### Chapter: 414
The second Ragnarok, initiated by the manifestation of the gods, had thrown the world into chaos once again.
Across various parts of the world, gods desperately tried to suppress those who had manifested.
However, their efforts were insufficient to stop deities reaching the level of the Ten Great Lords.
It was because only those of equal or greater power, such as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse or those of Divine power, could even hope to compete.
Moreover, those who possessed skills were all at risk of manifesting.
They were now rendered unable to fight.
As they couldn’t deal with the gods and were stuck pacing back and forth in frustration, the members of Icarus began to move.
Among them were several who had originally possessed skills.
But thanks to Kraush, those who had lost their skills began to actively resist the gods.
With their joining forces, the battle started to gradually turn in their favor.
News of Kraush began to spread among the people.
He could untangle the divine manifestations.
Additionally, he could take away the skills that had become ticking time bombs and shackles.
Upon learning this, those with skills flocked to Kraush from all corners.
No matter how important their skills might be, nobody wanted to live with a ticking time bomb strapped to their backs.
As a result, Kraush found himself collecting skills faster than he could confront the gods.
‘It feels like I’ve become some kind of universal skills shop.’
Kraush couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene of people eagerly offering him their skills.
Who would have thought there would come a day when people would line up to give him skills?
“Are you sure it’s okay to just hand over your skills to me like this?”
Kraush had asked this several times.
But everyone just shouted back, “Take them, please!”
“There are already a bunch of folks whose lives were ruined by gods manifesting. Some have wiped out their entire families.”
Is he talking about the eldest brother?
Of course, being from the Holy Royal Family, they could probably rebuild their main house in no time if it got destroyed.
“What’s more, aren’t you helping Lord Aslan as well?”
Among those, there were also some who genuinely wanted to support Kraush.
“I survived when the Kingdom of Jeblam fell, thanks to Lord Aslan.”
“I remember you saved me from that World Erosion creature!”
“You’re the one who saved my son! If whatever I have can be of help to you, I’ll gladly give it multiple times over!”
While going around the Kingdom of Jeblam, Kraush had encountered and saved countless people.
The whole world actively opposed the rampage of the Kingdom of Jeblam, but casualties kept piling up.
Naturally, those under Kraush’s leadership, the members of Icarus, saved many lives.
Even without Kraush’s awareness, everything he had done affected many people profoundly.
“Honestly, wouldn’t it make more sense for Lord Aslan to handle these skills rather than me?”
Some even joked with Kraush to relieve him of his burdens.
“……”
Who would have thought that there’d be a day when I would need a break from wearing the Black Hood so much?
Kraush clenched and relaxed his hand.
The divine power he had scorched using Ignis leaked out from his palm.
“What are you thinking, Kraush?”
Since Kraush had limits to how far he could go searching for people, he started receiving skills from the members of Icarus.
One of those, Bianca, who was assisting him, asked as she noticed Kraush lost in thought.
“I’m just surprised at how quickly I’m approaching the strength I earned when I had to fight during the Kingdom of Jeblam’s downfall.”
As he burned skills using Ignis, divine power rapidly filled Kraush’s body.
Many people were willingly handing over their skills to him without hesitation.
“That’s all thanks to what you’ve done until now. You’re just being rewarded for your efforts.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Bianca clasped Kraush’s hand.
“That’s how it is.”
Locking eyes with Bianca, Kraush gave a small smile.
He thought it was okay to see it that way.
However, Kraush knew that not everyone in the world was about repaying a favor or was a kind-hearted person.
Kraush looked up.
The lines of people waiting had decreased significantly.
But there were still quite a few skill-holders out there.
Among them were those who had been subject to divine manifestations, but there were also many who simply didn’t want to lose their skills.
Because there are countless selfish people out there.
Even if there’s a possibility of a god manifesting, some still stubbornly held onto their skills for personal gain.
Whether forcibly taking skills from such people is truly the right thing to do remains uncertain.
But having heard Blavi describe the gods’ objectives, he couldn’t just leave them alone.
No matter what, they had caused the world to erode through their manifestations.
At that moment, Kraush knew he had to recover the skills by any means necessary.
He slowly swept his hair back.
“Icarus.”
Upon Kraush’s call, the members of Icarus swiftly lined up.
Icarus was currently providing support across various parts of the world.
However, having already recovered numerous skills today, they were ready to go out for support right away.
Now the Icarus team had some breathing room.
“After accepting skills from those who came today, we’ll immediately begin hunting the skill holders.”
“Yes!”
The enthusiastic responses from the Icarus members filled the air.
“I’ll say this beforehand, the most important thing is your life.”
There would certainly be those who would fight tooth and nail if they felt their skills were being taken away.
There was no need to throw their lives away in a fight with such people.
“Also, there will inevitably be those who suffer divine manifestations in the midst of this. So always be on your guard when you fight.”
As Kraush finished his words, he glanced around.
The list of skill holders had already been pulled directly from the empire and the four kingdoms’ cities.
Kraush had distributed all this information to the members of Icarus.
“That’s all.”
With that, the members of Icarus began to move in unison.
They started organizing teams to go after their designated targets.
After the chaos of the Kingdom of Jeblam, it was war once again.
This time, they would definitely achieve victory.
Hunting skill holders.
It begins now.
—
In a dark forest.
A man with crimson hair was running.
Blush Cheval.
Having a history of colluding with the World Devourer right from the start and operating a gang, he was a wanted figure across the world.
After a series of events where the World Devourers all went into hiding and thus he lost his business contacts,
He had now taken to robbing ordinary folks who dared to dream during the great exploration age.
Still, possessing the blood skill meant he could accelerate the blood of those he encountered to the point where they died instantly.
However, he never imagined that this very skill would become his own undoing.
The divine manifestations were held solely for those with skills.
As luck would have it, he hadn’t been subjected to divine manifestation yet, but the problem was that he couldn’t return to hand in his skills.
If he did, he would be immediately captured as a wanted man.
In the end, he had to silently sneak away from the gang, living a low life.
But who would have thought that now, figures from all across the world would start moving to hunt skill holders?
“This is just too much, isn’t it?”
And Blush found himself even more frustrated.
He acknowledged that he had committed evil acts to survive.
But even so, isn’t there a limit to retribution?
He froze at the sight of a flickering gray flame swaying through the woods.
Step.
Even though he was clearly running, his opponent was closing in, leisurely.
That just showed how vast the gap was between him and his opponent.
In the woods, he spotted a figure with dark blue hair glowing ominously.
Upon seeing this, Blush felt his body freeze, and he bit his lip hard.
“If you think this is unfair…”
And before he could finish that thought, the voice came directly into his ear.
“Consider your sins and be good and caught.”
“Eek!”
Blush screamed, activating his blood skill.
The blood contained in the leather he carried surged out, reaching out towards his opponent.
Shiiiink!
However, the blood was evaporated instantly in the searing heat before it could even touch the enemy.
Blush staggered back in shock from the burn he felt on his face.
But before he could retreat any further, an outstretched hand clasped around his neck.
“Whew, ack!”
As Blush struggled against the hand gripping his throat, his opponent looked down at him, emotionless.
In his eyes was a cold determination to kill.
Tears welled up in Blush’s eyes.
Standing before him was Kraush Balheim, the Dragon Lord.
The very reason Blush felt so unfairly treated.
For someone who was merely a leader of a small gang to be hunted down by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse himself?
What an unimaginable injustice!
“If you think it’s unfair, you shouldn’t have committed any crimes in the first place.”
At that, Kraush’s eyes widened with realization.
With multiple skills stacked and absorbed, one of them allowed him to hear people’s innermost thoughts.
As a result, Kraush found this skill incredibly useful.
“Ugh, I’m sorry. I messed up. Please, forgive me!”
-What did I even do wrong? I need to live too!
From this skill, he could accurately penetrate the psychological state of those criminals.
“What a pathetic excuse.”
Kraush raised his hand.
“Hand over your skill, and I’ll let you live.”
“Yes, yes! I’ll give anything, anything!”
Blush clasped his hands together, begging desperately.
He had long lost any motivation to resist.
All he wanted was to preserve his life.
Kraush activated the Black Hood.
At that moment, Blush’s blood surged toward Kraush’s grasp.
Once confirmed, Kraush ignited the ashes in his hand.
Whoosh!
“Aghhh!?”
In an instant, Blush became engulfed in flames.
Though Blush looked shocked, as if to question the difference from what was promised, Kraush had already tossed him aside.
“I never said I would keep my promise.”
He had no intention of keeping a wanted criminal alive.
Thanks to the skills, he knew full well that this guy hadn’t been wronged at all.
What’s more, he intended to send a message by dismantling the gang that Blush was a part of.
“Seriously, no matter how many times I save the world, scum like this never seems to disappear.”
Kraush turned away from the charred Blush and moved onward.
But just as he was about to step forward,
A flash of golden light erupted in the distance.
Upon seeing that light, Kraush’s eyes widened in surprise.
Because he knew full well who owned that flash.
Kraush hurriedly ran towards it.
Before long, he spotted a familiar woman with shining hair.
She was trampling over someone.
The one being trampled was a person Kraush had been keeping an eye on as a skill holder.
He knew this area held someone skilled, but someone had already beaten him to it.
Recognizing who had made the move, Kraush called out.
“Aria.”
Hearing her name, Aria turned, her golden hair flowing as she spun.
Upon meeting Kraush’s gaze, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh, Kraush?”
It seemed she hadn’t expected to encounter him here.
“You were also hunting a skill holder.”
“Ah, um, yeah, I heard the news. I thought I’d lend a hand.”
After all, she was once someone who stepped forward to protect the world.
She too didn’t want to see the world fall into chaos once again.
“Thank you. Your help is greatly appreciated.”
Kraush smiled lightly.
Now that he had settled things with Aria, he was glad to see her lending her strength.
– I like you.
At that moment, Kraush froze, lifting his head at the voice that echoed in his mind.
Aria, with an awkward expression, was looking at him.
– I love you. I like you so much. Just seeing your face again makes me happy. I want to be together forever.
And the fervent voice deeply pierced through Kraush’s heart.
The problem was, Aria’s lips weren’t moving at all.
‘Ah.’
Kraush belatedly realized he had not turned off the skill that allowed him to hear inner thoughts.
This voice represented all of Aria’s feelings.
This girl had said she organized her feelings over the past five years.
– I like, like, like you. The most in the world.
She was practically exploding with feelings inside.
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