Chapter 416: It Can’t Be Closed Yet (2)
With a single clash, both Ghislain and Equidema were sent flying in opposite directions.
The knights, who were fighting the Riftspawn while catching glimpses of the scene, were left in shock.
‘The lord got pushed back?’
‘What the hell is that monster?!’
‘Damn it… Are we all going to die like this?’
Ghislain was among the top five strongest in the kingdom. For someone of his caliber to be overpowered just how strong was that monster?
Of course, the creature had also been pushed back by Ghislain’s power, proving it wasn’t overwhelmingly stronger than him.
However, the problem was that monsters like it were going to emerge all over the continent soon.
Hundreds, maybe thousands, of monstrous beings at a superhuman level were about to ravage the continent.
‘It’s truly the end.’
There was no other way to describe it, but as an apocalypse.
Kaaaaah!
Equidema let out another deafening roar, spewing blue smoke from its mouth.
Thud!
Every step the beast took made the ground tremble, shaking everyone fighting nearby.
The area beneath its feet was slowly turning gray.
Ghislain glared at the beast, drawing upon his mana once more.
‘Corrosion…’
Equidema was like the vanguard of an army. Each breath it exhaled and each step it took gradually corrupted the environment.
This corruption was what allowed the Riftspawn to manifest and thrive in this world.
‘The longer this goes on, the worse it gets.’
He had to end it quickly. The longer this dragged on, the more Riftspawn would appear. Even now, their numbers continue to swell.
Clang! Clang! Boom!
“Damn it! They just keep coming!”
“Are they Grexes or what?!”
“They’ve breached again! Take them down, now!”
The knights were already beginning to tire, despite the short time since the battle started. Each Riftspawn was formidable enough on its own, but the sheer number was overwhelming.
Fortunately, the knights and soldiers who had evacuated the civilians were now returning to the battlefield. The city garrison, sensing the chaos, was also converging on the scene.
This estate belonged to a wealthy ducal faction, and despite being a small city, nearly 500 garrison troops were mobilized.
The mayor, witnessing the reinforcement, shouted urgently.
“Stop them! Hold back the monsters! Assist the Fenris Knights!”
For someone who initially resisted getting involved, it was a surprisingly wise decision. The mayor was doing everything he could to prevent the Riftspawn from spreading.
“Hold the line!”
At the command of the garrison captain, knights and soldiers surged forward against the Riftspawn.
The latecomers were equally bewildered and struggled to grasp the situation. However, having received prior notices about the rift, they managed to remain somewhat composed though the Fenris Knights’ relentless defense was the primary reason for their courage.
Kaaaah!
“Die, you disgusting bastards!”
The soldiers lacked the strength to face the Riftspawn head-on, but their presence provided enough cover for the Fenris Knights to fight more effectively.
Ghislain cast a brief glance at them.
While the others held off the Riftspawn, and while Equidema had yet to fully unleash its power, he needed to end it now.
Ghislain gathered even more mana. If he was to shorten this battle, he had to unleash his full strength.
“Dark, let’s begin.”
“Don’t die on me.”
Dark amplified Ghislain’s emotions with his abilities.
Rumble!
The dark crimson energy surrounding Ghislain flared even more violently, radiating power that pressed heavily on Equidema.
Grrrrrr…
Equidema growled, as if it was displeased. Its beastly eyes glowed an even deeper red, filled with unrestrained killing intent and fury.
“Let’s go.”
Ghislain whispered as he took a step forward.
Boom!
The ground cracked beneath his feet. The Third Stage Core was fully activated, and with Dark amplifying his emotions, his strength had surged beyond limits.
All the negative emotions Ghislain had experienced throughout his life now converged into a blazing inferno.
‘Kill.’
Only one thought remained in his mind to obliterate the enemy before him. His burning rage urged him to annihilate the harbinger of apocalypse, Equidema.
This monster had taken countless lives and driven many into despair in his past life.
Many of his subordinates and comrades from the mercenary corps had also fallen to this beast.
How many times had he lamented his own weakness back then?
How many times had he grieved, unable to protect others better?
Stopping the Rift was essential for ultimate victory to protect people and minimize the damage.
That was why he had meticulously planned, prepared behind the scenes, and moved with caution.
But right now, none of that mattered.
The beast before him simply disgusted him. He couldn’t bear its existence. He wanted to kill it.
“Die.”
Ghislain’s aura blade extended in an instant, slashing across Equidema’s body.
Kwaaaang!
Equidema tried to evade, but it couldn’t match Ghislain’s overwhelming speed. Its side was deeply cut, and from the wound, the same blue smoke as before began billowing violently.
Whoooosh!
Ghislain’s aura blade came crashing down again.
This time, Equidema didn’t even try to dodge, perhaps realizing that avoiding Ghislain’s strike was impossible.
Kwaaaang!
Another thunderous blow echoed, followed by a shockwave rippling outward.
Knights, soldiers, and even the rampaging Riftspawn all staggered and collapsed.
The Riftspawn swarming around Ghislain were instantly obliterated by the impact.
Yet, Equidema endured the blow.
Its powerful forelimb slashed at Ghislain’s body.
Fwaaaash!
The crimson-black energy enveloping Ghislain was torn apart, exposing his body momentarily.
No one before had ever fully pierced through the protective shroud Ghislain maintained.
And yet, a mere beast like Equidema had just broken it.
Though the dark aura quickly reformed around him, it had become noticeably redder tinged with the blood now seeping from his body.
Trusting his regenerative abilities, Ghislain swung his sword once more.
Kwaaaang!
Equidema flinched, the strike too fast and powerful to completely avoid.
But Ghislain was also struggling.
The massive bulk of Equidema made it difficult to avoid its wide-reaching attacks. Its overwhelming physical power, honed instincts, and natural brutality made it a true monster born of the Rift.
Clenching his teeth, Ghislain swung his sword again.
Kwaaaang!
Trying to evade the beast while fighting would only reduce his effectiveness. He couldn’t afford to prolong the battle. This power he was using it wasn’t limitless.
And Equidema showed no fear of being wounded. It was confident in its strength.
Thus, it took Ghislain’s attacks head-on while retaliating without hesitation.
Kwaaaang!
It had become a battle of pure, primal killing intent.
Both Ghislain and Equidema tore into each other without pause.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang! Kwaaaang!
Ghislain’s crimson-black aura was shredded again and again, scattering dark energy throughout the air.
Equidema’s body, too, was covered in wounds, with blue smoke pouring out of it.
The mingling smoke from both of their injuries filled the battlefield like a storm.
Rooooooar!
Equidema let out a deafening roar.
It couldn’t comprehend why this small human wouldn’t die.
Thud!
Unbeknownst to itself, Equidema had begun taking steps backward each time it was struck.
It couldn’t accept this.
It refused to be overpowered by such a tiny creature.
Ghislain, watching Equidema falter, took another step forward.
‘Come.’
He had fought this monster countless times in his past life. No matter how strong it was, it was still just a beast.
He couldn’t retreat. He couldn’t let the momentum shift.
He had to keep pressing harder to crush it completely.
Kwaaaang!
Ghislain advanced again, sword cleaving downward.
Equidema staggered further back.
A beast whose claws couldn’t wound its prey would inevitably seek a stronger weapon.
Realizing this, Equidema stopped swinging its claws.
Kaaaah!
The monster’s massive form lunged suddenly.
It opened its jaws wide, intending to swallow Ghislain whole.
As it surged closer, Ghislain raised his sword and slashed.
Kwaaaang!
One of Equidema’s eyes burst, and half of its face was split open.
But it didn’t stop.
Despite the pain, it charged straight at him.
Chomp!
At a blinding speed, its jaws clamped down on Ghislain.
The force was so overwhelming that he couldn’t break free.
Crunch…
But Equidema wasn’t foolish enough to simply swallow him.
Its jaws tightened further, determined to crush Ghislain entirely.
“Ugh…!”
Ghislain let out a pained groan without realizing it.
Equidema’s massive, razor-sharp teeth had pierced through his protective barrier, slowly sinking deeper into his body.
But the far graver threat was the blue smoke constantly billowing from Equidema’s mouth.
The smoke seeped through the gaps in Ghislain’s torn barrier, invading his body. Red blotches began forming on his skin, appearing and vanishing in a vicious cycle.
It wasn’t merely poison. It was closer to a disease one that his body was struggling to purge, only to become reinfected repeatedly.
“Grrrr…!”
Grinding his teeth, Ghislain expanded his aura blade further, channeling nearly all his mana into the weapon, leaving only a sliver of mana to maintain his defenses.
Reversing his grip on the sword, he drove it straight into Equidema’s already-ruptured eye. The lengthened aura blade easily reached the target.
Grkkk!
Sparks flew as the sound of metal tearing through steel echoed.
A little deeper and he would pierce through the monster’s brain entirely.
Having failed to kill Ghislain instantly, Equidema had no choice but to open its jaws wide.
‘Now!’
As it shifted its head to bite him again, Ghislain was faster.
Taah!
He vaulted upward, landing atop Equidema’s head, then lunged directly toward its remaining eye.
“Just die already.”
The crimson-black shroud around him vanished as he poured every last drop of his mana into his sword.
Kwakakakak!
His aura blade extended further than ever before, piercing through Equidema’s remaining eye and plunging deep into the beast’s skull, turning its brain to pulp.
Grooooar!
Equidema reared back violently, thrashing its massive head.
But its gaze had already dimmed.
The powerful aura blade had shredded through its vulnerable brain, which lacked the external protection of its outer body.
Krrrk…
The blue smoke that had been pouring from Equidema’s mouth began to subside.
No matter how monstrous it was, even Equidema could not survive with its brain destroyed.
Its body was merely clinging to life through sheer physical resilience.
But though it wasn’t quite dead, it could no longer be called alive either.
It was no longer moving just waiting for the inevitable.
Thud!
Equidema’s colossal body finally collapsed, slamming into the ground with a heavy impact.
The blue smoke dissipated completely.
And even then, the creature’s chest heaved for a while longer before its eyes finally closed forever.
“…Hah.”
Ghislain slumped to the ground in front of Equidema’s corpse, utterly exhausted.
Having depleted all his mana, he could no longer fight.
His bones felt twisted, his muscles torn apart.
Though a trace of mana was circulating weakly through his body, struggling to heal him, the damage was too severe for it to work effectively.
‘At last… it’s dead.’
Under normal circumstances, he would never have been able to climb atop Equidema’s head so easily.
But he had refused to retreat, pressing the monster relentlessly until it was forced to reveal its vulnerable points.
He had seized that brief opening, destroyed its brain, and emerged victorious.
With Equidema’s death, the Riftspawn stopped emerging.
The ones already present began to react strangely.
“Kiiiieeek!”
The Riftspawn shrieked, clawing wildly at themselves, clutching their heads as though in agony.
Even the soldiers and knights fighting them backed away in confusion.
“W-What’s going on?”
“Why are they acting like that?”
“Did they lose their minds?”
Nearly a thousand Riftspawn had already emerged. Just moments ago, the warriors were worried they would be overwhelmed.
Now, those same creatures had ceased attacking and were convulsing violently.
“This is our chance! Kill them all!”
Lucas shouted, preparing to charge forward then froze.
Ssshhh…
The Riftspawn’s bodies began to crack and disintegrate, turning to dust that scattered into the air.
As though they were beings that should never have existed in this world.
“What… what’s happening…?”
The soldiers could only watch in stunned silence as the Riftspawn dissolved into nothingness.
Ghislain, still slumped on the ground, muttered quietly as he watched the spectacle unfold.
“They’re finally disappearing…”
In his past life, the Holy Maiden had said that the beings from beyond the Rift were never meant to exist in this world.
Ghislain turned his head toward Equidema’s lifeless body.
Even that massive corpse had begun to break apart, crumbling into dust just like the Riftspawn.
Seeing it fade, Ghislain let out a weary sigh.
“If only it could have ended like this.”
Yet, even as everything else turned to dust, the Rift itself remained, unmoving, and unyielding.