‘Bone Armor!’
Volkan immediately used his technique when he faced Caron.
Crunch— Crunch crunch-.
Tens of thousands of bones moved in unison and enveloped Volkan.
Crunch!
Soon, Volkan’s surroundings were dyed in pitch-black darkness.
A place where even light dared not invade.
That was the power of the ‘Bone Armor’ created by Volkan.
“Phew… That was dangerous. I almost really died.”
Volkan wiped the sweat flowing down his forehead.
To think he would face the Empire’s rat, Caron. It was bad for the heart in many ways.
Because Caron was a symbol of fear.
To both allies and enemies.
Volkan, who looked around to see if there were any holes, just in case, fell into thought.
‘Stay calm. The defensive power of Bone Armor is absolute. The problem is…’
That he couldn’t move.
At first, it was a magic that gave an armor shape, but after working on it for a few years, it became huge like now.
From the outside, it would look like a huge ball made by weaving bones here and there.
It was a magic with major drawbacks, not only being unable to move but also blocking all directions centered on the caster, making it impossible to know the situation outside.
But for Volkan, it couldn’t be called a drawback.
‘Because all the skeletons on the battlefield are my eyes and body.’
A faint smile appeared on the lips of Volkan, who had finished thinking.
Because although it seemed like he was in a crisis, it was actually the opposite.
Caron wouldn’t be able to kill him, the 5th Legion Commander Crowley would be resurrected soon, and…
‘They will have to bow their heads to me.’
Not only the Legion Commander but all living beings on the continent would kneel at his feet.
‘Don’t panic. Resurrecting Crowley is the top priority.’
It was when Volkan was about to examine the situation on the battlefield through the skeletons.
Clack.
‘Hmm?’
Volkan looked around. He heard a sound of unknown origin.
Clack— Clack clack!
Moreover, the sound was getting louder.
Soon, Volkan could realize. Someone was.
Attacking his ‘Bone Armor’.
And that someone was obviously…
‘Ca-Caron!?’
The Empire’s rat, Caron.
Volkan focused his consciousness on a skeleton outside and could see.
Caron swinging his dagger like crazy.
‘Trying to break bones filled with mana…! No, he’s already breaking them!’
At first, he sneered.
Because what was enveloping him now was a thick bone armor with a thickness of 5m.
Moreover, it was made pointy here and there like a hedgehog.
Even mana was fully injected, so it was a ‘Bone Armor’ with a structure where the attacker would rather receive damage.
Due to the characteristic of bones becoming sharper when broken or shattered, attacking at close range was almost like a crazy act.
But…
Crash! Clack clack clack clack!!
There was someone who did that crazy act as if it was nothing.
“That, that crazy bastard!”
Curses automatically spewed from Volkan’s mouth.
It was a Bone Armor he had worked on for several years with a craftsman’s spirit, stitch by stitch, whenever he had time.
From Caron’s point of view, it would feel like cutting down a huge wall with a knife.
Moreover, each bone of the Bone Armor was like a 6-star mana-infused sword.
It meant that it wasn’t magic that could be recklessly shattered with the body.
‘Does he have a special technique or artifact that protects his body?’
No, that’s not it.
Because blood was flowing from various parts of Caron’s body.
Then…
‘Does that mean he’s breaking through recklessly with his body…!’
Not only was it surprising that he was breaking bones like blades, but it was even more surprising that he was enduring the pain.
Silently enduring the pain of being cut by a blade and advancing.
With only one thought.
To tear the opponent to death.
Crack!
Plop-.
A small bone fragment fell at Volkan’s feet with a thud.
At the same time, a ray of light shone on Volkan.
It was a very small hole, maybe 1cm, but perhaps because it was in pitch-black darkness.
The white light stood out even more.
‘It’s like representing my desire to live in the light.’
Perhaps because that sight was quite beautiful.
Volkan became lost in thought without realizing it.
“The light… I also had such a time.”
When he played outside with ‘her’.
It was at that very moment.
The light shining on Volkan disappeared, and something else took its place.
Something glowing red.
As Volkan stared at that something, he soon realized. That was.
Caron’s eyes.
“Wait there quietly. I’ll take you out soon.”
“…”
The lines were moving, but why did he feel fear?
Volkan no longer wanted to go into the light.
The shadows suited him perfectly.
But even if he conveyed this thought to Caron, the result wouldn’t change.
‘Either way, I’ll end up buried underground.’
Even though he was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, why was there no dignity?
If you saw that sight right in front of you, you would be lucky not to wet your pants.
‘I’m not a madman like the Creator of Madness! I’m also human, human!’
Anyway, Volkan, who faced reality, immediately focused his mind.
He frantically examined the battlefield, moving between the skeletons.
Although Volkan was usually laid-back, he had no choice but to quicken his actions at this moment.
But Caron also quickened his actions.
‘Did he give up on fighting? He seems to be vulnerable to one-on-one combat.’
He seemed to have intensively raised his strategy, evasion, and defense abilities.
‘Rather than being foolish… it’s natural.’
A structure where they not only recover their bodies on their own but also automatically multiply their troops, and the stronger the enemy dies, the stronger they become.
If these guys, currently numbering only 1~2 thousand, exceed tens of thousands and become an army of hundreds of thousands?
‘I don’t even want to imagine…!’
Crack! Crack crack crack crack-!
The closer he got to Volkan, the more injuries appeared on Caron’s body.
But no matter how many injuries, no matter how much pain.
It couldn’t stop Caron’s advance.
‘The remaining distance is about 3m.’
Volkan was showing no particular reaction.
He might have given up resisting, he might be focusing on resurrecting Crowley, or he might be devising a new strategy.
Caron decided to attempt a conversation mixed with psychological warfare.
Not only could it disrupt the enemy’s thoughts, but he judged that he needed to extract as much information as possible before killing him.
“Volkan, was it? Remarkable power. Why are you using such power in a bad way?”
“…”
“The Empire values talented individuals. How about surrendering and working for the Empire?”
“…You think I wouldn’t know that dirty scheme of killing me as soon as I come out?”
“As I said earlier, I’m just trying to take you out. Because I judged that you’re not someone who should be in the shadows.”
“Where are you going to use this power of death? I bet you’re plotting to start another war. That war you guys love to death!”
At first, Volkan tried not to engage in conversation.
But he couldn’t stand it.
The sight of a massacrer pretending to accept him as a talented person, despite having massacred countless people.
Ever since gaining the authority to raise skeletons and the power to control death, Volkan had always thought.
This was none other than.
God’s will for him to punish the massacrers with his own hands.
‘This power is to kill the opponent. Because it’s a power specialized for that.’
It was the moment he was thinking that way.
“It can be used in agriculture.”
“What?”
“I saw earlier that they not only carry out detailed orders but also have considerable strength. Above all, I liked their ability to recover their bodies even when injured.”
Resource extraction, construction, intelligence, and even fighting against magical beasts and demons.
The potential for utilization was endless.
Volkan couldn’t help but falter. Because he had never thought in that direction.
Although it couldn’t completely extinguish the anger accumulated over a long time, Volkan wanted to hear more of what Caron had to say.
“…Is that so? Then stop there. If you do, I’ll listen to your story in detail.”
“…”
Crack! Clack clack clack clack!
Clack clack!
But Caron’s movement didn’t stop. Rather, its speed increased.
It was natural for Volkan to spew curses.
“You, you filthy dog of the Empire! Lies are your daily routine!”
“What did you say just now? I can’t hear well because of the sound of bones falling off.”
“You heard everything else well! Enough! I won’t play along with your tricks anymore!”
Caron clicked his tongue. Was he someone who could be persuaded unlike the Creator of Madness?
But he couldn’t accept Volkan’s request.
Because he couldn’t rule out the possibility of Volkan coming up with another plan while he stopped advancing.
The reason that Crowley’s resurrection was imminent also played a part in this judgment.
“But I’m sincere about you being an excellent talent. Don’t you think it’s too wasteful for that ability to die like this?”
“Don’t worry. The one who’s going to die is not me, but you.”
“…”
“Let’s see… How should I kill you? Should I blow you up? Like those rats you raised?”
Freeze-.
Caron’s movement, which seemed like it would never stop, ceased.
Volkan thought it was an unexpected result.
Because he thought the cold-hearted Caron would laugh it off.
‘Well, whatever. What’s important is that I bought time. Crowley’s resurrection is near. In 5 minutes… no, 3 minutes…’
It was when Volkan was calculating the time.
A blue blade soared above Caron’s dagger. And.
Slash clack clack clack clack!
Clack clack clack clack clack!
He began to frantically smash the Bone Armor.
The speed was three times faster than before.
Volkan couldn’t help but be startled. Because 3 minutes was enough time for his head to fall off.
What the hell did that rat…!
“Caron! How are you different from me!”
In fact, even Caron sent his subordinates to their deaths.
Moreover, he often sent long-time comrades to even more remote places.
However.
Caron at least.
“I don’t use my comrades’ corpses as bombs!”
Clack clack clack clack!
The Bone Armor literally began to be split apart.
Volkan had no choice but to go crazy and jump up and down.
The separated enemy forces were getting closer.
It would take a little more time for Crowley to get up.
It seemed like Caron would reach right in front of him at any moment!
‘I do have one more trump card, but…’
He still needed more time.
According to the original plan, that guy should have gotten up long ago, but he ended up consuming more mana than expected while cleaning up the battlefield where Adonis was rampaging.
‘Damn it! There’s no choice. I’ll have to gamble…’
Betting his life on probability wasn’t Volkan’s style.
But in a situation like now, he had no choice but to rely on luck.
Flick!
Volkan flicked his fingers. He killed all the Black Mages who were infusing mana into the Legion Commander’s bones.
‘It’s okay if some of Crowley’s bones are broken. What’s important is the skull.’
The targets were Adonis and Lucia, who were rampaging around Crowley.
Even if he couldn’t kill them, it was enough to inflict serious injuries.
Volkan, who had finished thinking, opened his mouth.
“Corpse Explosion!”
‘Caron caught him…!’
The moment Caron faced Volkan.
Adonis had also tried to head towards Volkan.
However.
Thump!
A powerful demonic energy struck Adonis’s heart.
‘Could it be!’
Woooooo-!
The inverted pentagram behind Crowley’s body glowed black and gradually began to rise.
It was a sign that the resurrection was near.
Boom-!
Poof! Poof poof!
The two Black Mages who had been gasping for breath on the floor due to the shock of falling from the magic circle a little while ago.
Adonis, who had beheaded the two of them in an instant, flew towards the magic circle.
And together with Elester, he began to attack the magic circle surrounding Crowley.
Bang bang bang bang bang!
Rumble-!
It was the moment when the magic circle was gradually losing its power.
“Cough!”
Elester groaned while lying down.
It was because his mana had run out.
‘It’s because I recklessly fired magic at the beginning without thinking. To make such a beginner’s mistake… You foolish guy!’
The fortunate thing was that the weakening of the magic circle was visible to the eye.
“Old man! Go in!”
Lucia, who had participated in quite a few battles, took over while Adonis and Elester withdrew from the front line.
Lucia, who realized that fact, immediately swung her sword.
A technique that had a narrow range but could deal the most powerful blow to a single point.
The fourth secret technique of the Lucid family.
Sky Splitter.
Slaaash-!!
In a split second, the magic circle was split in half.
It was literally a short time, but it was enough time for Adonis to enter.
Rumble-!
Adonis immediately swung his spear.
One.
Two.
Three.
It was the very moment he was about to kill the last Black Mage.
Thud-.
The Black Mage collapsed with a gasp. As if he had fainted.
It was a sight that gave a strange sense of discomfort.
Adonis soon realized the reason.
The sight of the Black Mages he had tried to capture suddenly meeting their deaths. It was exactly the same.
And next, surely…
“…!!”
Kaboom!!
A huge explosion.
The impact of the explosion created a gap in the magic circle, and Adonis rolled out of the magic circle.
‘That was close.’
Adonis cut off his burning clothes.
If he hadn’t seen it on the battlefield before, he would have been caught up in that explosion and met his death.
He had saved his life, but the crisis was not over yet.
The energy of the inverted pentagram was gradually getting stronger.
‘I killed all the Black Mages. But it still can’t be stopped?’
That’s when a nearby skeleton suddenly rose and clicked its mouth.
“Hahaha! I won! The Legion Commander will be resurrected! Right here, I will pronounce death upon the continent!”
“…Volkan!”
“Kuk! The rituals are all finished. All that’s left is for him to rise.”
“Caron will soon behead you, you know?”
“Let him do whatever he wants! Crowley will grant you death in my place!”
Everyone thought it was all over. All but one.
Lucia.
“It would be troublesome if you forgot a pretty woman like me.”
“Lucia? What can a little thing like you do?”
“You think I don’t know you’re buying time right now? The ritual isn’t over yet, is it?”
“…!”
“Sorry, but I’ve killed more Black Mages than people. Your little tricks are obvious. I’ll take it as punishment.”
The Legion Commander’s neck.
Muttering that with her mouth, Lucia kicked the ground.
The mana she had been gathering for a long time. She shot it in a straight line.
The second secret technique of the Lucid family.
Mount Tai Piercer.
Slaaash-!!
As the pillar in the back completely collapsed, the magic circle that was diagonally hanging on the pillar fell.
The magic circle protecting Crowley had completely disappeared.
Boom! Rumble rumble rumble!
When the tremendous roar and flying rock fragments ended, Lucia raised her hand and shouted.
“We won!”
It was at that moment.
Crackle-!
The inverted black pentagram rose from the dust.
An inverted pentagram so dark that it was clearly visible even through the thick dust.
Boom!
A huge hand bone broke through the dirt and grabbed the ground.
The ground shook. A greater tremor than when Crowley’s entire body had fallen.
The huge skull slowly rose. Just looking at it was ominous.
Burning with dark purple light in its eye sockets.
Groooooo-!
The 5th Legion Commander Crowley, who had destroyed the Rohan Kingdom in the past and buried 10% of humanity in the ground.
The moment he revealed himself to the world again.
–TL Notes–
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