Ch.1246Death’s Echo

– Kwaooooo…!

The thunderous sound erupted a beat late.

The sword strike that shattered the frozen world extended from sky to earth, tearing through everything in its path and scattering remnants of transcendent power in all directions.

The shattered void, like a broken mirror, created turbulence as it repaired itself by drawing in the surrounding space, while dense vapor and fragments of light swirled within.

Erzsebet’s body was obscured by the storm, impossible to see clearly.

“Haaah…”

Did I finish her off?

I exhaled a burning breath, my body heated from within, and stared intently into the swirling vapor.

I had definitely seen her being swept up in the Sky Slash, but I couldn’t let my guard down. Not until I confirmed the result with my own eyes.

This Sky Slash technique is strangely powerful, yet somehow feels like it has a kill rate below 40% in practice.

A supposedly fatal technique that fails to kill enemies two out of three times?

…Now that I say it out loud, it sounds like complete garbage… though it’s not quite that useless in reality.

It’s not that Sky Slash is weak—it’s just that the enemies I face are exceptionally strong and capable, managing to counter it somehow.

Conversely, there’s no need to use Sky Slash on opponents weak enough to die in one hit anyway.

This creature is a rare case—immensely powerful but lacking in time-space defensive capabilities.

It probably relied too much on its overwhelming regenerative abilities, thinking it could just take any hit and regenerate… but today it met its match.

That is, if it actually died without putting up any resistance.

‘So, what’s the actual outcome—’

– Whaaaack!

At that moment, the vapor vortex scattered like an explosion, and a black beam of light shot up from its center into the sky. A truly spectacular survival announcement.

“Ah, seriously? Again?”

It’s alive. Sky Slash, you garbage technique. At this point, I should rename it “Sky-Only Slash.” Does it ever actually kill anyone?

“Haah…”

I sighed and charged forward, kicking off the air toward the black pillar of light that now emitted a dark, gloomy aura of death instead of the previous thick blood scent.

– Whioooo…!

Erzsebet stepped out from within, drawing in the streams of power that had been radiating outward.

Her appearance had changed considerably from before.

“Kuhuck, kuhuuk, kaaaaaah…!”

The left half of her body had been completely obliterated, and sharp scales protruded through her exposed skin in patches, creating a hideous sight.

At the severed cross-section, blood vessels with centipede-like spines writhed, and in place of her missing left eye, her right eye had split into two vertical eyes that wept tears of blood.

Black-stained whites with red pupils. A mouth torn to the sides. Fangs grown down to her chin. A tongue extended like a tentacle, dripping bloody saliva.

At this point, it was less an appearance and more of a grotesque state.

“Wow, you’ve become quite the beauty. I hardly recognize you.”

While not comparable to the creatively disgusting monsters I’ve seen, it was still a revolting sight that made me laugh hollowly.

“You’re quite resilient to still be breathing in that state. How did you survive?”

Looking at her condition, I see now. Contrary to expectations, Sky Slash wasn’t pathetically blocked.

She took the hit properly but just refused to die instantly, stubbornly clinging to life. Not a bad result, though slightly disappointing.

“Time-space, severance…!”

Erzsebet hunched over, clutching her face with her right hand, and glared at me while muttering through gritted teeth.

The arm cut off by Durandal hadn’t regenerated properly; instead, a black forearm formed by blood vessels wrapped in darkness extended from the severed surface.

“Yes, now I understand…! That hair color, that sword, and that power…!”

“It was a strike that would kill even an ancient dragon. Your life force is disgustingly tenacious.”

“It was you! The most suitable vessel he spoke of. The most excellent vessel to contain death. Haschal of the Star and Dawn! It was you!”

Our conversation failed to connect.

Having finally realized my identity, she ignored my words and just fiercely called out my name.

“So ‘Sesco’ was an alias…!”

“You just realized that…? Wow, truly amazing. Is your head just for decoration?”

As if that could be a person’s name. What parent would name their child “Bug Killer”? That would be insane.

…Though in this world full of lunatics, perhaps such a madman might exist somewhere.

After all, this body’s name means “one who harms, kills, and makes others weep”—a name even more deranged than “Bug Killer.”

“No wonder the blood curse I cast using that name had no effect…!”

You were doing such sinister things…? As she said, the curse was rendered ineffective, and I hadn’t even noticed.

I should pay attention to curse defense too. Though besides relying on mana resistance, there aren’t many other methods.

Anyway, more importantly—

“No, seriously, how are you still alive? I split your head in half and completely blew away your heart.”

With that level of injury from a slash that prevents regeneration, shouldn’t you have the decency to die?

“…Ha, how amusing. How am I still alive, you ask? Can’t you see even when looking?”

“Well, from the outside, you look pretty dead already. Except for your mouth.”

Hearing my response, Erzsebet snickered with a hollow laugh, then threw her head back to look at the sky and burst into maniacal laughter.

“…Kuheh, kyahat, ahahahaha—!”

It was a sharp, desperate laugh that seemed to mix piercing anger, deep resentment, and inexplicable emptiness.

“Ahahahaha….”

…What’s with her suddenly? Has she lost her mind?

Well, that makes sense. With only half a brain left, she’s probably half-insane now.

“Truly, utterly disappointing. This long life, thousands of years maintained even after betraying Gemina… to be ruined by such a, such a young wench.”

After stopping her maniacal laughter, Erzsebet muttered what sounded like a lament, then slowly lowered her head to look at her castle.

– Kugugugugung…!

The castle walls, split into three pieces by Caljarat’s strike, began to collapse, while the protective magic formations were being destroyed by the Turangkai who had tunneled through to infiltrate from the rear.

“Now’s the time! Scale the walls!”

“Kill everything that moves! Leave none alive!”

Taking advantage of the chaos, the flanking detachments finally began to enter the interior by climbing over the cliffs and walls.

Vampires, nagas, and trolls wielded spears and swords, unleashing their abilities in fierce combat, while fires broke out and spread rapidly throughout the castle.

The fall of Nirvator Castle, which had been determined the moment I cut off Erzsebet’s arm, was now imminent.

“How pitiful, your subordinates don’t seem to have much life left.”

With our main forces having penetrated inside, it wouldn’t take long for this to be settled. All that remained was this half-dead monster.

“The same goes for you.”

While Erzsebet was distracted, I had closed the distance until my sword was within reach. Durandal aimed for her half-remaining head.

And then.

“…That won’t be the case. For I no longer have what could be called ‘remaining life.'”

– Kigigigigik!

A metallic sound like nails scraping against iron. The flash that had been cutting through space suddenly stopped mid-air.

– Gooooo….

No, it was my body that stopped.

Just before my fiercely swung longsword could reach her head, a chill spread throughout my body, and my limbs froze as if turned to ice.

It was an incomprehensible phenomenon.

“What is this…!”

Not magic, not sorcery, not divine power. It didn’t feel like any of those. Then what…?

“…It is death. The primal fear that none who celebrate life can escape. That fear has stopped your feet.”

Erzsebet answered with labored breath. Her face was pale, and her body trembled slightly. Like a terminal patient facing death.

“What are you talking about?”

“Well… what am I talking about?”

Erzsebet slowly straightened her back and muttered.

“I don’t know whether to resent or thank Garmerlic… What I lost was eternal life, and what I gained was a chance for revenge…”

As she drew all the blood that had spread throughout her castle back into her body in an instant.

“…Haschal. You barbaric wench whom he marked as the ‘optimal’ vessel. Face it with your beastly eyes wide open.”

A truly chilling darkness overlaid the monster’s half-shattered body as it slowly straightened.

Its movements seemed slow yet fast, appearing full of openings yet impenetrable.

…This is definitely the sign of phase two starting, isn’t it? Like in a game?

“Tch…! Struggling in your dying moments!”

As I gritted my teeth and forced my stiffened limbs to move, trying to swing my halted sword again.

“The seed that the slave of the dead goddess planted within me. Someday it will dwell within you, blooming into death that devours countless souls—!”

From Erzsebet’s wound, from the cross-section where centipede-like blood vessels had been writhing… something massive was born.

– Keugigigigik!

A snow-white left arm emerged, spreading bones and tearing through flesh, covered densely with black markings from shoulder to fingertip.

The arm was slender like a woman’s but its size was gigantic, reminiscent of a titan, and in its lightly closed grip was a scythe five times taller than me.

A jet-black scythe emanating an aura so intense it was suffocating.

It was death itself, given form.