[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 153
The Death Knight, freed from the Holy Flame, immediately jumped into battle.
Crash!
Richmond's skeletons were blown away by the shield attack he unleashed.
"Ugh!"
Richmond, who was controlling the skeletons with his staff, also looked exhausted as his magic power seemed to be depleting.
Zeke stepped forward with the Orichalcum sword.
'Richmond, pull the skeletons back.'
As soon as his order was given, the skeletons retreated.
Zeke launched the Mace of Light towards the Death Knight.
Crash!
This time, the Death Knight blocked Zeke's attack with his shield enveloped in malice.
Zeke seized the momentary opening, drew his sword, and charged towards the Death Knight.
Clang!
Although the Death Knight blocked Zeke's sword strike with his shield, he was pushed back by the impact. He raised his shield again and pointed his sword at Zeke.
Zeke scoffed at the Death Knight.
"You seem stronger now than when you were alive."
The Death Knight, greatly insulted by Zeke's words, trembled with rage.
Rumble!
A massive aura of malice emanated from the Death Knight's entire body.
It was malice on a different level from the Dark Mages he had seen in the dungeon.
Zeke swung the Purification Blade towards the Death Knight's sword enveloped in malice.
Crackle!
Sparks flew every time Zeke's sword and the Death Knight's sword clashed.
Zeke, deflecting the attacks, marveled at the Death Knight's power.
'A Death Knight with the skills of a Red Knight, who doesn't get tired and continues to regenerate. And with an Arch Lich on top of that...'
Zeke felt that the malice attacks were much stronger than aura blades.
Not only did they disrupt aura, but if you were wounded by an attack, you would be tainted with the poison of malice, making it difficult to heal.
Furthermore, prolonged exposure to malice caused significantly more mental fatigue than fighting an ordinary knight.
He could understand why Death Knights were described as calamities in stories.
Clang! Clang!
Blades made of malice flew towards Zeke.
Crash!
The Hercyon deflected the malice blades.
But even so, the impact penetrated the armor.
Zeke, who was doubly protected by the Dragon Scale Armor skill, wasn't fazed, but an ordinary knight would have been injured by the impact alone.
'I need to be extra careful when fighting a Death Knight.'
Zeke continued to fight the Death Knight, learning its characteristics.
Fortunately, Zeke, with his Infinite Stamina, didn't get tired no matter how much he swung his sword, just like the Death Knight, an undead, so fierce sword strikes were exchanged between them without rest.
Just then, the Arch Lich, who had been watching, seized an opportunity and bombarded Zeke with magic.
Crash!
Black fireballs poured down on Zeke, and a wall of black flames appeared.
However, Zeke, wearing the Hercyon with its magic defense capabilities, wasn't harmed.
The problem was that the flames of the magic affected others as well.
'The more we drag this out, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us.'
Considering that the undead legion didn't get tired, while Zeke's summons could be canceled, it was Zeke who was at a disadvantage as time passed.
'I need to take care of the Arch Lich first.'
If he eliminated the Arch Lich, the skeletons and Death Knights would also disappear, so he could reduce their forces all at once.
Zeke pierced through the flames and leaped into the air.
Slash!
Zeke swung his sword imbued with the Purification Blade at the Arch Lich.
Crack!
Zeke's surprise attack worked, and the Arch Lich's robe was torn.
'Kyaaaak!'
Black smoke rose from the torn robe and the cut.
Zeke didn't stop and used the Grand Purification right there.
Woooong!
A golden aura spread from Zeke's body.
Sizzle!
The skeletons turned to ash and scattered as soon as the Grand Purification touched them, and the Death Knights also retreated, seemingly affected, to avoid the aura.
The Death Knight and the Abyss mages used barriers to avoid the Grand Purification.
The Arch Lich, directly hit by the golden aura, screamed.
'No! This can't be happening!'
Black flames erupted from his robe. Soon, the Arch Lich's entire body exploded, and black flames scattered in all directions.
Crash!
Bone fragments with black flames attached shook the crystal cave.
Shattered crystal fragments flew everywhere.
[Annihilated a corrupted priest of death completely consumed by malice.]
[The 'Old Crown of the Arch Lich' acquired as a reward is automatically stored in your inventory.]
[Increased proficiency in Shield of Light and Mace of Light.]
[Absorbed the corrupted priest's 'Sun Magic' and transformed the active skill Flashbang (C-rank) into the skill Sun Bomb (B-rank).]
[Increased the skill rank of Curse Reflection due to absorbing the corrupted priest's specter.]
[300 Karma points awarded as a reward.]
Screech!
As the Arch Lich was annihilated, the Death Knights and skeletons lost their strength and collapsed.
Zeke withdrew the Grand Purification and approached the Death Knight and the Abyss mages.
The flustered Abyss mages shouted at the Death Knight,
"Death Knight! Kill them!"
The proud Death Knight didn't follow orders from anyone other than the one who summoned him.
He ignored the mages' commands and only glared at Zeke with burning eyes.
The Abyss mages were bewildered when the Death Knight didn't listen to them.
And at that moment, Gurab, spewing poisonous smoke, swung his tail menacingly towards the Abyss mages.
"Kyaaaak!"
Gurab's tail, which was a scorpion's tail, was fatal with a single touch.
The Abyss mages kept their distance, surrounded Gurab, and attacked with magic.
Seeing this, Zeke said to Richmond,
"Richmond, send the Reptilian Skeletons towards Gurab. Hold those mages back."
After restraining the Abyss mages, Zeke approached the Death Knight and pointed Bahamut at him.
"Let's settle this."
The Death Knight, sensing that this wasn't good, retreated.
Then, he muttered something.
'Oh, great master of darkness. Please grant your insufficient servant the power to defeat the enemy.'
As if his master responded to the Death Knight's plea, a change began to occur.
Crack!
The Death Knight's armor became thicker, and his helmet changed to cover his entire face.
At the same time, a ghost horse exhaling blue breath appeared next to the Death Knight.
The Death Knight, emitting an even stronger malice, mounted the ghost horse.
His sword grew longer and transformed into a lance.
The Death Knight, riding the ghost horse with a shield and a lance, exuded a powerful presence.
Seeing this, Zeke also summoned Bucephalus.
Hieeeing!
Zeke mounted Bucephalus and drew Bahamut.
Woooong!
An aura blade surged from Bahamut.
Zeke on Bucephalus and the Death Knight on the ghost horse glared at each other, waiting for the moment to attack.
And at some point, they charged towards each other at high speed.
Crackle!
Lightning bolts erupted from Bucephalus' horn and struck the Death Knight.
Crackle!
The Death Knight blocked Bucephalus' lightning with his shield.
At the same time, the ghost horse opened its mouth wide and spewed blue smoke.
Bucephalus, a spirit beast, seemed to be in pain as the blue smoke from the ghost horse touched him, and he soared into the air.
Then, the Death Knight also rode the ghost horse and soared into the air.
'I will cut off your head and offer it to my master!'
The Death Knight raised his lance and charged towards Zeke.
Zeke, riding Bucephalus in the air, held up Bahamut and took the stance of the Dragon Slayer Technique, Rider Style.
Dragon Slayer Technique, True Dragon Sword Art
Chapter 6 Verse 2
Pierce the Dragon's Heart
The aura blade that surged from Zeke's sword took the form of a lance.
The aura blade, now in the form of a lance, spun fiercely and flew towards the Death Knight's shield.
Crack!
The Death Knight's shield couldn't withstand Zeke's attack and was crushed and pierced.
The lance-shaped aura blade lodged itself in the Death Knight's armor.
Crack!
The aura blade struck his heart, and cracks appeared in the armor.
The Death Knight's red eyes flashed from within the helmet.
The Death Knight gripped his lance, condensed with malice, and threw it at Zeke with great force.
Whoosh!
Seeing the lance enveloped in malice flying towards him, Zeke used the Shield of Light skill.
Crack!
The Shield of Light tried to block the Death Knight's lance, but it was unexpectedly powerful and shattered.
Zeke, seeing the lance flying towards him, gritted his teeth and unleashed golden aurai.
Golden Aura
Double Spell
Will of Reflection
Zeke deflected the flying lance with Bahamut, imbuing it with the Will of Reflection.
Woooong!
Then, the lance flew back towards the Death Knight.
Crash!
The lance, imbued with the Will of Reflection, pierced the Death Knight's heart, which had already been cracked by Zeke's previous attack.
Crack!
The Death Knight, his heart pierced by the lance he had thrown, fell from his horse and crashed to the ground.
Thud!
The Death Knight, falling onto the crystals protruding from the ground, lay motionless with his broken armor and the lance still lodged in him, only twitching slightly.
Zeke, descending on Bucephalus, endured the backlash of the double spell and looked down at the Death Knight.
Red eyes gleaming from within the helmet glared at Zeke.
'Zeke Drake... I will... cut off your head... and offer it to my master...'
Zeke, feeling his body stabilizing as time passed, caught his breath and used the Gluttony skill on the Death Knight.
Slurp—
The Death Knight's body slowly disappeared into the black shadow.
A message window popped up.
[Consumed a corrupted Death Knight completely consumed by malice.]
[Replenished consumed stamina, mental strength, and mana.]
[The 'Cursed Armor of the Death Knight' acquired as a reward is automatically stored in your inventory.]
[Absorbed the memories of the 'Paladin Secret Technique, Sun Swordsmanship' learned by the corrupted Death Knight in his lifetime.]
[Combined with Agamemnon's Golden Swordsmanship and acquired the special skill 'Golden Sun Swordsmanship (A-rank)'.]
[Increased the skill rank of Dragon Tooth Soldiers due to absorbing the corrupted knight's specter.]
[300 Karma points awarded as a reward.]
There were quite a few rewards for consuming the powerful monsters, the Arch Lich and the Death Knight.
'The skill ranks of Curse Reflection and Dragon Tooth Soldiers have increased.'
With the increase in the Dragon Tooth Soldiers skill rank, the number of warriors he could summon at once increased to 30.
Zeke had a satisfied expression and turned to look at Richmond and the Dragon Tooth Soldiers fighting the Abyss mages.
The Abyss mages were still resisting against Gurab, the Dragon Tooth Soldiers, and Richmond's undead legion.
Zeke leaped towards the Abyss mages.
"B-block him!"
The Abyss mages panicked and bombarded Zeke with magic.
Zeke deflected all of Abyss's black magic with the improved Shield of Light.
Then, he launched the Mace of Light towards them.
Crash!
The Mace of Light, much more powerful than before, devastated the Abyss mages.
"Ugh!"
Zeke approached one of the fallen mages, stepped on his neck, and asked,
"Aren't you guys summoning your subordinate?"
The mage's eyes, pinned under Zeke's foot, shook violently.
Zeke, staring down at the mage, suddenly felt a familiar energy from him.
'Hmm, this is the energy I felt from Griesmodal.'
Zeke, looking at the mage sweating profusely, realized what was going on.
"It seems Griesmodal isn't responding to your summons anymore."
The mage panicked and his eyes darted around at Zeke's words.
Griesmodal, who was severely defeated by Zeke and even had a part of his soul consumed. He was so damaged that he couldn't respond to the summons of the warlock who made a contract with him.
Because of this, the Abyss mages who had made contracts with Griesmodal, the Beast Tamer, were now only able to exert the power of ordinary black mages.
And the mages here had volunteered for this mission to gain achievements and make a new contract with a stronger subordinate, not Griesmodal.
Zeke clicked his tongue as he looked at Griesmodal's contractors.
"To make a contract with a demonfolk to gain power, you're out of your minds."
Then, one of the Abyss mages looked at Zeke and said in a voice spitting blood,
"Cough! How would a Draker descendant born with the blessing of aura understand the suffering of the powerless! Cough!"
Zeke approached the mage who spoke. He grabbed the mage by the collar and shook him, saying,
"Don't try to cover up your cowardice and weakness with such a ridiculous rationalization, you piece of trash."
The Abyss mage trembled at Zeke's chilling voice.
The dragon's majesty that naturally emanated from him wasn't something a corrupted black mage could withstand.
Zeke said to the mage he was holding by the collar,
"I'll give you one chance. Tell me everything you know about Abyss. Then I'll give you a painless death."
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]