head to look at the demon before her.
“Was this your doing?”
“And if it was?”
The red-skinned giant stood before her, brazenly crossing his arms. Aslan clenched her fists, then forced herself to stay calm. She took something from her pocket and tossed it in front of the giant.
Thump—
“Take it. In exchange for my brother.”
Amur looked at the black orb on the ground and cursed.
“……Ha, what a fucking idiot. Did he die and leave only his core? And after acting so high and mighty.”
Stomp—
Amur stomped his foot, flicking the black orb into the air and catching it. When a member of the spirit race was on the verge of death, they would leave behind a core like this. It seemed Yelin, whom he had sent ahead to buy time, had fought the Guardian of the Wall and lost.
He had lived for thousands of years but had zero talent for combat, so it was to be expected.
After pocketing Yelin’s core, Amur looked at the unconscious Roen and shrugged.
“Do whatever you want with this one. Take him or leave him.”
“……”
Without a word, Aslan lifted Roen into her arms. She injected her mana into him to check his condition. In addition to mana exhaustion, his internal organs were damaged, and the muscles and nerves in his neck were crushed.
‘He’ll be in danger if I don’t treat him quickly.’
Aslan gritted her teeth. “This son of a bitch... how dare he do this to Roen...”
Amur met Aslan’s furious gaze with a smirk.
“Hmph, what are you so angry about? He’s just a stranger with no blood ties to you.”
“What are you talking about? Roen is my brother.”
When Aslan answered with such conviction, Amur tilted his head.
“……What, don’t tell me you didn't know either?”
That couldn't be right. If they had lived together for so long, there was no way she wouldn't have noticed the successor’s unique traits. The Devalis family’s characteristic physical toughness and aptitude for martial arts manifested from a young age.
Besides, while the successor was a half-breed, he was a royal scion who had received a powerful dark bloodline. It made no sense for her not to have noticed.
Aslan slowly shook her head.
“No, of course I know. But I’m saying that sort of thing doesn't matter.”
Vrrrr—
Even as she held Roen, Aslan’s sword began to tremble in its sheath.
“What’s important is that you’re the one who put my brother in this state.”
Aslan’s murderous gaze locked onto Amur. Her sword, sympathizing with its master’s rage, was ready to leap out at any moment.
Amur looked at the vibrating blade and chuckled.
“Hah, you want to fight here? I’m fine with that, but you’d better get him treated before it’s too late. Or…”
Amur’s cold gaze rested on Roen.
“It might be better to kill him right now. For the sake of your human world.”
Amur’s eyes glinted sharply.
“……”
Aslan looked down at the unconscious Roen, then shook her head.
“What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”
Her gaze was hidden behind her long, flowing hair. At Aslan’s non-answer, Amur grinned, turned, and walked away.
“Too soft. You and your father are both the same. What in the world are you hoping for? The day will come when you regret your choice, Guardian of the Wall.”
Thump. Thump.
Amur’s massive form disappeared into the distance. Aslan glared after him for a long moment before turning and leaving with Roen in her arms.