Chapter 162 : Chapter 162

Chapter 162

The capital city of Brussels, now a battlefield, had been turned to ruins.

An aura of the dead lingered around the burning walls and collapsed towers.

The Knight Orders of Eurasia were annihilated facing the Empire's Royal Knight Order, and the Annihilation Squad could not withstand the onslaught of the feudal lords' Superhumans.

Simon Eurasia was the last Superhuman remaining on the battlefield.

The one standing before him.

The overwhelming Haki emitted by Emperor Pergius Heinrich pressed down on Simon.

The emperor, clad in black armor, slowly approached with his sword drawn.

There was no hesitation in his steps, and his gaze upon Simon was icy.

“Simon Eurasia.”

Pergius spoke in a low voice.

His thunderous voice, laden with Haki, echoed across the battlefield.

Simon did not answer.

Instead, he calmly raised the sword he was holding.

Tetillon.

The sword that had led Eurasia to victory on countless battlefields.

But not now.

At that moment, Pergius moved first.

A wave of mana spread from the sword he swung.

“Keuk…”

Simon's ashen mana, which had offset the impact with Haki, wavered unsteadily.

Enduring the shock, Simon swung his sword.

For a moment, the ashen mana and the jet-black mana vied for supremacy.

Kwajik.

The jet-black mana was seen effortlessly devouring the ashen mana.

“It seems this is the end for the hero of Eurasia.”

Kwang.

Simon's Tetillon, having closed the distance, clashed with Pergius's sword.

It wasn't the sound of blades clashing, but the sound of mana exploding that echoed out.

In a single strike, Simon's defense was broken, and the emperor's sword cut through his armor.

“Keuk…!”

Simon retreated, vomiting blood.

He tried to raise his sword again, but.

Rumble.

The class emitted by the emperor shook the earth with every step he took.

“It is over.”

Rumble.

The Haki carried in his voice pressed down on Simon.

“You have already lost.”

One of Simon's knees buckled.

He tried to get up, but even that was not easy.

He could only.

“Eurasia… is not over.”

He whispered softly, looking up at the emperor.

The emperor, smiling coldly, raised his sword.

“An 8-star knight can never defeat a 9-star knight.”

The emperor's sword aimed for Simon's chest.

And with the sound of metal piercing a body.

Tuk.

Simon's last breath was cut off.

And at that moment, on another part of the battlefield.

Escardo was watching it all unfold.

***

“Your Majesty!!”

Escardo, who had been watching, cried out.

His world collapsed.

From the darkness of the collapsing world, new memories rushed in.

All of them were memories of Eurasia, of Simon Eurasia, the strongest knight, meeting his end.

The scenes were so vivid that he couldn't control his emotions, to the point of a reflux occurring.

With each replay of the memory, his body sank deeper.

When it became difficult to breathe just by staying still.

A new memory surfaced in his mind.

A single knight was dying.

His silver hair, the symbol of the Eurasia royalty, was stained red, and his strong hands were stained pitch black.

The mysteriously shaped sword he was holding trembled.

The dying master of the sword vomited blood, and remnants of his internal organs mixed with the blood flowing down the blade.

Chiiiiik.

Smoke rose from the blood-soaked blade.

As if his mana circuits were broken, the knight could not neutralize the poison he was afflicted with.

He could only vomit more blood a few more times.

White mana emanated from the blade.

The knight giggled, his body shaking.

“I’m going to die anyway.”

He was certain of his own death.

“At this rate, all three curses will be passed on. I just need to take the curses with me.”

The knight, muttering something, used his sword to laboriously pull himself up.

Evil energy imbued with Radiance gathered around the knight and the sword he held.

Soon, the knight who had lost consciousness drooped his head, and the evil energy that had not been absorbed flowed into the sword.

An incomprehensible memory.

But it was enough to let a ray of light seep into Escardo's submerged mind.

‘The ancestors of Eurasia… Was this the final battle between Edan Eurasia and the Grotesquery?’

Just like Simon's death, it was a miserable end.

At that moment, another memory mingled in.

A child whose hair had not yet grown was smiling in his father's arms.

“She is her child.”

Simon's expression was dark as he said this.

“The Saintess is…”

“……”

Simon shook his head without another word.

That alone seemed to convey the emotions the man named Simon Eurasia was enduring.

“Is this child worthy of replacing her?”

“He is just a newborn.”

“What am I trying to become to go this far…”

It was a rare sight of weakness.

“What's done is done. If the Saintess chose this, there must be a reason.”

“……”

“Let us return to the family. Things will get complicated if you cannot explain properly to the Matriarchs.”

“Escardo.”

“Who knows. Perhaps this child will be born with Divine Power surpassing the Saintess.”

Simon's eyes wavered slightly.

“Let's go back, brother.”

The jumbled memories flowed in randomly.

“You have been negligent in your training. I told you that since your talent is lacking, you must put in twice the effort.”

“S-Sir Escardo…”

Killian Eurasia.

The Fourth Young Master of the family lowered his gaze.

He looked so frail that one couldn't imagine he was a child of a Sword Family.

Escardo let out a sigh without realizing it.

“Killian, if you continue like this, you will be ostracized from the family.”

“U-Uncle…”

“Before I am your uncle, I am the Commander of the Knights of the family.”

The family was pressing forward for its great cause, and all his brothers were striving to do their part.

If there was one who was not, it would be the child before him.

“I cannot protect you forever.”

Fear appeared in Killian's eyes.

“Raise your sword. The knights of Eurasia speak with their swords.”

Killian, who reluctantly raised his sword, trembled.

Escardo, hiding his disappointment behind a stern face, continued the instruction.

The flowing memory was overwritten with a new one.

“What were you doing?”

Escardo asked in a cold voice.

“I was meditating. There’s nothing better for understanding the body's condition.”

“It seems you have misunderstood my words. Do you know what those impurities mean?”

Killian, who had not yet forged a Mana Heart, looked at him.

“Impurities are factors that decrease mana sensitivity and are toxins in the body that must be expelled first to create a Mana Heart. Naturally, I was in the preparatory stages of creating a Mana Heart.”

The silver eyes that looked at him were firm and full of conviction.

“Right. You too are one who inherited the blood of the family head.”

The corners of Escardo's mouth went up.

“Congratulations on stepping onto the path of the sword.”

The overwritten memory.

Soon brought forth a new memory.

“Humans are not toys.”

A single human rebelled against the transcendent beings.

[You insignificant mutant.]

The human was strong, but could not withstand the Authorities of the transcendent beings that poured down like a barrage.

“Detestable bastards.”

The human, defeated and facing death, roared.

“I will tear you all to shreds without leaving a single one behind!”

“Gasp…!!”

Escardo gasped for breath, his body trembling.

His body, which had seemed to be sinking into darkness, had stopped.

His consciousness had completely returned.

‘Why…’

He didn't know the reason.

He was just filled with the thought that he must not miss the fleeting opportunity when the encroaching curse had dissipated.

He steadied his breath.

‘To cut the curse, I must reach the 8-star.’

He was a knight close to the 8-star, but he was not an 8-star.

Nevertheless.

‘I must cut it, no matter what.’

He recalled the sword from the moment he was burning with vengeance.

Recalling the numerous battles he had fought with Simon, he retraced the path of the sword that he had shown and that he himself had followed.

“Escardo, my friend. Why do you not know that the 8-star is not so far from you either.”

His body must be more battered than before, yet strength surged within him.

“I will not stop here.”

Escardo Schtenberg's Sword.

What he held in his hand was a sword gifted by Simon Eurasia.

It was a sword that had cut down countless enemies and brought him victory.

“I have no intention of letting a false memory become reality.”

Escardo, gripping his sword firmly, whispered quietly.

Red mana swirled in his eyes.

Hyang.

The technique of Walkers to see the lines of mana, which he had learned to help Simon.

In his eyes, he saw the Arch Lich that was imprisoning him.

Johannes Schtenberg.

The very person who brought about the fall of the Schtenberg Family.

“Your curse too, I will cut it down with this sword.”

One step, then another.

He approached the Arch Lich from within the curse.

The image of the Arch Lich, shrouded in the curse, became clearer and clearer.

His eyes were mocking Escardo.

[Did you think you could stand up again?]

The Arch Lich's voice was deep and sinister like the abyss.

But the voice could no longer shock Escardo.

“I am the Commander of the Knights of Eurasia, Escardo Schtenberg.”

Taking his stance, he recalled three Shik.

Eurasia Style, Wave.

Eurasia Style, Thunderbolt.

Eurasia Style, Storm.

To that, he added one more Shik.

Schtenberg Style.

“Carpe Illusion.”

The red mana that erupted from his body pushed back the surrounding darkness.

The sword, wreathed in Haki.

“Severatio.”

Slice.

Cut through space.

Then, space cracked like a spiderweb.

And within the cracks, the Arch Lich's Life Vessel revealed itself.

***

Johannes was horrified.

Escardo's sword, which had cut through the curse, was aimed at his Life Vessel.

Fwoooosh!

Unleashing his evil energy, he hastily embraced the Life Vessel.

Escardo, walking forward, stared at him with demonic eyes.

‘This man… can cut me.’

He didn't want to admit it, but Escardo had endured the curse and achieved growth.

Johannes said with a bitter smile.

[Hey, Escardo. Don't you know that if you kill me, Killian Eurasia will be in danger?]

Escardo's eyebrows, who was approaching, twitched slightly.

“Facing death, you run your mouth.”

[Killian Eurasia and I are already in the process of synchronization.]

Johannes continued with an even more sinister smile.

[In his body, mana, the Curse of Grotesquery, and Divine Power are clashing. What do you think will happen if you cut me down in that situation?]

‘Synchronized with Killian?’

If what Johannes said was true, he couldn't cut the Life Vessel right now.

[Besides…]

Johannes raised his hand with a slow motion.

[I have also injected my evil energy into that mysterious body.]

He smiled chillingly and continued.

[He was already on the verge of rampaging with just mana, the curse, and Divine Power. You can imagine what kind of situation it would be if my evil energy were added to that.]

If the evil energy went rampant, Killian would no longer be able to fight with his own will.

‘No, in the worst case, the possibility of Killian himself turning into a monster cannot be ruled out.’

[If you cut me, the evil energy connected to his body will go rampant.]

Johannes, who had muttered leisurely, drove the nail in once more.

[The moment you kill me, Killian Eurasia's body will be dominated by evil energy. If you want to save him, you must keep me alive here.]

“……”

The strength in Escardo's hand, gripping the sword, increased.

[It's pathetic to see you unable to kill the enemy before you.]

Kikikikikil.

The Lich's laughter echoed.

[What will you do, Escardo?]

This time too, I will survive.

‘And this time, you will surely die.’

As if convinced of the 8-star knight's defeat, the skeletal mage burst into a mad laugh.