Chapter 273 : Chapter 273

Chapter 273

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍parting ways with Tial Salamander, Killian and Serena arrived at a safe house provided by Bacardi.

“Serena.”

Killian ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍called to Serena, who stood there blankly without unpacking her belongings.

“He’s ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an idiot.”

Her ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍voice was full of anger.

“And ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a fool.”

Serena muttered under her breath.

“For ages, he’s been saying he’d become the First Sword without knowing his place.”

Later, he had even said he would become the Commander. Truly, that mouth of his had been the only lively thing about him.

“You have to survive before you can accomplish anything.”

That foolish bastard knew it, yet he still pushed himself recklessly, desperate to grow somehow.

“…….”

Her emotions had fluctuated wildly ever since she heard the truth from Tial Salamander.

“Is there no way?”

What now filled Serena’s face was no longer anger.

It was fear that she might lose another companion.

Even after losing countless companions over the years, it was not an emotion to which she could grow accustomed.

It was only natural for a Human to feel that way, and Killian, too, felt stifled by the unfamiliar emotion.

He recalled Tial Salamander’s words.

“Isaac Heinrich used the Magic God Stone to obtain power surpassing even the Black Duke. His mastery of black Mana alone is at the peak of 8-Star, and with his ability to wield Evil Energy, he is even creating an immortal legion.”

That was the full truth of what was happening at Isaac Heinrich’s estate.

Yulian and the other members of the Extermination Squad must have infiltrated the place despite the risk because they realized Isaac’s blade would eventually be pointed at Eurasia.

“Commander.”

Serena called to him insistently.

She seemed to believe that Killian, who had performed countless miracles, would know a way to restore Yulian after he had become Undead.

“If he wasn’t merely infected by that power, but truly died and was brought back……”

“…….”

“If that left him bound to the caster, there is no way to restore him.”

Just as Agnil had been unable to escape the Monster Lord’s control.

There was nothing more they could do.

For a moment, he considered reversing time with the Pope’s Authority.

‘The Magic God Stone must have been created in pursuit of power like an Authority.’

The Authority of Time was so obscure that even Killian could not imitate it.

‘If Isaac’s Evil Energy is even close to transcendence, it won’t work properly.’

Serena bit her lip.

“We’ll divide into four groups.”

Orchid Owl’s Absinthe would rescue Aron.

Hennessy of Crimson Wolf would rescue Portran.

The Extermination Squad under Serena’s command would rescue Gala.

And Killian would go after Yulian with Bacardi.

“Commander, I also……”

“That’s an order.”

Yulian had spent many years with Serena.

If the bastard truly was under Isaac’s control, someone would have to grant him rest.

Killian had no intention of leaving that role to Serena.

“We move as soon as the others arrive.”

At his unprecedented firmness, Serena quietly closed her mouth.

***

Killian raced across the private estate. The land was enormous, comparable in size to the capital of a respectable kingdom.

Knights checked the roads and conducted patrols, while traps engraved with Magic Formulas had been installed everywhere.

They could avoid them all only because they had the cooperation of the man who knew the estate better than anyone.

Tial Salamander.

The leader of Bacardi ran alongside Killian, dressed in a mask and leather clothes.

“I didn’t expect you to guide me personally.”

“Customer satisfaction is one of Bacardi’s core values.”

“Oh?”

Like Killian, he had concealed his Existence Force to the utmost. Suddenly, he stopped.

He had spotted faint lines of Mana ahead.

“A 7-Star spell.”

Moreover, it was a trap engraved by someone approaching the pinnacle of 7-Star, and it had not appeared on the castle plans they had received.

“This is rather troublesome.”

Taking another route would cost them at least another thirty minutes.

That was far from ideal.

“A Formula of this level will consist of at least a thousand lines of Mana.”

Cutting through them all would take considerable time, and by then, the castle would have detected their intrusion and strengthened its defenses.

‘Three seconds from the Formula’s activation until the Mana lines must be severed.’

“It is inconvenient, but we must go around.”

Tial spoke coolly.

Their objective was to find the place where Yulian was imprisoned.

They were not even halfway there. If they were surrounded here, the situation would become troublesome.

“I think I can sever about half of them.”

“……?”

“Then we don’t need to go around. Get ready.”

Tap.

Killian touched a Mana line and activated the Formula.

At the same moment.

As though a box had opened, the Mana latent within the Formula began to condense.

Nearly a thousand lines of Mana became visible.

‘Eye.’

With his enhanced body, he almost felt as though time had slowed.

One second.

A single sword stroke erased more than a hundred lines of Mana.

Two seconds.

Two successive sword strokes tore through more than two hundred Mana lines.

Three seconds.

A powerful horizontal slash burst through more than three hundred Mana lines.

And then.

Sssssss.

The spell faded before it could fully manifest.

Tial Salamander had cut through all the remaining Mana lines.

“Your Direction is at an impressive level.”

“It’s Eye. It’s a technique I learned in the Current Nations.”

Strictly speaking, he had grasped the principle and learned it on his own.

But that hardly mattered.

“You have spared us the trouble of taking a detour.”

Tial spoke impassively and began running again.

In truth, he was profoundly shocked.

The technique Killian had just demonstrated, Eye, was comparable to Memento Mori, which Crimson Wolf had attained by training Direction to its utmost extreme.

‘Killian Eurasia has already reached a level worthy of a Night Walker, not only as a knight, but also as a Walker.’

Even if Killian used only 7-Star Mana rather than 8-Star Mana, Tial could see no path to victory against him.

‘He could even cut through 8-Star magic, albeit barely.’

Even calling him a monster would be inadequate.

Before reaching their destination, the two encountered traps formed from 8-Star magic twice. Just as Tial expected, Killian cut through them and continued straight ahead.

Judging by the color of the Mana, the spells appeared to have been engraved by the White Duke or the Black Duke.

And then.

“Is this the place?”

Having reached their destination, Killian gazed at the massive door before him.

It was a gigantic door, perhaps three times the height of an average adult man.

No matter how he looked, it had neither a handle nor a gap.

Then it had to be the kind that opened through Mana.

“If you try to cut through it, the door will close. And if an unauthorized person tries to force it open, a corresponding spell will activate.”

Calling it a trap would be imprecise. It was closer to a barrier.

‘Yulian is beyond this door.’

He merely had to cross it and resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

“I’ll deal with it.”

Tap.

He placed his hand against the door.

Whoooooosh.

Black Mana surged forth and tried to encroach upon his body.

It was a spell that stole a fixed quantity of Mana and transferred it inside.

‘It reacts severely to any Mana that isn’t black.’

If he allowed it to steal his Mana, he would suffer backflow.

‘As if I’d let you.’

He overlaid the Magic Formula engraved on the door with his own Mana.

He was capable of it now.

Whoooooosh.

Killian abruptly intensified his Mana.

8-Star Mana spread outward.

Without even drawing his sword, he wrapped layer after layer of Mana around the Formula.

After several clashes of power.

Shff.

The Warp magic activated.

Light briefly filled his vision.

Then an enormous training ground appeared before him.

A man was sitting in a chair at its center.

“…….”

“Are you disappointed that I’m not the face you expected?”

The man, Isaac Heinrich, grinned as he rose from his seat.

“You arrived sooner than expected. You must have passed through the door, yet you do not even look tired.”

“Is this a trap?”

Killian murmured quietly.

“Well, who can say?”

Isaac twirled the sword in his hand.

“Do not take it personally. There is always someone who soars above those who merely run.”

“Isaac Heinrich, it seems you flew too high.”

Killian stepped onto the training ground and walked toward him.

“You failed to become the Sun and fell.”

The man before him had come closer to becoming Emperor than anyone.

Yet Killian mocked the man who had ultimately failed to become the Sun.

“That insolent tongue of yours has not changed.”

Crackle.

The black Mana Isaac released erased the chair and table that had looked so out of place on the training ground.

‘They were manifested from Mana?’

That belonged more to the realm of a mage than a knight.

Such precision in reality rather than within a Mind Image World meant one thing.

‘He’s reached 8-Star—the level at which his mere existence affects the objects around him.’

Killian realized Isaac had become a complete 8-Star not only as a knight, but also as a mage.

“It seems you noticed. Well, there is no need to be so surprised. I obtained this power by submitting like a dog.”

Despite his self-deprecating words, his voice carried the arrogance unique to one who possessed immense power.

“Did you say I failed to become the Sun?”

Isaac slowly stroked the flat of his blade.

“You are right. I missed several opportunities and lost the struggle for the throne.”

He recognized Cornelia’s importance early, back when it was still merely a Family, yet failed to seize it.

He suspected Eurasia’s potential, yet failed to destroy it.

He obtained power akin to immortality, yet Killian Eurasia struck him down.

Failure and defeat, again and again.

That was why he could only become the Moon, never the Sun.

“Is this not the perfect power for a brother who conceals the Sun’s filth?”

Whoooooosh.

A power resembling a monster’s Evil Energy was unleashed.

Darkness settled across the training ground.

Mana and Evil Energy fused together.

‘This is no longer the incomplete power he displayed before.’

The Existence Force Killian sensed rivaled that of Siren, a Demigod.

Who could believe that the being before him was a Human who had not even lived a hundred years?

“You trespassed. Now you must pay the price.”

Isaac pointed his sword at Killian.

Ruuuumble.

Black Mana began to condense.

Then.

BOOM—!

Killian barely evaded the blast of Mana fired with the explosion.

“Are you using Direction? You remain fond of petty tricks.”

BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—!

Killian surveyed his surroundings as he evaded the one-sided barrage.

‘I can’t sense Yulian’s presence.’

That meant he was somewhere else.

‘If Tial Salamander betrayed me, quietly extracting Yulian is no longer an option.’

The space touched by Isaac’s Mana distorted.

Evil Energy seeped into the warped space, instantly inscribing a Formula. He was forcibly establishing a domain by distorting space.

SLASH.

For the first time, Killian cut through the incoming Mana.

Whoosh.

Then he swung his sword and shook off the black Mana clinging to him.

“You’ve become a monster since I last saw you, Isaac Heinrich.”

“To hunt a monster, one must become a monster.”

“If you intended to become a monster, you should have done it alone.”

Why had Isaac involved someone else’s perfectly healthy subordinate?

Killian deliberately left the words unsaid.

“Carpe.”

“Carpe.”

Ruuuumble.

The two clashing waves of Haki canceled each other out.

“Carpe Illusion.”

“Carpe Illusion.”

Whoooooosh.

The two colliding masses of Mana vanished without forming a domain.

Such Mana control could be displayed only by one who was at least equal to his opponent.

“I hear you’ve mastered 8-Star.”

Isaac stepped forward and jerked his chin.

Whoooooosh.

His Presence rose.

‘This energy…….’

Killian’s eyes narrowed.

Faced with pressure intense enough to make every hair on his body stand on end, Killian hurriedly swung his sword.

CRUNCH.

The Sword Energy capable of severing even space was swallowed whole by the space before him.

“Overlord.”

Ruuuumble.

The Black Magic Tower manifested behind Isaac.

“The Sinner’s Guillotine.”

A massive execution ground manifested behind Killian.

Having deployed two domains, Isaac gave him a vicious smile.

“That is not enough to grant me death.”