### Chapter: 202
The night just wouldn’t stop.
The further they moved, the thicker the pitch-black darkness became.
“Looks like we’re starting to get chased.”
At that moment, Kraush sensed the presence of Black Ghosts rapidly closing in behind the carriage. It seemed they had figured out where he was and had now decided to launch a real attack.
[What are you gonna do about it?]
The Erosion Creatures living in the Golden Region had fundamentally different stats from regular Erosion Creatures. Living in the area filled with World Erosion naturally endowed them with superior physiques compared to their typical counterparts.
Proof of that was right behind them; the Black Ghosts, usually not so much of a threat outside, were now effortlessly keeping up with the carriage’s speed.
With their monkey-like forms, they shrieked toward the intruders with glowing red eyes.
“Guess we’ll have to catch them.”
Saying this, Kraush turned to Ebelasque.
“Ebelasque, open the lid.”
At his command, Ebelasque touched the wall of the carriage. In an instant, the skeletal ceiling began to open with a creak.
Kraush leaned out of the open ceiling. There, a horrifying sight awaited him—Black Ghosts filled the horizon, swarming like cockroaches.
Anyone else might have fainted at such a ghastly sight, but Kraush made a light leap and stood atop the opening.
Black Ghosts grew stronger under the night sky. They acted as though they owned this endless night.
However, there was one truth they were oblivious to.
Night isn’t just their domain.
Kraush’s hair gradually began to darken significantly. This was a response to the incessant night, overflowing with the aura of his skill, Nox.
Alongside that, his eyes started turning redder, as the seven stars within Nox began to glow brightly.
Underneath the night, lit by the power of the Shooting Star, Kraush felt steadier than ever before.
The Lunar Body unleashed even greater effects under the night sky.
Perhaps this was why he felt at his peak.
Deep breaths escaped Kraush, creating a hot mist around him that changed the temperature of the surrounding air.
Fwoosh—
Before long, the Ruinous Thunder ignited with dark flames.
High-temperature black flames began to blaze vigorously, fueled by the World Erosion around him.
Thanks to this, Kraush continued to absorb the World Erosion of the never-ending night.
“Make sure to watch closely.”
Kraush warned the Black Ghosts as he gripped his thunder blade.
Crackle!
Lightning sparked above the thunder blade, creating phenomena around its sheath.
Simultaneously, the black flames collided within the sheath, beginning to conjure a storm.
Boom—
Just then, a droplet fell onto the lake of Kraush’s mind, rippling its surface.
In that moment, the jet of black flames shot forward and shattered the sheath made of Lionor.
As the intertwining black flames and lightning enveloped the sword, Kraush swung the thunder blade forward.
Annihilation Erosion
Second Form
Ruinous Heaven’s Thunder
The cleaved sword halted, and for an instant, the world went completely quiet.
Even the Black Ghosts that had rushed in were frozen in place.
Crackle!
Then, cracks began to form on each of their bodies.
Fwoosh—
A blaze of flames and light covered the endless night.
KABOOM!
A violent explosion consumed everything around.
The black flames that had enveloped the spot where the Black Ghosts once stood eliminated them from existence.
Gone were the Black Ghosts that had charged from the horizon, not a single one remaining to breathe their last.
KABOOOOOM!
The shockwave that followed rattled the carriage, shaking it uncontrollably, nearly causing the skeletal mount to trip over itself.
As Kraush brushed his windblown hair back, he sheathed the thunder blade.
Exhaling lightly, the temperature of his breath returned to normal.
Just after using Ruinous Heaven’s Thunder, the high-level curse, Haensel Abstrakt, had rapidly lowered the temperature.
“Much better.”
With a satisfied grin at the now clear view, Kraush noticed his hair had turned back to a deep navy blue.
When he reentered the carriage, Ebelasque was looking at him in disbelief.
She always knew Kraush was strong, but that last output was beyond her expectations.
That was only to be expected since Kraush could become even stronger within the levels of World Erosion present in the Golden Region.
That high output just now would’ve been impossible were it not for the characteristics of the endless night surrounding them.
“What the hell was that? Are you alright after using something like that?”
“Just toughing it out and doing my best, you know?”
Kraush replied as he tried to sit back down, but at that moment, a sharp pain surged through him, causing him to stagger, and Haring quickly steadied him.
“Kraush, here.”
Haring handed him water, which Kraush took a sip of.
‘Ah, so this is why I was feeling that intense pain.’
Kraush realized the source of his pain was the Aura within him clashing with the newly filled World Erosion space.
The two colliding made Kraush feel like he was being gnawed from the inside out.
[See? Who told you to be greedy?]
Crimson Garden clicked its tongue in disapproval at Kraush.
“It’s fine. We’re here to resolve that issue.”
Ignoring the reprimand from Crimson Garden, Kraush steadied himself again.
The strength of the World Erosion emanating from the direction the skeletal mount was headed was only growing stronger.
They’d surely find Veltoa soon.
Boom!
However, the endless night had no intention of letting them pass easily.
In the distance, a conglomeration of Black Ghosts collectively formed a massive Black Ghost Giant.
The creature, capable of lifting an entire tower, truly resembled a chaotic monster.
As Kraush contemplated standing up again, both Haring and Ebelasque moved in to stop him.
“Do you think I followed you for fun? I knew you’d do something like this.”
“I can help too.”
Seeing the two adamantly trying to talk him out of being reckless, Kraush wore a dazed expression.
“Just rest.”
With that, Ebelasque summoned her skeletal army while Haring brandished her dagger and headed out.
Kraush, watching them dawdle, flopped back onto the carriage seat.
If he jumped out now, he’d just get yelled at.
‘I don’t know how it came to this.’
Still, he figured it was better to go along with it.
*
About a week had passed since they entered the never-ending night.
Thanks to the continuously running skeletal mount, they were indeed moving quickly. However, traversing this place where the sun never rose turned out to be more torturous than anticipated.
Starting with losing all sense of time.
The feeling of being continuously gnawed at also prevented any real rest from occurring.
Especially every time they thought of taking a breather, the Black Ghosts would come knocking again.
The deeper they went, the more diverse the forms of Black Ghosts ambushed them. Some approached silently like shadows, while others relied on sheer size and strength, charging at them recklessly.
Having to fight each time made the trio’s fatigue continuously escalate.
“I’ve coped with acid rain before, so I’m holding up fine. But you seem to be managing even better than I am.”
“Well, with the Lunar Body and Nox on my side, it’s easier.”
Kraush listened to Ebelasque’s voice, her dark circles growing more evident, as he gazed out the window.
The night and the vast plains created an illusion of spinning in place, making it feel monotonous.
Only the occasional towers observed the passage of time, indicating they were still progressing.
True to his words, thanks to Nox and the Lunar Body, Kraush was managing relatively well within the endless night.
However, for those without such advantages, it was obviously a struggle.
Haring stood out as the prime example.
Her dark circles had deepened, and she was now sleeping against Kraush.
Observing her irregular mumbling under the colors of nightmares, it was clear she was having a rough sleep.
That’s the issue with this endless night.
Even if you find a safe spot to rest, it’s only possible to have nightmares here.
Nightmares voraciously gnaw away at a person’s mind, and if one stays too long within this endless night, they risk being consumed by them.
“Haring.”
Thus, Kraush roused her before she could sink deeper into her sleep.
If she became too enmeshed in her dreams, Haring might never awaken again.
“Huh? Ah!”
Haring awoke with a startled scream at Kraush’s call.
Her face glistened with cold sweat as she noticed Kraush and, appearing reassured, buried her head in his shoulder.
She fidgeted, much like a child scared from a bad dream retreating into the safety of their parent’s embrace.
Like a cat that had submitted completely to its owner.
Having been through this many times, Kraush had grown accustomed to this behavior of Haring’s, where she typically nestled close when just waking up.
“Feels nice sticking together, huh?”
At that, Ebelasque raised an eyebrow and asked with a smirk.
“Ah, I see, a young girl is indeed comforting. Just like my betrothed.”
Ebelasque pouted her lips playfully.
Kraush stared at her, slightly baffled.
“…Ebelasque, haven’t you been nagging me more than usual lately?”
Noting her unusually sensitive demeanor, Kraush questioned her and caught Ebelasque staring intently at him.
With a brief roll of her eyes, she casually averted her gaze to the ground.
“Just a misunderstanding.”
Misunderstanding, my foot.
Kraush recalled the moment Ebelasque began being more vocal about her grievances.
He quickly realized it coincided with the visit to Green Pine Hall.
What had happened there was sending the Light-wielding Challenger, Ixion, to a meeting.
And most notably, confirming Bianca’s engagement.
Thinking about this, Kraush slowly turned to Ebelasque.
Seeing her unable to make eye contact, he felt a twinge of curiosity.
“Ebelasque, you…”
Just then, a weak flicker of light caught Kraush’s eye in the distance.
This was a place where only the red eyes of Black Ghosts would be visible, so missing such a bright light was inconceivable.
Kraush had clearly remembered that light.
“Ebelasque, turn the carriage around!”
“Huh? W-what?!”
Ebelasque, who had been tense with anticipation, cried out in confusion at Kraush’s command.
But following his orders, she eagerly turned the carriage, causing the skeletal mount to howl as it took the turn swiftly.
Clunk!
“Huh?!”
With the sudden shift, Haring, still blissfully dazed, snapped back to reality.
As she lifted her head, she spotted Kraush leaning out of the window.
Kraush focused hard, watching as the flickering light approached.
Sure enough, the light must’ve sensed their presence because it veered off course and began moving even faster.
At this rate, they might lose it.
“Ebelasque, chase after that light!”
Kraush kicked the carriage door open, and the next moment, a crow flew out, soaring high into the air.
As his eyes flicked toward Crimson Garden, Kraush made a swift dash from the carriage.
The energy of World Erosion began to boil up within him.
The furious flames of Ruinous Lightning burst forth from Kraush, enveloping his body in white smoke.
KABOOM!
With a powerful leap, Kraush shot forward, driven faster than the carriage itself.
In no time, he was closing in on the light, only to find a man riding something reminiscent of a giant centipede.
Draped in a robe that obscured much of his features, he glanced back, revealing only his black beard.
“Hm? A child?”
When the man was surprised to see Kraush, the latter sprang off the ground, landing deftly onto the centipede.
Kraush took a moment to observe as he exhaled deeply, eyeing the extended hands from within the man’s robe.
He couldn’t even imagine how many curses were lurking within that garment.
Yet, upon seeing Kraush, it seemed the man had no intention of drawing them out.
“Interesting. I thought you were an Erosion Creature, yet you hold powers beyond just that.”
The man didn’t pull out a curse, likely attributed to Kraush’s peculiar traits.
With his Aura combined with World Erosion and even the addition of Aura itself, Kraush appeared utterly bizarre to the man’s eyes.
How fortunate it’d be if he didn’t bombard him with indiscriminate curses.
“Veltoa Lacroix.”
Gathering his breath, Kraush called out his name.
“Wait a moment, let’s have a word.”
He was meeting the world’s best healer, Veltoa Lacroix.
It was just the moment they finally faced off.
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