Chapter 202
The Unending Night.
The place where only night exists grew darker and darker, confronting pitch-black darkness the further one proceeded.
"It seems they're starting to chase us."
At the same time, Kraush sensed the presence of the Black Species Ghosts closely pursuing the carriage.
It seemed they had finished identifying this side and launched a full-scale assault.
[ What will you do? ]
The Erosion Species living in the Forbidden Zone are fundamentally different from ordinary Erosion Species.
They live in the Forbidden Zone, where the World Erosion is most abundant.
Naturally, they possess a superior physique compared to ordinary Erosion Species.
As evidence, the Black Species Ghosts, which would not have been much of a problem outside, were now running large strides, keeping up with the speed of the carriage.
The creatures, resembling monkeys, glared with red eyes and let out grotesque cries toward the intruders.
"We have to catch them."
Kraush said this and turned to Ebelasque.
"Ebelasque, open the lid."
At Kraush's words, Ebelasque touched the wall of the carriage with her hand.
At that moment, with a creaking sound, the bone ceiling began to open.
Kraush stuck his head out through the opened ceiling.
There, filling the horizon to the brim, Black Species Ghosts swarmed grotesquely like cockroaches, chasing after them.
It was a scene that would have caused an ordinary person to faint from fear.
Kraush lightly leaped and stood on top of the ceiling.
Black Species Ghosts have the characteristic of exerting even greater power under the Night Sky.
Thus, they acted as if they were the owners of the Unending Night.
However, there was one thing they didn't know.
The night is not their exclusive domain.
Kraush's hair gradually began to turn pitch black.
Reacting to the Unending Night, Kraush's Skill, Nox's Aura, began to overflow.
Furthermore, Kraush's pupils gradually began to turn red.
This was because the Seven Stars of Nox began to emit light simultaneously.
Beneath the rampaging brilliance of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
Kraush's body was more stable than ever.
The Lunar Body's effects are significantly amplified under the Night Sky.
Perhaps that's why Kraush's current state was at its peak.
Heavy breaths escaped from Kraush's mouth.
The high-temperature steam that followed his breath was enough to alter the surrounding temperature.
Flame-
On the Rain Thunder Prime he held at some point, Black Flame ignited.
The high-temperature Black Flame burned wildly, fueled by the World Erosion.
This was because Kraush was continuously absorbing the World Erosion of the Unending Night.
"Watch carefully."
Kraush gripped the Rain Thunder Prime as if declaring to the Black Species Ghosts.
Crackle!
A lightning bolt sprang up on the Rain Thunder Prime, forming a scabbard phenomenon.
Simultaneously, Black Flame clashed within the scabbard, beginning to create a storm.
Splash-
And then, as a single droplet fell onto the lake spread within Kraush's mind, causing ripples.
The surging stream of Black Flame shattered the scabbard formed by Lioner.
At the moment when the entwined Black Flame and lightning converged on the blade.
Kraush swung the Rain Thunder Prime forward.
Annihilation Erosion
Third Form
Sky-Thundering Annihilation
The blade that had slashed stopped at its end, and for a moment, the world became utterly silent.
The Black Species Ghosts, who had been charging in with ferocity, froze in place.
Crack!
And soon, cracks began to appear on each of their bodies.
Flame-
With the blazing flame, a flash engulfed the Unending Night.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
The violent explosion devoured everything around it.
The Black Flame that enveloped the spot where the Black Species Ghosts had been erased them all from existence.
Not a single one of the Black Species Ghosts that had been approaching from the edge of the horizon remained alive.
Boom!
The following aftershock shook the carriage violently, causing it to rattle like mad.
Even the Ghost Horse pulling it nearly stumbled from the impact.
Kraush swept back his fluttering hair and extinguished the blade imbued in the Rain Thunder Prime.
As he exhaled lightly, his breath temperature had already returned to normal.
This was thanks to using the high-level curse Snow Devourer immediately after Sky-Thundering Annihilation to rapidly lower the temperature.
"Much better."
Kraush looked satisfied at the now properly visible scenery.
At some point, his hair had also returned to its dark blue color.
When Kraush entered the carriage, Ebelasque was staring at him with astonished eyes.
Although she had long known Kraush was strong, the output just now was beyond her expectations.
Well, it couldn't be helped.
Kraush could become even stronger within the World Erosion of the Forbidden Zone than outside.
The output just now would have been impossible without the unique characteristics of the Unending Night.
"What was that? Are you okay after using something like that?"
"I've prepared this and that to endure."
Kraush said this as he tried to sit back in the chair.
However, as he staggered from the intense pain he felt in his body, Haring quickly supported him.
"Kraush, water."
When Haring handed him water, Kraush took a sip and swallowed it.
'He tried to fill the void left by the absence of World Erosion.'
Kraush realized the reason for the intense pain was his aura.
The aura had rushed in to fill the void left by the used World Erosion, clashing with the replenished World Erosion.
The sensation of the two colliding and gnawing at his insides was enough to make even Kraush feel intense pain.
[ See? Who told you to be greedy? ]
Crimson Garden clicked her tongue and scolded Kraush.
"It's fine. That's why we came here to resolve it."
Kraush straightened his posture, ignoring Crimson Garden's reproach.
The power of the World Erosion felt from the direction the Ghost Horse was heading was growing stronger.
Surely, they would find Veltoa soon.
Thud!
However, the Unending Night seemed unwilling to let the intruders pass easily.
In the distance, a Black Species Giant formed by the gathered Black Species Ghosts revealed itself.
The creature, holding an entire tower in its hand, was truly a monstrous giant.
When Kraush tried to stand up again, both Haring and Ebelasque stopped him simultaneously.
"Do you think I came along for no reason? I followed you because I knew this would happen."
"I can help too."
Seeing the two trying to stop him from overexerting himself, Kraush looked a bit bewildered.
"Just rest."
With that, Ebelasque summoned the Bone Legion, and Haring stepped forward holding a dagger.
Watching the scene blankly, Kraush soon slumped back into the carriage chair.
He thought he'd only get scolded if he stepped forward unnecessarily.
'I don't know how it ended up like this.'
Still, he decided to think that what's good is good.
* * *
About a week had passed since they entered the Unending Night.
Thanks to the Ghost Horse, which hadn't rested for a moment, they were advancing at a rapid pace.
However, traveling through the Unending Night, where the sun never rose, was more grueling than expected.
Starting with the disappearance of the concept of time itself.
The constant sensation of something gnawing away made it hard to recover from fatigue.
In particular, the Black Species Ghosts, which appeared just when they thought they could rest, were endlessly disruptive.
The deeper they ventured, the more the Black Species Ghosts ambushed them in varied forms.
Sometimes they approached silently like shadows, while others recklessly charged, relying on their size and bulk.
Each time, they had to engage in battle, leaving the three unable to fully recover from their exhaustion.
"Well, I've even endured acid rain, so I can manage somehow. But you seem to handle it even better than me."
"That's because I have Lunar Body and Nox."
Listening to Ebelasque, whose dark circles had deepened, Kraush looked out the window.
The space, filled with nothing but night and plains, gave the illusion of endlessly circling the same spot.
Only the occasional sight of towers reminded them they were still moving forward.
As Kraush had said, thanks to Nox and Lunar Body, he was relatively at ease in the Unending Night.
However, for those without such advantages, it was undoubtedly challenging.
Haring stood out the most in this regard.
Haring, whose dark circles were as pronounced as Ebelasque's, had fallen asleep leaning against Kraush.
Judging by the irregular sounds of her breathing, she seemed to be having a nightmare.
That's the problem with the Unending Night.
Even if one found a safe place to sleep, they could only dream nightmares here.
The nightmares continuously gnawed at a person's spirit, and if someone stayed in the Unending Night for too long, they would eventually be consumed by the nightmares.
"Haring."
So Kraush woke Haring before she could fall into a deeper sleep.
If she slept too deeply and was consumed by the nightmares, she would never wake up again.
"Hah, haah!"
Startled by Kraush waking her, Haring opened her eyes with a scream-like sound.
Seeing Kraush, Haring, who had been sweating profusely, buried her head in his chest as if reassured.
Then, like a frightened child seeking comfort from a parent, she snuggled closer.
She resembled a cat that had opened its heart to its owner.
Having experienced this several times already, Kraush had grown somewhat accustomed to it.
Haring had a habit of snuggling into the person next to her in her sleep-talking state right after waking up.
"Do you like being so close?"
At that, Ebelasque raised the corners of her mouth and asked.
"Ah, I get it, you like young girls, right? Just like with your fiancée."
Ebelasque even pouted her lips.
Kraush looked at Ebelasque with a dumbfounded expression.
"......Ebelasque, haven't you been grumbling at me a lot lately?"
When Kraush asked, suspecting her personality had become sharper, Ebelasque stared at him intently.
Then, after rolling her eyes once, she glanced at the floor.
"You're imagining things."
Imagining things, my foot.
Kraush recalled the point when Ebelasque had suddenly started grumbling.
And soon realized it coincided with their visit to the Green Pine Mansion.
What they had done there was send the Mad Blade Emperor to Ixion's conference.
And they had solidified the engagement with Bianca.
As Kraush thought about it, he slowly turned to look at Ebelasque.
Seeing her avoiding his gaze, Kraush asked just in case.
"Ebelasque, you......."
It was at that moment.
Kraush spotted a faint light in the distance.
In the Unending Night, where only the red eyes of the Black Species Ghosts could be seen.
That light, as bright as sunlight, was something he absolutely couldn't miss.
Because Kraush vividly remembered that light.
"Ebelasque, turn the carriage around!"
"Huh, huh?!"
Ebelasque, who had been tense, not knowing what Kraush would say, let out a flustered tone.
Then, following Kraush's words, she hurriedly turned the carriage, and with the Ghost Horse's wailing, the carriage spun powerfully.
Thud!
"Ugh?"
The sudden change in direction jolted Haring, who had been drowsy, back to her senses.
When she raised her head, she saw Kraush leaning out of the carriage window.
Kraush focused all his strength on his eyes, chasing the light.
Sure enough, as soon as the light noticed their presence, it began to change direction.
And it moved at a speed that was barely within the carriage's reach.
At this rate, they would lose it.
"Ebelasque, keep following that light!"
Kraush kicked open the carriage door.
At some point, a crow flew out and soared high into the sky.
Watching Crimson Garden, Kraush immediately leapt from the carriage.
The World Erosion within him began to surge as Ignis.
The boiling Annihilation Erosion transmitted to Kraush's legs in an instant.
Fwoosh!
As the Annihilation Erosion ignited, white smoke escaped from Kraush's mouth.
Boom!
Kraush, who had kicked off the ground, shot forward in an instant.
At the same time, the Excel surrounding his body propelled his speed even further.
Running at a speed several times faster than the carriage, Kraush drew closer to the light.
Beneath that light was a man riding a giant centipede, moving at high speed.
The man, cloaked entirely in a robe, turned to look at Kraush, revealing only a black beard.
"Hmm? A kid?"
The moment the man felt puzzled upon seeing Kraush, Kraush kicked off the ground and landed atop the centipede.
Exhaling, Kraush examined the man's hand extended within his robe.
He couldn't even imagine how many curses were stored within that robe.
However, it seemed the man had no immediate intention of using them against Kraush.
"Strange. I thought for sure you were a World Erosion Being. But the power within you isn't just that."
The reason he hadn't drawn out a curse was due to Kraush's peculiar nature.
Kraush, who possessed Aura, World Erosion, and Ignis, appeared exceedingly strange to the man.
That's a relief.
If he had indiscriminately bombarded curses, it would've been troublesome.
"Veltoa Lacroix."
Catching his breath, Kraush called out his name.
"Let's talk for a moment."
The world's greatest Curse Master, Veltoa Lacroix.
It was the moment he faced him.