Reygus roared as it ran towards Balseru.  Rho tried to get in the way, but it was useless. When Rho was about to swing its axe, Reygus accelerated a beat faster to ram its body into Rho.

It was as if Rho was hit by a runaway train.  It was sent flying.  Phi, the fire Undead magician, had been ready to attack when an opportunity was created through Rho’s attack.  It was taken aback.  It was going to attack with magic when Rho stopped Reygus’ charge, but the result hadn’t occurred in a manner it expected!

Reygus maintained his momentum as it sent the Guardian Shadows protecting Balseru flying.  It was so fast that Balseru standing in an awkward posture as if he was having a hard time reacting to what was going on.

However, Reygus knew it had made the wrong decision when its hammer was about to come down.

Balseru rushed forward to swing his sword.  Did he really want to receive the blow of the hammer with such a thin sword?  He was begging to be crushed.

In the next moment, a pure white light washed over them.

Reygus was taken aback.

When they were about to clash, Reygus’ movements suddenly slowed, and Balseru’s movements accelerated.  It was as if time moved differently for the two of them.  Balseru’s attack came towards it before the hammer could be swung.  Reygus had no choice, but to avoid it in fright.

Reygus staggered backwards as it retreated.  It grinded its teeth.

Balseru used Instantaneous Movement to charge forward.  The thunder-like strike of the sword was blocked by the head of the hammer.

Ddah-ahhhhhhng!

As the ground shook, something unbelievable happened. Reygus was being pushed backwards.

“Koo-oohk.”

Balseru groaned.  He felt the force delivered by the clash.

His eyes had absolute power over the Undead.  He just had to look at an Undead.  No, if he was to be more precise, he could suppress any techniques that dealt with death.  This was the ability given to the one with the codename Alpha.  Undead beings were supposed to fall under him.  They weren’t supposed to be able to defy him.

However, Reygus was still displaying incredible battle capabilities.  Its power had only lessened by a little bit.  This was why he was confronted with a problem he had never worried about.

When he had his eyes closed, it meant his stored magical energy within his eyes had been expended.  He would need time to recharge his magical energy.

‘They are similar in some ways.’

Reygus was similar to the ‘Sleepless Guardians’, who guarded the Keepers of Prophecy.  It wasn’t just the fact that they were outstanding Undead.  The energy they were emitting was strikingly similar.

There must be a connection between the two.  However, he didn’t dwell on such matter right now.  He finally knew the true meaning behind destiny, so all he could do was fight with all his might against the enemy in front of him.

‘It is a matter of how long I can last.’

He knew he couldn’t win.  However, he was trying to come up with a plan that would allow him to stall Reygus.  He had to give Azell a little bit more time.

“…Dragon Demon general Reygus.”

A strange light was being emitted from his eyes as Balseru smiled.  He had an awkward smile as if he had never laughed before.  This was why It was a sickening smile.

“I want to thank you.”

“Thanks to you, I….  No, we finally realized what our origin and fate is.  I never imagined a time would come where I would have to express my thanks to a Dragon Demon king worshipper.”

A laughter tinged with madness flowed out of Balseru’s mouth.

4

Azell’s party was fighting well in conjunction with the Guardian Shadows.  However, there was one person, who was in danger.  She had been isolated from her party.

“Ha-ah, ha-ah…….”

It was Laura.

She looked disheveled as she tried to get her breathing under control.  In an one on one battle, she was able to dominate Dikal.  However, she was helpless against the relentless attacks by the Shadow’s Sword Belt.  

Even if Laura was a powerful magician, her opponents had all been candidates that had fought for the title to be heir.  Their achievements in the study of magic was a bit lacking, but all thirty of them were linked through Dragon Demon magic.  Moreover, they were under the control of Dikal, and they were being used effectively against her.  Of course, she would be on the losing side.

She was busy blocking endless magic spells coming from all sides that she hadn’t realized that she had been separated from her comrades.  She was 2 kilometers away from the main battlefield.

This was why she couldn’t expect help from her comrades.  Of course, this was what Dikal had been aiming for.

“It seems even the great Ms. Laura is showing signs of tiring?”

Dikal let out a nasty laughter.

There was no way he could win against her in an one on one battle.  However, he commanded the power of the disqualified candidates.  He felt an unsightly joy at cornering her.

Laura didn’t have the luxury to answer him.  The Shadow’s Sword Belt didn’t want her to catch her breath, so they kept sending spells towards her.

‘He plans on taking me alive.’

Dikal’s intent was clear.  If they had been aggressive in their attempt to kill Laura, she would already be dead by now.  However, they were trying to catch her alive at all costs.

They blocked Laura from contacting her allies, and they had slowly isolated her.  Then they kept chipping away at her stamina and magical energy.  In the process, Dikal felt a sadistic joy.

“Your fate is sealed, Laura.”

“The elders want to see the face of the traitor.  You already know what will happen next, right?  Even if you did betray us, you were an outstanding subject.  You might bear the children of the the next generation by receiving our seed or maybe you’ll just become a test subject.  It won’t matter which fate is chosen for you.  You’ll be in a hell appropriate for a traitor.”

The malice he displayed was hair-raising.  She would rather die than be caught by the Plain of Darkness.  They had the ability to make her experience hell.  In an attempt to appease the Aunsaurus family, Dikal would willingly throw Laura into hell.

“Let’s see…….”

As the encircling net backed off, Dikal stepped forward.  At the same time, a hole was punched through the wall of fire that Laura had been fighting against.

Puh-uhng!

“Kyahkkk!”

Laura let out a scream as she was pushed backwards.  Dikal had intentionally made this hole.  Laura was well aware of this fact.  In such a situation, she had to try something even if it was a longshot.

It was as if he had been waiting for her response.  He deflected Laura’s magic.  Then he overpowered her.

“Ha ha ha ha! Is that all  you got?  If you were going to end it like this, why did you trouble us so?”

Laura glared at him.   Dikal made an invidious remark.

“Hmmph.  That’s right, Laura.  You were right.  I did come here too early.”

Chapter end