Chapter: 148
In the space where No. 8 and Kraush faced off…
Kraush’s eyes ignited a blazing red.
“And do you know why I don’t particularly like that vibe?”
No. 8 began to step back, feeling the pressure.
In the dim space, Kraush’s scarlet eyes glimmered ominously.
That was because the deadly essence within him started to unleash its murderous intent when it met with No. 8.
Kraush’s mental state was a pitch-black void.
An endless darkness that ensnared, dragging everything into the abyss.
His mental state, filled to the brim with countless curses, had long since shattered into pieces.
A bottomless pit.
That was the phrase that best suited Kraush’s mental state.
The problem was that Kraush’s mental state expanded even more when it encountered the deadly essence and the aura of destruction.
No. 8’s hair stood on end, and her face turned pale as a ghost.
“Wha-what sort of life…”
Being a corpse, No. 8’s mental fabric was far more dominating than her physical body.
Thanks to that, she possessed the advantage of drawing upon her true potential.
But it came with the drawback of being highly sensitive to the mental state of her opponent.
No. 8 had lived a long time and naturally thought her mental state surpassed Kraush’s.
However, that assumption was a colossal miscalculation.
Kraush’s mental fortitude, tested and tempered through a relentless barrage of curses, dwarfed No. 8’s.
“Anyone who gets outmatched in mental state tends to lose their will to fight. Besides, there are even worse ones out there.”
Especially the World Eroders were on another level when it came to the depths of their mental states.
Because of that, Kraush chose the route of cultivating his stance over simply strengthening his mental state.
In cases where he faced someone with a far superior mental fabric, the divide created by that overwhelming presence could be fatal.
As proof of that, while No. 8 remained frozen in shock, a fierce storm of black flames began to envelop Kraush’s Thunder Spike.
“And to be honest,”
When that storm reached its peak, ripples surged in the deep lake of Kraush’s mind, unleashing a torrent of energy.
“I feel uncomfortable letting it all hang out like this.”
Annihilation Erosion.
One Sequence.
Annihilation Blade Draw.
Just as No. 8 regained her senses, it was already too late.
The rushing storm of black flames consumed her whole.
KABOOM!
In a frenzy that could shatter the very room, No. 8 was tossed around in the ferocious black flames.
Her delay in reacting to Kraush’s overwhelming display was her downfall.
THUD!
In that moment, as she rolled on the ground, Kraush’s foot came crashing down, bringing her to a stop.
No. 8 realized that she had inadvertently let slip her weapon.
Now, the Thunder Spike was aimed right at her.
“No. 8, you know just how risky your master’s current actions are, don’t you?”
Neither Ebelasque nor No. 8 were fools.
When extracting the energy of the World Eroder to create a god, they knew it wouldn’t lead to anything good.
Above all, Kraush had witnessed it firsthand.
He had seen what an unholy abomination, generated by Ixion, became.
“Ixion’s dreams, and Ebelasque’s dreams, will never succeed. Only the worst outcomes await.”
Aria was fervently working to prevent Ixion’s rise.
Kraush understood that without Aria, the results would be far more horrific.
So, this time, he was the one to stop Ixion.
Aria was no longer there.
“Ugh, acting all knowing like Aria is so irritating.”
You don’t know, but I do, so I’ll stop it.
Realizing he was behaving just like Aria, Kraush inwardly clicked his tongue.
“So… you should just, y’know, trust me.”
Kraush withdrew Thunder Spike and stepped away from No. 8.
“I’ll make sure that your master doesn’t regret this.”
“…I felt it last time too, but you really are a sensitive one, Kraush.”
No. 8 raised her upper body as her helmet vanished.
She put on a bunny headband out of nowhere and spoke again.
“I can definitely sense your feelings for the master.”
No. 8, being capable of individual thought, was well aware of how dangerous it was for Ebelasque to tangle with Ixion.
She was a corpse capable of personal thoughts.
But she couldn’t advise Ebelasque.
No matter how much individual thought she possessed, she was still a servant bound to follow Ebelasque’s orders.
“…At least I’d prefer to trust you over some dubious World Eroder.”
She said that, slowly bowing her head to Kraush.
“So, I’m counting on you, Kraush.”
Seeing her polite demeanor, Kraush returned Thunder Spike to his waistband.
“Go on.”
“I hope you will become a companion to my master.”
No. 8 wished deeply that Ebelasque wouldn’t be trapped in the past anymore.
Hearing her request, Kraush made an expression as if it were nothing serious.
“Just let me see what that guy is up to.”
Kraush’s trademark response got No. 8 to crack a smile.
“So, where is he right now?”
That was the most crucial question.
“Not too far from here.”
“Not far, huh?”
“He’s near the Hardenhartz domain.”
Upon hearing this, Kraush halted, realizing he was practically in Ebelasque’s backyard.
“I came all this way for nothing.”
Realizing he’d taken a wasted detour, Kraush let out a sigh.
But amidst that conversation, he sensed something strange.
What could Ebelasque be doing, not moving on alongside the Ixion members?
Gazing at No. 8, it seemed she didn’t know either.
She was merely tidying the room.
Then, an epiphany struck Kraush.
A trick he remembered one of Ixion’s guys using back in the day.
‘No way.’
[ Kraush. ]
At that moment, the brooch of the Crimson Garden flared back to life.
The Crimson Garden had briefly left to search for information about Ixion.
So, upon her call, Kraush immediately raised the brooch.
[ I’ve located a visitor to Hardenhartz. ]
As expected, the Crimson Garden was inquiring about details.
[ It’s the Mad Blade Emperor. ]
Upon hearing the returned message, Kraush bit his lip.
Damn it, it was him.
That lunatic, the Mad Blade Emperor who could cause world erosion.
And the world erosion he created would grow stronger the more formidable the opponent was.
So surely, the Mad Blade Emperor was plotting.
He intended to use the swordsmen gathered in Hardenhartz for the annihilation of both himself and Ebelasque as a sacrifice to the world erosion.
“Kairan, No. 8.”
Kraush called out to the two, swiftly turning around.
“We’re heading back right now.”
Hardenhartz was in danger.
＊ ＊ ＊
Before the icy bastion of Hardenhartz’s northern sea…
A man sat with a sigh amidst the snowy landscape.
With brownish hair and striking blue eyes, he was none other than the commoner’s hero, Felray.
He pondered what he was even doing here at this moment.
After all, he hadn’t uttered a single word in the meeting.
Though the citizens revered him, Felray couldn’t simply ignore the disparity in status.
In the assembly with nobles and royals present, there wasn’t much for Felray to do.
He was merely the head of the students who had risen from commoner status.
Truthfully, it weighed heavily on his shoulders.
While he had the ability to grow stronger, meeting the expectations of responsibility proved to be a far greater challenge than he’d anticipated.
Within the academy, one could say that the commoners placed their trust entirely in Felray.
Thus, he needed to be cautious in his actions and set a good example for others.
Now that he was the face of the commoners, Felray found it unavoidable.
“Is this what nobles take for granted?”
The world was indeed complicated.
At the age of sixteen, Felray found it an incredibly tough place to be.
Perhaps that’s why he recalled the day of the martial arts tournament.
A boy like him from the Night Ravens named Kradd.
How would that kid have fared?
Surely he would have embodied the title of commoner’s hero to perfection.
Felray took a short breath, envisioning the fleeting image of that boy.
“…Kradd, are you in Hardenhartz?”
He had taken up this mission alongside the aide group upon Sigrid’s request.
Sigrid was aware that Felray was searching for the boy named Kradd.
So, she had given him a heads-up.
Kradd was, after all, a key search target in this mission—Ebelasque’s corpse identified as a World Eroder.
It wouldn’t be easy to distinguish whether he was a subject or a mere corpse.
But in the end, the boy was likely someone Ebelasque would know.
Thus, Felray found himself subconsciously encouraged to join the mission.
Of course, he had also been tasked with monitoring Sigrid’s activities and observing Charlotte closely.
Currently, while Sigrid looked out for the commoners attending Rahern Academy, if it weren’t for her, they would’ve been easy prey for the worst of the noble factions.
“I have no clue.”
Felray lifted his head to gaze at the sky.
Was it because he was young or simply weighed down by responsibility?
The boy named Kradd he hoped to see in the academy kept surfacing in his mind.
At the same time, another boy from the academy popped into his head.
A boy with raven-black hair who, given their different backgrounds and ages, was nothing short of extraordinary.
The one who constantly triggered new events at the academy, exuding an overwhelming aura was none other than Kraush Balheim.
For some reason, he kept being reminded of Kradd.
There weren’t any specific commonalities to observe, yet one distinct detail weighed heavily on Felray’s mind.
Both Kraush and Kradd used the same sword style—albeit with Kraush clearly being the superior one.
It was strange, wasn’t it?
And while he pondered this inexplicable connection between the two, he suddenly jumped to his feet.
Because a section of the sky above Hardenhartz was gradually turning a sickly yellow.
This unsettling sensation.
It was clear.
“World Erosion!?”
A world erosion was manifesting within Hardenhartz.
Felray was thrown into panic.
Even within the sanctified walls of the kingdom established by purification magic, regulations existed, and world erosion could still transpire.
But seeing the sky shift to a yellow hue was beyond his comprehension.
It was bizarre.
How could world erosion appear in a domain?
Felray hastily shook off his initial shock.
This was not the time for hesitation.
He rushed into the icy bastion’s interior.
Resolutely, he intended to inform everyone inside and activate necessary measures.
Just then, he bumped into someone exiting.
With clear blue-black hair and an imposing gaze that felt devoid of mercy.
This serious-looking individual was none other than Charlotte Balheim.
The Sword King.
“Felray.”
“Charlotte?!”
“Get ready. The World Eroder has appeared.”
Upon hearing her words, Felray’s eyes widened in shock.
Charlotte had immediately slipped into battle mode the moment she spotted the sky.
As expected of Balheim.
Unlike Felray, who stood there stunned for a moment, she was already in mobilization mode.
“Don’t take too long. You’ll lose to my brother!”
But her next words left Felray at a loss.
Charlotte’s brother, of course, was none other than the extra-ordinary Blade King, Lai Balheim.
“W-wait, Charlotte! Losing to who?!”
“My brother has already moved. He sensed it first.”
Charlotte licked her lips, showing a hint of regret.
No matter how much of a genius Charlotte was, she still had a long way to go.
She wasn’t of the caliber that could match up to a recognized Sword King yet.
In the end, when the time comes for her talent to bloom, no one would be able to rival her.
But alas, time would bind Charlotte too.
“Did the Sword King say anything before he left?”
“He said to wait.”
“Then we should follow…”
The opponent was a World Eroder.
Felray was acutely aware of his own inadequacies against a World Eroder.
So, when he attempted to dissuade Charlotte, her lips twisted into a smile that was uniquely hers.
“Felray, want a piece of advice?”
Upon hearing the word advice made Felray jump.
Charlotte maintained her grin while continuing to walk forward.
“Fights between strong opponents aren’t something you often witness. Even I have things to learn from them.”
He couldn’t exactly negate that sentiment.
But what use was it to fight if they ended up dead?
Felray silently screamed in his heart.
However, Charlotte was unfazed.
“And I doubt you’ll even be able to just sit around.”
Charlotte said while gazing at the now yellow sky.
“The appearance of World Erosion means Eroders will be pouring out.”
Felray’s expression stiffened.
That meant even if they waited here, nothing would change.
The only way to halt world erosion was to take down the commander of the Eroders.
The Sword King would be forced to chase after the World Eroder, so those left behind would inevitably confront the Eroders.
“Don’t worry. The First Blade is stationed in Hardenhartz.”
The First Blade of the Balheim knights.
With them around, they could surely put a stop to any world erosion.
But Charlotte’s reasoning directed Felray in a different direction.
“However, the First Blade will likely focus on the North Sea Bastion. They’ll be prioritizing the master.”
“And that means…?”
“Who’s going to stop the rest of the Eroders?”
Felray clenched his fists tightly.
When Eroders appeared, the sheer devastation experienced by commoners was unfathomable.
Normal villages couldn’t hope to defend against Eroders.
They were guaranteed to be exposed to peril and would be hunted down by the Eroders.
Especially since Hardenhartz was mountainous terrain.
The citizens living throughout the slopes would certainly fall victim to the Eroders.
Felray could never stand by and do nothing.
The reason he enrolled in Rahern Academy and rose up against world erosion stemmed from the day his village was obliterated by world erosion.
He had to save the people.
Felray’s eyes shone resolutely, fierce like that of a hero.
That demeanor was perfectly fitting for someone known as the commoner’s hero.
“I will lead the aide group.”
“Then take the Lion’s Order with you.”
Even as the leader of the Lion’s Order, Charlotte seemed unconcerned, taking it upon herself to make executive decisions.
Felray felt slightly bewildered, yet he understood it was a rational move, only Charlotte could carry it out.
Regrettably, in Rahern Academy, there were very few capable of following Charlotte’s lead.
“Perhaps only Charlotte’s younger brother would work.”
Recalling how Krush had stood against Professor Kairan, Felray moved with purpose.
Charlotte glanced at him curiously as her pace quickened, steadily building momentum.
“And our foolish little brother.”
Though she didn’t know where he was, it was high time they located him.
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