Although he was incapable of using mana, the Death Knight still had an accurate grasp over its flow. He stared at Eugene with slightly open eyes.
Vermouth’s flames wove around Eugene like the mane of a lion. Three hundred years ago, this flame had no name. However, after the establishment of the Lionheart family, it was given a name — the White Flame Formula. From what he knew, the White Flame Formula consisted of Cores called “Stars” that determined one’s skill level.
‘Purple flames…. Has he developed his mana in a different way than Vermouth? Or did he independently develop Vermouth’s mana training method?’
The Death Knight couldn’t be sure, but he could feel that Eugene’s flame was special. Each of the scattering embers was an absurdly highly concentrated petal of mana. Moreover, a flame wasn’t the only thing surrounding Eugene. There were also flashes of living lightning mixed in with the fire of pure mana… and unlike the fire, the lightning felt as if it were alive.
‘…And what’s that behind his back? Is it wings?’
What bothered him the most was the wing of fire stretching behind Eugene’s back. It looked like a wing on the surface… but… it bothered him that only a single wing existed. The wing definitely wasn’t for flying.
It meant the wing would serve another purpose, but the Death Knight could not guess its use. He could tell that the wing wasn’t a simple manifestation of mana. It was a type of magic, but unfortunately, the Death Knight was completely ignorant of magic.
Three hundred years ago, during his life, it had been fine for him to be ignorant. Even if the Death Knight ignored magic, he had comrades who would respond to it.
…Though, now, he didn’t want to think about them. The Death Knight leaned forward while grinding his teeth. It would be different from last time. At that time, his body, no, rather, he had not been thinking straight. Three centuries had passed, and no one born in this generation could defeat him, Hamel. He knew that it would not be an easy fight. Even so, he was confident in his victory. He would win. He had to win.
The Death Knight couldn't fathom losing to a distant descendant of Vermouth, not even to Vermouth himself. With a push off the ground, he set his sights on reaching his enemy in an instant, ready to strike him down without hesitation.
Eugene vanished, causing the Death Knight to panic briefly. It was ironic, given that he was already dead, but his sharp senses picked up on the slight mana disturbance. Without hesitation, he flung himself to the side.
Eugene was using Kharbos, the Dragon Spear, but unlike when Vermouth had used it in the Death Knight’s memories, it didn’t make any loud noises.
“Unpleasant bastard,” muttered the Death Knight. Last time, the brat had wielded Wynnyd, yet now he opted for a spear? The Death Knight felt annoyed at how his adversary seemed to underestimate him.
The Death Knight wielded his sword with irritation and anger. Like Eugene’s spear, the Death Knight’s weapon made no noise as it moved. The Dark Power swirling around his blade was calm and subdued. The blade moved sluggishly, then suddenly flashed.
“Asura Rampage,” Eugene whispered under his breath. He was no stranger to the disorienting whirlwind of attacks. Eugene had already battled against “Hamel” in the Dark Room in the Lionheart mansion’s basement.
But if he had to compare the two, the Hamel from back then had wielded a sharper and faster sword. Perhaps it was a matter of course. The Hamel in the Dark Room represented Eugene's reflection, an existence that was a few steps ahead, embodying what Eugene had strived for as Hamel.
He had died horribly at his “own” hands, experiencing deaths numbering well over a dozen in just half a year. Eugene’s memories were surfacing with heightened clarity. There was no weakness in Asura Rampage, and it’s not like Hamel had any habits he could exploit, either. Since there was no weakness, there was nothing to target.
Nevertheless, Eugene possessed the knowledge of how to counter such a situation. Confronted with a relentless barrage of attacks, he merely needed to reciprocate in kind. Stepping back, Eugene firmly grasped the Dragon Spear with both hands. Asura Rampage was not limited to swordplay alone. The spear trembled and split into numerous mirrored forms. The wavering flames coalesced into spear-like shapes.
The Death Knight's sword slashed, the spear thrust, the sword stabbed, and the spear crushed. The frenzy of two distinct weapons intertwined in a chaotic dance.
Naturally, the Death Knight was pushed back. It was impossible to overwhelm Eugene with a technique based on shadows of the past. The moment the Death Knight was forced to pull out, light gathered at the tip of the Dragon Spear.
Boooom!
While the Death Knight hadn't anticipated his defeat in the exchange, he had foreseen the impending blast from the Dragon Spear. His face tensed, and he narrowly evaded the strike by swiftly contorting his body. Anticipating the blast had granted him an opportunity to seamlessly transition his movement into a counterattack.
The Dark Power coating his hands started to swell, and he unleashed Infinite Purgatory with sword-force derived from Dark Power. It threatened to rip everything in its path to pieces.
But Eugene was already prepared with a different weapon. It was Azphel, the Devouring Sword, with jagged, fang-like protrusions on its edge.
Craaack!
Azphel effortlessly cleaved through the sword-force of Dark Power. Undeterred, Eugene advanced, taking another step forward and delivering a powerful swing of Azphel aimed at the Death Knight's chest.
The layer of Dark Power acting as the Death Knight’s defense was torn apart. Not wanting to take another step back, the Death Knight thrust his blade into Azphel’s orbit, attempting to stop the attack in its path.
Clang!
A metallic thud reverberated through the air as Eugene swiftly withdrew Azphel without any hesitation.
He switched weapons once more.
It was the Annihilation Hammer. The Death Knight’s eyes quivered with shock. There was no possible way he was unaware of the hammer’s existence.
‘Wynnyd, Kharbos, Azphel, and now the Annihilation Hammer?’
Only Vermouth had been capable of handling the equipment of the Demon Kings. How was it possible that his descendant was capable of doing so as well? No, that wasn’t important right now. It didn’t matter how the kid was able to use the Annihilation Hammer.
The spear, sword, and hammer were vastly distinct weapons, each requiring a unique handling approach. Yet, Eugene effortlessly transitioned between them, showcasing a remarkable fluidity in his weapon changes.
The unsettling sensation from their previous encounter intensified, leaving the Death Knight perplexed. He was just too similar. He was supposed to be Vermouth’s descendant, so why…?
‘Why are you similar to me and not Vermouth?’
Crunch!
The Annihilation Hammer flung the Death Knight into the sky. Although the Death Knight had defended against the attack with Dark Power, the power contained in the blow caused his body to throb.
Fwoosh.
Eugene instantly closed in on the Death Knight. He was simply too fast. How many enemies had been so fast in the past? No, in the first place, had he ever faced such a fast opponent?
And it wasn’t as if he were only fast.
Boom!
The following attack pushed the Death Knight even further away. It was Wynnyd again, and a storm devoured him. The Death Knight swung his sword while tracking the storm with his eyes.
He performed the seemingly impossible, cutting through the wind. The wind swirled around his blade and changed its course. Parrying — redirecting an attack like such — was Hamel’s specialty. Eugene’s lips twitched as he approached the Death Knight.
Clearly, Eugene felt a deep sense of annoyance and dissatisfaction with the present circumstances. However, he couldn't afford to unveil his true identity, aware that Amelia Merwin might be listening. Unable to express his sentiments directly, Eugene yearned to vehemently deny the existence of the bastard and everything associated with them.
The two blades clashed once more. The Death Knight attempted to deflect Eugene’s sword once more, just as before, but failed. On the contrary, Wynnyd teased the Death Knight by slipping away from the Death Knight’s intended flow.
Again, he was being pushed back. The Death Knight’s expression crumpled.
Fwoosh!
A surge of Dark Power emanated from the Death Knight's body and sword, attempting to seize Wynnyd. Yet, Eugene swiftly countered by twisting Wynnyd, resulting in a fusion of storm and flame. The grip of Dark Power faltered, overpowered by Eugene's formidable strength.
The Death Knight’s sword was held in its place. He hurriedly extended his left hand towards Eugene, causing Dark Power to shoot toward his chest. However, it was blocked by Eugene once more, a wall of flame rising to stop the Death Knight.
Beyond the wall of flames, Eugene’s cloak fluttered.
Boooom!
An arrow of thunder shot from inside his cape. It was an attack from Thunderbolt Pernoa. The arrow failed to penetrate through the Death Knight since it wasn’t shot directly; it instead propelled him skyward once again, leaving him airborne.
“Kugh…!” The Death Knight raised his sword while chewing on his lips. A “door” opened from inside his unbeating heart. Deep underground in a desert far from here, the magic of the Demon King under Amelia Merwin’s control transcended the distance. An endless burst of Dark Power surged out from the door.
Kwaaaah!
The Death Knight’s sword became engulfed in Dark Power. The overwhelming power caused the sword’s pommel and the blade to disintegrate. Even so, the Death Knight was still holding onto a sword. It was a weapon formed from crystals that were formed from the pure, destructive waves of Dark power.
The weapon emanated a pressure incomparable to before. Eugene’s lips twisted into a sneer as he stored the Annihilation Hammer into the cloak.
He chose Altair, the brilliant Holy Sword. Even though the curtain of darkness covered the Footprint of the God of the Land, the Death Knight’s Dark Power dyed his surroundings a deeper shade of darkness. The sword of Dark Power was black, while Eugene’s Holy Sword shone brilliantly.
Eugene slowly raised the sword while activating the White Flame Formula. The six Stars shone brilliantly, and a purple flame enveloped the light of the Holy Sword.
Once again, Eugene concentrated his efforts, tapping into the Dragonic family's clandestine technique, the Empty Sword. Sword-force converged, gradually layering upon itself. As Eugene achieved the overlapping of three layers, dark spots emerged within the undulating waves enveloping the Holy Sword. The Holy Sword trembled as if on the verge of splintering, a testament to the immense power amassed within its very being.
‘What is that?’
Shock filled the Death Knight’s eyes as he stared down. That technique did not belong to Hamel, so did it come from Vermouth or the Lionheart family? He couldn’t clearly identify it, but he knew it was incredibly dangerous. The Death Knight wasn’t certain if he would be capable of containing such massive power, but it was currently flowing in an incredibly sophisticated path throughout the sword. He couldn’t spot any wastage of power either. It was a perfect technique.
“…Haha!” The Death Knight couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the Empty Sword. The hatred he harbored for Vermouth’s descendants, the anger he felt for having his techniques stolen, as well as the resulting malice he felt for Eugene — all of it became rather faint. Joy filled him for the first time after becoming a Death Knight, causing him to laugh.
A Hamel-like smile graced the Death Knight's face as he let out a chuckle, simultaneously bringing his sword down with force. A sinister black line materialized from the heavens, descending upon Eugene with the potential to cleave the world in two.
The Holy Sword was raised shoulder-high, and the superimposed layers had stabilized. All Eugene had to do was swing the sword, and he had no reason not to. He didn’t like how the Death Knight was giggling.
He hated that the bastard dared to utter hatred for Anise, Sienna, Molon, and Vermouth with his face, his body, and his voice. Eugene felt malice towards the fact that the Death Knight laughed as if really believing that it was Hamel.
‘Once more.’
Eugene's scowl intensified as he channeled his mana into the Empty Sword. Previously, black spots had burst forth, enveloping the flame and turning it entirely black with three overlapping layers. However, the current situation diverged. With the addition of another layer to the Empty Sword, the black spots spread rather than erupt. The transformation rendered the flame wholly black, surpassing mere coloration. The Holy Sword became shrouded in flames that possessed a menacing aura capable of captivating one's soul with a single glance.
Moments before the Death Knight's sword connected with Eugene, he swiftly swung his own blade. In the past, his strike would have decapitated the enemy before it even reached them. But circumstances had changed. Since Eugene had achieved four layers of the Empty Sword, all the surrounding "power" began to decelerate. Even the Death Knight's sword, forged from Dark Power, succumbed to the influence exerted by Eugene's technique.
Since the Empty Sword slowed down the sword of Dark Power, its swing wasn’t too late. The force contained within it exploded, and darkness quivered. The Death Knight’s sword dispersed and disappeared upon making contact with the Empty Sword. It was Eugene’s sword, not the Death Knight’s sword, that ended up cleaving the world into two.
‘Death.’
It was the only thought that dominated his mind. The black flame did not dwindle despite having extinguished his Dark Power. The Death Knight immediately pushed himself backward while placing his left hand over his heart. He could not afford to hesitate.
‘I’m going to die.’
What could he do in this situation?
Could he beat his opponent even if he used Ignition?
Could he be allowed to die here?
His artificial memories became infused with the reality of the current situation. The artificial personality he was given developed a will. He could not find a way to overcome the current crisis in his memories. Right now, the Death Knight did not have Anise, Sienna, Molon, or Vermouth by his side.
He had to get through this on his own. Although he had already died once, he could not afford to die again. He still had so much he had to achieve.
He bent his fingers and dug into his heart. He felt his unbeating heart with the tip of his fingers. The door of Dark Power existed instead of Cores, and although it was already open, it wasn’t enough. The Death Knight twisted and tore open the gate with his own hands.
Ignition.
As the door expanded, an outpouring of Dark Power surged forth. In that precise instant, a burst of illumination pierced through the Death Knight's mind. His sense of self expanded in tandem with the enlarged door.
The Death Knight’s movements changed. He forced into existence another sword formed from Dark Power. Although his power had been great before, it could not compare to the power he exuded now after using Ignition.
The violent surge of Dark Power gave him a weapon, and at this moment, he threw away his pride as Hamel. He only had one desire — and it was to survive. He could not die.
The fortified sword of Dark Power intercepted the advance of the Empty Sword. The Death Knight's heart, though devoid of a pulse, trembled as if on the verge of shattering into fragments. The Dark Power, gushing forth from the shattered door, consumed the Death Knight's body in its scorching flames. Amidst the crimson and ebony inferno, the Death Knight locked eyes with Eugene, the two adversaries meeting in a riveting gaze.
Eugene’s lips twisted into a scowl. He whispered under his breath while staring at his old face, “Bastard.”
The Wing of Prominence blazed fiercely behind his back. Since their initial encounter, he had refrained from leaping through space. It was to ensure that he could kill the bastard by beating him in his perceived area of expertise. Ignition? A bastard like you? The simmering anger caused Eugene to place his hand on his heart, but he quickly regained his composure.
He didn’t need to use Ignition. Against that bastard? What for? He had no intention of using Ignition to kill the Death Knight.
He synchronized himself with the fluttering feathers. Instead of causing his heart and Cores to run rampant, he chose to replace Ignition with Prominence.
He was being pushed back.
For a slight moment, the enormous pool of Dark Power, which threatened to disintegrate the Death Knight’s body, had prevented the advance of the Empty Sword, providing the Death Knight with a slight advantage.
‘I won.’
The Death Knight thought momentarily, but it never turned into a conviction. Instead, his optimistic thought was immediately denied. Eugene’s power was amplified by Prominence, and it completely wasted the Death Knight’s Dark Power.
The curtain of darkness was lifted for a moment. Eugene’s sword had lacerated the entire space occupied by the curtain. The Death Knight could think no thoughts at that moment.
It was only aware of the harsh reality.
Devoid of Dark Power and with his sword shattered, the Death Knight faced a grim reality. Eugene's blade had pierced through his body, rendering him not just wounded but utterly extinguished. The lower half of the Death Knight's form was no more, consumed by the devouring flames of the very same inferno that brought about his demise. The wound inflicted upon him was undeniably fatal.
“…..”
The Death Knight opened his mouth unknowingly. However, no words came. He could not say anything, even though numerous thoughts swirled around in his mind.
“I….” He was left with a series of questions. The Death Knight barely managed to speak, “I… lost? To you?”
Eugene stood in front of him. The Death Knight reached for Eugene while bleeding Dark Power. The gesture felt almost desperate, and Eugene reached out in the same way as if to respond.
Unlike the Death Knight’s helplessly floundering hand, a flame of mana burned inside Eugene’s steady palm. Prominence’s feather combined with the flame, creating a miniature sun. Black spots spread on the surface of the sun and turned it black.
‘Ah.’
Eclipse swallowed the Death Knight’s hand. At the same time, the Holy Sword pierced his heart.
“This is….”
His heart was destroyed, and Eclipse started to devour what was left of him. The Death Knight couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.
“I can’t beat you.”
Such were his last words before Eclipse made an ash of his remaining flesh. Eugene muttered while glaring at the dispersing ashes. “Of course you can’t, you bastard.”
The Death Knight had been a ghost of the past and a fake one to boot. If Eugene struggled to vanquish such an opponent, then all the moments he had invested in this existence would have amounted to naught.
Eugene lowered the Holy Sword with a snort.
