Ch.1276Surprise Attacks Are Always Right.

The collision didn’t start only on the ground.

High in the sky, far beyond where screams from the ground could reach, two streams of breath exhaled by ancient dragons raced through the void and violently collided with the black mist surrounding the floating island.

– KRRRRRUMBLE!

It was a thunderbolt that shattered the sky, a seething black flame, a storm of destruction carrying unimaginable power.

The black mist churned violently. Prismatic light scattered chaotically. Lightning bolts thrashed wildly, branching into hundreds of streaks that incinerated all surrounding demons.

The shockwave that erupted with thunderous roars shook and shattered everything in all directions, and the massive collision of mana and divine power distorted space itself, twisting it arbitrarily.

True to their nature as ancient dragons, beings considered at least demigods, their destructive power was truly impressive.

‘…Yet they still can’t break through easily.’

However, even with such power, they couldn’t penetrate the curtain of black mist enveloping the floating fortress.

The two breath streams merely swept fiercely across the surface of the curtain, spreading in all directions, with no sign of directly striking the island’s interior or the fortress.

‘It’s not for lack of power. So it must be a matter of compatibility…’

The breath of two ancient dragons had raw destructive power exceeding a casually executed Skywalk. Moreover, given their attack pattern of extending in a straight line, their penetration power couldn’t possibly be low.

Yet they couldn’t penetrate that defensive curtain… meaning that to destroy it, special abilities like spatial cutting would be semi-essential, not just raw power.

【 Krrrr… I see, it’s a shock reflux formation. 】

【 So we need to blow away the entire curtain? How troublesome…! 】

Judging from the conversation of the dragons as they drew breath again, the black mist was likely dispersing any impact across the entire curtain to prevent penetration.

In other words, efficient breakthrough at a single point was impossible, and to enter, one would need to waste enormous power to accumulate damage and dismantle the entire curtain.

…Those dragons, I swear.

“Useless as always. What a waste of size.”

But I’m different.

It was already proven that while the defensive barrier could somewhat distort the trajectory of Skywalk, it couldn’t completely disperse or block it.

Then with space-interference techniques—not Skywalk but the slash of severance—creating a gap should be possible.

No, it is possible. I was instinctively certain. My blade could cut through that mist like paper and penetrate inside.

“I’m going ahead! If you can’t keep up, just clean up the ones outside!”

So I overtook the two dragons to take the lead, accelerating with Karma flames, charging toward the undead’s floating island like a comet trailing flames.

“He’s coming! Stop him!”

Naturally, my enemies wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

“Kyarararak-!”

“You’ll go no further!”

The winged undead demons that had scattered to avoid the lightning.

Beasts with hole-riddled membrane wings and monsters that looked like failed attempts at becoming dragons all rushed at me at once.

“You can talk…? That’s unexpected.”

While most of them were worthless creatures without a trace of intelligence, surprisingly, some mixed among them could speak proper language.

“Binding and curse types won’t work! Set up obstacles in his expected path!”

“Fire and blades are useless! Use lightning, rocks, ice…!”

Seeing how they constantly issued orders to others, perhaps intelligence was preserved to use them as commanders?

“But what’s the point of that?”

Of course, it was all meaningless. The era when overwhelming force disparity could be overcome with superior command had already ended long ago.

“Kyaaaah!”

Barriers of rock and ice shattered just from my touch, and lightning that filled the sky was neutralized and dispersed by the Hagalaz rune.

All kinds of magic rained down, but not one could inflict even a slight wound on me.

“Grwoooooo!”

“Get out of my way!”

Those charging in for physical attacks were actually more annoying than the magic.

Common sense would suggest that rock or ice should be harder than flesh, but this was a world where normal logic didn’t apply.

Those who could react to my speed mostly had bodies as hard as steel or harder, and wouldn’t break from simple collisions.

– CRUNCH!

“Dead corpses, how dare you cling to me!”

Of course I could easily crush or cut them with a proper strike, but having to swing my arm each time was incredibly bothersome.

“Kishaaaak!”

Worse, these metal lumps flew at high speed, swinging claws and spear-swords, performing evasive maneuvers and encirclement attacks, with some even spewing acidic venom.

Between shaking off those clinging to me, killing those I couldn’t shake off, and responding to all kinds of magic fired by some of them or the fortress itself…

While not truly threatening to me, in terms of blocking my path, it was annoying enough to need ten hands, with some exaggeration.

Of course, I didn’t have ten hands.

“Krrrrrk… ha, quite a spectacle…”

“…Those creatures, are they ignoring us?”

“That’s fortunate. Let’s target their flank!”

Fortunately, the Aishan who followed me—or more precisely, who took off without control—numbered well over ten.

They were much slower than me and even the dragons, so despite taking off first, they only now reached the center of the battlefield… but well, they weren’t too late, so no problem.

– CRUNCH!

“Kieeeeek?!”

“Khahah! Full of openings!”

Rather than protecting me, they clashed with the undead as if clearing annoying obstacles, rampaging like beasts and spraying a rain of blood.

Though outnumbered more than two to one, they caught the undead—distracted by me—in a flank attack, inflicting considerable damage and balancing the battle.

“I’ll tear your other wing too! Fall!”

“Attack in pairs! Target from front and back!”

The undead and Aishan engaged in three-dimensional maneuver warfare using the sky as their battlefield. Arrows and magic scattered like fireworks, and clashing weapons showered sparks.

From a distance, wouldn’t it look like flocks of birds dancing together? It was a battle like dogfighting aircraft squadrons combined with horn tactics.

‘Good, now’s the time…!’

Missing this opportunity would be a disgrace for a warrior. I quickly escaped through the chaos created by the Aishan clashing with the undead.

“What…?!”

“No, pursue him at once…!”

“Where are you looking?!”

The intelligent undead were startled and tried to chase me, but were blocked by the Aishan who seized the opportunity to attack them.

– Gooooo….

Thanks to this, I finally reached the black mist surrounding their fortress.

‘It’s creepier up close. This isn’t just mist.’

From a distance, I thought it was just a mana barrier in the form of mist, but up close, this was clearly not simple mist.

– Grrrr… gaaaaa….

The surface of what I thought was black mist was filled with ghostly, blurry faces, and what I had thought were vibrations were actually their wails.

A barrier made of inferior spirits not worth reviving as undead demons—that was the impression.

And that impression was probably correct. It would be perfectly natural for the ruler of the undead to use inferior spirits as shields.

‘…So, where is Garmerlic?’

[ How would I know? ]

Normally I could detect such a powerful enemy from hundreds of meters away, but perhaps because of this curtain, I couldn’t sense any presence from inside the floating island.

[ Stop wasting time and go in to destroy everything. Won’t he reveal himself in the process? ]

‘I suppose so.’

Still, he must be somewhere on this island. Surely he wouldn’t abandon all his subordinates and hide elsewhere.

Well then, let’s see how long he can stay hidden.

– Wooooong…!

I gripped Durandal with both hands as it vibrated slightly and emitted a golden light in response to my divine power, then swung it like a storm toward the spirit curtain before me.

– Kieeeeeeek!

A slight resistance felt through my fingertips and a ghostly wail piercing my eardrums.

The true slash enhanced with the power of severance tore apart and purified the spirits, opening a hole wide enough for two or three people to enter comfortably.

And then.

【 Welcome. I’m glad to see you again in good health. 】

What entered my field of vision through the hole in the curtain was the massive maw of a dragon covered in rotting flesh and darkness—

【 A gift for our reunion. Accept it gladly. 】

And inside its throat, a truly enormous crystallization of death energy, condensed to the extreme and waiting only for the moment of release.

“You son of a—!”

– KWAOOOOO!

My vision was engulfed in darkness. Before I could even respond, the dragon’s breath erupted like a volcano and swallowed me whole.

【 Didn’t you say surprise attacks make the best opening move? I haven’t forgotten that advice. 】

Though his voice had changed somewhat from my memory, the Undead Duke’s mocking tone, full of amusement, remained the same.