### Chapter: 280
“Give him a proper punch!”
Bioloren’s scream resonated clearly in Kraush’s ears.
His grip tightened around the sword even more.
“Do you want to be cursed and end up like me?”
Before the regression, Bioloren had subconsciously avoided Kraush because they seemed similar.
One day, she had lightly tossed a barrier spell at him and said,
“Live as a person. Don’t end up being a mediocre excuse like me.”
That was the extent of their conversation.
They were so estranged that their past exchanges weren’t memorable.
But because of that distance, he could understand more clearly now.
“Do you know what’s the most infuriating thing at this moment?”
After throwing herself against the Demonic Prince‘s attack and using a barrier to stop it, she found herself next to a dying Bioloren.
The rest of the gang rushed out to finish off the Demonic Prince she had blocked.
Only Kraush, a non-combatant, remained by her side as she faded away.
Perhaps that’s why he unwillingly heard her dying words.
“I’ve never once blamed my damn parents.”
She said this with a wistful smile, full of regret.
That regret was a mix of blame and emotions that lamented her life.
“If only I could’ve punched them once… It should’ve happened…”
Tears fell from her eyes as she finally let those words out.
“It’s too late now…”
And that was how she died.
The hero who had bravely blocked the Demonic Prince passed away, leaving only resentment behind.
Kraush found that sight utterly unbearable.
For some reason, he felt like his own end would be just as gloomy.
He couldn’t even cry out for her, and he felt a sense of kinship in their silence.
Maybe that was the reason.
Kraush wished that she wouldn’t meet such a fate anymore.
Everyone dies.
Death is unavoidable.
But if you can’t escape it…
At least standing at the end of that death, remembering the past, thinking that the day mattered could be okay, right?
Instead of living a life filled with regrets, wouldn’t a life where you gave it everything you had be more valuable?
With that thought, Kraush’s sword was raised high into the sky.
Even if he had no particular ties before the regression, Bioloren was now a friend, a companion to Kraush.
If one day, she could spread her wings in the generation of the skies,
he would gladly lift his sword for her.
Kraush decided to become the brightest star in the forefront, the Eternal Star.
His body began to feel an intense pressure.
Internally, the black flames roiled wildly.
The black flames started to constrict around his throat.
It felt like he would burn away completely at any moment.
However, a new phase was beginning.
The accumulated black flames began to consume everything in their path.
And Kraush was also part of that consumption.
The White Dragon King devoured by the Four Seasons.
Although it was said the Four Seasons consumed him, the White Dragon King had not been fully absorbed by Kraush.
His will was consumed, yet the power was something Kraush couldn’t bear.
Thus, Kraush could not fully utilize the power of the White Dragon King.
To do that, he had to break through the wall of transformation.
And right now…
Originally, the White Dragon King, who could not be contained and was just asleep within the Four Seasons,
was being forcibly melted away by the endlessly consuming black flames.
What seemed impossible to melt, the everlasting snow of the White Dragon King,
was now being melted before the sudden heat of an unexpected inferno.
And the melted White Dragon King became fuel for the black flames.
The black flames that consumed the White Dragon King blazed wildly within Kraush.
And that meant, the power of the melted White Dragon King was spreading all over Kraush.
“Ha.”
Dark and white smoke began to pour from Kraush’s mouth.
Simultaneously, one of his eyes began to resemble that of a lizard.
Above Kraush, a single small horn emerged.
Scales sprouted from his cheeks, and his fangs sharpened.
This was the result of the forcibly absorbed power of the White Dragon King, which had not fully integrated within him.
Terasius’s eyes widened slowly as he witnessed the scene before him.
It was the sight of a human transforming into a new race.
For Terasius, who sought to create a magical race, this was a whole new pinnacle.
That astonishing sight was unfolding right before his eyes.
Meeting Kraush’s gaze, who cemented his sword in the air once more,
the raging flames of the black flames surged from his body.
Deep within Kraush,
seven stars began to shine bright red.
The blue glow in Kraush’s eyes was now veiled with red starlight.
Amidst the black flames, the red starlight spread, enhancing his power.
Creak—
And at the moment that power reached its limit,
Kraush crushed the moment strengthening potion he had kept in his mouth.
Whoosh!
The black flames surged up into the sky, roaring fiercely.
It looked as if a pitch-black dragon was ascending into the heavens.
In that final moment,
as Kraush surpassed limits upon limits to reach a new realm,
Terasius stood there dumbfounded, staring at the spectacle.
Looking down at Terasius, Kraush grinned briefly.
“Get a grip.”
With that, Kraush struck down with his sword.
Annihilation Erosion
Seven Planting
Annihilation Black Dragon
The black dragon consumed everything.
—
Where the black dragon had fallen,
the storm of black flames it had stirred up was tumultuous around it.
In the distance, the villagers trembled in fear as if a dragon had truly fallen.
The animals of the Freya Mountains fled in panic.
The Annihilation Black Dragon held overwhelming power.
In the pit where it landed, one person stood quietly, holding his breath.
Terasius Jeblam, the Demon Mage.
Disguised as Teramarin Jeblam, he entered Rahern Academy.
He stared calmly ahead.
To Terasius, Kraush was an adversary he could eliminate with a mere wave of his hand.
No matter how strong Kraush might be, he could never match Terasius, who had mastered the apex of magic.
He needed to grow even stronger.
That’s why when Terasius cast his 9th Circle Magic, Lilumino, he thought that should be enough.
The gap in level was far too clear for Kraush to break through his barrier.
Yet here they were.
The shards of Lilumino danced in the wind.
The barrier Terasius had been so confident wouldn’t break was now scattered.
It was the aftermath of receiving a power he could not withstand.
Terasius’s gaze slowly lowered.
There stood a boy, utterly battered and torn.
Kraush Balheim.
The one who had once debated magic with him.
Ever since the death of the red-haired roving magician, he had lived in excruciating loneliness, realizing there was no one left to share thoughts on magic with him.
Now, after decades, that same loneliness had somewhat been alleviated.
That Kraush was now trudging towards Terasius.
“…Why go this far?”
Terasius still couldn’t comprehend Kraush.
The boy possessed enough knowledge to discuss magic with him.
Of course, Terasius had noticed the presence of someone behind Kraush.
Regardless, Kraush was sufficiently qualified to be that person’s voice.
Terasius would do anything for him if it meant discussing magic—something he believed he would never have the chance to do again.
Yet Kraush was expressing anger against him now.
“If you want something, I can give you anything!”
Why was he so angry, Terasius wondered,
as Kraush, now closer, slowly raised his head.
“What I want, you can’t provide.”
“There’s almost nothing I can’t provide in this world.”
“No, there’s a hell of a lot. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.”
Even the powerful Terasius couldn’t prevent the world’s downfall.
At that point, Terasius was not a universal savior to Kraush.
He too was human and had limitations.
“Terasius Jeblam.”
Kraush raised his clenched fist.
“Live like a real person if you want to survive.”
Kraush didn’t see Terasius as someone to experiment on without any guilt or conscience.
“Since you can’t even live like a person, what can you do?”
With that, Kraush launched his fist at Terasius.
Thud—
Kraush’s fist reached Terasius’s chest.
But there was no more power behind Kraush’s strike.
It was as if he had squeezed out every ounce of strength left.
Everything had pushed him to his limits.
Crack—
The skin on Kraush cracked, crumbling away.
This was the price for forcibly melting and absorbing the power of the White Dragon King.
Kraush fell forward, and Terasius caught his unconscious body.
Clap!
At that moment, a delayed footstep pierced through the smoke.
There stood a girl with silver hair, identical to his.
Just as she thought the situation had concluded, she dashed over and found Kraush lying in Terasius‘s arms.
Simultaneously, she noticed the black marks smeared on Terasius’ chest.
The result of Kraush’s punch.
Realizing this, her expression tightened as she looked at Kraush and began to speak.
“…Kraush is currently being chased by those bastards called Ixion.”
Terasius’s ears perked up in response.
“Kraush is attempting to create a safety device for that reason. A mechanism that signals danger, allowing those nearby to reach him immediately.”
“…Wouldn’t it be safer just to hide?”
“He’s not the type to consider that. He’s fully set on defeating Ixion.”
She looked at Kraush as if resigned.
“There’s a senior at the academy who’s skilled in magical tools. I’ll do whatever I can to assist. Please help with the creation.”
That was Bioloren’s father, whom she despised.
She loathed meeting him because he denied her very existence every time.
Despite all this, Bioloren was making a request of him.
For the boy who had cried out for her sake.
“…”
Terasius looked down at Kraush.
He glimpsed the will of Kraush, who sought to surpass mere existence.
Kraush probably wanted to negotiate not just the safety device, but also his transformation into the Dragon King.
Having seen through that, Terasius fell silent for a moment before handing Kraush over to Bioloren.
As she received Kraush, Terasius turned to depart.
“I’ll head to Jeblam first. I’ll open the portal back to Rahern Academy for you, so head that way.”
Hearing that, Bioloren let out a deep sigh of relief.
She had been anxious about what that madman might do.
“Live like a real person.”
With that, Terasius reflected briefly on Kraush’s words.
His expression shifted to one of transcendence.
“Indeed, it’s difficult for me.”
And with that, Terasius left using his space movement magic.
“B-Bioloren.”
In that moment, Bioloren jumped at Kraush’s voice and turned to face him.
With a battered face, Kraush spoke.
“Feeling a bit relieved, huh?”
His voice barely came out, leaving her in disbelief.
It was absurd; yet, Bioloren tightened her grip around him.
“…Yeah, you damn fool.”
It felt more like a release than relief, purging the mind.
Upon hearing that, Kraush gave a short chuckle before closing his eyes.
Seeing this, Bioloren quietly resolved herself.
At least even if her life had only been valued for experimentation,
for the sake of that boy who had cried out for her,
she would strive to do her very best.
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