Chapter 275
Chapter 275
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: Strong Couple
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Back once more in the Giant's Forest.
Previously, flooding from the rainy season had left no chance to properly explore.
But the current Giant's Forest was so clear that one could gaze up at the sky unobstructed.
Perhaps because of that.
The forest itself carried a strangely enchanting atmosphere.
The overwhelming grass scent from the massive woods and the cool breeze felt incredibly refreshing.
The problem was that this refreshing air affected not just Krashu, but all other lifeforms equally.
"There sure are a filthy lot of them."
Krashu eyed the various giant insects he'd just felled, a hint of irritation in his voice.
Not a single one was smaller than him.
The hallmark gigantification of the Giant's Forest.
The biological weapons these gigantified insects wielded were perilously dangerous.
'The rainy season just ended, so their activity levels are high.'
With the rainy season over, were they ramping up reproduction after a long hiatus?
Krashu and Bianca encountered insects at every turn, forced into battle after battle.
'And these things are way more ferocious than before.'
On top of that, with a seed of ultimate evil forming in the Giant's Forest, the insects' combat prowess—and even their will to fight—had grown immensely stronger.
Hordes of insects swarmed endlessly to eliminate the intruders.
For now, just insects, so manageable.
But it was about time for the forest's true heavyweights to appear.
Then.
Thud!
A massive presence shook Krashu and Bianca's bodies.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The presence accelerated rapidly, charging fiercely toward them.
"Bianca!"
Krashu shouted her name, scooped her into his arms, and leaped away.
'Accel.'
Accel coursed through his body, accelerating his flesh in an instant, letting him evade the spot.
Kaboom!
The moment they cleared, soil and rock erupted from where they'd stood.
What burst forth was a twitching nose.
A fluffy reddish-brown furball with well-developed claws on its forepaws.
An animal incomparably larger than any insect—the culprit was none other than.
"It's a mole."
A mole.
Outside, it'd look downright cute.
Here, it was a walking disaster.
"So cute."
Of course, to animal lover Bianca, even this giant mole appeared utterly adorable.
Bianca's sparkling eyes were arguably cuter, but no time for such thoughts now.
The mole, missing its target, swiftly withdrew into the ground.
The earth was no longer safe.
Krashu, still holding Bianca, immediately scaled a tree.
A pincer bug on the trunk lunged with its claws, but Krashu leaped, crushing its head underfoot, and continued climbing.
"We're making a break for it like this. Hold on tight."
Bianca obediently wrapped her arms around his neck at his command.
Confirming it, Krashu ramped up his speed.
"It's coming into view soon."
Were they finally nearing the high ground in their Giant's Forest expedition?
Krashu pressed on through the treetops, listening to her.
In that moment, the whistle of wind reached his ears.
A bit further, and he'd have spotted the World Erosion's master.
But this sound demanded attention.
Krashu halted abruptly atop a branch.
Something streaked past in an instant.
The fast-flying creature was a bird.
"White-spotted martin."
Bianca's brief explanation followed as she spotted it.
The bird, arcing through the air, dwarfed Krashu and Bianca in size.
Outside, just a passing bird.
In the Giant's Forest, a top predator: the white-spotted martin.
"Bianca, distance to the master?"
"About 1km."
To Krashu with Accel, practically next door.
At that instant, the white-spotted martin ended its flight and dove at them at blinding speed.
Its massive talons, poised to shred Krashu and Bianca effortlessly, closed in.
But Krashu, having set Bianca down, unleashed his Roaring Thunder.
Whoosh—
A blazing inferno erupted alongside the white-flame slash from Roaring Thunder, clashing with the bird's talons.
"Screek!?"
Caught off-guard by the prey's firepower, the startled white-spotted martin flapped away.
'As expected, the Giant's Forest boosted its durability too.'
He'd swung to sever the leg clean off.
Yet the martin escaped with mere burns and scratches.
Not just big—far from it.
These were Erosion Beasts that had absorbed World Erosion.
No wonder forbidden zones defied surface judgments.
Krashu hoisted Bianca onto his back and kicked off the tree again.
Seizing the opening from the martin's retreat, he dashed at full tilt.
"There."
Soon, Bianca's voice signaled a find.
Looking where she pointed, an incongruous Erosion Beast stood amid the Giant's Forest.
The forest's rule: existing life gigantified into Erosion Beasts.
This one defied that norm starkly.
Pitch-black body, three horns sprouting from its head.
Dozens of crimson hairs, far longer than its body, dangled downward like hands, probing the ground.
"Way beyond academy level."
Krashu clicked his tongue upon facing it.
The World Erosion's master.
Red-Haired Demon.
Rated 7-star originally.
Even the elite second-years and first-years, vastly powered up under Krashu's influence through sheer training volume, would barely take it down at full force.
But this Red-Haired Demon was no ordinary specimen.
Having absorbed the Giant's Forest World Erosion, it boasted far greater size and toughness than known variants.
'8-star.'
Krashu reclassified it.
The highest-grade Erosion Beast since the 9-star Reverse Night Moon.
Back then, he'd had Ebelask, Haring, and the world's top dismantler, Beltua.
Today: just Krashu and Bianca.
'Star-for-star, Agares tier.'
Though ages ago, Krashu still recalled slaying Agares.
Without the Star Heaven Knight Order and Lilish, it would've been impossible.
'Threat level and power-wise, Agares tops 8-stars, so not quite there.'
Still, this Red-Haired Demon was no pushover.
"Krashu."
Up close, sensing its level, Bianca gripped his collar tighter.
She'd grown immensely, topping her year as third-year chief.
But not 8-star ready.
Needed far more tempering.
"Don't worry."
Krashu patted her head reassuringly.
"Bianca, it won't even glance your way."
White Flame rose from his body, warming her tenderly.
Krashu's aura was pure poison to World Erosion entities and Erosion Beasts.
He was the perfect counter to World Erosion.
An 8-star held no fear now.
That warmth steadied Bianca's tremors.
"You'll take it down, right?"
Krashu chuckled shortly at her question.
"Absolutely."
"I'll support with everything I've got."
A reliable answer.
Krashu withdrew his hand from her head and dropped to the ground.
"Grick."
The Red-Haired Demon noticed, turning toward them.
Krashu's pervasive White Flame provoked it.
In that moment, another energy mingled with the White Flame from his body.
Krunch!
A razor-sharp storm ravaged the space around him.
The White Dragon's momentum.
"Grrreeeck!"
The Red-Haired Demon's crimson hairs bristled at glimpsing it.
The overwhelming presence branded Krashu as lethal in its mind.
Now, it couldn't look away.
"Don't those hairs get in your way?"
Krashu extended Roaring Thunder, exhaling white smoke.
"I'll trim them neat for you."
With the taunt, his figure scattered.
Deep within the Giant's Forest.
White Flame blazed skyward.
Its wielder: Krashu.
Each flash of Roaring Thunder spewed White Flame, wreaking havoc.
Amid those flames.
Crimson hairs morphed into hands, flailing wildly.
The Red-Haired Demon's hairs.
Dodging the waterfall cascade, Krashu showered White Flame relentlessly.
True to its 8-star growth, the hairs held form against White Flame.
Giant's Forest influence ballooned its size tenfold, making them trickier than ever.
Sheer volume from the growth blinded him with crimson waves.
'Regeneration too.'
Burned hairs reformed in moments.
Krashu felt trapped in a crimson world.
Left, right, up, down: endless crimson.
Plus curses infusing them—touch meant flesh dissolution.
Hadn't even reached the body yet.
This pace: hacking hairs all day.
'Then.'
Time for his prepared counter.
Mid-swing, Krashu leaped back dramatically.
Crimson hairs pursued instantly.
A tidal wave of red bore down.
Yet before it, Krashu raised Roaring Thunder overhead.
The instant he assumed stance.
White Dragon's momentum surged.
Not chill, but White Flame-infused.
It clashed with the hairs.
Kraka-kaka-kaka!
The infused momentum ground against crimson, noise erupting.
Fully deploying White Dragon's momentum, Krashu sank into deep focus within.
Maintain momentum in focus state.
Nigh impossible feat, splitting techniques.
But Krashu had to master it.
Time strengthens the enemy.
Against such foes, every split-second was peril.
Krashu's forte: Sword Ghost's iaijutsu, accumulating power to limits.
Requires time.
White Dragon's momentum bought that time optimally.
Focused, sustaining momentum.
As Crimson Garden said, intense brain strain hit.
Grind!
Yet Krashu gritted through, teeth nearly shattering.
Ixion loomed ever larger.
Ultimate evil seeds sprouting, twisting World Erosion to utmost malice.
Danger lines would only rise.
To safeguard this damn world, Krashu needed every real-battle adaptation.
Deep in his mind's lake.
Drip—
A droplet fell.
Ripples spread across the mental lake.
Foam surged atop the waves.
Atop the foam: Nox's night sky draped.
Seven stars ignited uniformly, empowering the foam.
Crunch!
Veins bulged on Krashu's forehead; white smoke poured from his mouth.
Drip—
Nosebleed from overload evaporated in the heat.
Scales sprouted along his cheeks.
Whoosh—
Brief blaze—and White Dragon's momentum incinerated every crimson hair.
Surpassing Asura and Rakshasa: new realm.
"Grick!"
The Red-Haired Demon belatedly sensed the shift.
Crimson hairs poured anew.
Heaven-Annihilating Fire Dragon's toll: momentum vanished momentarily.
Crimson closed in to engulf him.
Familiar Dragon: Bianca Style Glacysis Radius
⟨ Freezing Breath Barrage ⟩
A pure white flash pierced forth.
The icy breath impaled the crimson tide.
Far off, Bianca collapsed to her knees.
A limit-squeezing strike, mirroring Krashu's.
And it carved the perfect opening.
Crimson barrier between Krashu and the demon vanished, leaving a gaping hole.
The demon frantically regenerated hairs—too late.
Crack!
The sheath, electrified, shattered crisply. Accel infused Krashu's body.
His accelerated flesh kicked off the ground.
Gale-force winds howled belatedly.
The demon tried maneuvering hairs to block—futile.
Right before its nose.
Krashu, red eyes flashing, thrust his pristine white blade.
"Greeek!"
Flame-Exterminating Erosion Fourth Form Flame-Exterminating Night Sever
⟨ Final Incantation ⟩
The demon's death cry rang as the blade plunged into its throat.
Slicing tender flesh, it pierced clean through to the other side.
Thud!
Over-accelerated by Accel, Krashu tumbled far across the ground, unable to handle the recoil.
Thud!
The massive demon head rolled.
Its hairs faded, heralding its end.
And signaling the end of the black hand plague that had plagued the Empire.