Chapter 274
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 274
Chapter Title: Nameless Sword
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Nameless Sword
Advance Guard Blade
Halo
A massive ring-shaped aura blade scattered outward, expanding like a colossal halo swelling in size.
Niala’s body was shredded before he could even react to the attack, but as before, this bastard wasn’t the type to die from something like that.
“You’ve become far more agile than last time. That kind of attack puts a huge burden on your own body, so it’s not something just anyone can pull off unless they’re willing to throw their life away.”
“Why’s your tongue so damn long? Where’s Remiel?”
At my question, the corner of his mouth twisted upward like a brat throwing a tantrum.
“Oh dear. Even after reuniting, you’re more concerned about Remiel than me?”
Is this guy insane?
Not that I expected him to answer anyway.
With no need for talk anymore, hesitation was pointless.
As I surged forward like a bolt of lightning, he finally started dodging, moving his body to evade my strikes.
Is Thanatos scared of him?
“This is getting dangerous... I might end up seriously hurt. I only came here to make a bet, after all.”
“Bet my ass.”
As my attacks grew fiercer, he couldn’t keep up his leisurely defense and quickly opened his mouth.
“Sorry, but I’m not today’s star.”
With those words...
Roooar...BOOM!!!!
A massive fist of flames came hurtling toward me as I charged at Niala.
Annihilation Flame!
I abandoned defense entirely, opting for evasion and retreating swiftly. The spot where I’d stood vanished in a blaze, space itself incinerated in a chilling sight.
At the same time, the surrounding space warped, soon forming a colossal giant shrouded in flames.
Niala had already vanished.
Finally, after the long wait, the fruit ripens. Come forth. This is the endpoint of the infernal hell.
A chilling voice sent goosebumps crawling over my entire body.
Just hearing it was enough to jolt my mind. Even without being outer gods, these things were all disgustingly vile.
“Annihilation Flame... Kthuger, Lord of Purgatory Flames.”
Diablo murmured the entity’s identity briefly.
“That’s him?”
“Be careful. He seems extremely dangerous.”
Definitely different from Niala—the vibe was on another level.
“The heat’s insane. Is this guy stronger normally?”
“No. Crawling Nightmare or Kthuger, they’re about equal... but Kthuger can burn himself to draw even greater power from another dimension.”
“Penalty?”
“The tradeoff is a much bigger hit when he dies compared to Niala. If he’s pulling this much power... killing him here might even lead to total annihilation if we play it right.”
Hit harder, get hit harder, huh?
The problem was whether we could manage that against him...
Just his presence had torn the rift between dimensions and this world, refusing to heal.
The preparation for this madness was downright terrifying.
“Young Master Leon. Do you see that?”
Diablo pointed at the giant’s heart with eyes glowing an eerie purple.
“What is it?”
“Yes. It’s burning away in real-time from its own flames. Seems like it pulled too much power, and its own body is collapsing as a result.”
Oh? Then if we just stall...
“It’ll be as strong as the penalty it took... but this is clearly our chance to deal massive damage.”
No need to ask how strong it was.
Even with my Mind Master realm handling intent and 7th-circle magic attainment, a tense sense of death gripped my body.
Chatting like fools, are you? Come at me!
This one felt like a battle-crazed maniac.
“Shut up for a sec. Gotta discuss.”
I acknowledge it!
Psycho.
One thing was clear, though: unlike Niala, this one wasn’t cunning.
Just a dumb musclehead type.
“Hmm... seems simpler than expected. Let’s split up then. While you find Remiel, I’ll handle this guy...”
As Diablo suggested, the flame giant swung its enormous fiery sword, vaporizing our position entirely.
“This crazy bastard...”
Leon Cascadia. You stay. I recognize no one else.
At its declaration, I closed and opened my eyes.
“Can you even beat it to begin with?”
“With my constraints... no, I can’t win.”
“Then reverse it. You find Remiel. I’ll soften this thing up meanwhile.”
I aimed the tip of my demon sword at it.
“If I stay, Diablo can go, right?”
No issue!
“Your friend doesn’t seem to agree.”
No issue!
“Good. I like the fire.”
If Electra were an ordinary demon sword, it’d have melted in that insane heat—hell, vaporized outright. But as even Luna knew, it was a demon sword that could endure.
I gathered my aura, and Kthuger unleashed flames at me, completely ignoring Diablo.
Whoa, this heat is nuts.
Wait.
With heat this intense...
This was an opportunity like no other.
Come!
With a roar like thunder, it swung its flame sword down.
The blade was so enormous it felt like a massive pillar whipping toward me.
Shhhhhh!!!!
Forest Wendigo emerged from my shadow but evaporated before it could fully step out.
“Undead are out.”
With this heat, even Grieve isn’t ideal.
In response, I parried its attack while quietly drawing in the surrounding heat and flames.
Insane monster.
That was my succinct impression since the fight began.
First time feeling such selfish, overwhelming heat.
Subordinate of an outer god. On the same level as Niala. Lord of Annihilation Flame, Ruler of Purgatory.
Whatever. This thing was brutally strong.
Just existing made the air ignite and skin parch.
The surroundings had melted into a wax-like sludge.
BOOM!! Crash!!
Kthuger was a straight-up berserk bull.
Leading with monstrous physical prowess, its flame sword even scorched the aura blade on my demon sword.
Wrapping it in intent barely held; a Sword Master would’ve been helpless.
“Damn, one ear’s gone deaf.”
I didn’t hide my irritation.
It burned my aura blade and senses alike.
Smell and one ear so far, but a direct hit without focus... who knows what’d shatter.
Flames that incinerate all they touch...
Without intent-wrapped aura and 8th-circle defense magic via realm transcendence, I’d have burned long ago.
This thing... can’t be let loose on the world.
Unlike Niala, it could turn the capital to ash just by standing there, no fight needed.
Is that all? Make me boil hotter!!
I dodged its charge—like a massive tank barreling in—widening the distance swiftly.
Frontal clash was suicide.
Two exchanges cost me two senses; more would be madness.
Recommend ranged harassment. Suggested ability: Suppression via Word of Command. And Authority Thanatos...
Shut it.
Acknowledged.
I know. Shut up.
With a sharp rebuke, I parted my lips toward the flames raging fiercely at me.
[Split apart.]
Roar!!
Vast mana drained as the flames parted, revealing a path.
With flames blanketing the area, entry was tough—this was an unmissable chance.
Even stripping the flames clinging to its body to create an opening, it didn’t retreat but met me head-on.
Slash!!!
Demon sword Electra resonated with intent-infused aura blade in a wail like damned souls, carving a massive wound into its flesh.
Normal aura blades burned, so intent was mandatory for attacks.
BOOOOM!!!!!
But the parted flames surged back, exploding massively and hurling my body away.
Still, as Diablo said, time worked against it too—wounds widening steadily.
But this wasn’t enough to finish it.
Especially its heat.
Just that last hit success was blurring one eye.
Recommend retreat. Further sensory loss is fatal. Comprehensive status of Annihilation Flame Lord Kthuger: Time to natural dissipation is 15 minutes.
Five minutes was kill-or-be-killed for anyone.
Would it perish via Thanatos first, or me burn to death?
Obviously, I wasn’t dying.
What are you hesitating for like a coward? Come at me!!
I drew a short breath at Kthuger’s roar.
Then said,
“Fine. Let’s see what comes out with this much gathered. Even I don’t know anymore.”
I plunged demon sword Electra into the ground like discarding it.
Then clapped my empty palms together.
Despite the firm clap, intangible repulsion halted them.
“I contract.”
I opened my mouth.
"From primordial flames, I grant will a heart."
"Flickering blaze is your will,"
"Scorching heat, your heart's beat."
⟨ Spirit Summon: Sur ⟩
Like verses dedicated to someone.
Between my palms, ultra-high-temperature heat compressed to the extreme, fused with spirit energy.
Using Kthuger’s heat directly would burn even my spirit mana, so no choice.
For Grieve’s summon, I’d twisted the entire land’s spirits.
I couldn’t call pure spirits. Spirit affinity was pure talent.
But if there were twisted ones unlike pure spirits, I could grow with them another way.
Like now.
Your name is Sur.
Your mark is flame.
Your essence is burning passion.
I bestowed name, attribute, essence.
To you: growth as driving force.
From me: heat to burn all.
One will stirred to match my demand.
A twisted spirit that shouldn’t speak or take form.
It devoured massive spirit energy and the violent heat gathered here in an instant, birthing itself on that foundation.