### Chapter: 181
In the pitch-black abyss…
Invited guests were gradually making their way into the space.
Dressed in various outfits, they walked as if they had been summoned to a party.
“Oh, well, look who’s finally graced us with their presence!”
At that moment, a short, bearded man with a hearty laugh welcomed someone.
Standing there was a tall beauty, her masked visage revealing only one eye.
“Hell Fairy, what brings you to the meeting? You’ve been absent for quite a while.”
The short man chuckled as he addressed the Hell Fairy.
She didn’t seem particularly phased by his attention.
“I heard Guangduz got taken down.”
Instead, she explained the reason for her attendance.
Ixion—the group of World Erosives.
This was a space created by the Black Witch, the site for Ixion’s regular meetings.
“Haha, that’s right! That Guangduz fellow went on and on about being the strongest but ended up being the one who got played. I figured him to be a slippery character, but turns out he’s just a rat.”
With a boisterous laugh, he made that remark.
This short man was known as the Master Craftsman.
An earth elemental who wielded a hammer capable of forging anything.
“He was begging for me to make him a sword. When I said I couldn’t, he looked so bummed.”
He tossed the hammer in his hand lightly and caught it with expert finesse.
“Isn’t it strange that the Black Witch was around and still got taken down?”
“Even the Black Witch can make mistakes, can’t she? I’d wager that Guangduz got too cocky and ended up the fool for it.”
In response to the Hell Fairy’s question, he replied lightly as if it were of no concern.
Unlike the Hell Fairy, he didn’t seem the least surprised by Guangduz’s death.
In the meantime, more guests entered the space.
Among them, some went straight to the corners without greeting anyone.
Others seemed to know each other and were exchanging hellos.
“Cough, cough.”
Meanwhile, one man was seated cross-legged on the floor, letting out a loud yawn.
With a beast-like physique and oversized ears, he exuded a rather intimidating nature, covered entirely by white fur.
People kept their distance from him.
“Well, well, looks like the Beast King is here too.”
The Master Craftsman exclaimed in awe upon spotting the man.
A rather rare sight indeed; many notable figures were gathered that day.
They were certainly intrigued by the news of Guangduz’s downfall, just like the Hell Fairy.
Whether it was a mistake by the Black Witch or Guangduz’s own blunder—
Either way, they needed to get to the bottom of it.
Click-clack—
At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed from within the space.
All eyes turned as a peculiar presence made its entrance.
A figure that made one feel as if their insides were being twisted just by looking at her—a foreboding entity with long black hair obscuring her face.
Beneath that hair, she wore a black dress, long and flowing, almost like a shroud.
The Black Witch.
True to her title, she radiated the essence of a witch more than anyone else.
Her appearance signaled the meeting was officially underway.
“Black Witch.”
The first to speak up was the Beast King.
“Did Guangduz die because of your mistake?”
He stated directly why he had come to the meeting, still seated on the floor.
The next words piqued everyone’s curiosity.
The death of a World Erosive was not unheard of in their current chaotic world, yet Ixion was the group assembled by the Black Witch herself.
If Guangduz had been up against the Heavenly Sword, it might’ve been understandable, but the Ten Great Lords…
If she had assisted him, fleeing wouldn’t have been impossible.
Thus, when the Beast King asked his question, the Black Witch fell silent for a moment.
Soon, her dark lips slowly parted.
“Ignis, who we thought was lost, has been found.”
“Ignis?”
Her next words changed the atmosphere of the meeting in an instant.
Ignis.
The skill that allowed extraction of the purest form of World Erosion to create the God of World Erosion.
It was crucial for the common goal shared among the World Erosives gathered in Ixion.
Perhaps because they understood that importance, all expressions turned serious.
“Who has it now? I think it was the Balheim kid last time.”
Velorkin Balheim.
There had been rumors that he, the third son of Balheim, possessed Ignis.
However, he had died due to World Erosion.
Now, a new holder of Ignis had emerged.
“It’s Kraush Balheim, the youngest of the Balheim family.”
At that moment, the Black Witch responded.
Once again, as Balheim’s name echoed, the World Erosives wore displeased expressions.
It was no surprise; Balheim was a legacy family that neither World Erosives could easily mess with.
“So you couldn’t save Guangduz because you were too busy chasing after Ignis, huh? Sounds about right.”
As the Beast King interjected perfectly, the Black Witch had no retort.
Like he said, she had indeed been blinded by her fixation on Ignis, resulting in Guangduz’s demise.
Ignis was essential not only to Ixion but also to her own plans.
As the Beast King’s gaze sharpened at the Black Witch’s silence, someone clapped.
Clap, clap!
A distinguished old gentleman in a bowler hat stood with a cheerful grin.
“Now, now, let’s not pressure the Black Witch too much. It’s unfortunate about Guangduz, but, hey, at least we found Ignis, right? That’s pretty big news on its own.”
The gentleman eased the mood with his words.
“Black Witch, if you have any information regarding this Kraush Balheim who possesses Ignis, could you share it with us?”
Naturally transitioning to the next question, the Black Witch nodded slowly at his inquiry.
Following along the old man’s lead, she began to provide information on the figure known as Kraush Balheim to the World Erosives.
With every detail revealed, various reactions arose among the gathered World Erosives.
Some already knew about Kraush.
After all, he had become quite the hot topic recently.
However, as they absorbed what the Black Witch conveyed, they couldn’t help but realize once more.
“Did a new star just fall upon Balheim?”
Just as the Beast King wondered, Kraush’s astounding deeds were utterly inconceivable for his age.
Even a quick review of his achievements would lead everyone to recognize—
Kraush Balheim was destined to become a significant adversary in the near future.
That meant he would surely become an obstacle for Ignis, which must exist within Ixion.
“We’ve got to take care of him now.”
The Beast King stroked his white beard.
“Are you keeping an eye on him?”
To that question, the Black Witch shook her head.
Seeing her reaction, the Beast King tilted his head.
“You can’t see him with your own eyes?”
“Seems like he’s set up some kind of barrier.”
“Ah, so he’s aware of our presence and is preparing countermeasures, then.”
The Beast King expressed astonishment.
This meant they were being watched by him—a significant player.
“What’s this? Something doesn’t feel right about that guy.”
From his previous exploits to now blocking the Black Witch’s sight.
A troublesome character had emerged.
“Well, of course. He’s got that woman by his side.”
At that moment, another Ixion member spoke up.
A woman in a revealing outfit stepped forward, laden with burdensome presence.
With lengths of sharp ears poking from her black skin, she was unmistakable.
Her title was Black Dawn.
A dark attribute Long Ear Clan member.
“Crimson Garden.”
The moment that name slipped out, varying reactions rippled through the assembled Ixion members.
It was because everyone present had encountered her before.
The Undying One.
Crimson Garden August.
Once a top-tier force within Ixion, she was notorious among the World Erosives.
“That woman is currently by that kid’s side.”
“The Undying One? After causing havoc in Ixion, she’s now got someone with Ignis as her subordinate?”
The Beast King scowled at the mention of the word Undying One.
An ominous aura emanated from him.
He wasn’t on good terms with Crimson Garden.
“I don’t know much beyond that. One thing’s for sure: she’s with him. Her subordinates were also spotted around the kid.”
“The Undying One…”
The Beast King ground his teeth.
But unlike before, he no longer exuded his usual bluster.
He certainly wasn’t about to rush into a direct confrontation with Crimson Garden.
She was just that troublesome of a foe.
“Ebelasque Venapochi is there too.”
Then the Black Witch added with her next words.
Ebelasque Venapochi, who was scheduled to join Ixion as a new member.
Her necromancer skills were optimized for overwhelming tactics.
Having her absence from Ixion would surely be a cause for concern.
“An Undying One and a Necromancer? This situation is spinning out of control.”
The Beast King gritted his teeth in frustration.
His temperament was blatantly showing.
“Thus…”
As the Black Witch was about to continue, her head suddenly jerked as her gaze turned.
Her abrupt reaction caught the attention of others, and soon footsteps echoed in the room.
Slow, frivolous footsteps.
As those present began to ponder the familiar sound—
“Well, aren’t we all gathered here?”
In came a man with blood-red hair.
With his usual laid-back demeanor, he wore a grin that spread from ear to ear.
“Why, were you all waiting for me?”
Guangduz.
The very person believed to be dead appeared at the Ixion meeting.
The instant he showed up, every World Erosive reacted differently.
Shock, surprise, disbelief, frustration, joy, irritation, anger, suspicion.
Among them, suspicion pierced through Guangduz like a needle, making his blood-red eyes bulge in astonishment.
“What? Is my return that shocking? Go ahead and glare at me all you want; I can take you on any day.”
And his next line confirmed what everyone feared.
He was the genuine Guangduz.
You may also like Mesugaki Tank Enters The Academy
