Chapter 181
Inside the pitch-black space.
Those who were invited were entering the space one by one.
Each of them, dressed in different outfits, walked at a leisurely pace as if they had been invited to a party.
"Oh, my, it seems we have a guest we haven't seen in a while."
At that moment, a short, stocky man with a long beard welcomed someone with a hearty laugh.
Standing there was a tall, slender beauty wearing a mask that covered one eye.
"Hell Fairy, what brings you to this meeting? You've been absent for quite a while."
The short man addressed the woman, who was none other than the Hell Fairy, with a smile.
She showed little reaction to the man's attention.
"I heard the Mad Blade Emperor was defeated."
Instead, she revealed the reason why she was attending this meeting.
Ixion, World Erosion Beings Group.
This was a space created by the Black Witch, the regular meeting place for Ixion.
"Haha, I heard about it. That Mad Blade Emperor, always singing about the strong and the strongest, and yet, he ended up defeated. He seemed like someone who would always escape by the skin of his teeth, given how tenacious his life was."
With a bold laugh, he said those words.
The short man's alias was Master Craftsman.
He was a spirit of the earth who wielded a hammer capable of creating anything.
"He was always pestering me to make him a sword. When I said no, it felt a bit disappointing."
He lightly tossed and caught the hammer in his hand.
His movements with the hammer seemed exceptionally practiced.
"It's strange that he was defeated while the Black Witch was around."
"Isn't it possible even the Black Witch makes mistakes? Most likely, that Mad Blade Emperor got cocky and ended up getting himself killed."
To the Hell Fairy's doubt, he casually responded as if it wasn't a big deal.
Unlike the Hell Fairy, he seemed to find nothing unusual about the Mad Blade Emperor's death.
Meanwhile, guests continued to enter the space one after another.
Among them, some moved to a corner without greeting anyone.
Others exchanged greetings as if they were acquainted.
"Khaaahm."
On the other hand, there was a man sitting cross-legged on the floor, letting out a loud yawn.
His beast-like, enormous body and unnaturally large ears.
Coupled with white fur that covered his entire body, he exuded an extraordinary aura.
Others conspicuously avoided approaching the man.
"Oh my, even the Beast King is here."
The Master Craftsman exclaimed in admiration as he looked at the man.
It seemed that quite a few rare individuals had gathered today.
Surely, they too had taken an interest in the news of the Mad Blade Emperor's defeat, just like the Hell Fairy.
Whether it was the Black Witch's mistake or the Mad Blade Emperor's self-destruction.
These two points needed to be clearly addressed.
Tap-
At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed from the inner part of the space.
As everyone's gaze focused on one spot, there stood someone with an eerie presence.
A sinister being with long, black hair that seemed to obscure her entire face radiated an unsettling aura that twisted one's very insides.
Beneath that hair, her all-black dress and wide, long skirt further epitomized her signature appearance.
Black Witch.
True to her alias, she felt more like a witch than anyone else.
And her arrival marked the start of the meeting.
"Black Witch."
The first to speak at the meeting was the man known as the Beast King.
"Did the Mad Blade Emperor die because of your mistake?"
Still seated on the floor, he immediately stated the reason for his presence.
His next words piqued everyone's curiosity.
The death of a World Erosion Being.
In this world, it wasn't unheard of, but Ixion was a group personally assembled by the Black Witch.
Unless the opponent was one of the Celestial Four Strongest, it was hard to imagine the Mad Blade Emperor being defeated by someone outside the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens.
With the Black Witch's help, escaping shouldn't have been impossible.
When the Beast King asked the question, the Black Witch remained silent for a moment.
Then, after a while, her dark lips slowly parted.
"Ignis, which we thought was lost, has been found."
"Ignis?"
Her next words instantly changed the atmosphere of the meeting.
Ignis.
A skill that allowed for the extraction of the purest World Erosion in order to create the God of World Erosion.
It was essential for the shared goal of the World Erosion Beings gathered in Ixion.
Perhaps they all understood this fact.
Everyone's expressions hardened in an instant.
"Who has it? Last time, it seemed like it was that Balheim guy."
Belorkin Balheim.
At the time, everyone had received information that the third son of the Balheim family possessed Ignis.
However, he had died due to World Erosion.
And now, a new holder of Ignis had appeared.
"Kraush Balheim, the youngest of the Balheim Family."
At that moment, the Black Witch answered.
At the mention of the Balheim name again, the World Erosion Beings showed displeased expressions.
And for good reason: the Balheim Family was a den no one could touch recklessly, not even the World Erosion Beings.
"So you're saying you couldn't save the Mad Blade Emperor because you were too absorbed in Ignis."
When the Beast King chimed in sharply, the Black Witch didn't respond.
As he had pointed out, the failure to save the Mad Blade Emperor was because the Black Witch had momentarily lost her focus.
Ignis was something indispensable not only to Ixion but also to her.
As the Beast King's gaze gradually sharpened while watching the Black Witch's silence.
Clap, clap!
Someone clapped their hands.
At the center of everyone's attention stood an old gentleman wearing a pressed-down fedora, smiling brightly.
"Let's not be too hard on the Black Witch. As unfortunate as the Mad Blade Emperor's death is, we've regained Ignis. That alone is a huge gain."
The old gentleman lightened the mood.
"Black Witch, have you gathered any information about this Kraush Balheim, the boy who possesses Ignis? If so, could you share it with us?"
Naturally moving to the next topic, the old gentleman's question was met with a slow nod from the Black Witch.
As requested, the Black Witch began to calmly convey information about Kraush Balheim to the World Erosion Beings.
With every piece of information shared, each reacted differently.
Some among them already knew about Kraush.
After all, he had recently become a hot topic of discussion.
But as they dwelled on the Black Witch's story, they realized anew.
"Has a new star fallen upon Balheim?"
As the Beast King wondered aloud, Kraush's actions seemed absurdly extraordinary for his age.
Just by reviewing his past achievements, it was clear to everyone.
In the near future, Kraush Balheim would undoubtedly become a formidable enemy.
Which also meant he would be a significant obstacle for Ixion, where Ignis belonged.
"We should deal with him now and bring him in."
The Beast King stroked his bearded chin.
"Are you keeping an eye on him even now?"
At the next question, the Black Witch shook her head.
The Beast King tilted his head at her reaction.
"Are you unable to watch him with your own eyes?"
"It seems like he used something like a barrier."
"Huh, then that means that guy anticipated us observing and prepared a countermeasure."
The Beast King showed a reaction of sheer disbelief.
This undeniably meant that the other side was aware of their existence.
"What? That guy gives off an unusual vibe."
Starting from his previously established achievements, now he even blocked the Black Witch's eyes.
A truly troublesome individual had appeared.
"Well, of course. That woman is sticking close to that kid."
At that moment, another member of Ixion opened their mouth.
There stood a woman in an outfit that was overwhelming at a single glance.
She barely covered the essentials, and atop her black skin, her long ears were particularly striking.
Her alias was Black Bird.
She was a Darkness-attributed Jangguijong.
"Crimson Garden."
At the mention of that name, the members of Ixion reacted differently.
Because everyone here had encountered her in some way.
The Immortal.
Crimson Garden August.
She was once Ixion's strongest force and the most infamous among the World Erosion Beings.
"That woman is currently staying by that kid's side."
"The Immortal? After causing havoc and leaving Ixion, she made the guy with Ignis her servant?"
At Black Bird's words, the Beast King furrowed his brow deeply.
A formidable aura emanated from him.
This was because his relationship with Crimson Garden wasn't particularly good.
"I don't know about that. But what's certain is that the woman is sticking close. Several of her servants were spotted near the kid."
"The Immortal..."
The Beast King ground his teeth alone.
However, the recklessness from earlier had somewhat subsided.
This was because he too didn't intend to rashly confront Crimson Garden head-on.
Crimson Garden was that much of a troublesome opponent.
"Ebelasque Benapoch is there too."
Then the Black Witch added another piece of information.
Ebelasque Benapoch, who was set to become Ixion's newest member.
Her necromancy was optimized for swarm tactics.
Her absence was undoubtedly a significant loss for Ixion.
"With the Immortal and even a Necromancer, it seems like things are turning out very strangely."
The Beast King clicked his teeth.
His irritation with the unforeseen variables was evident in his demeanor.
"So..."
The Black Witch was about to continue.
But as she suddenly stopped and her gaze shifted slowly,
others followed her reaction and turned their eyes as well.
Soon, footsteps began to echo from that direction.
Slow, frivolous footsteps.
When those who remembered the sound began to show uncertainty.
"Quite a gathering here."
A man with hair as red as blood appeared there.
As usual, his relaxed expression stretched his lips into a wide grin.
"What, were you all waiting for me?"
The Mad Blade Emperor.
He, who was supposed to be dead, appeared in Ixion's conference.
At his appearance, the World Erosion Beings all reacted differently.
Shock, surprise, disbelief, exhaustion, joy, annoyance, anger, doubt.
When doubt pierced through the Mad Blade Emperor's body sharply, his blood-red eyes distorted furiously.
"What? Are you upset that I came back alive? Those glaring at me, wanna fight?"
And his next words confirmed it without a doubt.
He was undoubtedly the real Mad Blade Emperor.