Chapter 274 : Chapter 274

Chapter 274

Carpe ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was the act of seizing control of an area with Mana.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was an area-of-effect technique one could use after becoming accustomed to controlling Mana as a high-ranking knight, and it served as the foundation for creating Carpe Illusion.

Upon ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reaching 7-Star and becoming known as a Superhuman, one gained the ability to use Carpe Illusion freely.

Carpe ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Illusion used the Mana under the caster’s control to reveal the caster’s Mind Image.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Mind Image embodied the beliefs a person had cherished and the life they had lived—their very essence.

For ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that reason, conventional wisdom held that a person’s Carpe Illusion was fixed as a single form.

‘But I’m different.’

In his previous life, he had understood and trained in the principles of Mana more deeply than anyone, reaching the Presence of Transcendence. During his life as a sword, he applied that knowledge in the form of instruction and gave rise to countless Superhumans.

And so, after reincarnating as Killian Eurasia, cultivating a Mana Heart, and learning Carpe, Killian found himself in a perplexing situation the moment he became capable of using Carpe Illusion.

It arose from the gulf between the Mind Images of his previous and present lives.

The Mind Image he had forged as Adamas over thousands of years was too immense for Killian Eurasia’s body to contain at the time, while the Mind Image that originally belonged to Killian Eurasia was not substantial enough to manifest through Mana.

He had gone to all the trouble of creating a body capable of using Carpe Illusion, but Eurasia’s circumstances at the time were too dire for him to wait idly for a Mind Image that might take years to accumulate.

So he devised a solution.

Instead of waiting for a Mind Image to form naturally, he would construct an artificial one to take its place.

Drawing upon his experience as a sword and his memories of the swordsmanship used by his comrades, he manifested an infinite domain of swords. Drawing upon his memories of wielding Cheonghwageom, he manifested a domain of Blue Flame.

However, Killian Eurasia’s body could not withstand either for long at the time, and the experiments confirmed that the process required a medium.

For his next attempt, he approached the problem through the abilities of his newly acquired sword, Aether.

Using its ability to absorb and release Mana as a foundation, he constructed an artificial Mind Image.

So that the four surviving members of the Extermination Squad would never fall again.

He envisioned a domain that oppressed their enemies rather than demanding their sacrifice, and at last, he fixed it into a complete Mind Image.

Thus was born Total Solar Eclipse.

He later created the Violet Magic Tower and Elvenheim in much the same way.

Having attained the Presence of Transcendence and lived thousands of years as a sword, he could contain a far vaster Mind Image than an ordinary Mana user.

It was only natural that his enemies were dumbfounded when Killian overlapped three Carpe Illusions to manifest a more explosive domain.

And now.

For the first time, Killian had encountered a Human who could manifest more than one Carpe Illusion.

“You’ve become an interesting creature. But I didn’t come all this way to fight you.”

He had to find Yulian. He had to see with his own eyes what the bastard had become.

That was why he had not brought Serena or the other members of the Extermination Squad on this mission.

It was the least courtesy he could show Yulian.

“Do you wish to see your subordinate?”

“I’d be grateful if you let me see him without a fight.”

“That would be difficult.”

Isaac grinned and crooked a finger.

“Merely taking one subordinate from you has shaken your command of Mana this badly.”

Was Killian Eurasia not the man who exploited his opponent’s weaknesses to gain the upper hand in battles of domains?

“How does it feel to have your own specialty used against you?”

Isaac appeared thoroughly pleased with the present situation.

“I have no intention of facing you fairly.”

He could heal his wounded pride by winning. What he wanted was to seize Killian Eurasia’s body and dominate his mind.

‘Make him my sword.’

To that end, he would use any means necessary to win.

Ever since he became the Moon of the Empire and captured the bastard named Yulian.

He had waited eagerly for a moment like this.

“I thought this place looked strangely familiar.”

Killian murmured as he looked at the training ground beneath his feet.

‘He must have recreated the Extermination Squad’s training ground from Yulian’s memories.’

Isaac had prepared this stage to unsettle Killian even slightly and gain the advantage in battle.

“It would have been perfect if that bastard Serena were here too. Did you send her elsewhere?”

“We’re a little short-handed. Return him now, and I’ll pay you an appropriate price.”

“What a pitiful offer. There is no prize more valuable than you.”

Fighting Spirit surged from Isaac’s body.

“There is no need to grieve over your subordinate’s death.”

Ruuuumble.

His Fighting Spirit became Haki.

“Nor do you need to resist me with such feeble hostility.”

Whoooooosh.

Evil Energy blended into the Haki.

Just as Siren had fused Divine Power and Evil Energy.

Whoooooosh!

The immense Presence born from their fusion bore down upon Killian.

“Because I will soon make you the same as him.”

‘Siren would have been quite surprised to see this.’

Despite being called a species that had evolved and survived, Isaac Heinrich radiated a vicious Presence every bit as powerful as hers.

‘Judging by the way he only mentions him, he doesn’t intend to play the Yulian card yet.’

Killian had hoped Isaac would be drunk enough on his power to use Yulian as a disposable pawn from the outset.

It seemed he had expected too much.

Clatter. Clatter.

An execution ground spread out behind Killian.

The chains affixed to it crawled fiercely across the ground toward him.

SLASH.

Killian swung his sword and cut through the chain.

“Useless.”

Clatterrrrr.

He had cut through one chain.

This time, two latched onto him.

Killian’s gaze turned toward the Black Magic Tower radiating an immense presence.

‘The Mana lines are connected.’

That meant the domain behind him would not be dispelled unless he cut down the Black Magic Tower.

“It seems you noticed.”

“…….”

“But you know it too. Two is only the beginning.”

Immediately afterward.

“……!!”

Frigid air settled above Killian’s head.

“Luna Maria.”

At some point, a gigantic black moon had manifested overhead.

Its light was faint, creating the illusion that it truly hung in the night sky.

It radiated a bitter cold that seemed capable of freezing even Mana.

“The moon’s breath appears to have slowed you.”

Rather than dodge the Sword Energy Isaac fired, Killian struck it aside.

CRACK.

His hand throbbed from the cold clinging to Anima.

‘It isn’t only freezing my body…… It’s freezing my sword and Mana too.’

Three Carpe Illusions.

Each of them had been created to counter one of Killian’s own Carpe Illusions.

“I have waited for this day.”

Killian was the man who had first subjected him to humiliating defeat.

“Killian Eurasia, I will not claim that everything is your fault.”

Isaac had lost the Black Duke, his patron, and been defeated in the struggle for the throne he had fought since birth.

His rival, Krusty, had become an unfathomable being and taken everything from him.

“The only thing he could not take was the realm I attained as a Superhuman.”

The whites of Isaac’s eyes turned black.

“A power akin to transcendence.”

His body had been created through experiments with the Curse of the Anomaly studied by the Black Duke and the Evil Energy of monsters.

The Magic God Stone that the White Duke had studied by using the Gods’ Authorities had then been fused with that body.

He had become a true 8-Star rather than an incomplete one.

He had swiftly adapted to his new power and mastered 8-Star.

He had become the Moon of the Empire.

“Not even Simon Eurasia, who slew the Black Dragon, can stop me.”

He had now become a lord surpassing the Black Duke, who had synchronized with the Black Magic Tower.

He glared at Killian, who moved this way and that within his domain.

“Your instincts are sharp.”

It was sincere praise.

The Black Magic Tower behind Isaac was not a mere imitation like before. With the White Duke’s help, it was now as good as fully connected to the source of the Black Magic Tower.

That meant Isaac also possessed every Curse of the Anomaly the Magic Tower had researched.

The Sinner’s Guillotine, the Carpe Illusion of Mainz Kimbel.

The sinister Mainz Kimbel seemed to have been quite compatible with Isaac, judging by the fact that Isaac could even manifest his Carpe Illusion.

Of course, their power could not be compared.

“The moment a chain touches you, a Curse of the Anomaly will encroach upon you.”

The Magic Tower possessed dozens of curses.

No Human could withstand them.

“I assure you, being an 8-Star will make no difference.”

Even as Isaac spoke, Killian’s movements were visibly slowing.

There was no way he could display his full ability in a space where three domains had been completely manifested.

“Your defeat was decided the moment you lost the battle of domains.”

Crackle.

The floor of the training ground beneath Killian’s feet began to freeze.

Dozens of chains and the cold binding his body.

The Black Magic Tower’s Evil Energy disrupted his Mana.

‘Even if I use Eye, it’s only a matter of time before I’m caught.’

He could not cut through the space either, because the domains comprising it were too sturdy.

If he attempted to cut them apart carelessly, the resulting backflow would overwhelm him.

Clench.

Then an invisible chain wrapped around Killian’s ankle.

“Silver Moon’s Chain. With the Magic Tower’s power at my disposal, using concealment magic is child’s play.”

The invading Mana caused backflow in his Mana Heart.

Hummm— Hummm—

The Black Magic Tower emitted a deafening roar.

It meant something harmful to Killian was taking shape.

As if controlling and binding his Mana were not enough, Isaac was trying to use the Curse of the Anomaly as well.

“How humiliating.”

He had been called the Master of Mana and accompanied countless legends.

Yet a brat who had crossed the wall by relying upon the power of the Anomaly was speaking of transcendence.

And here Killian stood, caught in the brat’s scheme and unable to use any of his power. It was laughable.

CRUNCH.

Killian drove his sword into the floor of the training ground.

“Do not speak of transcendence so lightly.”

That referred to one thing.

“A realm even those who lived great lives could not reach.”

Ruuuumble.

The area began to shake from the vibrations spreading out from where his sword pierced the ground.

“You are finally using it.”

Grin.

The corners of Isaac’s lips rose.

The second heart cultivated by Killian Eurasia.

“I already know you cultivated a Hollyheart.”

His attitude was that of a man yielding the first move to an inferior opponent.

‘Judging by his behavior, he must want this too.’

Even so, it changed nothing.

‘Murus.’

Killian manifested the still-unresponsive God’s Authority.

Ruuuumble.

Four Barriers surrounded The Sinner’s Guillotine.

Four Barriers surrounded the Black Magic Tower.

And then.

Killian reached toward the moon overhead.

“Do not look down on me when you are nothing but a fake.”

Clench.

He closed his outstretched hand.

Fwoooosh.

Pure-white Divine Power wrapped around the moon.

The effects of the domains controlling the area rapidly faded.

Only two knights remained within the space that held Mana, Evil Energy, the Curse of the Anomaly, and Divine Power.

“Killing me will not restore your subordinate to his original state.”

“I know.”

The Black Magic Tower’s Evil Energy resembled the Monster Lord’s.

The Magic God Stone created by analyzing Radiance resembled the Anomaly.

The bastard who wielded both powers had killed Yulian. Even if he brought Yulian back to life, Killian did not believe Yulian could return to his original state.

But.

“It’s enough if I can grant him rest.”

So that he would not be saddled with shackles like Agnil’s.

To that end.

“Isaac Heinrich.”

Riiiiing—

His Mana Heart, its backflow now suppressed, radiated Mana.

The blue Mana surged as though it were Blue Flame.

“You will cease to exist here today.”