Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Despair's Harvest
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"W-What's that...?"
"Open the gate! Open the damn gate!"
The Black Knight's form had grown even more grotesque.
Sensing the ominous aura, the Transferred screamed and fled as far from the Black Knight as they could.
Fear is delightful! Suffering is joy! I'll devour it all!
"......"
Still planning to stand in my way, human?
Pow!
Kang Seol struck the ridiculous pose Toki had taught him.
In this moment, that absurd stance somehow pushed back against the dangerously thick tension in the air.
"You talk too much for an abomination."
I've decided. I'll squeeze your blood out first!
Whoooosh!
Unlike before when it wielded a sword, the Black Knight now attacked using its body, just like Kang Seol.
Thud!
Kang Seol clasped his hands together to block the Black Knight's fist, but he couldn't avoid being pushed back.
Uhahaha! It's useless!
Grrrrrind!
Grrrrrriiiind!
The force shoved an entire building aside!
Despair's attacks were merciless enough to evoke humanity's most primal fears.
"Nngh...!"
Kang Seol endured the crushing shock to his back and prepared a counterattack.
He launched himself into the air and kicked the Black Knight square in the head.
Claaaang!
The Transferred trembled at the bizarre unfolding of the fight.
"Sh-Shouldn't we help?"
"Are you insane? Two lives? How the hell do we help with that?"
"Still..."
Whoosh...
Boooom!
A fireball cast by one of the onlookers flew toward the Black Knight and exploded on impact.
"I-I hit it..."
"Damage report!"
The Black Knight, clearly pissed, hurled a massive chunk of building debris toward the direction the spell had come from.
"Kyaaah!"
Crack!
Whoooosh!
Kabooooom!
The Black Knight huffed and puffed, searching for the mage.
Which...
Swish!
Kang Seol's body coiled around the Black Knight's neck.
It looked like an octopus squeezing the life out of a bull.
...one!
The Black Knight grabbed it and slammed Kang Seol around.
Crunch!
"Cough..."
Die!
The Black Knight reared back its arm to smash Kang Seol, who had fallen atop the debris.
But—
Shing!
"Raaah!"
"Haaah!"
Karen and Karuna swung their swords horizontally in unison, slicing off the Black Knight's arm.
Now the two of them had united their efforts, responding to the Black Knight's attacks as one. It seemed like a strategic shift since their individual strikes weren't landing.
Damn it! That hurts!
Kang Seol took advantage of the opening to pull back slightly.
He'd taken damage, but it wasn't enough to shatter him completely—recoverable with the Progenitor's blood.
"Haa... haa..."
...You.
Even with Despair possessing the Black Knight's body, Kang Seol's group was holding their own admirably.
"This... Think the penitents could pull this off too?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Huuup... huuuup...
Bam!
You sons of bitches! I'll kill you all... Everyone in this city too! Try to stop me if you can!
The Black Knight's eyes locked onto Kang Seol.
Kang Seol stared blankly in another direction.
Whoooosh!
The Black Knight thrust its right arm forward abruptly, shoving at Kang Seol.
Kang Seol blocked the attack as best he could, probing for openings, crushing buildings in the process.
Rumble rumble rumble...
Iiiii!
The Black Knight roared, yanking its other arm back.
To crush Kang Seol with both arms.
But there was a problem with its left arm as it tried to pull it in.
Sploooosh!
...Huh?
Its left arm exploded outright.
The Black Knight couldn't process the situation for a moment.
What, what is this?!
Philia uses Ultimate Skill: Thunderbolt from a Clear Sky.
Consumes energy to increase next attack's range by 200% and arrow's destructive power by 400%.
"Finally."
"I missed! Sorry!"
Philia's voice rang out.
Kang Seol grinned and dove into the Black Knight's embrace.
"No, that's more than enough."
Kraaaaaah!
Only now did the Black Knight scream.
Kang Seol pulled its right arm as far as possible, then uppercut its chest from below.
Kabooooom!
Buuuh...
That massive bulk lifted slightly into the air. The onlookers shuddered at the sight.
"My God..."
"It... It's floating..."
Kang Seol shouted toward the group that had arrived from the west gate.
"Chameli!"
Hearing the call, Chameli stammered in panic. The Black Knight's form was far too monstrous.
"W-What is this... The Black Knight..."
"Now!"
"N-Now?"
Chameli blanked for a second, then interpreted Kang Seol's words and pulled something from her bosom.
"The devil reveals its true colors!"
It was the End of Sins.
Baranoa's holy relic.
"Brothers and sisters! Our teachings upon that devil!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"As one resounding voice!"
Chameli uses End of Sins.
A pillar of light descends upon the target of End of Sins.
Holy power concentrates.
The pillar of light deals fixed damage and additional damage if the target is tainted by evil.
Whoooosh...
Sensing the strange energy, the Black Knight bellowed.
Useless efforts!
Crunch!
Kang Seol kicked off the Black Knight's body and escaped during the opening.
Nngh...
"This time's different, right?"
Siiiing...
Kaboooooooooom!
A pillar of light poured down onto the Black Knight.
Szzzzzzzzz!
Kraaaaaaaaah!
"Maybe your hidden friend could take it, but not you."
Hot! So hot!
Boom! Kabooooom!
If the soul dwelling in the sword Despair wasn't evil, then evil didn't exist in this world.
That was why Kang Seol had been so confident even after Despair took over the Black Knight's body.
'To walk right into its own grave.'
It must have completely forgotten about the End of Sins.
Or dismissed the power of a relic it had already experienced once.
"Kraaaaaah!"
Penetration activates.
Hope Devourer swallows the impact.
Hope Devourer is slightly full.
Hope Devourer partially digests the impact.
Szzzzz...
Penetration activates.
Hope Devourer swallows the impact.
Hope Devourer is full.
Hope Devourer partially digests the impact.
Stop! Stoooop!
Penetration activates.
Hope Devourer swallows the impact.
Hope Devourer is stuffed full.
Hope Devourer fails to digest the impact.
Booooom!
The Black Knight dropped to its knees, crushed by the light.
Fsssh...
And with it, the beam of light faded away.
"Hahk... haaah..."
"Archdeacon!"
"I'm fine... Hurry... Subdue that monster..."
Thud...
Chameli fainted. Leaving only a few to guard her, the pilgrims charged at the Black Knight.
"Waaaaah!"
Clad in light as they stormed into the city, they truly resembled an army of gods descended to punish evil.
Black Knight is afflicted with status: Heatstroke.
Black Knight is afflicted with status: Anemia.
Black Knight is afflicted with status: Guilt.
Through the Black Knight's hazy vision, Karen and Karuna charged in tandem.
Slash!
Red and blue slashes carved an X across its chest.
A strike that signaled the true end.
But.
Whoooosh!
Bam!
"Nngh!"
"Agh!"
The Black Knight counterattacked Karen and Karuna with its remaining arm and rose.
It looked like a ragged giant staggering to its feet.
The Black Knight—no, Despair—laughed.
Heh... hehehe... Too bad.
"...What?"
The Black Knight's body began to swell enormously.
I hate it.
Pure hatred, like that of a child.
I hate their colors.
Burning red, chilling blue.
A fractured mind showed reality in fragmented dreams.
And each time, he confronted his reflection in their eyes.
'This is...'
Ugly.
A clotted mass of black filth.
His past self, tossed about by the monster Despair, dancing on the edge of death. Desperate, pathetic days.
And looking back, all that remained was this abomination.
'No! This isn't what I wanted!'
Pure hatred.
Hatred for losing Karen.
Hatred for Montla being stolen.
Hatred for his own shattered self.
He'd fought using all of it as weapons.
To reclaim Karen, uncover Montla's downfall and the secrets surrounding him.
But means and ends had become hopelessly tangled.
What was he fighting for? With what?
'Why... am I fighting?'
Where had it gone wrong?
He was full of regret.
Karen, the missing half of his soul he'd once longed to reunite with.
And Karuna, standing where he should have been.
There was no room for him anywhere. Despair set in, then resignation.
'It's over. Let it go.'
Escape this endless torment. But then Despair's voice echoed.
You idiot! It's yours!
"...What?"
It's yours! Just devour it all!
"My... mine?"
Yes! Go on! Devour that bastard and grow stronger!
"That... is enough?"
Yes, just listen to me. Like always... The only way to find your precious sister is this.
"......"
Yeah. That would be enough.
Black Knight uses Harvest.
Absorbs fragments.
Kaboom!
"What..."
Whirrrrr!
The Black Knight hardened like a massive lump of coal, a ferocious wind whipping around it.
"Wh-Whoa? Grab on!"
"Hold tight, everyone!"
The Transferred, pilgrims, and even Kang Seol's group struggled against the gale.
Rumble rumble...
Crack crack...
The force tore entire walls from buildings. And when its true power revealed itself, everyone gasped.
Piiiing!
"No! Karuna!"
Something was wrong with Karuna.
As the Black Knight began its harvest, he lost consciousness like a puppet with cut strings.
Thud!
Kang Seol grabbed his hand to hold firm.
"Nngaaaaaaah..."
Crack... craaack...
Slip!
Karuna's hand slipped from his grasp.
"No!"
Kang Seol reflexively let go of what he was holding and reached for Karuna.
"Master!"
Karen noticed and quickly extended her hand to grab Kang Seol's free one.
Thud!
Pow...
"Damn it!"
Karen succeeded in grabbing Kang Seol's hand, but Kang Seol failed to hold Karuna.
Fortunately, something caught with a jerk, preventing Karuna from being sucked further into the Black Knight.
A red thread.
A red thread extended from Kang Seol to Karuna.
'Thanks to the bloodline...'
He sighed in relief at the red thread formed by the Progenitor's blood, but the situation worsened.
Crack... craaaack...
"It's... breaking..."
Snap!
Karuna's bloodline severs.
The red thread snapped.
Just as Karuna was about to be helplessly sucked in, Jamad's upper body and massive hand shot out from Kang Seol's extended arm.
And snatched the severed red thread connected to Karuna.
"Got it!"
"Jamad!"
"Pull!"
"Raaaaah!"
Jamad's hand met his.
Forms bloodline with Karuna.
Flash!
Only then did Karuna's consciousness return.
The moment he awoke, he drew his sword and swung it wide.
Whoooosh!
Karuna uses Moonlight Slash.
A bluish dawn light surged toward the Black Knight.
Kaboom!
Fssssh...
The impact ended the Black Knight's rampage. The suction force ceased.
But it wasn't over yet.
The Black Knight vanished.