Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Landing a Knockout Blow
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After that, Evelask snorted and snapped out of it, pulling herself together.
She had looked ready to snap at any moment after having reality shoved in her face, but now she just stared at Krash and let out a sigh.
"Idiot. You think I won't be lonely just because you say you'll stay by my side?"
After all the effort to comfort her, that was her response.
Krash stared at her with a blank expression, and Evelask huffed again, her nostrils flaring.
She glanced at him sideways, chewing on her lip.
It was because she couldn't ignore what he had said.
"F-Fine, if you're lonely, I'll stick around a bit. It'd be tough for you with immortality and all!"
"Ah, sure."
Krash looked utterly indifferent.
Then he pointed downward.
"More importantly, can you stop that first?"
Down below, Haring and Sena were still carving through the skeleton legion.
Now that it was time to call it off, Evelask belatedly realized and raised her hand.
"...But doing this means I'm betraying Ixion. They'll come after me for revenge."
She voiced a hint of worry.
Ixion, the group of World Eroders, was a force threatening the world itself.
Becoming their target was no small concern.
"Don't worry about revenge."
Krash scolded her like she was talking nonsense.
"They're all gonna die by my hand anyway."
Evelask stared at him in disbelief at his bold declaration.
But she had no desire to contradict it.
She knew full well how ruthless he was.
"...Then why am I getting special treatment?"
Evelask asked, lightly touching her hair where his warmth still lingered.
Krash had persuaded her to leave Ixion.
Promising to stay by her side until she could close her eyes without loneliness.
Those words echoed in her mind as she rolled her eyes around.
[What a mess.]
Crimson Garden's tsk echoed in his head.
As the skeleton legion halted and Sena and Haring climbed the mountain, Krash—still not grasping the full situation—replied.
"Think of it as a bond from a past life."
"You're a fatalist?"
"Nah, a contrarian. If everything followed fate, this world would've ended ages ago."
Krash shot her a look like she was spouting nonsense, and Evelask startled, quickly turning her head away.
Puzzled by her reaction, Krash heard another heavy thud from beyond the mountain.
Proof that the battle between the Mad Sovereign and Rai was intensifying.
Which meant the World Erosion's power had grown stronger too.
He had to stop it before things worsened further.
"Anyway, Evelask, you prepared a way into the Blood Heaven World, right?"
Evelask flinched at that.
Noticing her subtle reaction, Krash eyed her suspiciously.
She looked flustered.
"I-I-I did prepare it originally? But the inside got totaled..."
She stammered incoherently.
Then she bowed her head in shame.
"It disintegrated..."
Krash swallowed a bitter sigh.
She hadn't slacked off; if it got caught in the chaos and vanished, there was nothing to say.
"Guess we'll have to force our way in then."
Krash took a steadying breath, his eyes resolute.
He was used to things never going smoothly.
The worst always bred more worst.
Regrettable, but smashing through with raw power would do.
"...I'll handle it."
Evelask spoke up then, looking like she was taking responsibility.
"You sure you can?"
She straightened her back, her posture rising with the gravitational pull, face full of determination.
"I'll use Number Three."
Krash knew what she meant by "Number Three" and nodded.
"Alright, do it."
Preparations were complete.
Now to smash the Mad Sovereign.
Inside the Blood Heaven World.
Beneath dozens of Rai's Emperor Annihilation Swords swirling wildly.
The Mad Sovereign swung his arm-fused Blood Rakshasa Apostle as he charged forward.
In his eyes, Rai stood with arms crossed, wielding the Emperor Annihilation Swords.
As if he were the emperor of this place, unmoving even an inch.
It reeked of arrogance, but that was precisely what suited him best.
He too was focused solely on unleashing the Emperor Annihilation Swords.
The moment he locked onto Rai, a sword came slashing down between them.
"Can't even get close!"
The Mad Sovereign grimaced in frustration.
Yet his eyes darted rapidly.
Rai's Emperor Annihilation Swords were absurdly powerful.
A whole mountain had nearly collapsed from their clash.
If not for the Blood Heaven World, an avalanche would've turned the base to rubble.
'He noticed my Blood Heaven World and got even more aggressive.'
He'd unwittingly provided the perfect battlefield.
But from the Mad Sovereign's view, it was all upside.
The longer they fought, the stronger the World Erosion outside grew—regardless of what Rai knew.
The traits of World Eroders weren't widely known, except among the elite.
They operated in secrecy, and as top-tier powerhouses, they could hide if they wanted.
Plus, the Mad Sovereign had vanished after the Lagren family incident.
Information on him was scarce.
'The longer this drags, the better for me.'
Then blood surged fiercely through his legs.
'But sitting back isn't my style.'
His legs dyed crimson, and he exploded forward in a leap.
Dozens of Emperor Annihilation Swords rained down before him.
As they struck, he swung the Blood Rakshasa Apostle in sync.
A burst of bloody aura from it twisted his trajectory mid-air.
The Mad Sovereign began moving with uncanny grace.
Dodging every descending sword, closing in on Rai at blinding speed.
Rai's brow twitched, arms still crossed.
Now close, the Mad Sovereign's body flushed vivid red again.
"Huuuh!"
With a drawn breath, his body swelled violently.
Boom!
A sonic boom echoed as he shot forward like a cannonball.
The sudden acceleration caught even the Emperor Annihilation Swords a beat late.
Seizing the opening, he infused his Blood Rakshasa Apostle with bloody aura.
Gurgle!
As it writhed, a massive chunk of his blood was sucked in.
But the erupting aura was on another level now.
Blood mist scattered.
The exposed crimson energy stretched like a reaper's scythe.
Time for one massive hit.
His eyes flashed wildly as the Blood Rakshasa Apostle thrust out.
Blood Ghost Severing BladeThird FormBlood Ghost Great Scythe
⟨ Blood Ghost Great Scythe ⟩
Screeeeech!
A grotesque shriek rang out as the massive crimson scythe form hurtled toward Rai.
Thud!
In an instant, an Emperor Annihilation Sword slammed down to block it.
Clang! The clash reverberated through the entire space.
Their power shook the Blood Heaven World itself.
Waves of force blasted outward from them, and the Mad Sovereign swiftly retreated beyond the swords.
More Emperor Annihilation Swords were bearing down on him.
As one rose before Rai, he spotted the Mad Sovereign grinning maniacally from afar.
He licked his lips, looking regretful.
Yet his movements grew sharper with every exchange.
Battle loosened him up as blood coursed through.
He wielded the Blood Ghost Severing Blade, blending blood aura to heighten his flesh beyond Erosion spawn limits.
The longer the fight, the stronger he got with blood circulation.
Impatient temperament, but optimized for prolonged war.
Rai eyed him steadily.
'He's adapting.'
At first, the Emperor Annihilation Swords had sent him tumbling across the ground.
Dodging dozens wasn't easy.
But he'd grown accustomed over time.
His recent dodges read the sword paths clearly.
'Hmm. What to do.'
Still, Rai didn't envision defeat.
'He's not the Night Raven Group's leader.'
Hed heard the Poison King—one of the Ten Supremes—took a grievous wound from a World Eroders.
The Empire pegged it as the Night Raven leader.
But this guy's description didn't match.
The Night Raven boss was a female necromancer.
'Whoever wounded the Poison King, there's at least one more.'
Rai tapped his arm thoughtfully.
The Mad Sovereign charged full throttle, no intent to stall.
Yet he'd trapped him in this Blood Heaven World.
Meaning he wanted Rai contained here.
'Plotting with other World Eroders.'
Not exact, but close enough—Rai's thick brow furrowed.
'Looks like.'
Time to end it quick.
The Mad Sovereign dodged another sword, locking eyes with Rai.
His aura had shifted; he'd caught on.
'Sharp instincts.'
Not spot-on, but near the mark.
'That's why I pushed harder—to cloud his judgment.'
Pity it hadn't rattled his reason.
'But even if he suspects.'
His Blood Rakshasa Apostle began absorbing bloody aura again.
"Not like I'm letting you off easy!"
As he laughed and lunged once more—
Thoom!
A sudden vibration rocked the space from somewhere.
Not from the Emperor Annihilation Swords.
They were massive, but this felt different.
Thud!
Another boom echoed.
The whole realm trembled; the Mad Sovereign's gaze slowly lifted.
The sound came from above.
A crimson sky—not yellow—loomed.
His Blood Heaven World.
Thud!
It shook again.
He scowled.
He couldn't comprehend.
Thud!
As it quaked once more—
Crack!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the Blood Heaven World.
Panic flickered in his eyes.
The Blood Heaven World sealed entry from outside or in.
Yet it was fracturing outright.
"Who?!"
He bellowed aloud—
Something peeked through the fissures.
Seeing it, his eyes widened slowly.
Through the shattered Blood Heaven World.
Atop it, a colossal monster—head lost to view—raised arms stitched with threads.
As he panicked at the insane size—
The giant's fist smashed down again.
Kwaaaaaang!
The ceiling shattered, the arm plunging through and down.
"What the hell?!"
A ferocious storm from the falling arm engulfed the Mad Sovereign and Rai.
Even Rai waited silently, unsure.
"Cough!"
Dust-covered, the Mad Sovereign hacked irritably.
His battle high with Rai deflated from the interruption.
His face boiled with rage.
Now he saw the intruding arm clearly.
Drained of blood, stitched flesh midway.
A figure flashed in his mind.
"...Evelask?"
Why was the corpse she used to block outsiders here?
Befuddled, he muttered blankly—
A momentary lapse from the chaos.
Someone seized it perfectly.
Chill!
A primal instinct hit; purely reflexively, he leaped back.
Whoosh!
Flames warped with a roar, black fire engulfing his vision.
Annihilation Flame ErosionFourth FormAnnihilation Flame Night Sever
⟨ Annihilation Flame Night Sever ⟩
Kagagagak!
His left arm shredded by a black-flame-coated blade, soaring skyward.
Despite the force, it didn't sever clean.
Skin and muscle torn, over half the bone gone—arm mangled, useless.
His crimson eyes bulged.
His Blood Ghost-enhanced body outdid Erosion spawn durability.
No normal strike should wound it like this.
Before him stood two figures.
A boy, expression like he'd swallowed something bitter, mid full-power overhead slash with black flames wreathing his sword.
Behind him, a short-haired girl with black-purple locks.
Their whipping hair and clothes betrayed their fall from above.
Then the boy stomped—thoom!—exploding forward at a speed that startled even the Mad Sovereign.
Fast.
And dangerous.
If he could unleash strikes like that anytime, this boy was the prime threat now.
His aura screamed World Eroders unmistakably.
Realizing it, the Mad Sovereign's killing intent surged.
Why Evelask betrayed him now—he had no clue.
All his focus locked on the boy instantly.
Forgetting even Rai for a beat.
Whoosh!
Fury and malice poured from him, battering Krash's face.
Krash felt the prickling malice even in his concentration.
'Monster through and through.'
Hair standing on end, vision blurring—overwhelming.
Instinct screamed to flee, not charge.
Strong indeed.
Even with Heaven-Slaying Asura active, he sensed he fell short against a World Eroders.
But he wasn't alone.
Krash's goal: monopolize the Mad Sovereign's attention now.
Mission accomplished—the arm injury had him spooked.
Someone even faster than Krash's advance slammed into the Mad Sovereign's back.
Diminished white wings flared.
Sena in Super Speed mode.
Now, she outpaced even Krash's Thunderclap.
Cloths below her wings sharpened into spikes, spearing toward the Mad Sovereign.
Too late when he noticed.
Overfocus on Krash slowed his reaction.
Stab, thrust!
"Kuhak!?"
He twisted barely in time, avoiding vitals with a grunt.
But cloths pierced back and flanks, creating through-and-through wounds.
Movement restricted that instant—
Krash was already upon him.
His Thunderclap blade flushed crimson.
Simultaneously, atop the night shroud in his body, the Seven Stars of Heaven-Slaying shone, bathing the red moon in light.
As the crimson moon rose under their glow—
The black flame storm raging in Krash's mind dwelled in his sword.
Annihilation Flame ErosionFifth FormHeaven-Destroying Moon Fire
⟨ Heaven-Destroying Moon Fire ⟩
Beneath the blood-red moon.
The black flame storm swept the shattered Blood Heaven World.