Chapter 204
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-
On the moving Curse Centipede.
In the spot where only Veltoa had been, three more people and one creature had joined.
Naturally, those three people and one creature were Kraush's companions.
"Ugh, it's not a bug. It's not..."
Among them, Ebelasque was fighting against the grotesqueness of the Curse Centipede.
Every time the antennae of the Curse Centipede came up over her head, she held back a scream.
Meanwhile, she slyly clung to Kraush's back and buried her head into it.
It was uncomfortable having something constantly touching him from behind, but since it seemed unintentional, Kraush just let it go.
"My headache is gone."
In the meantime, Haring spoke with a noticeably brighter expression.
Being under Veltoa's lantern had relieved the headache that had plagued her on the way due to nightmares.
"This young lady also handles curses, huh?"
Then Veltoa, seeing another person handling curses after Kraush, looked intrigued.
After all, curses were generally regarded as a disease that eats away at a person's body.
It was natural that those who actively dealt with them were limited to Curse Masters.
"I am Haring Lagrain."
"Lagrain, huh. A family associated with poison, so it seems you've adapted to curses more easily."
"It's all thanks to Kraush."
Indeed, Kraush's assistance in researching the Instant Enhancement Elixir had been significant.
"Heh, you've got quite the reputation, huh?"
Veltoa teased Kraush with a playful tone.
"The Four Seasons is located in the Unending Night, isn't it?"
So Kraush quickly changed the subject.
This old man, with his subtle playfulness, could keep teasing for over an hour once he latched onto something.
"Indeed, as you said, the Four Seasons does exist in the Unending Night."
The response that came back was slightly vague.
Seeing Kraush's curious expression at the uncertain tone, Veltoa clicked his tongue.
"The problem is that the Four Seasons is currently tied to a certain Erosion Species."
"An Erosion Species, you say?"
This was news even Kraush hadn't heard before.
After all, when Kraush had seen the Four Seasons, it had already transferred to a person.
"Yes, and it's an Erosion Species that even I can't handle."
Veltoa handles numerous curses.
In fact, even the lantern he was holding was a curse used to repel the Black Species Ghost, and his combat skills utilizing curses were second to none.
For someone like him to hesitate to confront it meant the opponent was quite formidable.
'If it's an Erosion Species of that level in the Unending Night...'
Kraush frowned as thoughts of 10th Rank Erosion Species came to mind.
No matter how skilled Kraush was, dealing with them was still beyond his capabilities.
Even for a 10th Rank Erosion Species, at least the Master Perfection Knight Order was required to confront it.
And even that was just the minimum requirement for the Master Perfection Knight Order.
'Since I don't rely solely on Aura, I don't necessarily need to measure myself by Aura alone.'
Kraush felt that with the combined power of Aura and World Erosion, he was roughly at the level of a Master High Rank.
In fact, Kraush had recently reached the Intermediate Master level in Aura.
'If the absorption limit of World Erosion were lifted in the Forbidden Zone, and I pushed my body to its limits, I could possibly reach the highest rank.'
Kraush had the Annihilation Heavenly Asura.
While it required him to pour everything he had into it, its momentary firepower could undoubtedly reach the highest rank.
However, even that highest rank could barely manage against a 9th Rank Erosion Species.
If it were a 10th Rank or higher, Kraush wouldn't stand a chance.
"...A 10th Rank Erosion Species, is it?"
Thus, Kraush asked if it was an opponent he absolutely couldn't handle.
Veltoa shook his head.
"It's a 9th Rank."
Fortunately, it wasn't a 10th Rank Erosion Species.
"...A 9th Rank."
Haring, who was beside him, also stiffened her expression.
The highest she had encountered was the 7th Rank Fake Lavados and the early-stage 7th Rank Decarabia during the Midterm Evaluation.
Hearing about a 9th Rank, two levels higher, left her breathless.
She likely realized anew what kind of place the Forbidden Zone was.
"There's no need to be scared before even trying."
Kraush reassured Haring.
"Ebelasque, I'll need your help too."
"Phew, I came here to help with this in the first place."
Despite appearances, Ebelasque had once made a name for herself as the Empire's secret weapon.
Her necromancy was suitable for handling large groups, but she also had a trump card.
She was likely planning to summon the corpses of the vanguard.
Though not entirely reliable, that Mad Blade Emperor guy was also present.
At the very least, he could serve as a meat shield.
'Somehow, it's doable.'
While he couldn't guarantee coming back unscathed, he was confident they could defeat it.
Moreover, Veltoa wouldn't just stand idly by.
They had a chance of winning.
"So, which creature is holding the Four Seasons?"
When Kraush asked, Veltoa conveniently raised his pole.
Then the lantern shone, pointing to the Night Sky above.
"There it is, just in time."
Kraush's gaze followed the lantern to the Night Sky.
There, through the pitch-black clouds, starlight briefly scattered before vanishing.
The moment Kraush saw it, his expression gradually darkened.
Because Kraush also knew the identity of the Erosion Species.
"Are you saying the real Four Seasons is with that thing?"
"Yes, which is why even this old man can't touch it."
A sigh escaped Kraush's lips.
Ebelasque, who had boldly declared she would help Kraush, tilted her head beside him.
She was almost entirely unfamiliar with the details of the Unending Night.
"What is it? What's that starlight?"
"...That's starlight scattered toward the sky by an Erosion Species."
An Erosion Species that scatters starlight to illuminate the Unending Night.
Reverse Night Star.
Its goal was to completely illuminate the Unending Night.
Kraush didn't know why it had such a goal.
The problem lay elsewhere.
As mentioned earlier, the Reverse Night Star was a creature that scattered starlight.
The moment this Reverse Night Star died, the Unending Night would truly become nothing but night.
And under that night, the Erosion Species parasitizing it would grow even more rampant.
'The starlight of the Reverse Night Star suppresses the Unending Night.'
Thus, killing the Reverse Night Star in the Unending Night was practically a taboo.
After all, when one of the originally three Reverse Night Stars was killed, the realm of the Unending Night expanded further.
'Now I understand why this old man Veltoa couldn't handle the Four Seasons.'
Messing with the Reverse Night Star risked making the Unending Night even larger.
So, they must not have even considered the Four Seasons.
[ Isn't it possible for you? ]
At that moment, Crimson Garden, perched on Kraush's shoulder, asked.
It meant that they could just take the Four Seasons using the Black Hood.
"......That's not so easy."
As mentioned earlier, the Four Seasons has consumed a part of its body to fill that space.
"Unless it willingly regurgitates a part of its body, taking the Four Seasons will kill the Reverse Night Star."
Killing it would be more troublesome, considering it's an Erosion Species.
Truly, what an absurd situation.
"Hmm, it seems there is a way to extract the Four Seasons?"
At that moment, Veltoa, who had been watching the starlight, turned this way.
"I have a way to make the Four Seasons regurgitate a part of its body."
"Really?"
"That is, assuming the Reverse Night Star doesn't resist."
Ultimately, it meant that subduing the Reverse Night Star was the top priority.
However, a breakthrough was beginning to appear.
Kraush absolutely needed the Four Seasons.
There was no time to be picky about methods.
"Let's do it."
Kraush raised his head toward the Night Sky.
Taking the Four Seasons from the Reverse Night Star.
It begins.
* * *
The Reverse Night Star.
True to its name, nothing is precisely known about the identity of the creature that brightens the Night Sky daily.
It simply tries to brighten the Night Sky every day.
That's all.
However, one thing is known.
The Reverse Night Star is a 9th Class Erosion Species.
Regarding that, no one denies it.
Under the unending Night Sky.
On two long, white legs stretched out,
black fuzz was densely attached.
Moreover, on top of those legs were four bright yellow wings, like those of a moth, scattering something akin to starlight dust.
In particular, its head was exceptionally bizarre.
A head formed from multiple layers of overlapping wings.
And the numerous eyes attached to that head moved in different directions.
The name of that being, roughly twice the size of a human, was the Reverse Night Star.
The Reverse Night Star raised its pitch-black arm.
Then, following that arm, the scattered starlight dust once again spread across the unending Night Sky.
The Reverse Night Star simply lived scattering starlight in this way.
Unaware of the existence of the Four Seasons that had already seeped into its body.
Upright—
At that moment, as it raised its hand toward the Night Sky, the Reverse Night Star froze.
Because the Reverse Night Star also sensed a presence.
Although it had no nose, the Reverse Night Star felt a sweet scent tickling its sense of smell.
A sweet scent that, if savored in one bite, would bring unprecedented ecstasy.
Following the scent, it turned its head, and its eyes reached the edge of the horizon.
The edge of the horizon where the Night Sky meets.
A single lantern, shining as brightly as its starlight, began to appear.
Beneath that lantern, an old man carrying a pole was trudging toward it.
"Now, move."
And soon, the old man struck the pole firmly into the ground with a thud.
Then, dozens of pitch-black centipedes erupted simultaneously from beneath the pole.
The centipedes grew enormous in an instant, enough to cover the entire area, and charged straight toward the Reverse Night Star.
The Reverse Night Star, watching the scene idly, slowly raised the tip of its black finger.
And at the moment when it thought light clusters were gathering at the tip of its finger.
Piiing!
Along with the sound of light rushing, the centipedes exploded all at once.
But the centipedes were no ordinary centipedes.
The moment they shattered into pieces of light, their numbers multiplied severalfold instead.
The multiplied centipedes swelled further and rushed fiercely toward the Reverse Night Star.
Feeling slightly annoyed, the Reverse Night Star spread its wings wide.
At that moment, the light clusters the Reverse Night Star had scattered earlier all converged around its wings.
Under the unending Night Sky, at the moment an unexpected flash burst forth.
Kwagagagagagagang!
The centipedes, struck by the light stretching to the edge of the horizon, were entirely obliterated without leaving even a speck of ash.
"As expected, it's a 9th Class."
Watching the scene, Veltoa clicked his tongue.
The Reverse Night Star was displaying a scale of power truly befitting a 9th Class Erosion Species.
"Still, a few should fall."
However, he hadn't intentionally sacrificed the Curse Centipedes.
The Reverse Night Star belatedly realized that the sweet scent it had sensed earlier was coming from below it.
As one of the eyes attached to the wings on its head turned in that direction.
The Reverse Night Star felt an intense heat that even it found scorching, mingled with the rich scent.
In an instant, amidst that intense heat, so strong it evoked the image of a Sun it had never seen before.
A boy with black-dyed hair and a girl with dark purple hair appeared.
Since when?
The Reverse Night Star wondered.
Until just now, it hadn't sensed anything, yet somehow the boy was now beneath it.
The boy's eyes were dyed redder than ever.
Because above the Night Sky cast within his body, seven stars were pouring out crimson light all at once.
Within his night, a Red Moon had risen.
Chill!
Even the Reverse Night Star felt a momentary sense of intimidation as the boy's presence grew rapidly.
Dangerous.
The Reverse Night Star hastily extended its hand.
It intended to tear the boy apart with the light clusters gathered on its hand.
But the speed at which the Reverse Night Star raised its hand couldn't reach the boy.
The skill imbued in his sword, Excel.
The fastest acceleration in the world had already been added to him.
Piiiiiiing!
Like the light the Reverse Night Star had unleashed, the boy's sword was also thrust forward in an instant, like light.
For the first time in its life, the Reverse Night Star realized its vision was ablaze.
Annihilation Erosion
Fifth Form
Annihilation Sky Moon Fire
The Flame of the Red Moon engulfed the Reverse Night Star.