Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: The Colossal Soldier's Second Form
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For a moment, I wasn't sure what I'd just heard.
That emotionless monster of an assassin sacrificed himself for the peace of the continent?
*'I'd sooner believe myself if I said I had no interest in women.'*
But another thought occurred to me.
Would the Head really be gone for so long if it wasn't for something that important?
The only one on the continent who could surpass him now was the Heavenly Emperor, Simeon.
Isn't this the perfect opportunity?
If I were Claude, I would have aggressively expanded my influence.
"Hah! You seem to have no idea."
Azis let out a dry laugh and stared at me.
His gaze seemed to ask if I was truly a direct descendant of Rantzverger.
It didn't matter to me whether he was suspicious or not, so I didn't bother to answer.
I didn't have time for such useless chatter.
Azis seemed to realize this as well, and the small talk came to an abrupt end.
*'This thing is much stronger than the Four-Armed Knight.'*
The colossal soldier was effortlessly fending off the Felton Knight Order's concentrated assault.
It seemed we'd only have a chance of winning if Azis, the Pillar of the Heavens, and I joined the fray.
By the looks of it, Rhys Ganiol would have to lend his strength as well.
KABOOM!
Just as expected, a powerful fire-based explosion spell erupted on the colossal soldier's upper body.
At the same time, Azis shouted with glee to the knights.
"Now! Press the attack!"
He himself swung his greatsword, about to join the front line.
It was only a single Heaven-Severing Explosive Wheel and a magic attack.
But the tide of battle had shifted dramatically.
The Felton Knight Order was gradually sealing the colossal soldier's movements.
At this rate, it seemed we could take it down quickly.
"Don't let your guard down! Prepare for its second form!"
But Azis's subsequent shout made me frown.
"What do you mean, a second form?"
"*Gasp, gasp!* What are you talking about?"
The newly arrived Vice-Commander Rhys asked, panting for breath.
But I couldn't give him a clear answer.
I'd have to know something to say anything.
I spread my hands and muttered nonchalantly.
"I don't know either. Let's just watch."
"Is that really okay?"
"That old man told us to be careful. Gives us a good reason. It's perfect."
"Yes, let's do that. I won't be able to move properly for a while anyway."
Rhys Ganiol certainly looked haggard.
He only cast a single spell. Why is he like this?
*'I have a rough idea.'*
I, too, had felt a considerable strain when I'd unleashed a Wind Blast into the air.
And that was even with the aid of the Demonic Soul.
It was probably because the demonic energy made casting magic itself difficult.
In any case, I hadn't been counting on the Vice-Commander's strength much.
The Island of the Dead was a difficult place for mages to operate in the first place.
*'If I just add my own efforts to the mix, we can definitely win.'*
I assessed the situation optimistically and prepared to join the attack.
The idea of helping those Felton bastards was distasteful, but I had no choice.
If we can't stop it, the continent is screwed. What else could I do?
But just as I was about to move forward.
Charrrrk!
With a sound like metal plates rearranging themselves, the colossal soldier's armor began to change.
It was as if its inside and outside were swapping places.
"Now, strike!"
"Haaap!"
Clang! Craaack!
The Felton Knight Order seized that opening and launched a concentrated assault.
But the result wasn't very good.
The transformation time was unexpectedly short, and the colossal soldier didn't just stand there.
Fwoosh! Kwoooaaaa!
As black flames erupted in all directions, the attacking Felton knights were swept away in an instant.
"Whoa…"
I stopped in my tracks, letting out a low gasp at the overwhelming power.
In fact, it was more accurate to say I couldn't get close.
The black flames looked dangerous to anyone.
—Oh? What's this?
But Alkheim's voice, as if he'd sensed something, echoed in my mind.
"You seem to know something? But I'm not going to ask, so just shut up."
—Aren't you curious?
"Nope. Not curious. So just bite your tongue."
—…
As I cut him off coldly and firmly, Alkheim's voice abruptly stopped.
It seemed he hadn't expected such a reaction.
But it wasn't long before Alkheim started chattering again.
—Hmph! You think I'd listen to you? The true nature of that fire is the Flame of Darkness.
"Obvious. I could tell it had a name like that just by looking at it."
—The origin of the name is what's important. What am I?
"The Dark Spirit King?"
—Then what is that?
"The Dark… huh?"
I was about to answer without thinking, but I tilted my head.
He wouldn't say something like this for no reason.
Frowning, I muttered the hypothesis that came to mind.
"Don't tell me that's spirit energy?"
—Huhu! That's right. It looks like black magic, but its nature is different. Look at the way it branches out at the edges.
As Alkheim said, the flames spewed by the colossal soldier were vastly different in shape from normal fire.
They were much spikier, like black lightning discharging.
I've been through battles on land, on water, in the air... Well, maybe not in the air, but I've lived through a lot.
And I've never seen such a bizarre phenomenon anywhere in the world.
It was definitely not the result of magic.
"But why is spirit energy suddenly showing up?"
—Even I don't know that much.
"Damn it! You were acting all smug over such useless information? You're full of it."
—Hah! To think I'd hear that from you.
"Should have just ignored you. It was a waste of time."
I waved my hand dismissively and started walking.
I felt Calipe rattling at my waist.
It seemed the pissed-off Alkheim was throwing a fit.
Regardless, I focused on the battle.
*'They were pushed back once, but they had already anticipated it.'*
The Felton Knight Order steadily defended against the dark flames as they retreated.
They weren't without casualties, but it was a decent response nonetheless.
Soon, the black flames died down, and the Felton Knight Order's counterattack began.
*'Now's my chance.'*
I, too, began to charge in, matching their pace.
Of course, my direction was completely different.
While they pressured the front, I intended to strike the flank or the rear.
But as I rushed toward the colossal soldier, Azis's movements caught my eye.
He was circling around widely, just like me.
*'We have the same goal.'*
His movements were decisive, suggesting this wasn't his first or second time fighting this thing.
He charged straight in and thrust his greatsword into a gap in the colossal soldier's armor.
Craaack!
But in the next moment.
The unbelievable happened.
As if it had been waiting, the colossal soldier swatted Azis away.
The attack, which had seemed perfectly successful, was futilely deflected.
Swoooosh! Thud!
"Keuk!"
After flying several dozen meters, he crashed into a crater.
It was fortunate that he landed on soft earth.
If he had hit a rock or a tree, his survival would have been uncertain.
"Oh! Y-Young Lord!"
With their commander knocked out, the Felton Knight Order's formation began to crumble.
It happened because a few overly loyal knights broke rank.
*'Tsk, all that training for nothing.'*
Watching them, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
They weren't knights filled with loyalty.
They were just sycophants engaging in excessive protocol to curry favor.
True knights should risk their lives to complete the mission, whether their commander lives or dies.
"They're no different from anyone else, I see."
The Felton Knight Order, who always seemed so united and full of morale.
But today, they seemed no different from any other group of people.
*'This is no time for that.'*
My eyes and mind were assessing the situation, but my body was already moving on its own.
The minuscule opening created when Azis was countered.
My steps were aimed right for it.
The colossal soldier already perceived me as a major threat, but that didn't matter.
*'You can't see me anyway.'*
Ssk.
My Soul Shadow Evasion, which had grown incomparably since I faced the Four-Armed Knight.
Not even a monster from the Dark Continent could detect it.
I hid my presence and waited for the right moment.
Soon, the colossal soldier began to rain attacks on the Felton Knight Order's formation.
*'Now!'*
Seizing the perfect timing, I shot forward like an arrow.
I burst forward, releasing all my pent-up tension.
I precisely thrust the Black Dragon Sword, brimming with grayish-white energy, into a gap in the armor.
But just then.
Flick!
"This is…!"
Was it because I attacked the exact same spot Azis had targeted?
The colossal soldier instinctively twisted its body and swung a short sword.
It was only a dagger in proportion to its body; in reality, the weapon was quite large.
Almost the size of Azis's greatsword, perhaps?
Such a blade rushing toward me from so close was incredibly threatening.
Since I was already charging the colossal soldier, there was no way to dodge.
*'But I'm different from him.'*
I was in the middle of an attack anyway.
By slightly altering my trajectory, I could strike the opponent's weapon.
Without any significant loss of power.
"Hup!"
With a short cry, I thrust the Black Dragon Sword forward.
Heaven-Severing Supreme Hegemony.
Swish!
With a sound so faint it was nearly inaudible, the tips of our swords met.
I had struck a single, minuscule point with perfect precision.
In that very instant.
Silence fell upon the battlefield.
As if time itself had stopped, the colossal soldier and I froze in place.
Of course, it was only for a moment.
Crack! Crunch!
With a grinding sound, it was the colossal soldier's dagger that shattered.
The Black Dragon Sword pushed forward powerfully, like a salmon swimming upstream.
It wasn't enough to destroy the greatsword-like dagger; it continued on, shredding the massive forearm.
Fwoooosh!
For a moment, the dark flames flared threateningly, but they didn't touch me.
How could they have any effect when the very body spewing them was disintegrating into dust?
Flash—! K-chang!
After piercing the forearm, the Heaven-Severing Supreme Hegemony tore through the breastplate and burst out the other side.
Psssss! Thud!
Soon, the colossal soldier's body rapidly disintegrated and collapsed to the ground.
*'Even Heaven-Severing Supreme Hegemony is difficult.'*
The demonic energy seemed to adversely affect the deployment of aura as well.
It wasn't as bad as for mages, but I felt a considerable strain performing my sword arts.
If I had come here before reaching a mature second tier, I would have been in big trouble.
"H-He took down the colossal soldier almost by himself!"
"Didn't they say he was the fourth son of Rantzverger? How is he stronger than the Young Lord…?"
"Watch your mouth. Didn't the Young Lord sacrifice himself to create that opportunity?"
"Ahem!"
The members of the Felton Knight Order seemed quite shocked.
It was as if they'd never seen anyone defeat a colossal soldier so overwhelmingly.
It was true, as they said, that Azis had created an opportunity.
The opening had widened a bit thanks to him.
But you couldn't exactly call it a decisive sacrifice.
*'Mental victories are free, I suppose. Let them think what they want.'*
In any case, I wasn't interested in praise from those damn enemies.
I turned away indifferently and walked toward the crater, facing Azis, who had just climbed out.
"Why don't we continue our earlier conversation?"