[EP.92] The Dark Lord, Agares
Beneath the black sky.
The Sky-Piercing Knight Order was running with tensed expressions.
Agares was an opponent they had to fight against, even risking death.
Though their primary goal was to buy ti, they needed to hold out for at least two days, hence the tension.
Of course, Kraush at the forefront had no intention of just buying ti.
‘It’s about ti.’
He was solely focused on defeating their foe.
“Kraush, what do you know about Agares?”
Confident that they could stand against Agares, Kraush responded to Lilish’s question.
“The mont the black sky began to appear, it also started to see us.”
The black sky was Agares’s eyes.
Underneath this black sky, the erosion species possess different powers.
Due to the effect of entering Agares’s domain, their size increases twofold, and their inherent demonic traits are strengthened.
“Also, we must avoid direct eye contact with it. If caught, we’ll start with visual impairnt followed by a chain of curses.”
“You’re well inford.”
Lilish nodded slightly.
“Agares is a troubleso erosion species due to its inherent curse traits. This is the biggest reason I specifically brought you along.”
Lilish’s rational judgnt was correct.
If Kraush hadn’t explicitly ntioned the curse, she might have considered it re bravado and not brought him along.
Kraush knew this aspect of Lilish’s personality well, which is why he brought it up.
“Yes, I can nullify that curse.”
“…It’s not dangerous, is it?”
While it felt odd to be worried by Lilish, Kraush shrugged.
Sorry, but when it cos to world erosion, Kraush was more of an expert than even Lilish at this point.
The current state of world erosion was still sothing humans could confront.
“Then, what are our chances of defeating Agares if you nullify the curse?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
As Kraush confidently stated, Lilish slowly smiled.
“Pretty high.”
Yes, indeed. Assuming everyone survives, it’s a fifty-fifty chance.
However, Kraush didn’t go further. He figured Lilish would call it a fantasy.
“But as we agreed initially, we’ll focus on buying ti.”
Kraush didn’t disagree.
He just knew naturally Lilish would also gravitate towards dealing with Agares.
“Lilish.”
At that mont, Darvian, who was running alongside, spoke up because darkness had appeared in front of them.
The sa blackness that covered the sky was now spread out before them.
Lilish stopped running.
Continuing to run would be aningless at this point.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
At Lilish’s command, the knights drew their weapons, exhaling the breath they’d been holding from the run and steeling their expressions.
“Here it cos.”
The mont Lilish spoke,
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The ground vibrated as if an earthquake was underway.
Simultaneously, nurous presences were felt erging from the darkness.
“Focus solely on reducing the numbers of the erosion species under the black sky!”
With the knights’ spirited response, erosion species poured out from the darkness.
Their appearances varied greatly.
However, they shared one thing in common – eyes where eyes should not be, each sporting dozens of crimson eyes, and they were all stronger than before.
At least beyond what a peak expert could handle.
This was Agares’s sovereign command.
And dealing with them was paramount to bringing down Agares.
‘Each eyeball attached creature amplifies Agares’s power.’
Thus, those turned by Agares must be defeated.
The Green Wave Knight Order would take on this task once Agares fully erged.
They were brought for this very reason.
With Agares yet to appear, Kraush positioned himself, Rain Thunder Pri at his waist, and prepared.
The mont he inhaled shortly, the Annihilation Erosion inside him ignited.
His body ward naturally.
Warm heat slowly escaped his mouth.
Simultaneously, Kraush sprinkled black flas over the golden blade aura of Rain Thunder Pri.
Lioner morphed into a sword sheath.
The opening attack was set.
Intent on striking hard since they had to fight anyway.
Crack!
The black flas within the lightning sheath blazed more fiercely.
When the black flas reached their peak and the sheath of lightning roared, Kraush released the suppressed black flas.
Annihilation Erosion
First Form
Sky Annihilating Draw
Boom!
The released black flas engulfed the area.
Erosion species charging towards the black flas were all incinerated.
Those in the back row, though spared from the direct radius of Sky Annihilating Draw, suffered as the spreading black flas aggressively burned their bodies.
The black flas, born from Ignis, proved exceptionally effective in burning world erosion.
Surviving erosion species scread and rolled on the ground.
The knights looked at Kraush, who stood amid the eroded creatures, in awe.
None among them could execute such a high-power strike.
Knights prioritize stability, and none would learn an attack that risks their body like Kraush’s.
Such disregard for safety etched the mont in their minds.
Kraush Balheim.
It confird he was a direct descendant of Balheim.
“What are you doing? Snap out of it! More are coming!”
Lilish’s reprimand jolted them back to reality, shaken by Kraush’s Sky Annihilating Draw.
The knights quickly returned to the fray as new erosion species erged.
Despite killing so many with the first attack, the sheer number present was overwhelming.
Reducing Agares’s power by exterminating all erosion species seed impossible.
“Kraush, making a big move, I see.”
Lilish, unsurprised by Kraush’s actions, comnted.
She had witnessed him defeating Harphas.
Hence, she sowhat understood his combat style.
But understanding it and witnessing it firsthand were different matters.
‘An extre high-output attack.’
She wanted to stop Kraush.
His techniques seed reckless, not considering the future, as if there’s no tomorrow without giving his all today.
For now, it’s fine.
Kraush is young, with many days ahead.
However, the aftermath of today will scar the future.
‘Does he realize that?’
While slicing through an erosion species, Lilish glanced at Kraush.
Seeing him move through the erosion species was alarmingly precarious to Lilish.
‘…Is this also a result of being born into Balheim?’
Was Kraush’s desperate craving for power solely because of Balheim?
Lilish felt it wasn’t just that weighting down on his shoulders.
‘When we return.’
I’ll ask him.
Though she had neglected him to the point of not being able to call herself a sister,
Now was the ti to speak as his sister.
Doing nothing ans nothing changes, a realization she too had co to.
＊ ＊ ＊
Hours into fighting the erosion species.
The numbers seed to decrease, then increase again, endlessly.
Thump!
The darkness trembled significantly for the first ti.
Simultaneously, the stationary darkness expanded, enveloping the knight order.
“Green Wave Knight Commander! From now on, retreat while engaging the erosion species erging from the outside!”
Following Lilish’s command, Green Wave knights hastily stopped fighting and started running outside the darkness’s domain.
There’s no chance of winning inside Agares’s darkness.
The darkness is like black rainwater.
Being inside slowly lets the curse within the darkness seep in, leading to destruction.
“Kraush.”
Lilish turned to Kraush.
Surviving within the darkness requires at least a master-level strength.
Kraush is at the peak of expert level.
So, Lilish inquired out of concern.
“It’s okay. You know what my skill is.”
Kraush reassured her, asking not to worry.
Ignis burns world erosion itself.
If the curse tries to infiltrate, burning it off is enough.
Of course, this requires continuously burning the interior with Ignis, a downside.
But Kraush didn’t mind.
He was already doing so.
‘If Belorkin had done the sa back then.’
He wouldn’t have been cursed by the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
Kraush briefly scowled, recalling Belorkin.
He was too afraid to burn his body, ultimately eting his fate.
[I’m going as far as here.]
Seeing the approaching darkness, Crimson Garden spoke.
Kraush nodded, aware even Crimson Garden’s crow couldn’t withstand Agares’s darkness.
“Just hang around and enjoy the scenery. I’ll be back soon.”
Kraush joked, and Crimson Garden sighed heavily.
[I should’ve made one of the knights my species.]
“Worried about ?”
[Worried my foot, I was curious about what foolish thing you’d do.]
Though Crimson’s attitude towards him seed increasingly harsh, Kraush didn’t mind, feeling her concern.
[Co back safely.]
As Crimson flew away, Kraush, along with the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, was engulfed in darkness.
Within the pitch-black darkness.
Kraush, with the burning Annihilation Erosion, slowly surveyed his surroundings.
Light and sound vanished.
The darkness consud everything.
All senses distort within this darkness, eventually leading to the vague question of whether one truly exists here and if one is alive.
Another curse of Agares’s darkness is the effect of oblivion.
People crumble within the oblivion of darkness, forgetting even to breathe and make their heart beat.
Of course, this was irrelevant to Kraush.
Any incoming dark curse was instantly burned away.
The sa was true for other knights.
Using aura, they protected themselves from the curse within the darkness.
Though their aura continued to deplete, master-level knights had no trouble moving, except for restricted visibility.
[Kraush, can you hear ?]
At that mont, a voice resonated in Kraush’s mind.
It was Darvian Fenox, the vice-captain of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, utilizing his skill, Wicalis.
A skill that allows sharing one’s will with a designated group, even enabling sensory sharing, very useful for knight order operations.
[I’ll share our senses.]
With his sensory sharing, the locations of other Sky-Piercing knights beco perceptible.
Thus, the Sky-Piercing Knight Order dared to enter the darkness without hesitation.
After a brief tingling sensation in his head, sensory sharing began, and Kraush could sense the positions of all knight order mbers without his sixth sense.
Indeed, in this aspect, the skill was undeniably useful.
‘It’s tempting, but.’
Not worth taking.
Taking everything that cos his way would reduce the talent pool, rendering the world unable to resist erosion in his absence.
He declined such an option.
“Kraush, can you hear ?”
“Yes, loud and clear.”
Then, Lilish, ahead, called out to Kraush.
The Sky-Piercing Knight Order was familiar with sensory sharing, but it was new to Kraush, so they accommodated him.
“Alright, in 10 minutes, Agares will arrive here.”
Fast.
Though Kraush didn’t know Agares’s exact motive for advancing, a collision seed inevitable.
“Once we engage in battle, firmly locking Agares’s gaze is necessary to buy ti afterward. We’re not fully aware of your power level. Can we entrust all personal judgnt to you?”
A sound judgnt.
Trying to force Kraush to fit into the Sky-Piercing Knight Order’s coordination would only cause friction since they haven’t trained together.
“Yes.”
So, Lilish granted Kraush the freedom to act independently.
Hearing Kraush’s response, Lilish raised her sword.
The blue aura that flowed along her sword blazed intensely enough to repel the darkness, serving as a guide for the knight order.
“Everyone, ready for battle.”
Once more, Lilish shouted, and red eyes began to appear over the surrounding darkness.
Screech!
A bizarre, screeching sound filled the air as sothing began to fall, and a figure approached from the distant darkness.
The face obscured by the black darkness wasn’t visible, but the horns protruding from the head identified the figure as a demon.
Furthermore, the long arms stretching from between the blood-red cloak were far from human.
As the figure walked, darkness dripped like ink.
Shivers ran down Kraush’s arms at just the sight, and he chuckled nervously.
Red eyes erged over the figure’s black body.
With that, the surrounding darkness transford into tangible blades, pouring down.
The 8-star erosion species, Agares.
The arrival of the Dark Lord.
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