Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse - Chapter 535: Descent of Nihileum Part Four

Chapter 535: Descent of Nihileum Part Four

The spear screamed through the air like a blazing comet, but one of the colossal hands surged upward, intercepting it mid-flight. The impact detonated in a blinding explosion of molten light and shredded bandages, tearing the hand apart at the wrist—but the remaining five crashed forward undeterred.

Alister propelled himself sideways with a single beat of his golden wings, barely evading two more incoming hands that stabbed toward him like harpoons. Twisting midair, he unleashed a barrage of golden lances from his outstretched palms, each one a condensed sun that punched holes through the night sky.

Kai sprinted alongside his own golem, weaving between the raining light projectiles. The monstrous construct mirrored his movements, swinging its massive arms in perfect sync with Kai’s strikes. Each blow from its chained fists landed like a thunderclap, forcing Alister to parry, deflect, and counter in rapid succession.

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

The three forces collided again and again, each clash ripping apart the surrounding ruins. Chunks of debris the size of carriages were flung skyward, only to be vaporized by stray golden beams or crimson tendrils lashing wildly through the battlefield.

Kai ducked under a sweeping golden blade conjured by Alister, closing the gap in a burst of crimson light. His clawed hand, wreathed in unstable energy, slashed upward—catching Alister across the chest and leaving a searing mark that actually forced the divine flames to flicker.

“Not so untouchable now, are you?!” Kai snarled.

Alister didn’t reply. Instead, his eyes flared, and in the space of a blink, golden constructs—massive radiant chains—erupted from the ground, snaring the golem’s limbs. The construct roared, thrashing violently as its bindings burned into its rune-carved flesh.

Kai’s head snapped toward it just as Alister appeared in front of him, golden gauntlets already cocked back.

SLAM!

The punch connected with Kai’s gut like a meteor strike, hurling him through a half-collapsed tower in an eruption of glass and concrete.

But Kai didn’t stay down. A guttural roar erupted from his throat as the golem, still half-bound, ripped one of its own arms off to break free, wielding the detached limb as a massive club. It swung downward with earth-shattering force just as Kai blurred out of the rubble, reappearing behind Alister with a vicious snarl.

“You’re not the only one who can push past limits!”

Kai’s claws ignited, fusing with the red mana pouring from his body. He slashed in a flurry of brutal strikes, each one forcing Alister backward as the golden flames met crimson fury head-on. Sparks, light, and molten debris rained around them as they exchanged blow for blow, neither one giving ground.

CRAAAAAAASH!

The golem’s makeshift club smashed into the ground beside them, the shockwave lifting both combatants briefly into the air. Kai used the momentum, vanishing in a flash of crimson, appearing above Alister with both clawed hands poised like blades.

“DIE!”

Alister twisted midair, golden wings snapping open to redirect his fall. His own hands ignited, the flames condensing into twin radiant swords. With a single fluid motion, he crossed them above his head—catching Kai’s descending strike in a blinding clash of gold and red.

KAAAAA-THOOOM!

The explosion that followed swallowed the entire city block in fire and light.

Through the rubble and roaring flames, Kai’s laughter cut through the chaos—low at first, then rising, manic and triumphant. He dragged his claws along the cracked pavement as he stepped forward, eyes burning with crimson fire.

“Heh… you’re not as strong as I thought, Alister,” Kai said, his grin widening into something feral. “I can already keep up with you now. It’s only a matter of time before I overwhelm you.”

He tilted his head back slightly, excitement twisting his face into something almost euphoric.

“I’ll make you bleed out on these streets.”

But before either could move, a sudden ripple of mana flared behind Alister. In a flash of azure light, a dragon knight clad in pitch-black armor appeared, kneeling with one fist pressed to the ground. The knight’s presence radiated killing intent toward Kai, but his voice was calm and respectful.

“My lord,” the knight said, bowing his head. “It has been done.”

Kai’s grin faltered. His crimson eyes narrowed dangerously as his voice dropped to a low growl.

“…What has been done?”

Alister turned his head slightly, glancing at Kai over his shoulder. A small, knowing smile curved his lips.

“You may go,” Alister said to the knight.

Without a word, the black-armored knight stood, then blurred into a streak of blue lightning, vanishing across the horizon in an instant.

Alister lowered his arms and fully faced Kai, that same unsettling smile still plastered on his face.

“You remember when I thanked you in the Grand Hall?” he asked, his tone almost casual. “I wasn’t joking. I’m truly grateful.”

Kai’s brow furrowed in anger, his crimson aura spiking violently.

“If speaking in riddles is how you make yourself feel better about losing,” Kai snarled, “then you’re even more delusional than I thought.”

Alister chuckled softly—calm, confident, like a man who had already won.

“No, no, no…” he said, raising a hand slightly in mock dismissal. “What I’m referring to is the little stunt you…” He looked up at the falling black castle, “…and your friends pulled today.”

He spread his arms out wide, golden flames swirling lazily around him.

“You see… my original approach to seizing power was always lacking teeth. Risky, yes. But I had faith that something like this—” he gestured vaguely to the burning ruins around them “—would present itself eventually.”

A cruel smirk tugged at his lips as his eyes glinted like twin suns.

“A calamity. The kind where people don’t want some righteous hero… but a brutal warlord to get things done. History has shown humanity rarely changes its way of life unless forced—unless absolutely necessary. And if I were the one to inflict such change myself, I would only earn their scorn.”

He lowered his arms slowly, tilting his head with that same unnerving, calm smile.

“That would be counterproductive to my goals. I need their support—no matter how shallow or self-serving it is. After all, forging a new mythos isn’t an easy task…”