Book Eater

Chapter 326: The Night that Swallowed the Sun (2)

Pakang!?

There was a sharp noise as Soul Caliber, the soul sword, extinguished Hipatia with a single strike. If it were another one of the Four Horsemen, Theo wouldn’t have been able to defeat them in one blow. A vampire’s body wasn’t particularly important to them, and the arch lich often stored their life vessel in another place. As such, it wasn’t easy to destroy their immortality in one blow. However, Hipatia was an undead that didn’t specialize in flesh. Therefore, Soul Caliber’s direct hit was indeed fatal.

I caught one. There are two left.

After a few beats, the curses fell away, and magic power once again circulated through his right hand.

Reynolds clicked a tongue that he didn’t even have.

[Tsk, tsk.?You are a very cruel young man.]

I can’t spare her just because her appearance is beautiful.

[It can’t be helped. She could’ve been rehabilitated if she were alive, but that lady is dead.]

As Theo and Reynolds talked, Elohim’s eyes glowed with fury. He might not have the trivial thoughts of a human, but who wouldn’t be angry at losing a colleague they had spent hundreds of years with? This had happened because of his carelessness, so the Red Knight’s eyes turned red.

The mad vampire unfolded a pair of blood wings. “Kyaaaak!”

Red Knight Elohim fell on all fours like a beast. His human appearance was just a shell; his essence was a lump of blood. It was a fluid form that could transform into anything he wanted.

“Don’t be too hasty, Red Knight!”

Elohim transformed faster than the Black Knight could speak, and sprang forward faster than the speed of sound. Even a swordmaster with lightning fast reflexes would find it hard to react. His claws were like a beast’s, and his teeth were as sharp as a shark. He forgot about the order not to kill Theo as he attempted to overwhelm Theo with pure physical ability.

“Kuruk?”

But he heard something in the high-speed world where even the falling leaves didn’t move.

- Fool.?

A terrifying voice caused him to scratch to a halt. He saw a dagger raised in the air.

“Ha! You are the fool, human!”

Elohim, however, ignored it. Strong artifacts couldn’t kill an elder vampire. He might take a bit of damage, but he would survive, even he lost the majority of the blood he had accumulated. His opponent, on the other hand, was destined to have his head torn off.

- Ars Magna.

Elohim crossed the remaining ten meters in an instant. Just before Elohim’s claws swiped at his enemy, Theo raised a sword that was shining with a blue light. This was the last thing the elder vampire, the Red Knight, saw.

“Turn into water!” Theo commanded.

Simultaneously, the Philosopher's Stone attached to the Azoth Sword shattered. It had been used once on the white phosphorus storm, and the price of intervening with the body of an elder vampire caused it to reach its limit. Nevertheless, the strength of the Azoth Sword was certain. The moment that the blade shone, the body of the vampire turned to pure water!

Chwaack!

It was a shortcut that couldn’t be used for normal creatures, but the elder vampire had a body that was completely made up of blood. Elohim’s source of power, the blood, was lost all at once. The elder vampire had become a slime.

Even so, I must not let my guard down.

Looking down at the vampire that had become a puddle of water, Theo cast a spell that would completely destroy Elohim.

Pajijijik!

The lightning spear struck the water and evaporated the water droplets that shivered like they were alive. By the time the Black Knight stepped forward, the water on the ground had already dried up. It was the end of a vampire that could destroy an estate.

“Didn’t I tell you? The three of you aren’t a match for me,” Theo declared as he stepped on the charred ground.

“... You... What did you do?”

The Black Knight was utterly dumbfounded. They were the highest ranking undead in the material world, but two had been killed with almost contemptuous ease. It might have made sense if Theo was a transcendent, but he was still at the 8th Circle.

“Even if you used an artifact, the amount of magic power that you have is strange. You might’ve reached the 8th Circle, but you’ve used multiple great spells simultaneously… and to even overwhelm us!”

“Is that all you want to say?” Theo had Soul Caliber in his right hand and a thunder spear in his left hand, facing Black Knight Delos without any hesitation. After losing his colleagues, the Clack Knight wasn’t a threat to Theo.

“Then it is time to leave, ghost of an old era.”

The battle that started didn’t last long.

***

Peeeong!

Veronica’s body zigzagged through the clouds as she avoided the attacks of the enemy. Black lightning chased her and struck empty clouds, ripping them apart and burning the air in the area. This was a level of lightning that deviated from the natural laws of the material world. It had a fast attack speed and a destructive power similar to that of Hellfire, which meant that Veronica didn’t dare confront the damage.

‘Tch, using magic that I haven’t heard of!

That was the level of enemy she was fighting against. Meltor’s magic might’ve developed over the centuries, but it wasn’t a level that could match magic from the Age of Mythology. Jerem could freely use that level magic, so he was powerful even if he hadn’t regained his nine Circles.

Beyond the clouds, Jerem’s black robe flapped like a grim reaper as he kept launching spells at Veronica, who flashed brightly like a comet.

“Water of Cocytus, kill my enemy.”

Most attack spells of the water attribute shared a similar attack power. Hundreds of water arrows floated in midair, and Jerem aimed them at his constantly flying target with a relaxed face.

Cocytus was a large river from another dimension that froze any object it touched with a single drop of its water. It didn’t physically freeze the target. Rather, it stopped the target’s mind and body. It was a black magic that resulted in the target’s defeat the moment the target tried to defend.

Pipipipiping!

The water arrows poured down. It was a barrage that couldn’t be avoided, so Veronica immediately turned to counterattack. Her magic power raged as fire arrows popped up to intercept the water arrows. This was impossible to do without elaborate magic power control and abundant practical experience. As the two spells canceled each other, a huge gust of wind came from behind Jerem.

“... Annoying.”

The wind had more power than a 7th Circle attack spell and had come with perfect timing to destroy the flow of his battle. Jerem growled in irritation as he searched for the archer hidden somewhere in the Great Forest. He could ignore a few mediocre arrows, but this storm arrow could destroy his body if he got too careless. If it hadn’t been for Nídh?ggur’s help, he would have died from the strike that was equivalent to an 8th Circle attack spell.

At a glance, the combination of the two, Veronica and Titania, seemed more powerful than expected. Veronica looked around at the battlefield calmly. The difference in capabilities was clear. If this had been a duel, she would’ve died or been heavily pressured in her draconic state.

No, the scales aren’t balanced even with Titania.

Unlike their opponent who seemingly had a bottomless number of cards, the two of them had used everything except their trump card. If Titania used her Hurricane Bow well, they could last another ten minutes. However, if something went wrong, they would both die. This was a situation where she had to take a gamble.

Veronica struggled for a while before making a decision. “Haaap!”

Horns appeared, and scales grew over her skin. The temperature of the blood flowing in her body rose dozens of degrees, and her red hair flickered like it was burning. This was her peak temporary combat state, the draconic form. Her magic power was boosted several times over and the atmosphere rumbled around her. Jerem sensed the force from a distance and became alert. He knew that his opponent’s momentary output had reached a level that could threaten him.

“This declining era is really full of annoying people,” Jerem growled in an annoyed voice.

At this moment…

Wuuong!

A white light appeared from somewhere and was sucked into Jerem’s body. It was a piece of the power he had given to each of the Four Horsemen when he made them a long time ago. The piece from White Knight Hipatia had returned to him.

“... Hipatia was destroyed?” The confused Jerem had barely spoken when another piece of light flew into his body. This time, it was the piece from Red Knight Elohim. Jerem suddenly froze, but Veronica just watched without taking action.

He is full of openings. Nevertheless...!

She would die if she moved forward. Veronica could tell with the enhanced sense of the draconic state. The moment he accepted the two pieces of light, Jerem became another being. He was now a monster comparable to the 9th Circle.

“Ah.” However, unlike Veronica whose instincts warned her, Titania reacted from afar. She saw that her opponent showed an opening, and her own hunter’s instincts prevailed.

Hurricane Bow.?

There was a giant gust of wind as the huge bow fired, and a storm appeared.

Kuoooooh!

The storm ripped through the clouds and swallowed up Jerem’s body.

“Yes, they lost to that little bastard.”

A black-robed hand reached out from within the storm. It was a skinny hand, but the darkness spreading from the palm was an imaginary space that blocked all physical forces. His eyes shone red as Jerem slashed his hand down at Veronica.

“Grim Reaper’s Scythe.”

Veronica felt a chill despite her boiling blood.

Kiiiing.?

Her nerves sharpened to an unbelievable extent as something appeared in the air and raised a scythe. Dark robe, white bones, and giant scythe—it was the spitting image of a grim reaper with a scythe described in books. This was a blow that cut between the boundary of matter and non-matter, breaking Veronica’s body and cutting the soul.

It was too late to avoid it. There was no way to block it. Veronica formed a fist and threw every ounce of her magic and strength into intercepting the falling scythe that tore apart space.

――――――――――――!

There was no sound, but a shockwave expanded from the point of contact. Which blow had won? The legendary reaper had once sliced through a demon’s neck, but it only swung its scythe once before melting away.

“Haack! Hak! Huaaa...!”

Veronica was delighted at the fact that she was alive, despite the blood running down her half severed right arm. She would’ve been cut in half if she hadn’t been in her draconic form. The extra speed and strength had made all the difference.

Jerem was surprised for an instant. “You survived? But what can you do with that body?”

The storm being blocked by his left hand had already dissipated. He had blocked Titania’s blow easily. Veronica realized that the strategy they had used so far wouldn’t work anymore. Now, it was a game of pure power. The odds were slim, and her right arm hadn’t recovered yet. However, her fighting spirit burned brightly.

At that moment…

“... You fell as well, Delos?” A black light flew into Jerem’s body, and his presence swelled even more.

It was at the level of facing a dragon. At this point, the odds of Veronica and Titania winning fell to zero. However, when Veronica sensed this, she laughed. The expression on her face wasn’t one of having given up or being prepared to die. A familiar back had appeared in front of her.

“All your subordinates have fallen, Jerem!” Theo had transformed into lightning to return. His red robes flapped as he declared war on the worst warlock in this material world. “You can’t hide behind your subordinates now. Bring it on!”

“Haaa.. I’m hiding?”

A killing intent strong enough to still the wind rose into the sky! A fog of death and darkness started to creep over the battlefield.

Kururung...! Kurung! Kururung!

After absorbing the power of the Four Horsemen, Jerem’s black magic was incomparable to before. He might not have recovered his ninth Circle, but he had the requisite magic power and casting speed. An adult dragon would pale as the magician of death drew on his original strength.

“I’ll put you in your place, natives of this world!”