Chapter 121.1: , The Mirage King (8)

Chills ran down my spine and I blacked out for a moment. That single blow was just like God's judgment. The released enormous light passed right by me. Its destination was — the floor. Or to be more precise, it was the direction where the power of death was abundant. The concentrated light silently pierced through the sturdy stone pavement and evaporated it.

It was undoubtedly the strongest attack I had seen from Senri until now. The light made a deep crack in the floor. It probably penetrated all the way to the underground Labyrinth. That cross-section was so smooth, it was hard to imagine how much blessing had to be converted to cause this kind of destruction.

Even powerful combat magic wouldn't be able to do this. It didn't even graze me, but my body is a little numb from the aftershock. If it was me when I had just become Lesser Vampire, I might have suffered great injuries just from the aftermath alone. Even now, when I have accumulated enough power to rival the Demon Kings, it would be hard to withstand a direct hit upfront.

The old castle vibrated significantly louder. Cracks ran around the traces of destruction and spread in the blink of an eye. I hurriedly controlled my power, as my legs were on the verge of being dragged in.

The sensation of my bones and my flesh shrinking is unique no matter how many times I experience it. Pain is making my vision blink, but I can't afford to worry about how I look.

I somehow managed to return to my original form. The world becomes wider at once. I stretch my hand and put my body out of destruction's way.

Ignore the pain. The battle isn't over yet. First.., I recover my balance.

The ceiling fell and the floor, the thick walls collapsed, swallowed by the cracks in the ground. It's true that the destructive power of Senri's Photon Delete was tremendous, but this amount of destruction from a single attack is abnormal. Did she perhaps destroy the foundation? Was it already at its limit due to aging? Or perhaps it was made that way in the first place?

But I don't have time to think. I shout at Senri, who's supported by Lufry and Neville at the entrance and somehow enduring the shaking.

"Senri, run away! I'll be fine!"

"Kh... got it."

I still have blood power remaining. I won't die even if my head is crushed. I don't care what happens to Lufry and Neville, but Mister Lazar's group should be here too.

Besides, the enemy — is still here.

Avicord stood dumbfounded. The body press must have certainly hit him, but neither itch nor pain showed up on his expression. His consciousness was no longer focused on his surroundings. Only his eyes, glowing with a blood-like crimson light, were silently staring at the target of Senri's attack.

I caught Blood Ruler that came flying at me. I left it in the basement, but it looks like Senri retrieved it for me. The Lich was a terrifying opponent. He should have been a good matchup for me, but I couldn't kill him. Because of the difference in our techniques and the experience.

But, I'll kill him here. I won't leave any roots of evil. My body has reached its limit a long time ago. Once I collapse, I don't have the confidence to get back up. I sharpen my concentration, my killing intent. A huge piece of rubble falls between me and the Lich.

I step inside with all my might and swing 'Blood Ruler' widely.

☠☠☠

The ceiling and the walls collapse. The old castle, that maintained its shape even after many years had passed from the warring era, broke down.

The scenery, reminiscent of the end of the world, ended very shortly.

The materials making up the castle were swallowed underground, only the hill made from piled up rubble remaining.

The ruins of the castle completely collapsed. A huge piece of debris stirred and Avicord crawled outside. After checking the surroundings dumbfounded, he staggeringly got up. The crimson light, lit inside his eye sockets, flickered with agitation.

Necromancy gave immortal bodies to the dead. After bumping into the collapsed rubble, his outfit was torn, he lost his cane and -- his right hand with it too.

The Vampire had attacked him in the act of desperation just before the destruction. That single attack had penetrated through Avicord's magic defense and destroyed his right hand from his shoulder down. But, that wasn't the reason for his agitation.

"Im... possible."

It was a blow of light comparable to the one unleashed by the Order of Death Knights he had fought against in the past. His countermeasures were perfect. The core of the ritual was protected by the many layers of the protective barriers that his King set up.

But that single strike easily swallowed them all, blowing them away.

The ritual had already started. If he had a few more minutes - his King would've been resurrected. Black dust danced in the air. The castle of the King was the site of the ritual. Its destruction meant that fulfilling his objective had become impossible.

"Im, possible. Why... why is, a vampire, siding, with humans?!"

The Lich's magic was powerful. If his opponents were humans, even if they were the Order of Death Knights, he would undoubtedly be able to stop them. If only that vampire, able to completely nullify all of Avicord's magic, wasn't here ――

"Undead, it's your loss."

"Kh..."

Hearing the voice, Avicord finally realized that he was surrounded.

Energy made of light - Three Death Knights were surrounding Avicord, warily pointing the tips of their holy silver weapons at him.

One person with a strong power and two lower-ranking knights. If the attack from a while ago was from these three, the techniques must have improved significantly due to the change of the era. He was so preoccupied with hiding himself and resurrecting his King that he had neglected to investigate his enemies.

"Damn, you... Death Knight..."

He felt his emotions that had been diluted after becoming the undead, awaken.

This was - anger. When the Order of Death Knights had invaded the castle in the past, Avicord was ordered to be on standby, not allowed to join the battle. However, if back then, he had been allowed to fight along with his comrades, he would have felt the same simmering rage that he was feeling now.

The mission given to Avicord was the completion of the ritual. Now that it had been obstructed, there was nothing else he could do.

He had three opponents. They were hateful, but their power was genuine. He understood that his long years of sleep had given new powers to the Order of Death Knights. But withdrawing now would be unforgivable for the subordinate of the Mirage King.

He would destroy them. Even if he had to sacrifice himself for it. Otherwise, he would be unable to face his King, who had believed in him and had given him such an important mission.

He raised his hand, making the mana flowing inside him explode.

He had lost his arm and his staff, but for Avicord, who had obtained powerful mana by transcending death, any Death Knight was, after all, just a human. He could deal with humans sufficiently even without the magic that needed the staff.

"This power is—"

The mean-looking knight with a mace took a step back. But it was too late. Avicord had long since learned the weaknesses of the men. He would turn all the surroundings into the land of death.

Would the Death Knights of this era be able to block this?

"'Photon Delete'"

The female death knight, with an exceptionally powerful aura, released the light. But that attack was very weak compared to the one just a while ago. It was stored too. It must've meant that the attack from before would be hard to shoot in rapid succession.

That was the limit of human species.

He evaded the released ray of light by moving leisurely. The expression of the female knight distorted.

And the moment he tried to release his power, a nostalgic voice reached Avicord's ears.