Chapter 160 : Chapter 160

Chapter 160

‘How gloomy.’

The damp, wet walls squirmed as if they were living creatures.

Dark red moss clung to the old stone walls, and water droplets flowing through the cracks fell to the floor, making irregular sounds.

‘…….’

Escardo looked up.

The ceiling was higher than he thought, and the darkness was so thick he couldn't see the end.

Along the walls, rusted weapons and chipped armor were scattered about.

Creak. Creak.

The floor was stained with dried blood and traces of oxidized metal, and an irritating sound echoed intermittently from somewhere.

‘This is no simple dungeon.’

Walking through the darkness, Escardo calmly assessed the situation.

Dungeons could be formed naturally or created artificially, and this was a case of the latter.

Every monster he had encountered so far was a Chimera.

‘If more than three gathered, even a 7-star knight would be hunted down.’

There was a huge difference, both in number and quality, from the one he had met in the Kurt Mountain Range.

‘Do I have to consider the possibility that this one is superior to the one His Majesty defeated?’

Their only chance of winning against an 8-star Arch Lich was because the three 7-star masters were together; it would be troublesome to be separated and defeated one by one like this.

Organizing his thoughts, he quickened his pace.

With each step, the weight of the air felt heavier and heavier.

‘Killian and I are indispensable for the kingdom's war.’

If even one of them was absent, the war against the Empire would be a certain defeat.

‘To think the day would come when I rely on Killian.’

The great cause of Eurasia.

Just a few years ago, Killian was an existence not even mentioned in their plans.

Demian and Paian were growing up splendidly, but they were not yet sufficient as swords for the imminent war with the Empire.

Therefore, all the more.

‘I worked tirelessly to overcome the wall.’

The two pillars of the family, Commander of the Knights Escardo Schtenberg and Annihilation Squad Leader Bastian Constantine.

Simon, regardless of his own growth, crossed swords with them directly.

If Simon reached the 8-star and Bastian reached the 7-star, they planned to officially declare the kingdom and absorb Brussels.

In the midst of that, Eurasia faced two variables.

Simon's Heart Break, which everyone who reaches the 8-star inevitably experiences.

And the death of Bastian Constantine.

Given that a single Superhuman could sometimes create an unexpected miracle, Bastian's death was a painful loss for Eurasia.

However, around that time, the Head Apothecary overcame the wall, and as if following her, Killian stepped into the realm of a Superhuman.

Simon did not delay.

He personally took up his sword, crushed the Empire's support troops, and led the war with Brussels to victory.

In the process, Killian proved he had mastered the 7-star by cutting down Konrad Norton.

‘That child is now an indispensable existence for Eurasia.’

He couldn't afford to waste time here.

“Isn't that right, Your Majesty.”

Escardo stopped walking and stretched his hand along the wall.

When he concentrated mana and waved his hand, a minute vibration was felt from the space.

“This might be worth a try.”

He gripped Escardo Schtenberg's Sword with both hands.

He pictured the technique he had learned from Simon Eurasia in his mind.

A technique that cuts through space.

He had to pour three Shik into a single Ke.

‘At my current class, I can only use it three times a day.’

There was no room to waste strength.

‘I must use it as carefully as possible.’

Carpe.

Red mana dominated a part of the dungeon.

Eurasia Style, Wave.

Eurasia Style, Thunderbolt.

Eurasia Style, Storm.

Mixing the three Shik.

Rumble.

He wreathed his Haki-infused sword in red mana.

Eurasia Style, Sever.

Fwhoosh.

Like a normal slash, Escardo Schtenberg's Sword cut through the air.

As the blade-like mana cut through reality and opened a new path, Haki seeped through the gap and detected mana.

A fleeting moment.

Slice.

Escardo swung his sword once more.

Beyond the space that appeared as the darkness parted, he could see Benzen, covered in minor injuries.

His face was pale, and his whole body was limp as if drained of energy.

“Sir Benzen.”

“Sir Escardo…?”

Benzen couldn't hide his surprise at Escardo's sudden appearance.

“How did you get here…”

“I cut through space and searched for your mana.”

“……!!”

Cutting through space was not as easy as it sounded, even for him, who had mastered the 7-star.

But the man before him was merely assessing the situation with a calm expression.

“Your injuries don't look light.”

“They pressed on without giving me a chance to use a recovery potion.”

Benzen belatedly used healing magic and downed a recovery potion.

“I was planning to search first, but you came first. Thanks to you, I'm alive.”

Benzen said, breathing with difficulty.

He had faced three Chimeras since entering the dungeon.

‘Every single one of them had tenacious life force.’

If Escardo had been even a little late, they would not have met with all their limbs intact.

“If a mere Chimera is this strong… the ruler is at least an 8-star Arch Lich.”

“Yes. We must find Killian.”

His words implied that they couldn't subjugate it on their own.

“I will cut through space once more.”

“But if you do that, your stamina…”

Unable to finish his words under Escardo's gaze, Benzen nodded.

“I understand. I will assist you.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Escardo, having drunk a recovery potion, raised his sword once again.

“Sever.”

Space split along the path of Escardo Schtenberg's Sword.

Red and indigo mana flowed into the gap.

A few seconds passed like that.

“Sir Escardo…!”

Feeling the evil energy leaking from between the parted space, Benzen raised his mana.

“This is…!!”

Ignoring Benzen's reaction, Escardo swung his sword once more.

Between the parted darkness, what appeared was not the person they were looking for, but another being.

Saaaaaa.

A massive evil energy pushed back the red and indigo mana.

A monster wearing a hood was looking at them.

[Did you cut through the barrier? The knights of Eurasia are quite skilled.]

As the robe fluttered, evil energy covered the surroundings.

Escardo and Benzen shrouded their bodies in mana at what could be called the exact same moment.

[Let me introduce myself.]

The Arch Lich revealed its pearly white teeth and continued.

[I am the 8-star Arch Mage, Johannes Schtenberg.]

“……!!”

At the unexpected name, mana wavered around Escardo.

“That man…”

Benzen gritted his teeth and took a step forward.

On the other hand, the Arch Lich, Johannes Schtenberg, was smiling.

That smile was somehow sinister and cunning.

[To think I would obtain such excellent materials here. It's a pleasure.]

Escardo did not answer.

He simply wreathed his sword in red mana and Haki.

Pabat.

Without hesitation, he just rushed toward Johannes.

Benzen's mana followed behind him.

Kwarreung.

His lightning magic was blocked by the evil energy, but.

Kwajik.

Escardo's Escardo Schtenberg's Sword cut through the evil energy and reached the Arch Lich.

[Hmph.]

Just as Johannes, unconcerned about his severed hand, was about to grab Escardo's head.

Fwoosh.

Crackle.

Two spells used by Benzen successively struck Johannes's evil energy.

[You interrupt my amusement with your trivial magic.]

Kwarreureureu.

A wave of evil energy erupted from Johannes.

Shiiiii.

The wave soon took the form of wind and swept over Benzen.

Indigo magic was used in succession, but the evil energy swallowed him whole.

“Cough…”

Benzen, experiencing a reflux, fell to his knees on the floor.

“Benzen!”

Escardo shouted and cut through the evil energy enveloping Benzen.

Johannes sneered and looked at the being who was once his half-brother.

[With this, there's one left.]

At those words, Escardo's gaze sharpened.

‘Don't tell me Killian was also captured.’

If that was true, the odds of winning the battle would drop sharply.

‘Somehow, I have to inflict a fatal wound on him…’

The numerous sword techniques he had learned so far came to mind.

But among them, there was no sword that could easily turn the situation around.

Johannes raised his hand with a grim smile.

[This is the end for you too.]

Escardo resisted the evil energy enveloping the area by shrouding himself in mana and Haki, but.

Saaaaaa.

Soon, grotesque shadows flooded his mind.

‘It's a curse!’

His body stiffened coldly, as if under a curse that interfered with his soul.

[Schtenberg Style. Curse of the Abyss.]

Johannes sneered at Escardo's resistance and continued.

[This is the result of decades of research.]

He said it was his own secret technique, created using the Curse of Grotesquery.

As if mocking Escardo, who was struggling not to lose consciousness, Johannes's evil energy pulled him in.

[Tell me, Escardo Schtenberg.]

All sorts of insults and nightmares followed.

[Why is someone like you called the second-in-command of the kingdom?]

Johannes's voice spread like poison.

Escardo's vision began to blur.

“……!!”

Escardo tried to resist, but.

[You are nothing but an obsolete existence.]

The curse only dragged him deeper into the darkness.

***

“……”

Escardo faced an endlessly deep darkness.

The darkness surrounded him as if to swallow him, and eventually, the ground he stood on collapsed, and he began to fall.

‘What is this…’

The energy felt in the abyss disoriented his mind, but Escardo resisted and held onto his consciousness.

‘Curse of the Abyss. He certainly said that.’

Even in the endlessly falling darkness, Escardo was aware that he was instinctively gripping his sword.

Shaking off the distracting thoughts that dug into his mind, he swung his sword once more.

Eurasia Style, Sever.

Slice.

But what appeared as the space parted was another darkness.

‘Why isn't space splitting?’

At that moment.

“Keuk…!!”

Past memories screamed to the surface of his mind.

The Schtenberg Family.

A family that once wielded power as a central noble of the continent.

That glory did not last long.

The memory of that day, that horrible day, became vivid again.

The family mansion, collapsing one by one in the magical flames.

The family members, disappearing as dew on the execution ground after losing a power struggle.

He was powerless.

The young Escardo, who was only at the 3-star, was too weak to protect his family.

The regret of not being able to protect them.

‘Why… could I not protect them…’

Despair and anger mixed in Escardo's chest.

His consciousness wavered, and his fingertips began to tremble.

‘No… this is… a curse that grows stronger by feeding on pain…’

Even though he knew, he had no proper way to resist the memories that rushed in.

Memories of his wandering days followed.

Back then, he had reached the 4-star by wielding his sword with anger as a medium.

And then he met a man.

“They called you a famous Sword Family of the central continent. To think you’d fall so emptily.”

A man with ash-gray hair.

The face of the man, who looked at most five or six years older than him, was full of arrogance.

“Coincidentally, my family is no different.”

“I don't know who you are. But if you don't want to die, get lost.”

Ignoring his warning, the man smiled and drew his sword.

“Heir of Schtenberg. I shall see for myself the weight your sword carries.”

Simon Eurasia.

It was his first meeting with him, who was wandering the continent for training.