Chapter 99
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Encounter (3)
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5.
-It's merely a fragment. Definitely not the main body.
I know that. But is whether it's the main body or not really the problem right now?
-It makes a huge difference. If it were you now, meeting that things main body would have surely driven you mad. And then you would have died, right?
No, thats not what I mean!
Craaaaaaaash!
The tall spire crumbled with far too much ease.
Fragment or not, were about to die right now, arent we?
It had all happened in just three seconds.
A horrifying sword aura flowed from the purple greatsword wielded by the Demon King, and that aura sliced the massive tower in one clean strike.
As a result, Karron was now plummeting helplessly.
The ground was rushing up to meet him with every passing moment.
Whoooooosh!
But a high-level wind spirit, swiftly summoned by Orion, gently embraced Karrons body.
Thud.
Landing lightly on the ground, Karron turned his head slightly to look at the remains of the spire.
The cross-section was cut perfectly in two.
If his body had been touched by that sword aura, it was obvious it would have been sliced in two as well.
Are you alright, Karron Leston?
Orion, who had landed on the ground after Karron, asked him. Karron wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and nodded.
Its bearable. You?
...I am fine.
Orion surveyed the battlefield with a complicated expression.
The elves he had led were tearing each other apart.
Gripped by the Authority of Slaughter, they burned with a bottomless hatred, craving each others flesh.
This place was hell.
Watching his kin, consumed by killing intent, made his hands tremble uncontrollably.
But Orion looked at Karron with as calm an expression as he could muster.
Whats the plan?
He had to resolve this situation, no matter what.
He couldn't give up on those who had trusted him and followed him this far.
Tell me the plan. I will do my utmost to help.
Karron slowly nodded at Orions words.
He didn't need a long speech to understand his sincerity.
Theres good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?
...The good news.
Youre an optimist, huh? Alright, first, that thing is a fragment of the Demon King. And its state is unstable... If we hold out, it will disappear on its own. In about 20 minutes?
This was information directly from Guillotine.
An incomplete summoning.
And not even the main body, but a mere fragment.
-Slaughter used up all the mana that was being used for the Chaos Gate.
If they could endure, they would win.
That much was certain.
Then whats the bad news?
At Orions question, Karron answered with a bitter smile.
That itll be tough for us to last 20 minutes.
I agree.
Whats Ifrits condition?
The greatest power they could mobilize right now was, of course, the King of Fire Spirits, Ifrit.
His power was essential to subdue the fragment of the Demon King.
Orion looked at Ifrit, still bound by the chains, and replied.
The chains have weakened considerably. Five minutes. In five minutes, he will be free from his restraints.
With the Demon King of Slaughter descending to the ground himself, the chains connected to the eye had weakened significantly.
It meant that he had even drawn upon the black mana maintaining the chains.
Good. So the situation improves if we can hold out for five minutes.
Karron readjusted his grip on Guillotine and nodded.
But just then.
Uwooooooooh!
Utulla, corroded by the Authority of Slaughter, let out a monstrous roar and charged at Karron.
Utulla, well over three meters tall, swung his axe down at Karron.
Craaaaash!
Karron skillfully dodged Utullas axe. And just as he was about to counterattack.
Claaaaang!
This time, Rions sword came flying from behind.
Die.
His comrades.
His comrades, corroded by killing intent, were brandishing their weapons at Karron.
Utullas axe and Rions sword pressed in relentlessly.
Karrons face twisted as he parried their attacks.
But something was strange.
...One of them is missing.
There were three comrades in total.
Leo.
Leo was nowhere to be seen.
Just as Karron was about to glance around.
Claaaaang!
Leo appeared from behind, parrying Rions sword with a trembling arm.
...This feels fucking awful.
What the.
Unlike Utulla and Rion, who were consumed by killing intent, Leos condition seemed relatively stable.
Of course, that didnt mean he was normal.
Seeing Leos right eye bloodshot and red, it seemed he wasn't completely unaffected.
Hurry up... and tell me. What do I need to do?
How did you endure it?
I feel like Im going to lose it any second, so hurry!
This wasnt a level of killing intent Leo should have been able to withstand, yet he was holding on.
Karron was dying to ask him how, but the situation didn't allow it.
So Karron immediately gave Leo his instructions.
I just need to give them a little stab each, so, Bro, get Utullas attention. Itll be over in a second.
...Ill try.
Leo nodded with a grim expression, then immediately gathered his mana and charged at Utulla.
That created an opening.
Karron turned his head to face Rion again.
Di...e.
Looking closely, it seemed Rions mind wasn't completely corroded either.
She was still hesitating to swing her sword at Karron.
Karron looked at her and said.
Rion, you know this isn't personal, right?
Wooooong!
An azure light gathered at the tip of Guillotine.
Lightly drawing out his aura, Karron gave Rion a bitter smile.
Still, this is better than being consumed by killing intent, isn't it? Rion? Please understand. Ill make it quick for you.
He was reluctant to plunge his sword into Rions body, but Karron had no choice but to raise his weapon.
And he muttered quietly.
This will sting a little.
Karron immediately charged toward Rion.
6.
After the renowned physician's treatment, Rion and Utulla's conditions improved astonishingly.
My apologies, Karron.
I am ashamed.
Utulla and Rion said, each with a stab wound in their thigh.
Karron waved his hand as if to say it was nothing.
You were both weak, so it was fine.
At his words, the two fell silent and just stared at Karron.
Karron casually ignored their stares and spoke to Leo.
You need a stab too, Bro.
Im fine...
Stab.
Guuuhk.
Guillotine lightly pierced Leos thigh.
The killing intent that had been spreading in Leos right eye quickly subsided, and just like that, all his comrades returned to normal.
Karron let out a light breath and turned around.
There was no time to explain everything to his comrades one by one.
I wont talk long, so listen carefully.
Slaughter was watching them with his arms crossed.
He looked relaxed, as if daring them to try their futile struggles.
Twenty minutes... ah, two minutes have passed, so eighteen minutes. We hold out for just eighteen minutes.
There was no need to force a takedown.
Although, just holding out would be difficult enough.
Got it?
At his words, his comrades nodded with grim expressions.
Lets go.
Karron ran at the very front.
Wooooong!
Azure Mana began to rage around Karrons entire body like a tidal wave.
His comrades followed close behind him without hesitation.
The situation was even worse than before.
Not only the rampaging monsters, but also the elves corroded by killing intent blocked their path.
Just run, Karron Leston.
Orion cleared a path for Karrons party from behind.
The fire spirits he summoned formed a wall on either side of Karrons group.
The wall of fire protected the path leading to Slaughter.
At the end of that path, Slaughter waited, still with his arms crossed.
In your past life, and in this one. Watching you struggle is always an amusing affair.
Slaughters voice echoed in his ears.
And a moment later.
Swoooosh.
Dozens of weapons materialized behind him.
The weapons, formed of pure black mana, flew toward Karrons party.
Slaughters weapons moved as if they were alive, tracing unpredictable trajectories.
The paths drawn by the dozens of weapons were dizzying.
But Karron was not deceived by their dazzling movements.
Ultimately, the destination of those weapons was their necks.
Therefore, the way to block them was clear.
Intercept them all the moment they got close.
Ruuuuuumble!
Six whirlpools instantly erupted from the ground.
Thanks to the Lich, his mana was already filled to the brim.
Karron used that mana without restraint.
Ruuuuuumble!
Rion followed Karrons lead, creating three whirlpools of her own. Not to be outdone, Leo also drew upon all his remaining mana.
A calm sea spread beneath the whirlpools, and this time, Utulla let out a roar and threw his axe.
Booooooom!
Utullas axe, imbued with his red fighting spirit, collided with a purple axe, creating a massive explosion.
That was the beginning.
Craaaaaaaash!
Slaughters weapons, upon touching the whirlpools, began to explode ceaselessly.
A purple storm raged.
The storm relentlessly tore at the bodies of Karron and his party.
A warriors spirit does not break before a storm!
Utulla moved to the forefront of the storm. He endured all the blade-like winds with his sturdy body.
Dozens of wounds were instantly carved onto Utullas tough skin.
But the giant pushed through the storm of blades without so much as a groan.
A splendid killing intent.
Slaughter summoned dozens more weapons and immediately unleashed another attack on Karrons party.
Karron narrowed his eyes, calculating the distance between himself and Slaughter.
Fifty paces.
A distance he could close in an instant if he went all out.
Fwoooosh!
Dozens of waves shot out from Guillotine.
Just as the Imperial Sword Styles Moonlight hid its user behind the moonlight, Karron hid his body behind the waves and surged toward Slaughter.
In one second.
Wooooooong!
Karron thrust Guillotine toward Slaughters chest.
Just as the aura blooming from the swords tip was about to dig into Slaughters body.
Every weapon in this world exists to kill someone. Therefore, they are rightfully mine.
Shluk!
A purple spear materialized from thin air and pierced Karrons arm.
Karrons body froze like a statue.
It felt as if time had stopped.
But in that frozen time, Slaughter alone was free.
Creeak.
An unknown dissonance began to echo from his body.
Slaughter slowly gripped Karrons chin with his right hand.
Purple smoke flowed from his fingertips.
Offer your hatred to me, and I shall grant your wish.
His voice churned through his mind.
The deep enmity he had barely suppressed reared its head once more.
Poison.
A formless poison flowed through his veins. The poison relentlessly dredged up the memories Karron had buried.
Embrace that pure killing intent. Be true to your desires.
Karron glared down at Slaughter with bloodshot eyes.
His eyes were already red, consumed by killing intent.
...Desires?
He said with a smirk.
Right, this is my desire.
Stab.
Guillotine pierced through Slaughters chest.
.
Slaughter quietly looked down at the sword that had pierced him.
Then he spoke in a flat voice.
Then, die.
Another violet spear flew toward Karron.