Episode 929 The Glory of the Dead (16)
The path of evil
Super-tier magic
The soul is a concept that only has meaning when there is death… … Draven understood this principle, so he could draw out the power of the animus.
Thump.
Countless heartbeats echo within me.
Some of the souls residing in the Animus have now fully melted into Draven’s soul, so he is now like both one and many.
Swoosh.
As soon as his neck was deeply slashed by the light sword, Draven killed himself without delay, and the death was erased as if it had never happened, and his body was restored to its original state.
… … !
Verden and Adrian glared at Draven’s regenerative power.It was a familiar regenerative ability.
Kaecilus’s magic?
Kecillus Chaeren, the fourth servant of the Glory of the Corpse who caused the Bone Dragon incident in the Republic of Beldirn.
Kaecilus pioneered a magic that allowed him to resurrect even if his body turned to dust. And the price for rejecting death was irreversible aging that accelerated with every death…Having faced death time and time again at the hands of Verden and Adrian, Kaecilus grew old and died like that.
“Do you remember?”
Mado
The magic of the servants killed by you bastards.
Draven, having accepted the soul of Kaesillus, opened the magic of others.However, for Draven, who had already overcome the limitations of his lifespan in the past, aging caused by magic holds no particular significance.
He became an immortal whose body does not age.
That wasn’t all.
Magic, Martial Arts, Faith.
Many souls resided within Draven, and their unique powers were also transmitted to him.With this, he surpassed the common understanding of a transcendent being in the magical realm.
It recreates the power the soul possessed during its lifetime.
That is precisely the true intent of Draven’s ultimate super-tier magic,
For the sake of a single ideal.
“Ughh
Draven let out a roar, his tendons and veins bulging all over his body. Indren’s restraints were shattered by the torrent of overwhelming power.
Existence trembles.
The five transcendent beings were engulfed in a tingling sensation within their souls. Draven’s power amplified to an absurd level.
So, he doesn’t just possess Kaecilus’s magic.
Verden grasped [Interis] with both hands and drew out infinite magical power.
It is as if ‘transcendents’ have combined.
… … drip drip drip.
Sticky, dark blood trickled down Draven’s cheeks from his eyes. Without wiping away his tears of blood, he tore offhis tattered robe. The ring adorning his finger flashed and transformed into a full body armor.
A national symbol modeled after the Crown of Iron.
Emperor Xerion’s Guard Knights───The conquest of the commander leading the glory of Xerion.
It was neither an artifact nor a magical item.
This is because the original armor was destroyed during the War of the Transcendents. The current armor is merely a replica that reproduces the form of the past.
Draven, whose heart had even returned to the old days, whispered as the first servant of the Glory of the Dead and the captain of the Glory of the Great Xerion.
“Come, enemy of the Empire.”
The wind brushes past.
Concurrent light
Chain Ring – Falling Axe
Adrian’s lightsaber and Mauler’s gauntlets approached from the front and behind. Draven flicked Animus’s gauntlets and twisted his body.Without a magic sword, he deflected the techniques of the transcendent beings of the martial arts world with his bare hands.
‘This bastard…?”Suddenly his technique…!’
Smack!
Mauler and Adrian’s vision wavered.It was a significant shock.While the two staggered, Draven retrieved the magic sword [Morbein].
Hyun-roe – Flowing Electricity
The thunder of destruction exploded.
Draven, covering his heart and head with his left arm, gushed blood from his mouth. A faint tremor ran through his dark pupils.
Bendie charged forward holding a curved sword with a blade bent like a crescent moon.
Kagagagagagagagagagang!
Draven countered the storm-like spinning slash from his position. It was a different situation from before. Bendie’s fingertips tingled slightly.
The level of perfection in your fighting and swordsmanship has changed drastically. Furthermore, since you won’t die even if your neck is severed, I suppose I will have to choose one of the two.
Bendie conveyed his intentions to everyone through his energy.
───Either cut off Draven’s breath with Verden’s magic, or prioritize the objective.
It was already a revealed fact that Draven was wary of and feared the dark red magic.To this, the four Transcendents responded with their intentions.
───Understood. Let’s try to create an opening.
Great power struck Draven once again from a total of four directions.
A loud metallic sound.Thunder crushing the eardrums.
Draven countered the offensive of Verden, Adrian, Bendie, and finally Gareth. Although they had never coordinated their movements, it was a standard exchange of blows.Nevertheless, Draven went on a rampage with no regard for his own physical safety. While some coordination had been achieved, there were limits to evasion and defense.
Magical phenomena applied from a distance.
Natural Control: Atmosphere
Indren’s magic controlled the air surrounding Draven’s limbs, head, and torso, delaying Draven’s movements.It was a very brief moment. However,for transcendent beings capable of perceiving a fleeting instant, it was a sufficient gap.
The lightsaber pierced the heart.The rapier punched holes in the joints.The gauntlet smashed the face.
Even while experiencing death time and time again, Draven desperately managed to somehow prevent the destruction of Verden using the body of the old king.
As expected of this move.
The accident in Verden accelerated.
‘Animus is the first legend associated with the soul… … And Draven is manifesting not just the magic of others, but his own inherent power. If the super-tier magic just now can utilize the soul’s power from its lifetime—’
Verden understood what Draven’s last resort was.
You have secured the souls of the Transcendents with the Animus for the past 800 years.
The figures seen in the memories of the first Necromancer were glimpsed in Draven.
Great Emperor.
The fist fighting technique of an ‘8th-tier’ martial arts transcendent being who ruled the Eastern Continent during the War of the Transcendents, helped expose the Old King’s weakness, and was eventually killed by the Old King.
It is not just the Great Emperor.
Draven’s swordsmanship also belongs to a certain transcendent being.
Draven currently harbors the souls of at least three transcendents, including the Great Emperor. Verden’s insight judged it so.
Crunch!
Bendie pulled out three spears and instantly blocked Draven’s range of motion.Mauler strangled Draven from behind with all his might, and Indren firmly held Bendie’s spears in place so they could not move.
The hand of the Old King caught the spear of destruction aimed at Draven’s heart. Three transcendent beings tried to stop it, but they could not.
Mauler spat out a curse.
“Damn it, what is this former king that he has such strength in mere arms and legs…!”“Adrian, go.”
Adrian entered the Realm of Speed and raced toward the passage from which Draven had come.He would not let Draven escape with his life, nor would he destroy the Glory of the Dead’s plan. Their scheme was to kill two birds with one stone.
Rumble rumble.
“who…….”
A thunderous roar was heard from Draven’s magic.
Who said they would send it!!!!!!!!!
The blue light pouring out of the magic circuit exploded in an instant.
Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwa!
The transcendent lightning paralyzed not only Verden, Vendie, and Mauler, but also Indren, strangely transmitted through magic.Draven, who had turned into lightning, arrived at the passage before Adrian and blocked the way.
Weep.
A sinister aura was released from the demon sword [Morbein] in response to the first trigger word. However, a divine light descended upon it.
Seonghwi: Education
Purple fragments
As Adrian stopped halfway through swinging his light sword, a purple shockwave erupted. The swordsmanship of the Saint of the Luas Church, performed with a demonic sword, deviated slightly from its trajectory.
The sacred sword energy of death cleaved through the air.
Just as he was about to pass by Draven, a hand wrapped in lightning beneath the arm holding the magic sword aimed at Adrian.
Thunderclap
Lightning roared, engulfing the entrance to the passageway as it struck Adrian.
“Ugh!!!!”
Adrian, who had tried to endure the excruciating pain and repulsion, was banished back into the cavern. The destructive power of the lightning strike, which had penetrated to the bone, was extraordinary.
Crunch.
Draven breathed heavily and gathered the electric shock of the magic once again. The magic sword, imbued with the essence of lightning and thunder, dug into the ground.
The atmosphere surrounding the joint began to change,slowly, like a raging storm.
With this, three transcendent beings residing in Draven have been confirmed.
The Great Emperor of the East, the leader of the group of transcendents who sought to create a world of transcendents about eight centuries ago.Ethanbelt, the saint who severed the body of the ancient king.
and.
A transcendent being who played a leading role in bringing down the Xerion Empire, having clashed head-on with the former king and survived unlike the Great Emperor of the East.
‘Vantoreon Roden Taranis… … !’
The soul of the 8th-ranked wizard, the author of Vanterion’s Manuscript stored in Verden’s subspace, united with the soul of Draven.
Keraus Metropolitan Area
A monstrous blue lightning storm rotated clockwise, sealing the cavity of the labyrinth.8th-tier unique magic.Now, no one can leave, nor enter.
Boom!
A lightning strike from the storm struck right next to Draven.Electric current pierced his skin.Perhaps because he had forcibly recreated Vantoreon’s magic, the Great Area did not recognize Draven as the caster but classified him as an enemy.
Verden said.
“You won’t be able to handle that power.”“That kind of thing doesn’t matter. His Majesty will surely acknowledge my noble sacrifice.”
Draven literally poured his life into holding the Transcendents back. Whatever the outcome, when today ends, it will not simply end with death.
However… … the transcendent is the transcendent.
Verden regretted thinking that he could capture Draven without greater losses because he was in the majority, and that he should preserve at least some of his strength in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. The800 years that Draven had lived with a single-minded determination was certainly a long time.
With power.
Although there were outsiders nearby, Verden decided not to hide his means any longer.
I will make the road.
Mauler flinched.
“What?”“Move as soon as an opening appears.”
Verden put forward the staff.
“Transform, Interis.”
[Interis] glowed in response to the trigger word. Infinite magical power enveloped the area. The output of his magical power circuit was completely released.
“W-what kind of magic is… Ugh!”
Indren calmed his oversensitive magic detection ability.
A truly immeasurable amount of magical power overwhelmed everyone. Even Bendie’s composure was shattered, and he opened his eyes wide.
Draven tucked his chin in and gripped the hilt of the magic sword tightly.Cold sweat beaded on the tip of his chin.
Magic of Destruction.
The blue eyes turned dark red.
Interis Great Metropolitan Area
Infinite magical power transformed into destruction and rotated around Verden. A storm of dark lightning raging counterclockwise collided with the storm of Draven.The massive area of effect, rotating in opposite directions, twisted and came to a brief halt.
It was now.
Adrian charged straight ahead, and Mauler followed half a beat later. Mauler decided to rely on his instinct for now.He had a strong feeling that being inside that unknown, dark red storm was dangerous.
“……!!”
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Draven reacted hypersensitively to the sudden strike of the Black Lightning and recoiled for a moment. Verden crossed space, clashed swords with Draven, and pressed forward relentlessly.
The old king extended his left arm.
Verden gripped his wrist tightly and further amplified the destruction. Not only the thunderbolts but also the flames of annihilation manifested outwardly.
Draven flinched.
“That black flame… could it be the Darkmoon’s…? Verden, you say you can manipulate souls too? Without an Animus, how on earth did you… Dahit’s soul…?!”“Don’t you dare try to understand. And, did you say sacrifice earlier?”
The old king’s arm did not reach Verden.
Sacrifice is something you volunteer for and bear alone.
Verden showed disgust.
“I’m not killing just anyone while boasting about how noble I am like you bastards.”“……That’s human.”
Draven genuinely scoffed.
“How would you react if you knew the truth of the soul?”“There is only one truth here.”
Verden’s heartless eyes glared at Draven.
“Draven Lemarque, you are the sacrifice to my realm.”
* * *
The island of the Hiaremar Inland Sea, that land.
Members of the forces guarding the airships in their respective camps detected an unexplained abnormal air current and looked up at the sky in unison.
The sky turns dark red.
A shiver bordering on terror.It is ominous.Much more so than the bizarre annular solar eclipse that defied the common sense of astronomy… … .
“Th-th-the colors.”
Melissa Pesfield, Lord of the Arnark Empire’s Magic Castle, was startled. It was undoubtedly the light of magical power she had experienced at the Black Volcano.
thud.
In Eon’s camp, everyone, without exception, bowed toward the crimson sky.
