TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 156
Before the storm of black flames that raged forward.
Kraush was catching his breath, gripping his sword tightly.
Using the ten seconds of Annihilation Asura and the Instant Enhancement Elixir, he had reached the state of Annihilation Heavenly Asura.
Though he had felt it before, the toll it took on his body was vividly evident.
But Kraush held onto his mental fortitude with immense willpower.
Simultaneously, he raised both Nox and Doll’s Eye, forcibly suppressing the Heavenly Slaughter Star and Frenzy.
‘I have to keep applying this in real battles from now on.’
Collapsing after every fight was not an option.
Someday, when war finally broke out and prolonged, a one-time awakening would become a fatal risk.
Thus, Kraush resolved to endure and build practical experience, even just one more time.
It was at that moment.
Kraush’s half-closed eyes flashed as they turned forward.
At the same time, a sword thrust straight toward Kraush’s head from within the black flames.
Blood Leprosy Death Blade.
It was the sword wielded by the Mad Blade Emperor.
Just as Kraush hastily attempted to summon Rain Thunder Prime and raise his sword once more.
Crash, boom, crash!
Massive swords struck the ground in front of Kraush, forcibly halting the Blood Leprosy Death Blade.
The identity of those swords was none other than the Emperor Annihilation Sword.
It was the secret technique of the Sword King, Rai Balheim.
Beyond those Emperor Annihilation Swords, the face of the Mad Blade Emperor could be seen.
His arm was mangled, more than half of his body covered with burns, and blood dripped from the gaping wounds.
His eyes burned with seething rage.
They were eyes that could not accept the humiliation of his current state.
Yet even so, his eyes maintained composure rather than being consumed by anger.
He understood as well.
If Rai and Sena continued to attack him together in this condition, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
On top of that, there was the latent threat of Ebelasque.
Most of all, there was Kraush, who had left his arm and body in such a state.
For the Mad Blade Emperor, the most dangerous individual at the moment was none other than Kraush.
Because he did not know that Kraush was already at his limit.
Kraush showed no sign of his physical limitations as he raised Rain Thunder Prime once more.
With that alone, the Mad Blade Emperor’s face twisted, his body recoiling.
It was proof that his body remembered the attack he had just suffered.
“…Who are you? I’ve never heard of someone like you among the World Erosion Beings.”
As expected, just as with Ebelasque and the Armed Princess, the Mad Blade Emperor perceived Kraush as a World Erosion Being.
Seeing the wary look in his eyes, Kraush smirked inwardly.
He had never thought he could bring him down in the first place.
‘But I thought I could at least break him enough to stop him from moving for a while.’
Kraush had poured his all into the Annihilation Heavenly Asura.
But even with such effort, the opponent showed no intention of falling.
Without Haring’s Invisible or Sena’s help, they wouldn’t even have been able to put him in this state.
He would’ve certainly dodged it.
‘The arm strike was originally aimed at his neck, after all.’
With nothing but a bad premonition, the Mad Blade Emperor had detected and evaded Invisible.
This was why fighting against World Erosion Beings was so loathsome.
Each and every one of them was like a monster.
Once again, Kraush felt the overwhelming gap between himself and the World Erosion Beings.
Still.
He was still far from reaching the summit.
He had to become even stronger here.
Kraush’s eyes blazed with determination.
The world was teeming with beings like the Mad Blade Emperor.
And moreover, there existed the most dreadful entities born from the spread of World Erosion.
Such horrors had been a hellscape that even the Skyborne Generation couldn’t survive.
It was Kraush’s duty to prevent such catastrophes to stave off destruction.
Perhaps that’s why his resolve burned anew like a rekindled flame.
“Kraush!”
Haring finally rushed over to his side after hanging back.
She stood next to him, clutching a dagger, her body trembling slightly.
The trembling came from anger.
Because to her, the sight of the Mad Blade Emperor was identical to the memories of that day.
Yet she didn’t charge forward impulsively.
Because she had promised Kraush not to let anger consume her.
“Are you alright?”
Kraush, feigning composure, asked through staggered breaths.
Haring slowly nodded in response.
The reason her brother had been killed during the Ragren Family incident was because of the Mad Blade Emperor.
Yet now, her face was calmer than it had ever been.
“I promised earlier.”
Since calming down earlier with Kraush, Haring had replayed this situation in her mind countless times.
No matter what happened, she vowed to control her grudge.
Only then could she repay the debt she owed to Kraush.
So as long as he was there, she could find her calm.
“And more than that, Kraush managed to land a blow.”
Haring’s eyes glinted as they fixated on the Mad Blade Emperor’s injured arm.
Even a small contribution to vengeance brought her slight satisfaction.
It was only natural for someone who had harbored hatred for the Mad Blade Emperor her entire life.
“Good, as long as you’re not blinded by revenge.”
Kraush had seen countless people consumed by vengeance in his life.
With that level of self-control, Haring could manage even without him.
At that moment, as the Mad Blade Emperor showed signs of movement again, the Emperor Annihilation Sword began to stir.
As the swords descended to bind him, the Mad Blade Emperor focused entirely on evasion.
Even the Mad Blade Emperor couldn’t endure Sena’s attack combined with Kraush’s blow head-on.
It was evidence that his physical condition was far from optimal.
As proof, his movements were clearly slower than before.
But that didn’t mean he was cornered just yet.
“Kraush.”
Rai, who had approached at some point, called out to Kraush.
Kraush, watching the relentless Emperor Annihilation Sword, stopped Rai.
“Brother Rai, you shouldn’t fight the Mad Blade Emperor any longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“The World Erosion he creates grows stronger the more he battles formidable foes.”
The power of World Erosion would only continue to escalate.
Even at this moment, it meant Hardenhartz was in peril.
Rai’s eyes narrowed.
He hadn’t realized this until Kraush pointed it out.
“…Hardenhartz has One Sword.”
Rai’s eyes glinted with a fierce light.
“If it’s them, it won’t be an issue.”
That meant they would continue fighting against the Mad Blade Emperor.
“No. There will be an issue. Even if One Sword can handle its wielder, Hardenhartz won’t be able to endure the World Erosion.”
Kraush refuted Rai’s words.
The more One Sword exerted its full power, the more Hardenhartz would be reduced to ruins.
Moreover, the World Erosion wasn’t something that only affected the wielder.
If even the general Erosion Species grew stronger, it would solely be the residents of Hardenhartz who would have to bear the burden.
“And besides, that bastard is about to run.”
“…Run away?”
“Yes, because he’s already achieved his goal. I heard it directly from the leader of the Night Crow, who was on the same team as that bastard.”
Rai’s gaze turned subtle.
After all, Kraush’s earlier declaration implied he had some connection to the World Erosion Beings.
“So, you acted on your own for that reason.”
And it seemed Rai had noticed that Kraush had left the main headquarters of Hardenhartz on his own.
Rai squinted at Kraush with half-closed eyes.
Kraush wasn’t particularly close to Rai.
But he did understand Rai’s personality.
Rai prioritized practicality above all else.
If something could be beneficial, he would readily agree to it, no matter what it was.
That was the kind of person Rai was.
Thus, Kraush had deliberately revealed this information directly.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Kraush spoke with confidence in what he had said.
The Mad Blade Emperor enjoyed fighting strong opponents.
However, that bastard didn’t stake his life on it.
That contradiction about the Mad Blade Emperor was what annoyed him.
He enjoyed fighting strong opponents, yet when faced with actual danger, he would immediately flee.
“That’s why he survived so persistently back then as well.”
Every time he triggered World Erosion, he would relentlessly escape, to an almost ridiculous degree.
And behind him stood the Black Witch.
If the Black Witch took him into her independent space, it would be over.
But for Kraush, that was actually an opportunity.
Kraush was confident that he could hold the Black Witch’s attention.
So, all he needed was a single means to finish that bastard.
“My output isn’t enough.”
Kraush’s gaze landed on Rai.
“Rai, Brother.”
Kraush slowly lifted the Rain Thunder Prime.
Perhaps due to the toll of using Annihilation Heavenly Asura, even just holding it made his arm tremble.
Even putting up a front was no easy task.
“You received something from the Patriarch, didn’t you?”
Around the time Kraush was born, Rai had been gifted a sword by the Patriarch.
With that, it was possible.
Rai’s eyebrow twitched.
It was as if he was wondering how Kraush knew about that.
But Rai’s expression quickly softened.
He wasn’t the type to pry too much into things.
“Let’s use it.”
This wasn’t the time to be picky about what was hot or cold.
If they missed the Mad Blade Emperor here, who knew when they would get another chance?
“…That sword is still incomplete.”
Even though it had been received when Kraush was born, the sword remained incomplete.
That was how difficult it was to complete.
“But it can still be used, can’t it?”
However, Kraush had seen with his own eyes that its destructive power was exceptional.
Rai stared at Kraush silently.
Just 15 years old.
He was the youngest of Balheim, and until recently, rumors had dubbed him a Half-Penny.
Rai, who had never shown any affection toward his family, not even Lilish, the second child, didn’t care for his family.
Perhaps that was why.
Precisely because Rai was like that, he judged Kraush’s capability purely based on the present moment.
Even if Kraush’s strength appeared to be waning in real-time, the output he had just displayed was enough to surprise Rai.
After all, even though Rai wasn’t quite on Charlotte’s level, he was still considered a genius worthy of the title Sword King, and even he hadn’t been able to achieve such output at 15 years old.
Could Kraush fulfill his role as a force in this situation?
Of course, there was no need to hesitate.
Kraush was a direct line of Balheim.
Balheim wasn’t a foolish family that neglected talent simply because of age or position.
“Restrain him properly.”
Rai’s two eyes, glowing with the same color as Kraush’s, glared at the Mad Blade Emperor.
“Then, I’ll finish it.”
Kraush smiled at those most trustworthy words spoken in this situation.
“Haring, pass me the Red Tiger Pill.”
Kraush reached his hand out to Haring.
Haring looked at Kraush reluctantly.
Honestly, she didn’t want to hand it over at all.
Even though their nemesis, the Mad Blade Emperor, was right there, she didn’t want to see Kraush suffer either.
But soon, she opened the pouch containing the Poison Pill.
“Kraush.”
As she placed the Red Tiger Pill in his hand, she spoke.
“Let’s win.”
Haring’s eyes, shining more brightly than ever, reflected not personal revenge but a pure desire to declare victory alongside Kraush.
Seeing her expression, Kraush gave a light smile and tossed the Red Tiger Pill into his mouth.
“Of course.”
A smile formed on Haring’s lips.
To her, it was the most trustworthy answer anyone could give.
[Can you handle it?]
At that moment, the Crimson Garden, sensing what Kraush was about to do, spoke as if concerned.
“I came this far to handle it.”
Crunch!
Kraush bit down on the Red Tiger Pill and swallowed it.
Then, the vitality started to return to his body, which had been creaking under the strain of the Annihilation Heavenly Asura.
His body, which had been pushed to its limits, regained some vigor, even if only temporarily.
However, this time wouldn’t last long.
“Haring.”
When he called Haring, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
It was to activate Invisible.
“It’ll be hotter than last time.”
“It’s fine. I can do anything.”
How reliable.
Kraush glanced toward Sena.
She nodded as if to say she was ready to join in at any time.
“Brother Rai, we will stop them from escaping.”
Black flames began to surge from Kraush’s body.
He had started tempering his body again, one that had only just recovered thanks to the Red Tiger Pill.
His demeanor showed no concern for the price he would have to pay later.
Kraush knew how to stop the Black Witch from aiding the Mad Blade Emperor’s escape.
‘Ignis.’
After a long time had passed since Belorkin’s death at Charlotte’s hands.
The year Kraush’s brother, the Sword King, Rai Balheim’s son turned twelve.
The boy had obtained Ignis.
And in that same year, a major incident occurred in Balheim, where Ixion attempted to kidnap his son.
Balheim’s fury was directed at Ixion at that time, and the course Ixion chose during the ensuing full-scale war was nothing short of catastrophic.
Kraush, who remembered that moment vividly, clenched his fist tightly.
By harnessing the purification power of Ignis, one could extract the purest force of World Erosion.
For those seeking to create a god, Ignis was an ability they could never afford to lose.
And now, that very ability resided in none other than Kraush.
‘They will definitely take the bait.’
He could become the ultimate lure to trap Ixion.
[Completely break it. Crush it.]
Even Crimson Garden would be left speechless by his unyielding determination.
“Let’s push them into a corner with certainty.”
As Haring’s Invisible activated, Kraush’s figure disappeared.
It was now time to drop the pitch-black star.