Chapter 241
Sizzle.
Werner, having lost about a third of his body, lay sprawled on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.
“…Unbelievable.”
He had been confident that even if he unleashed his demonic energy, he wouldn’t lose to the Four Dukes.
The demonic energy, capable of completely contaminating the mana in the air, was a formidable force against a second-tier superhuman.
Yet, he had failed to block Yan’s strike and lost miserably.
Werner glanced back and forth between his missing body parts and Yan.
“To think he could use his domain like that. No, is it even a domain?”
A domain is the supreme technique where the caster imprints their will and image onto a certain space, making it their ‘territory.’
But Yan’s final attack didn’t follow that process.
As he advanced, the mana in the space simply assimilated with Yan’s mana, following his will.
It was as if all the mana was his ally.
Even the mana contaminated by demonic energy transformed in such a way, so how could his own demonic energy be any different?
Werner chuckled as he looked at the sky.
The sky, which had been pitch black just moments ago, was now clear as if it had all been a lie.
“The one who said he’d clean up is gone.”
In his current state, it was impossible to detect the presence of ‘Pride,’ but the circumstances suggested it.
If that guy had intended to step in, he would have done so already.
But the fact that he hadn’t intervened even in this situation meant he had already withdrawn.
Yan, who had been silently watching Werner’s final moments, narrowed his eyes.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Yan, thinking Werner wouldn’t answer easily, pulled out a dagger from his bosom.
He was determined to extract the meaning of Werner’s words through torture if necessary.
Werner closed his eyes as he watched Yan.
It was at that moment.
Crack! Crack!
Snap. Snap!
As Yan approached with the dagger, a bizarre change occurred in Werner’s body.
The bones that had been broken by Yan’s strike suddenly began to grow wildly, and new flesh sprouted.
And around it, a dense demonic energy enveloped his entire body, far more intense than before.
The Sun Duke, standing beside Yan, widened his eyes and swung Ifrit at the strange transformation happening to Werner.
Thunk!
“…Blocked?”
The Sun Duke’s face hardened as he witnessed the scene before him.
Werner, who seemed on the verge of death, had raised his hand to catch Ifrit.
Werner’s previously closed eyes opened.
They were not the pitch-black eyes consumed by demonic energy. Instead, they were unnaturally clear.
Seeing this, Yan felt a chill run down his spine.
And in the blink of an eye, Yan’s eyes widened.
Instinctively, Yan grabbed the Sun Duke’s sleeve and pulled him back.
The Sun Duke, suddenly dragged by Yan, asked with sunken eyes.
“What are you doing? We need to deal with him before he recovers…”
“That’s not Werner.”
Yan’s firm declaration made the Sun Duke’s eyebrows furrow.
He turned to look at Werner, who was rising to his feet.
And the Sun Duke understood the meaning of Yan’s words.
* * *
Crack, crack.
Werner rose to his feet.
However, his movements were stiff, almost like a puppet on strings.
Despite the awkwardness of his movements, his face wore a relaxed expression.
His eyes were no longer the cold, calculating ones of a strategist, nor the unfocused gaze of someone consumed by demonic energy.
Instead, they were the eyes of someone looking down from above with an air of superiority.
Eyes devoid of emotion or power, yet exuding an overwhelming sense of intimidation.
Yan had seen such eyes before.
The Sun Duke, too, recognized those eyes.
Both spoke simultaneously.
“The Emperor.”
“…Your Majesty.”
At their words, the corners of Werner’s mouth lifted slightly.
“You know me well.”
It was clear he had no intention of hiding his identity.
And the reason soon became apparent.
Swish.
The Emperor, possessing Werner’s body, smiled faintly and raised his hand.
Immediately, the flowers scattered around began to swirl towards the sky.
Whoooosh!
Saaaah.
There were so many that they filled the entire Eastern Duke’s territory.
The purple petals filled the space, making the sky appear purple.
The knights watching from behind broke into a cold sweat.
The ominous feeling emanating from the petals was palpable.
Especially for Yan and the Sun Duke, who had reached the second tier of mastery, the sense of foreboding was intense.
It was due to the energy contained in each petal.
“…Demonic energy.”
“The Emperor can wield demonic energy?”
Demonic energy in the petals!
And with such power, even Werner, who they had just fought, seemed like a child in comparison.
Shwaaah!
The swirling petals shot up to the sky.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Yan and the Sun Duke gripped their weapons and glared at the Emperor possessing Werner’s body.
“What are you planning to do?”
The Sun Duke’s question was met with a chuckle from the Emperor.
“What Werner was supposed to do. But failed due to his incompetence.”
His lips curled into a smile.
“The execution of the traitors. That’s what I’m here to do.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Flash!
The petals filling the space exploded, releasing a burst of purple light.
The sheer number and brightness momentarily blinded the two.
‘Damn it!’
Yan hurriedly covered his eyes and activated his senses.
Unlike usual, when he could detect even the slightest movements, it was difficult to grasp his surroundings now.
It was because of the petals filling the space.
At that moment.
“Haaah!”
A powerful shout erupted from the Sun Duke.
Feeling the urgency, he began to draw upon his mana.
As the intense heat emanated from the Sun Duke, Yan quickly distanced himself.
Just then, Yan’s vision returned to normal, and he could see the scene before him.
The Sun Duke had raised Ifrit towards the sky, and there.
“…The Sun.”
A massive, blazing red orb, continuously burning, floated in the sky.
Despite the distance.
Despite the protective mana enveloping his body.
Fwoosh.
The heat was so intense it dried the moisture in his throat and nose.
This was the Sun Duke’s domain and his ultimate technique.
The Sun.
* * *
The Sun Duke felt his entire body drying up.
‘Is it because I used too much mana fighting the Eastern Duke?’
He needed to save enough mana to protect his body and summon the Sun.
But his mind was screaming that he had to stop those ominous petals immediately.
So, he poured all his remaining mana into the Sun, even the mana that should have kept his blood from drying up.
This destructive Sun was meant to crush the Emperor’s scheme.
The Sun had enough power to do so.
The Sun Duke glared at the Emperor possessing Werner’s body with calm eyes.
Despite the situation, the Emperor seemed inexplicably relaxed.
The Sun Duke’s lips twisted.
‘Will you still be so relaxed in a moment?’
He swung Ifrit, ready to drop the summoned Sun.
Stop, Juda, you’ll kill everyone.
A familiar voice pierced the Sun Duke’s mind.
It wasn’t a telepathic message but a voice drilling directly into his head.
The Sun Duke’s eyes sharpened.
There was only one person he knew who could do this.
He muttered the name.
“…Vivian?”
Illusionist Vivian.
Why was she here all of a sudden?
The Sun Duke tried to sense her presence, but she was well-hidden.
Be quiet. Before that monster notices!
Her scolding voice made the Sun Duke close his mouth.
Vivian’s voice quickly continued in his mind.
The Emperor plans to kill everyone here.
As soon as the question “Why?” arose, Vivian explained.
The souls released when humans die are pure energy. And with the White Flame Jade here to collect that energy, it’s a feast.
White Flame Jade? He had heard of it before, but if it had come here on its own…
It’s implanted in Yan’s body. I don’t know how, but it’s stable. If I noticed it, the Emperor surely did too.
“Then we need to minimize the damage.”
The Sun Duke shook his head slightly.
He didn’t need to hear more to understand what would happen next.
The Sun, with all its power, would fall to the ground, turning this place into a disaster zone.
Yan might survive, but everyone else would burn to ashes.
But without this, he couldn’t defeat the Emperor’s vessel.
“What should I do then?”
You need to destroy the medium that allows the Emperor’s soul to inhabit the Eastern Duke’s body. That alone will ruin half of the Emperor’s plan.
The Sun Duke’s eyes darkened.
“So, I need to destroy the Eastern Duke’s body without causing collateral damage.”
Bingo.
“Sigh.”
A sigh escaped the Sun Duke’s lips, uncharacteristically.
At the same time, the blazing Sun in the sky vanished.
The Emperor tilted his head at the sight of the Sun Duke canceling his ultimate move in an instant.
“Why did you change your mind?”
The Sun Duke didn’t answer the Emperor’s question and pointed Ifrit at him.
White flames began to envelop the Sun Duke’s body again.
He shouted vigorously.
“This time, just like before!!”
Then he kicked off the ground with wide eyes.
The Emperor’s eyes sparkled.
The Sun Duke had canceled the Sun, which could have turned everything to ashes.
There was only one reason for that.
“Did he figure it out?”
The Sun Duke had accurately grasped his objective.
But how?
No matter how sharp the Sun Duke was, he couldn’t have reached that conclusion suddenly.
‘I need to investigate slowly.’
The Emperor finished his thought and opened his palm.
Crackle.
Black energy gathered in the Emperor’s palm, forming a jet-black sword.
Swish.
The Emperor lightly gripped the black sword and slashed at the approaching Sun Duke.
Slash!
A sword strike flew towards the Sun Duke at a terrifying speed.
The Sun Duke twisted his body urgently.
Roar!
It sounded like a dragon’s roar.
At that moment, the Sun Duke felt the strike was very similar to Yan’s ‘Dragon Fang’ technique.
The Sun Duke dodged the Emperor’s strike and thrust Ifrit forward.
“Black Spot.”
Unlike the technique Merriott had used before, the Sun Duke’s Black Spot turned Ifrit’s entire blade pitch black.
The Emperor faintly smiled and raised his black sword against the heat-filled blade that seemed to shake the very space around it.