Chapter 233
A fire ignited inside Kraush's body.
Accordingly, Kraush's pupils gradually began to turn red.
The Heavenly Slaughter Star and Annihilation Erosion simultaneously surged, starting to intensely reinforce Kraush's body.
The atmosphere burned hotly.
The fragments of afterimages that had been flying around shattered with a clinking sound.
The third stage of Annihilation Erosion.
Annihilation Asura.
Felray suddenly felt his face heating up.
This was because an even greater amount of heat was pouring out of Kraush.
Amidst it all, Felray was also smiling, following Kraush.
Because he realized that he had grown strong enough to make Kraush exert his power.
However, Kraush did not stop there.
As if to respond to Felray's strength.
Even stronger heat surged from inside his body, engulfing his entire being.
The heat, further amplified through the Cold Air of the Curse Snow Devourer, dominated the surroundings.
Clink!
The fragments of afterimages created by Felray could not withstand Kraush's heat and shattered.
Amidst that scene, the Seven Stars of Kraush's Heavenly Slaughter Star simultaneously emitted light.
Annihilation Heavenly Asura.
The fourth realm Kraush had reached.
A realm he could now reach purely by his own power, without the Instant Enhancement Elixir.
The moment he reached that realm, Kraush's blazing red eyes met Felray's.
Felray instinctively realized.
That he could not defeat Kraush.
However, without a moment's hesitation, he raised his sword.
The fragments of afterimages, which had been shattering, gathered around Felray's sword.
With the swirling fragments of afterimages, Felray stepped back.
To clash his utmost strength against Kraush.
The aura imbued with his full might unfolded, swirling around him.
"Thank you for always being ahead of me."
Felray expressed his gratitude as he unleashed a fierce light.
In an instant, the air around Felray reversed its flow.
The fragments of afterimages collided with the light pouring out of Felray's sword, as if resonating, releasing their power.
At the same time, the red aura of Kraush's Heavenly Slaughter Star gathered on his sword.
Amidst the red currents mixed with Black Flame, the Red Moon slowly rose above Kraush's head.
When the intensely red moon was swallowed by the Black Flame and Thunder Energy surged.
Felray smiled while holding his sword.
At last, the swords of the two clashed simultaneously.
Clear Sky Rain Wonder.
Fifth Form.
Clear Rain.
Felray's blue sword, capable of clearing even the storm clouds, cut through the air.
Annihilation Erosion.
Fifth Form.
Annihilation Sky Moon Fire.
The black sword of Black Flame, which had swallowed the Red Moon, descended upon the world.
At the moment when the clash of the two swords continued.
The two swords simultaneously emitted light, as if swallowing even the sound.
And as the light faded, the outer wall of the building collapsed, and smoke filled the air.
From within the smoke, someone pushed off the ground and leaped out.
It was Felray, whose clothes were torn and body was in disarray.
One of his arms and legs were entirely burned, and his muscles and bones screamed out in pain.
Yet his blue eyes still ran, refusing to give up.
Felray's Clear Rain had indeed been overpowered by Kraush's Annihilation Sky Moon Fire.
This was because the power of Kraush's Annihilation Sky Moon Fire was on a completely different level.
However, Felray's Clear Rain, imbued with his full strength, managed to push back Annihilation Sky Moon Fire slightly.
That alone allowed him to remain conscious.
That was enough.
Because he could still stand.
Without hesitation, Felray's sword cut through the smoke, drawing out the last of his aura.
At the same time, Kraush's figure appeared in the clearing smoke.
Facing Felray, Kraush stood with his sword lowered to his waist, ready.
He, too, had believed that Felray would not fall and had been waiting.
Felray's pupils shone brightly.
"Kraush!"
Calling out to him, Felray's sword sliced through the air, extending toward Kraush.
Kraush, as if responding, thrust his sword toward Felray.
Clang!
The resonance of the clashing swords echoed.
Felray's sword slid down Kraush's blade, initiating the final contest of strength.
Kraush, unfazed, pushed his sword guard forward, blocking Felray's sword's path.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—
Amidst their fierce struggle.
Felray repeatedly let out rough breaths.
At some point, his arm gripping the sword barely had any strength left.
Yet Felray stubbornly held onto his sword.
"Felray."
Amidst Felray's final determination.
Kraush's voice resounded.
"Come at me again next time."
Next time.
Hearing those words, Felray looked beyond his sword at Kraush.
Become stronger and clash with me once more.
At that time, I will fight you with all my strength again, just as I am now.
That was what Kraush was saying.
Hearing that, Felray let out a short laugh, as if admitting defeat, and then collapsed with his sword.
Thud!
Felray, kneeling on the ground, rested his head on the floor.
Yet even in that state, Felray did not let go of his sword.
Kraush, having sheathed the blade of Rain Thunder Prime, turned his head to look at Felray.
Kraush, too, repeatedly let out breaths, having exerted considerable effort.
Felray, sprawled on the ground, had a refreshed expression, as if he had given his all.
Kraush casually removed the bracelet from Felray's hand and placed it in his pocket.
Watching Felray, Kraush let out a faint laugh and began walking down the corridor again.
Cooling his slightly creaking body, worn from using Annihilation Heavenly Asura, with Snow Devourer.
Now, only Meiri remained.
She was just around the corner.
Boom!
At that moment, a loud noise came from outside.
When Kraush looked beyond the window, he saw a Black Space.
'Zodiac Cloria.'
It must be a move Sigrid prepared to defeat Charlotte.
Moreover, seeing the light of the White Dragon bursting out, it seemed that Sigrid was also putting in her full effort.
However, Sigrid would not know one fact.
The reason why Kraush deliberately left Charlotte to face Sigrid alone, even though it was possible for Kraush and Charlotte together to destroy everything with an offensive.
'Today, I will deepen Sigrid's doubts.'
The doubts Sigrid had always harbored toward Kraush and Charlotte.
One of them, either Charlotte or Kraush, clearly displayed actions suggesting they knew about the past.
Recently, Sigrid must have gradually realized it was not Charlotte but Kraush.
Yet, she would not be able to accept that fact.
To her, Kraush was always a Curse Bearer, someone who cried out and died just before the regression.
'Because of the information from before the regression, Sigrid, you won't be able to let go of your prejudice against me.'
Kraush was aware of the unease that had settled in Sigrid's heart.
As time passed, Sigrid was undoubtedly falling apart.
Arthur, who had yet to appear before her.
The variable of Kraush, who had certainly been a Curse Bearer before the regression.
Charlotte's excessive interventions.
Mary's betrayal.
Abella's disappearance.
Everything was now too different from before the regression.
The overwhelming situation where she had to manage everything alone.
Sigrid was continuously under extreme stress, and these facts steadily ate away at her.
She was someone who thought of herself as the center of the world.
But the world was denying that she was its center.
'So today.'
Kraush recalled what he had handed to Charlotte and wore a cold expression.
'I will shake Sigrid greatly.'
Watching the scheme he had carried out against Glen today, Kraush was certain.
Sigrid would undoubtedly be an obstacle to preventing destruction.
Kraush lifted his head.
Before him stood a door.
The door, heavily layered with magic, clearly appeared to be thoroughly secured.
Kraush drew Rain Thunder Prime and, without a moment's hesitation, unleashed Annihilation Erosion.
Then, he swung Rain Thunder Prime in the exact shape of the door.
Slash!
Kraush sliced through the door along with its magic, as if cutting through tofu, and lifted his leg.
Boom!
Then, kicking the door, it fell entirely backward.
"Ugh!"
"Agh!"
Screams echoed from inside.
Those who had sensed Kraush's presence had been waiting by the door and ended up crushed.
However, Kraush, unconcerned, leaped over the door.
Clang!
As soon as Kraush jumped over, he blocked an incoming sword.
Then, he punched the stomach of the one who had swung the sword at him and pushed him with his foot.
"Gah!"
Leaving the fallen man behind, Kraush lifted his head.
There were still quite a few people stationed to protect Meiri.
They all looked at Kraush with wary eyes.
'Meiri is.'
Kraush noticed that Meiri was not visible in the surroundings.
'Hidden.'
There seemed to be a specific place that even his Sixth Sense couldn't detect.
"If you're going to hide her, you should have all left this place too."
A chilling smile appeared on Kraush's lips.
The members of the White Lamb Order, realizing what he meant, felt a chill.
Soon, their screams echoed loudly.
* * *
A member of the White Lamb Order, a Detection System Special List.
Meiri.
Her specialty was overwhelmingly wide detection and multitasking ability.
She possessed the capability to handle dozens of situations simultaneously.
As the head of the White Lamb Order, she was also responsible for thorough command, identifying enemy locations, and understanding strategies.
She was someone who could make all the necessary decisions to suit the situation.
Her extremely honed detection was almost like prophecy.
At the point where Meiri was present, the enemy's retreat, movements, and strategies were rendered powerless before her.
In fact, if Meiri had been fine, even the White Lamb Order would have found it impossible to break through head-on.
After being defeated by Charlotte.
She regained consciousness when Kraush clashed with Felray.
Feeling a blank mind and a headache, she quickly activated her detection.
Since her detection ability had been smashed once by Charlotte, it took quite some time to operate it properly.
But as if to prove why she was a Detection System Special List.
Even in that situation, she managed to activate her detection ability.
In the lower area, first-year members of the Lion Order and key members of the White Lamb Order were clashing.
A precarious exchange of offense and defense was taking place there.
On another side, the Commander of the Human Horse Unit, Barkram Arios, a first-year Magic Studies Vice President, and Aslan Igrit, the second-year Magic Studies President, were facing off.
The second-years following Aslan were also repeating desperate battles.
The White Lamb Order building was in complete disarray.
Finally.
'He's close.'
The second-year Martial Arts President, Kraush Balheim, was coming this way after defeating Felray.
Among the members of the Lion Order, he was the fastest.
He would arrive here in just a few minutes.
There weren't many options she could take.
She asked the remaining members to guard the place, while she hid herself in a toolbox enchanted with Detection Immunity Magic, prepared for such situations.
Boom!
And as expected, the moment she hid, Kraush appeared.
Standing on both feet, Meiri, hidden in the toolbox, quietly held her breath.
Kraush immediately destroyed all the members of the White Lamb Order upon his arrival.
His actions were so merciless that even Meiri, watching, was terrified.
Furthermore, Kraush, without a moment's hesitation, sat the remaining members down and interrogated them.
"Where is Meiri?"
"I-I don't know."
"Alright."
As soon as they said they didn't know, Kraush punched the face of the White Lamb Order member beside him.
It was a fanatical Imperialist member who often praised the Empire and called for the destruction of other kingdoms.
"Gah, ugh."
As he coughed, not expecting to be hit, Kraush raised his fist again.
"Where is Meiri?"
"I-I really don't know!"
"Alright."
And Kraush's fist struck the Imperialist member once again.
His fist landed so powerfully that even those watching instinctively shut their eyes from the pain it conveyed.
"P-please, stop."
"Where is Meiri?"
Kraush's eyes grew exceedingly cold.
Meeting his gaze, the members of the White Lamb Order trembled uncontrollably.
He was utterly merciless.
Could someone praised as a hero truly be this cruel?
His appearance was so terrifying that such thoughts naturally arose.
Additionally, one fact collectively surfaced in their minds.
The Den of Evil, Balheim.
And the kind of person Charlotte, who was born there, was.
All the personnel assigned to protect Meiri were First Year Students of the White Lamb Order.
The fear of Balheim, engraved into their bodies after being defeated by Charlotte in various ways, resurfaced.
"Where is Meiri?"
Kraush asked the same question from start to finish.
As if there was no way to escape without answering this question.
He asked emotionlessly, like a robot.
And when there was no answer, Kraush raised his fist once more.
"P-please, s-spare me..."
At some point, the Imperialist member began crying, attempting to flee.
However, Kraush mercilessly stomped on his back.
"N-no. I-I'll talk. I'll talk!"
As Kraush's fist struck him hard, it seemed like a few of his teeth had been knocked out, and he screamed.
But Kraush wasn't asking him.
Kraush stared directly at the one he had questioned initially.
"Where is Meiri?"
The face of the one being questioned turned pale with fear.
Meanwhile, the Imperialist member desperately looked at him.
Meeting those eyes, he could no longer hide it.
Bang!
At that moment, the door to the toolbox where Meiri was hiding opened.
As Kraush turned to look at the open door, Meiri stepped out, biting her lips tightly.
"...Stop it. I'm here."
In the end, unable to bear it any longer, Meiri came out on her own.
Meiri looked at Kraush with disbelief in her eyes.
What was happening now wasn't a war but merely a confrontation.
Although it was a confrontation deeply entangled with political matters.
No matter how it was framed, Kraush's recent actions were utterly inappropriate for a confrontation.
"You, someone praised as a hero, are doing such things to an ordinary student?"
Kraush blinked momentarily upon hearing those words.
Then he let out a faint, incredulous laugh.
"When did I ever ask to be called a hero?"
Upon hearing his next question, Meiri widened her eyes.
She had also heard countless stories of Kraush's reputation.
That such a person could be like this.
Meiri openly displayed a disappointed expression.
"Meiri, listen carefully."
Kraush lifted his foot off the Imperialist member he had been stomping on and walked toward Meiri.
"This rotten world is nothing but a pile of filth, stained everywhere."
"What are you—"
"And that's something you, with your detection ability, will encounter more than anyone else."
Meiri hesitated.
It was because she felt as though Kraush's eyes were piercing into her for some unknown reason.
A shiver ran down her spine.
She couldn't understand what this man was seeing in her.
"After seeing such things countless times, there may come a day when you'll want to blind your own eyes and deafen your ears."
"...What are you talking about?"
"No matter how much effort you put into cleaning a room, dust will always accumulate in the end."
Meiri was reflected in Kraush's eyes.
As a member of the Skyborne Generation with an exceptional detection ability, she could sense crises faster than anyone else.
And she had tried multiple times to warn others of danger and save lives.
But there were those who ignored her warnings and didn't act to save people.
Their decisions were driven by greed, like money and other desires.
Through those who didn't act despite her warnings, countless people lost their lives.
And most of those who died were commoners.
She was a commoner, not a noble.
Knowing better than anyone how the lives of commoners differed from those of nobles, she looked on at this reality in despair.
And it wasn't long before she tore out her own ears and gouged out her eyes with her own hands.
Because even if she heard and saw and warned, it didn't change the world.
She had come to understand that.
"So, know this one thing."
A blade emerged from Kraush's Rain Thunder Prime.
The oppressive aura from the black flame rising from the blade was enough to make Meiri step back.
"There's at least one merciless arsonist willing to burn away even that dust."
"Ugh!"
Meiri, still unable to comprehend Kraush's words, immediately attempted to flee.
Her evasion ability, utilizing her detection skills, was superior to others.
So she intended to escape somehow.
But she soon realized how futile that thought was.
Kraush's presence was felt in every corner of her detection range.
Meiri understood well what this meant.
It meant there wasn't a single way for her to escape.
Crack!
With the sound coming from the back of her neck, she felt her consciousness slipping away.
In her fading consciousness, she briefly locked eyes with Kraush.
Though she didn't know what he was seeing through her.
She lost consciousness knowing it wasn't only hostility in his gaze.