Chapter 163 : Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Escardo swung his sword and tore through the darkness.

He had cut through the barrier that had been blurring his senses under the guise of darkness.

Soon, the space hidden by the curtain of darkness was revealed.

Irregularly connected stone walls that exuded a heavy, damp aura.

There, a dozen or so bound Chimeras were screaming.

And among the Chimeras, Killian was hanging, his limbs bound.

“Killian…!!”

Suppressed by the evil energy-tainted mana, he wore a pained expression on his pale face.

Faint Divine Power, mana, and Radiance were mixed together, flowing from various parts of his body.

‘This is dangerous.’

Killian was undeniably a Superhuman, but the Arch Lich's curse was something that even he had difficulty resisting.

Just as he had been, Killian must now be helplessly trapped in pain.

[I believe I told you not to do anything foolish.]

Johannes sneered.

The synchronization with Killian Eurasia was proceeding successfully.

Furthermore, the hundred or so Knight Slayers he had created were now converging on this location.

If he unleashed all of them, the exhausted Escardo Schtenberg would not be able to handle them alone.

‘Good thing I took measures beforehand.’

Mana, Divine Power, Radiance, and evil energy.

What if he transplanted his own Life Vessel into a body that had accepted all four of those powers?

He would surely be able to advance his research by decades.

The body of Escardo Schtenberg, who had now become an 8-star knight, was a bonus.

Just then.

Mana surged from Killian’s unstable body.

***

‘I’m completely caught.’

His limbs were bound, and he couldn't move an inch.

He knew that the current curse was 8-star magic and that it was a mental type.

But no matter how powerful an 8-star Arch Lich's curse was, his usual self would not have been so easily caught.

‘I’ve absorbed too many pieces of Grotesquery.’

He had used potions several times to suppress the curse, but there was a limit to that.

The result was his current state.

His feet were caught at a crucial moment, and he couldn't break free from the curse.

The more he resisted, the more strongly the curse bound his body.

The sensation of the curse spreading from deep within his heart became clearer as time passed.

Dozens of memories mixed and rushed into his mind.

“Adamas, it’s because of you. If you had helped me back then…”

A friend who, enraged by the Empire's tyranny, had once drawn his sword to save the common people.

He, who had met his end while facing a dozen Superhumans alone, blamed him.

“I should not have subjugated the Grotesquery. If only you had stopped me…”

Edan, who had tried to bear hundreds of curses alone, vomited blood.

Memories where truth and lies were mixed, making it impossible to distinguish reality.

It was a pressure not even a Superhuman could easily handle.

If he hadn't lived a sword life for thousands of years, he would have broken down long ago.

‘At this rate, it's only a matter of time before I break.’

Escardo and Benzen alone cannot hunt an 8-star monster.

He had to find a way, somehow.

Even as he thought that, his senses began to blur once again.

‘Am I in a dream this time?’

His blurring five senses revived.

The Divine Power, personified in the form of an elf, and the Radiance, taking the form of Agnil, were clashing before his eyes.

‘Silvana's will and the piece of Grotesquery, I presume.’

The actual owner of the body couldn't move a muscle, yet two uninvited guests were fighting over territory as if to tear each other apart.

Just then, the elf, having confirmed Killian's presence, approached him.

She was looking at him with a faint smile, as if in derision.

[This curse, it’s interesting.]

Silvana whispered softly.

Her voice was gentle, but it was mixed with subtle mockery.

“Where were you hiding before you popped out?”

Killian asked, staring at her coldly.

[There's no reason to answer… but since you look so pitiful, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you.]

She raised the corners of her mouth, observing Killian's reaction.

[When you accepted the ‘Curse of Exploration,’ you also accepted my will.]

She slowly spread her hands.

In one hand, sacred Divine Power flickered, and in the other, the green mana symbolic of the elves swayed.

“You called it a parlor trick. Now you’re handling it as if it's your own.”

[I'll admit it's an unparalleled power for weak beings to handle.]

Silvana's eyes curved like a crescent moon.

[Hand this body over to me. Then I will help you escape from the curse.]

Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle.

[I will solve the problem of being eroded by the curse.]

She said she would neutralize the curse with Divine Power.

She said she could certainly do so if he accepted her will.

“Bullshit.”

[Foolish.]

Silvana's smile gradually faded, and a sinister aura filled her eyes.

The degree of sinisterness seemed no different from that of the Arch Lich.

[I have no intention of disappearing quietly.]

Silvana continued in a cold voice.

[You will have to pay the price for rejecting me.]

The voice that cut through the air grazed his ears sharply.

Soon, the Divine Power flickering at her fingertips swallowed the mana, and the Divine Power went on an unstable rampage.

Silvana's will was releasing the power without controlling it.

[Accept me, or be annihilated!]

The space, resonating with Silvana's voice, vibrated.

At that moment.

Fwhoooooosh.

The Radiance swirled and surrounded them.

Killian furrowed his brows.

‘These things, fighting to the end in my body.’

The Curse of Grotesquery that emitted Radiance.

The rampaging Divine Power of Silvana.

The evil energy of the Arch Lich that constituted the curse.

And Killian's mana, which resisted the three powers.

The four energies clashed with each other, swirling unstably.

Fwhoooosh. Fwhoooooosh.

The energy grew larger and larger.

Kwajik. Kwajiiik.

The Radiance and Divine Power clashed with each other, heading for a state just before explosion.

“You crazy bastards.”

Carpe Illusion.

Eurasia Style, Total Solar Eclipse.

He gritted his teeth and tried to suppress the energy, but the four powers were entangled and could not be subdued.

Divine Power, Radiance, mana, and evil energy clashed, pushing Killian's mind and body to the limit.

[This is the price you must pay.]

Silvana, looking at him mockingly, amplified her Divine Power.

Carpe Illusion.

Cornelia Style, Violet Magic Tower.

Even though he had used all the cards he had, his mana was being overwhelmed by the curse and Divine Power.

The balance of power was gradually breaking.

Evil energy flowed into the broken balance.

‘I need to draw more mana…’

Contrary to his will, his connection with the Violet Magic Tower was not complete due to the curse's influence.

His mana was rapidly hitting rock bottom.

Just then.

“That’s not how you use the tower.”

A gentle voice echoed in his head.

A woman with fluttering violet hair was standing next to Killian.

“You…”

“I gave you the power of the tower, and you’re showing such an immature side?”

Diana Cornelia.

The mage who had reached the 9-star before her death was smiling faintly.

“Don’t get hung up on a medium. You are now an existence acknowledged by the tower.”

Srrrrr.

At her gesture, the tower spewed out a greater amount of mana than ever before.

“The tower has accepted your soul.”

At Diana's gesture, the power of the Violet Magic Tower was activated in a completely different way.

It was a much more elaborate and powerful method than what Killian had been using.

“An incomplete curse and Divine Power. With these, you cannot overcome Cornelia's tower.”

As the tower was strengthened, the curse and Divine Power were seen being rapidly pushed back.

“Well, your condition seems too incomplete to finish the job though.”

“Diana, you…”

“What are you so surprised about?”

At the new voice, Killian's head turned to the left.

There stood a knight with a dignified aura, holding a sword.

“Edan…?”

“You've grown a lot more than before. I guess the master of mana has a different level of growth potential.”

Edan smiled and looked Killian over.

“But you’re still far from it. I’ll help you this time.”

Adamas.

Raising his beloved sword, which he had not let go of until his death, he glared at the swirling Divine Power and Radiance.

At Edan's will, the four spheres that formed the Total Solar Eclipse merged into one.

For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.

Rumble.

“Remember, Adamas.”

The power flowing from the sword was no longer at the level of a mortal.

“This is the class I achieved with you.”

A slash that could even cut down a divine being.

“Palatium.”

Fwhoosh.

Edan, muttering softly, swung his sword.

The swung sword cut through the screaming will of Silvana and bisected the Radiance that had been observing ominously.

And as if that wasn't enough.

Craaack.

It even cut through this space filled with darkness.

Then, evil energy rushed in as if to fill the crack in the parted space, but the violet mana blocked it.

“If you want to get out, now is the only time.”

Diana said with a somewhat regretful expression.

“You guys…”

Tuk.

Edan's hand pushed Killian's back.

“Go. This is not the place for you.”

“There will be another chance someday.”

At Diana's gesture, Killian's body floated up.

And was sent flying through the crack in space, enveloped in mana.

“What an affectionate fellow you are.”

At that moment, Diana's voice reached his ear.

“Adamas, there isn't much time left.”

Edan's voice echoed in his head.

***

First, blue.

Then, violet.

Finally, green.

The three surging manas mixed and emitted light.

Escardo took a breath.

‘The aura that filled the surroundings is changing rapidly.’

He could feel Killian's mana fluctuating.

Along with that, he realized that the Arch Lich's aura was being disturbed.

‘Did Killian do something?’

Escardo drew up the last bit of energy remaining at the tip of his sword.

A sharp wave of sword energy spread from his body.

[What…]

The flustered Johannes activated a spell to hide his Life Vessel, but.

“Too late.”

Carpe Illusion.

Schtenberg Style.

“Severatio.”

Fwoooosh.

The red mana spread, and a domain that could cut through everything unfolded.

A thousand lines of mana appeared in Escardo's eyes.

Toward the intricately woven space among them.

Eurasia Style.

“Sever.”

The swung Escardo Schtenberg's Sword cut through the hidden Life Vessel beyond the space.

[Gak…!!]

Johannes let out a death scream, but that was all.

Ssssss.

Soon, his body began to scatter into the air.

The skeletal gleam in his eyes wavered.

[I… reached the 8-star…]

He looked at Escardo with empty eyes.

[Why… someone like you…]

“Your tongue is long even in the moment of death.”

Slice.

The coldly swung sword bisected the Arch Lich's skull.

Escardo's senses confirmed the evil energy that was beginning to disappear.

“Killian, get a grip.”

He shook Killian's body and checked his condition for a moment.

“Sir Escardo…”

He, who had regained consciousness, slowly opened his eyes.

Killian ignored Escardo's worried words and looked around.

Among the screaming Chimeras, a split skeleton was scattered on the floor.

“You’ve crossed another wall.”

“Is that what's important right now!”

Killian smirked at Escardo's shouting.

Escardo cut off the restraints on his hands and feet.

“S-Sir Escardo…!!”

Benzen, who had belatedly come to his senses, approached with a pale face.

“The Arch Lich…?”

“I cut him down.”

Escardo, who had spoken calmly, checked the condition of the surprised Benzen.

“But it seems we'll have to risk our lives to get out of here.”

“……!!”

Benzen belatedly sensed the evil energy approaching from the surroundings.

Although the master of the dungeon had been defeated, the Chimeras he had created were still intact.

“Killian, can you hold a sword?”

At the question, Killian gripped Aether, which was lying on the floor.

Srr.

Blue mana enveloped his body.

It wasn't normal, but it seemed he could swing his sword for a short while.

“I will take half.”

“You insolent fellow.”

Escardo smiled and shrouded his body in red mana.

“Just try not to get injured.”

Rumble.

Rumble.

Watching the Haki emitted by the two knights.

“……”

Benzen Fiorellan quietly swallowed dryly.