Chapter 264
Thanks to Momon’s attention, Yan was able to smoothly enter the Emperor’s residence, which connected to the battlefield.
“…A secret passage?”
In one corner of the residence, a secret passage stood open, as if tempting Yan to enter.
Swallowing nervously, Yan stepped toward the secret passage.
After a moment.
Yan saw exactly what Damian had seen.
“…Huh.”
Glass containers held the Sagogjaks—likely clones, given their appearance as Sun Knights.
Currently, the Sun Knights were fighting alongside Momon against the Death Knights and the Seven Deadly Sins.
And right at that moment…
Whoosh.
Yan sensed a tremendous flow of mana emanating from inside.
As much as he wanted to examine the situation in more detail, time was of the essence.
“After everything is over. I can investigate further then.”
Thud!
Yan propelled himself toward the source of the intense mana flow.
How far had he run?
As he took in the unfolding scene, Yan clenched his fists.
The massive magic circle surrounding the area, the withered magicians, and the imprisoned Crown Prince Leon—all were visible.
“…Bahamut.”
Bahamut Caballan stood at the center of the magic circle.
As expected, Bahamut Caballan hadn’t completed the soul transfer yet.
However, the crimson light pulsating from the magic circle indicated that it was still operational.
Strange.
“But he hasn’t gathered all the necessary materials for the soul transfer!”
Wasn’t the Emperor planning to wage war against the Sagogjaks?
Yet, even if Yan asked directly, he doubted he’d get an answer.
It would only complicate matters unnecessarily.
So…
Bahamut.
“If I kill you, all of this will end,” Yan declared.
Bahamut smirked. “You show no respect even in the presence of the Emperor.”
“If you have a problem with that, you should have been more respectful.”
“Young friend, your tongue is sharp.”
Bahamut chuckled and drew the Nailin sword from his waist.
The same sword that had pierced Yan’s heart in a previous life.
The Nailin sword.
Woong! Woong!
As Ascalon appeared, it resonated with a plea—not longing, but a desperate plea.
“Ah, Ascalon. Where did you find it? It’s a treasure I searched for tirelessly but never obtained.”
Yan was intrigued by Bahamut Caballan’s curiosity.
“Your tongue wags even as death approaches,” Yan retorted.
“Hmm, is that how you see it?”
Bahamut laughed, gripping the Nailin sword and fixing his gaze on Yan.
In that moment, an immense pressure enveloped Yan.
Goooh!
It felt like having a mountain placed on his head.
“Is this… Bahamut’s aura from a thousand years ago?”
But…
Chik.
“I can withstand this.”
It wasn’t enough to make him lose his resolve. The Death Knight he had seen outside was far more formidable in terms of aura.
Yan understood the reason.
“The side effects of soul transfer.”
Continuously reshaping his body had led to the loss of memories and fragments of imagination.
Although the force suppressing him was strong, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
From the start, Yan had decided to give it his all.
This was the final destination. Pouring out all his strength here meant the rest would be beyond his control.
Quietly, Yan took a deep breath and exhaled.
Then he opened his eyes!
Kwaaaah!
The combined force erupted, beginning to consume the space.
Bahamut’s eyes widened, revealing a hint of surprise.
“Expanding your territory so recklessly.”
Did he realize how dangerous this was?
Bahamut sneered and hurled himself at Yan. His speed was incredible.
In an instant, Bahamut reached Yan, swinging the Nailin sword.
“First Form, Dragon!”
Crash!
In that moment, the Nailin transformed into dragon fangs, tearing through Yan’s entire body with the force of a raging tempest, slicing through space.
And just like that, Yan vanished from Bahamut’s sight.
As if erased by an invisible eraser.
And then…
Thud!
Something struck Bahamut’s back. His wrinkled eyes widened, reddening, and his mouth gaped open.
Yan had borrowed the power of the Illusion Juda Caballan, pushing his physical abilities to the limit.
Afterward, he kicked off the ground, leaping into the air to avoid Bahamut’s dragon form. With a swift motion, Yan drove his knee into Bahamut’s back.
“Cough!”
Bahamut collapsed, bloodied and defeated.
Yan stared down at the fallen Bahamut.
“Too easy.”
It wasn’t mockery or relief—it was unease. Bahamut couldn’t be this simple to defeat.
Yan’s gaze shifted to where Bahamut had unleashed his dragon form moments ago.
An attack powerful enough to obliterate an entire wall.
“It’s no fake. The potency matches the real thing.”
Could Bahamut’s weakened physical state have slowed his reaction time?
And then it happened.
“…!”
Yan’s eyes widened, and he quickly lowered his head.
Swish!
His hair fluttered as something sliced through the air. If he hadn’t reacted swiftly, his neck would have been severed.
In that instant, the Bahamut Caballan’s physical form disappeared from Yan’s line of sight.
Slowly raising his head, Yan focused on the spot where the sword strike had come from.
And there stood Bahamut, completely unharmed.
“No visible wounds,” Yan thought.
Bahamut had willingly allowed Yan’s attack.
The blood spatter from his mouth had vanished, as if it had never been there.
Yan’s face stiffened.
“What happened?”
“Do you think I’ll tell you just because you ask? How naive,” Bahamut retorted.
“…”
Yan clenched his lips, glaring at Bahamut.
* * *
The sequence of events continued, though not exactly the same. Yan’s attacks seemed to vanish into thin air when directed at Bahamut, while Bahamut’s strikes accumulated relentlessly against Yan.
Moreover, their physical conditions differed significantly.
“Ugh, gasp.”
Despite the brief thirty-minute battle, Bahamut’s face remained serene compared to Yan’s exertion. Yan tightened his grip on the sword, pondering the situation.
“Regeneration? Unlikely. If it were regeneration, traces of the fight would remain on his clothes. But even his attire shows no signs of combat.”
It was as if time had rewound Bahamut’s body to its pre-battle state.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Yan’s mind.
“Reverting the flesh to a previous state?”
He hadn’t considered it before, but it wasn’t impossible. The concept of “territory” could turn impossibilities into possibilities.
Perhaps Bahamut possessed such an ability. However, that alone wouldn’t solve the mystery.
“I can rule out physical strength and mana.”
Despite hundreds of clashes, Bahamut remained unscathed. To use a similar ability, Yan would undoubtedly have to pay an immense price.
He had witnessed Sun Knights, Duke Beowulf, and the Pirate Queen deploying their territories. They aimed to swiftly overpower their foes.
Territory was a powerful technique but demanded a substantial cost.
“So, what price is he paying?”
That remained uncertain.
Then, Yan noticed something.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
The magic circle on the ground emitted a crimson glow, expelling energy.
“Wait a moment.”
Bahamut had used other beings’ souls or energy to reshape his body. Could he also utilize that ability to deploy a territory?
Yan’s eyes narrowed. It was a gamble worth taking.
“Until recently, you fought like a madman, but now you’re more composed. Have you realized the gap?” Bahamut raised an eyebrow.
In this space, Bahamut couldn’t afford to lose. But just then…
Yan unexpectedly raised Ascalon high and brought it down with tremendous force.
Crash!
Ascalon struck the ground, accompanied by the crimson-glowing magic circle.
Fzzt!
The previously invisible magic circle sparked to life, pulsating as if reluctant to fade away.
At the same time…
“…Oh.”
Bahamut’s expression changed.
Yan had discovered the secret of his territory.
As if to prove it…
“Is this the answer?”
Yan chuckled and swung Ascalon toward the magic circle once more.
Bahamut’s eyes glinted with both surprise and impatience.
This was the first attack that carried life—a rarity among all their clashes.
And it was infused with urgency.
As Bahamut’s Nailin neared Yan’s throat…
Crash!
Ascalon struck the ground again.
Space began collapsing.
The very fabric of reality crumbled. Yan’s vision blurred, and Bahamut’s form melted like liquid into the ground.
Yan’s sight faded to black.
Soon, a whisper reached his ears.
“…Impressive.”
When Yan’s vision returned, the scene was unchanged from before the collapse.
The only difference was Bahamut’s fatigued expression.
Yan’s lips curled upward.
“Your territory forcibly dissipated, leaving you drained?”
“Ugh!”
Bahamut chuckled. The backlash from the forced territory release strained his weary body.
“Did you think you’d uncover my secret?”
“Considering your penchant for exploiting others, I assumed you’d use every advantage. The gamble paid off.”
“Is that so?”
Bahamut nodded.
Yan furrowed his brow.
Bahamut remained composed despite the clear outcome.
After surviving a thousand years, perhaps even death held little significance for him.
Just then…
Bahamut licked his lips, eyeing Yan greedily.
“Time for a change.”
“What?”
“I’ve been contemplating it. Leon’s body is fine, but compared to yours, it falls short. Your brain is fresh, thoughts agile, and my blood flows within you. Even the Dragon God’s breath courses through your veins.”
His gaze was covetous, like assessing merchandise.
Chills ran down Yan’s spine.
“Let’s become one.”
And then…
Crash!
Something engulfed Yan.